Silversea's Relais & Châteaux Style

Acclaimed culinary trainer David Bilsland, a former instructor at the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu culinary school in London, is again set to host Silversea's exclusive "Relais & Châteaux L'École des Chefs" interactive cooking school in 2013. Chef Bilsland will present a programme developed in collaboration with Jacques Thorel, a consulting Relais & Châteaux Grand Chef, on 14 ultra-luxury voyages across the globe.

Silversea enjoys the privilege of featuring the only Relais & Châteaux cooking school at sea. The innovative programme, which is offered free of charge, provides guests with a special culinary curriculum, including hands-on instruction and entertaining events and has been carefully designed to celebrate the cultural flavour of the itinerary. Also offered on certain voyages, when the itinerary permits, is a "Market to Plate" experience that provides an escorted tour of a local market followed by a cooking class and a "Culinary Outing," an instructor-escorted excursion to a local restaurant, hotel or other venue where guests can enjoy a unique culinary exploration.

Here is a representative selection of the L'École des Chefs voyages for 2013:

AFRICA

Voyage 2336: Silver Wind departs Las Palmas December 3 on an 18-day sailing to Cape Town with calls in Porto Novo, Praia, Dakar, Takoradi, Walvis Bay, and Lüderitz. Silver Privilege fares start at £3,450.

ASIA
Voyage 3329: Silver Shadow departs Tokyo September 29 on a 10-day sailing to Shanghai with calls in Hiroshima, Busan, Jeju, and Tianjin (Beijing). Silver Privilege fares start at £3,250.

MEDITERRANEAN
Voyage 2334:Silver Wind departs Rome November 19 on a 7-day sailing to Málaga with calls in Sorrento, Trapani, Valletta, La Goulette, and Cartagena. Silver Privilege fares start a £1,450.

Voyage 2335:Silver Wind departs Málaga November 26 on a 7-day sailing to Las Palmas with calls in Cádiz, Casablanca, Agadir, Arrecife, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and Santa Cruz de la Palma. Silver Privilege fares start at £1,850.

NORTHERN EUROPE
Voyage 7309:Silver Explorer departs Lisbon April 29 on a 14-day "Flavours of Europe" voyage to Portsmouth with calls in Oporto (Leixoes), Vigo, Santander, St. Jean de Luz, Bordeaux, Quiberon, Saint-Malo, Guernsey, and Honfleur. Silver Privilege fares start at £4,450.

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

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West African Coast with Noble Caledonia

While we're following Steve Newman's voyage around the Cape Verde Islands with Noble Caledonia, here is a great offer for one of NC's rare West African cruises:

Join Noble Caledonia for a remarkable voyage as you sail along the coast of West Africa from Ghana to Cape Town, a journey which promises many contrasts from lush landscapes to the vast deserts of Namibia. 

In Ghana, the former seat of Britain’s colonial power in the Gold Coast, the cruise visits some of the forts and castles built by the earliest European visitors while in Benin, a former French colony known as the ‘Latin Quarter of Africa,’ passengers will get to visit the birthplace of Voodoo.

Further south, guests will spend time on the island nation of Sao Tome and Principe, famous for its natural beauty and birdlife. In Namibia, take to four-wheel-drive vehicles to explore the dunes and lagoons of Walvis Bay and watch the sky turn pink as tens of thousands of flamingos take flight.

The only way to arrive in Cape Town is by sea, and should you choose this trip the company has planned an extension to allow for a stay over Christmas in this most beautifully situated of all cities.

The 18-night cruise sails on December 6. Book before April 30 and save £400 per person! 

For booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, 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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A Spirited Adventure off the West African Coast.

By guest blogger Steve Newman

If you’re one of those who feels they don’t want to go to the bigger companies for a cruise of a lifetime, then take a look at Spirit of Adventure, which has just one small ship – MV Spirit of Adventure (above). Due to her small size, it means the ship can get in to exciting off-the-beaten track ports that the larger cruise ships can’t reach.

Therefore, the company’s itineraries always include fascinating destinations. For example, in February next year Spirit will set out from Cape Town on a 17-day cruise calling at such small ports as Luderitz and Walvis Bay in Namibia and Douala in Cameroon. Spirit of Adventure voyages include excursions in the price as well, so it’s ideal for those who want to get off and explore.

The ship has a capacity of 350 and a crew of 170 and novel features include films being shown in the open air on Sun Deck (weather permitting). The light and airy Verandah restuarant provides informal dining with buffet meals and the opportunity to dine al fresco when the weather is fine.

There is one sitting in the nautically themed dining room and the open dining policy allows you to sit where you like.

All in all, the ship will visit seven countries along the lesser-known west coast of Africa. You will be able to enjoy stunning landscapes and wildlife-watching trips and get closer to the cultural traditions as you discover the villages and bustling cities of this enigmatic region.

Highlights include looking out for the dolphins and seals of Walvis Bay and calls to lesser-visited ports, including Luanda in Angola and Cotonou in Benin

Price includes return scheduled flights, all gratuities on board, excursions and travel to and from your UK departure points.

Spirit of Adventure will also be exhibiting at the Cruise Show in Birmingham NEC in October.

For further details, please visit http://www.spiritofadventure.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.

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