Crystal's New Wine & Food-Themed Cruises

Crystal Cruises has set four new Wine & Food-themed luxury cruises for 2014, to include new guest chef-prepared Vintage Room dinners on each of the four sailings - in Asia, the South Pacific, Trans-Atlantic and the US/Caribbean – as well as a new microbrew theme on the last of the voyages.

All of Crystal’s culinary Experiences of Discovery voyages include complimentary hands-on cooking classes, cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, mixology lessons and a guest chef dinner for all guests in the Crystal Dining Room. 

In addition, in 2014, each culinary-themed cruise will feature an optional intimate, guest chef-created dinner for 12-14 in Crystal’s Vintage Room, with seven courses featuring local flavours of the region and extraordinary wine pairings selected by the guest wine expert. Building upon the success of Crystal’s recently-added Connoisseur Beer menu, the new microbrew-themed cruise will offer beer pairings, instead of wine, for the dinner, as well as craft beer enrichment and sampling throughout the voyage. 

Held on both Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity, the cruises will feature local tastes of:

• The South Pacific: Sailing 20th January from Papeete to Bora Bora, Rarotonga, Tonga, Fiji and Auckland (overnight).
• Asia/China: Sailing 9th April from Hong Kong (overnight) to Xiamen, Shanghai (two overnights) and Dalian, with three days ashore in Beijing included.
• Atlantic, including Iceland and New England: Sailing 5th September from Southampton to the Channel Islands, Waterford, Dublin, Belfast, Reykjavik (overnight), Halifax, Bar Harbor and Boston.
• The US East Coast & Caribbean: Sailing 5th November from New York (overnight) to Baltimore, Norfolk, Charleston, Turks & Caicos, Curaçao, Aruba and Miami.

While exact programming details are still being finalised, food experts scheduled thus far include Thrainn Freyr Vigfusson, recent Icelandic Chef of the Year and Bocuse d’Or finalist; Stephen Beaumont, co-author of The World Atlas of Beer; Aldo Sohm, Wine Director at New York’s Le Bernadin restaurant and the first-ever representative from America to win “Best Sommelier in the World”; Shailesh Naidu, the only native five-star executive chef in Fiji; and Serge Dansereau, Australian celebrity chef, fresh food movement pioneer and owner of the iconic Bathers’ Pavilion restaurant in New South Wales. 

“Book now” fares for the Wine & Food cruise series start at £2,461 per person cruise only and are only guaranteed until October 31.

Extraordinary culinary experiences are a hallmark of every Crystal holiday. Crystal’s extensive, innovative choices for dining include the ultra-luxury line’s coveted cheese and wine cellars overseen by onboard sommeliers (Court of Master Sommeliers-certified); fresh, cocktails served by certified mixologists; and gourmet dining options at every meal, whether in the Crystal Dining Room, at afternoon tea or in Nobu and Piero Selvaggio’s specialty restaurants.

More info: 020 7399 7601 or visit www.crystalcruises.co.uk.

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More Tahiti & South Pacific From Paul Gauguin Cruises

Paul Gauguin Cruises, operator of the highest-rated and longest continually sailing luxury cruise ship in the South Pacific, the MS Paul Gauguin, and the newly launched MV Tere Moana, has released its new Voyages by Gauguin 2014 Collection brochure.

The brochure features 26 itineraries and 62 voyages by the cruise line’s two deluxe small ships, which both offer an elegant yet casual ambiance, luxurious accommodations, gourmet dining, trademark Polynesian hospitality and all-inclusive value. Fleet distinctions, dining venues, entertainment, activities, destination guides, deck plans and sailing schedules are also highlighted.

For 2014, seven-14-night voyages are offered on both ships, with the Gauguin sailing in French Polynesia, the South Pacific and South-east Asia, and The Moana offering voyages in Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America.

New itineraries on Gauguin include an 11-night Fiji to Australia voyage, a 12-night Australia to Fiji voyage and two 14-night voyages between Australia and South-east Asia. Maiden ports include: Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands; Kieta, Bougainville, Rabaul, and Samarai Island, Papua New Guinea; Thursday Island and Darwin, Australia; Komodo Island, Benoa, Bali and Semarang, Indonesia; Singapore; and Maupiti, Society Islands.

Returning favourites on The Gauguin include: 12 and 13-night Fiji, Tonga, Cook & Society Islands; 7-night Tahiti & the Society Islands; 10-night Society Islands & Tuamotus; 11-night Cook Islands & Society Islands; and 14-night Marquesas, Tuamotus & Society Islands.

