Fred Olsen's Solo Specials

We often highlight the relative plight of solo travellers in the cruise world, with single supplements sometimes as much as 200% of the regular fare for two people in a cabin.

But Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines work hard to be attractive to solo guests, and have just introduced a ‘no single supplement’ on certain grades of twin cabins for sole occupancy, on a selection of 2014/15 cruises. These special ‘no single supplement’ deals, which came into effect this month, mean that a solo guest, occupying a twin cabin, will pay the same per person rate as a couple, on applicable cruises.

Once on board, solo travellers will find exclusive gatherings for them to get to know each other, and staff on board will seat them together for dinner, and arrange companions for solo travellers when going ashore, if required. There are also Gentleman Hosts and Dance Couples to provide dancing partners for solo guests. The relatively small size of Fred. Olsen’s four ships and the relaxed and friendly atmosphere on board also make their cruises especially attractive for those travelling alone.

These ‘twin-for-sole occupancy’ fares for solo travellers are now being offered on a range of cruise itineraries, including (subject to availability):

- Balmoral’s eight-night ‘Norwegian Rivers & Railways’ cruise, from Southampton on August 10.

- Braemar’s nine-night 'Canary Islands' fly-cruise, from Southampton on November 23 (flying back to the UK from Tenerife at cruise end).

- Black Watch’s eleven-night 'France, Spain & Portugal' cruise, from Newcastle on September 28.

More info: call 0800 0355 242 or visit www.fredolsencruises.com.  

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Celebrity's Wine-Tasting Tour With Oz Clarke

Wine drinkers can enjoy testing and honing their taste buds this harvest season with one of the UK’s most seasoned palates as Oz Clarke leads a holiday to his favourite vineyards, chateaux and wine producing regions in the company of Celebrity Cruises.

Join Oz (above), and his friend and partner in wine tasting Tom Forrest - resident wine expert from Vinopolis, London’s premium taste destination – on a 12-night European wine immersion cruise that takes in renowned wine landscapes of France, Portugal and Spain. Guests can enjoy a full programme of on board activities and expert-led sessions - such as “Introduction to French wine,” “Cheese and wine pairing,” meet and greet sessions and wine master classes from the key regions visited, including a “Bordeaux masterclass” – all included in the price. All bespoke sessions are hosted by either Oz, Tom or both, and are informal, fun introductions to the world of wine.

Plus, guests on the cruise also have the chance to join the duo on an exclusive, specially created shore excursion in Bordeaux visiting a number of chateaux to sample some of the most delicate wines of the region, accompanied by the president of the Union des Grand Crus de Bordeaux.

Wines on offer include some of the first ever tasted by Oz and, as well as inspiring his passion for the subject, are also personal favourites of both the experts. The excursion also includes lunch, with the menu and wines chosen by Oz and Tom to complement the overall experience. The personalised chateaux experience is exclusive to the sailing and available at an additional cost once guests have booked their holiday.

The exclusive Vinopolis immersive wine cruise is part of a series of European wine immersion cruises during the 2012 grape harvest offered for the first time by Celebrity on board Celebrity Constellation on October 13.

Cruises depart from Southampton throughout autumn 2012 and other sailings are available on 7 and 19 September; 1 and 25 October; and 6 and 18 November. In 2013, Celebrity  will offer a similar season of wine-themed cruises departing from Harwich on the newly refurbished Celebrity Infinity.   

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

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Holland America's Autumn Med Value

This autumn, Holland America Line is offering excellent value on an extensive range of European cruises, with prices starting from just £549 per person (cruise only).

There is up to 69% off a selection of 10, 11 and 12-day cruises visiting the Mediterranean, Canaries and North Africa, featuring port-intensive itineraries, overnight calls and plenty of time to explore on one of the line's exciting shore excursions.

Sailing round-trip from Barcelona, MS Ryndam (above) embarks on three 11-day 'Cultural Mosaic' cruises to Italy, Greece, Croatia and Montenegro, while the 'Ancient Discoveries' itinerary calls at ports in Spain, Italy, Tunisia, Malta and Monaco. The 'Canary Island Explorer' itinerary sails west, calling at ports in Spain, Portugal, the Canary Islands and Morocco. Departures are September 23, October 4 and 15, with fares from £699 per person cruise only, based on two sharing.

The Noordam will follow two alternating 10-day round-trip itineraries from Civitavecchia (Rome) this autumn. 'Roman Empires' visits the eastern Med with calls at ports in Croatia, Greece, Turkey and Italy, while 'Mediterranean Enchantment' sails the western Med and includes Monaco, Spain, Italy and North Africa. Departures are on September 5 and 15 September and October 5, with fares from £549 (based on two sharing). 

