Happy 50th, MS Lofoten!

It's not often you hear about a ship celebrating its 50th birthday, but that will definitely be the case up in Norway in March, when Norwegian coastal specialists Hurtigruten will be saluting the half-century mark of the oldest and smallest ship in the fleet - the popular vintage vessel MS Lofoten. 

The ship made its maiden voyage from Bergen with Hurtigruten on March 5, 1964, and its birthday will be celebrated with a range of activities on board, including celebratory meals, special anniversary stamps and fishing directly from the ship, as well as special booking offers for those wishing to join in the celebrations.

By it’s 50th birthday, the Lofoten will have travelled almost three million nautical miles, transported 1.25 million passengers and docked over 75,000 times in the Hurtigruten ports. The smallest and oldest of the line's ships has been protected by a preservation order since 2011 and its traditional charm and unique character have earned it a large community of fans among passengers.

The anniversary voyage, setting out from Bergen on March 2, will be the prelude to the festivities. Numerous well-wishers and visitors are expected in the larger Hurtigruten ports, while traditional Norwegian dancing and music will also mark the occasion.

A host of other activities will also be available on board during the anniversary voyage and throughout 2014, including an exhibition of photos of the ship over the past 50 years, while passengers will also learn fascinating facts about this vintage vessel and the history of Hurtigruten in lively lectures. On the southbound route, passengers can even try their luck at fishing directly from MS Lofoten’s weather deck.

Anyone born in 1964 and therefore sharing a 50th birthday year with the ship will have a special reason to book during 2014, as they will travel at half-price when accompanied by another passenger. Other available offers include a free excursion for those booking selected cabin types.

Hurtigruten, is on a special quest for personal memories, stories, anecdotes and photos that passengers, enthusiasts or former crew members have collected about the ship. Those who submit their memories to mslofoten@hurtigruten.com by February 28 will be entered into a draw to win a Hurtigruten voyage from Bergen to Kirkenes for two people including flights.

A ‘Classic Voyage North’ from Bergen to Kirkenes, departing on MS Lofoten on April 4 costs from £834 per person, based on two sharing an inside cabin on full board basis. Flights and transfers are available for an additional cost.

More info: call 0208 846 2666 or visit www.hurtigruten.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.

It's Saga Week On World of Cruising!

By Editor Simon Veness

Get ready for a full week of Saga Cruises here at World of Cruising this week, with a whole range of stories, insight and special offers from Britain's classic cruise line.

Starting tomorrow (Feb 11), we will have a new story each day on an aspect of the Dover-based company, who operate two ships - Saga Pearl II and Saga Sapphire - on a series of extensive voyages that appeal to the serious cruiser.

Taking it day by day, we will devote our new-look main website - www.worldofcruising.co.uk - to the full Saga story, with an in-depth look at what they do and a full week's worth of special offers, with follow-up stories here at Time Spent At Sea and our Twitter account, @WorldofCruising.

Both Saga ships offer a contrasting experience and a tempting programme of voyages, varying from 3 days to extended 20 and 30-day grand voyages to the Black Sea, Caribbean and further afield, with most setting sail from Dover but many from Southampton as well. There are themed cruises and Christmas cruises, plus special guests like Dame Stella Rimington (ex-MI5) and Dr Ann Birchall of the Antiques Roadshow and a 100th anniversary commemoration of the Gallipoli campaign in April 2015.

Intimate and casual, the 18,591-ton Saga Pearl II (left) is small enough to go where many big ships can't and features more off-the-beaten-track ports of call as a result, but still with a full array of amenities and facilities on board, including excellent dining, a choice of bars and lounges, plus an indoor pool, sauna and the latest fitness equipment.

The 37,301-ton Saga Sapphire (below) is the former five-star Europa of stylish Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, fully renovated and redesigned internally for British guests and maximum comfort, with a rather more contemporary style but still carrying only a maximum of 720 passengers. The vessel boasts spacious cabins, a state-of-the-art Spa, full promenade deck, three dining venues and a great range of public rooms, including the classic Britannia Lounge for afternoon tea.

All Saga dining is fully open seating (although there are fixed-seating tables if you prefer),

meaning you can dine when you like with whom you like, and it all comes with a friendly, efficient service that marks Saga out as one of the true individuals in the cruise world today. All cruises also feature a specialist lecture programme into the areas and ports visited by the ships, with expert guests to add real depth to the voyage.

Other Saga extras include:

• Door-to-door chauffeur service
• Travel insurance and additional cancellation cover
• All onboard gratuities
• 24 hour room service
• Free shuttle bus to take you to the nearest town centre
• Porterage of luggage

Now, be sure to tune in to Time Spent At Sea every day this coming week for more great news and offers on Saga cruises, and see more on our main website. And get ready to set sail!

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

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.

Cunard Plan 10th Anniversary Special For Queen Mary 2

Cunard’s flagship Queen Mary 2 will celebrate her first ten years of service this year with a series of special events and ceremonial markers for the last genuine transatlantic liner. 

