Passengers fly home as Boudicca remains in Tenerife for repairs

UPDATE: Thursday January 29
Passengers from Fred Olsen’s Boudicca are being flown home from Tenerife today. The company had hoped it could carry out repairs to engines and electrical cables during an extended two-night stay in Santa Cruz, but instead decided to terminate the voyage. The 784 passengers will receive a full refund of their fare, and a 50 per cent discount on their next booking. The ship is expected to be repaired in time to be back in Southampton on February 7, ready for a 14-night trip to the Canaries again.


Cruise ship Boudicca is expected to spend two days in Tenerife while repairs are carried out to the electrical cabling two main engines damaged in a fire in the early hours of Sunday morning.

A visit to Arrecife, on the island of Lanzarote, was cancelled following the blaze, which occurred as the 880-passenger ship was sailing along the Moroccan Coast during an 18-night Cape Verde and the Canaries cruise.

Passenger services were restored shortly after the fire - which was contained within the engine room - although some cabins and public areas were without power for a while. 

A Fred Olsen Cruise Lines spokeswoman said that once Boudicca has reached Tenerife this evening, she will stay for two days for the work to be carried out. Guests will then be notified of the revised itinerary for the remainder of the voyage. Managing director Mike Rodwell and a customer service team from the company’s head office in Ipswich were flying to Tenerife to greet the passengers and address any concerns.

There were no injuries to any of Boudicca’s 784 guests and 356 crew members, and - denying reports on the BBC and in national newspapers -  the ship’s Master confirmed that at no point were guests asked to don their lifejackets and gather at the muster stations.

The company added: “Fred. Olsen would like to thank all its customers for their wishes of support and they are delighted to report future bookings were unaffected yesterday, demonstrating the loyalty of its guests, with one, currently on board Boudicca, actually booking their next holiday for March 2016.”

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One Saga Pearl II cruise - One raft of new adventures

In response to fun-loving passengers’ appetite for adventure tours, Saga has introduced a selection of action-packed excursions on Saga Pearl II’s new Canary Island Coasts cruise.

In Madeira, a four-wheel drive safari will take guests on and off-road through hidden valleys and mountain roads. There also be a RIB adventure to watch for whales and dolphins in the sea around Madeira, accompanied by a team of marine biologists.

Tenerife’s Teide National Park has ideal conditions for stargazing and this sparkling experience starts with guests sipping champagne at sunset before dinner. As night falls, under the stars a guide will point out distant constellations and impressive planets using professional telescopes.

In Morocco, jump into a 4x4 vehicle for a scenic drive to Imouzzer Paradise Valley, leaving behind the palm groves and gorges of the River Tamrhakht to view the ever-changing landscape with traditional houses set among the Argan trees. For those who prefer to stretch their legs, trekking in the Atlas foothills is another new option. Walk across the rugged landscape of arid mountains and ochre-red rocks softened by lush palm and banana groves.


16 nights from £1,915, departing Southampton on 19 March 2016. Price includes UK travel package to and from Southampton, all meals and entertainment, afternoon tea, 24-hour room service, welcome cocktail party, unlimited tea and coffee.

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Cross the Atlantic on Anthem of the Seas for £799

Quantum of the Seas arrives in the UK today for the first – and possibly only – time, ready for a weekend being shown off to and being tested by some of the world’s media and travel trade partners.

Sister ship Anthem of the Seas (above) comes to Southampton in April 2015, and there are already deals on offer for her Transatlantic crossing to New York departing on 27 October.

Fares start at £799 pp for the nine-night cruise (including return flight to the UK) and an additional £299 secures a two-night stay in New York. The lead-in fare is for an inside cabin complete with virtual balcony – a wall-sized screen showing the view outside in real time. Outside cabins start at £899 pp and balconies are from £999.

Some of the other itineraries Anthem will be sailing during summer 2015 include a three-night cruise to Bruges and Le Havre departing 30 April from  £499 pp (ocean view) or £549 (balcony). An eight-night cruise to France and Spain, visiting Vigo, Gijon, Bilbao and Le Havre, departing 22 April, starts at £999 pp. A 13-night cruise to Vigo, Funchal, Lanzarote, Las Palmas and Tenerife, departing 15 September, from £1,699 (ocean view) and £1,899 (balcony).

