Put Your Best Foot Forward In 2012 With Swan Hellenic

Did you over-indulge during the festive period? Then put your best foot forward in 2012 with Swan Hellenic and resolve to spend more of 2012 outside enjoying the natural world courtesy of their invigorating voyages.

Embrace the great outdoors on Vintage Iberia and Italy this spring and mark your first milestone with a Levada hike. Take in the best views of Madeira from the eastern flanks of the Paul de Serra plateau as you walk along the island’s unique irrigation channels. Go on to enjoy the rest of the cruise seeing more of Europe’s finest landscapes and landmarks on other guided city walks visiting Seville, Tangier and Malaga. 

This cruise costs from £1,495 per person and includes return flights from the UK, transfers, a 14-day voyage departing from Funchal (Madeira) and calling at Cadiz (Spain), Seville (Spain), Tangier (Morocco), Malaga (Spain), Palma de Mallorca (Spain, above) and Livorno (Italy) before arriving at Livorno (Italy); 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 a March 16 departure.

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

PS: For more info and insight on Swan Hellenic, be sure to check out this feature in the Winter edition of the magazine.

Star Clippers New Cruises from Malaga

Here's an exciting new itinerary series from our favourite sail-cruise operator Star Clippers next year.

In the autumn 2012, the eye-catching four-masted Star Flyer (above) will operate five 7-night cruises round-trip from Malaga between September 15 and October 13, exploring the Moorish heritage of Andalucia and the North African coast.

The ports of call include Casablanca and Tangier in Morocco, and Gibraltar, Cadiz and Motril, for Granada, setting of the magnificent Alhambra Palace. It is priced from £1,370pp, excluding flights.

And be sure to check with adventure-cruise specialist The Cruise Line Ltd for any special booking offers on this link.

Save With Voyages of Discovery

Here's a good cruise saving to be had today, as announced in this press release from one of our favourite 'discovery' cruise lines:

Further reductions have been made to Voyages of Discovery’s 12-day Classic Mediterranean – save up to £740 and cruise from as little as £859 per person.

This price includes return flights from London, transfers and a 12-day voyage departing from Lisbon (Portugal) and calling at Cadiz (Spain), Malaga (Spain), Cartagena (Spain), Ajaccio (Corsica), Livorno (Italy), Civitavecchia (Italy) and Messina (Sicily) before arriving at Dubrovnik (Croatia) for an overnight stay; all 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 a September 19 departure.

For more info, visit www.voyagesofdiscovery.co.uk or contac the specialist cruise booking agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Scroll down for a superb offer at New Year with SeaDream Yacht Club

Jilly Goolden Joins Fred. Olsen's Vistas programme

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is delighted to announce that wine expert Jilly Goolden (above) will be joining a Balmoral cruise to Iberia in 2012, hosting a theme of ‘Wines of Iberia’ as part of its cruise enhancement programme, Vistas. The 10-night cruise departs from Southampton on October 3, 2012, and visits Lisbon and Portimao (both Portugal), then Casablanca (Morocco), Cadiz, and La Coruna (both Spain), before returning to Southampton.

Goolden will host wine-tastings and give talks during the cruise, specialising in wines from the region, so the theme dovetails perfectly with the very attractive cruise itinerary.

Prices for this cruise start from £1,049 per person, based on two adults sharing an inside, twin cabin, Grade ‘I’. The price includes all meals and entertainment on board, and port taxes. There is no charge for attending Jilly’s talks, as part of the Vistas programme, but there may be a small charge for wines used in tastings.

For more details, visit www.fredolsencruises.com or contact the specialist cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677.

P&O Cruises 'Early Booking Spectacular'

P&O Cruises is offering free return travel from home to ship and discounts of up to 20% on 2012 and 2013 bookings made by November 30.

This ‘Early Booking Spectacular’ offers passengers a more inclusive holiday option with no additional travel costs, as domestic flights, coach travel or valet parking (Cruise Connections) will be complimentary on bookings made during this three-month period. The discounts, of up to 20%, are available on cruises from the 2012/13 brochure on all seven ships in the P&O Cruises fleet.

The free Cruise Connections are offered on cruises of seven nights and more, enabling passengers to receive a discount of up to 20% PLUS a choice of one of the following:

Free valet car parking in Southampton (saving up to £311 per car); Free return coach transfers to/from Southampton; free return domestic flights to/from Southampton (including coach transfers in Southampton) from Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, Manchester or Leeds Bradford; free return flights for Adonia Mediterranean fly-cruises from London Gatwick or Manchester airport; free airport parking on Adonia Mediterranean fly-cruises and Ventura Caribbean fly-cruises; OR free one-way airport coach transfer to or from Southampton on selected fly-cruises.

