Rare Voyages On Aranui

The Aranui is the only ship to sail the 2,200 mile round-trip from Papeete to all six inhabited Marquesa islands, making it a lifeline to the outside world for their people. The 14-night voyage to the most remote archipelago in the world follows in the wake of Prince William and Kate, as well as famous artist, Paul Gauguin, author of Moby Dick, Herman Melville, and Robert Louis Stevenson, all of whom were inspired by the beauty of French Polynesia.

Highlights range from the mountain spires of Ua Pou, described by Stevenson in 1880 as “volcanic needles like the pinnacles of some ornate church", to Me'ae Te Iipona in Puamau, one of the most significant ancient temples in the region, with the highest concentration of traditional tiki statues.

Passengers will have the opportunity to see rare black pearls being harvested from giant oysters in the Tuamotu islands, meet traditional artists throughout the Marquesas and transfer ashore on whale boats to take in the historic, cultural and scenic sights and enjoy breath-taking hikes to hidden jungle ruins.

The Aranui, a cargo carrier-cum-passenger ship, boasts 86 fully air-conditioned cabins as well as the capacity to carry more than 2,000 tons of freight. Passengers enjoy comfortable lounges, a swimming pool and gym and a full programme of lectures on Marquesan history, culture and art.

Prices for 2013 start from £3,125 per person sharing a standard twin bedded outside cabin with private facilities, including all meals with wine, all land-based sightseeing excursions and taxes. However, during 2013, three departures are being offered at a 10% discount: 6 April, 8 June and, for seniors aged over 60 only, 31 August, bringing the starting price down to Euros £2,781.

For more info look up www.aranui.com, or follow this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's adventure cruising specialists.

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Get a Free Cairo Extension With Bales Nile Tours

For a limited time only, the specialist worldwide tours of Bales Worldwide is offering a FREE three-night Cairo extension on their superb Nostalgic Nile tour if booked by April 30. The details are as follows:

The Nostalgic Nile, from £2,095pp, with free Cairo Extension

This eight-day itinerary with Bales Worldwide includes scheduled flights with EgyptAir to Luxor, accommodation on a traditional ‘dahabiyya’ luxury sailing vessel and sightseeing encompassing Luxor, Esna, Kom Ombo, Aswan and Cairo. The trip also features English-speaking guides on board who will take care of tipping, a private air-conditioned vehicle for transfers, a sightseeing itinerary (including entrance fees) and the exclusive ‘dahabiyya’ cruise. Prices are per person based on two adults travelling on a mixed board basis. Price includes all applicable UK and overseas airport taxes and fuel surcharges which are subject to change. Prices are based on departures on Apr 27.

Three night Cairo extension

Extend your time in Egypt with 3 nights in the vibrant capital, staying at the luxurious Oberoi Mena House in a Pyramid view room. This extension includes: Transfers, 3 nights at Mena House in a Pyramid View Room, Daily Breakfast, Half-Day Guided Tour of Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza, Entrance to Solar Boat Museum at Pyramids, and a Half-Day Guided Tour of Egyptian Museum

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

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Take A Look At Europa In 2014

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has unveiled its 2014 Europa international brochure, including four exciting itineraries operating in English and German. The highest ranked cruise ship in the world, according to the 2013 Berlitz Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships, the 408-guest Europa is offering itineraries to over a dozen countries in Europe and Northern Africa in its 2014 bilingual brochure.

Hapag-Lloyd also enhances the luxury experience with its travel concierge programme, which assists guests to book individual shore arrangements in advance of their cruise. This advance booking opportunity applies to excursions during the cruise, as well as pre and post-cruise travel options, enhancing the concept of Europa's tailor-made travel experience with private programmes with or without guides, and excursions off the beaten path. There is also an international hostess on all cruises, whether bilingual or not, to ensure English-speaking passengers feel as comfortable as possible.

New for Europa's summer 2013, children 11 years of age or younger, sharing a suite with one or two full-price adult passengers, travel free of charge. Children ages 12-15 sharing a suite with two full-price passengers pay just £39 per night, which includes all meals and soft drinks for lunch and dinner.

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

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Quark's New Arctic Explorations

Quark Expeditions has launched the company’s Arctic 2014 line-up, with an enticing season featuring 15 voyages that include three new Canadian Arctic expedition itineraries exploring the immense territory and majestic scenery of the final frontier, its indigenous peoples, history and diverse wildlife. 

The new 'Canadian Arctic & West Greenland' voyages are also aboard a new ship in Quark’s fleet, the 114-guest Sea Explorer (formerly Corinthian II, sister ship to Quark’s Sea Spirit). This ice-strengthened small luxury expedition ship features spacious ocean-facing cabins, all-inclusive bar and beverages and optional sea-kayaking adventures.

