Spend Christmas cruising in the Marquesa Islands

Marquesas Island adventure cruiser, the Aranui 3, has announced its special Christmas cruise featuring three very different French Polynesian archipelagos – Marquesas, Tuamotu and Society  – culminating with a Christmas Day treat on Bora Bora.

Guest speakers will include the highly regarded French Polynesian expert from the French Marine Protected Areas Agency, Sophie-Dorothée Duron. Departing from Papeete, Tahiti on 13 December, guests on board the mixed passenger/cargo vessel will be treated to a 14-day tour of the Marquesas Islands, on an  itinerary that has been created to climax with a memorable Christmas Day on Bora Bora.  The vessel has 86 fully air-conditioned cabins as well as the capacity to carry more than 2,000 tons of freight.

Prices for the voyage, 13-26 December 2014, start at £3,306 per person sharing a standard twin-bedded outside cabin, including all meals with wine, all land-based sightseeing excursions and taxes.

Flights to/from Papeete, Tahiti are not included in these prices.  Air Tahiti Nui fly to Papeete with fares from around £1,560 per person return from London.

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Orion has a constellation of cruises in the South Pacific

Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic has announced six new itineraries for 2015 aboard the 102-guest National Geographic Orion.  Guests will discover seldom-visited islands offering some of the most unspoiled undersea exploration. 

National Geographic Orion is perfectly equipped for the mission with a roster of exploration tools including full snorkeling gear for all, a SCUBA program that can accommodate up to 24 divers at a time with a dive master, a glass bottom boat, kayaks, a state-of-the-art remote operated vehicle (ROV) that reaches depths of up to 1,000 feet, and a fleet of Zodiacs.

The new cruises are:

Bali to Palau: Exotic Indonesia 

Palau to Solomon Islands: Along the Pacific Equator 

Solomon Islands to Fiji: Hidden South Pacific 

Fiji to The Cook Islands: Polynesian Discovery

Cook Islands to Tahiti: Pristine Reefs of the South Pacific 

Tahiti to Easter Island: Tales of the Pacific

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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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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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Windstar's New Pride For Europe

Windstar Cruises has announced the name for the first of its three new, all-suite, power yachts as Star Pride (above), launching in May of 2014.

Windstar, who acquired the three 10,000-ton vessels from Seabourn Cruise Line, will place newcomer Star Pride in Europe for its first season, offering exciting new voyages which open for bookings on May 14. The names of the additional two yachts will be announced in the coming weeks.

 

“Star Pride and the additional two yachts will fit perfectly into Windstar’s intimate, yacht-style cruising by offering a small-ship luxury cruise with 300 passengers or less in a casually elegant style going to places bigger ships cannot go,” said Hans Birkholz, Windstar’s chief executive officer. “We are thrilled to now be able to offer even more intriguing choices in Europe for the 2014 season.”

The addition of the new yachts is part of Global Windstar, the line’s fleet expansion and new product development initiative. Increasing the size of the fleet enables the line to cruise a global set of itineraries to new destinations, such as Wind Spirit’s much anticipated return to Tahiti and Star Pride’s European voyage collection, which will include new destinations, such as a voyage in the Black Sea. Future options will include opportunities to visit Asia and South America.

The new 'power yachts' are identical, with a guest capacity of 212 each in 106 suites. As the trio enter the fleet, they will all undergo a Windstar branded renovation to add signature experiences, including the line’s famous deck barbecue, the open Bridge policy, and the celebrated sail-away party.

Following the May 2014 introduction of Star Pride, Windstar will take possession of the additional two yachts in April and May 2015, to start sailing in May following their dry-dock period. 

 

For bookings, click on this link for The Cruise Line, the UK's luxury cruise specialists.

