Wine Experts To Lead Six Silversea Voyages

Silversea Cruises has chosen renowned wine experts Lyn Farmer and Richard Nurick to host a Wine Series enrichment programme on six voyages this year.

On each wine-themed cruise, discerning travellers with a passion for fine wines will enjoy sampling great vintages and learning about the tradition and art of wine-making in special tastings and lectures. Depending on the itinerary, guests may also have the chance to explore some of the world's most celebrated wine regions on optional guided shore excursions.

The following Wine Series voyages will be hosted by Lyn Farmer: 

Voyage 3203: Silver Shadow departs Auckland February 4 on a 19-day sailing to Fremantle (Perth) with calls in Napier, Wellington, Picton, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Port Lincoln, and Albany. Fares start at £6,599.

Voyage 4210: Silver Whisper departs Monte Carlo May 1 on a 12-day sailing to Southampton with calls in Palma de Mallorca, Cadiz, Portimao, La Coruña, Bilbao, Bordeaux and Le Verdon. Fares start at £3,899. 

Voyage 1220: Silver Cloud departs London August 13 on a 14-day sailing to Monte Carlo with calls in Saint-Malo, Bordeaux, Bilbao, Lisbon, Cadiz, Malaga and Sete. Fares start at £4,999.

Voyage 1232: Silver Cloud departs Buenos Aires December 22 on a 16-day sailing to Valparaiso (Santiago) with calls in Montevideo, Punta del Este, Puerto Madryn, Stanley (Falkland Islands), Punta Arenas, Laguna San Rafael, Puerto Chacabuco and Puerto Montt. Fares start at £6,199.

Richard Nurick will host the following: 

Voyage 4220A: Silver Whisper departs Southampton July 26 on a nine-day sailing to Lisbon with calls in Bordeaux, St. Jean de Luz, Bilbao, Gijon, La Coruña and Vigo. Fares start at £3,899

Voyage 4220B: Silver Whisper departs Lisbon August 4 on a nine-day sailing to Southampton with calls in Oporto (Leixoes), Bilbao, Bordeaux, Saint-Malo and Honfleur. Fares start at £3,899. 

All fares are per person, based on double occupancy for a Vista Suite. Silver Savings is a capacity-controlled programme and subject to availability.

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

Crystal Cruises To Feature Master Photographers

Crystal Cruises is putting its trademark unique spin on cruise holiday memories by featuring award-winning Master Photographers to shoot guest portraits on eleven 2012 sailings. “The Master Collection” line-up consists of top-tier professional portrait photographers who have the distinction of being Fellows of the British Institute of Professional Photographers (BIPP) and the Master Photographers Association (MPA).

During their voyage, travellers can arrange private photography sessions on Crystal Symphony, Crystal Serenity or at exotic destinations on land with pros renowned for their portraiture. Individuals, couples or families/groups can opt for different wardrobe, locations and activities to customise their shoots.

Reservations include pre-planning consultation, unlimited shoot time, unlimited number of pictures and photo review. Final, retouched photographs will then be printed in a handcrafted, custom-bound 16”x12” embossed-aluminium album. Other framed photo and presentation product options are available for those looking to celebrate a special occasion, create a family treasure or simply treat themselves.

All products are created at Europe’s leading professional photo laboratory and shipped anywhere in the world four weeks after the end of the cruise. Operated by esteemed photography company Paragon Pixels, the programme is an expansion of the popular “Crystal Celebrations” Private Portrait Programme.  Each Master Photographer will also host an informal talk giving trade tips and insight into their life and work, as well as mentor staff photographers while on board.

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

Oceania Gets With The Theme

Distinctive premium cruise Line Oceania Cruises is introducing themed cruising for the first time in 2012.

The new `Signature Sailings’ include 10 voyages exploring culinary, wine, music and health & wellness themes. Guests will enjoy seminars, hands-on classes, concerts and wine tastings. Depending on the voyage, Chef Jacques Pépin, up-and-coming jazz musicians and noted editors will be among the special guests.

Jacques Pepin Cruise

Master Chef Jacques Pepin has served as Oceania's executive culinary director for eight years. On this sailing, he’ll be sure to hold court in Jacques – his first namesake restaurant – as well as in the Bon Appétit Culinary Center leading Q&A sessions, cooking demonstrations and signing books.

Spring Music Fest

A broad range of jazz styles will be featured. Six guest musicians, including four headliners, will perform individual main stage shows, in addition to more casual jam sessions. There will also be special dance sets and dance instructors.

Oceania Club Reunion Cruise

Two sailings, and Oceania's loyal past passengers will be the guests of honour for these special reunion cruises, which include memorable surprises both onboard and ashore.

Italian Wine Immersion Cruise

Highlights include lectures, tastings and special Wine Bars, where guest experts and special musical performers will create the perfect vibe to explore and experience great wines.

Vitality & Wellness Cruise

In addition to healthy eating and fitness tips, guests will gain insights on enhancing their mental wellness to live life to the fullest. Spinning, yoga and Pilates classes are also offered at the Canyon Ranch SpaClub and gourmet Canyon Ranch spa cuisine is available.

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

Cruise To Floriade - The World Horticultural Expo

Floriade is an international exhibition of flowers and gardening held every 10 years in the Netherlands, attracting visitors from all over the world, and eWaterways is offering cruises through the Dutch and Belgian waterways that include a visit to Floriade 2012 as a full-day optional excursion.

The voyage is available on the Amadeus Brilliant, Diamond and Elegant luxury cruise ships.

For more details, visit www.ewaterways.co.uk or the UK's river-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Gerald Scarfe Joins Fred. Olsen

As part of its growing cruise enhancement programme, Vistas, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is delighted to announce that the artist and satirical cartoonist, Gerald Scarfe, CBE, RDI, will be joining Braemar’s cruise to the Atlantic Islands next April.

Best known for his biting and highly individual political cartoons, as well as his collaboration with Pink Floyd on their epic production of The Wall, Scarfe was born in St. John’s Wood, North London, in 1936 and started to draw and create models as he recovered from bouts of asthma as a child.

He started drawing cartoons for national newspapers and magazines, including the Daily Sketch, Evening Standard and Punch magazine and was one of the early contributors to Private Eye. His work is also familiar from the opening credits of the 1980s TV series ‘Yes Minister’ and ‘Yes, Prime Minister’. From drawing, he moved into creating papier-mâché models of politicians, and gradually into television, film and other areas of the arts.

Scarfe was awarded the distinction of ‘Royal Designer for Industry’ in 1989, in recognition of his talents as an illustrator. He was then awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2008, remarking: “I am pleased, but surprised, since I’ve spent so much of my professional life being rude to people.”

He will host a ‘Drawing’ theme on Braemar's M1208 cruise to the Atlantic Islands, a 14-night voyage that departs from Dover on April 14, 2012, calling at Lisbon and visiting the islands of Lanzarote, Tenerife and La Palma in the Canaries, and two ports in the Azores, Praia da Vitoria and Ponta Delgada, before returning to Dover.



Prices start from £1,429 per person, based on two adults sharing an inside twin cabin, Grade ‘I’, and includes accommodation, all meals and entertainment on board, and port taxes. There is no extra charge for taking part in Gerald’s Vistas workshops.

Find out more about by visiting www.fredolsencruises.com or the specialist cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.