A 14-night Mediterranean cruise holiday on board Azura departing April 15, 2012, is now priced from £1,099 with total savings of £425 per person, including:

- A 20% cruise discount of £275 per person

- Free flights from Glasgow, worth £150 per person

This cruise departs from and returns to Southampton, calling in Cadiz, Cartagena, Rome (from Civitavecchia), Florence/Pisa (from Livorno), Villefranche, Barcelona and Gibraltar.

A family of four travelling on a 9-night Atlantic Coast cruise on board Ventura, departing August 12, 2012, will pay £3,196 with total savings of £2,296, including:

- A 20% cruise discount of £250 per person

- An additional 40% cruise discount for third and fourth passengers aged 16 and under sharing a four-berth cabin, of £400 per child

- Free return coach transfers for four passengers from Glasgow, worth £124 per person

This cruise departs from and returns to Southampton, calling in Gibraltar, Casablanca, Cadiz, Lisbon and Vigo.

For more info, see www.pocruises.co.uk or for bookings, see the special cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Longer Leave with Star Clippers

The extra public holiday for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton on April 29, hard on the heels of the four-day Easter weekend break and immediately prior to the public holiday on May 2, will enable holidaymakers to take up to 11 days holiday - but only three days leave from work.

Star Clippers’ head-turning, five-masted flagship Royal Clipper sets sail from Lisbon on April 23 on a seven-night cruise of Portugal’s east coast, through the Straits of Gibraltar, calling at Portimao on the Algarve, Tangier in Morocco, Cartagena, Ibiza and Mallorca, before guests disembark in Barcelona.

The seven-night cruise costs from just £1,259 per person, including all meals and return UK flights, based on two sharing.

The 170-passenger, four-masted Star Flyer departs Lisbon on April 20 on a 10-night cruise along Portugal’s west coast, through the Straits of Gibraltar and into the Mediterranean sea to Monaco. During the cruise the ship calls into Portimao on the Algarve, Cadiz (with an optional tour of Seville), Tangier in Morocco, Motril (optional tour of Granada), Ibiza, Palma and St Tropez.

The 10-night cruise costs from £1,499 per person, including all meals and return UK flights, based on two sharing.

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

Spring selection from P&O Cruises

Free car parking, free coach travel, free flights, savings of up to £880 and free on board spending money of almost £1,000 per couple is being offered in this Spring’s promotion from P&O Cruises.

The P&O Cruises spring selection includes a range of holidays from two-night party cruises to 34-night no-fly Caribbean & USA cruises. Destinations include the Mediterranean, Baltic, Norwegian Fjords and the Caribbean. The Spring Selection applies to holidays booked before March 31, and offers include:

· Free flights and transfers on Adonia Mediterranean fly cruises
· Free car parking on selected cruises, saving up to £284 per car (based on cruise R118)
· Free coach travel on selected cruises, saving up to £120 per person (based on travel between Glasgow and Southampton)
· Up to £960 per couple free on boarding spending money (based on cabin R118)
· Savings of up to £880 per couple (based on cruise E131)

Lead in fares for the Spring Selection savers are:

· Seven nights from £699, including a £50 per person discount. Departing from and returning to Southampton and calling in La Coruna, Bilbao, La Rochelle and Brest. Based on Ventura’s (above) April 22 departure (N110). Plus up to £120 per person onboard spending money.
· 10-night Mediterranean fly-cruise from £799, including a £150 per person discount. Departing from Naples and calling at Civitavecchia, Palma, Valencia, Almeria, Cadiz, Lisbon and Southampton. Based on Adonia’s January 3, 2012, departure (D201).
· 14-night Mediterranean holiday from £1,249, including a £200 per person discount. Departing from and returning to Southampton and calling at Oporto, Lisbon, Civitavecchia, Livorno, Villefranche, Barcelona and Gibraltar. Based on March 21, 2012, departure (E204).

All prices are per person and based on two adults sharing an inside twin cabin on a full board basis, including all main meals, accommodation and most facilities.

For more information, visit http://www.pocruises.co.uk/ or check with the leading specialist cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

All Aboard with the Archers.

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Fans of the BBC's classic long-running radio soap opera The Archers will get a treat in 2011, when Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines hosts two Archers-themed voyages as part of its popular programme of special-interest cruises, The ArtsClub. Archers aficionados will get the chance to mingle with their favourite cast members from the long-running show, whilst cruising around the beautiful Mediterranean.

