Silversea's 15-Day Caribbean Special

Join Silversea Cruises on a 15-day Transoceanic trip from just £3,213 per person (or £214 per day) on an all-inclusive basis. Departing October 24 from Lisbon (Portugal), Silver Cloud calls at Casablanca (Morocco), Agadir (Morocco), Arrecife (Canary Islands, Spain); Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain); St. John’s (Antigua), Roseau (Dominica) and Castries (St Lucia), before arriving in Bridgetown (Barbados).

All prices are per person, based on two people sharing a Vista Suite and include port charges, government fees and taxes. A $1000 'Passport to Luxury' onbaord credit is offered per suite (approx. £640), based on two people sharing, for use towards additional benefits such as shore excursions, spa treatments, boutiques, or select restaurants. Economy air fare is available from £799 per person.

For more information, visit www.silversea.com or the UK's luxury cruise specialists The Cruise Line Ltd.

Make it a ‘Caribbean Christmas’ With Fred. Olsen

Christmas is a time for celebration and relaxation, and what better way to do both than on a sunny Caribbean cruise? Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has a leisurely 25-night ex-UK ‘Caribbean Christmas’ cruise aboard Black Watch, departing from Southampton on December 17.



The long Atlantic crossing allows for plenty of time to relax and enjoy the many activities and facilities the ship has to offer. Guests can join in quizzes and traditional deck games, read in the peace of the library, swim, work out in the gym, or take part in many other enjoyable activities, as the ship makes her way to the warm Caribbean waters.



Christmas Day sees Black Watch in the middle of her Atlantic crossing, and the day is celebrated at sea in the traditional way – there is a sumptuous feast, a visit from Santa Claus for younger guests, as well as carol singing, festive entertainment, quizzes and, of course, a ship glittering with Christmas trees and decorations.



The first Caribbean port of call is Barbados on December 28 followed by the lovely islands of St Lucia, Antigua, Tortola and St Maarten, while the return crossing includes a visit to the Azores before arriving back in Southampton on January 11.



An extra-special attraction on this festive cruise is live entertainment from two of the best tribute bands around, appearing as part of the exclusive Fred. Olsen's ‘Music & Laughter’ programme. The acts are ‘Bee Gees Magic’ and ‘Abba Magic’, and they will be recreating the great sounds of the Seventies’ super-groups during the cruise.



Prices for this Christmas cruise start from £3,597 per person, based on two adults sharing an outside twin cabin, Grade ‘E’, and include accommodation, all meals and entertainment on board – including the ‘Music & Laughter’ programme – and port taxes.



Find out more at www.fredolsencruises.com or contact the specialst cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd at 0800 008 6677.

Big Autmn Savings With Crystal

As if Crystal Cruises’ autumn sale wasn’t big enough already, the ultra-luxury cruise operator is offering even greater savings on its 25th October New York to Miami Caribbean cruise with prices for this 12-night voyage starting from as little £3,723 per person – a saving of £498 per person.

Crystal’s “Pink Sands and White Beaches” voyage begins with a scenic sail-away from New York followed by visits to Bermuda, St Maarten, Antigua, Aruba and the Cayman Islands. Throughout, guests will be stimulated and enriched with an array of complimentary workshops and classes:



A “Digital Filmmaking” theme offers camera buffs hands-on tutelage in travel video production from Travel Channel Academy founders throughout the sailing. News junkies will relish insights from Shelby Coffee, formerly editor of the LA Times, president of CNN Business News and executive vice president of ABC News. Veteran US State Department Senior Foreign Service Officer, Robert Warne, will enthral world affairs enthusiasts with his vast experience in international economics. Animal lovers can help care for stray donkeys via Crystal’s free “You Care, We Care” voluntourism excursion in Antigua.



Prices include return scheduled flights, transfers, 12 nights in a deluxe stateroom with picture window with all meals and soft drinks, port taxes and a $500 per person onboard credit.



For further information, visit www.crystalcruises.co.uk or contact the luxury cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Learn Digital Film Making with Crystal

Lights, camera, action! Guests on Crystal Cruises’ October “Digital Film-Making”-themed voyage will get to hone their production skills with an intense video production programme that focuses on creating extraordinary travel videos.

During the 12-night New York to Miami Caribbean cruise, Michael Rosenblum - a digital film groundbreaker who led the BBC’s transition to digital production and created The Travel Channel Academy, among other credits - will lead a team of instructors in teaching guests how to create the best travel videos possible. The pros will cover every step of the production process and teach travellers to think through their videos before shooting, so the finished product will be a more watchable and compelling film to share with friends, family, or the world.

“Whether a complete novice, or a veteran videographer, there will be instruction geared toward every level of shooting experience,” says Crystal’s Vice President of International Sales & Marketing, Philip Ordever. “It’s an exceptional opportunity for travellers to gain a practical education in a fast-growing arena from one of the top experts in the field—all for free.”

Onboard, guests can attend multiple training classes, seek daily one-on-one assistance at a programme “base camp” and view other guests’ raw footage and finished films in a constructive workshop setting. On various excursions, instructors will accompany guests to provide hands-on shooting guidance.

Production areas that will be covered include:

Pre-production and storyboarding

Setting up/framing shots

Shooting time/clip lengths

Uploading footage

Editing

Graphics

Music

Finalising finished product for sharing

Crystal will provide all equipment for programme participation, including video cameras, Macintosh laptop computers and editing software.