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Europa's 2013 Highlights

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is happy to announce the arrival of their 2013 Europa international brochure, including seven exciting itineraries operating in English and German. The six-star MS Europa is offering cruises to the South Seas, New Zealand, Australia, the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Peninsula, Norway, the Baltic and the Mediterranean next year, with three new ports of call on its international itineraries: Palmerston Atoll/Cook Islands, Picton/New Zealand and Algiers/Algeria.

Highlights on Europa in 2013:

South Seas Winter: The Europa will be exploring the South Pacific islands in January 2013 for hiking, swimming, and snorkelling in untouched islands, hidden away in the lagoons of the Oceania. The South Seas itinerary is from January 19-February 6, from Papeete/Tahiti to Auckland/New Zealand, with stops in Bora Bora and Raiatea in French Polynesia, Rarotonga, Aitutaki Atoll, and Palmerston Atoll in the Cook Islands, Neiafu and Nuku’alofa in the Tonga, and the Fiji Islands. Rates for this itinerary start at $7,700 per person, based on double occupancy.

New Zealand Winter: Breathtaking fjord landscapes and vast green fields offer magnificent sights to be discovered while hiking, kayaking or by a helicopter ride in the North and South Islands of New Zealand. This itinerary is from February 6-22, from Auckland to Sydney, with stops in Tauranga, White Island, Napier, Wellington, Nelson, Picton, Lyttelton, Akaroa, Port Chalmers, and Stewart Island. Rates start at $9,220 per person, based on double occupancy.

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

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New Experiences For Paul Gauguin

Paul Gauguin Cruises have announced their 2013 sailing schedule, with guests aboard having the chance to experience some exciting itineraries and experiences on the newly-renovated ship.

The highlights include: Island of Whales - following 2012’s inaugural 11-night sailing to the Australs & Society Islands, the Gauguin will return on September 21, 2013, to witness the majestic humpback whales cavorting en masse off the coast of Rurutu.

The Society Islands - throughout 2013, Gauguin will visit the islands of French Polynesia for 7-, 10-, 11- and 14-night sailings. Guests will travel through this spectacular collection of islands with stops including the breathtaking lagoons of Bora Bora and Moorea, plus access to Paul Gauguin Cruises’ private Motu Mahana adjacent to the white-sand beaches of Taha’a. Special Guests: The launch of guest-host sailings proved so popular in 2012 that the line will be continuing this programme on select 2013 sailings.

Fully Renovated Ship: Having completed a $7million renovation, the Gauguin now features new flooring and carpeting, elegant new furniture, new window treatments and decorative wall panels, and new signage, providing a lighter, brighter feel. Additionally, all suites and staterooms have been updated with new teak railings and bathroom floors. 

Guests will also enjoy the newly expanded Le Casino and new built-in banquettes on the Promenade on Deck 5. Paul Gauguin Cruises is also offering extraordinary value in luxury cruising, with savings of 50% off standard cruise fares plus FREE airfare from Los Angeles. The 2013 prices start from £4,094 for a seven-night Tahiti & Society Islands sailing based on departures on March 9 and 16. Prices 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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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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New Ship for Paul Gauguin Cruises

The best thing about deadlines is that they are fixed, immovable, and they get the job done. The worst thing about deadlines is they are fixed, immovable - and new stories crop up the minute a deadline has passed.

That was certainly the case with the latest edition of World of Cruising magazine (our Autumn issue - see it here). No sooner had we gone to print with issue 52 than Paul Gauguin Cruises announced a new ship for 2012, MV Moana.

The current Tahiti-based one-ship South Seas operation has been offering the Paul Gauguin for five years now, a deluxe one-off adventurer in this blissful region.

But now they are stepping things up with the acquisition of the sleek, 90-passenger Le Levant (above) from La Compagnie du Ponant, which will get a major makeover next year and then offer a greatly-enhanced range of cruises under the Gauguin banner, including the Mediterranean and Caribbean.

Moana will begin operations in December 2012, starting with a winter season in the West Indies and Latin America before repositioning to the Med for the summer. She will offer an upmarket choice for the destinations, and add to Gauguin's reputation for a distinctive, niche style.

