Cruise Through Your Christmas List With eWaterways

Dating back to 15th century Germany and the Alsace region of France, Christmas markets are a fantastically traditional way to prepare for the festive season and, with eWaterways, the niche and river cruise specialists, stress-free Christmas shopping combined with a spectacular winter cruise holiday is guaranteed.

The Amadeus Brilliant and the Royal Crown, two of Europe’s finest river cruise ships, will both sail the German and French waterways this November and December to offer cruisers an authentic Christmas Market experience.

The brand new luxury river ship Amadeus Brilliant, which launched this April to much acclaim, will take in Cologne, Koblenz, Strasbourg, Basel and Speyer for the 6-day 'Magic of Advent' cruise on the Rhine. Starting and finishing in Cologne, guests will be able to enjoy the best of both worlds: luxurious surroundings of the cruise ship and the delights of arriving in cities bursting with festive colour, aromas and sounds.

Stopping in Strasbourg, there will also be time to enjoy France’s eastern-most city on the border of Germany, where the Christmas market takes place on Grande Ile, a UNESCO Heritage Site and the first city centre to be granted world heritage status. Guests will be able to make the most of the ambiance and excitement of the markets, each selling a plethora of hand-made and unusual gifts, whilst sipping on a steaming mug of mulled wine. This is how Christmas should be!

The 'Magic of Advent' 6-day cruise takes place on 27 November, 2 December, 7 December and 12 December. Prices start from £465 including taxes and charges per person (cruise only) and include 5 nights on the Amadeus Brilliant on a fullboard basis, the Captain’s Gala Dinner and daily onboard musical performances.

The five-star river yacht Royal Crown will embark this November on a series of round trips to Mainz for the 4-day 'Historic Christmas Markets' cruise. A major highlight of this voyage is the breathtaking city of Rüdesheim. The Christmas market here brings a distinctly festive feel to the romantic old quarter and its popular Drosselgasse – a cobblestone lane with more than 120 stalls, which, during the festive season, showcases Christmas traditions from across the globe.

Sailing along the Middle Rhine Valley - a photographer’s dream, with numerous castles, palaces, vineyards and picturesque villages - guests can opt for an optional walking tour that includes visits to UNESCO World Heritage Sites Ehrenbreistein fortress and Stolzenfels Castle. The historical port city of Cologne, with its horse drawn carriages, sparkling lights and medieval churches, offers fabulous shopping opportunities at eight different Christmas markets all within walking distance of each other.

The 'Historic Christmas Markets' 4-day cruise takes place on 28 November, 5 December and 12 December. Prices start from £400, including taxes and charges per person (cruise only) and 3 nights on the Royal Crown on a full board basis, with welcome and farewell dinners.

For more info, visit www.ewaterways.co.uk or contact the river-cruise experts of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Oceania Cruises reveals 2012-2013 winter schedule

Oceania Cruises’ newly launched 2012 / 13 Winter Collection features voyages from September 2012 through May 2013 with an exotic cruise schedule that includes 21 new Grand Voyages, ranging from 23 to 71 days, and Caribbean and Panama Canal cruises onboard the line’s new 1,250-guest, luxury ship Riviera.

Oceania Cruises’ 684-guest Regatta will again offer her popular foliage cruises in September and October before cruising to the Caribbean and South America. New ports include Boston and Portland, Maine.

After a 25-day Enchanted Amazon (departing Nov. 2, 2012) cruise from New York, Regatta offers a 7-day Caribbean Interlude (departing Nov. 27, 2012) cruise before operating Panama Canal cruises (Above) between Miami and Los Angeles (beginning Dec. 4, 2012). A 30-day South American Explorer (departing Jan. 23, 3013) itinerary from Lima to Rio de Janeiro showcases the very best of South America. From Rio, Regatta reprises her 12-day Radiant Rhythms (beginning Feb. 22, 2012) cruises between Rio and Buenos Aires before heading to Europe for summer 2013.

For more information visit www.oceaniacruises.com or luxury cruise specialists The Cruise Line

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Zegrahm's Youth Education Camp In Zambia

Zegrahm & Eco Expeditions, an adventure travel company, has partnered with Children in the Wilderness to educate youth in Africa on environmental conservation and life skills. The six-day wilderness safari camps hosts rural children between the ages of 8 and 16 from seven southern African countries. Children are paired with park guides, who educate on the importance of conservation and introduce the youth to the beauty and diversity of the natural environment.

“Each year Zegrahm Expeditions has made it a tradition to donate to an organization that does charitable work in a region our expeditions visit or to a cause near and dear to our hearts,” stated Jon Nicholson, President of Zegrahm Expeditions. “I am pleased to sponsor the Children in the Wilderness camp as a thank you to our loyal travellers, travel advisors, and friends for their continued support.”

Zegrahm Field Director Jonathan Rossouw and photographer/videographer Giovanna Fasanelli, were able to take part in the Zegrahm-sponsored camp in Zambia in June. The pair participated in the activities set up for the children, which included going on game drives, a scavenger hunt to determine the difference between trash and recyclables, seeing a Thornicroft’s giraffe found only in the Luangwa Valley, and watching elephants feeding.

