Voyages Of Discovery Go Musical In St Petersburg

Enjoy a free exclusive musical excursion in St Petersburg with Voyages of Discovery next summer on a Baltic cruise overflowing with fine art, architecture and history. As an alternative to the Mediterranean, it’s no surprise this destination is emerging as the new must-see holiday hotspot.

With a rapidly growing choice of sailings, Voyages of Discovery also make this part of Northern Europe hard to resist with amazing fares and now a free excursion to the world-renowned Hermitage in St Petersburg.

Now included in the price is a magical evening in St Petersburg at the Hermitage for a musical reception reminiscent of a performance during the reign of the Tsars. Whilst the museum is closed, guests are invited to enjoy an in-depth guided tour, a champagne reception and an exclusive performance from the State Hermitage Orchestra concert.

This exclusive offer is now available on the following cruises: Baltic Treasures (from £1,649 per person in an outside cabin), 15-day voyage departing from Harwich and calling at Kristiansand, Copenhagen, Tallinn, St Petersburg (overnight x 2), Gdynia, Szczecin, Sassnitz and transit through the Kiel canal before returning to Harwich. Price is based on June 28 departure.

Timeless Baltic (from £1,599 per person in an outside cabin), 15-day voyage departing from Harwich and calling at Copenhagen, Saaremaa Island (Estonia), Tallinn, St Petersburg (overnight x 2), Gdynia, Szczecin, Sassnitz and transit through the Kiel canal before returning to Harwich. Price is based September 3 departure. Prices for all cruises include meals, entertainment and gratuities on board and all relevant cruise taxes/fees, plus onboard lectures from a team of renowned Guest Speakers.

For more info and booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

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G Adventures New Antarctic Cruises

Marking 100 years since Captain Scott voyaged to the Antarctic, 2012 is the perfect year to take a G Adventures cruise aboard the M/S Expedition to celebrate one of the world’s greatest historic expeditions.

G Adventures is offering 10% discounts on a range of Antarctic expeditions for bold travellers looking to explore this region during the cruise season (November to March). Tours must be booked by 30 November 2011 for the 2012/13 Antarctic tours departing between 7 November 2012 and 9 March 2013.

For travellers who don’t want to wait, there are still places available on selected 2011/12 departures, including the Spirit of Shackleton tour. Suitable for history fans, the voyage focuses on the adventurers and legends formed out of the ‘Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration’. The tour’s namesake, Sir Edmund Shackleton, was actually a third officer on Captain Scott’s first quest to Antarctica in 1901, making this journey a pilgrimage for travellers enticed to Antarctica by the dramatic history of its discovery.

Spirit of Shackleton. Trip code: XVSHSX; Price: From £7,189 per person; Duration: 20 days. Next available departure: 11 January, 2012

This journey takes intrepid travellers to some of the world’s most remote wilderness including the South Georgia Islands, Falkland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. Visiting historic sites of past explorers, including Sir Ernest Shackleton’s final resting place, this adventure illuminates many of the courageous legends from what is known as the ‘Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration’. There is extraordinary scenery and an abundance of diverse wildlife, including vast penguin rookeries, seal colonies and whale pods.

The 20-day adventure includes 18 nights aboard the Expedition with all meals, one night hotel accommodation in Ushuaia and Ushuaia airport transfer (depending on flight departure details), Zodiac cruises and shore landings with expert expedition team, lecture and educational programs, waterproof boots and Antarctica destination guidebook, Canada Goose expedition jacket for each guest who pays for a Category 5 Suite and expert G Adventures Expedition Guide throughout.

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Seabourn's World Cruise Guest Speaker Line-Up

Luxury cruise line Seabourn has announced an exciting line-up of distinguished guest speakers who will join segments of Seabourn Quest’s 109-day maiden World Cruise next year, including award-winning composer Marvin Hamlisch, jazz legend Arturo Sandoval, Princess Diana’s former chef Oliver Reschrieter and Futurist political analyst Daniel Silke.

The voyage departs January 5 from Fort Lauderdale on a unique eastbound course via South America, South Africa, the Indian Ocean, South-east Asia, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean, ending in Venice April 23. From world-renowned musicians and chefs to politicians, historians and international relations experts, the diverse group of personalities will share their expert insights with guests during various segments of the voyage. Space is currently available for guests wishing to book segments.

Segments ranging from 15 to 88 days are available starting at £4,799 per person, based on double occupancy, cruise only, and fully inclusive of all tips and gratuities, fine-dining, open bars and fully stocked mini-bar.

For more info and booking details, be sure to check out this link for the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

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A Canary Islands New Year or Norwegian Fjords Summer?

Bring in the New Year with Royal Caribbean on board their Independence of the Seas on a 12-night Spain & Canary Islands cruise, and pay just £949 per person (based on two people sharing an inside cabin).

This fab lead-in price includes the 12-night cruise, departing from Southampton and calling at Lisbon, Funchal (Madeira), Las Palmas (Gran Canaria), Tenerife and La Coruna before returning to Southampton; all meals and entertainment onboard, plus all relevant cruise taxes/fees. Price is based on the December 29 departure.

For more information or to book use this link for specialist cruise agents The Cruise Line Ltd.

Or how about planning a summer voyage? You can have fun in the Fjords with Celebrity Cruises aboard their Celebrity Eclipse on an eight-night Norwegian cruise from just £937 per person in May (based on two people sharing an inside stateroom).

