On The Frankincense Trail With Voyages of Discovery

Join Voyages of Discovery’s luxury small ship MV Discovery on two new itineraries for 2012 - The Frankincense Trail and Oman to the Holy Land.

Explore the ‘Desert Kingdom’, the Lost City of Ubar and Lawrence of Arabia’s Petra on The Frankincense Trail from just £899 per person, based on a March 23 departure (two people sharing an inside cabin). The price includes return flights from London, transfers and a 13-day voyage departing from Muscat (Oman, overnight) and calling at Salalah (Oman), Sharm-el-Sheikh (Egypt), Aqaba (Jordan) and the final port of Safaga (Egypt, overnight).

Oman to the Holy Land is an extended version of the Frankincense Trail, cruising along to other major historical hotspots such as Israel, Cyprus and Turkey and costs from just £1,399 per person (based on a March 23 departure and two people sharing an inside cabin). The full voyage lasts 25 days and, after 2 overnights in Safaga, continues to Sharm-el-Sheikh (Egypt), Sokhna (Egypt), Ashdod (Israel), Haifa (Israel), Limassol (Cyprus), Fethiye (Turkey), Kusadasi (Turkey) and the final port of Istanbul (overnight).

The price for both cruises includes all meals, entertainment and gratuities on board and all relevant cruise taxes/fees, plus onboard lectures from a team of renowned Guest Speakers.

For booking details, be sure to check this link with the UK's leading cruise agents, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Azamara's 'Extended Voyages'

Azamara Club Cruises has launched 'Extended Voyages' which allow guests to join two, three, four or more consecutive cruises into one experience. By combining select consecutive cruises onboard Azamara Quest or Azamara Journey guests can embark on a holiday of a lifetime, ranging from 11 to 78-nights without repeated ports of call.

In addition, guests booking consecutive cruises will receive £200 per cruise, per stateroom for cruises of eight days or less and £300 per cruise, per stateroom for voyages of nine days or more for greater value. Savings double on sailings between October 1 and December 31 this year, if booked by July 31.

Guests wanting a longer adventure can book Journey's 77-night cruise from Stockholm to Civitavecchia (for Rome). Departing June 27, 2012, the sailing features 25 overnight stays, four being two consecutive nights, where guests can experience the nightlife of Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Paris and Seville. This Extended Voyage features the Norwegian Fjords itinerary, which highlights the North Seas Jazz Festival, one of the world's premiere musical festivals.

For those keen on exploring the Far East, Journey's Piraeus (Athens) to Hong Kong cruise departs on October 26, 2012. This 72-night cruise, combines six cruises - Holy Land, Egypt & Suez Canal; Luxor, Petra, Sinai & Eilat; Luxor, Petra & Sinai; The Spice Coast & Ceylon; Burma & Andaman Sea Islands; Vietnam & Thailand, Christmas and New Year - for an in-depth exploration of the region, plus an opportunity to spend Christmas and New Year in Hong Kong through a Land Discoveries excursion.

Quest departs Singapore on February 29, 2012, on a 78-night cruise, sailing from Singapore to Piraeus. This combines six cruises - Trade Routes to the Orient; Japan & Taiwan; Manila, Sabah, Borneo, Komodo & Bali; Spice Route; Petra, Sinai & Luxor; Holy Land, Egypt & Suez Canal.

For more info, look up http://www.azamaraclubcruises.co.uk/ or contact the luxury cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Zegrahm Expeditions - "Tours of a Lifetime"

Zegrahm Expeditions has been selected for National Geographic Traveler Magazine’s “Tours of a Lifetime” honour for the second time, highlighting the company's keen eye for superb adventure travel.

In the past, the honours have been bestowed upon Zegrahm's natural history-focused expeditions — Beyond Rapa Nui, Ultimate Seychelles, and Faces of Melanesia — but, this year, they are excited to announce the award has been bestowed uopn a new, in-depth cultural tour: Voyage Through the Red Sea. This 17-day expedition, aboard the Clipper Odyssey, departs November 6 and visits Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Eritrea.

This voyage combines the Red Sea’s best cultural attractions along with several opportunities to snorkel and dive, plus offers a rare glimpse into a number of hospitable countries rarely visited by Western travellers. Highlights of this tour include:

• Exploring the rose-colored wonders of Petra, the capital of the ancient Nabatean Empire and now a World Heritage Site.