Holland America’s newest ship, Nieuw Amsterdam, sails alternating 12-night cruises between Barcelona and Venice. Both the 'Mediterranean Romance' and 'Mediterranean Tapestry' itineraries call at differing ports in Italy, Croatia and Greece, and feature an overnight call at Venice. Departures are on September 4 and 23 and October 14, with fares from £699pp (again, based on 2 sharing). 

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

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Rare Chance For Penthouse Savings With Crystal

View of Venice from your private balcony? Check. Butler inside your chic suite pouring chilled champagne? Check. Saving money on the whole extravaganza? You bet, thanks to a rare Penthouse sale from Crystal Cruises offering big savings on their ultimate luxury Mediterranean sailings this autumn. 

Couples can save up to £1,140 on select voyages if reserving one of Crystal Serenity’s recently-redesigned, multi-award-winning Penthouses or Penthouse Suites by June 30.

From mid-August through November, savvy travellers have a rich choice of Mediterranean cruises exploring coveted cities and lesser known jewels in Italy, the French Riviera, Spain, the Greek Isles, Croatia, Turkey and Montenegro, as well as the Black Sea (including Russia and the Ukraine), Holy Land and Canary Islands/Iberia.

All Penthouse stateroom categories boast a personal butler for complimentary packing and unpacking, pressing and shoe shine service, daily hors d’oeuvres, fully stocked champagne, wine and spirits bar, personalised stationery, walk-in closet, larger balcony and speciality room service from the likes of the superb Nobu restaurant (designed by Chef Nobu Matsuhisa), plus many more complimentary amenities.

Each port-packed cruise offers 11 or 12 nights of all-inclusive luxury, with “Book Now” fares starting from £4,375 per person, based on two sharing a Penthouse with Veranda on an 11-night voyage from Barcelona to Lisbon departing November 17.

Crystal’s passion for taking care of guests in an inviting environment of extraordinary space, quality and choices has earned the company more “World’s Best” awards than any other cruise line, resort or hotel in history.  

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

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SeaDream Unveils 2013 European Schedule

Luxury line SeaDream Yacht Club have released their 2013 programme of European voyages for the UK market, featuring a variety of new destinations and experiences from May to October.

Their two immaculate super-yachts SeaDream I and SeaDream II will sail to Spain, France, Monaco, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Croatia, Montenegro, Malta and Portugal, with new destinations including Albania, Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine and Russia. 

Highlights of the grand 2013 European season include:         

Voyage 11323, Jun 5-16: Yachting the best ports of Turkey, Greece and Croatia in 11-nights. Voyage-only fares from $7,599pp, plus govt fees and handling (approx. £5,335pp inc tax).        

Voyage 11333, Aug 17-30: 13-night full circumnavigation of the Black Sea, including Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Georgia and the north coast of Turkey. Voyage-only fares from $9,299pp plus $868pp fees and handling (approx. £6,559pp inc tax.

Voyage 11334, Aug 30-Sep 7: An educational, 8-night voyage visiting ancient Troy and the Gallipoli battlefields in Turkey and Greece’s archaeological site of Mycenae. Voyage-only fares from $5,699pp, plus $488pp fees and handling (approx. £3,990pp inc tax).

Voyage 11335, Sep 7-13: “Mamma Mia” comes to life with calls to Skiathos Island, Volos, Kayala and Thassos in Greece. Voyage-only fares from $4,299pp, plus $441pp fees and handling (approx. £3,055pp inc tax).

Voyage 11338, Oct 2-12: 10-nights, featuring fabulous Greek Islands, Turkey’s stunning Turquoise Coast and a rare call to the island of Cyprus. Voyage-only fares from $6,999pp plus $610pp fees and handling (approx. £4,310pp inc tax).

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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Hurtigruten's Rare Port Calls

Have you ever wanted to sail along the coast of France, or call at Agadir in Morocco onboard a ship with a relaxed and informal atmosphere? Hurtigruten is offering guests the chance to do just that when it takes its unique sailing experience outside  its traditional destinations on a host of special European voyages in 2012.

The one-off sailings onboard Hurtigruten’s expedition ship, MS Fram, will take place during the spring and autumn and incorporate some of Europe’s most beautiful cities.

With six voyages to choose from, the schedule will include the south-western coasts of Portugal, Spain and France, the eastern Baltic coastline and St Petersburg in Russia, and will extend to the far north of Europe to Scotland, Iceland and Greenland. There is also a spring voyage around Norway’s fjord area for those who would like to see a little more of this beautiful landscape.

