Fred Olsen Goes Bowling!

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ ship Braemar will be carrying a special group of guests on her nine-night ’Around the UK and Ireland’ cruise later this month - indoor bowls fans and World No. 1 Greg Harlow (above).

Harlow, who has seven World Indoor Tour titles to his name and is the only player ever to win the International Open three times in a row, is the special guest speaker aboard the cruise, which departs Dover on May 22.

The voyage is part of a very successful partnership with Potters Leisure Resort in Norfolk, who play host to the annual World Indoor Bowls Championships, which Fred. Olsen sponsored for the first time this year.

The groups who have booked the bowls package on this cruise will be able to enjoy all the usual pleasures of a Fred. Olsen cruise, as well as benefiting from special ‘added extras’ related to their chosen sport. They will be able to play bowls ashore in four ports of call: Dublin, Belfast, Kirkwall and Invergordon, and, because of the generous baggage allowance on an ex-UK cruise, up to 90kgs per guest, they can take their own equipment. 

As well as playing bowls during the cruise, the group will also enjoy an exclusive drinks party on board and will get the chance to listen to Greg's talks on his fascinating and hugely successful bowls career.

For  bookings, follow this link to our sponsors The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's top cruise-agent specialists.

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Europa's 2013 Highlights

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is happy to announce the arrival of their 2013 Europa international brochure, including seven exciting itineraries operating in English and German. The six-star MS Europa is offering cruises to the South Seas, New Zealand, Australia, the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Peninsula, Norway, the Baltic and the Mediterranean next year, with three new ports of call on its international itineraries: Palmerston Atoll/Cook Islands, Picton/New Zealand and Algiers/Algeria.

Highlights on Europa in 2013:

South Seas Winter: The Europa will be exploring the South Pacific islands in January 2013 for hiking, swimming, and snorkelling in untouched islands, hidden away in the lagoons of the Oceania. The South Seas itinerary is from January 19-February 6, from Papeete/Tahiti to Auckland/New Zealand, with stops in Bora Bora and Raiatea in French Polynesia, Rarotonga, Aitutaki Atoll, and Palmerston Atoll in the Cook Islands, Neiafu and Nuku’alofa in the Tonga, and the Fiji Islands. Rates for this itinerary start at $7,700 per person, based on double occupancy.

New Zealand Winter: Breathtaking fjord landscapes and vast green fields offer magnificent sights to be discovered while hiking, kayaking or by a helicopter ride in the North and South Islands of New Zealand. This itinerary is from February 6-22, from Auckland to Sydney, with stops in Tauranga, White Island, Napier, Wellington, Nelson, Picton, Lyttelton, Akaroa, Port Chalmers, and Stewart Island. Rates start at $9,220 per person, based on double occupancy.

For bookings, be sure to follow this link to The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's leading adventure and luxury cruise specialists.

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Cruise The Seven Ports Of Malaysia

Picture this: sapphire waters glint in the sunlight; beyond the starboard side rest emerald rainforests and there is a gentle breeze giving temporary relief from the balmy skies. This is only a small part of the Malaysian cruising experience, incorporating seven ports that attract the top international cruise carriers year round and enhanced by festivals. Just a couple of examples why Malaysia is a must-see cruise destination: it is a truly unique and refreshing experience, offering a range of captivating activities and Kuala Lumpur's outstanding service of non-stop flights from the UK and high-quality value for money accommodation also makes Malaysia an ideal pre or post-cruise destination. There are excellent value-for-money packages to choose from, please see below for more detail. There are many international cruise carriers to choose from that stop at Malaysian ports, including Royal Caribbean, Crystal Cruises, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, Cunard, Costa and Holland America Line. The most popular port is Port Klang due to its easy access to Kuala Lumpur, only 40km away. Guests can hop ashore and experience the capital's fine dining and spectacular views from the observation platform at KL Menara. In the Central Market, visitors can shop for authentic Malaysian hand-crafted gifts in the winding warren of street stalls. On September 29, these stalls will be adorned and embellished with a sea of lanterns in celebration of the Lantern Festival during the full moon of the Chinese calendar. Another captivating event is the Penang International Dragon Boat Festival in June. Cruisers can anchor in Penang Port to watch the fierce boats race past or just relax on the island's beautiful beaches. Hiking fanatics can ramble through Penang's National Park, spotting monkeys and the Achehnese burial grounds. In the city, there are a plethora of must-see attractions such as Fort Cornwallis, built in 1786, or the highly ornate Sri Mariamman Temple. For more information, follow this link to The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's luxury cruise specialists.

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Silversea Extend Baltic Voyages

Silversea have extended two of their Northern European voyages setting sail in June to give passengers even more of their luxury all-inclusive style in the Baltic. 

The voyages, which depart from Copenhagen on June 18 and from Helsinki on June 23, will now run for nine-days to incorporate a three-night call in St. Petersburg. Complimentary return air between Copenhagen and Helsinki is also included in the fare, along with a generous $500 onboard spending credit to use against ship facilities such as fine-dining in Le Champagne and spa treatments.

The first 9-day cruise, on Silver Whisper, calls at Warnemunde (Rostock) in Germany; Ronne and Bornholm in Denmark; Stockholm, Helsinki, St. Petersburg and Helsinki again. It costs from £2,468, including flights and onboard spending credit of $500 per suite.

