Norwegian Plan A Miami Escape

Here at World of Cruising we've heard that  Norwegian Cruise Line's brand new ship for 2015, Norwegian Escape, will make its home in Miami, sailing year-round to the eastern Caribbean.

As well as revealing the ship's new hull artwork (above), NCL declated that, like this year's newcomer Norwegian Getaway, the Escape will homeport in the South Florida port and take on the Getaway's Caribbean itinerary, calling at St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, Tortola in the British Virgin Islands and Nassau in the Bahamas, as well as offering three days at sea.

The Getaway will herself move to a new 7-day Caribbean itinerary - Norwegian's private island of Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas; Ocho Rios in Jamaica; George Town in Grand Cayman; and Cozumel, Mexico.

With these two ships sailing year-round from Miami, this will allow their previous flagship, Norwegian Epic, to be part of a 2015/16 deployment (as already announced) sailing from Barcelona year-round.

The line’s full deployment for winter next year also includes its return to South America cruises, a larger Jewel-class ship sailing to the Mexican Riviera, as well as the addition of Port Canaveral, Florida as a seasonal home-port.

The 20156/16 opens for booking on March 26.

More Info: call 0785 201 8900 or visit www.ncl.co.uk.

The new edition of World of Cruising is out this week, while you can still see the Feb/Mar issue online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see this link.

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.

Grab A Spring Deal To The Americas With Princess

Here's the kind of special offer that will always grab our attention here at World of Cruising - Princess Cruises is offering discounted rates throughout March and April on Caribbean, US, Canada, Panama Canal and Mexico voyages, setting sail between May and November.

In addition, passengers will receive up to £300 off their flight or $500 onboard credit (per couple booked). The credit can be used to enhance the on-board experience with optional extras such as dining in one of the speciality restaurants, a treatment in the spa or a variety of drinks from the bar.

Prices per person for seven days start at just £499 for cruises to the Caribbean or Mexico, £529 to California and £599 to Alaska. In addition, an 11-night Panama Canal cruise is available from £1,049, as the engineering marvel this year marks its 100^th anniversary.

This offer has been made available in response to increasing demand for these destinations. The Caribbean and Panama Canal in particular have experienced excellent growth so far this year compared to early 2013.    

More info: visit www.princess.com or call 0843 373 0333.

The next edition of World of Cruising will be out on March 17, 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.

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.

Star Clippers Feature Panama Canal Transit

We have already noted this year is the 100th anniversary of the great Panama Canal, and various cruise lines are featuring special opportunities to enjoy a Canal transit to honour the occasion.

The latest comes from tall-ship sailing specialist Star Clippers, who are offering two opportunities to sail through what’s been designated one of the seven wonders of the modern world. Both sailings will be on the four-masted Star Flyer (above) as part of either a 14-day or a nine-day Caribbean cruise, in November.

The two Panama Canal voyages are as follows:

• Star Flyer sails from Barbados to Balboa on November 9, calling at the Grenadines, Grenada, Venezuela, Curacao, Bonaire, Aruba, Cartagena and the San Blas archipelago, before entering the Canal as far as San Cristobal. The cruises costs from £2,795 for 14 nights, including full board on the ship and port taxes. Flights are extra.
• Star Flyer then returns to her winter cruising base of Cienfuegos, Cuba, departing Balboa on November 23, sailing into the Canal and then calling at ports in Colombia and the Cayman Islands as well as Casilda in Cuba (for the historic city of Trinidad). This voyage costs from £1,765 for nine nights, including full board on the ship and port taxes. Again, flights are extra.

More info: call 0808 231 4798 or visit www.starclippers.co.uk.

The new edition of World of Cruising is now out, and you can see the digital version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see this link.

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.

Royal Caribbean's Bahamas Escape

Fed up with the wet, miserable British winter weather? Of course you are - and so are we, hence the latest offer to arrive in our Inbox has us all day-dreaming of escaping to the sunny climes of the Bahamas. And, if you can go next month, you're in for a treat.

It comes from arguably THE sunshine specialists, Royal Caribbean themselves, and promises a great winter sun cruise - with a significant saving.

Sailing from Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey, the cruise features the best of the Bahamas and a stop in Florida before returning north for the flight home. And guests can enjoy all this with £100 off per stateroom if booked by February 28.

