Alaska Theme Cruises From Un-Cruise

If you thought Alaska was all about the scenery and the wildlife, think again. Un-Cruise Adventures have just announced a wonderful series of typical small-ship cruise that are combined with experts in music, photography, marine biology and wine on seven theme cruises this summer. 

Guest experts sail on week-long cruises aboard both the 88-guest S.S. Legacy and 86-guest Safari Endeavour (above) in south-east Alaska.

The S.S. Legacy, a replica coastal steamer sailing between Juneau and Ketchikan, hosts the 1940s style group Letters From Home on the June 22 voyage. The group performs three-part harmonies, tap dancing and comedy. The Alaska’s Golden History cruise also focuses on the history of the Klondike Gold Rush and includes a shore excursion in each port.

Meanwhile, the Safari Endeavour, sailing round-trip from Juneau on a week-long Discoverers’ Glacier Country itinerary, hosts six themed cruises. The cruise spends two days exploring by land and sea inside Glacier Bay and remote wilderness areas. Hiking, kayaking, whale-watching, skiff excursions, stand-up paddle-boarding and wildlife watching are the main activities, but guest experts on board will provide additional activities for those interested.

Fresh, innovative cuisine is served on all vessels, with guests enjoying attentive, friendly service and a casual, relaxed atmosphere. Charters and group incentives are also available. And, for more on the Un-Cruise style in Alaska, be sure to check out our latest issue on this link.

More info: call (in the US) 1888 862 8881 or visit www.un-cruise.com.

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Saga's Spellbinding Norway

It's the final day of our fabulous Cruise Week with Saga Cruises, sailing their world and enjoying their cruise style and destinations. To conclude, we have a final journey to epic, beautiful Norway...

We make no bones about it - Norway is one of the most amazing countries to visit, especially by cruise ship, and this voyage just about has the lot.

Set sail on Saga Sapphire from Dover in July and you can visit quaint villages, historic ports and experience the UNESCO-protected landscape of Norway’s stunning fjords. In the evenings, guests can also get into the 1960s groove with the Steve Love Band and, to continue the theme, a 60s culture speaker will also be on board to bring back memories of the ‘Make love, not war’ era.

And then there are the ports. Old Stavanger (above left) is characterised by white-boarded houses, fantastic gardens and cobbled streets. Extremely quaint and dating from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, these houses are still lived in today and make for a fascinating tour. You can also explore the beautiful Lysefjord, where the cliff walls rise more than 300ft out of the still, blue waters for a distance of more than two miles.

The cruise then calls in at Flam deep in the Aurlandsfjord, surrounded by picturesque scenery of meadows, orchards and imposing mountains. Here, guests can enjoy a choice of several excursions, including include a ride on the Flåm Railway - one of the most dramatic train journeys in Europe.

Next up, the impossibly pretty village of Olden stands at the end of the beautiful Nordfjord,

with its quaint wooden homes, miles of forest and simple way of life. You can visit the Briksdal Glacier (right) on a guided hike or the Norwegian Glacier Centre, where you can learn about how glaciers are formed.

Finally, the Sapphire calls into the quintessential Norwegian port, Bergen. Surrounded by mountains and fjords, the waterside city has one of the most spectacular settings in all of Scandinavia and is a guaranteed hit with passengers. There has been a settlement here since Medieval times and the colourful waterfront buildings of the Hanseatic Wharf, known as the Bryggen, are testament to its fascinating history.

Saga's 7-night Spellbinding Norway voyage costs from £909 per person, departing Dover on July 24 and calling at Stavanger, Flam, Olden and Bergen.

More info: call 0800 096 0074 or visit http://travel.saga.co.uk/holidays/ocean-cruises.aspx.

The new edition of World of Cruising is now out, and you can see the digital version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see this link. 

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Bag An Early-Summer Bargain With Seabourn

Luxury cruise line Seabourn has released a selection of incredible offers for those seeking some maritime excitement this spring - at a great price. 

And knowing how much our readers enjoy a good bargain, especially from one of the luxury cruise lines, we thought these two May voyages would definitely be of interest.

Take your pick from:

 

15-Day Harbours Of Western Europe, departing May 14:

Enjoy two full weeks of Mediterranean and western Europe cruise bliss as Seabourn Legend sails from Barcelona to London. The full itinerary is: Barcelona, Malaga, Seville, Portimao, Lisbon, Porto, Villagarcia, A Coruna, St Malo, Cherbourg (for Paris), and London.