• Cruising along the Nile in a traditional felucca sailing vessel.

• Visiting several exquisite World Heritage Sites in Egypt — the Monastery of St. Catherine (above) and the treasures of ancient Thebes, including Luxor, Karnak, and the Valley of the Kings.

• Walking tour of Jeddah’s well-preserved old city, considered the gateway to Mecca.

• Snorkelling and diving in the shimmering waters of the Dahlak Archipelago, an area renowned for its rich marine life and scenic beauty.

To learn more about this voyage, visit www.zeco.com or contact the UK's adventure-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Costa Adapts Its Med Itineraries

Costa Cruises has announced the replacement of its calls in Tunisia, Egypt and Israel during 2011. Since the beginning of its operations, the Italian company and its passengers have learned to value and appreciate the great appeal of these three countries as prime tourist destinations. However, due to recent events, the company decided to change the itineraries of the cruises which initially included calls in those countries.

Throughout the current 2011 season, all the 7-day cruises in the Mediterranean of Costa Concordia, Costa Serena and Costa Magica with a one-day call in Tunis (Tunisia) will be replaced with a one-day call in Malta, Palma de Mallorca and Cagliari (above).

Moreover, all the Mediterranean itineraries with originally scheduled calls at Alexandria (Egypt), Haifa (Israel) and Ashdod (Israel) will be modified and will offer alternative calls which are equally picturesque and cultural, such as Limassol (Cyprus), Rhodes (Greece), Marmaris (Turkey) and the new and extremely attractive ports of Alanya (Turkey) and Antalya (Turkey).

All information on itinerary changes can be checked on the company’s website and through Costa's partner travel agencies.

The changes are due to the company’s need to anticipate, plan and ensure the best possible technical and maritime practices throughout the season. Moreover, the company strongly wishes to reassure its guests they will enjoy the same level of tranquillity and serenity as they would expect from a Costa cruise, with minimal impact from any last-minute calls modification.

At the same time, Costa is confirming all scheduled calls in Egypt, Tunisia and Israel for its 2012 programme as presented in the official 2012 brochure already launched last month.

New Nile Cruising Pocket Guide

By guest blogger Steve Newman

The brand new Nile Cruising Pocket Guide (£5.99) is to be published on January 31 by Berlitz, the publishers of the annual Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships. The Nile guide provides a wealth of information on exploring the River Delta and recommends a slow and leisurely cruise on a felucca to gain a deeper understanding of Egyptian culture and of the many communities that thrive within a few metres of the riverbank.

The Pocket Guide outlines the selection of Nile River cruises available, listing sites that can be seen on each, with map references. Among the cruises are Luxor to Edfu, the quieter stretch from Edfu to Aswan - home of the Aga Khan Mausoleum - and Lake Nasser, with her barren but beautiful sandy-coloured mountains.

Suggestions are given for choosing the right cruise, along with an outline of a typical day aboard, including early starts to avoid the mid-day heat.

There are also helpful onboard hints and traveller tips, from security precautions through to learning about the fascinating Sufi spinners who accompany the musicians.

A large section of the Nile Cruising Pocket Guide is devoted to exploring Luxor, the start and end point for many of the Nile Cruises, with its myriad of famous sites from the Valley of the Kings to Karnak and the less well-known Mummification Museum. A double-page spread offers recommendations on how to spend ‘A perfect day’ in Luxor – beginning with a balloon flight, crossing over to the east bank for shopping in the souqs, taking a felucca ride along the Nile as the sun slowly sets behind the Valley of the Kings, and ending the day with a ride in a horse-drawn calèche to Karnak Temple.

There are recommendations for sports and outdoor activities including ballooning, camel and donkey trekking, as well as bowling and golf. Entertainment listings include tips on shopping – advising on the fun that can be had from haggling. There are details on eating out – what, where and how much to pay – as well as drinking, and the delights of smoking a sheesha (hubble-bubble) water pipe.

The Nile Cruising Berlitz Pocket Guide is written by Egypt specialist Chris Bradley and is available from bookshops or online at http://www.berlitzpublishing.com/, priced £5.99.

