Reignite Olympic Passion With Voyages of Discovery

Still missing the likes of Tom Daley and Victoria Pendleton taking over your TV screen? Join Voyages of Discovery’s MV Discovery and visit the home country of the 2014 winter Olympics.

The 12-day Black Sea Explorer cruise, which costs from £1,299 per person, calls at Sochi in Russia, which offers the opportunity to visit the neighbouring town Krasnaya Polyana, the host of the next winter Olympics and popular with skiers and snowboarders from around the world.

Non-sports enthusiasts can explore the rich culture of Odessa (Ukraine), which is known as the St. Petersburg of the south. Take in the iconic Odessa Opera House and the Uspensky Cathedral before visiting the home of Russian poet, Alexander Pushkin.

The Black Sea Explorer departs from Istanbul on October 19 and calls at Trabzon, Sochi (overnight), Novorossiysk (Russia), Yalta, Sevastopol and Odessa (Ukraine) and Nesebur (Bulgaria) before returning to Istanbul (overnight).

Price includes return flights from a major UK airport, transfers, all on board gratuities, service charges and port/airport taxes, a comprehensive Guest Speaker programme and all meals and entertainment on-board. Plus, passengers can take advantage of reduced single supplement on all categories.

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

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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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Black Sea Circumnavigation

By guest blogger Steve Newman

In 2011, Zegrahm Expeditions will return to the Black Sea and offer one of the most comprehensive itineraries available to travellers. Their Circumnavigation of the Black Sea visits all six countries that rim this legendary sea - Turkey, Georgia, Russia, Ukraine, Romania, and Bulgaria - with the voyage characterised by striking landscapes, stunning historical monuments and the friendly people you meet along the way.

September 13-27, 2011 & September 25-October 9, 2011; aboard the deluxe 110-passenger Clipper Odyssey; a highlight of the journey is a private tour of the Odessa Opera House. Closed and under renovation for seven years, it is now open to the public and a truly grand experience once again.

That's just one of 15 extraordinary days spent exploring the Black Sea. In the company of cultural experts and historians, travellers wander through the ruins of Greco-Roman sites, exquisitely tiled Ottoman mosques, Byzantine basilicas and monasteries adorned in colourful mosaics and charming red-roofed villages laced with cobblestone lanes.

Throughout the journey, Zegrahm guests will also enjoy local dining traditions, discover vibrant bazaars and sample regional wines.

Learn more about the Circumnavigation of the Black Sea on http://www.zeco.com/ or contact the adventure cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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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