Explore the culture and history of the Baltic with Royal Caribbean International

At World of Cruising we know you like a bargain so here's a neat little offer for you!

Book a balcony stateroom for the same price as an outside stateroom with Royal Caribbean on select holidays before 31 March 2014 as part of the cruise line’s ‘Price’s with More WOW’ campaign. Families can enjoy an adventurous holiday exploring the Baltic, while taking advantage of a host of onboard activities including inline skating on the deck and mini-golf. Join Royal Caribbean International’s Adventure of the Seas for a 12-night Baltic cruise from £1,599 per person (based on two people sharing a balcony stateroom).

Price includes a 12-night cruise departing from Southampton and calling at Oslo, Bilbao, Copenhagen, Muuga , St. Petersburg – overnight, Helsinki, Zeebrugge before returning to Southampton; meals and entertainment onboard and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. 

Price is based on une 12 departure. Offer ends 31 March 2014. 

For more information or to book call 0844 493 2061 or visit  www.royalcaribbean.co.uk

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Fred Olsen Commemorate D-Day With Help For Heroes

We are always keen to hear about charity initiatives here at World of Cruising, and this year is especially relevant as it marks the 70th anniversary of D-Day.
 

With that in mind, we think the latest news from Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines will be of great interest to many as they will welcome Captain Tony Harris, Official Ambassador for the ‘Help for Heroes’ charity and motivational speaker, on its special seven-night ‘D-Day Anniversary Cruise’ aboard Braemar on June 1.

Sailing from Harwich, it calls first at Zeebrugge (for Bruges), where guests can visit the poignant Tyne Cot Cemetery – the largest Commonwealth cemetery in the world – and Memorial, to remember those who lost their lives during the First World War. Located in the famous Cloth Hall, visitors will discover the In Flanders’ Fields Museum, which presents the story of the First World War in the West Flanders front region.

From Zeebrugge, Braemar returns briefly to the UK, to Portsmouth, to pay respects to those who gave their lives at the tranquil war memorials, before stepping back in time and visiting the D-Day Museum. Then it's on to Cherbourg, which was part of the Battle of Normandy in the Second World War, before cruising on to Le Havre for an overnight stay, providing the opportunity to take a tour to the Allied landing areas on the Day of Remembrance.

Dunkirk is the last port of call on this epic cruise holiday, with time to visit the Dunkirk War Museum, which tells the story of the Allied evacuation from the town, before the ship returns to Harwich.

Prices for this commemorative cruise start from £629 per person, based on two adults sharing a twin cabin, Grade 'I', and include accommodation, all meals and entertainment, and port dues.

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

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The Joys Of 'Sampler' Cruises

Our Managing Director has just returned from his very first cruise (he IS new to the business, after all) and is raving about the experience - as we expected!

His voyage was a 4-day short-break cruise with P&O Cruises to Gent (and Bruges), and helped to showcase the many attractions of cruising as well as the great value of this 'sampler' type cruise, when people can invest in just a few days to see if it really is for them.

Sailing from Southampton, P&O are a perfect option for this type of voyaging as they can pack a lot into the relatively short time involved and really showcase their highlights, notably with the many entertainment options.

And, with that in mind, here are a couple of similar short-break cruises you can still try with P&O in the coming months...

Singer Katherine Jenkins is performing on the Oriana's four-night November 27 sailing, departing from Southampton and calling at Bruges (from Zeebrugge) and overnight in Amsterdam. Prices start from just £349 per person for a Getaway Fare, to include a free upgrade to an outside cabin, full-board meals, daily afternoon tea and entertainment.

Exclusively for adults, Oriana’s facilities include three pools, the Oasis Spa, gym, theatre, cinema, sports court and traditional deck games, plus numerous restaurants and bars, including the Ocean Grill by celebrity chef Marco Pierre White.