 

Prices start from £4,629pp for this fly/cruise, based on two people sharing a suite, fully inclusive of all tips and gratuities, fine dining, open bars and fully stocked mini-bar.

 

12-Day Baltic Gems & Russia departing May 29:

Embark Seabourn Legend for a Baltic adventure from London to Stockholm, taking in some lesser-known ports as well as magnificent St Petersburg. The full itinerary is: London, Kiel Canal, Ronne (Denmark), Gdansk (Poland), Klaipeda (Lithuania), Visby (Sweden), St Petersburg and Stockholm.

 

Prices start from £3,549 pp for fly/cruise, based on two people sharing a suite, fully inclusive of all tips and gratuities, fine dining, open bars and fully stocked mini bar.

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

The new edition of World of Cruising is now out, and you can see the digital version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see this link.

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Princess Are Big In Japan

Princess Cruises has identified Japan as one of cruising's big new hot-spots after one of its busiest ever Januarys. With this time of year typically being 'Wave Season' and a huge period for cruise bookings, Princess is reporting triple digit growth on its routes in and around the Far East island.

Bookings were evenly split between passengers opting for a round tour of Japan and those preferring to take in the likes of Tokyo and Nagasaki as well as neighbouring countries, including Russia, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Elsewhere, the Panama Canal - which celebrates its 100th anniversary in August 2014 - has also proved popular, with booking numbers more than doubling. The Caribbean, a traditional cruise favourite, similarly fared well, with a sharp increase in passenger numbers.

Paul Ludlow, Princess Cruises Managing Director for UK and Europe, explained: "January is hugely significant for the cruise industry as it's our busiest time of the year for bookings. As a result, this demand is enormously encouraging and testament to Princess' wide range of global destinations and welcoming service.

"I'm pleased to see Japan is proving so popular as it's an incredible part of the world that's now more easily within reach of the UK. The prospect of exploring its culture, cuisine, art and history, all from the comfort of our ships, is an increasingly sought-after combination."

Japan cruises are available from £665 per person (cruise only).

More info: call 0843 373 0333 or visit www.princess.com.

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Saga, The Canaries and Moorish Morocco

We're up to Day 6 of our marvellous Saga Week here on Time Spent At Sea and on the World of Cruising website, and we have some super spring sunshine to deliver today...

Saga Pearl II is one of Britain's most popular ships, and her classy array of amenities really come into their own on longer voyages. Like this one to the Canaries and Morocco, with plenty of wonderful sea time, in April, 2015.

Sailing from Southampton, the first port of call is beautiful Funchal in Madeira. The island is famous for the varied and luxuriant scenery, from mountain slopes covered with vines to picturesque villages and a profusion of wild flowers. 

Following Madeira, Saga Pearl II heads for the Canaries and four superbly contrasting ports of call, from Santa Cruz on 'the beautiful isle' of La Palma; San Sebastian on the rugged, cone-shaped island of La Gomera; and Santa Cruz on the mountainous main isle of Tenerife; to the volcanic scenery of Arrecife on Lanzarote. It is an in-depth and up-close look at this amazing island range.

Next stop will be Agadir on the Morrocan coast. The city itself was largely destroyed by an earthquake in the 1960s so today it is filled with broad, palm-lined avenues edged by cafés and blossoming parks. The city is still a real mixture of old and new, though, as you wander

past the modern restaurants and shops and encounter colourful bazaars, spice-scented souks (left) and lofty minarets.

On the return journey, the ship calls in at vibrant Lisbon, where the Portuguese capital is a true treat for cruise visitors. Set on the famous Seven Hills surrounding the River Tagus, it is strewn with majestic architecture, old wooden trams, historic Moorish features and more than 20 centuries of history.

For your mobile home for this two-week maritime adventure, the ship itself offers a range of dining options, while you can also treat yourself to a massage or sauna, a few lengths in the indoor pool, soak up the sun on the ample open deck space and then enjoy a drink in the small and intimate Sundowner bar.