In 2014, Tere Moana offers a variety of new seven-night itineraries: Round-trip Rome; Rome to Nice; Round-trip Nice; Nice to Barcelona; Panama to St. Martin; and Round-trip Costa Rica. New ports include: Mahón, Menorca and Palamós, Spain; Villefranche, Sanary-sur-Mer and Antibes, France; Ponza and San Remo, Italy; San Blas and Isla Gamez, Panama; and Golfito, Drake Bay, Quepos, and Isla Tortuga/Curú Wildlife Reserve, all in Costa Rica.

Tere Moana will again offer a seven-night Panama, to St. Maarten, voyage; a seven-night Round-trip St. Maarten itinerary; 14-night Transatlantic cruises; and seven-night European sailings in the Greek isles, Spanish isles, Dalmatian coast and coastal France, Italy and Spain.

Paul Gauguin Cruises is also extending included airfare from Los Angeles on Paul Gauguin itineraries. Past guests will enjoy additional savings of 5% off final cruise fares on any sailing of either ship or 10% on select sailings, when booked by September 30.Prices start from £4,001 per person fly/cruise on Gauguin and from £1,497 cruise only on Tere Moana.

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

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A South Seas Wildlife Odyssey With Paul Gauguin

This autumn, Paul Gauguin Cruises is offering a unique 11-night Australs & Society Islands voyage on the MS Paul Gauguin that visits prime locations for humpback whale viewing. On this cruise, there will be two opportunities for whale watching: Moorea in the Society Islands and Rurutu, an island in the rarely visited Australs chain. 

There will also be three experts on board to enhance the experience through a series of lectures: renowned oceanographer and environmentalist Jean-Michel Cousteau; distinguished marine biologist Dr Scott Baker; and Cécile Gaspar, President of Te Mana O Te Moana, a non-profit conservation organisation that strives to protect the marine environment of French Polynesia and to educate the public.

The 11-night sailing departs September 21 from Papeete, Tahiti, and visits Huahine, Bora Bora, Taha’a (Motu Mahana), Raiatea, and Moorea in the Society Islands along with Rurutu in the Australs Islands. Cruise fares start from £4,857 per person for 11 nights' accommodation in an ocean view stateroom with all meals, soft drinks, selected alcoholic beverages and gratuities.

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

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Seadream Set Sail For Papua New Guinea

Few areas in the world are as exotic and stunning as Papua New Guinea. The land's vibrant culture is still thriving and its natural beauty makes the territory a truly untouched tropical paradise. Departing from Cairns, Queensland, on February 1, SeaDream II of the award-winning SeaDream Yacht Club, will set sail on an exclusive voyage led by a team of expedition experts. Visiting a virtually inaccessible part of the world, guests will travel on far-off traditional cruising routes and venture into areas rarely visited by outsiders.   

Sailing from Australia's north-west coastal city of Cairns, the 14-night voyage will arrive in Bali (Benoa) after visiting include Alotau, Milne Bay; Kitava, Trobriand Islands; Tami Island; Sepik River and Watam Village; Jayapura; Banda Neira; the Moluccas; Larantuka; and Komodo Island.  

Guests will be transported by a fleet of nimble, go-anywhere Zodiacs, landing directly on the beaches of these coastal villages to begin exploration. An added bonus will be professional wildlife photographer Sue Flood being on board, documenting the expedition and sharing tips for taking the perfect photo. 

Highlights and shore excursion options include: 

• Introduction to Papua New Guinea culture in Alotau in the Milne Bay Province, meeting charming locals and touring the coast. Travellers will have the option to venture into the jungle to revisit a key World War II site. For those interested in natural history, guides will lead guests on hikes and bird watching tours from the beach.
• Exploring the Trobriand Islands, one of the island's most culturally intact destinations. Guests will experience colourful and powerful performances of young warriors and local maidens dancing directly on the beach before touring the gardens and thatched roof homes of the villagers. The day will conclude with a beachside barbecue in this unspoiled paradise.
• Discovering the tiny islands of Tami, comprised of uplifted coral atolls less than a kilometre in length. Locals will greet guests with indigenous dances and tours of their villages, observing traditions dating back thousands of years.
• Visiting the mighty Sepik River, the longest in Papua New Guinea, which is home to the villages of Watam and Kopara. Villagers will display local customs and dances, allowing a direct look back in time to a culture that measures its existence in thousands of years. 