To see more about this cruise, follow this link: http://www.pocruises.com/X326

Alternatively, there is a two-night short cruise break to Bruges (from Zeebrugge) on Oriana departing April 18, starting from just £229 per person. The price includes an inside cabin, full-board meals, daily afternoon tea and entertainment.

Link: http://www.pocruises.com/X408.

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MSC Will Be 'Simply Marvellous' In 2014

MSC Cruises has unveiled an array of new itineraries and destinations for 2014 – with 168 global itineraries, a second ship coming to Southampton, a Bank Holiday mini-cruise, all-year-round Caribbean cruises from Miami and a return to the UAE.

To celebrate the launch of the 2014 brochure and to encourage early bookings, MSC has introduced “Simply Marvellous,” a range of Mediterranean summer cruises starting from just £649 per person including flights, and more than 76 sailings to choose from. The line is also introducing a new and simplified price structure to make it as easy as possible for consumers to understand and choose the type of cabin they want.

"Simply Marvellous" offers also include:

Bank Holiday mini-cruise – next year will see a two-night mini-cruise departing from Southampton to Guernsey from just £179 per person, perfect as a taster for customers who have never cruised before and want to experience the product – or cruise-lovers who want to get away for a bank holiday weekend.

More ex-UK cruises - MSC is sending a second and bigger ship, MSC Magnifica, to Southampton. Magnifica will have four seven-night cruises departing from Southampton and calling in Zeebrugge (for Bruges), Amsterdam, Hamburg, and Le Havre (for Paris). Prices start from £429 per person, including free car parking or free national express coach transfer to Southampton.
 

Year-round Caribbean cruises – For the first time, MSC will have a ship based in Miami for both Summer and Winter season, MSC Divina, offering seven-night cruises in the Caribbean on different itineraries. Plus, following the successful launch on new ship MSC Preziosa, Divina will also welcome two new Eataly restaurants and, for spinning enthusiasts, innovative Aqua Cycling facilities, the latest fitness craze across the US. Prices for a seven-night Caribbean cruise start from just £419 per person, cruise-only.

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's leading cruise-agent specialists.

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Jenkins Spices Up P&O

Glamorous Katherine Jenkins, the classical crossover artist, will be performing as a special guest on P&O Cruises' Oriana for two short cruises later this year.

Both cruises are now on sale, and the details are as follows:

• Departing Oct 31, a four-night cruise calling at Zeebrugge (for Bruges) and Amsterdam, from £399 per person for a Vantage Fare.
• Departing Nov 27, a four-night cruise calling at Zeebrugge (for Bruges) and Amsterdam, from £399 per person for a Vantage Fare.

Oriana, which is exclusively for adults, has three pools, the Oasis Spa, gym, theatre, cinema, sports court, plus numerous restaurants and bars, including the Ocean Grill by celebrity chef Marco Pierre White.

P&O managing director Carol Marlow said: “These short breaks provide the opportunity for an indulgent weekend of fine dining, pampering in the spa, time to explore the ports, rounded off by a very special performance from the world’s most prolific classical crossover artist Katherine Jenkins.”

Since launching her career in 2003, the Welsh star has sold in excess of seven million albums, which has made her the fastest selling soprano ever. Katherine has become a premier ambassador of bringing classical music to a mainstream audience.

Vantage Fares benefits include a choice of cabin, the flexibility to make amendments to, or even change, the choice of cruise or cabin up to 90 days prior to departure, plus one of the following; on board spending money, car parking in Southampton or return coach travel to Southampton. It also features P&O's Price Promise protection, which ensures that should the price of the Vantage Fare reduce; the difference will be awarded in on board spending or a cabin upgrade.

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's leading cruise-agent specialiasts.

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New Short Cruises From P&O

P&O Cruises has added nine short cruises, ranging from two to five nights, to their impressive line-up for 2013, visiting the Channel Islands, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Classical singing sensations Jonathan Antoine and Charlotte Jaconelli, who shot to fame in this year’s Britain’s Got Talent, will appear on Azura’s four-night cruise on April 18. Their first album is now certified gold and was the highest ever entry by a classical album into the main album chart. This cruise provides an opportunity to see them before the start of their UK tour next summer.