The 9-day sector from Helsinki on June 23 calls at St. Petersburg, Helsinki, Stockholm, Ronne, Bornholm, Warnemunde and Copenhagen. It costs from £2,699 including flights and onboard spending credit of $500 per suite.

Highlights of the two extended voyages include a panoramic tour of Helsinki and the chance to navigate the beautiful Finnish archipelago by private sailing vessel; a ‘walk in the footsteps’ excursion of Stieg Larsson’s bestselling Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, set on Stockholm’s Södermalm Island; and a visit to the Catherine and Pavlovsk palaces, discovery of the history of Russian jewellery at the Gold and Diamond rooms of the Hermitage museum or an evening at the opera or ballet at the renowned Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg.

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

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Take Advantage of AMA Waterways Latest Offers

We love a good 'Late deals' offer here at Time Spent At Sea, and this week seems to have been an especially good one. Take these latest offers from AMA Waterways...

17^th May – cruise the Danube with £544pp saving

Meander through some of Europe’s most scenic countryside, via the historic cities of Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest, on a week-long luxury river cruise, now £1,359pp (was £1,903). Departing on 17^th May, the cruise embarks in Vilshofen and sails to the historic towns of Passau, Krems and Melk before visiting the cities of Bratislava, Vienna and on to Budapest

30th May - £583pp saving off a week’s luxury Danube  cruise

AMA has a £583pp saving off a 7-night cruise along the Danube, from Nuremberg to Budapest departing on 30^th May, including visits to centuries old towns and cities and the city of Vienna. It now costs £1,445pp (was £2,028).

23^rd June – Cruise Russia’s waterways with £622pp saving

Take a grand cruise from Moscow to St. Petersburg through the colourful and historic waterways in the heart of Russia. AMA has a saving of £622pp off this 11-night voyage, departing on 23^rd June as a price of £1,945pp (was £2,567). 

15th August – 14-night luxury river cruise, saving £907pp

Cruise through the entire breadth of Europe, passing through five countries and some of the most scenic countryside from Budapest to Amsterdam. Departing on 15^th August, this 14-night voyage now costs £2,899pp (was £3806).

All cruises include daily tours and excursions, all meals with wine at dinner, free WiFi and complimentary use of onboard bicycles (not Russian waterways).

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's luxury river-cruise experts.

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Now Boarding - Cruise Radio!

We at World of Cruising are delighted to welcome aboard Doug Parker - otherwise known as Cruise Radio on Twitter and for his great cruise podcasts - to the magazine, starting with our Summer edition next month.

Doug (left), from Jacksonville, Florida, created Cruise Radio in 2009 and has quickly become one of the most-followed podcasts online, as well as being the foremost cruise radio broadcaster, with over 125,000 weekly listeners. With more than 10 years' experience in FM radio and a keen passion for cruising, he and co-producer Matt Basford now showcase the full array of cruise news, features and experiences on the weekly show, with regular special guests including Stewart Chiron, America's popular 'Cruise Guy', and consumer advocate journalist Christopher Elliott.

Starting with our Summer edition, Cruise Radio will have its own slot in our News pages, offering Doug's personal take on the latest news and views, with comment and opinion on the big stories of the day. And he said: "I'm thrilled to work with World of Cruising and be able to provide cruising fans in the United Kingdom with the latest cruise industry news. Through this great opportunity, I hope to able to introduce a new audience to Cruise Radio and our enthusiasm for the cruising industry."

World of Cruising editor Simon Veness added: "We are delighted to have Doug 'on board' and providing another exclusive view for our readers. It continues to add to our cruise portfolio and highlights how we stay at the forefront of all that's relevant in this exciting and ever-changing travel field."

You can look up more about Cruise Radio online at www.cruiseradio.net, subscribe for regular Cruise News updates, enjoy Video snippets and, of course, tune in to the weekly Podcast for the very latest from this cruise-savvy team. You can also download the very latest mobile app from iTunes to ensure you have all their latest news and episodes on the go!

With our already world-class line-up of writers and columnists, including award-winning British author and cruise doyen Gary Buchanan, arch blogger John Honeywell (aka Captain Greybeard), The Admiral, cruise historian Peter Newall and Aft View insider Peter Rushton, it ensures World of Cruising remains at the head of its class, being both contemporary and superbly insightful.

To subscribe to the magazine from anywhere in the world follow this link.

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SeaDream's New Spa Brochure

Luxury cruise line SeaDream Yacht Club has produced a contemporary new brochure for its Spa, featuring a highly-enhanced, extensive list of treatment options and products from the best names in beauty.

Once you enter SeaDream’s Spa, guests are well on their way to a state of relaxed bliss in the only Thai-certified spa of its kind at sea. Each yacht features eight Thai therapists while, with all ocean-view treatment rooms, it ensures the Spa is a thoroughly relaxing environment to let the tensions of everyday life drift away. 

The SeaDream Spa also combines the essence of Asian wellness philosophies with traditional European spa. And, after treatments, guests need only walk a short distance back to the comfort of their stateroom. There, they may continue their relaxed state of well-being, reclining in a plush SeaDream robe, settling into soft Belgium linens and listening to the soothing ocean waves lap outside the window.

The new Spa brochure will be made available in all staterooms aboard SeaDream I and II. Itineraries this year include the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, the Black Sea and the Amazon.

For bookings, be sure to follow this link to The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's luxury cruise specialists.

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