Diane Moore, president of Paul Gauguin Cruises, said: "We are monumentally proud to add a second ship to our Pacific Beachcomber portfolio and Paul Gauguin Cruises family. This is an incredibly huge branding achievement for the growth of our cruise line and I look forward to welcoming fans of The Gauguin onboard our latest addition."

The 332-passenger Paul Gauguin is currently undergoing a $7million refurbishment and will be back in business in January.

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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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Paul Gauguin 2012 Itineraries

Paul Gauguin Cruises, operator of the highest rated and longest continually-sailing luxury cruise ship in the South Pacific, the MS Paul Gauguin, has announced details of its 2012 itineraries, which will once again feature FREE flights between Los Angeles and Papeete. To ensure every sailing continues to be the cruise of a lifetime, Paul Gauguin Cruises will continue to focus on the exotic regions in which it specialises - Tahiti, French Polynesia, the Cook Islands, the Society Islands, the Marquesas and Tuamotus – while adding the spectacular destinations of Fiji and New Caledonia into the mix.

Following a multi-million dollar refurbishment in January 2012, the ship will embark on a series of 40 stunning itineraries, with prices starting from just £3,933 per person for a seven-night Society Islands cruise, including return economy flights from the UK, overseas transfers, a night in Los Angeles and use of a day room post-cruise.

Other programme highlights include:

· A 20-night South Pacific Discovery cruise and land package, which allows guests to discover the scenic splendours of Australia, New Caledonia, Fiji, Tonga, the Cook Islands and the Society Islands.

· An 11-night whale-watching itinerary in September, taking in Rurutu, Bora Bora and Moorea.

· A seven-night Society Islands voyage on June 2 taking in the transit of Venus.

· Two new Fiji voyages in October and November visiting Fiji, Tonga and the Cook Islands.

· Unique Ambassadors of the Environment Youth Programme to operate onboard from June 2 to the end of August. This groundbreaking programme introduces travellers to the extraordinary natural wonders of French Polynesia and aims to give young participants direct, hands-on interactive experience with knowledge of marine and island ecosystems.

· Any guests new to Paul Gauguin Cruises who have previously sailed with another luxury cruise line will benefit from a 10% saving on selected 2012 voyages.

The full sailing schedule will include:

Raiatea: the island was once the cultural, religious, royal and political heart of Polynesia and was, according to legend, one of Tahiti's most significant archaeological sites.

Taha’a: adjacent to Paul Gauguin Cruises’ private Motu Mahana, featuring white sand beaches with swaying palms, crystal-clear waters and gentle breezes, where guests can enjoy a barbecue lunch serenaded by Polynesian singers.

Bora Bora: immediately recognisable by the basalt tombstone of Mount Otemanu rising from the ocean, this half-atoll, half-mountain is surrounded by a spectacular lagoon and a series of smaller islands.

Moorea/Tahiti: covered in an abundance of fresh fruits and flowers, spectacular mountain peaks, peaceful multi-hued lagoons and palm-fringed beaches. Here guests can shop for local crafts, trek on the “Trails of the Ancients,” snorkel one of the world's most beautiful lagoons, or embark on a dolphin-watching expedition with a marine biologist.

Cook Islands: guests will marvel at the contrast of arid Aitutaki, where the ocean is always in view, and Rarotonga, an island of lush valleys and jagged peaks.

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

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Paul Gauguin's Big Spring Sale

Paul Gauguin Cruises has launched its Spring Sale offering fabulous savings of up to £4,850 per couple on sailings throughout July and August. This offer is valid for new bookings made between now and May 31.

In July and August, the MS Paul Gauguin will sail four seven-night Society Island cruises round trip from Papeete; a ten-night Tuamotus & Society Islands cruise round trip from Papeete; an 11-night Cook & Society Islands cruise round trip from Papeete; and a 14-night Marquesas, Tuamotus & Society Islands cruise round trip from Papeete.