This price includes an eight-night cruise departing Southampton and calling at Bergen, Flam, Geiranger (above) and Oslo before returning to Southampton; all meals and entertainment and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. Price is based on a May 4 departure.

For more information or to book use this link for agents The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Crystal Adds More Memorable Guest Speakers

Prominent political and world affairs pundits James Carville, Mary Matalin, former Ambassador Marc Ginsberg and 4-star General Hugh Shelton will square off exclusively onboard Crystal Cruises in 2012, as part of the ultra-luxury line’s hit “Ocean Views” programme. Via discussion panel format, moderated by British foreign correspondent Ken Rees, the big-league foursome will provide fascinating expert insight into hot-button topics of the day, such as the changing Middle East landscape and upcoming 2012 US presidential election.

As a build-up to the debate, scheduled for Crystal Serenity’s 22-night World Cruise segment departing March 31 from Osaka to Los Angeles, all commentators will also present individual lectures in their area of expertise.

“Ocean Views” brings together renowned experts from both sides of the aisle in a moderated debate of global issues and news items, followed by a live Q&A session. New to the 2012 programme is interactive technology that will allow audience members to anonymously share their own opinions during the debate via individual electronic polling keypads.

The Experiences of Discovery theme will fuse other renowned experts together on four additional sailings throughout 2012, including international economics expert Robert Warne, counter-terrorism analyst Farhana Qazi, former LA Times editor Shelby Coffey, Ambassador Wendy Chamberlin and Major General Pat Brady.

The March 31 “Great Northern Adventure” on Crystal Serenity (above) starts with an overnight in Osaka, Japan, before calling into Petropavlovsk, Russia; Dutch Harbor, Kodiak, Seward and Ketchikan, Alaska; Vancouver and Victoria, Canada; and San Francisco and Los Angeles/San Pedro, California. “Book Now” prices (if booked by December 31) start from £9,358 per person, including return economy flights, overseas transfers, 22 nights in a deluxe stateroom with picture window with all meals and soft drinks, port taxes and a $1,000 shipboard credit.

For more info and booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's leading luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

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New Entertainment Venue for Splendour

London, 21 November 2011 – Royal Caribbean International’s Splendour of the Seas will reemerge from its extensive revitalisation with the transformation of the elegant and popular Centrum into an exciting entertainment venue.

With its sweeping views and central location on the ship, the Centrum will become a new chic and sophisticated venue featuring a range of daytime activities, nightly entertainment and aerial performers. The Centrum’s Champagne Bar also will be unveiled as a new venue – the R Bar – featuring a sophisticated 1960s vibe, complete with signature cocktails.

Throughout each sailing, guests can gather in the Centrum to enjoy performances from musicians and singers or take a spin on the dance floor at themed parties such as the popular ‘Disco Inferno’ dance party. It’ll also play host to a variety of interactive daytime activities including chef demonstrations, dance classes, game shows, Nintendo Wii competitions, towel folding demonstrations and the popular ‘Captain’s Corner’ where guests can spend time with the Captain.

Lisa Bauer, senior vice president, Hotel Operations, Royal Caribbean International said: “The revamp of the spectacular 60-foot high Centrum found onboard the Vision-class ships brings new life to a popular gathering space by incorporating innovative technology and vertical entertainment elements to what was already the place to be and be seen. Guests sailing onboard Splendour of the Seas will be in for a multi-sensory experience that puts them at close proximity to amazing aerial performers from multiple viewpoints in a sophisticated and glamorous atmosphere.”

Bringing the Centrum’s new entertainment offerings to life is the latest in sound and light technology. The glass lifts facing into the Centrum will feature large LED panels across their entire length providing a spectacular backdrop of moving visuals five decks high. During the entertainment experiences, the space comes alive with a series of aerial acrobatic performances blurring the lines between artful choreography and state-of-the-art technology.

The R Bar offerings will feature a return to the classic drinks all served in unique glassware with surprising garnishes. The venue’s resident mixologist will create drink specials to complement each evening’s theme and aerial spectacular.

To learn more about Splendour's revitalisation and to see the latest webisode, visit www.RoyalCaribbeanPressCenter.com.

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Antarctica With Exodus

Exodus Expeditions are offering an in-depth exploration of Antarctica, combining the best of the Western side of the peninsula with the less visited, more remote, Eastern side. This is a remarkable adventure visiting both sides of the Peninsula as guests spend three days sailing along the west coast, along fjords and past icebergs, enjoying the company of sea birds, penguins, seals and whales.

Weather permitting, the trip aims to visit magnificent spots such as Cuverville Island, Wilhelmina Bay and Orne Harbour, before passing through the Antarctic Sound to the wild and remote east coast of the Peninsula in the Weddell Sea. The epitome of the Weddell Sea is massive tabular icebergs, and watching these imposing and majestic bergs glide silently past the ship is a remarkable experience.

Guests will explore islands and continental shores, hoping to visit Brown Bluff Hope Bay and Paulet Island (above), whose residents include Chinstrap and Adelie penguins in huge numbers.

For more information and booking details, check out www.exodus.co.uk, or, for more on Antarctic expeditions and adventure cruising in general, see this link for the UK's adventuring sea-going specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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