The Quantum-class vessels are among the most technologically advanced cruise ships in the world, with first-of-a-kind features including dodgem cars, the NorthStar observation pod, a RipCord by iFLY skydiving simulator, and robotic bartenders. The ships have also banished traditional main dining rooms and feature so-called Dynamic Dining in a number of themed restaurants.

That 27 October departure could be the last time we see Anthem in the UK - at present there are no plans for the ship to return to Europe. Details from Iglu Cruise  0208 544 6620.

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MSC Cruises to relaunch the ‘stretched’ MSC Armonia

MSCCruises will relaunch the ‘stretched’ MSC Armonia with a 10-day repositioning cruise.

The ship is currently undergoing a £40 million refit at the Fincantieri shipyard in Palermo, Sicily – the first of the cruise line’s four Lirica-class vessels (along with MSC Sinfonia, MSC Opera and MSC Lirica) being lengthened and refitted over the next 14 months.

MSC Armonia’s comeback cruise will depart from Genoa, Italy, on 19 November, heading to Las Palmas in the Canary Islands. Over 10 days she will call at Marseille, Cartagena, Gibraltar, Cadiz, Funchal, Santa Cruz de La Palma and Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

The sailing includes a programme of in-port entertainment, which will include dancers and musicians, gifts for guests and fireworks displays in Marseille and Tenerife. To continue the celebratory theme, MSC Armonia will also host a gala dinner, along with theatre performances.

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Winter offers from MSC Cruises

                      

Experience the Canary Islands this winter.  MSC Armonia (Above) departs Las Palmas, Gran Canaria on a seven-night sailing calling at Puerto Del Rosario, Fuerteventura; Funchal, Madeira; Santa Cruz, La Palma; Santa Cruz, Tenerife and Las Palmas. Prices for an outside cabin (free upgrade from inside) start at just £549 per person, including return British Airways flights to Gran Canaria from Gatwick and all transfers.

MSC Orchestra heads to Dubai for the first time this winter on a seven-night cruise of the UAE. Departing  3 January 2015, the sailing calls at Abu Dhabi; Khor Al Fakkan, Sharjah; Muscat, Oman; Khasab, Oman; and Dubai. Prices start at £899 per person, including return flights from London, Manchester or Glasgow and ‘Fantastica’ onboard experience (i.e. priority dining, free room service and breakfast in cabin).

Remember, kids cruise free with MSC Cruises (paying only flights and port taxes).

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Anthem of the Seas inaugural season all-inclusive offer

Amongst the innovations on offer with Royal Caribbean International’s Anthem of the Seas are robot bartenders, a wrist band for opening cabin doors and paying bar bills, and an app that lets you monitor your baggage from check-in to the cabin - as well as the fastest internet connection at sea. All this plus sky-diving, dodgem cars, and the North Star observation pod.

You can sample all of this when Anthem sails from Southampton in 2015.  Joining Anthem of the Seas in its inaugural season will let you take advantage of the company’s current all-inclusive holiday offer. Guests who book on select 2015 voyages can enjoy gratuities and select (wine up to £5) or soda drinks packages included into the price of their holiday.

A 13-night Sunshine in the Canaries cruise is priced from £1,549 per person (based on two people sharing an interior stateroom). Price includes gratuities, a select or soda drinks package per person and a 13-night cruise departing from Southampton and calling at Vigo , Madeira, Tenerife, Lisbon (Above) and Bilbao before returning to Southampton.

Price is based on 11 October 2015 departure; Royal Caribbean International’s All-Inclusive offer ends 30 September 2014.

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Cruise to the Canary Islands this October with Royal Caribbean International

Experience the best of the Canary Islands this October with Royal Caribbean International.

Join Independence of the Seas on a 12-night Canaries cruise from £1,049 per person (based on two people sharing an interior stateroom). 

Price includes a 12-night cruise departing from Southampton and calling at Vigo, Lisbon , Lanzarote , Gran Canaria, Tenerife , Madeira, and La Coruna before returning to Southampton; meals and entertainment onboard and all relevant cruise taxes/fees..

Price is based on 13 October departure.