 
The 14-night Canaries and Moorish Morocco cruise departs from Southampton on April 4, 2015, and calls at Funchal, La Palma, La Gomera, Tenerife, Lanzarote, Agadir and Lisbon before returning to Southampton. It costs from £1,784 per person.

More info: call 0800 096 0074 or visit http://travel.saga.co.uk/holidays/ocean-cruises.aspx.

The new edition of World of Cruising is now out, and you can see the digital version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see this link. 

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Happy 50th, MS Lofoten!

It's not often you hear about a ship celebrating its 50th birthday, but that will definitely be the case up in Norway in March, when Norwegian coastal specialists Hurtigruten will be saluting the half-century mark of the oldest and smallest ship in the fleet - the popular vintage vessel MS Lofoten. 

The ship made its maiden voyage from Bergen with Hurtigruten on March 5, 1964, and its birthday will be celebrated with a range of activities on board, including celebratory meals, special anniversary stamps and fishing directly from the ship, as well as special booking offers for those wishing to join in the celebrations.

By it’s 50th birthday, the Lofoten will have travelled almost three million nautical miles, transported 1.25 million passengers and docked over 75,000 times in the Hurtigruten ports. The smallest and oldest of the line's ships has been protected by a preservation order since 2011 and its traditional charm and unique character have earned it a large community of fans among passengers.

The anniversary voyage, setting out from Bergen on March 2, will be the prelude to the festivities. Numerous well-wishers and visitors are expected in the larger Hurtigruten ports, while traditional Norwegian dancing and music will also mark the occasion.

A host of other activities will also be available on board during the anniversary voyage and throughout 2014, including an exhibition of photos of the ship over the past 50 years, while passengers will also learn fascinating facts about this vintage vessel and the history of Hurtigruten in lively lectures. On the southbound route, passengers can even try their luck at fishing directly from MS Lofoten’s weather deck.

Anyone born in 1964 and therefore sharing a 50th birthday year with the ship will have a special reason to book during 2014, as they will travel at half-price when accompanied by another passenger. Other available offers include a free excursion for those booking selected cabin types.

Hurtigruten, is on a special quest for personal memories, stories, anecdotes and photos that passengers, enthusiasts or former crew members have collected about the ship. Those who submit their memories to mslofoten@hurtigruten.com by February 28 will be entered into a draw to win a Hurtigruten voyage from Bergen to Kirkenes for two people including flights.

A ‘Classic Voyage North’ from Bergen to Kirkenes, departing on MS Lofoten on April 4 costs from £834 per person, based on two sharing an inside cabin on full board basis. Flights and transfers are available for an additional cost.

More info: call 0208 846 2666 or visit www.hurtigruten.co.uk.

The new edition of World of Cruising is now out, and you can see the digital version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see this link.

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Second Ship For Pearl Seas?

The new Pearl Seas Cruises, who are due to debut their first ship, the Pearl Mist (above) in June, have revealed plans for a second ship in the fleet for 2016. Sort of.

The follow-up ship will, apparently, be slightly slightly larger than the 8,700-ton, 210-passenger Mist, carrying around 245, company chief executive Charles Robertson said, although he would not say (to Seatrade Insider) where the second vessel would be built, and added that no official announcement is planned until mid-summer.

Pearl Mist is currently undergoing final outfitting at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, Mrayland, having been built at Irving Shipbuilding in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It was originally due to enter service in 2009 but a dispute arose between the company and shipyard that was only settled in early 2013 with the intervention of American Cruise Lines.

Its inaugural season begins on June 25 with an 11-night cruise from Baltimore to Halifax, followed by a series of Canadian waterways and Great Lakes sailings, with Pearl Mist then moving to the Bahamas and Caribbean from spring 2015.

Meanwhile, American Cruise Lines is also constructing four ships of its own at Chesapeake Shipbuilding, two paddlewheelers to enter service in 2015 (one on the Mississippi in March and the other on the Columbia and Snake rivers later in the year), while details of the other two have yet to be disclosed. 

 

The Mississippi riverboat will have a similar capacity to the luxurious Queen of the Mississippi - which we featured in a big blog series in October 2012 - at 150 passengers, while the Columbia boat will be slightly larger, taking 175 passengers.
More info: call (in the US) 1800 981 9146 or visit www.pearlseascruises.com.

The new edition of World of Cruising is now out, and you can see the digital version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see this link.

 

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