Three New Itineraries: 

• Arctic Quest: Greenland to Churchill – This new 16-day voyage in July and August ventures into the Arctic's far reaches, home of polar bears and walrus, where Inuit communities still maintain traditional ways of life. Explore the fjords of Greenland by ship and Zodiac and navigate the eastern-most channel of Canada’s historic Northwest Passage. Prices start from £5,095 per person for 15 nights (16 days) with three meals a day, all inclusive beverages, shore landings and on-board lectures.
• In the Footsteps of Franklin: Greenland & Canada’s High Arctic – Explore the best of Greenland’s west coast on this 13-day voyage in August and September, including Illulissat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the fastest and most active glaciers in the world. Crossing into Canadian waters en route to Resolute, cruise by spectacular limestone cliffs first sighted by explorer in the 18^th Century. Explore, on foot and by Zodiac, Beechey Island, landing site of the Franklin Expedition and the most notable landmark in the history of exploration of the Canadian Arctic. Prices start from £3,865 per person, including one night's accommodation pre and post-cruise in Reykjavik and Toronto, all inclusive beverages, shore landings and on-board lectures.
• Epic High Arctic: Baffin Island Explorer via Fury & Hecla – Follow a truly epic route explored by very few on this 13-day High Arctic voyage in September that will navigate the challenging Fury and Hecla Strait between Resolute and Iqaluit. Visit with world-renowned Inuit carvers and artists at Cape Dorset, marvel at the bird cliffs and spot walrus and polar bears while Zodiac cruising around Akpatok and Monumental Islands. Prices start from £3,525 per person for 12 nights (13 days), including one night's accommodation pre and post-cruise in Toronto and Montreal, all inclusive beverages, shore landings and on-board lectures.

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

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Best New Ship Of The Year?

The first of the year's five major new ship offerings has just been launched, amid much Italian fanfare, by MSC Cruises in Genoa.

MSC Preziosa is the 12th new vessel to join the MSC fleet and another example of the amazing range and appeal of modern ship design. Interestingly, she also makes the Italian company the third-largest in the world after Carnival and Royal Caribbean, edging Norwegian Cruise Line into fourth place (for now!).

With that in mind, we at World of Cruising thought it would be an interesting idea to run a poll of our readers, asking what they think is the most keenly anticipated new ship of the year. The five contenders are as follows:

MSC Preziosa: the latest and greatest from MSC Cruises, overseen by godmother Sophia Loren to add star power and boasting a capacity of 3,502 passengers. She includes seven restaurants and the latest enhancements of the line's exclusive MSC Yacht Club, the ship-within-a-ship area that effectively recreates a first class style of travel.

Norwegian Breakaway: a large-scale refinement of Norwegian's largest vessel, Norwegian Epic, Breakaway will be notable for her dedication to providing a sea-view aspect with many of her public areas. Due out at the end of April, she will feature The Waterfront, a quarter-mile of outward-facing dining, bars and lounges that give her 4,000 passengers a true connection with the sea (a rarity these days). While still monolithic in appearance, she should be spectacular inside.

Royal Princess: the largest ship ever ordered for the Princess brand, this should also be the most spectacular, with a whole raft of extra amenities, facilities and design features when she debuts in June. At 140,000 tons, she is 20% larger than the biggest vessels currently in the fleet, but she will add a great range of new dining and entertainment choice, including an expanded Atrium area that serves as the focal point and a unique top-deck pool arrangement featuring a water and light show.

Europa 2: going for a smaller and more exclusive style in May, Hapag-Lloyd's first new-build project in several years features a sumptuous arrange of distinctive, six-star amenities that should make this one of the most distinctive ships in the world, from a service point of view. With cutting-edge interior design and an array of six specialist restaurants that promises to be truly deluxe, Europa 2 will also be one of the most spacious ships ever built, with some of the largest staterooms and the highest Space Ratio of any ship at sea.

Le Soleal: the smallest of our Fab Five for 2013, the latest offering (launching in July and just 10,600 tons) from French line Le Compagnie du Ponant, this sleek cruiser should be a known quantity as she is the third in this novel series. Carrying barely 250 passengers, Le Soleal should be the latest word in exclusive small-ship sophistication and chic, within the company's style of Yacht Cruising that is wonderfully elegant and individual. 

So, those are the contenders for our Ship of the Year feature - now go and vote in our poll (you will find it at the top of our home page, on the right, with the heading What Is The Most Anticipated New Ship Of The Year For You?) and let us know what YOU think will be No 1.