Since her spectacular naming by Her Majesty The Queen in Southampton on January 8, 2004, QM2 has undertaken a total of 419 voyages, including more than 200 transatlantic crossings and called at 182 ports in 60 countries.

Since becoming Cunard’s flagship on completion of her maiden transatlantic crossing in May 2004, the vessel has remained unchallenged as the world’s largest, longest, tallest, widest and most expensive ocean liner ever built and the most famous and fastest passenger ship in operation today.

At 1,132ft in length, she would be taller, if stood on her stern, than the tallest building in Europe, the Shard in London, and would be over three times the height of St Paul’s Cathedral. Her 151,400 gross tonnage is the equivalent of nearly 19,000 London buses, and she boasts over four times as many rooms as the Dorchester hotel. 

In her first 10 years of service she’s sailed the equivalent of three times to the moon and back. She’s carried over 1.3 million guests, enough to fill Westminster Abbey 651 times. As well as human guests, over 2,000 dogs have travelled on Queen Mary 2, five times as many as in Battersea Dogs Home! 

QM2 departed on her eighth World Cruise yesterday, sailing together with Queen Elizabeth from Southampton after a fusillade of celebratory fireworks. The major 10th Anniversary celebrations will begin on May 9, however, when all three ships of the fleet will arrive together in their homeport of Southampton and Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth will salute the flagship’s first ten years. 

The day will feature special sail-pasts, a celebratory lunch and a spectacular send-off of fireworks as all three set sail together that evening, with Queen Mary 2 leading the way. Further details about the day’s events planned will be forthcoming soon.

Fares for the May 9-16 crossing to New York start from £1,279 per person, including a one-way transatlantic flight and $80 on board spending money. Fares for the May 16-23 crossing from New York to Southampton start from £1,249, with the same benefits.

More info: call 0843 374 0000 or visit www.cunard.com.

Have you subscribed to World of Cruising magazine yet? We have a very special, limited-time offer to save 50% off a full year's subscription, which includes six issues PLUS our new year-end Cruise Directory. That means a year's worth of Europe's leading cruise publication will be only £15. Check out the special rate on 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.

Marco Polo's Caribbean Highlights

This November, the unique adventurer Marco Polo of Cruise & Maritime Voyages sails from London Tilbury on a spectacular 32-night cruise to the West Indies, taking in 9 different Caribbean islands and numerous opportunities to explore the region through an action-packed excursion programme. 

Departing November 3, it calls at Ponte Delgada in the Azores and then Antigua, St Barts, St Maarten, St Kitts, St Lucia, St Vincent, Beuquia, Mayreau and Barbados in the blissful Caribbean, before returning to Tilbury via another stop in the Azores, this time at Horta.

Cruise fares start from just £1,969 per person, and one of the featured eye-catching shore excursions is as follows:

Barbados and the Catamaran Cruise & Turtle Encounter: This catamaran and lunch cruise leaves Bridgetown's harbour and, after a pleasant sail along the coast, anchors in a quiet bay where guests can take to the warm, inviting waters and snorkel, and spend some chill-out time on the beach. Afterwards they can simply relax - lie in the shady cabin or bask in the sun on deck and enjoy the beautiful scenery. The catamaran then sets sail to an area where guests will have the unique opportunity to view and swim with the enchanting Hawksbill Turtles, an opportunity not to be missed. A buffet luncheon is served on board and an open bar serves unlimited soft drinks, juice, beer wine and rum.

Marco Polo is a classic, elegant vessel with original wooden decks, small enough to get to know your way around and offer the unique country-house-hotel style experience on board that Cruise & Maritime are known for.

The fares are based on two people sharing an inner twin cabin on a full board basis with afternoon teas, daytime activities and evening entertainment, and complimentary tea and coffee between 6am and 10pm. Gratuities of £5pp per night will be debited to the onboard account.

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

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.

QM2's Transatlantic Landmark

Cunard's flagship Queen Mary 2 will be marking a major milestone on her July 6 voyage from New York to Southampton – it will be her 200th Atlantic crossing, with special speakers and performers on board to add to the celebratory mood.

Stephen Payne, OBE, who was largely responsible for the overall design of QM2, will present a fascinating insight into the construction of the world’s grandest ocean liner as part of Cunard’s speaker progamme. Stephen will be guest of honour at a gala evening on board which will include a commemorative dinner with a special menu. In addition, BBC newsreader and Classic FM presenter Nick Owen will lecture on board.

Also getting into the swing of things will be 16 musicians, plus a band leader and vocalist from the world-renowned Juilliard School of Dance, Drama and Music. The group will perform as a jazz orchestra providing a selection of Big Band, Swing and Glen Miller style music and smaller ensemble pieces.

They will play at an evening event in the Royal Court Theatre with full orchestra and vocalist, an afternoon tea dance, lunchtime jam sessions featuring an ensemble in the Chart Room, and a late evening ensemble in Illuminations as well as giving two jazz masterclass talks and a Q&A with the bandleader and members of the orchestra.

Queen Mary 2 is still the largest, longest, tallest, widest and most expensive liner ever built. Today, she is the only true ocean liner left in service and is the fastest passenger ship in the world.

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

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.