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Epic 12,000-mile voyage to Australia with Cruise and Maritime's Astor

Cruise & Maritime Voyages  is offering the opportunity to sail down to Fremantle, Australia this coming November at a much reduced price. ASTOR departs from the London Cruise Terminal at Tilbury on 5 November and sets off on a 12,000 mile epic voyage of 38 nights, visiting many interesting ports on the way including Cape Town and Durban, South Africa. 

CMV has reduced the prices this week so now starts from £2,799pp for the first passenger with the second passenger travelling at HALF PRICE. Plus there is an air travel credit of £200pp. Air travel credits increase up to £750 depending on cabin grade booked.

The 20,606-ton ASTOR joined the CMV fleet last year and has undergone a number of refits including a £14 million upgrade in 2010. She has 289 cabins including 42 suites, and 70 per cent of accommodation has an ocean view.

ASTOR Australia voyage Itinerary

Sails from London Tilbury on Wednesday 5 November, visiting Le Havre for Paris, Lisbon, Tenerife, Cape Verde Isles, Ascension Islands, St Helena, Cape Town, Mossel Bay, Durban Mauritius, Reunion, Fremantle (Perth).  CMV offers a good selection of optional sightseeing opportunities throughout the voyage.

Travellers can also take a shorter journey on ASTOR from London Tilbury to South Africa Cape Town (21 nights) from £1,164pp or the sector from Cape Town down to Freemantle (17 nights) from £944pp.

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Port Of Tyne On The Map

We like to include Ports here too at World of Cruising!Passengers can expect a fantastic welcome at the Port of Tyne, according to the latest news out of the ambitious north-east port, which is enjoying something of a cruise boom in recent years with the growth of round-Britain cruises.  

Acclaimed the UK’s Best Port of Call, and ‘One of Europe's Secret Capitals', feedback from visitors coming into this historic port and experiencing what North East England has to offer is beyond expectation.

And it is no wonder, with the iconic world heritage sites of Durham Cathedral and Hadrian’s Wall, Harry Potter’s Alnwick Castle, Holy Island (the cradle of Christianity), outstanding coast and countryside, all alongside some of the liveliest city centres with great shopping and cultural attractions.

At the same time, the market for turnaround cruises at Port of Tyne is ever growing as it can draw upon the markets of Scotland, the North West and the Midlands with excellent connectivity by rail, road and air.

Last year, more than over 623,000 cruise and ferry passengers passed through the Port’s International Passenger Terminal, with more expected during 2014.

Cruise and Maritime Voyages, Fred. Olsen and Thomson Cruises will all operate turnaround calls from the Port of Tyne in 2014, with two new companies coming in the shape of the new Portuscale Cruises with the Azores and V-Ships with the Artania.   German cruise line Peter Deilmann is returning on a transit call with Deutschland, along with Hapag-Lloyd’s inaugural call of Hanseatic and Swan Hellenic revisiting with exclusive cruise ship Minerva.

In total, 31 cruise calls will be welcomed during the year, including ten transit calls and 21 turnarounds. 

More info: visit www.portoftyne.com.

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Saga's Garden Voyage With Chris Beardshaw

We thought here at World of Cruising that Cruisers who also love their gardens would be well advised to take notice of this opportunity to combine a great holiday with the hobby as TV garden designer and RHS Chelsea gold winner Chris Beardshaw (above) will be aboard Saga Cruises' Floral Delights to the Canaries voyage in December.

Beardshaw will be sharing his expertise and love of gardening with passengers during talks and a question-and-answer session.

Chris, a long-standing member of Radio 4’s Gardener’s Question Time, explained: “There are always lots of people wanting gardening advice and tips - this is something I really enjoy and am very used to doing. I will also be joining a garden tour, as well as presenting new talks focusing on projects behind the show gardens at RHS Chelsea, including The Arthritis Research UK Garden, which was awarded Gold and People’s Choice Award in 2013.”

Chris knows the Canary Islands but has not visited all of the destinations and gardens on the itinerary. He added: “It is wonderful to have the opportunity to visit gardens and in December, when we are sailing, the climate will be much better than at home. I really enjoy seeing plants in differing habitats and often end up wishing I had the conditions to grow many of the plants that thrive in that part of the world.”