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A Patagonia Spectacular With Tauck

This isn't strictly cruising, but seeing as how our trip to Chilean Patagonia with Nomads of the Seas was so spectacular a couple of years ago, we thought this was well worth highlighting...

Guided tours specialist Tauck has unveiled a new 11-day journey to Patagonia for 2014 that explores the landscapes, culture and history of the rugged region shared by Chile and Argentina near South America’s southern tip. The new itinerary will feature departures from January through March and from October to December of next year and is among 31 different trips comprising Tauck’s portfolio of Exotics journeys.  

Booking are now open on all 2014 Exotics trips, and full information on the entire collection, including itinerary descriptions, pricing and departure dates, is now posted on the company’s website.

 

According to CEO Dan Mahar, the new exploration of Patagonia is a logical addition to the company’s existing South American journeys.  He said: “Our new Patagonia itinerary is a focused, immersive exploration of an incredibly scenic region, making it a great choice for past travellers returning to South America or for first-timers who really enjoy nature. It’s the perfect complement to our broader, 14-day ‘Essence of South America’ itinerary, highlighting cities like Santiago, Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro as well as natural wonders like northern Patagonia and Iguazu Falls.”

 

The new itinerary begins with a welcome reception, dinner, and overnight in Santiago, Chile.  The following morning, guests fly to Puerto Natales on the shores of Ultima Esperanza (“Last Hope”) Sound, where they’ll enjoy a four-night stay at the Singular Patagonia Hotel. A former waterfront factory and now a luxury resort, the hotel will serve as Tauck’s base as guests explore Torres del Paine National Park (above), visit a ranch for lunch and a look at local life, and take a day-cruise among the fjords, inlets, waterfalls and ice floes of Ultima Esperanza Sound.

 

The Patagonia journey then crosses into Argentina for a three-night stay at Los Sauces Casa Patagonia, a five-star hotel owned and operated by Argentinean President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner. Located in El Calafate, a small, picturesque village on the shores of Lake Argentino, the hotel is convenient to Glacier National Park where guests will enjoy a cruise on Lake Argentino, highlighting Upsala Glacier, which towers 100ft higher than the vertical drop of Niagara Falls. Guests will disembark for a visit to Estancia Cristina, a sheep and cattle ranch named for the daughter of the English immigrant who founded the ranch in the early 1900s. While at the ranch, guests will enjoy lunch, visit the ranch’s museum to learn about its history, and hike to a vantage point offering spectacular, panoramic views of Upsala Glacier.

 

Following a flight to Buenos Aires, guests conclude their journey with a two-night hotel stay at the Sofitel Buenos Aires Arroyo. Here there will be the chance to attend a tango show and venture outside the city to the artist community of San Antonio del Areco, with an equestrian demonstration by Argentinean cowboys, or gauchos, and a meeting with members of the Draghi family. World-famous silversmiths, the Draghis have crafted works of art for local gauchos, heads of state, and Hollywood celebrities alike.

 

Tauck’s new exploration of Patagonia is priced from $6,490 per person, double occupancy, plus international airfare. Included in the price are all sightseeing and admissions, two intra-tour flights, all ground transportation, including airport transfers, luggage handling, and much more.

 

For more info, call Tauck at 1800 468 2825, or visit www.tauck.com. In the UK, call The Cruise Line on 0800 008 6677.

 

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Crystal's Solo Cruiser Bonus

Crystal Cruises has added more than a dozen new itineraries to its “Sole Occupancy” savings promotion for 2013. Offering single supplements of just 10% for a deluxe stateroom, the exceptionally low single occupancy fares are now available on 26 Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony voyages around the globe, including the Mediterranean, Baltic, South America/Caribbean, Western Europe, Black Sea, North Cape, British Isles, eastern Canada and Trans-Ocean. These low solo supplements are available on 7-18-night cruises from June to December.

Among the extra care Crystal provides for solo travellers are “Ambassador Host” companions for dinner and dancing on every sailing, assigned dinner seating in the Crystal Dining Room and the “Table for 8,” which brings individuals together for shared evening dining in the speciality restaurants. 

Crystal's ocean resort experience always includes fine wines, premium spirits and gratuities, as well as a host of other complimentary amenities, from enlightening enrichment speakers and fitness classes to pampering pillow menus and speciality dining featuring the world-renowned cuisine of Nobu Matsuhisa. 

All-inclusive “Sole Occupancy” promotional fares begin at £2,485pp if booked by April 30 (based on a seven-night “Grecian Getaway” cruise from Istanbul-Athens departing July 6).

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.

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