Expedition Amazon With Hapag-Lloyd

Anyone looking to experience the amazing Amazion River in true expedition style should give serious consideration to Hapag-Lloyd Cruises and their adventuring duo Bremen and Hanseatic.

Their small size means the ships can travel a particularly long way upstream, giving passengers first-hand experience of the wonders of the Amazon both on board and during extensive Zodiac rides. The shallow draft of both vessels actually enables them to travel the more than 4,000km passage from the mouth of the Amazon in Belem to Peru and back.

A total of 12 robust Zodiacs await to carry the maximum 164 guests aboard the Bremen on numerous detours into the fascinating Amazonian environment while the slightly larger Hanseatic can carry 184 passengers and has 14 of these inflatable boats to take guests exploring. 

After Manaus, the Amazon narrows and flattens but both ships to continue on to Iquitos in peru. The constant proximity to the world’s largest tropical rainforest, the unusual flora and fauna and the indigenous cultures combine to make Hapag-Lloyd's Amazon cruises a true adventure.

Example cruise:

Bremen: Expedition Amazon from April 10-26, 2015 (16 nights) from Iquitos/Peru, in the Upper Amazon to Manaus; onward journey downstream from the Lower Amazon to Belem/Brazil, from £5,700 (per person, cruise only).

More info: call +49 40 3001-4580 (English-speaking hotline), email salesteam@hlkf.de or visit www.hl-cruises.com.

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Seabourn's Stellar Special Guest Line-Up On World Voyage

By Editor Simon Veness

Luxury specialists Seabourn Cruise Line have announced an impressive line-up of distinguished celebrities, guest entertainers and lecturers for Seabourn Sojourn's World Cruise next year, boosting the line’s “Seabourn Conversations” programme of onboard enrichment and special guest entertainment.

The featured guest speakers and celebrities include Tony Award-winning Broadway star Patti LuPone; former CIA operative Tony Mendez, whose heroic exploits inspired the Academy Award-winning film “Argo”; and Andrew Fairlie, Scotland’s only two-Michelin star chef. Sojourn’s 116-day world cruise begins on January 4 at Los Angeles and ends in Venice on May 1.

From historians and scientists to authors, destination and maritime experts, the exciting luminaries will share their stories, expert opinions and valuable insights to guests throughout the once-in-a-lifetime voyage. In addition, they will experience the journey along with guests, sharing meals, adventures ashore and casual chats throughout the voyage.

“Our guest speakers are as intriguing and worldly as the destinations we will visit during the world cruise,” said John Delaney, Seabourn’s senior vice president, marketing and sales. “Not only will they entertain and delight our guests with their talent, expertise and knowledge, they will also be a part of the daily social scene, enhancing our guests’ experience.”

In addition to the “Celebrity Conversations” with LuPone, Mendez and Fairlie, Seabourn Sojourn’s world cruise will feature “Arts Conversations” with David Smith, photographer and travel writer; “Culinary Conversations” with Dennis Conner, an American yachtsman and four-time America’s Cup winner; “Cultural & Destination Conversations” with Ronald Sampson, CBE, a former commander of the British Empire for Diplomatic Services; Dr. Thomas Lippman, journalist and author specialising in Middle East affairs; and “Current Affairs and History Conversations” with Ralf Vargas and Daniel Silke, foreign policy experts. A list of currently scheduled Seabourn Conversations guest speakers can be viewed here.

The fabulous 116-day cruise will visit 53 ports in 20 countries, encompassing destinations such as Hawaii, the South Pacific and Australia, Indonesia and South-east Asia, India, Arabia and the Mediterranean. Rates for the full cruise begin at £32,599 per person, based on two sharing a suite, including round-trip air and a host of other complimentary amenities. For guests who cannot sail the entire voyage, shorter voyages are available from 22 days, with cruise-only rates starting at £5,040 per person, based on double occupancy.

More info: call  0843 373 2000 or visit www.seabourn.co.uk.

 

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Costa's Viva Victoria!

Costa Cruises will unveil the new-look Costa Victoria next week when she departs from Singapore for her first cruise after an $18million dry-dock upgrade. 