Prices start from £2,998 per person fly-cruise, based on a seven-night Society Islands voyage departing August 20, including return scheduled flights, transfers, seven nights in an ocean-view stateroom with all meals, soft drinks, selected alcoholic beverages and gratuities.

For further information, visit http://www.pgcruises.com/ or contact the UK's luxury cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Oceania Cruises adds South Pacific and Hawaii

New for Oceania Cruises’ 2011/12 winter collection are 27 unique itineraries, of which 16 are totally new, along with new destinations that include Hawaii and South Pacific, including Tahiti, the Cook Islands, Fiji, Tonga and American Samoa, as well as a return to Australia and New Zealand. Cruise-only fares start from £499 per person (Marina, January 3, 2012, 10-night Caribbean Islands in the Sun voyage).

Oceania Cruises specialises in exceptional cruise experiences with a focus on cuisine, comfort and service, with a wide choice of fine dining restaurants – including speciality dining at no extra charge - on each of their four ships. The brand new (in January) 1,250-guest Marina also adds two speciality restaurants and two private dining venues.

New itineraries include an 11-night sailing around the spectacular and exotic islands of French Polynesia on the 684-passenger mid-sized luxury cruise ship, Regatta. The `Tahitian Breeze’ itinerary departs from Papeete on January 6, 2012, and costs from £1,061pp, including all meals, no supplement for specialtiy dining, complimentary bottled water and soft drinks (excluding flights).

Other highlights include a new Dubai to Cape Town cruise, showcasing Arabia and Africa; popular Amazon River cruise to depart from New York City; a new 16-day South America cruise round-trip from Valparaiso, offering the opportunity to discover rarely-visited Nazca Lines, plus Machu Picchu; and a grand 35-day Hong Kong to Athens adventure via the Suez Canal.

For more information, visit http://www.oceaniacruises.co.uk/ or contact the luxury cruise specialists of The Cruise Line.

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Paul Gauguin's exceptional culinary programme.

Paul Gauguin Cruises, operator of the highest-rated and longest continually sailing luxury cruise ship in the South Pacific, the Paul Gauguin, has welcomed Chef Jean-Pierre Vigato onboard for an exceptional new culinary programme. Vigato is owner and Chef Propriétaire of one of the finest restaurants in Paris, the two Michelin-starred Restaurant Apicius (http://www.restaurant-apicius.com/).

Paul Gauguin Cruises has enjoyed a fruitful relationship with Chef Vigato over the years, working together to enhance the onboard experience. Available on all 2011 sailings, Vigato’s signature menu is now featured in the ship’s La Veranda restaurant while select dishes will also be featured at L’Etoile.

In addition, Vigato will join Paul Gauguin’s July 30 sailing as a special guest, personally preparing gourmet dishes for guests as well as offering cooking demonstrations of his renowned culinary techniques.

Sample menu items include Fine Tart of Mushrooms and Snails with Mascarpone and White Truffle Oil; Grilled Wahoo with Thai Vegetables and Herb Salad; and Local Pineapple Jelly Served with Rum-Infused Mascarpone and Tahitian Vanilla Ice Cream.

This 11-night Cook Islands & Society Islands cruise starts and ends in Papeete and visits Huahine, Aitutaki, Rarotonga, Bora Bora, Taha’a and Moorea. Prices are from £4,390 per person, including return scheduled flights, transfers, 14 nights in an ocean-view stateroom with all meals, soft drinks, select alcoholic beverages and gratuities.

Full 2011 prices start from just £2,677 per person, cruise-only, based on a seven-night Society Islands sailing with departures on February 19, 26 and December 3. For further information or reservations, call 020 7434 0089 or visit http://www.pgcruises.com/ or check with the UK's leading adventure and luxury cruise specfialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Free flights on South Pacific Cruise

By guest blogger Steve Newman

There is just one week to wait until the opening of the most important Gauguin exhibition in Britain in 50 years and, to celebrate, Paul Gauguin Cruises is offering free return flights on its 14-night Polynesian cruise of the Marquesas, Tuamotus and Society Islands departing December 4, 2010.

