Try A Mini-Cruise To Denmark

Visit one of the various museums in Esbjerg with DFDS; or, if you’ve a head for heights, stroll up to the famous water tower and take in a beautiful panoramic view of the town. Alternatively, head to the beach for a stroll and admire the huge white sculptures, Man Meets the Sea, or visit the island of Fanø, a haven for wildlife.

You see, there is a lot to do a min-cruise top denmark, these days. And, after all the day-time fun, return to the ship for a peaceful night’s sleep before boarding a coach next morning to the Medieval town of Ribe. Spend the day wandering the cobbled streets and browsing in the quaint shops before heading back to the ship for your relaxing cruise home.

What's Included

Three nights onboard ship in an en suite cabin (including 1 night in Esbjerg port), dinner on the outward departure, breakfast on the first morning, transfer to Ribe and time to explore Esbjerg at your leisure.

Departs Harwich on May 8.

Alternatively, for a longer break, try a 4-night Cruise-and-Drive from Harwich to Ribe from £252pp, including carriage of a standard car, 2 nights onboard in an en suite cabin and 2 nights in a self-catering apartment at Ribe Holiday Centre.

For more info, visit http://www.dfds.co.uk/.

Ghent Festival In Belgium - From £239pp

New! 4 Night Cruise & Hotel Break To Ghent Festival In Belgium - From £239pp

Cruise overnight with DFDS and enjoy scrumptious food in the onboard restaurants, a drink in the bar and fabulous live entertainment before retiring to your en suite cabin for a peaceful night's sleep.

Awake refreshed for the coach transfer to Ghent, where you'll check into your city centre hotel before setting off to explore. Enjoy exploring the Blue Note Records Festival, the International Street Theatre Festival, the International Puppet Buskers Festival and the dance festival '10 Days Off' before a relaxing cruise home.

What's Included:
2 nights on board ship in an en suite cabin
Coach transfers to and from Ghent hotel
2 nights at 3* Novotel Ghent Centrum including breakfast
Departs Newcastle July 17

For more information, visit http://www.dfds.co.uk/

Mini Cruise To Alkmaar, Holland - From £87pp

By guest blogger Steve Newman

2 Night Mini Cruise To Alkmaar, Holland - From £87pp - Departs Newcastle with DFDS Seaways

Cruise overnight and enjoy some scrumptious food, a drink in the bar and fabulous live entertainment before retiring to your en suite cabin for a peaceful night's sleep.

Next morning, after a short coach transfer, arrive in Alkmaar and spend the day exploring this pretty 17th century town surrounded by water and canals. Visit its world-famous cheese market, watching the ritual of cheesemen who bring out their wares for sale on wooden barrows. Or why not learn how beer has been made through the ages at the National Beer Museum - before sampling one of its 86 varieties in the bar!

What's Included:

· 2 nights onboard ship in a 2-berth inside cabin
· Live onboard entertainment
· Return coach transfers to Alkmaar
· 5 hours to explore Alkmaar

Departs Newcastle May 5 & September 1.

To book, visit http://www.dfds.co.uk/

Valentine's Mini Cruise To Amsterdam!

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Here's a great offer for a Valentine's Mini-Cruise to Amsterdam, from just £102pp, including a delicious 3-course meal and breakfast.

Cruise overnight with DFDS and enjoy a memorable meal in one of the onboard restaurants, a drink in the bar and a flutter in the casino before sitting back to watch the live entertainment.

After a peaceful night's sleep in your ensuite cabin, tuck into a complimentary breakfast before disembarking in Amsterdam (above). Spend the day exploring the picturesque tree-lined canals, boutique shops and lively street cafes before heading back to the ship for your return journey.

As well as great entertainment on your cruise home, enjoy a complimentary 3-course à la carte meal with a bottle of sparkling wine - the perfect way to end the perfect Valentines break.

Departure is from Newcastle on February 12.