Saga Pearl II will sail to the floral island of Madeira and then on to Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote, where green-fingered guests will be able to stroll through glorious sub-tropical gardens as well as explore dramatic volcanic landscapes and lush banana plantations. The ship will also call at Agadir in Morocco, and Lisbon, where the city’s botanical garden and former royal summer place of Queluz will fulfil any keen gardener’s delight.

The Floral Delights of the Canaries cruise lasts 13 nights and costs from £1,569, departing Southampton on December 8. The price includes UK mainland travel service, all meals, daily afternoon tea, 24-hour room service, all on-board gratuities, entertainment and activities, welcome cocktail party and Captain’s dinner and travel insurance.

More info: call 0800 50 50 30 or visit saga.co.uk/cruises.

The next edition of World of Cruising will be out on this week, and you can see the current version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see this link.  

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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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Madeira's Floral Delight

Madeira's annual Flower Festival is one of the horticultural highlights of the year, on a par with Bloemencorso in the Netherlands each year and the annual Battle of the Flowers in our own Jersey.

But the Madeira version is best visited by ship and Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is offering the chance to visit Funchal, Madeira, during its annual floral spectacular on board Braemar’s10-night ‘Sunshine, Shopping & Spring’ fly-cruise, which departs from Santa Cruz, Tenerife, on May 3 and returns to Harwich on May 13.

The Flower Festival, which is held every May when the flowers are at their best, is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Madeira, filling Funchal with a riot of colour and scents. This enchanting and beautiful festival showcases the island’s most wonderful gardens and flower displays, as well as playing host to a parade – with vibrant costumes and traditional dance – a flower market and other activities, including the making of flower carpets in the streets, prizes for the best shop window, classical music concerts and variety shows.

The cruise takes guests to Funchal on May 7, where they can explore this exquisite ‘Garden Island’ and soak up all that its celebrated Flower Festival has to offer – glorious sunshine, the finest flower displays and an abundance of local traditions, festivities and celebrations. 

Prices start from £675 (£539 cruise-only) per person, based on two adults sharing a twin-bedded, inside cabin, and include accommodation, all meals and entertainment on board, flight and airport/port dues. Guests can also choose to upgrade to the ‘all-inclusive’ drinks package for just £10 per person, per night.

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

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Saga, The Canaries and Moorish Morocco

We're up to Day 6 of our marvellous Saga Week here on Time Spent At Sea and on the World of Cruising website, and we have some super spring sunshine to deliver today...

Saga Pearl II is one of Britain's most popular ships, and her classy array of amenities really come into their own on longer voyages. Like this one to the Canaries and Morocco, with plenty of wonderful sea time, in April, 2015.

Sailing from Southampton, the first port of call is beautiful Funchal in Madeira. The island is famous for the varied and luxuriant scenery, from mountain slopes covered with vines to picturesque villages and a profusion of wild flowers. 

Following Madeira, Saga Pearl II heads for the Canaries and four superbly contrasting ports of call, from Santa Cruz on 'the beautiful isle' of La Palma; San Sebastian on the rugged, cone-shaped island of La Gomera; and Santa Cruz on the mountainous main isle of Tenerife; to the volcanic scenery of Arrecife on Lanzarote. It is an in-depth and up-close look at this amazing island range.

Next stop will be Agadir on the Morrocan coast. The city itself was largely destroyed by an earthquake in the 1960s so today it is filled with broad, palm-lined avenues edged by cafés and blossoming parks. The city is still a real mixture of old and new, though, as you wander

past the modern restaurants and shops and encounter colourful bazaars, spice-scented souks (left) and lofty minarets.

On the return journey, the ship calls in at vibrant Lisbon, where the Portuguese capital is a true treat for cruise visitors. Set on the famous Seven Hills surrounding the River Tagus, it is strewn with majestic architecture, old wooden trams, historic Moorish features and more than 20 centuries of history.

For your mobile home for this two-week maritime adventure, the ship itself offers a range of dining options, while you can also treat yourself to a massage or sauna, a few lengths in the indoor pool, soak up the sun on the ample open deck space and then enjoy a drink in the small and intimate Sundowner bar.

 
The 14-night Canaries and Moorish Morocco cruise departs from Southampton on April 4, 2015, and calls at Funchal, La Palma, La Gomera, Tenerife, Lanzarote, Agadir and Lisbon before returning to Southampton. It costs from £1,784 per person.