The 12-night “Pink Sands & White Beaches” cruise starts in New York on October 25 and visits Bermuda, St Maarten, Antigua, Aruba and Grand Cayman before finishing in Miami. Prices start from £4,221 per person, including return scheduled flights, transfers, 12 nights in a deluxe stateroom with picture window with all meals and soft drinks, port taxes and a $500 per person onboard credit.

For more info, see www.crystalcruises.co.uk or contact the UK's leading luxury-cruise specialist agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Grab An Early Booking Discount With Star Clippers

By Steve Newman

Book by January 31 and receive up to 20% early-booking discount with tall ship sailing specialist Star Clippers, who are offering the spectacular saving off all 2011 cruises in the Mediterranean PLUS all 2011 sailings in the Caribbean and Central America if booked by April 30.

You can save £177 per person on a six-night Caribbean pre-Christmas cruise on the 170-passenger Star Clipper, departing St Maarten on December 17 and calling at some of the smaller, more exclusive Caribbean ports inaccessible to big ships. The itinerary includes either Nevis or Saba (depending on the wind), Iles des Saintes, Falmouth Harbour in Antigua and St Barths. Now from £708 per person, cruise only.

Save £206 per person on a seven-night Costa Rica sailing on the 170-passenger Star Flyer, departing Puerto Caldera on December 11 and exploring rainforested islands, remote bays and beautiful beaches, with plenty of chance to spot the incredibly diverse wildlife of the region. The ship calls at San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua; Playa del Coco, Costa Rica; National Park of Santa Rosa; Samara; Puerto Carillo; National Reserve of Curu; and Isla Tortuga. Now from £824 per person, cruise only.

Save £168 per person on a short break, five-night Mediterranean sailing on board Star Clipper, departing Athens on October 8, and calling at the unspoilt Greek ports of Monemvasia and Pilos; Siracusa in Sicily; and Valletta, Malta. Now from £672 per person, cruise only.

All prices exclude port charges.

Passengers can enjoy the romance of sailing on board a true tall ship in a relaxed atmosphere with high standards of service provided by an attentive crew. All three ships have expansive teak decks, swimming pools, informal dining, a convivial Tropical Bar on deck and a comfortable piano bar and are large enough to offer first class accommodation and dining, but small enough to call into intimate ports, untouched by large cruise ships.

For more information, visit www.starclippers.co.uk or check with the UK's leading adventure cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Silversea February Caribbean Cruise

By guest blogger Steve Newman

The Caribbean will always be one of the most popular cruise destinations.

So it is no surprise that Silversea's
Silver Cloud departs 17 February 2011 on a 9 day voyage (#1106), from Fort Lauderdale to Barbados, with calls in Tortola, St. Martin, Antigua, St Lucia, the Grenadines and Grenada. All-inclusive cruise-only fares start at £2,298 per person. $500 complimentary onboard spending credit is awarded to each suite.
For more in formation log on to their site at www.silversea.com or cruise specialists The Cruiseline.

Grand Voyage to Cuba

By guest blogger Steve Newman

With only eight cabins remaining, don’t miss out on Voyages of Discovery’s 31-night ‘Grand Voyage to Cuba’. Fly/cruise from only £1,599 per person (based on two people sharing an inside cabin).

Price includes return flights, transfers and a 31-night cruise departing from Malaga (Spain) and calling at Gibraltar (U.K), Cadiz (Spain), Funchal (Madeira), Antigua (British West Indies), St Kitts (Basseterre/Nevis), Dominica (Dominica), St. Lucia (British West Indies), Barbados (British West Indies), Grenada (British West Indies), Tobago (Trinidad and Tobago), Trinidad (Trinidad and Tobago), La Guaira (Venezuela), Curacao (Netherlands Antilles), Aruba, Montego Bay (Jamaica) and Santiego de Cuba (Cuba) before arriving at Havana (Cuba); meals, entertainment and gratuities on board and all relevant cruise taxes/fees, plus onboard lectures from a team of renowned guest speakers.

Price is based on 18 November 2010 departure.

For more information and to book visit http://www.voyagesofdiscovery.co.uk/

Castanets and Calypsos

By guest blogger Steve Newman

As we are only posting for a three days a week at the moment due to much travel, staff holidays, etc, we thought we would pop on two cruises today. Fred Olsen lines have a nine-night cruise to Iberia departing from and ending in Southampton on 27th September 2011.

This cruise first visits Lisbon, the elegant and picturesque Portuguese capital, then La Coruna in Spain, a fascinating mixture of architectural styles, with its quality medieval quarter and contrasting modern buildings. Next port is Bilbao, a vibrant and cosmopolitan town in the north of Spain – and home to the futuristic Guggenheim Museum. Last port, where the ship is at anchor, is Hendaye in France, situated on the frontier with Spain, and hemmed in by the Atlantic and the Pyrenees.

Their second cruise is a grand 28-night Caribbean voyage on Black Watch (above), departing from Southampton on 12th November 2010 and including visits to Tenerife, Barbados, St Georges, St Kitts, Tortola, Antigua and St Maarten before finally arriving back at Southampton via The Azores.

The company will also have a team of experts on hand at this autumn’s Daily Telegraph CRUISE Show in Birmingham, ready to inspire and inform visitors on the right kind of cruise for them. Visitors can take advantage of a variety of Fred. Olsen deals – exclusive to the Show – on selected sailings around the world. Fred. Olsen will be exhibiting on stand E20, with experts available to provide visitors with useful, informed advice on the wide range of cruises and itineraries. As well as a range of special exclusive show offers on many cruises, visitors booking on the day can save up to an additional £325 per person off brochure fares and special offers.