Holland America's Autumn Med Value

This autumn, Holland America Line is offering excellent value on an extensive range of European cruises, with prices starting from just £549 per person (cruise only).

There is up to 69% off a selection of 10, 11 and 12-day cruises visiting the Mediterranean, Canaries and North Africa, featuring port-intensive itineraries, overnight calls and plenty of time to explore on one of the line's exciting shore excursions.

Sailing round-trip from Barcelona, MS Ryndam (above) embarks on three 11-day 'Cultural Mosaic' cruises to Italy, Greece, Croatia and Montenegro, while the 'Ancient Discoveries' itinerary calls at ports in Spain, Italy, Tunisia, Malta and Monaco. The 'Canary Island Explorer' itinerary sails west, calling at ports in Spain, Portugal, the Canary Islands and Morocco. Departures are September 23, October 4 and 15, with fares from £699 per person cruise only, based on two sharing.

The Noordam will follow two alternating 10-day round-trip itineraries from Civitavecchia (Rome) this autumn. 'Roman Empires' visits the eastern Med with calls at ports in Croatia, Greece, Turkey and Italy, while 'Mediterranean Enchantment' sails the western Med and includes Monaco, Spain, Italy and North Africa. Departures are on September 5 and 15 September and October 5, with fares from £549 (based on two sharing). 

Holland America’s newest ship, Nieuw Amsterdam, sails alternating 12-night cruises between Barcelona and Venice. Both the 'Mediterranean Romance' and 'Mediterranean Tapestry' itineraries call at differing ports in Italy, Croatia and Greece, and feature an overnight call at Venice. Departures are on September 4 and 23 and October 14, with fares from £699pp (again, based on 2 sharing). 

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

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Norwegian's 'Legends At Sea' Brings In Donna Summer

Donna Summer has been announced as one of the next three 'Legends' to perform as part of Norwegian Cruise Line's "Legends in Concert" series on board Norwegian Epic beginning on November 3 when the ship returns to Miami to begin her weekly Eastern Caribbean sailings. Ports of call include St Maarten, St Thomas and Nassau in the Bahamas, as well as three relaxing days at sea.

A staple on the Las Vegas centre strip for more than 25 years, "Legends in Concert" is the pioneer of live tribute shows and has assembled the greatest collection of live tribute artists and celebrity look-alikes in all of show business. The newest addition to Norwegian's onboard series will take the form of a tribute to 1970s pop diva Summer, who died earlier this year.

Legends in Concert on Norwegian Epic features three celebrity tribute performers taking the stage in the Epic Theater for six 45-minute shows over three days during a seven-day cruise. In addition, a Legends “Unplugged” show is performed on three additional nights in the Manhattan Room, the ship's New York-inspired supper club, providing an unprecedented dining and entertainment experience. The celebrity performers change every four months, keeping the show fresh and exciting. The last performers were Steven Tyler, Lady Gaga and Elvis Presley.

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

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Explore The Caribbean Under Sail With Lindblad

For well-travelled cruisers who want to discover the Caribbean by sea, there is not a ship afloat that can match the Sea Cloud’s ambience, illustrious history or the experience she offers. New for 2013, Lindblad Expeditions will introduce three 7-night departures through the Lesser Antilles on this legendary vessel, on February 28 and March 7 and 14.

The world’s most elegant square-rigged tall ship carries just 58 guests. The Sea Cloud flies 30 sails, hoisted the old-fashioned way - by hand - and offers an incomparable mix of sophistication, fine service and informality, the epitome of barefoot elegance. The week-long voyages will explore the “Nature Island” of Dominica, the French-infused cultures of Iles des Saintes, the renowned landscapes of St Lucia, and the idyllic Grenadines.

As the Sea Cloud visits colonial towns, historic forts and botanical gardens, guests will discover a surprising mosaic of French, Dutch, English and Spanish, who all left an indelible imprint on the historic culture and architecture. For those interested in the undersea, there will be several opportunities to learn about reef ecology and to snorkel among colourful corals and tropical fish in the marine reserve of the Tobago Cays and the idyllic Grenadines.

During the voyage, Lindblad and National Geographic’s exemplary staff will illuminate and navigate these cultures, both historic and contemporary, through the expertise of veteran expedition leader Tom O’Brien, naturalist Albert Montaudon (a biologist by training, conservationist by passion and a Lindblad-National Geographic certified photo instructor) and historian Thomas Heffernan, an expert on Caribbean history and languages. Also joining on the March 14 voyage is Kenny Broad, a National Geographic Emerging Explorer and  environmental anthropologist who dives in some of the world’s most challenging underwater caves on scientific missions.