What's Included:
* 2 nights onboard ship in an en suite cabin
* 3 course à la carte meal on the return crossing
* Bottle of sparkling wine
* Breakfast on the morning you arrive in Amsterdam
* Return coach transfers to Amsterdam city centre
* Complimentary sightseeing tour

To book, visit http://www.dfds.co.uk/

Gala New Year Mini Cruise

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Depart from Newcastle on December 30 with DFDS and cruise to Amsterdam enjoying a scrumptious hot dinner buffet, free bar and live festive entertainment. In addition, you can have a flutter in the casino or keep the party going in the nightclub. When you eventually retire to your ensuite cabin, enjoy a good night's sleep and awake raring to go for a day in Amsterdam.

Wander the romantic tree-lined canals, enjoy a hot chocolate in a cosy cafe and soak up the atmosphere of this cosmopolitan city. After a day exploring, return to the ship in plenty of time to get ready for the New Year's Eve celebrations. Following a lavish Gala Buffet, dance the night away and welcome in the New Year with Champagne and Almond Cake - the perfect start to 2011!

What's Included:

- 2 nights onboard in a sea-view ensuite cabin
- Coach transfers to and from Amsterdam
- Optional complimentary sightseeing tour
- 2 x hot buffet breakfasts
- Gala New Year Buffet
- Free bar on both crossings (includes house wine, draft Grolsch lager, selected spirits and soft drinks)
Champagne and Almond cake at midnight
- Live onboard entertainment
- Departs Newcastle December 30

To book, visit www.dfds.co.uk/festive.

Festive Break to Esbjerg and Ribe

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Cruise overnight from Harwich with DFDS and enjoy some delicious food in the onboard restaurant before watching the entertainment or settling down in your ensuite cabin to watch a film on demand. After a peaceful night's sleep, arrive in the quaint city of Esbjerg.

Spend the day exploring the town's boutiques, coffee shops and museums before returning to the cruise ferry for a good night's sleep.

Next morning, enjoy breakfast before a short coach transfer to Denmark's oldest town, Ribe. With its cobbled streets and half-timbered houses, this is the perfect place to enjoy a gentle stroll and soak up the atmosphere. After a full day's exploration, head back to the cruise ferry for your journey home.

What's included:

* 3 nights onboard ship in an en suite cabin
* Dinner on the 5th December
* Breakfast on the 6th
* Transfer to Ribe on the 7th
* Time to explore Esbjerg at your leisure
* Time to explore Ribe at your leisure
* Live onboard entertainment

Departs Harwich on 5th December, from £131pp

To find out more, visit http://www.dfds.co.uk/.

Amsterdam mini Cruise for £69 for two.

By guest blogger Steve Newman

The dark nights are upon us and the winter chill has just about started, so what better time to book a short break away with DFDS Seaways. Take advantage of the current Let's Go Dutch offer and travel on a Mini Cruise to Amsterdam from only £69 for two people. You buy one ticket and the other is courtesy of DFDS Seaways!

With two nights onboard the ship in an en suite cabin you can enjoy a great meal in one of the four onboard restaurants and afterwards why not enjoy a drink and live entertainment in the Columbus Club or simply chill out in one of the onboard lounges.

After a relaxing night's sleep you will arrive fully refreshed to start your Amsterdam adventure. Relax in a café, hit the shops or take a trip down the canal, the choice is yours. With museums, galleries, attractions and more, Amsterdam has something for everyone. If you fancy a longer break, why not extend your Mini Cruise break and include an overnight stay, through DFDS Seaways, in Amsterdam.

2 nights from £69 for 2 people. Based on 2 sharing inside cabin

What's Included
* 2 nights onboard ship in an en suite cabin
* Coach transfers to and from the city centre
* Optional complimentary coach sightseeing tour
* Live entertainment onboard

To book visit www.dfds.co.uk/dutch

Rivers of Holland and Belgium

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Perfect for those who love to explore a number of different destinations at a leisurely pace, here's a river cruise that takes in the unspoilt and picturesque scenery of Holland and Belgium.