For further information on Nile Cruises, contact the river-cruise specialists of the Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677.

Cruising The Nile

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Egypt has always had a fascination for the traveller. Cruising down the Nile also inspired Agatha Christie to write one her most famous novels involving Hercule Poirot.

Now, with the The Cruise Line, you can experience the kind of luxury and comfort yesteryear's travellers enjoyed.

Relax on board the MS Grand Preziosa and enjoy the exciting sights and breathtaking views from the expansive sun deck along Egypt’s landmark river. Back in the lounge bar, you can still enjoy the views – with panoramic windows looking across the Nile’s banks. Decorated in luxurious style throughout, with modern furnishings, this is one of the region's premier vessels.

Or maybe you'd prefer to try the luxurious 5-star 'Alexander the Great', a new concept on the Nile based on elegance and style. Facilities on board include the Red Fiesta restaurant situated on the third deck, with large panoramic windows overlooking the river and offering a variety of international cuisine from buffet breakfasts and lunches to a la carte dinners. The barbeque on the pool deck is also a great place to enjoy traditional oriental food and music under the stars. There is a bar and lounge located on the fourth deck, which provides another ideal meeting place. The sun deck is provided with a shaded area and loungers to relax and enjoy the views of the Nile, with a swimming pool and Jacuzzi, plus a bar offering drinks and light snacks.

For more information, visit the The Cruise Line Ltd.

Uniworld voted into "World's Top Cruise Lines"

By guest blogger Steve Newman.

Conde Nast Traveler has just announced their prestigious 2011 Gold List winners for the world's finest hotels, resorts and cruise lines and Uniworld Boutique River Cruises was included in the "World's Top Cruise Lines" category.

There is a total of 13 lines on the Gold List, with Uniworld being the only cruise line focusing 100 per cent on river cruising. The List is based on data collected from Conde Nast Traveler's annual Readers' Choice Survey by more than 25,000 of their readers.

"I am deeply honoured that Uniworld has been recognised once again in Conde Nast's prestigious Gold List. For the last several years, we have been consistently included on this list, and this reaffirms our commitment to delivering the best river cruise experience possible to our guests," said Matt Clapson, General Manager of Uniworld UK. "I am also very proud to be included in a list of well-respected cruise lines such as Crystal, Silversea, Seabourn and Regent."

Uniworld features elegant, boutique hotel-style ships designed for the experienced traveller, with an average capacity of 134 guests, expertly planned itineraries with custom-blended, included shore excursions, world-class cuisine and award-winning hospitality from an all-English speaking staff, with a ratio of one staff member to every three guests.

The company offers more than 500 departures on 35 itineraries sailing on 9 rivers in 16 countries throughout Europe, Egypt and China (above).

To find out more, visit http://www.uniworldrivercruises.co.uk/ or call UK cruise specialists The Cruise Line Ltd.

Titan Escorted River Cruises

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Titan HiTours, the escorted tours specialist, has unveiled its first brochure totally dedicated to escorted river cruises. This constitutes the company's widest ever choice of escorted river cruises and features an enticing range of upmarket options on some of the world's grandest and most scenic waterways, including the Nile, the Danube and the mighty Yangtze, as well as 10 brand new itineraries.

Every Titan holiday is guaranteed to offer great value for money, and the company's river cruise selection is no exception. Prices include flights, meals, a fantastic array of shore-based excursions and even door-to-door transfers from customers' own homes to their nearest airport.

This VIP Home Departure Service is available for all passengers living in mainland England, Scotland and Wales (plus Northern Ireland, the Isle of Wight, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man), meaning that Titan guests can enjoy complete convenience and peace of mind no matter where they live in the United Kingdom. In addition, early-booking discounts are available on several cruises, providing even better value for money for those reserving their holidays in good time.

The Escorted River Cruises brochure features holiday options as far afield as Canada, China, Russia and Egypt, the Volga, Nile, Yangtze and St Lawrence Rivers, leading in at £995 per person for the 8-day Egypt's Timeless Riches itinerary. Departures are available in all but the hottest months of the year, with the price including flights, transfers, full-board accommodation, sightseeing tours as detailed in the itinerary, port taxes and the VIP Home Departure Service.

For more details, look up http://www.titanhitours.co.uk/

Bales Wordlwide new brochure.