Discover the inspiration behind many of Gauguin's greatest works on a 14-night cruise on the 332-guest Paul Gauguin departing from Papeete. One of the highlights of the cruise is a visit to the Marquesas which lie shrouded in mystery with their mist-laden mountains and untouched wilderness.

Here, wild stallions run free on Ua Huka; Fatu Hiva boasts only one road; and, on Hiva Oa, Paul Gauguin himself is buried beneath a statue of a Polynesian goddess.

This 14-night cruise departs Papeete, Tahiti on December 4 and visits Fakarava; Hanavave, Fatu Hiva; Atuona, Hiva Oa; Vaipaee, Ua Huka; Tiaohae, Nuku Hiva; Huahine; Bora Bora; Taha'a, Motu Mahana; and Moorea before finishing back in Papeete.

Prices start from £4,187 per person, including free return scheduled flights between London and Papeete, transfers, 14 nights in an ocean-view stateroom with all meals, soft drinks, selected alcoholic beverages and gratuities.

For reservations and further information, visit http://www.pgcruises.com/, or, in the UK, call specialist cruise agents The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677.

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Winter Collection from Oceania

By guest blogger Steve Newman


Winter blues starting already? If so, upmarket Oceania Cruises has announced its 2011-12 winter line-up of 27 exotic itineraries in Asia, South America and the Caribbean, including new sailings to ports in Hawaii, the South Pacific and Australia/New Zealand.

The line’s Winter Collection also includes special introductory fares, which means 10-day cruise-only fares begin at just £499 per guest.

Winter Collection Highlights:

* 27 unique itineraries, 16 of which are all new
* 33 new ports of call
* New Hawaii and South Pacific voyages, including Tahiti, the Cook Islands, Fiji, Tonga and American Samoa
* A return to Australia and New Zealand
* Diverse and distinctive voyages in Asia
* A new Dubai-to-Cape Town cruise, showcasing Arabia and Africa
* New ship Marina (above) debuts on her first full season of voyages to the Caribbean
* Popular Amazon River cruise to depart from New York City
* New 16-day South America cruise round-trip from Valparaiso, which offers the opportunity to discover rarely visited Nazca Lines, plus Machu Picchu
* A grand 35-day Hong Kong-to-Athens adventure via the Suez Canal

For more information, contact Oceania Cruises on 0845 505 1920 or http://www.oceaniacruises.co.uk/

Oceania Cruises are exhibiting at The Cruise Show in Birmingham on October 16-17 and at London's Olympia March 26-27, 2011.

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Cruising the Planet

By guest blogger Steve Newman

For those seeking the ultimate in cruising, a world cruise is hard to beat. So if you are thinking along those lines, or maybe considering just sampling one of these grand voyages in sections over a period of time, Fred Olsen Cruise Lines has launched a mini-brochure featuring its longer cruises for 2012.

Their Black Watch undertakes a 106-night World Cruise departing from Southampton on 11th January 2012. This cruise travels in an easterly direction, visiting Egypt and the Suez Canal, India, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Borneo, Australia – including the Great Barrier Reef – the South Pacific - including Vanuatu, Fiji, Bora Bora and Tahiti - South America and the Caribbean.

Prices for this all-encompassing cruise start from £9,499 per person (based on two sharing an inside twin cabin) and include all meals and entertainment on board and port taxes. The world cruise can also be booked in four shorter sectors – Southampton to Singapore; Singapore to Sydney; Sydney to Callao (Peru); and Callao to Southampton.

