Antarctica in style, luxury and small numbers

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Let's face it, everyone appreciates a good deal, and the phrase "you get what you pay for" couldn't be more true than in expedition travel. Zegrahm Expeditions are the first to admit that there are companies out there that can get travellers to Antarctica for less, but at what cost to the travel experience?

At Zegrahm, they believe their Antarctica, South Georgia & Falkland Islands voyage provides the biggest bang for anyone's "trip of a lifetime" money. When considering an expedition of this magnitude, they encourage you to onider these vital criteria:

Most big cruise ships do not offer landings on the Great White Continent itself; Zegrahm offers several opportunities. Zegrahm's fleet of Zodiacs (inflatable landing craft) provide the ability to explore at a moment's notice. The smaller group size also allows them to take everyone ashore at the same time, so there's no waiting onboard while others are out exploring.

The 110-passenger Clipper Adventurer is a deluxe expedition ship offering fine dining and all outside cabins with en suite facilities. She is also equipped with stabilisers, an ice-hardened hull and state-of-the-art navigation and communication systems. Unlike most cruises, meals, multiple daily excursions, lectures, an expedition parka, gratuities and emergency medical and evacuation insurance are included in the price of the trip.

In this vast land of ice and snow, travelling with expert naturalists, historians and geologists will deepen your understanding and offer invaluable insights. Travelling all that way, one shouldn't miss the profuse wildlife of South Georgia Island, the charming Falkland Islands and Shackleton's Elephant Island. Zegrahm only offers voyages that include the full experience of visiting all these destinations.

For more details, visit http://www.zeco.com/ or check with the UK adventure cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Luxury Cruising in the Galapagos Islands

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Haugan Cruises is pleased to present their new 2011 itineraries for M/C Athala (above) & M/C Nina, the only two luxury catamarans in the Galapagos with state-of-the-art design and technology, making them the fastest, sleekest and most stable catamarans cruising the islands.

They will be one of the first Galapagos Tour Operators to offer a 15-day itinerary with the very best visitor sites and flexible length of cruises. The programme will be divided into two 6-day itineraries and one 5-day itinerary, while 8-day cruises will also be available.

For further information, go ti their website at http://www.haugancruises.com/ or call the UK's adventure cruise specialists The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677.

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Sail In The Wake of Norwegian Explorer!

In 2011, Norway will celebrate 150 years since the birth of one of their most famous polar explorer, Fridtjof Nansen.

And, to mark the occasion, Hurtigruten has launched a unique sailing from Spitsbergen to Bergen following a similar route to that travelled by Nansen in 1896 on his return journey to mainland Norway after three years in the polar ice and reaching the northernmost point any human had ever been. The voyage in September is onboard MS Fram, Hurtigruten’s explorer ship which was named after Nansen’s polar ship which sailed the original journey.

Nansen sailed with Captain Otto Sverdrup and they received honour and glory in every port they visited on the way down the Norwegian coast. These ports form the backbone of the Hurtigruten service, which launched in 1897 with Captain Sverdrup at the helm.

The ‘Polar Bears, Islands and Fjords’ voyage starts by sailing into Northwest Spitsbergen National Park and the Magdalenafjord (above) before heading further north to latitude 80 degrees and the Moffen nature reserve, an important resting place for walrus. Then the ship heads southwards via Ny Alesund and the remote region around Bjornoya (Bear Island). After crossing the Barents Sea, the ship reaches the world’s most northerly town, Honningsvag, and the gateway to the North Cape.

From here, MS Fram will travel down the coast of Norway calling at a selection of ports, including several that do not usually form part of the traditional coastal voyage route but were visited by Nansen on his return journey. Highlights will include stops at Tromso, sailing through Trollfjord and the Lofoten Islands plus Alstahaug, a community of some 7,000 spread across no fewer than 917 islands and the UNESCO protected islands of Vega which encompass a staggering 6,000 islands, inlets and skerries with remote fishing villages.

The Polar Bears, Islands and Fjords voyage - from £3,196pp - departs on September 7, 2011, and includes 11 nights full board on the ship, flights from Oslo to Longyearbyen. one night’s pre-cruise accommodation in Longyearbyen with breakfast and sightseeing, Based on two sharing. Flights are extra.