Available on a choice of family-friendly large and mid-sized ships from April to July 2013, all short break cruises conveniently depart from and return to Southampton, available to book from today. Prices start from £199 per person for a two-night cruise on Azura in April. The full line-up of short cruises is as follows:

April

• Departing April 16, a two-night cruise on Azura calling at St Peter Port, from £199 per person for a Vantage Fare.
• Departing April 18, a four-night cruise with opera duo, Jonathan & Charlotte from Britain’s Got Talent on Azura stopping at Zeebrugge and St Peter Port, from £319 per person for a Vantage Fare.
• Departing April 22, a three-night cruise with a special celebrity guest on Azura calling at Zeebrugge and St Peter Port, from £249 for a Vantage Fare.
• Departing April 25, a two-night cruise on Azura calling at St Peter Port, from £199 for a Vantage Fare.

May

• Departing May 27, a four-night cruise on Ventura calling at Zeebrugge and St Peter Port, from £349 per person for a Vantage Fare.
• Departing May 31, a three-night cruise on Ventura calling at Zeebrugge and St Peter Port starts from £249 for a Vantage Fare.

June

• Departing June 3, a five-night cruise on Ventura calling at Amsterdam and St Peter Port, from £449 per person for a Vantage Fare.

July

• Departing July 14, a two-night cruise on Oceana calling at St Peter Port, from £249 for a Vantage Fare. 
• Departing July 16, a three-night cruise on Oceana calling at Zeebrugge and St Peter Port, from £349 per person for a Vantage Fare.

Added due to an increasing demand for shorter cruises, these escapes are an ideal introduction to a cruise holiday for couples, families, groups or even single travellers as some of the ships have sought-after large single cabins. They also make an ideal Christmas present or value for money alternative to a city break.

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's leading cruise-agent specialists. 

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Russell Watson Hits High Note With P&O

Classical singing star Russell Watson is to perform on two short break cruises with P&O Cruises in 2013. The world famous tenor will appear on new three and four-night sailings from Southampton in May and June.  The first departure is a three-night cruise to Belgium and Guernsey departing on Aurora on May 18, with prices starting at £299 per person.

The second sailing will see Watson perform on superliner Azura on a four-night cruise departing on July 5, calling at the same destinations. Prices are from £399pp. In addition to the performance, passengers on Azura can book pre or post-performance dinner in celebrity chef Atul Kochhar’s Sindhu restaurant, or Marco Pierre White’s Cafe Bordeaux on Aurora. 

The first port of call at Zeebrugge gives passengers the day to explore the city of Bruges, with the possibility of travelling further afield to visit Brussels, Ghent or Ypres. The second call in St Peter Port provides a gateway to the island of Guernsey. 

Watson has been in the spotlight since 1999 when his performance of World Cup anthem “Nessun Dorma” at Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium received a standing ovation. The Russell Watson cruise itineraries, on sale from November 1, are: 

• A three-night cruise on board Aurora (R305), departing May 18. Itinerary: Southampton, Zeebrugge, St Peter Port, Southampton. Prices from £299 per person.
• A four-night cruise on board Azura (A316N), departing June 5 Itinerary: Southampton, Zeebrugge, St Peter Port, Southampton. Prices from £399 per person. 

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's leading cruise-agent specialists.

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Cunard's March Cabin Upgrade Offers

Cunard have a series of offers with outstanding value for money this month to sample their classic ocean liner travel.

Destinations include a short break where you can join Queen Victoria on May 5 or Queen Mary 2 on November 16 for a four-night long weekend for an introduction to Cunard’s legendary lifestyle. Sail from Southampton and call at Zeebrugge (for Bruges) and Le Havre (for Paris) before returning home. On offer are outside stateroom fares at inside prices, starting from just £399 per person for Queen Victoria and £499 on QM2.