Fully-inclusive, voyage-only yachting fares lead in at £7,272 per person, based on double occupancy. SeaDream II will be sailing a series of 17 voyages in Asia from October to April. Itineraries include Myanmar, Thailand, India, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Northern Australia and Malaysia.  

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

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Gauguin's 2014 Collection

Paul Gauguin Cruises, operator of the highest-rated and longest continually sailing luxury cruise ship in the South Pacific, the MS Paul Gauguin, and the newly launched MV Tere Moana (above), has released its new "Voyages by Gauguin 2014 Collection" brochure.

The brochure features 26 itineraries and 62 voyages by the line’s two deluxe small ships, which both offer an elegant yet casual ambiance, luxurious accommodations, gourmet dining, trademark Polynesian hospitality and extraordinary all-inclusive value. Fleet distinctions, dining venues, entertainment, activities, destination guides, deck plans and sailing schedules are also highlighted.

For 2014, seven to 14-night voyages are offered on both ships, with the Gauguin sailing in French Polynesia, the South Pacific and South-east Asia, and Moana offering voyages in Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America.

New itineraries on Gauguin include an 11-night Fiji to Australia voyage, a 12-night Australia to Fiji voyage and two 14-night voyages between Australia and South-east Asia. Maiden ports include: Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands; Kieta, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea; Rabaul, Papua New Guinea; Samarai Island, Papua New Guinea; Thursday Island, Australia; Darwin, Australia; Komodo Island, Indonesia; Benoa, Bali, Indonesia; Semarang, Indonesia; Singapore; and Maupiti, Society Islands.

Returning favourites on Gauguin include: 12 and 13-night Fiji, Tonga, Cook & Society Islands; 7-night Tahiti & Society Islands; 10-night Society Islands & Tuamotus; 11-night Cook Islands & Society Islands; and 14-night Marquesas, Tuamotus & Society Islands.

In 2014, Moana offers a variety of new seven-night itineraries: Round-trip Rome; Rome to Nice; Round-trip Nice; Nice to Barcelona; Colón, Panama to St. Martin; and Round-trip Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica. New ports include: Mahón, Menorca; Palamós; Villefranche; Sanary-sur-Mer; Antibes; Ponza; San Remo; San Blas and Isla Gamez, Panama; Golfito, Drake Bay, Quepos and Isla Tortuga/Curú Wildlife Reserve, Costa Rica.

Moana will again offer a seven-night Colón to St. Maarten, voyage; a seven-night Round-trip St. Maarten itinerary; 14-night Transatlantic cruises; and seven-night European sailings in the Greek isles, Spanish isles, Dalmatian coast, and coastal France, Italy, and Spain.

Paul Gauguin Cruises is also extending included airfare from Los Angeles on Paul Gauguin itineraries. Prices start from £4,001 per person fly/cruise and from £1,497 cruise-only on Moana.

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

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Regent's New Exotic Options

Regent Seven Seas has announced changes to its autumn 2014 itineraries for Seven Seas Mariner and Seven Seas Voyager, with 10 new cruises that include sailings to sought-after destinations such as Tahiti and South Africa. 

It has been four years since a Regent ship called in South Africa and almost three since one of its ships visited Tahiti, hence this represents a great opportunity to visit (or re-visit) some of the most exotic p[arts of the cruise world.

The new sailings on Seven Seas Mariner include an 18-night Los Angeles to Papeete trans-Pacific cruise; a 10-night round-trip Papeete voyage; and a 17-night Papeete to Auckland sailing. This will be the first time in the company’s history that Mariner will conduct a turnaround in Tahiti.

For Seven Seas Voyager, the company has added a 30-night Dubai to Cape Town cruise where guests will enjoy breathtaking scenery, discover big game on guided safari tours and relax on luxurious beaches. This exciting itinerary includes overnight calls in Mumbai; the Maldives; the Seychelles; and Cape Town, with other calls at Mombasa, Zanzibar, Maputo, Richards Bay and Durban.

Regent has also created a number of Mediterranean sailings that have a similar itinerary as previously offered. 

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

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Lindblad's Orion Ventures Further In 2014

Lindblad Expeditions has unveiled its first year of sailings for its new National Geographic Orion, recently acquired from Orion Expeditions, with more adventures in the South Pacific than ever before.

