Oceania's New Alaska Option

Oceania Cruises has announced changes to its 2013 Alaska sailings on Regatta, including the addition of a 14-day Pacific Exploration voyage round-trip from Seattle on June 4. The new itinerary features calls into Kodiak, Hoonah and Seward as well as cruising Alaska’s Inside and Outside Passages and the awe-inspiring Hubbard Glacier.

The new voyage combines two originally scheduled seven-day sailings on June 4 and June 11. Oceania has also amended its June 28 and July 5 Coastal Alaska sailings so they now begin and end in Seattle. The changes were made based on feedback from the line’s guests and travel partners.

Included in the fares are free return flights from London and promotions that currently include substantial bonus savings, plus up to $500 ship-board credit per stateroom, two-for-one deposits and an Unlimited Passport Collection shore excursion promotion valued at up to £637 per stateroom on select sailings booked by December 31.

The destination experience can be further enhanced with excursions such as a sea kayaking adventure at Mendenhall Glacier, a day of fishing for salmon, trout and halibut and the Spasski River Valley Wildlife & Bear search.

Guests will discover Alaska aboard the 684-guest Regatta, an intimate ship acclaimed for its open-seating gourmet dining (with no surcharges), luxurious public rooms and accommodations, and warm and attentive service.

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's luxury cruising specialists.   

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Sample Pristine Alaska With Hapag-Lloyd

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises offers two unique expedition trips through Alaska in Summer 2012 and 2013 on board their adventuring duo MS Hanseatic and the MS Bremen. 

Hanseatic is the world’s only 5-star expedition ship while the 4-star Bremen was also created to provide intensive exploration in the most elegant surroundings.

Two expedition-style voyages will be operated jointly in English and German languages and feature spectacular landscapes and wild, unspoilt nature in the home of bears, whales and bald eagles. Alaska's deep fjords, snow-covered mountains, endless forests and shimmering glaciers make for spectacular landscapes and an unforgettable expedition.

Summer 2012: The 184-guest Hanseatic sets sail in July through the legendary Inside Passage of Alaska, considered one of the most beautiful waterway passages in the world. Guests can experience the following optional excursions on this trip: a glacier flight, a dogsled trip, a boat trip and hike in the rainforest, a helicopter flight over the glaciers and a ride with the historic White Pass & Yukon Route Railway. Trip Details: Sailing July 14-20, from Seward/Alaska to Vancouver/Canada, rates for this itinerary start at £4,700 per person. 

Summer 2013: The 164-guest Bremen takes a similar route in June 2013, with a shorter trip through the Inside Passage, highlighting more of the Alaskan islands along the route. Guests will be able to observe colonies of fur seals while kittiwakes and guillemots circle the seemingly endless sky over the solitary waters on this itinerary. Trip Details: Sailing June 19-July 7, from Nome/Alaska to Vancouver/Canada, with rates from £5,710 per person.

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's expedition cruising specialists.

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Crystal Adds More Memorable Guest Speakers

Prominent political and world affairs pundits James Carville, Mary Matalin, former Ambassador Marc Ginsberg and 4-star General Hugh Shelton will square off exclusively onboard Crystal Cruises in 2012, as part of the ultra-luxury line’s hit “Ocean Views” programme. Via discussion panel format, moderated by British foreign correspondent Ken Rees, the big-league foursome will provide fascinating expert insight into hot-button topics of the day, such as the changing Middle East landscape and upcoming 2012 US presidential election.

As a build-up to the debate, scheduled for Crystal Serenity’s 22-night World Cruise segment departing March 31 from Osaka to Los Angeles, all commentators will also present individual lectures in their area of expertise.

“Ocean Views” brings together renowned experts from both sides of the aisle in a moderated debate of global issues and news items, followed by a live Q&A session. New to the 2012 programme is interactive technology that will allow audience members to anonymously share their own opinions during the debate via individual electronic polling keypads.

The Experiences of Discovery theme will fuse other renowned experts together on four additional sailings throughout 2012, including international economics expert Robert Warne, counter-terrorism analyst Farhana Qazi, former LA Times editor Shelby Coffey, Ambassador Wendy Chamberlin and Major General Pat Brady.

The March 31 “Great Northern Adventure” on Crystal Serenity (above) starts with an overnight in Osaka, Japan, before calling into Petropavlovsk, Russia; Dutch Harbor, Kodiak, Seward and Ketchikan, Alaska; Vancouver and Victoria, Canada; and San Francisco and Los Angeles/San Pedro, California. “Book Now” prices (if booked by December 31) start from £9,358 per person, including return economy flights, overseas transfers, 22 nights in a deluxe stateroom with picture window with all meals and soft drinks, port taxes and a $1,000 shipboard credit.

For more info and booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's leading luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

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