Queen Victoria’s Mediterranean 16-night voyage on October 3 starts from and returns back to Southampton visiting Cadiz, Malaga, Split, Corfu, Venice and Dubrovnik. Again, outside stateroom fares at inside prices are on offer from £1,499 per person and Princess Grill fares at deluxe balcony prices from £2,399.

Queen Elizabeth sails from Southampton on July 6 and August 7 for a seven-night voyage along Norway’s scenic coastline, calling at Stavanger, Skjolden, Geiranger and Bergen. A balcony stateroom is the perfect complement to this stunning landscape, with balcony fares now at outside stateroom prices, starting at £1,069 per person.

The Queen Mary 2 then departs Southampton on August 10 for an 11-night voyage to the Baltic cities, including Hamburg, Oslo, Copenhagen, Gothenburg and Stavanger. Outside stateroom fares for the cost of an inside room are now available in March from £1,549 per person.

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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Gareth Gates To Star For P&O

Pop Idol star and number one artist, Gareth Gates, will perform on a two-night cruise aboard P&O Cruises Oceana this September.

Gates will perform three shows in the 500-seat Footlights Theatre and will include his hit singles such as Spirit in the Sky, Anyone of Us and his version of Unchained Melody, the second biggest-selling single of the last decade. There will also be opportunities after the shows for photos and autographs.

The cruise departs from Southampton on September 3 and calls at Zeebrugge (for Bruges). A handful of balcony cabins are still available and priced from £406 per person based on two sharing on a full-board basis, including all main meals and entertainment.

Gates said: "I'm really excited about performing on board Oceana. I've never been on a cruise ship before but I've always wanted to and so this is going to be a fantastic experience for me."

For more info, visit www.pocruises.co.uk or the specialist cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Cruise For A Tenor With Cunard!

Cunard has introduced a new four-night winter voyage on board Queen Mary 2, departing Southampton on December 81. With prices starting at just £599 per person, the voyage’s star entertainment will be the four-tenor classical pop group, Blake.

Peter Shanks, Cunard President and Managing Director, explains: “We have been able to introduce this extra pre-Christmas sailing because the ships' planned refit in November can be completed in less time than we allowed. Passengers on this additional voyage will not only benefit from keen pricing and top quality entertainment, but they will also be the first to experience the totally refurbished Queen Mary 2!”

In the November dry-docking, all the cabins and most of the public rooms on the ship will be refurbished. The itinerary for the Southampton round-trip voyage features Le Havre (for Paris) and Zeebrugge (for Bruges), as well as a whole relaxing day at sea.

Blake launched their first album in 2007, and saw it go straight to number one in the UK Classical Album Chart. In 2008, the group secured a Brit Award for Album of the Year. They have subsequently sold over half a million albums. This short voyage is an ideal way to experience Queen Mary 2 for the first time, and it will make an ideal Christmas break for those anxious to get into the festive mood.

For more information, vist www.cunard.com or contact the luxury crusie agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Baltic Debut for Star Clippers

Tall ship sailing specialist Star Clippers will offer its first ever season sailing the Baltic in 2012, a unique chance to sail into some of the world’s greatest seafaring ports on a magnificent, fully-crewed square rigger, the 170-passenger Star Flyer.

As well as visiting iconic ports such as Copenhagen, St Petersburg and Stockholm, Star Clippers will sail to destinations with a long-standing love and appreciation of tall ships, including Kiel and Warnemunde/Rostock in Germany, where the vessel’s visit will coincide with the breathtaking annual Sailing Parade, a gathering of some of the world’s most stunning tall ships.

There will also be calls at smaller ports rarely visited by bigger cruise ships, giving guests a chance to appreciate the beauty of the islands and coastlines of the Baltic and Scandinavia without the crowds.

Highlights of the Baltic season include:

A five-night voyage from Southampton to Hamburg, via Amsterdam, departing May 5, 2012, including two full days at sea to enjoy the sensation of sailing on an authentic tall ship. From £1,035 per person, including all meals on board and port taxes (excludes return flight from Hamburg).