 

The all-new luxury Voyages of Discovery include destinations in Micronesia and the Islands of Moluccas - a heady mix of island cultures, World War II naval and military sites and brilliant snorkelling and diving. All new South Pacific voyages include the Loyalty Islands, Fiji, Samoa, Millennium Atoll, Tahiti, Pitcairn and Easter Island, while voyages to Antarctica will, for the first time, focus on the Antarctic Peninsula and the wildlife sanctuaries of South Georgia and the Falkland Islands.

Popular favourite, Borneo, will again include visits to Camp Leakey for exclusive orangutan and wildlife experiences, and the ship's hallmark voyages to Australia’s Kimberley coastline remain - one with a variation that includes Rowley Shoals. Additionally, there are expeditions that include Komodo, Flores, Asmat, the Spice Islands, Torres Strait and the Great Barrier Reef.

The itineraries are a carefully constructed blend of undersea (for snorkellers and divers) and terrestrial natural history highlights, along with diverse and fascinating culture, history and anthropology.

The first expedition sails from Auckland to Cairns, through Melanesia (Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea) with time on the Great Barrier Reef. The second voyage includes the Great Barrier Reef before heading up through Melanesia (Papua New Guinea) to Micronesia, visiting Chuuk Lagoon, Yap and many other spectacular islands en-route to Palau. The last week of this voyage presents some of the most spectacular undersea opportunities available on the planet, where the newly installed onboard scuba facilities will come into their own. But there are also plenty of options for dry-landers, too. 

The third voyage runs from Palau down through Raja Ampat and the Spice Islands of Indonesia, ending in Darwin. Like the previous two, the undersea is a highlight but the culture and diversity of options on land is also extraordinary. Put simply: guests will see many things on any one of these voyages you cannot find elsewhere on earth; they embody the word ‘exotic’. Following the Kimberley season, between May and August 2014, National Geographic Orion will undertake two expeditions to Borneo, voyaging between Bali and Singapore, both including visits to the orangutan sanctuary Camp Leakey.

It will then take an eastward journey with four voyages starting from Bali travelling all the way across to Easter Island - from the Spice Islands and Great Barrier Reef to New Caledonia, Fiji; then up to Samoa and across to Kiribati and French Polynesia with the fourth itinerary departing Tahiti to visit Ducie, Henderson, Pitcairn and other very hard-to-reach islands, ending in Easter Island. Orion then positions to Ushuaia for expeditions to the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands. 

Combination Savings

Following high demand for back-to-back expeditions, there are again a number of voyages created especially to appeal to those seeking longer expeditions, plus, from the 2014 calendar, the company is doubling the back-to-back savings to 10%.

Solo Travellers

Recognising the growing solo traveller market, there will be dedicated staterooms for solo travellers on each voyage with solo pricing.

Pricing examples for 2014

(All pricing per person, twin share): 
10-night Kimberley Expedition: Cat 1/B Stateroom £5,180, through to Owners Suite/Category 6, £10,840.
10-night Camp Leakey: Cat 1/B Stateroom £5,473, through to Owners Suite/Category 6, £11,460.
16-night Mysteries of Polynesia: Cat 1/B Stateroom £10,640, through to Owners Suite/Category 6, £21,990.
18-night South Pacific Adventure: Cat 1/B Stateroom £11,970, through to Owners Suite/Category 6, £24,740.

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's adventure cruise specialists.

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Zegrahm's 2014 Small-Ship Line-Up

Zegrahm Expeditions has announced the company's extensive 2014 ship-based expedition schedule, featuring a fabulous range of destinations on four excellent vessels.

The line-up of adventure cruises features 14 extraordinary voyages that reach all seven continents aboard the Sea Adventurer, Isabela II, Island Sky, and Caledonian Sky. Accommodating between 40-100 guests, the vessels are staffed by an exceptional expedition team of scientists, naturalists, and historians. 

“From Antarctica to the Black Sea and Madagascar to the Galapagos, we are offering travel to some of the world’s most remote and exotic places in 2014,” said Zegrahm president Edwin Blythe. “Not only are we introducing new itineraries and bringing back a few past favorites, but with more voyages aboard the Island Sky and Caledonian Sky, we can simultaneously be exploring several different regions of the world and capitalise on the best time of year to be there.”

Highlights of the 2014 season include:

Circumnavigation of New Guinea: This two-part voyage received great reviews in 2009 and Zegrahm is excited to include it in their line-up once again. Travellers can explore the underwater wonders of the region’s vibrant coral reefs and visit remote villages in the Trobriands, Rabaul, and the Asmat. Voyage I sails March 8-23 and Voyage II follows March 19-April 5.

