Try A Marco Polo Sampler

Cruise & Maritime Voyages are the only line that offer regular cruises on the classic Marco Polo (above) from the River Thames at the London Cruise Terminal in Tilbury, with the chance for two 'sampler' voyages on this elegant 22,080-ton ship this December. And, with the benefit of great shopping and no flights, you can almost literally buy as much as you want!

Prices start from only £169 for the first person and just £85 for the second person, for the two-night cruise. Take your pick from:

1. Cruise to Ghent at the junction of the River Leie and Scheldt and Amsterdam on the North Sea Canal on December 15 for 3 nights. This is ideal for Christmas shopping when the Festive Market is in full swing in Ghent, or you can also visit neighbouring Bruges or Brussels. Amsterdam is well stocked for shopping and full of sightseeing interest. On board items such as spirits, perfume and other gifts, including jewellery, are also keenly priced and duty free. Prices are from £249 for the first person and £125 for the second.

2. On December 18, you can sail for two nights, again from London Tilbury to Antwerp with a pleasant journey along the River Scheldt. The city offers a good range of shopping in the main square and there are many quality shops close by. Marco Polo berths close to the main square that is just a 10-minute walk, and there visitors can buy local beer, chocolates and many unusual gifts not normally found in your local UK town.

Marco Polo is an adult-only traditional and classic ship. She boasts traditional wooden decks, is small enough to get to know your way around and offers the unique country-house-hotel style experience on board that Cruise & Maritime Voyages are known for.

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

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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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Star Clippers Adds New 'Taster' Cruises

In response to growing demand for short ‘taster’ cruises, tall-ship sailing specialist Star Clippers has added new short-break cruises in the Baltic for 2013, in addition to Mediterranean sailings during 2012, including a five-night mini-cruise from Athens to Malta this October for just £999 per person, including flights and transfers.

Departing Athens on October 20, the 170-passenger square rigger Star Clipper sails to the picturesque ports of Monemvasia and Pilos in Greece, both relatively untouched by tourism, followed by a day at sea in which to relax on the warm teak decks, enjoying the autumn sunshine. There’s a day in historic Syracuse, Sicily, before arriving in Malta on October 25.

The company's new shorter cruises in 2013 cost from £690 per person, cruise-only, for three nights on Star Flyer (a sister ship to the four-masted Star Clipper), including the `Sailing Parade’ tall ships festival in Hamburg, to £1,025 for a five-night sailing from Monaco to Rome on Star Clipper. Other mini-cruises depart from Venice and Rome, for three and four nights respectively, on the company’s flagship, the five-masted, 227-passenger Royal Clipper.

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

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Sample Luxury Cruising With Crystal

One of our favourite cruise lines, the all-luxury of Crystal Cruises, is inviting cruisers and non-cruisers alike to experience the outstanding service and value of one of their stylish voyages on two brand new three and four-night sampler cruises in the Mediterranean this October and November.

Take your pick from:

October 13: three-night cruise on Crystal Serenity from Barcelona to Monte Carlo. This cruise includes an overnight stay on board in the vibrant city of Barcelona and one sea day to give guests the chance to sample the vast array of activities available. Prices start from £899 per person (based on two sharing), including return economy class flights from London, overseas transfers, three nights in a deluxe stateroom with picture window with all meals and soft drinks and port taxes.

November 23: four-night cruise on Crystal Serenity from Rome to Barcelona. On this voyage, guests will enjoy calls to Florence/Livorno, an overnight stay in Barcelona and one sea day to provide a full sample of the ship's style. Prices start from £998 per person (based on two sharing), including return economy class flights from London, overseas transfers, four nights in a deluxe stateroom with picture window with all meals and soft drinks and port taxes.

At these prices, the 'sampler' cruises really do represent fantastic value, with numerous extras included at no additional cost, including:

· All non-alcoholic beverages
· All meals, including dining in speciality restaurants featuring the cuisine of Nobu Matsuhisa and Piero Selvaggio
· Ice cream and frozen yoghurt bar
· Gym, steam, saunas and whirlpools
· Fitness classes
· Golf lessons with PGA pros
· Yamaha keyboard, Berlitz language and art classes
· Dozens of computer/technology classes
· Crystal Visions lecture series, featuring distinguished speakers
· Award-winning entertainment
· In-stateroom movie and CD rentals
· Film screenings in the onboard cinema
· Dance lessons
· Dedicated junior cruiser facilities
· Early embarkation luncheon
· Welcome champagne
· Comfortable shuttles to town
· Pillow menus
· Self-service laundries
· Twice-daily housekeeping with nightly turndown service
· 24-hour room service.

For more info, see www.crystalcruises.co.uk or visit the luxury cruise specialists of 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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