The eight-night cruise featuring Explorer of the Seas visits the Bahamian capital of Nassau on the island of New Providence and then Royal Caribbean's private island of Cococay before heading to the mainland for a call at Port Canaveral in the Sunshine State.

On board, guests can also scale the heights and enjoy amazing views 200ft above sea level on the incredible rock-climbing wall, or, for a more relaxed experience, can spend time at the solarium and indoor pool. All this is available from £1,175 per person (based on two people sharing an interior stateroom).

The price includes flights from London Heathrow; a pre-cruise hotel stay, transfers and the 8-night cruise; meals and entertainment on board; and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. Price is based on a March 21 departure. 

More info: call 0844 493 2061 or visit www.royalcaribbean.co.uk

The new edition of World of Cruising is now out, and you can see the digital version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see this link. 

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.

Navigator Gets Texas-Sized Makeover

When it comes to cruise ship makeovers, all the big companies are busily engaged in making their older ships newer, brighter or even bigger (and sometimes all three!). Now comes news of the completion of a month-long dry-dock revamp for Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas, which is primed to resume year-round service from Galveston, Texas, and add some Wow to the Lone Star State.

Part of an extensive fleetwide programme to enhance every Royal Caribbean ship, Navigator will introduce new and enhanced dining options; debut a new FlowRider surf simulator; and offer a glimpse ahead toward the cruise line’s highly anticipated Quantum of the Seas, with new first-at-sea features.

Top of the range is the new FlowRider surf simulator, the centre of attention atop the deck 13 Sports Deck, as well as the debut of Royal Caribbean’s first Virtual Balconies in 81 interior staterooms displaying views of the ocean and destinations. Virtual Balconies were first announced for Quantum of the Seas, which debuts October 2014, and Navigator guests can be among the first to experience this innovation.

Navigator will also feature an expanded line-up of eight different dining options, led by the debut of an all-new modern Mexican specialty restaurant Sabor, featuring a menu of modern Mexican dishes. Diners here also can delight in customised guacamole and salsas, made tableside, as well as an assortment of tacos, quesadillas and burritos, all made with the freshest ingredients. Sabor has a service charge of $25 per guest.

Also on board is the fully revamped and elevated Chops Grille: The New American Steakhouse, which marries contemporary flair to traditional steakhouse offerings. The first among Royal Caribbean’s fleet to offer the new menu, it will feature brand new selections, such as the Veal Chop Parmesan, a Slow-braised Short Rib of Beef with Bordelaise sauce, and a Dry-aged Steak Burger served on a brioche bun and topped with melted gruyere and pancetta. The line's signature alternative dining experience has a service charge of $35 per guest.

The new Izumi Japanese Cuisine (a la carte menu) and delicious classic Italian favourites in Giovanni’s Table Italian trattoria ($15 for lunch and $20 for dinner per guest) are also available, while rounding out Navigator's culinary experiences is the grand, three-storey main dining room, newly renamed Sapphire, the casual-dining Windjammer Café, and complimentary room service from 5-12 a.m.

Other popular concepts from the company's Oasis-class ships have also been introduced, such as new digital signage, bow-to-stern Wi-Fi service, new flat-panel televisions in every stateroom, an oversized LCD movie screen overlooking the main pool, a new Diamond Lounge for Crown & Anchor Society loyalty member guests, and the Royal Babies and Tots Nursery for the youngest guests ages six to 36 months. Additionally, the ship’s Champagne Bar has been re-conceptualised into Royal Caribbean’s signature, retro-chic R Bar.

Navigator of the Seas will sail seven-night Western Caribbean itineraries every Sunday from Galveston, visiting exciting warm-weather getaways in the Caribbean, including; Cozumel, Mexico; Roatan, Honduras; Belize City, Belize; Falmouth, Jamaica; and George Town, Grand Cayman.

More info: call 0844 493 4005 or visit www.royalcaribbean.co.uk.

The new edition of World of Cruising is now out, and you can see the digital version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see this link. 

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.

Princess Are Big In Japan

Princess Cruises has identified Japan as one of cruising's big new hot-spots after one of its busiest ever Januarys. With this time of year typically being 'Wave Season' and a huge period for cruise bookings, Princess is reporting triple digit growth on its routes in and around the Far East island.