For booking details, be sure to see this link with the UK's leading adventure-cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Uniworld Launches New Douro Spirit

This week, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises’ new ship, the Douro Spirit (above), made its debut on the "Portugal, Spain and Douro Valley” itinerary.

The Douro Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage region, is being increasingly recognised for its wine making and natural beauty, reflected in an impressive 80% growth in UK river cruisers in 2010 over 2009, according to recent figures from the Passenger Shipping Association.

Its port heritage dates back over 2,000 years, with the oldest demarcated wine region in the world. The Douro Valley is also a cultural landscape of exceptional beauty, with rambling vineyards and charming quintas clinging to the steep slopes of its valley, creating an incomparable backdrop to one of Europe’s most unspoiled regions. And this is what you can expect to see and experience from the comfort of Douro Spirit.

Every riverview stateroom and suite onboard features a French balcony, so guests can get closer to the breathtaking scenery of the region’s unspoiled natural landscapes. The Spirit’s common areas provide added comfort with a main lounge featuring a full-service bar and dance floor, a restaurant, sun deck with jacuzzi and small swimming pool, a lovely onboard restaurant with open seating, fitness room, massage room, beauty salon and a boutique.

And all of this is presented on an intimate ship built to accommodate a maximum of 128 passengers and provide the small-ship boutique ambience that Uniworld has become known for.

The 11-day "Portugal, Spain & the Douro River Valley" cruise includes: three nights in Lisbon at a deluxe hotel; a 7-night cruise in a stateroom with a French balcony onboard Douro Spirit; all meals, with complimentary fine wine, beer and soft drinks served with dinner onboard; 10 fully-hosted shore excursions by English-speaking local guides; return flights and transfers. Prices start at just £2,499 per person.

For more info, visit www.uniworldrivercruises.co.uk or contact the river-cruise specialists of top UK cruise agents The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Cruise For Less Than £64 Per Day With Royal Caribbean

Join Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas for an 11-night Spain & Canary Islands cruise from just £699 per person in the New Year (based on two sharing an inside cabin) - less then £64 per person per night.

That price includes an 11-night cruise departing Southampton and calling at Vigo (Spain), Lisbon (Portugal), Gran Canaria (Canary Islands), Madeira (Portugal) and La Coruna (Spain)before returning to Southampton; meals and entertainment onboard and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. Price is based on February 13, 2012, departure.

For more info or to book, visit www.royalcaribbean.co.uk or specialist cruise agents The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677.

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Uniworld's Single Supplement Waiver

Solo travelers can cruise at NO additional charge this yea, as luxury river cruising specialist Uniworld waives single supplements on select 2011 departures. Book and pay the deposit at time of reservation to take advantage of these savings.

These savings apply to 12 European Itineraries including, Portugal, Spain, The Danube, Burgundy and Provence, Paris, The Rhine, Moselle, Main and Prague.

For full details of the cruises and offers, please visit:

www.uniworld.com/destinations/offers/Europe/733 or call the river-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677.

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River Cruising Through Spain and Portugal.

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises is proud to announce its new luxury ship, the Douro Spirit, which will sail along Portugal and Spain’s UNESCO World Heritage Douro River. In 2011, the beautiful Spirit will be the most elegant ship to sail through the magnificent Douro River Valley.

The Douro Valley is a cultural landscape of exceptional beauty, with rambling vineyards and charming quintas clinging to the steep slopes of its valley, creating an incomparable backdrop to one of Europe’s most unspoiled regions. And this is what guests can expect to see and experience from the comfort of Douro Spirit.

Every river-view stateroom and suite features a French balcony, so guests can get closer than ever to the breathtaking scenery of the region’s unspoiled natural landscapes. Staterooms and suites also feature fine linens, built-in closets, flat-screen televisions with satellite, and complimentary bottled water. Each bathroom is stocked with L’Occitane bath and body products and cosy waffle bathrobes.

Explore the seven hills of cosmopolitan Lisbon, uncovering a treasure trove of Old World architecture. Visit Coimbra, the “Birthplace of Kings”; Porto, the beautiful “City of Bridges” with its UNESCO World Heritage-designated Medieval city centre; Guimãres, which also has its own UNESCO-listed Medieval city centre; and Salamanca, Spain, another UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Taste a variety of wonderful local wines from village vineyards, including the famed Port. Feast on a traditional meal at the Alpendurada Monastery; enjoy an authentic Spanish-style lunch complete with a flamenco show and dine at the Vintage House Hotel, a magnificent18th-century wine quinta overlooking the Douro. And, all along the way, uncover a land of genuine beauty and breathtaking charm, and meet warm-hearted, friendly people with welcoming open arms.