Begin your adventure onboard a DFDS Seaways cruise ferry and relax from the moment you step onboard in Newcastle. Enjoy some scrumptious food in one of the onboard restaurants before sitting back with a glass of wine to watch the evening's entertainment. After a peaceful night's sleep in your ensuite cabin, awake refreshed and ready to board your Croisi river cruiser.
Cruising from Amsterdam to Antwerp, you'll enjoy stop-offs on the way, including an excursion to the stunning tulip fields of Keukenhof Gardens (above). You'll also enter the Holland Diep, an inland sea, and go through locks at Volkerak and Kreekak, on the way to Belgium.

Everything is taken care of in this holiday package. All meals and entertainment are included onboard the cruise ferry and Croisi riverboat. In addition, the river voyage offers a variety of activities onboard and ashore, including commentaries and guided tours to historic and cultural sites, local attractions, museums and galleries. Voyages depart April 3, 2011.

To book, visit http://www.dfds.co.uk/

Don't forget to check out the Cruise Show website for all the lowdown and exhibitors at the Birmingham and London shows in October (16-17) and March (26-27).

Go Dutch in Autumn

By guest blogger Steve Newman

This time of year many of us feel we need an Autumn break but what happens if cash is perhaps a bit tight? Panic not, just Go Dutch with DFDS Seaways' 2 for 1 offers on Mini Cruise breaks to Holland. You buy one Mini Cruise ticket and the other is on DFDS Seaways, meaning 2 adults get a break from just £69 or a family of four from £98.

Sit back and relax as DFDS Seaways do all the hard work for you. Enjoy a delicious meal at one of the restaurants, a flutter in the casino or a relaxing drink at one of the bars. With plenty to do and see onboard, you will be ready for a comfortable night's sleep in your en suite cabin.

Amsterdam Mini Cruise 2 for 1 - from £69 for 2 people

Amsterdam is the perfect autumnal destination, with cosy canal-side cafes and bars, boutique shops and plenty of museums and galleries if the weather's a bit cooler. You can take a history lesson and visit the Anne Frank Museum or, if you are feeling arty, explore your way through one of the city's many Art Galleries.

The company are also offering a Haarlem Mini Cruise - 2 for 1 from £76 for 2 people. Known as the 'City of flowers', this compact city is a maze of narrow streets and canals, with lots of pretty medieval houses, museums and places of interest to discover. Take in some of the local cuisine or enjoy a drink in a street café while watching the world go by.

To book, visit http://www.dfds.co.uk/

Migration Mini Cruises

By guest blogger Steve Newman.

There is a misconception amongst much of the public that all cruises have to be at least seven nights long. Now, however, thanks to DFDS Seaways, you can discover the wildlife and beautiful landscapes of the island of Fanø on a superb fully guided break, with three nights onboard, including one night in port and a day and a half on this beautiful Danish island.

This perfect break for families and eco-interested travellers is sailing from Harwich to Esbjerg in Denmark in September and October and is a fantastic opportunity to take in the marine wildlife and learn from a team of highly qualified experts. Once onboard, guests step out on deck in search of seals, porpoises and migrating birds with the expert wildlife spotters. Then afterwards why not relax and enjoy the interactive wildlife presentations?

Arriving in Esbjerg the next day, you head to Fanø, an internationally important breeding ground for migrating birds, as well as having some beautiful beaches and dunes. You can now watch thousands of birds in action, wheeling into incredible patterns in the sky as they make their fuel-stops en route between their wintering and breeding grounds.

Denmark’s largest colony of Common and Grey Seals is also on the agenda, plus there is time to explore old Scandinavian villages.

Prices are from just £140pp and include 3 nights on board, (2 sailing, 1 in port in Esbjerg), 1½ days of guided bird and wildlife watching on Fanø including ferry and local transport, plus presentations and fun activities on board. Or, including breakfasts and evening meals on board, prices are from £208pp.

To find out more, go to www.dfds.co.uk.