SeaDream Taps Into The Hippocrates Health Institute

SeaDream Yacht Club is taking wellness and well-being holidays a step further with a unique programme in conjunction with The Hippocrates Health Institute, introducing the first of its kind at sea, a “Raw Food” menu option. 

A once-radical form of vegetarianism called the “raw foods” or “living foods” movement is creeping into mainstream. Now, aboard the twin mega-yachts, SeaDream I and SeaDream II, gourmet raw food is offered in addition to the regular menu.

The Hippocrates Health Institute was created over five decades ago. Over the years, it has developed the Life Transformation Programme into the definitive blueprint for transitioning to a healthier lifestyle. SeaDream’s Corporate Chef, Sudesh Kishore (above) shares dishes and beverages such as Watercress Tang (a liquid mélange of watercress, Anjou pear, lime and pineapple) and the Blood Apple Blaster (a blend of apple, ginger, red beet, lime juice and agave). Salad options include Asian-style Cashew Curry Salad (crunchy and slightly spicy) while an entrée such as Vegetable Lasagna uses pasta-like noodles made from spinach leaves and coconut meat, layered between a spicy cauliflower mash topped with a sun-dried tomato marinara.

A sample 7-night Mediterranean voyage aboard SeaDream I (including the new Raw Food menu options), sailing May 12 from Civitavecchia (Rome) to Monte Carlo now costs from $3,999, representing a saving of 55%.

A sample 7-night Caribbean voyage aboard SeaDream II (also including the new Raw Food options), sailing March 31 from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas, now costs from $2,899, a brochure saving of 58%.

These cruise-only fares include: accommodation, all meals, onboard gratuities, wine with lunch and dinner, a complimentary open bar and use of the yachts' “water toys” and Marina (weather permitting).

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

Carnival's Free Caribbean Cabin Upgrade

Here's a neat incentive to join a sparkling Caribbean cruise with Carnival Cruise Lines this year - a FREE cabin upgrade for the sailing in March.

Sailing from Port Canaveral, Florida – just a short hop away from the thrills of Orlando - to the heavenly Western Caribbean, the voyage features visits to Cozumel, Mexico’s only Caribbean island (brimming with silver and colourful crafts) and beautiful Belize, boasting its own special brand of eco-tourism and the world’s second largest barrier reef, before cruising on to the new Mahogany Bay resort on scenic Isla Roatan, and then Costa Maya, gateway to ancient Mayan temples and white sand beaches of the Mexican mainland.

The ship involved, the spectacular 3,646-passenger Carnival Dream, features some of the best resort amenities afloat, including deck after deck of spacious private balconied staterooms offering breathtaking panoramas, plus 18 bars and lounges, a duty-free shopping mall, a huge Cloud 9 health spa and gym, including a hydrotherapy pool, “Serenity” deck areas for adults only, a glittering casino, a 2,400sq ft children’s area, four swimming pools and several cascading water slides.

This 9-night Caribbean fly/cruise onboard the Dream starts from just £1,099 per person, including a free upgrade from an inside to a sea-view stateroom. This holiday departs from London on March 1 and includes scheduled flights between London and Orlando, one night pre-cruise hotel (room only) and a 7-night cruise, full board basis per person based on inside twin accommodation. 

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

New Reduced Fares from Regent Seven Seas

Another day, another round of great cruise fare savings! Here's one from the ultra-deluxe Regent Seven Seas, with new low prices on several Caribbean cruises:

Western Caribbean, round-rip Fort Lauderdale, Seven Seas Navigator, 10 nights:  Departures: February 27, March 19; £2,984 per person based on two people sharing an H category Ocean View suite. Itinerary: Fort Lauderdale, Key West, Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Belize City, Santo Tomas, Roatan, Costa Maya, Fort Lauderdale.

Eastern Caribbean, round-trip Fort Lauderdale, Seven Seas Navigator, 11 nights: Departs: March 8; £3,242 per person based on two people sharing an H category Ocean View suite. Itinerary: Fort Lauderdale, Grand Cayman, San Juan, St Thomas, St Barts, Saint Maarten, Tortola, Cayo Levantado, Great Stirrup Cay, Fort Lauderdale.