Uniworld’s 11-day Portugal, Spain & the Douro River Valley Cruise includes: three nights in Lisbon at a deluxe hotel with breakfast; a seven-night cruise in a stateroom with a French balcony onboard the Douro Spirit; all meals with complimentary fine wine, beer, and soft drinks served with dinner onboard; ten fully hosted shore excursions by English-speaking local guides; and transfers on arrival and departure days.

For more information, visit http://www.uniworldrivercruises.co.uk/ or call the river-cruise agents of the UK's top cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Cruising for £88 per person per night

By guest blogger Steve Newman

As the belt tightening continues, the need to discover a good bargain comes more and more into our minds. Now you can cruise from home this winter onboard Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas (above) from just £881 per person (based on two people sharing an inside cabin).

Price includes their 10-night Spain and Canary Islands cruise departing from Southampton, and calling at Funchal (Madeira); Tenerife, Las Palmas and Lanzarote (Canary Islands); and Vigo (Spain) before returning to Southampton, plus meals and entertainment onboard and all relevant cruise taxes/fees.

Independence of the Seas is brimming with 15 decks of activities, including a Flowrider surf park, an onboard ice-skating rink, rock-climbing wall, a children’s water park, a teen-only nightclub, mother-and-daughter/father-and-son spa facilities, basketball and volleyball courts, miniature golf and shopping.

The price is based on a November 8 departure.

For more information or to book, see http://www.royalcaribbean.co.uk/

You can also find out more about Royal Caribbean as they will be exhibiting at The Cruise Show in Birmingham on October 16-17 and at London’s Olympia on March 26-27, 2011.

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Maiden Port of Call for MSC Poesia

By guest blogger Steve Newman

MSC Poesia sailed to Southampton on a maiden port of call during its Ocean Voyage Cruise on the 7th of September. This was the first time the ship has called to Southampton port.

MSC Cruises marked the event by inviting travel agents, consumers, press and MSC Club members on board for the day, where they enjoyed a ship tour and lunch. Prior to dining in the Ii Palladio restaurant, guests were presented with a food demonstration on how to make an Italian classic, gnocchi.

Other highlights of the day included a presentation by Agustin Garcia from the Spanish Tourist Board and Susana Roel Cabal of La Coruna Port Authority, who were invited onboard following a recently formed collaboration between MSC Cruises and the Spanish Tourist Board to promote Mediterranean sailings and Spain as a destination.

MSC Poesia is currently cruising to the United States where it will tour North America and Canada, including New York (above) before positioning to the Caribbean for the winter cruiser season.

MSC also cares about the welfare of children as the company recently forged a partnership with UNICEF to fund a community project aimed at providing disadvantaged children in Brazil with a high quality education.

Find out more at http://www.msccruises.co.uk/

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Rivers and Coasts of Spain and Portugal

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Spain and Portugal have much to offer the traveller and their rivers in particular are a very under explored when it comes to cruising. Now Archers Direct are offering the chance to travel along Andalucia's Guadalquivir River and The Algarve's Guadiana River for seven nights to marvel at a landscape of sun-blushed fields and quaint wine villages as well as ancient cities.

Designed to meet and exceed the expectations of a spacious and bright river cruiser, MS Belle de Cadix (above) offers style and superb service. Well-maintained and equipped with the latest technologies, the fully air-conditioned river cruiser accommodates 178 passengers in 89 light, airy cabins as it explores one of the most attractive regions in Europe.

The cruises start from Seville down Andalucía’s longest river to the port of Cadiz, then hugging the coastline to the Algarve and entering the River Guadiana to Alcoutim and Vila Real. Then, taking the coastal route again, you call at the Spanish port of El Puerto de Santa Maria before returning to Seville.

MS Belle de Cadix has a swimming pool; large sun deck; restaurant; lounge bar with dance floor; Panorama bar; swimming platform with access to the sea; gift shop and lift. The dining room is large enough to accommodate all passengers in one sitting.

Breakfasts are buffet style, while lunch and dinner have set menus, usually including a choice of regional specialities and traditional favourites. Aperitifs, coffee and digestifs are available in the lounge bar. Vegetarian meals and any special dietary requirements should be requested at the time of booking. There is an evening programme of entertainment and a welcome cocktail on the first night. While on board you will be looked after by the ship's hostess and purser.

All outside cabins have twin or double beds; air-conditioning/climate control; satellite TV; radio; hairdryer; safety deposit box; shower and WC; and large picture window. Your holiday price includes a 2-berth main deck cabin, or you may choose to upgrade.

For more information go to http://www.archersdirect.co.uk/

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