Guests embark and disembark the Sea Cloud in Barbados. Rates begin at $6,990 per person based on double occupancy in a category 1 cabin.

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

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Up-Close Voyages Through Madagascar

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises will be offering expedition trips through Madagascar and Southern Africa in December 2012 and December 2013 onboard the purpose-built expedition duo MS Hanseatic and MS Bremen, with maiden calls on both itineraries.

An exotic flora and fauna has developed on Madagascar that does not exist anywhere else on earth. There are more than 12,000 species of plants recorded on the fourth largest island in the world and guests will experience lemurs in pristine nature, animals in the wild, and wonderful beaches on romantic coasts.

Winter 2012: Hanseatic will make stops at six new ports along her tropic adventure, including Maroantsetra, Nosy Hara, Morondava, Nosy Ve and Toliara, as well as a first-time stop in Mozambique, at the picturesque city of Ilha dos Portugueses.

Optional shore excursions include hiking in Masoala National Park to see lemurs in the rainforest; canoeing to Lokobe Nature Reserve; zodiac landings on Nosy Lakandava and Nosy Hara for swimming between coral reefs and rock formations; a safari in Kariega Game Reserve in South Africa; and a visit to the Addo Elephant Park, also in South Africa. This 16-day itinerary is from Dec 3-19, from Port Louis/Mauritius to Cape Town/South Africa. Rates start at $7,750 per person for an outside cabin.

Winter 2013: Guests will join Bremen as she calls on the west coast of Madagascar for the first time. New ports of call in Madagascar include Nosy Hara, Mahajanga, Morondava and Nosy Be.

Optional shore excursions include hiking in Lokobe Nature Reserve to admire gigantic trees and go bird-watching; a boat ride to Nosy Komba, also know as “lemur island;” snorkelling on Nosy Lakandava and Nosy Hara; a visit to the Zulu village of Kwabhekithunga in South Africa; and a safari to view the “Big Five,” also in South Africa. This 17-day itinerary is from Dec 1-18, from Port Louis/Mauritius to Cape Town/South Africa. Rates start at $7,020 per person for an outside cabin.  

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

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Zegrahm Add Caledonian Sky To Fleet

We're big fans of adventure-cruising here at World of Cruising, and Zegrahm Expeditions are always a company we're keen to hear about, so they definitely got our attention this week when they announced a new addition to their line-up. As a quick aside, the Caledonia Sky (above) has also sailed for upmarket British adventuring company Noble Caledonia and was also the Hebridean Spirit of Hebridean Island Cruises. Here's what they say:

Zegrahm Expeditions, the leader in small-ship cruising and overland adventures, has announced a new addition to its fleet, the Caledonian Sky.

Zegrahm will introduce the 100-passenger deluxe expedition vessel on its July 2013 Wild Alaska and  Bering Sea Expedition. During the winter of 2011-12, the ship underwent an extensive renovation, which included upgrading the cabins and public areas with contemporary furnishings and décor, as well as overhauling the engine and air-conditioning systems.

“Zegrahm is very excited to have this luxurious all-suite vessel for our 2013 season,” stated Jon Nicholson, President of Zegrahm Expeditions. “The Caledonian Sky and her fleet of Zodiacs will provide our guests easy access to remote shorelines and islands, and provide them with the ultimate Alaska expedition experience.”

Caledonian Sky is equipped with the latest safety, navigation and communications equipment along with roll stabilisers to minimize the ship's motion. The yacht-like suites are arranged over five decks. Each suite has outside views and affords considerable comfort with a sitting room and en-suite bathroom, while suites on the Bridge Deck offer private balconies.

Guests can take advantage of the spacious lounge and dining room, an elegant bar with piano, and a library stocked with fiction and reference books along with a selection of games. In addition, there is an outdoor restaurant and bar and a sun deck with comfortable furniture for sun-bathing or relaxing with a book.

Other itineraries on the Caledonian Sky include:

Best of the Russian Far East: Jul 24-Aug 13, 2013
Australia’s Kimberley, Voyage to the Outback: Sep 12-26, 2013
Tasmania, New Zealand & Sub-Antarctic Islands: Nov 25-Dec 15, 2013

For bookings, see this link for The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's leading adventure-cruise experts.