Mysteries of the Far North: Russia’s White Sea: This new itinerary exposes travellers to an area long closed to Western visitors. Taking place July 20-August 6, the itinerary features sublime beauty, magnificent architecture and fascinating history.

Pearls of Polynesia: Fiji to Tahiti: In 2014, this always-popular itinerary is featuring an exciting new “voluntourism” opportunity that allows travellers to contribute to ecological preservation efforts on Suwarrow Atoll in the Cook Islands. In addition, the 17-day adventure, September 15-October 1, offers a great mix of culture and natural history, from searching for rare endemic species to learning about traditional island life.

Ultimate Aldabra: A Journey through the Seychelles: For the first time, Zegrahm is offering seven full days exploring the island group, which is a world heritage site and has remained largely untouched by humans due to its remoteness. The expedition sets sail November 16, 2014. 

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's adventure-cruise specialists.

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Cousteau Sets Sail With Paul Gauguin

Paul Gauguin Cruises, operator of the highest-rated and longest continually sailing luxury ship in the South Pacific, the MS Paul Gauguin, has announced that world-renowned oceanographer and environmentalist Jean-Michel Cousteau will guest host four sailings in 2013.

Mr Cousteau is a diplomat for the environment, educator, author and film producer communicating his passion and concern for the Earth’s oceans. For more than 60 years, he, his father - the legendary Jacques Cousteau - and his family have been part of the greatest exploration of the oceans in all of history. 

During the four voyages on Paul Gauguin, Mr Cousteau will offer a series of lectures with videos of his work in the world’s oceans and accompany guests on several dives.

2013 Voyages Featuring Guest Host Jean-Michel Cousteau:

• 2^nd February: 14-night Marquesas, Tuamotus & Society Islands Cruise – prices from £5,370 per person
• 26^th June: 10-night Society Islands & Tuamotus Cruise – prices from £4,472 per person
• 21^st September: 11-night Australs & Society Islands Cruise – prices from £4,757 per person
• 2^nd November: 11-night Cook Islands & Society Islands Cruise – prices from £4,757 per person

Prices include return scheduled flights, overseas transfers and accommodation in an ocean-view stateroom with all meals, soft drinks, selected alcoholic beverages and gratuities.

Also available in 2013 is Mr Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment Youth Programme, which introduces young travellers (ages 9-17) to the natural wonders of French Polynesia through interactive, hands-on experiences with island ecosystems. 

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

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Australia Tops For Zegrahm's Adventure Cruisers

Zegrahm Expeditions, a leader in adventure travel for the past 20 years, is excited to announce the findings of a recent survey of adventure travellers. When asked to share regions of most interest, 63 per cent of survey participants listed Australia, making the island-continent the top adventure travel destination for 2013.

“Based on the findings of our travel trends survey, we introduced a number of new itineraries to Australia and the Pacific regions for 2013,” stated Zegrahm president Jon Nicholson. “I am pleased to report that pre-reservations for these itineraries are selling exceptionally well, and overall pre-bookings are equal to or exceeding our most popular itineraries in 2012.”

The survey also revealed a number of other areas of interest for travel in 2013. Adventure travellers reported that 57 per cent would like to visit Asia and 49 per cent listed Central and South America as a top choice. In contrast, the Middle East was the area of least interest, with only 34 per cent expressing interest to visit the region (respondents were asked to check all areas of interest so percentages don’t add up to 100%.)

Featured itineraries in 2013 Include:

Rain Forests & Reefs — Belize to Costa Rica: 15-day journey departing March 8, 2013, aboard the Island Sky
Australia’s Kimberley — 15-day journey departing September 12, 2013, aboard the Caledonian Sky
Tasmania, Sub-Antarctic Islands & New Zealand —20-day journey departing November 25, 2013, aboard the Caledonian Sky
Mongolia —18-day overland adventure departing August 20, 2013
Circumnavigation of Sumatra —19-day journey departing January 2, 2013, aboard the Clipper Odyssey (above)
Vietnam & Cambodia by Sea —19-day journey departing January 27, 2013, aboard the Clipper Odyssey

In addition to the destination findings, Zegrahm learned that 20 per cent of adventure travellers usually travel solo and the company is now offering lower single rates in 2013 on all ship-based itineraries.

For booking details in the UK, be sure to check this link with the leading adventure-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Watch the Transit of Venus With Paul Gauguin Cruises

Experience one of the rarest of predictable astronomical phenomena, the Transit of Venus, during Paul Gauguin Cruises seven-night Tahiti & the Society Islands voyage, departing Papeete on June 2. The Transit of Venus will last six hours and will not occur again until 2117, so this is your last chance to see one!