By guest blogger Steve Newman

2011 is a milestone year for Bales Worldwide, marking 50 years since the luxury operator took its very first group tour to the Holy Land. Bales is celebrating these five decades of worldwide touring with the launch of the new Escorted Small Groups and Tailor Made Holidays Brochure for 2011/12.

The new programme covers 50 destinations throughout Asia, Africa, the Orient, Latin America, Egypt and Arabia, India and Canada & Alaska, with a dedicated online brochure for Australasia. There are a few countries making a welcome return including Sri Lanka and Myanmar, plus the programme introduces a series of new tours and suggested journeys - from an adventurous journey across Tibet, or mountain biking and trekking in Peru's Sacred Valley, to exploring China's tropical Hainan Island.

To mark the 50th anniversary of escorted touring, the new programme sees the launch of the Bales Heritage collection, giving travellers a taste of some of Bales' most iconic escorted tours from the impressive back catalogue featuring unusual and unique travel itineraries to Jordan, India and Egypt with more destinations to follow.

In addition to countless tailor-made travel ideas and suggested itineraries, there are a total of 54 escorted and small group journeys with prices starting at just £1095 for the 11-day 'Wonders of Ancient Egypt' tour, consisting of three nights in Cairo followed by a week's Nile cruise.

For more details, visit http://www.balesworldwide.com/.

River Tosca back on the River Nile

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Over the last several years, Uniworld River Cruises have seen a growing interest in Egypt, a glorious destination. As a company, they felt the need to provide travellers with a Nile River cruise that would incorporate the same high standards as their riverboats in Europe. As a result, Uniworld originally commissioned the River Tosca with the goal that it would be one of the most luxurious ships to sail the Nile.

However, when it became apparent the Tosca did not meet Uniworld standards, the company made the difficult decision to dry-dock the ship for seven weeks. The main deficiencies were: the quality of workmanship with the floors in the staterooms, main stairwell, and corridors - damaged and scratched during installation; the mosaic tiles in the restaurant; the paint and woodwork in the staterooms; and the choice of fabrics in the staterooms.

Dry-docking the ship - in the height of the season in Egypt - was a very difficult and humbling decision for the company. It was the right decision to make, however, both for the long term success of Uniworld in Egypt and, most importantly, for their customers. The Tosca resumed sailing the Nile last March, with all the floors in the staterooms, corridors, stairwells and restaurant having been replaced.

The 84-passenger ship now has new wall coverings in the staterooms and the furniture has been reupholstered with tones more appropriate to the destination. The staterooms are spectacular, both in size (a minimum of 300sq ft) and decor. With the Tosca resuming its Nile sailings, the Uniworld team eagerly awaits guests’ feedback.

Uniworld features elegant, boutique hotel-style cruise ships designed for the experienced traveller, with an average capacity of 134 guests, expertly planned itineraries and shore excursions, world-class cuisine and award-winning hospitality from an all-English speaking staff with a ratio of one staff member to every three guests. The company offers over 500 departures on 35 itineraries sailing on 9 rivers in 16 countries throughout Europe, Egypt, and China.

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

River Discount

By guest blogger Steve Newman

To experience any country only by car is to miss out large amounts of its history, culture and heritage. Gently following the course of the world's major rivers has always been a pleasant way to while away the day and is one of the most popular forms of cruising and one of the most educational.

Passing and visiting castles, vineyards and cities such as Cologne without the worry and stress of being behind the wheel is simply just the perfect way to do it. Combine that with fine wines, excellent cuisine and all-round luxury (plus a major discount in this case), and you have a wining formula on your hands.

The elegant, high-end boutique hotel like ships of Uniworld River Cruises such as The River Princess (above) now have just such an incentive. Pay in full before October 31 and you can get a massive £1,200 discount for a couple travelling in their Category One staterooms and suites.

With an average capacity of 130 guests and crew ratio of one to each three guests, plus locally sourced gourmet foods and quality wines, you can see why Uniworld have a reputation for style.

And, with more than 500 departures on 35 itineraries, their ships can be found on 9 rivers in 16 countries in Europe and Egypt. Many of them have full open-air private balconies that, with a touch of a switch, will raise the glass to create a private conservatory in cooler weather.

Beats the car any day of the week!