A seven-night voyage returning into Southampton, departing Hamburg on August 25, via Amsterdam, Ijmuiden, Antwerp and Zeebrugge, presenting another chance to sail up the Solent in one of the most dramatic-looking ships afloat. From £1,490 per person, including all meals on board and port taxes (excludes outbound flight to Hamburg).

Five, six and seven-night sailings to and from Warnemunde/Rostock, visiting ports in Germany, Denmark and Poland, as well as Sweden and Oslo. The five-night voyage calls at Copenhagen, Ronne/Bornholm and Gdansk, for example, while a six-night sailing from Warnemunde to Oslo on August 12 calls at Ronne-Bornholm, Copenhagen, Halmstad, Goteborg and Marstrand. From £1,035 for a five night round-trip sailing from Warnemunde, departing June 3, including all meals on board and port taxes (excluding flights).

Seven night voyages featuring Olso, situated at the head of a dramatic fjord. Oslo to Copenhagen, for example, calls at Marstrand, Goteborg, Halmstad and Helsingborg in Sweden and Kalundborg in Denmark, finishing in Copenhagen. A seven-night cruise costs from £1,490 pp, departing Oslo May 26, including all meals on board and port taxes (excluding flights).

A highlight of the season will be three ten or 11-night voyages round-trip from Stockholm, with an overnight in St Petersburg. Ports of call on the 10-night sailing departing July 21 include Visby, Tallinn, St Petersburg, Helsinki, and two additional ports in Finland, Hanko and Mariehamn-Aaland. Sailing from Stockholm is particularly special and Star Flyer will be a magnificent sight as she leaves the historic harbour of the Swedish capital and glides gracefully through the archipelago of hundreds of tiny islands. From £2,120 for 10 nights, departing Stockholm July 21, including all meals on board and port taxes (again, excluding flights).

For more information, visit www.starclippers.co.uk or contact the adventure-cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Tall Ship Cruising From The UK

Tall ship sailing specialist Star Clippers, who offer fully-crewed, sailing cruises on board magnificent head-turning tall ships, will bring the 170-passenger square rigger Star Flyer to the UK in 2012 for the first time since the vessel's launch in 1991, as part of the company's first ever season sailing the Baltic.

During summer, the Flyer will cruise out of Hamburg, Oslo, Stockholm and Copenhagen as well as to and from Southampton. She will be seen in the Solent and harboured in the British port on May 5 and September 1, 2012, attracting plenty of attention with her four masts, thousands of square feet of sail and graceful lines, modelled on the great clipper ships of the 19th century.

New Star Clippers cruises into and out of Southampton include:-

On April 14, Star Flyer sets out from St Maarten in the Caribbean on her repositioning cruise to Europe, arriving into Southampton on May 5, after a 21-day trans-Atlantic sailing (fares to be announced shortly).

She then departs Southampton later on May 5 for a five-night voyage to Hamburg, via Amsterdam - a unique chance to sail on a genuine tall ship from a British port, with two days at sea included, on which there will be plenty of chance to relax on the teak decks, learn about the wind, stars and navigation or even help the crew hoist the sails. The five-night sailing costs from £1,035 per person, including all meals on board and port taxes (excluding return flights from Hamburg).

On August 25, Star Flyer will sail from Hamburg to Southampton on a seven-night voyage via Amsterdam, Ijmuiden, Antwerp and Zeebrugge, presenting another chance to sail up the Solent in one of the most dramatic-looking ships afloat.

This seven-night sailing costs from £1,490 per person, including all meals on board and port taxes (excludes one-way flight to Hamburg).

On September 1, the head-turning square rigger departs Southampton once more, sailing for Lisbon and on to Malaga, from where she will operate five 7-night cruises in the Mediterranean prior to her transatlantic crossing back to her winter base of Costa Rica. This will be bookable in sectors, for which prices will be announced shortly.

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

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