Bookings were evenly split between passengers opting for a round tour of Japan and those preferring to take in the likes of Tokyo and Nagasaki as well as neighbouring countries, including Russia, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Elsewhere, the Panama Canal - which celebrates its 100th anniversary in August 2014 - has also proved popular, with booking numbers more than doubling. The Caribbean, a traditional cruise favourite, similarly fared well, with a sharp increase in passenger numbers.

Paul Ludlow, Princess Cruises Managing Director for UK and Europe, explained: "January is hugely significant for the cruise industry as it's our busiest time of the year for bookings. As a result, this demand is enormously encouraging and testament to Princess' wide range of global destinations and welcoming service.

"I'm pleased to see Japan is proving so popular as it's an incredible part of the world that's now more easily within reach of the UK. The prospect of exploring its culture, cuisine, art and history, all from the comfort of our ships, is an increasingly sought-after combination."

Japan cruises are available from £665 per person (cruise only).

More info: call 0843 373 0333 or visit www.princess.com.

The new edition of World of Cruising is now out, and you can see the digital version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see this link.

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.

Saga's Treasures Of The Caribbean

We're on to Day 4 of our wonderful Saga Week with Saga Cruises, and today's story takes a rather different form, with a fun look at a typical Caribbean cruise...

Sunshine, Moonlight, Good Times, Boogie - the Pirates of the Caribbean party was rocking to The Jacksons’ dance track as Saga Sapphire sailed out of St Lucia.

If ever there was an anthem for our cruise, this was it. With the rum punch flowing, passengers spilled from the deck to the balconies, synchronising dance moves, singing to the music and shimmying under the stars.

We had started the day by gliding through the rainforest canopy on an aerial tram and, as temperatures reached 28C, we cooled off with a swim in Marigot Bay, a picture-postcard cove where filming of the Dr Doolittle movie took place.

Still buzzing from the party, we docked in St Vincent and arranged a trip to the tiny island of Bequia (above). A glistening guard of flying fish raced our speedboat across the 6,000ft-deep rolling sea, only dropping back when we entered Admiralty Bay.

On the waterfront we chose Mac’s cafe for lobster pizza and the pre-requisite rum punch al fresco while midnight-blue hummingbirds hovered within arm’s reach. Our One Day in Paradise was over too soon. We had joined the jet-set for a day by sharing the cost of a speedboat between a group of eight.

Another indulgence was to take a 45-minute helicopter ride from Antigua to Montserrat, the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean before a volcano erupted in 1997.

Next stop was nearby St Kitts, after a gentle overnight sailing we grabbed a cab to tour the island. Other passengers opted for the scenic railway, once the sugar train which transported cane to the mills. We stopped off­ at Ottley’s Plantation Inn, a 15-minute drive from the port. This 35-acre estate was once a haunt of Princess Margaret - and no wonder - with the poolside dining area offering panoramic views over the sea to Nevis. We, too, were treated like royalty at this friendly and surprisingly laid-back retreat. We took a stroll round the estate to walk off lunch to admire the beautiful gardens.

And so on to Martinique (above), with its very French feel. Snorkelling was the order of the day. Prospect, our guide, showed us the way and we jumped into the clear, clear water like a bunch of excited schoolchildren. With beginners’ luck a turtle swam alongside and everyone on the ship heard about it for days.

Saga Sapphire sailed on to Trinidad where we found Port of Spain empty on ‘the morning after the night before’ Fantastic Friday carnival celebrations. We drove past Queen’s Park Oval and talked about the days when the West Indies cricket team were at their peak – and how Brian Lara once scored 375 and 400 against England. Ouch.

Next stop, Grenada, so pretty and relaxed after show time in Trinidad. At Mollinere Beach we snorkelled over James de Caries’ underwater sculptures. The 14ft-deep artwork was thought-provoking and all the better for the vast numbers of tropical fish which proved a delightful distraction.

How couldn’t we be pleased? We had woken up to a different view every day, ate breakfast in the sunshine, explored island after island and spent the evenings getting a taste for fine dining and, of course, dancing the night away.

Sunshine, Moonlight, Good Times, Boogie - and a cruise to remember forever.

