Celebrity's First Asia Season Now On Sale

Celebrity Cruises has announced its first-ever season sailing in Asia in the winter of 2012/13, and the series of voyages on Celebrity Millennium is now on sale, visiting nine countries new to the brand, including Vietnam, Thailand and China.

Celebrity's inaugural Asian season will consist of a series of 14-night open-jaw cruises between Singapore and Hong Kong and includes overnight stays in Singapore, Bangkok (Thailand), Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Halong Bay (Vietnam) and Hong Kong. The season also will include two 14-night sailings round-trip from Singapore with overnight stays in Bali (Indonesia) in January 2013.

At either end of Millennium’s Asia season will be two trans-Pacific sailings. The westbound cruise will coincide with the total solar eclipse in November 2012. Guests will be able to view the eclipse while at sea when sailing from Fiji to New Zealand. In April 2013, the ship will reposition from Hong Kong to Shanghai on a cruise featuring overnight calls in Hong Kong and Beijing (Tianjin). Millennium will then continue eastbound across the North Pacific to Alaska and will call at various ports in China, Japan, and Russia.

Guests can also take advantage of one of Celebrity's signature cruise-tours, which combine a cruise with a five-night pre or post-cruise escorted land package out of Hong Kong. They will feature trips to Xian and Beijing to view the famed Terracotta Warriors and the Great Wall of China. All of these packages are escorted by a local tour director and include hotel accommodations, transportation, select activities, breakfasts and some additional meals.

While sailing, a variety of shore excursions are available. A number of overnight stays in port will offer the opportunity to enjoy two or three-day excursions, with examples including a two-night/three-day overland experience from Bangkok to Siem Reap to visit Angkor Wat (Cambodia). The tour focuses on the temples of Angkor to see the best examples of stone carvings recovered from temples across Cambodia.

During cruises that include an overnight stay in port at Halong Bay (Hanoi), an overnight shore excursion offers a visit to the Old Quarter of the city; an opportunity to witness unique Vietnamese performing arts at the Hanoi Water Puppet Theatre; dinner at a traditional restaurant; and an overnight stay in a leading hotel.

For more info, see www.celebritycruises.co.uk or contact the cruise agent specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677.

Viking Launches 'Magnificent Mekong' For 2012

Ahead of the launch of its main 2012 brochure, Viking River Cruises has released its 'Magnificent Mekong' programme with massive savings for early bookers. Double discounts, giving savings of up to £1000 per person, are offered on any Mekong departure booked by June 30 for travel in 2012.

The early release of the programme follows huge demand for the 16-day itinerary, which combines a land tour of Vietnam and Cambodia with a seven-night cruise on the 66-passenger RV Tonle, a graceful, French colonial-style vessel hand-finished in brass and teak.

Along the journey, highlights include visits to the ancient Khmer monuments at Angkor Wat; the chance to explore the floating markets of the Mekong Delta and the old city of Hanoi in Vietnam; as well as visits to the elegant French colonial capital of Phnom Penh and the bustling metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City.

Other escorted tours include a visit to hilltop Wat Hanchey and the Twin Holy Mountains of Phnom Pros and Phnom Srey; a small boat excursion through the Kampong Chhnang wetlands; a Cyclo tour featuring the Royal Palace and National Museum in Phnom Penh with an excursion to the Killing Fields; and a visit to the market of Prek Touch.

Prices start from £2,699 per person (with £1,000 discount) and include return flights from London to Hanoi and from Ho Chi Minh City (or vice versa); a seven-night river cruise with river-view stateroom; two nights' hotel stay in Hanoi, three nights in Siem Reap and two nights in Ho Chi Minh; 14 guided tours with audio headsets; and the internal flight between Hanoi and Siem Reap. A programme of 'Cultural Highlights' featuring a traditional Vietnamese wedding ceremony and a visit to the Siem Reap arts and craft school, plus a 'Culture Curriculum' programme giving language lessons and talks are also included.

For those with more time to explore the region further, Viking also has two add-on packages, with two nights at Ha Long Bay priced from £299 per person, or three nights in Bangkok from £599 per person, with escorted tours included throughout.

Full details can by found by visiting www.vikingrivercruises.co.uk or via the river and adventure-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.