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Quark Expeditions Antarctic 2013/14 season

Quark Expeditions has announced full details of the company’s Antarctic 2013/14 season. Highlights include a voyage featuring the first-ever Floating Polar Film Festival in conjunction with Hot Docs, a fly-cruise voyage that takes passengers across the Antarctic Circle, and a 22-day ‘do it all’ Antarctic adventure that is the only voyage of its kind to take passengers to South Georgia and the Falkland Islands as well as the Antarctic Peninsula. 

With 32 departures starting November 1, 2013, Quark Expeditions offers more Antarctic voyages than any other Polar operator. 

New Expeditions

Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica: Explorers and Kings

The inaugural voyage of the season aboard the Sea Spirit offers passengers an unprecedented experience. Departing from Buenos Aires, the 22-day voyage offers passengers the Floating Polar Film Festival. Curated by North America’s largest documentary festival, Hot Docs, this on-board festival will feature a diverse documentary film programme set against the remote beauty of Antarctic waters. The journey starts on November 1.

Antarctic Express: Crossing the Circle

Quark’s newest fly-cruise voyage offers passengers all the incredible experiences and bragging rights of crossing the Antarctic Circle, in less time than a typical voyage. This new 11-day expedition (instead of the usual 15) departs on December 22 and will have passengers celebrating New Year’s Eve aboard the Sea Adventurer.

Crossing the Circle via Falklands & South Georgia: Epic Antarctica

For those looking for the ultimate Antarctic experience, there is now a 23-day ‘do it all’ expedition on Sea Adventurer which departs February 3, 2014. This extensive itinerary offers travellers a chance to see seven species of penguins and more than 30 species of birds while visiting the “Galapagos of the Poles.” This is the only voyage available taking passengers to the Falklands and South Georgia as well as across the Antarctic Circle to the Peninsula.

The largest of Quark’s fleet, the super-yacht Ocean Diamond, is back for its second season of Carbon Neutral voyages. The ship features unparalleled comfort and stability, with passengers able to enjoy a massage and wellness programme, the largest Polar library, in-room flat screen TV and DVD player and each cabin offers exterior views and en-suite bath. An all-inclusive beverage package is also available on this ship.

As an early booking incentive, travellers who reserve by September 30 will receive a 25% discount on suites and 20% off on all other cabin categories

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

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The Un-Cruise Christmas Adventure To Hawaii And Mexico

Leave the Christmas planning behind this year and enjoy a week-long "Un-Cruise Adventure" aboard an American Safari Cruises luxury yacht in a sunny destination. The 86-guest Safari Endeavour offers cruises departing December 22 and 29 in the Sea of Cortés and the 36-guest Safari Explorer sails a 7-day voyage in the Hawaiian Islands departing December 22.

Families, couples or singles can all enjoy the relaxation and freedom of vacationing during the festive period - often a stressful and busy time at home. The festivities of the holidays are tastefully incorporated into the yachts’ décor, activities and meals. As an added incentive, guests who book by September 30 receive a $500 travel credit per couple for the Hawaiia cruise or $300 per couple for the Sea of Cortés.

The 86-guest Endeavour explores the wildlife rich Sea of Cortés on week-long Baja’s Bounty expeditions round-trip deom La Paz, Baja, Mexico. Transfers are included from either Los Cabos or La Paz airports. Highlights include snorkelling with sea lions, water sports activities, a visit to the mission town of Loreto and viewing dolphins and whales.

The 36-guest Explorer embarks on its second season of Hawaiian Islands cruises sailing seven-night inclusive Hawaiian Seascapes adventures between Hawaii, the Big Island and Lana’i with two days of activities on Moloka’i. Flexible yacht itineraries focus on the leeward side of the eastern-most Hawaiian Islands.

On both voyages, guests can be as active as they like, with activities including hiking, kayaking, paddle-boarding, snorkelling and skiff excursions. Expert guides provide interpretation on excursions ashore and at sea. Unstructured itineraries allow time for viewing wildlife such as whales and dolphins.

Cruise fares start at $5,695 in Hawaii and $3,695 in the Sea of Cortés, based on double  occupancy. The cruises include all from-the-yacht activities and equipment; transfers; all meals; fine wine, premium spirits and microbrews; and all port charges, taxes and fees. An all-American crew has a guest-crew ratio of about 2 to 1. Yachts can be booked as a private charter or by individual stateroom.

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

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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