Factfile: A similar cruise, Treasures of the Caribbean, departs on January 13, 2015, from Southampton. The 35-night all-inclusive cruise starts from £5,999 per person calling in at Funchal, Madeira; Porto Grande (Sao Vincente, Cape Verde); Scarborough, Tobago; Hillsborough, Carriacou Island; St George’s, Grenada; Kingstown, St Vincent; Bridgetown, Barbados; Roseau, Dominica; Little Bay, Montserrat; Blowing Pint Anguillla; St John’s Antigua; Ponte del Garda, Sao Miguel; Lisbon, Portugal; Southampton.

Price includes VIP door-to-door travel service, all house-brand alcoholic drinks and non-alcoholic drinks, all meals, 24-hour room service, entertainment and porterage.

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

For a longer version of this story see our News pages at the World of Cruising website, presented by Saga Cruises, on this link.

The new edition of World of Cruising is now out, and you can see the digital version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see this link.

 

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.

Britannia's Maiden Season

Following on from yesterday's big news about all the wonderful culinary features and debut season of P&O Cruises' spectacular new ship Britannia yesterday (see this link), here is a round-up of her maiden season's voyages.

Pre-registration is open today (Feb 13), with regular bookings available from March 27.

MAIDEN CRUISE

Spain, Italy & France  

Mar 14-28, 2015 • 14 nights • Britannia B502

Southampton - Gibraltar - Barcelona - Monte Carlo - Rome (tours from Civitavecchia) – Ajaccio, Corsica - Cartagena - Seville (tours from Cadiz) - Southampton

Prices from £1,149 per person.

MAIDEN CANARIES CRUISE

Portugal, Spain & Morocco   

Mar 28-Apr 11 • 14 nights • Britannia B503

Southampton - Madeira - Tenerife - Gran Canaria - Lanzarote - Agadir - Seville (tours from Cadiz) - Lisbon - Vigo - Southampton

Prices from £1,199 per person.

MAIDEN SHORT BREAK

Guernsey

July 4-6 • 2 nights • Britannia B512

Southampton - St Peter Port, Guernsey - Southampton

Prices from £249 per person.

MAIDEN NORWAY CRUISE

Norway, Nordfjord & Sognefjord   

Apr 25-May 2 • 7 nights • Britannia B505
Southampton - Bergen - Olden - Cruise in Nordfjord - Flaam - Cruise in Sognefjord - Stavanger – Southampton

Prices from £699 per person.

MAIDEN BALTIC CRUISE

Scandinavia, Estonia & Russia

May 30-Jun 13 • 14 nights • Britannia B509

Southampton - Kristiansand - Oslo - Copenhagen - Stockholm - Tallinn - St Petersburg - Helsinki - Bruges (tours from Zeebrugge) - Southampton

Prices from £1,499 per person.

MAIDEN BRITISH ISLES CRUISE

British Isles              

July 6-18 • 12 nights • Britannia B513     

Southampton - sailing by Flamborough Head & South Shields - Edinburgh (tours from South Queensferry) - Inverness (tours from Invergordon) - Kirkwall, Orkney Islands - sailing by Cape Wrath - Glasgow (tours from Greenock) - Liverpool - Dublin (tours from Dun Laoghaire) - Cork (tours from Cobh) - sailing by South Cornwall - St Peter Port, Guernsey - Southampton

Prices from £1,249 per person.

MAIDEN TRANSATLANTIC CRUISE

Portugal & Caribbean                             

Oct 23-Nov 7 • 14 nights • Britannia B524

Oct 23-Nov 8 • 15 nights • Britannia B524A

Southampton - Madeira - St Maarten - St Lucia - Dominica - Grenada - Barbados (overnight in port on B524A) - Overnight flight to UK

Prices from £1,099 per person.

CARIBBEAN

Fly UK to Barbados (Friday departures overnight in port) - Grenada - Isla Margarita - Curacao - Aruba - Tortola - St Maarten - Antigua - St Kitts - Barbados (Saturday departures overnight in port) - Overnight flight to UK (flights from selected UK airports)

Friday Departures; Nov 20-Dec 5 • 15 nights • Britannia B526

Prices from £1,399.

More info: call 0843 374 0111 or visit www.pocruises.co.uk.

The new edition of World of Cruising is now out, and you can see the digital version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see this link.  

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.