Because you can actually see a planet move across the disk of the sun, transits provide a unique opportunity to watch the solar system in motion. For a Transit of Venus to take place, the planet must be located in line with both the Earth and the sun. This positioning doesn’t happen very often due to the track of Venus’ orbit. 

A telescope is necessary to even notice a transit, so the Transit of Venus was not observed until 1639. Since that time, there have been only five such Transits. The most recent was in 2004 and, before that, over a century ago, in 1882. There were no transits during the 20th century.

On June 5, the ship will be at anchor off the island of Bora Bora and safe solar-viewing tools will be available under the direction of an onboard solar expert. Guests will take a look through the solar telescope then wait a few minutes before looking again. Venus will have moved and they will have seen Venus pass Earth against the backdrop of the sun – a truly exhilarating experience. Venus will be visible against the surface of the sun all afternoon, barring clouds or other weather-related impediments.

Joining this sailing is Bill Kramer, an acknowledged expert in solar eclipse prediction mathematics, who will provide guests with in-depth information on this rare astronomical event. The seven-night voyage onboard the newly refurbished Paul Gauguin departs Papeete, Tahiti, on June 2 and visits Raiatea, Taha’a, Bora Bora (overnight) and Moorea before arriving back into Papeete. Prices from £4,140 per person include return economy flights from the UK, overseas transfers, a night in Los Angeles and use of a day room post cruise. 

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

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Paul Gauguin's South Pacific Sale

Paul Gauguin Cruises has launched a South Pacific Sale offering fabulous savings of up to £1,258 per person on selected winter 2011/2012 sailings with prices starting from just £3,119 per person if booked by August 31.

These offers are available on seven-night Society Islands voyages round trip from Tahiti visiting Raiatea, Taha’a, Bora Bora (overnight) and Moorea (overnight) with departures on the following dates: November 5 and 12; December 3 and 21; and February 25, 2012.

Prices start from £3,119 per person fly-cruise based on a seven-night Society Islands voyage departing in November and including return scheduled flights, transfers, seven nights in an ocean-view stateroom with all meals, soft drinks, selected alcoholic beverages and gratuities.

For more info, visit www.pgcruises.com or the UK's leading adventure-cruise specialists The Cruise Line Ltd.

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French Polynesia, The Distant Paradise

The most remote archipelago in the world, the French Polynesian Marquesas Islands have long been an inspiration for artists, writers and adventurers who come for the region’s wild beauty and cultural heritage. Aranui 3, the only ship to sail the 2,200-mile round-trip from Papeete on Tahiti to all six inhabited islands in the Marquesas archipelago, has just released its 2012 and 2013 dates and prices, including some special discounts.

Aranui 3 offers travel in comfort. Doubling as a cozy passenger ship as well as a cargo carrier, she features 86 fully air-conditioned cabins (including 10 large suites with balconies) and can carry more than 2,000 tons of freight. Two comfortable lounges, a swimming pool and gym and a full programme of lectures on Marquesan history, culture and art are all part of the experience.

English is widely spoken onboard and all presentations are given in English and French. The vessel, which has been in operation since 2003, delivers regular supplies, from bulldozers and beer to boats and brake pads to the islands’ remote valleys, some of which are totally secluded and have no road access to the main villages.

While the ship’s crew loads and unloads cargo at each island destination, passengers are taken ashore by wooden whaleboat or barge and welcomed by locals with flower garlands, dancing and music. Four-wheel drive jeeps, driven by locals, then take participants on spectacular safaris over the mountains to explore mysterious, unspoiled jungles and to experience the fascinating and individual culture of each of the islands.

Prices for 2012 start from £3,100 per person sharing a standard twin-bedded outside cabin with private facilities, including all meals with wine, all land-based sightseeing excursions and taxes.

However, during 2012, three departures are being offered at a 10% discount: March 17, June 9 and, for seniors aged over 60 only, September 22, bringing the starting price down to £2,805 per person. For those planning ahead to 2013, there is a 10% early booking discount on sailings between January and March 2013 for bookings received by December 31.

Flights to/from Papeete, Tahiti, are not included in these prices. Air France and Air Tahiti Nui fly to Papeete (via Paris and Los Angeles), with prices from around £1,750 pp return.

For more info, visit www.aranui.com or contact the UK's adventure-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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