Relive The Sound of Music With Titan

Calling all Sound of Music fans, here is a cruise experience - and an exclusive opportunity - just for you! Titan Travel, in conjunction with their river-cruise partners Uniworld, are offering guests travelling on selected river cruises this summer the unique opportunity to meet and hear performances by Elisabeth von Trapp.

As the granddaughter of the legendary Maria and Baron von Trapp, whose story inspired The Sound of Music, Elisabeth (above) will share the “sounds of music” with guests on a choice of 2014 itineraries for departures from June to September. 

Guests sailing on the 8-day Enchanting Danube itinerary, from Budapest to Passau, will be able to join Elisabeth in Salzburg at the beautiful Mirabellgarten as she performs songs from the famous film. A highlight of the performance will be the chance for guests to participate in a sing-along of “Do-Re-Mi” at the famed garden where the original 1964 scene was filmed. Elisabeth will also be performing a range of Gregorian chants, 12th-century mystic Hildegard of Bingen tunes, some early American hymns and her own original compositions. 

Guests sailing on the 14-day European Serenade and 7-day Danube Discovery and Prague itinerary will also be treated to “the sounds of Von Trapp” with an exclusive on-board performance. 

Prices for the August 3 departure of the Enchanting Danube cruise start from £2,729 per person, including flights, 7-night full board cruise on board the River Beatrice, transfers, excursions with English speaking guides, unlimited complimentary drinks, gratuities, Wi-Fi, taxes and Titan’s VIP Home Departure Service.

More info: call 0800 988 5867 or visit www.titantravel.co.uk/uniworld.

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. 

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Fred. Olsen's Norwegian Celebration With Julian Lloyd Webber

This spring, guests aboard Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ seven-night ‘Norwegian Celebration’ cruise will have the chance to listen to the fantastic musical sounds of renowned cellist Julian Lloyd Webber as they take in the sights of the magnificent fjords.  

This unique combination of views and music will be on offer aboard the 929-guest ship Braemar, where guests will be able to enjoy some of the most stunning vistas in Europe whilst also listening to one of the finest musicians of his generation. 

To encourage new and loyal customers to book by February 28, Fred. Olsen is also offering 10% off its great-value brochure fares. If guests book two cruises, they can save 20% off both, and, if they buy three or more cruises, they can save 30% off all cruises.

Prices for this cruise, which sails from Harwich on May 13, start from just £629 per person based on two adults sharing a twin-bedded, inside cabin and include accommodation, all meals and entertainment on board, and port dues. Guests can also choose to upgrade to the ‘all-inclusive’ drinks package for just £10 per person, per night.

More info: call 0800 0355 242 or visit 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.

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Cruising's Getting Cool?

By Editor Simon Veness

OK, it may be several years late arriving at this conclusion, but a recent story in The Observer's travel pages insists that cruising is cool and becoming increasingly popular with the younger generation.

The story (which you can see on this link) cites a recent ABTA survey, which says that many in the 16-24 year age-group would now consider a cruise as opposed to the usual trip to Ibiza or Malia.

And it is certainly true that there are a greater number of cruise options for the teen and young adult market these days, including many speciality rock and pop cruises featuring the likes of Pulp, Papa Roach, Sister Hazel and Gaelic Storm.

There is a Rock Boat cruise, a Monsters of Rock sea-going festival and Kid Rock's "Chillin' The Most" Cruise. There is a company dedicated to rock music at sea - Sixthman - and even a nautical website devoted to following your favourite bands, ThemeCruiseFinder.com, which lists no less than NINETEEN such voyages in 2014.

But here's the catch - it's nothing new. It's just that the mainstream media have only just discovered it's happening.

That Rock Boat Cruise? It's the 14th such example, while Kid Rock is on his fifth rockin' cruise. In fact, it's just another example of what cruising has been all about - in ALL its many facets - for years.

Because cruising long since realised that they need to appeal to people across the board, not just those who retired or won the lottery. All those tired old myths about cruising? They ARE tired old myths.

So, while The Observer may think they have discovered a new phenomenon, it is all part and parcel of how cruising has been re-inventing and re-presenting itself for today's audience in the past 15 years.

And it's just another reason why you should stick with World of Cruising for all the REAL insight into this still-growing holiday type.

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!

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Hit The Dance Floor On A Saga Voyage

Stop, Look, Listen – to Motown music as you sail away on the Portugal, Madeira and the Azores cruise with Saga Cruises this winter. 

Sandy beaches, lush landscapes, wine-tasting and dolphin-spotting will fill the day and, in the evening, gusts can dance to the best sounds from Berry Gordy’s Motown music machine. Better still, this cruise is all-inclusive. Priced from £1,899 for the full 15 nights, it departs from Southampton on November 8.

Saga Pearl II

There will be a Venetian masked ball on the "Adriatic Homecoming" all-inclusive classic cruise. Saga Pearl II (above) sails from Southampton and, on this melodic voyage, there will be plenty of star names, including soprano Hayley Westenra, The Operababes, The Three Tenors tribute act and The Gondolier Trio. The cruise itself visits the ancient ruins of Cartagena, Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, mythical Corfu, historic Split and, of course, the beautiful city of Venice. There is also the option to take an 11-night outward journey or 13-night return.