Balmoral (above) has an epic voyage around South America, departing 5th January 2012 for 89 nights, also from Southampton. She travels via the Canary Islands and Caribbean and takes in some of North America, visiting Key West, New Orleans and Galveston (for Houston) as well as Cozumel in Mexico and transits the Panama Canal before travelling all round the coast of South America.

This itinerary is something of a departure for a South America cruise and combines a wonderful variety of ports. It can also be booked in four shorter sectors – Southampton to Montego Bay, Jamaica; Montego Bay to Valparaiso, Chile; Valparaiso to Rio (Brazil); and Rio to Southampton.
Prices for the full cruise start from £7,999 per person.

You can find out more at Fredolsen.co.uk

Fred Olsen will also be exhibiting at the big Cruise Show at Birmingham in October.

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.

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Parlez Vous Paradise?

By guest blogger Steve Newman.

Some times the WOW! factor can be too great to bear. There are many types of cruise ships but there's only one Aranui 3. The lone passenger/sailing ship travelling from Tahiti to the Marquesas, she is the lifeline for this remote 15-island archipelago, the very epitome of French Polynesia situated in the middle of the South Pacific.

You even get two bites of the cherry here as the ship breaks the journey by calling in at the Tuamoto archipelago where you can watch the tropical fish dance in the crystal clear waters of the lagoon whilst you take your lunch on board.

The Aranui carries 2,000 tons of cargo and up to 180 passengers on a 14-day trip picking up copra, dried coconut and noni fruit. Don't think you're going to arrive at some mini Caribbean lookalike, though, as only six of the islands are inhabited, while two can only be reached by boat and don't even have a dock.

The swimming pool on deck allows you to cool down when you wish and the relaxed dining code lets you enjoy the mixture of French and Polynesian cuisine at your leisure whilst sipping something tropical against the background of mist-topped verdant mountains. All of this and the chance to learn about Marquesan culture, art and history from lecturers whilst the crew are on hand to teach you how to weave hats, learn the local dances and wear the local costume for when you arrive.

Because visitors are so rare in these islands where little has changed and there are few roads and even fewer cars, you receive one of the warmest welcomes on earth from the islanders. Islands where Paul Gauguin painted his last pictures; where horses outnumber people; and where mysterious ruins - the remnants of lost, mysterious civilisations - emerge from the jungle are the norm here.

Port times vary from a few hours to a day or more but on these islands you have the opportunity to explore by jeep, horseback, snorkel or fishing boat or simply take the hiking trail and stroll casually around to enjoy the local lifestyle. When you get back on board, the islands stay with you as the ship seems to be an actual part of the archipelago itself. Go on - you know it's what you want!

Further details are at http://www.aranui.com/

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.

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The Joys of Sail Cruising

By guest blogger Steve Newman

To be on the deck of cruise ship at dawn as the sun paints the sails in a wonderful orange light is one of the joys of cruising. Add to this the sight of dolphins ridng the bow waves as there is no engine noise to frighten them and you really start to peel away the stress of modern living.

Welcome, then, to the world of Star Clippers, a company that takes you back to the golden age of sailing with five-star luxury and modern technology to make your cruise so memorable.

Star Clippers have three ships in the fleet at the moment - they do have engines but they are used only if the captain deems it necessary - and for most of the time you have only the wind singing through the sails and frigate birds calling to distract you.

Their shallow draft allows them to visit islands and ports that the bigger cruise ships simply can't get to and, with a relaxed dress code, an elegant Edwardian decor and a sit-where-you-like dining policy, the atmosphere amongst the passengers is always friendly and cordial.

All the amenities of a modern cruise ship are here but there is no glitzy broadway entertainment; the social life generated by everyone having a good time and the excellent excursions provided by the ship's tenders more than make up for this.

The company sail to the most exotic locations, from the Caribbean to Thailand, from Monaco to Tahiti, and, if you wish, you can even help the crew with setting the sails and other ship's tasks.

More information can be found on http://www.starclippers.co.uk/

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.