Various Archers cast members will be on board both cruises. They will be available to chat to at the Captain’s Welcome Cocktail Party and will perform a 'mock' recording whilst on board - complete with all the rural sound effects fans have come to associate with this much-loved show!
Balmoral departs from Southampton on a 10-night Easter cruise on April 23, 2011, calling at La Coruna, Casablanca, Gibraltar and Portimao (where she anchors), before returning to Southampton. Prices for this cruise start at £1,014pp, based on two adults sharing an inside twin-bedded cabin. The price includes all meals and entertainment on board, plus port taxes.

The Balmoral cruise also offers the supporting ArtsClub theme of Wine, where guests can learn more about wines from around the world, and discover the onboard expert’s recommendations.

Black Watch departs from Dover on September 12, 2011 for a 13-night cruise around the Western Mediterranean, taking in Cadiz, Almeria, Ibiza, Mahon, Palma and Lisbon, before returning to Dover. Prices for this cruise start at £1,392pp, based on two adults sharing an inside twin-bedded cabin. The price includes all meals and entertainment on board, plus port taxes.

The Black Watch cruise also offers keen golfers a dedicated package, Flagship Golf, providing the ideal opportunity to play on some of the finest courses in the region whilst relaxing in the comfort of Fred. Olsen's classic liner. The cost for this package is £375 per golfer.

Find out more at http://www.fredolsencruises.co.uk/ or through specialist cruise travel agents The Cruise Line Ltd.

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/

Christmas in the Med

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Two press releases about cruising at Christmas popped in to my inbox this morning. Both are completely different, so I thought I'd put them both on for you. Here's the first with the second one below (on Hurtigruten in Antarctica).

You can escape the traditional turkey and tinsel at home this Christmas and head to the Med on an 18-night Ultimate Mediterranean cruise on Royal Caribbean International’s Independence of the Seas from just £1,633 per person (based on two people sharing an inside cabin). Activities on board during the cruise include Christmas themed ice-skating, a Santa parade, festive films, music and decorations, plus carolling with cast and staff.

Independence is brimming with 15 decks of activities, including a Flowrider surf park at sea, an onboard ice-skating rink, rock climbing wall, a children’s water park, a teen-only nightclub, mother-and-daughter/father-and-son spa facilities, basketball and volleyball courts, a miniature golf course and shopping.

The price includes an 18-night cruise departing from Southampton, calling at Lisbon, Palma De Mallorca (above ), Barcelona, Livorno, Civitavechia (for Rome), Naples, Capri, Gibraltar and Cadiz before returning to Southampton; all meals and entertainment on board and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. Departure is December 21, 2010.

For more information or to book, see http://www.royalcaribbean.co.uk/ or http://www.cruiseline.co.uk/royal-caribbean-cruises/

And why not have a look at Royal Caribbean at The Cruise Show venues at the NEC in Birmingham (October 16-17) and Olympia, London (March 26-27, 2011)?

Rivers and Coasts of Spain and Portugal

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Spain and Portugal have much to offer the traveller and their rivers in particular are a very under explored when it comes to cruising. Now Archers Direct are offering the chance to travel along Andalucia's Guadalquivir River and The Algarve's Guadiana River for seven nights to marvel at a landscape of sun-blushed fields and quaint wine villages as well as ancient cities.

Designed to meet and exceed the expectations of a spacious and bright river cruiser, MS Belle de Cadix (above) offers style and superb service. Well-maintained and equipped with the latest technologies, the fully air-conditioned river cruiser accommodates 178 passengers in 89 light, airy cabins as it explores one of the most attractive regions in Europe.

The cruises start from Seville down Andalucía’s longest river to the port of Cadiz, then hugging the coastline to the Algarve and entering the River Guadiana to Alcoutim and Vila Real. Then, taking the coastal route again, you call at the Spanish port of El Puerto de Santa Maria before returning to Seville.

MS Belle de Cadix has a swimming pool; large sun deck; restaurant; lounge bar with dance floor; Panorama bar; swimming platform with access to the sea; gift shop and lift. The dining room is large enough to accommodate all passengers in one sitting.

Breakfasts are buffet style, while lunch and dinner have set menus, usually including a choice of regional specialities and traditional favourites. Aperitifs, coffee and digestifs are available in the lounge bar. Vegetarian meals and any special dietary requirements should be requested at the time of booking. There is an evening programme of entertainment and a welcome cocktail on the first night. While on board you will be looked after by the ship's hostess and purser.

All outside cabins have twin or double beds; air-conditioning/climate control; satellite TV; radio; hairdryer; safety deposit box; shower and WC; and large picture window. Your holiday price includes a 2-berth main deck cabin, or you may choose to upgrade.

For more information go to http://www.archersdirect.co.uk/