Prices start from £1,679 for 11 nights (Nov 22-Dec 3), £1,999 for 13 nights (Dec 3-16) or £2,749 for 24 nights. There is an optional three-night stay in Venice from £399, including breakfast.

Saga Pearl II also celebrates the magic of Motown with a cruise through the Norwegian Fjords next year. Guests can hit the dance floor when they hear tracks by Stevie Wonder, The Jackson Five and the Temptations, plus celebrate Berry Gordy’s record label in style when a Supremes tribute band brings those memories flooding back. Priced from £909 for 7 nights, it sets sail from Dover on May 1, calling at Bergen, Geiranger, Skojolden and Haugesund.

Saga Sapphire

Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Dance ‘til you drop to the sounds of the 60s on the four-night "A Taste of the Continent" cruise to Guernsey, Belgium and Holland. Tribute band the Mersey Beatles will be topping the bill on what promises to be groovy long weekend. Priced from £519, it departs from Southampton on May 2.

Or smooch to the laid-back sounds of The Rat Pack while on the "Fjordland Gems" cruise on the chic Saga Sapphire. Visit Olden, Flam and Stavanger by day and in the evenings sing along and dance to the Kings of Cool. Priced from £876 for seven nights, it departs from Dover, on May 6 and July 1.

All holidays include UK door-to-door travel service, all meals, entertainment, gratuities, room service and travel insurance and cancellation cover. All-inclusive cruises also include house branded alcohol and cocktails and soft drinks.

To book, call free on 0800 056 8986 or visit saga.co.uk/cruises.

Have you subscribed to World of Cruising magazine yet? We have a fabulous offer for all new subscribers this year - 50 per cent OFF the regular rate AND the chance to win a cruise in our free prize draw offer. See this link!

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Michael Ball & David Essex Highlight P&O's Musical Cruise Extravaganzas

P&O Cruises is launching its biggest ever line-up of star-studded music cruises this autumn with famous faces from the stage and screen. The special guests include Michael Ball, David Essex, The West End Men featuring Lee Mead and Here And Now – with live performances from six 1980s legends including Paul Young, Toyah and many more, who will all be joining selected cruises on a choice of ships and itineraries. 

The celebrity cruises are now on sale today and include:
       
The West End Men, featuring Lee Mead, perform on a 12-night Canary Islands cruise on Ventura, departing September 29 from Southampton with ports of call at Madeira, La Palma, Tenerife, Lanzarote and Lisbon. Getaway Fares are from £849 per person.

Here And Now - The Very Best Of The 80s with Paul Young, Toyah, Heaven 17, Howard Jones, Carol Decker from T’Pau and Clare Grogan from Altered Images. They will perform on a 12-night Western Mediterranean cruise on Oceana departing October 22 from Southampton, with calls at El Ferrol, Malaga, Alicante, Barcelona, Gibraltar and Lisbon. Getaway Fares are from £749 per person. 

David Essex performs on a 15-night Caribbean transatlantic cruise on Azura departing November 1 from Southampton and finishing in Barbados. The ports of call include the Azores, Antigua, St Maarten, St Kitts and St Lucia, with Getaway Fares from £999 per person. 

Michael Ball performs on a 10-night Baltic cruise on Aurora departing December 9 from Southampton, with calls at Bruges, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Gothenburg (overnight) and Oslo. Getaway Fares are from £599 per person. 

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

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Sample Norway's 200th Anniversary With Saga

The flags will be flying across Norway in 2014 as the country celebrates the bicentenary of its constitution. And Saga Cruises have a special selection of voyages next year perfectly suited to tie in with the celebrations and visit this land of natural beauty

The Fabulous Fjords
Music and mountains, fjords and fabulous fun will make Saga Pearl II’s sailings to Norway all the more special in 2014. Three departures also offer different dance options, with Motown on May 1, 60s Music on June 15 and Sounds of the 70s on August 15. Bergen, Geiranger, Skjolden and Haugesund are the ports of call on this 7-night cruise from Dover, with prices from £909pp.
 

Fjordland Gems
Do you love the sounds of the Rat Pack? Smooch along the fjords on Saga Sapphire, calling in at Bergen, Olden, Flam and Stavanger during the day and in the evening celebrate music inspired by the kings of cool. This 7-night cruise, sailing from Dover on July 1, is priced from £876pp.

Discover Sorfjord
Sorfjord is one of the lesser-known beauty spots in Norway and Saga Sapphire’s cruise will be all the more unusual as you enjoy music and concerts in some remarkable locations.  Hardanger Music Festival will perform a concert on board against a backdrop of breathtaking mountains. You will also have the chance to visit the former homes of composer Edvard Greig and violinist Ole Bull. Again a 7-night cruise, it is priced from £909pp and sails from Dover on June 2 calling at Bergen, Ulvik, Eidfjord, Sorfjord and Odda.

Nordic Notes
Opera buffs will love this themed cruise with behind-the-scenes insights form Barry Steward, the Royal Opera House tour manager. Enjoy arias, duets and ensembles as the Saga Sapphire passes mountains and remote villages. Passengers can also look forward to a memorable musical performance in Norway’s oldest opera house. It is priced from £1,136pp for 9 nights, departing from Dover on September 2, 2014.
 

For bookings, check with Saga Cruises or check for more ideas on this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's adventure-cruise specialists

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