More info: call 0800 096 0074 or visit http://travel.saga.co.uk/holidays/ocean-cruises.aspx.

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Swan Hellenic’s Caribbean Lure

Here's a great opportunity to enjoy a couple of distinctive cruises with Swan Hellenic, with their special Saver Fares and NO single supplement this year.

First, they are offering a 17-day "From the Caribbean to the Canaries" cruise, departing March 29, with the chance to explore historic plantation houses in Barbados, breathtaking views of the famous volcanic Pitons in St Lucia before discovering the little visited Iles des Saintes group of islands in Guadeloupe. Other highlights of this voyage include the stunning Fort de France, Martinique, the Cape Verde Islands and the volcanic island of Tenerife. Prices start from £3,800pp for a balcony cabin and £1,999 for an inside cabin if booked by  February 28.

Or you can save up to £200pp on the "Scandinavian Spring" 12-day cruise, departing April 28. This voyage explores Scandinavia in full bloom in partnership with Royal Horticultural Society Holidays, taking in beautiful gardens in Frederiksborg, Gothenburg and Bergen. Taking in the quaint canals and cobbled streets of historic Gothenburg, Minerva then cruises through the beautiful Southern Archipelago before sailing into the heart of the vibrant city of Oslo and exploring smaller fjords such as Akrafjord. Prices start from £1,980pp for an inside cabin. Solo travellers can also benefit from a 0% Single Supplement on standard outside cabins if booked by February 28.

Prices include return flights to/from the UK (for fly cruises), gratuities onboard and ashore, all relevant overseas transfers, meals, a comprehensive series of Guest Speaker talks and selected shore excursions.

More info: call 0844 417 1939 or visit www.swanhellenic.com.

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A Transatlantic Odyssey Under Sail

Avast there, me hearties! Get ready for a look at luxury cruising under sail this week as here at World of Cruising we've had a couple of stories from companies who specialise in sail-cruising.

Want to climb the mainsail or sit on the bowspit? Read on...!

With their teak-lined decks and billowing white sails, luxurious amenities, gourmet cuisine, exceptional service and only 150 to 300 guests on board,thet  here ships of Star Clippers allow you to soak up the ambience of almost owning your own private yacht. Passengers can even help the crew hoist the sails or learn their knots.

There is even more chance to experience the full majesty of these traditional vessels on a transatlantic voyage and Star Clippers are offering a special early-booking deal on one of their autumn sailings that make the opportunity more appealing.

The unique five-masted Royal Clipper (left, above) has a typical transatlantic cruise from Europe to the Caribbean, when she departs Lisbon on November 6, calling at Casablanca, Safi and Tenerife before arriving in Barbados on November 22. Early-booking fares are from just £1,540 for the 16-night voyage (with flights extra).

More info: call 0845 200 6145 or visit www.starclippers.co.uk.

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A Tall Ship, Yoga - And Barbados

Yoga and cruising together increasingly well in our hell-conscious world, hence we are always keen to bring you news of new options that feature these kinds of opportunities. It is something we have featured in the World of Spas section of the magazine, and it will be very much on our agenda as we go to SIX editions in 2014 (so look out for more news of that in the near future!).

In the meantime, Star Clippers are featuring TWO of their signature Yoga-At-Sea programmes next year, and we're keen to highlight them here at Time Spent At Sea.

Free daily yoga and meditation classes will be the order of the day on both the spring and autumn 2014 transatlantic crossing of the line’s flagship, the 227-passenger Royal Clipper. With nothing but the vast, open ocean as a distraction, yoga classes will take place in the open air, on the ship's classic teak decks, under 56,000sq ft of sails – the ultimate relaxation for body and soul.

 

Qualified yoga teacher Christel Vollmer, back on board by popular demand, will be holding the daily sessions of Astanga yoga, also known as power yoga, on deck in the cool morning on the 16-night spring  crossing, from Barbados to Malaga, departing April 12 and arriving April 28, from £1,420 (flights extra). She will then join the autumn transatlantic sailing, when Royal Clipper departs Lisbon on November 6, calling at Casablanca, Safi and Tenerife and arriving in Barbados on November 22. Prices are from £1,540 for 16 nights, with flights once again extra.

More info: call 0845 200 6145 or visit  www.starclippers.co.uk.

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