Elegant and totally refurbished with new balconies, terraces and windows, Costa Victoria boasts an unmistakable style that marries traditional nautical elements with essential design, making this ship a refined and stylish work of art (according to the Costa designers). The Italy at Sea concept is translated in every detail of the upgraded ship, from the food to the bright colour tone and the tailored service, making the renewed ship a stronger testament to an authentic taste of Italian fashion.

With an emphasis on fine dining, Victoria will offer its passengers sumptuous meals inspired by a true taste of La Dolce Vita. The ship has several new dining experiences, from a Buffet terrace where passengers can dine al fresco to the relaxed Pizza and Noodle area, which will provide a cosy hangout for family time. There’s even a traditional midnight buffet to be enjoyed after sampling the extensive selection of evening entertainment. 

The boutique shopping area has also been treated to a deluxe upgrade, to ensure those perusing the latest international fashions have the upscale shopping experience they deserve.

With almost all of the ship’s interiors re-styled in a contemporary European flair with the intricate use of colours, ingredients and textures, the new Costa Victoria promises to have all the trappings of an international fashion cruise of the utmost quality.

More info: call 0800 389 0622 or visit www.costacruises.co.uk. 

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MSC's Artisanal Partnerships At Sea

Ahead of MSC Divina’s upcoming full-time move to Miami and her Caribbean cruise offerings, MSC Cruises has announced a series of exclusive partnerships with some of the world’s most popular food and beverage companies.

Guests will be able to take their pick from an array of fine 'extras' aboard the line's flagship, and enjoy additional high quality tastes and delicacies.

Taste the smoothest coffee at sea

To start the day in style, MSC has partnered with Segafredo Zanetti, widely considered the best gourmet coffee brand both in Italy and worldwide. The official coffee for all 12 ships in the company’s state-of-the-art fleet, the partnership will be taken to even greater heights on board MSC Divina, whose Caffè Italia will boast beautiful Segafredo branding, showcasing the best of the brand and its intriguing history.

A fresh caress of artisanal gelato

Joining forces with masters of Italian confectionery Venchi, MSC is also bringing the very best in artisanal gelato to MSC Divina’s travellers.

Venchi has been making to-die-for desserts since 1878 and owes much of its success to the use of 100 per cent natural ingredients and exclusive recipes. Divina will boast a beautifully branded Venchi Gelateria next to the main pool area, where guests of all ages will enjoy a gelato menu of classic favourites and innovative new flavours to match each season.

And stylish dining options

MSC Divina will feature the 30-seat evening-only upscale Ristorante Italia, offering an ultra-high-quality ‘table d’hôte’ menu every night, and spectacular 115-seat regional alternative, Eataly Steakhouse, fashioned after the famed Eataly steakhouse in Manhattan.

A boutique Eataly marketplace will also be available for guests to purchase authentic Italian products, including olive oils, dried pastas, artisanal sweets and aged balsamics.

 

More info: call MSC Cruises in the UK on 0844 561 1955 or visit www.msccruises.co.uk.

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Seven Seas Voyager's Dramatic Refurbishment

Regent Seven Seas Cruises has announced that Seven Seas Voyager has emerged from her scheduled dry-dock with a dramatic, breathtaking new interior decor and refreshed exterior decks. The all-balcony, all-suite 700-guest capacity vessel unveiled her new look on October 23 when she set sail on a 10-night cruise from Rome to Venice. 

As part of the ship’s refurbishment, all Penthouse Suites (above) received stunning new décor with custom-crafted elegant furnishings, plush carpeting, curtains, wall coverings, furniture, lighting, original artwork and outdoor furniture. 

Horizons, the ship’s nightclub and bar, and the Observation Lounge each underwent a complete, radical transformation. The venues now sport distinctive new bars, chic new furnishings, tony carpeting, lustrous wall coverings, and new lighting throughout. 

The Constellation Theatre, the ship’s two-deck high, state-of-the-art show theatre was rejuvenated with new carpeting, all new upholstery, wall coverings, cocktail tables, wall sconces, banquettes and chair. 

Guests can still choose from up to four, open-seating gourmet restaurants, including Compass Rose, serving an exceptional variety of European-inspired Continental cuisine; Prime 7, a contemporary American steakhouse; Signatures, a classic French dining experience that rivals the finest Parisian restaurants; and Sette Mari at La Veranda, which offers an extensive menu of authentic Italian specialties. 