For more information call Hurtigruten – 0844 448 7601 http://www.hurtigruten.co.uk/ or look up the adventure 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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European Capital of Culture with Celebrity Cruises

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Now you can combine luxury and culture by heading to Tallinn, the 2011 European Capital of Culture onboard Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Constellation (above). A 12-night Scandinavia and Russia fly/cruise costs from £1,575 per person (based on two people sharing an inside cabin).

Celebrity also offers a selection of shore excursions, such as ‘Glory of old Tallinn’, a walking tour of Tallinn’s Old Town, and ‘Panoramic Tallinn’, a coach tour that takes in the best sights of the city to ensure guests can experience everything it has to offer.

Price includes return flights from London Heathrow, transfers and a 12-night Scandinavia and Russia fly/cruise departing Amsterdam and calling at Berlin (Warnemunde), Stockholm, Tallinn, St Petersburg, Helsinki and Copenhagen before returning to Amsterdam; meals and entertainment onboard and all relevant cruise taxes/fees.

Price is also based on June 15, 2011, departure. For more details, visit http://www.celebritycruises.co.uk/ or call the specialist cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677.

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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Cruise the Panama Canal & Explore the Rain Forest

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Ever wanted to cruise the Panama Canal and explore the Costa Rican rainforest expedition-style?

Linblad Expeditions active, engaging and casual style of expedition travel may well be for you, as their resources and knowledge are tailor-made to immerse guests in the region's wild landscape, enabling active explorations rather than the more passive tourism of other cruises.

They also claim they are the 'More Naturalists Per Guest Than Any Other Cruise' company, exploring the magnificent cloud forests, volcanoes and oceans with 1 expert for every 15 guests aboard their intimate, 60-passenger expedition ship. You can snorkel with undersea experts and allow the Expedition Leader to tailor the day’s events to your preferred activity level.

The Lindblad-National Geographic Alliance also means more than just top naturalists and photographers on board, as their ship has exclusive access to Barro Colorado Island’s Smithsonian Research Station in the Panama Canal, where Smithsonian experts come aboard to help explore this unique ecosystem.

Lindblad Expeditions also partner with MarViva in Central America to safeguard and create marine protected areas in oceanic and coastal areas of Latin America and the Caribbean. Their work supports community education, enforcement of regulations in National Parks and the protection of coral reefs.

For more information, look up www.expeditions.com or visit adventure cruise specialists 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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Sailing to Monaco Grand Prix

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Boutique cruise operator Star Clippers, who offer fully crewed sailings on board the world's most spectacular tall ships, has a new 16-night land-cruise package for 2011 that takes in not only the Cannes film festival, but both the time trials and the race itself at the Monaco Grand Prix, combined with 14 nights sailing on the magnificent Star Flyer.

The experience begins on May 19 with two nights at the 4-star Cannes Riviera Hotel, during the final days of the 2011 Cannes film festival, when this stylish resort will be patronized by the rich and famous.

On May 21, guests embark the magnificent Star Flyer en route to 11 different ports during a 14-night sailing that takes in the Monaco Grand Prix on the weekend of May 28-29.

The price of £3,399 per person includes return flights from the UK, transfers, two nights B&B accommodation at the Cannes Riviera Hotel, 14 nights on Star Flyer, with all meals, 'N' Grandstand tickets for the Monaco Grand Prix and a sailing itinerary that includes the French Riviera, Corsica, Sardinia's Costa Smeralda and the north-west coast of Italy.

For more information, contact http://www.starclippers.co.uk/ or check with the specialist cruise agents 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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AmaWaterways, Latest River Cruise Offers

By guest blogger Steve Newman

27th December: Luxury New Year river cruise, from £999pp, saving £570

Ring in the New Year from a luxury river-cruise ship moored right in the heart of Europe. Luxury operator AmaWaterways has a 7-night river cruise, sailing from Nuremberg to Amsterdam, departing December 27 on the festively decorated AmaLyra at just £999 per person (was £1,569pp - a saving of £570).

The voyage includes champagne breakfasts, all meals with gala dinners, daily excursions and celebrations to welcome in 2011.

On December 31, the ship will be moored alongside Koblenz, in a prime location to take in the city's New Year celebrations, including a firework fiesta at midnight.

For more information, visit http://www.amawaterways.co.uk/ or call the river-cruise agents of cruise specialists The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677.

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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