Britannia Assembles 'Food Heroes' For Debut Season

Hot on the heels of the announcement of Royal Caribbean's debut Southampton season for new ship Anthem of the Seas next year (see our blog on Monday on this link) comes P&O Cruises and their full programme for spectacular new ship Britannia.

And Britain's oldest cruise line is pulling out all the stops by assembling the cream of culinary talent as the new ship’s 'Food Heroes' - an unprecedented line up of the country’s celebrity chefs.

The country’s favourite TV chef, James Martin (above), will develop The Cookery Club, the first cookery school on board a British cruise ship. He joins award winning master patissier ‘Cake Boy’ Eric Lanlard, in his first venture at sea, a patisserie range in the Market Café at the heart of the ship’s spectacular atrium.

Established P&O favourites Marco Pierre White, Atul Kochhar and Olly Smith will lend their expertise to the varied culinary options on board ranging from speciality restaurants and wine bars through to gala dinners in the main dining rooms.

Passengers will be able to participate in hands-on cookery tuition under the expert guidance of P&O's 'famous five' culinary giants. Guest chefs will also be on board in this state-of-the-art cookery school, which can hold classes of up to 24 people at a time and there will be a Chef’s Table to allow passengers to experience world class cuisine in an intimate space.

When the biggest ship built for the British cruise market sets sail on its maiden voyage from Southampton to the Mediterranean on March 14, 2015, it will mark a step change in holidays at sea. As well as the new Cookery Club, passengers taking a cruise on board Britannia will experience:

·       Dedicated supervised children’s club for ages 2-17, with dedicated teens area.

·       Three-tier feature atrium with Eric Lanlard patisserie, a charcuterie and gelataria as well as spectacular starburst sculpture.

·       13 bars and 13 different places to eat.

·       Oasis Spa and open deck Retreat.

·       Sports arena.

·       Al fresco dining.

·       Four swimming pools including a Serenity “quiet zone” pool and bar.

·       Art collection in excess of £1million.

·       1,837 cabins – all outsides have a balcony, including 64 suites and 27 single cabins.

·       Library.

·       Dedicated wedding venue.

·       936-seat state-of-the-art theatre with LED screen.

·       The Studio – multi-purpose “tv studio” for guest speakers, talks, demonstrations, cinema screenings, radio plays and game shows.

·       The Crystal room – dedicated to all types of dance.

·       The Limelight Club – entertainment and dining.

·       Sindhu from Atul Kochhar and Olly Smith’s The Glass House.

Britannia’s maiden season will see the ship sail from Southampton to the Mediterranean, Norwegian Fjords, Canary Islands and the Baltic Sea, as well as offering a range of short breaks and a special round-Britain cruise. The ship will then transfer to the Caribbean for the winter season sailing a range of 15-night fly/cruise itineraries from Barbados.

More info: call 0843 374 0111 or visit www.pocruises.co.uk.

For the full range of Britannia's cruises, be sure to see Time Spent At Sea tomorrow. 

The new edition of World of Cruising is now out, and you can see the digital version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see this link. 

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.

Daley Takes Plunge With Royal Caribbean

British icon Tom Daley has been taking to the sea to help launch a new athletic competition that highlights Royal Caribbean's new line-up of cruises in the Caribbean - and it looks like he's having fun!

In fact, 19-year-old Tom - the Olympic high diver and star of ITV daredevil show Splash - was actually taking part in the "Caribbean Cup Challenge," an imaginative new programme designed to promote the cruise line’s latest sailings. 

Daley, Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe and American gymnast Gabby Douglas all competed in a variety of athletic challenges, including surfing (above), rock-climbing and dodgeball on board the line's mega-ship Allure of the Seas. 

And, of course, they are all activities guests can enjoy on the 220,000-ton ship as part of the amazing variety of sporting amenities on offer, notably the FloRider surf pool and the amazing Zipline ride. Royal Caribbean are also offering some special-priced deals on Allure's seven-night Western Caribbean fly/cruises this year, starting from just £1,249 per person (based on two people sharing an interior stateroom).
 
This new price includes a £100 discount, flights from London Heathrow, one night's pre-cruise hotel stay and the seven-night cruise departing from Fort Lauderdale and calling at Labadee (Royal Caribbean's private beach island), Falmouth in Jamaica and Cozumel  in Mexico before returning to Fort Lauderdale; plus all meals and entertainment onboard and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. Price is based on March 22 departure.