The children also learned life lessons ranging from HIV prevention to the uses of medicinal plants. Other camp activities included arts and crafts, soccer and potato sack races. The Children in the Wilderness programme gave the very best knowledge, and fun, to the youth who participated.

To learn more about Zegrahm Expeditions and their small-group expeditions to Zambia that stay in the same camp that hosted the children, visit http://www.zeco.com/ or for more on adventure cruises, visit the specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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SeaDream on to a Winner!

Congratulations to SeaDream Yacht Club, who received the prestigious accolade of being voted ‘Favourite Small Ship Cruise Line’ as recognised by the Conde Nast Traveller Annual Readers’ Travel Awards 2011 this week.

To find out more about their cruises, visit www.seadream.com or contact the luxury-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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P&O Cruises 'Early Booking Spectacular'

P&O Cruises is offering free return travel from home to ship and discounts of up to 20% on 2012 and 2013 bookings made by November 30.

This ‘Early Booking Spectacular’ offers passengers a more inclusive holiday option with no additional travel costs, as domestic flights, coach travel or valet parking (Cruise Connections) will be complimentary on bookings made during this three-month period. The discounts, of up to 20%, are available on cruises from the 2012/13 brochure on all seven ships in the P&O Cruises fleet.

The free Cruise Connections are offered on cruises of seven nights and more, enabling passengers to receive a discount of up to 20% PLUS a choice of one of the following:

Free valet car parking in Southampton (saving up to £311 per car); Free return coach transfers to/from Southampton; free return domestic flights to/from Southampton (including coach transfers in Southampton) from Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, Manchester or Leeds Bradford; free return flights for Adonia Mediterranean fly-cruises from London Gatwick or Manchester airport; free airport parking on Adonia Mediterranean fly-cruises and Ventura Caribbean fly-cruises; OR free one-way airport coach transfer to or from Southampton on selected fly-cruises.

A 14-night Mediterranean cruise holiday on board Azura departing April 15, 2012, is now priced from £1,099 with total savings of £425 per person, including:

- A 20% cruise discount of £275 per person

- Free flights from Glasgow, worth £150 per person

This cruise departs from and returns to Southampton, calling in Cadiz, Cartagena, Rome (from Civitavecchia), Florence/Pisa (from Livorno), Villefranche, Barcelona and Gibraltar.

A family of four travelling on a 9-night Atlantic Coast cruise on board Ventura, departing August 12, 2012, will pay £3,196 with total savings of £2,296, including:

- A 20% cruise discount of £250 per person

- An additional 40% cruise discount for third and fourth passengers aged 16 and under sharing a four-berth cabin, of £400 per child

- Free return coach transfers for four passengers from Glasgow, worth £124 per person

This cruise departs from and returns to Southampton, calling in Gibraltar, Casablanca, Cadiz, Lisbon and Vigo.

For more info, see www.pocruises.co.uk or for bookings, see the special cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Noble Caledonia's Scottish Adventure

Noble Caledonia have late booking offers on their "The Lordship of the Isles" cruise, taking in Argyll, the Hebrides and Isle of Man, aboard the MS Quest from only £1995.

The voyage sails from September 29 to October 6 and promises to be a real in-depth look at this unique and historic part of the word, with first-class lectures and shore excursions.

For more information, visit www.noble-caledonia.co.uk or contact the adventure-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Make it a ‘Caribbean Christmas’ With Fred. Olsen

Christmas is a time for celebration and relaxation, and what better way to do both than on a sunny Caribbean cruise? Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has a leisurely 25-night ex-UK ‘Caribbean Christmas’ cruise aboard Black Watch, departing from Southampton on December 17.

The long Atlantic crossing allows for plenty of time to relax and enjoy the many activities and facilities the ship has to offer. Guests can join in quizzes and traditional deck games, read in the peace of the library, swim, work out in the gym, or take part in many other enjoyable activities, as the ship makes her way to the warm Caribbean waters.

Christmas Day sees Black Watch in the middle of her Atlantic crossing, and the day is celebrated at sea in the traditional way – there is a sumptuous feast, a visit from Santa Claus for younger guests, as well as carol singing, festive entertainment, quizzes and, of course, a ship glittering with Christmas trees and decorations.

The first Caribbean port of call is Barbados on December 28 followed by the lovely islands of St Lucia, Antigua, Tortola and St Maarten, while the return crossing includes a visit to the Azores before arriving back in Southampton on January 11.

An extra-special attraction on this festive cruise is live entertainment from two of the best tribute bands around, appearing as part of the exclusive Fred. Olsen's ‘Music & Laughter’ programme. The acts are ‘Bee Gees Magic’ and ‘Abba Magic’, and they will be recreating the great sounds of the Seventies’ super-groups during the cruise.

Prices for this Christmas cruise start from £3,597 per person, based on two adults sharing an outside twin cabin, Grade ‘E’, and include accommodation, all meals and entertainment on board – including the ‘Music & Laughter’ programme – and port taxes.

Find out more at www.fredolsencruises.com or contact the specialst cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd at 0800 008 6677.

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