P&O'S Green World Tours Expansion

Following on from a successful first season, P&O Cruises is adding a number of new options to its Green World Tours programme for 2012. This also comes after the programme received an Environmental Initiative Award for its notable contribution to advancing the environmental aspect of cruising.

Green World Tours are a range of charitable and responsible tourism-based shore experiences designed to support the towns and communities visited on longer itineraries, as well as giving the passenger a unique experience ashore.

The first Green World Tour was in November 2009 and tours are now operated by P&O in 16 destinations worldwide. The tours vary in price and are non-profit making. Some include a donation while others just cover costs, and passengers are free to donate as they choose.

Tours are offered on some longer itineraries, such as Oceana’s 24-night Eastern Mediterranean cruise departing February 26 (including a call in Ashdod), and all world cruises. In 2012, Arcadia, Aurora, Oriana and Adonia are offering world voyages of between 87 and 109 nights in duration, with shorter sectors available. Tours are offered in ports of call including Limon, Bali, Cape Town, Rio de Janeiro, Port Kelang (Kuala Lumpur), Phuket and Port Elizabeth.

Green World Tours are also offered to various wildlife centres and charitable projects, such as the Sea Turtle Conservation Centre in Laem Chabang and the Cats and Dogs Rescue Centre in Koh Samui.

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

Azamara's Asia And Middle East

Join Azamara Club Cruises’  Azamara Quest for a 14-night Spice Route fly/cruise from just £2,141.00 per person (based on two people sharing an ocean view stateroom).

This excellent price includes return flights from London Heathrow, one-night pre-cruise hotel accommodation, transfers and a 12-night cruise departing Mumbai (India) and calling at Goa (India), Cochin (India), Madra (India) and Phuket (Thailand) before arriving into Singapore for the return flight; all meals and room service; destination-influenced entertainment and enrichment programmes; housekeeping and dining gratuities; bottled water throughout the cruise; house wines with meals; speciality coffees and teas; and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. Price is based on a December 10 departure.

For more information, visit www.azamaraclubcruises.co.uk or contact the luxury cruise specialist agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Voyages of Discovery, New Brochure

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Voyages of Discovery’s winter 2011/12 brochure is offering exciting new destinations, cruises and excursions, including a three-day visit to the vibrant, colonial Yangon (formerly Rangoon) in Myanmar and Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

With MV Discovery visiting Japan and China for the first time, excursions to Kyota, the former Imperial capital of Japan, the island city of Xiamen, China, and Bund waterfront in Shanghai are also highlights of the new brochure.

The gateway to Mecca; blue waters and white beaches of Australia’s Whitsunday Islands; hustle and bustle of Phuket; and Vietnam’s colonial history also all await travellers as part of the new programme through 2011/12.

Discovery’s smaller size accommodates around 650 passengers, allowing it to visit ports and destinations which larger cruise liners are unable to, providing guests with an opportunity to discover some of the great cities, both ancient and modern, across Australia, The Orient and Middle East, while also listening to renowned guest speakers along the way.

Highlights of the new winter 2011/12 season for Voyages of Discovery include:

23-day South East Asia & Australia cruise embarking on 21 January 2011 – emerge yourself in local life in Manila and experience untamed Darwin and underwater richness of the Great Barrier Reef. Prices start from £2,599.

18-day Treasures of the Orient & Vietnam explores Hong Kong, Yangon, mystical Myanmar, the UNESCO listed Ha Long Bay and the Road to Mandalay, setting off on 18 December 2011, with prices starting from £2,549.

21-day Empires of the Sun, from £2,499, allows travellers to experience the bustling city of Shanghai, the poignant Hiroshima and a peak tram ride showcasing Hong Kong’s skyline, as well as the ever culturally diverse and contrasting Taiwan and Naga.

17-day Tales of India & Arabia from £1,999 uncovers Kirti Mandir - the birthplace of Ghandi - the Egyptian Temples of Dendera & Abydos and UNESCO listed Elephanta Caves in Mumbai

All prices include return flights from the UK, transfers, gratuities and service charges, meals and entertainment and the guest speaker programme on board the ship.

The recently launched Voyages of Discovery summer 2011 brochure second edition is already reporting a number of cruises as nearing 50% full and all itineraries are selling quickly. More information can be found at www.voyagesofdiscovery.co.uk/2011summer

Voyages of Discovery are also exhibiting at The Cruise Show on October 16-17 in Birmingham and at London's Olympia on March 26-27, 2011.