With some of the highest space-per-guest ratios in the cruise industry, accommodations include such requisite amenities as down comforters, Egyptian cotton linens, flat-screen television, DVD players and Wi-Fi access. Penthouse and higher-category suites aboard all three ships are equipped with iPads.

More info: call 02380 682280 or visit www.rssc.com.

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Poll Reveals Top 5 Annoyances For Cruisers

Travelling on a cruise is expected to be one of the most relaxing holidays you can take. Everything is included for you, so there’s no hassle trying to arrange trips, meals and accommodation. But not everything will always go to plan if your fellow cruisers don’t stick to proper cruising etiquette.

A study has been carried out by Bon Voyage into what passengers on cruises find to be the most annoying tendencies that other cruisers might have. Some 1,738 individuals who had been on at least one cruise holiday gave their accounts of their voyages and the opinions they had of them. One thing they were asked to comment on was what annoyed them most about the people they were cruising with.

Topping the list was the mindless chatter of other guests, with 38% of people saying this got

on their nerves the most. Following closely behind, with 27% of people noting this, was having other cruisers invading their personal space. We all know that being on board a cruise means you’re confined to a smaller space than usual and often exposed to the same people, so these top two were not at all surprising! The other top answers to the survey were as follows:
 

1. Empty chatter from other cruisers (38%)
2. Having their personal space invaded by other passengers (27%)
3. The behaviour of people who’d had a little too much to drink (22%)
4. Long wait times for food at the buffet or at activities because other guests were taking too long to decide (14%)
5. Young children being annoying or loud during the cruise (11%)

There were also a number of other, more unusual, responses that were gathered as part of the research. One complaint came in, rather understandably, that the couple in the next door cabin to a man on a three-week cruise around the Med had interrupted his sleep every night with their loud night-time activities! And even more obscure was the response from an elderly couple who had not enjoyed their cruise as much as they would have done had their cabin on a Caribbean cruise not been haunted by a ghost.

Although cruisers responded with these complaints about fellow passengers, they were

quick to follow up with the fact that they did still enjoy their trips. In fact, 94% of people who gave their answers in the poll said the overall experience of a cruise was fantastic, and these were just minor problems.

The benefits of this research have been great for Bon Voyage overall, though. As the Cruise Development Manager Steph Curtin stated: “It is important for cruise companies to be made aware of the certain factors of the holidays that customers did not enjoy, or felt could be improved. A sign of a great cruise company is one that would take these annoyances on board and actively try to improve conditions for all future passengers, and this is why the majority of cruise lines ask customers to complete a survey at the end of their cruise to highlight any areas for improvement.”

For more info on

and their cruise options, visit their website at www.bonvoyage.co.uk, or call 0845 5480 557.

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Saga's South America

Saga Holidays has revealed a stunning South American adventure that promises to hit all the high points of Chile, Argentina and Brazil on a spectacular 16-night tour.

The Andean lakes, Iguazu Falls and bays of Rio de Janiero will reveal the natural wonders of the continent starting with a flight to Santiago de Chile to explore the vibrant city and San Cristolbel Hill, the forest-carpeted mountain which dominates the skyline. 

 

Guests will spend a day in the port of Valparaiso which has a bohemian vibe, lovely vistas and colonial architecture before cruising to the alpine town of Barlioche in Argentina.

Then they will spend three nights in elegant Buenos Aires, watching or joining in with the experts as they dance the tango, and then touring the Parana River Delta before flying to the stunning Iguazu Falls.

Rio de Janeiro awaits, offering plenty of time to explore the bustling city and its world-famous beaches. Saga guests can take a scenic train ride to the top of Corcovado Mountain to get a close-up view of the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue, while there will also be time to visit Sugar Loaf Mountain at the entrance to Guanabara Bay.

The grand South American Adventure is priced from £3,799 per person for 16 nights, departing Heathrow from January to April and September to November 2014.

The price includes VIP door-to-door chauffeur service, return flights, airport taxes, accommodation, most meals, porterage, tour manager, travel insurance and cancellation cover. 

 

More info: call free on 0800 414 8986 or visit www.saga.co.uk/holidays.

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