More info: call 0844 493 2061 or visit www.royalcaribbean.co.uk.

The new edition of World of Cruising is now out, and you can see the digital version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see this link.

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.

Fred Olsen Celebrate 100th Anniversary Of Panama Canal

The Panama Canal is going to be much in focus this year as it prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary in August, and various lines are offering cruies to mark the centenary occasion with some special voyages. 

The latest offer to take in one of the world’s most spectacular engineering feats comes from Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, who are offering the chance to commemorate the occasion on style aboard their flagship Balmoral. The 31-night ‘The Americas & Caribbean’ fly-cruise starts with a departure from London Gatwick on March 19 and sails all the way from San Diego, through the Caribbean and back to Southampton.

This exotic fly-cruise is one of the sectors of Balmoral’s 104-night World Cruise, which departed from Southampton back on January 5.

The obvious highlight of this trip, though, is a scenic cruise along the awe-inspiring Canal itself. Listed in CNN’s rundown of ‘11 places to go in 2014’, Panama is a tiny, but diverse, country of volcanoes, rainforests, coffee plantations and beautiful beaches, on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, which is also home to one of the most important trade waterways on the globe.

The ‘Big Ditch’, as the Panama Canal is known, lifts Balmoral with a fascinating system of mechanics, along the three great locks – Gatun, Pedro Miguel and Miraflores – aided by on-shore ‘mule’ locomotives, and passing under the iconic ‘Bridge of the Americas’.

More info: 0800 0355 242 www.fredolsencruises.com.

The new edition of World of Cruising is now out, and you can see the digital version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see this link.

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.

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.

The new edition of World of Cruising is now out, and you can see the digital version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see this link.

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.

Star Clippers Highlight Sail-Cruise Romance

Sail-cruising is a brand of the cruise world all its own, and there are a range of different experiences it can provide unlike any other kind of vessel. Foremost among is them is a genuinely romantic ambience to every voyage, and tall ship specialist Star Clippers has recently selected 10 of its most exciting, adventurous and romantic cruises to highlight for the 2014/15 season.

Each voyage highlights a different aspect of life on three of the world’s finest tall ships, from the great cultural sites of Europe to the most picturesque Croatian ports, the best beaches in the Caribbean and the most fashionable spots in the Balearics, plus the new Cuba destination.

Guests can choose between a 16-night transatlantic voyage or a three-day taster cruise; there are opportunities to learn yoga, attend lectures or simply relax on the sun-warmed teak decks, gazing up at a mass of billowing sails.

All voyages also include full board on the ship, entertainment and use of the watersports equipment on each vessel.

Highlights of the Top 10 include the new Balearics cruise, calling at anchorages only accessible to small ships, including the sleepy but beautiful islands of Formentera and lively Puerto Pollença on Mallorca; a 14-night Caribbean voyage calling at four ports in Venezuela (the coast of which is scattered with beautiful, unspoiled islands) and the Dutch ‘ABC’ islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao, with some of the finest beaches on the planet; and Star Clipper’s "Treasure Islands" itinerary, sailing from St Maarten and with more stunning beaches.

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

Our new edition is now out - see more on this link! Or, to subscribe with our special limited time offer, go to our subscriptions page.

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.

British Virgin Islands Firmly On Cruise Map

The wonderful Caribbean retreat of the British Virgin Islands will be firmly on the cruise map like never before from mid-2015 after the island government signed new long-term contracts with Norwegian Cruise Line and Disney Cruise Line.

The two companies have got together to guarantee a total of at least 425,000 passengers a year, a deal BVI Premier Orlando Smith says paves the way for the islands to be among the leading players of the Caribbean cruise industry.

The agreements, which grant preferential berthing to the two lines, were inked by Karl Holz, DCL president, and Colin Murphy, VP destination and strategic development for Norwegian, who will guarantee 350,000 passengers a year on top of Disney's 75,000.

The lines will pay a head tax of $15 starting in May next year that is subject to increase after five years based on a set formula that takes into account factors including inflation. The tax, much higher than the current rate, will help pay for a major upgrade and expansion of the cruise berth and landside facilities at Road Town, Tortola.

