Bilbao Eyes Major Growth

We like to be on the ball here at World of Cruising, and our recent Three Of A Kind feature in our Jan/Feb edition highlighted the growing cruise influence of three Spanish ports on the Costa Verde, A Coruna, Bilbao and Santander.

Hot on the heels of our great feature by ports expert Susan Parker comes news from the Port of Bilbao that they are forecasting a 25% increase in cruise visitation this year at the same time as they are inaugurating a splendid new cruise berth.

 

The new quay for this spring (artist's rendering, above) will be 354 metres long with a 12m draft and will be built alongside the existing quay at a cost of €13.8m. On completion, the port will be able to accommodate an impressive 1,000m of berthing space for cruise ships

Based in the suburb of Getxo, the berths are located within walking distance of the city’s smart marina and just 1km from the nearest of Bilbao's many EU Blue Flag beaches.

MSC Cruises, Iberocruceros and Pullmantur are all continuing to use Bilbao as a turnaround port this year while Celebrity Cruises will be a first-time visitor as its Celebrity Constellation makes seven overnight calls in the course of the season.

In 2013, some 44 ships and 57,000 cruise tourists visited the Basque Country last year, with the bulk of passengers hailing from the UK (33%), Spain (20%), the US (19%) and Germany (5%).  

 

Bilbao city centre - which boasts the stunning Guggenheim Museum - is a 20-minute drive away, as is the International Airport. 

 

Shuttle buses are usually provided for trips to the beach and the nearby Vizcaya Transporter Bridge, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. 

 

More info: visit www.bilbaoport.es/aPBW/web/en/port/cruises/index.jsp.

 

The new edition of World of Cruising is now out, and you can see the digital version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see this link.

 

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Cruise & Walk Bonus For Singles

Knowing our readers, and their interests in active, thoughtful holidays, we feel sure this latest idea from Ramblers Worldwide Holidays will be of great appeal. And, when it includes a deal specifically for single travellers, we think that's a win-win scenario.

Ramblers Worldwide, in conjunction with Fred. Olsen Cruises, is offering no single cabin supplements on a number of selected Cruise & Walk holidays for bookings between now and February 28.

Available on select sailings only, single clients can book either a D grade (outside twin) or a B grade (superior outside twin) for sole use with no single supplement. Clients who have already booked single cabins for these dates have been offered a reduction in price.

The sailings include:

IBERIA & FRANCE: 12 nights on board Braemar, walking and sightseeing Europe’s Atlantic coast and countryside, embracing Oporto; La Coruna; Aviles; Santander; Getxo and Bordeaux. Prices from £1,250 per person, departing on May 20. 

IBERIA & FRANCE: 11 nights on Black Watch, again with walking and sightseeing along Europe’s Atlantic coast, visiting La Coruña; Vigo; Oporto; Lisbon; and Honfleur. Prices from £1,150 per person, departing on September 28.

FJORDS OF NORWAY: 10 nights on Black Watch amid some of the world’s most spectacular scenery, with highlights including Eidjfjord, Bergen, Flåm, Skjolden, Olden and Alesund. Prices from £1,269 per person, departing on July 31.

All of the above include all meals, an exclusive welcome party on one evening and a traditional afternoon tea with waiter service on a sea day, walking tours, shore visits, sightseeing programmes, on-board entertainment and restaurant tips, plus the services of a dedicated tour leader.

More info: call 01707 331 133 or visit www.cruiseandwalk.co.uk.

Have you subscribed to World of Cruising magazine yet? We have a very special, limited-time offer to save 50% off a full year's subscription, which includes six issues PLUS our new year-end Cruise Directory. That means a year's worth of Europe's leading cruise publication will be only £15. Check out the special rate on this link!

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.

Sail ex-UK with Oceania Cruises in 2011

Following her debut in January, Oceania Cruises’ first new-build luxury cruise ship Marina will offer two ex-UK cruises in summer 2011 as part of her inaugural European cruise season, before returning to her current winter destination of the Caribbean for winter 2011/12. The company will offer a further three ex-UK cruises, from Dover and Greenwich, on board their two mid-sized luxury cruise ships Regatta and Insignia.

Regatta will cruise a 12-night sailing from Greenwich through the North Sea to call into ports along Norway’s west coast and down to Copenhagen, with fares from £2,421pp, departing on June 11.

Insignia sails from Dover on July 11 and August 8, offering cruises to ports in Belgium, Holland, the Baltic States, Russia and Scandinavia, with fares from £2,790pp.

The beautifully appointed 1,250-guest Marina will sail from Dover on July 15 on her 14-night 'Northern Knights' round-trip cruise off the coast of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, also calling into Norway, the Shetland Islands and the Isle of Man, with fares from £3,102pp.

Marina's second ex-UK ‘no-fly’ departure, on July 29, leaves Dover for Amsterdam, Bruges and a cruise of France's Atlantic west coast, down to Santander in Spain and returning to Dover 12 nights later. Fares are currently on special offer from just £1,199pp, including a saving of up to 50%, PLUS $1,000 onboard credit per stateroom.

Oceania Cruises voyages include all meals (including speciality restaurants), complimentary soft drinks and bottled water.

To find out more, visit http://www.oceaniacruises.co.uk/ or contact the luxury-cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.