In a statement, the Premier said the Norwegian-Disney agreements mark the first time BVI has a guaranteed, year-round number of cruise passengers. He called the extension of the cruise pier and its associated landside development "the most fundamental" of decisions related to growing tourism through the cruise sector. He added: "By signing this berthing agreement, we are demonstrating, as a territory, that we are moving forward on the road of progress. The agreement is about the future sustainability of our cruise tourism sector."

Mr Smith added that the infrastructure improvements will enable BVI to accommodate the latest mega-ships such as Disney Dream and Norwegian Getaway, which is scheduled to replace St. Maarten with Tortola on its seven-day eastern Caribbean programmer starting in summer 2015.

The plans for Tortola involve dredging to expand the turning basin, navigation channels and berthing on both sides of the pier, lengthening the dock from 230 meters to 396 and widening it from 9.9 meters to 13.7. Additional mooring dolphins will be built along both sides, a new deck will be added to the widened pier, and landside development includes a visitor centre, restrooms, shopping village and a transportation staging area.

The new edition of World of Cruising is now out, and you can see the digital version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see this link.

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.

Cruise & Walk In The Caribbean

We know the 'cruise and walk' holidays with Ramblers Worldwide have proved popular here on Time Spent At Sea in the past, so here is another opportunity to try their unique combination with Fred. Olsen Cruises - this time on a pair of fly-cruise trips to the Caribbean early next year.

The Caribbean and Latin America 
This rare 16-night Cruise & Walk opportunity covers three islands in the Eastern Caribbean, three in the Dutch Antilles and three ports in Panama and Colombia. The adventure begins with a flight to Barbados where guests spends a night in a hotel and exploring the island before boarding Fred. Olsen’s Braemar, which then sets sail for Castries, St Lucia. From there, it is on to the Spice Island of Grenada, famed for its production of nutmeg, mace, vanilla, cinnamon, cloves and ginger. Next port of call is Bonaire, the most easterly of the Netherlands Antilles (and just 50 miles off the coast of Venezuela), followed by Aruba.

Then it is full steam ahead for the mainland of Latin America calling at Colon close to the Panama Canal, which offers the chance to visit the San Lorenzo National Park, famed for its forests, mangroves and pastureland. Next up are Cartagena and Santa Maria in Colombia and, on the way back to Barbados for the flight home, the ship visits another of the Dutch Antilles islands, Curacao.

Prices are from £2,850 per person, departing on January 25  2015.

Islands in the Caribbean
This 16-night Cruise & Walk option begins in Barbados after a night on this exotic island on board Braemar. Then the ship sets sail for Tortola in the British Virgin Islands and thence to Havana, Cuba, for two tantalising days. Next is Grand Turk, in the Turks and Caicos Islands followed by St Kitts, St Maarten and Antigua (for two days), before returning to Barbados for the homeward flight.

Prices are from £2,590 per person, departing February 8, 2015.

All of the above prices include all meals, an exclusive welcome party on one evening and a traditional afternoon tea with waiter service on a sea day, guided walking tours, shore visits, sightseeing programmes, on-board entertainment and restaurant tips plus the services of a dedicated tour leader.

More Info: call 01707 386767 or visit www.cruiseandwalk.co.uk.

The new edition of World of Cruising is now out, and you can see the digital version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see this link. 

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.

Fred Olsen & The Amazon

Wildlife enthusiasts (and we know we have quite a few here at Time Spent At Sea!) will be intrigued by a rare opportunity from Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ to take an extended voyage along the Amazon River this March, which promises to deliver an in-depth experience into this amazing region, sailing round-trip from the UK.

The 35-night ‘Amazon River & Beaches of the Caribbean’ cruise departs from Southampton on Boudicca on March 22 and will take guests deep into the heart of the rainforest, teeming with exotic flora and fauna. It will also visit some of the world’s finest islands in the Caribbean, including Barbados, St. Lucia and Dominica, offering beautiful beaches and the chance for some welcome relaxation in the sun.

Very few cruise lines are able to offer this sort of in-depth Amazon voyaging but, as Boudicca is a smaller-sized ship, she can take guests further up the River, where the people, culture and colourful wildlife never fail to inspire.

More info: 800 0355 242 www.fredolsencruises.com.
 

The new edition of World of Cruising is now out, and you can see the digital version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see this link.

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.