All fares include FREE flights and transfers, FREE unlimited shore excursions (choose up to 37 on these voyages), all-inclusive onboard, fine dining, premium spirits and fine wines, gratuities, taxes and entertainment.

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

Beat The Winter Chill With Fred Olsen

An ideal post-Christmas getaway is Fred Olsen's Braemar’s 15-night Caribbean fly-cruise, departing on January 5, 2012, an exciting itinerary that includes a late-night stay in the colourful and vibrant Cuban city of Santiago de Cuba. You also fly from London Gatwick or Manchester to Barbados on exclusive, fully-escorted Fred Olsen charters.

The cruise starts with an overnight stay in Barbados (above), then visits Bonaire and Aruba, Montego Bay in Jamaica, and on to Santiago de Cuba, the island’s former capital. The cruise also visits the Turks & Caicos Islands, Tortola and Antigua, with a scenic journey through the Grenadines, en route back to Barbados for the return flights.

Prices start from £1,394 per person, based on two adults sharing an inside twin cabin, Grade I, and include flights and transfers, all meals and entertainment on board, and port/airport taxes. Olsen is also offering some attractive Canary Islands cruises this winter, representing excellent value.

One such cruise is Balmoral’s 13-night cruise departing from Southampton on December 8. The cruise first visits Madeira, calling at the capital Funchal, then visits the Canary Islands of La Palma, Tenerife, La Gomera and Gran Canaria. The final port of call is Portugal’s vibrant capital city, Lisbon.

An additional attraction on this cruise is a theme of ‘History of the British Royal Family’ as part of the line's award-winning onboard enrichment programme, Vistas. The programme covers a comprehensive range of topics, from wine-tasting and gardening to antiques and photography, hosted by experts in their relevant fields. The expert hosting the Royal Family theme is David V. Thomas MVO, the former Crown Jeweller, who was responsible for the care and conservancy of the Crown Jewels from 1991 to 2007, as well as the personal collections of Her Majesty the Queen and other members of the Royal Family.

Prices for this cruise start from £737 per person, based on two adults sharing an inside, twin cabin, Grade I, and include accommodation, all meals and entertainment on board, and port taxes.

Find out more at www.fredolsencruises.com or contact the UK's leading cruise specialist agents of 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.

Peter Sissons and Terry Neill Cruise with Fred. Olsen

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is proud of its philosophy ‘It’s all about the people’ and the cruise line is famed for its personal touch. Part of the pleasure of a cruise is to meet new people and enjoy stimulating discussion – perhaps learning something new along the way. An eclectic mix of speakers appears as part of Fred. Olsen’s cruise enhancement programme, Vistas, which covers a host of fascinating topics that guests can enjoy at no extra cost.

Two very different speakers featured in the 2012/13 Vistas programme are veteran newscaster and broadcaster, Peter Sissons (above), and the Northern Ireland footballer and former Spurs and Arsenal manager, Terry Neill.

Thought to have been Britain’s longest-serving TV news presenter, with a career spanning 45 years, Peter Sissons is best known for his long and distinguished career with the BBC. Having worked for both ITN and Channel Four – where he won three consecutive BAFTAs – he joined the Corporation to present Question Time and the Six O’Clock News. Latterly, he presented the Nine O’Clock News from 1994 until it moved to its present ten o’clock slot.

Prior to his successful life in journalism, Peter studied alongside some famous classmates. Growing up in Liverpool, he was at junior school with John Lennon and Jimmy Tarbuck and then attended the Liverpool Institute, where, among his fellow students, were both George Harrison and Paul McCartney. Many people will remember Peter as the newsreader who was trusted with the momentous task of announcing to the nation the death of the Queen Mother in 2002 – and was castigated by some (and applauded by others) for wearing a burgundy tie, rather than a black one!

He left the BBC in 2009 to concentrate on writing his memoirs, since published under the title ‘When One Door Closes’, and promises to be a fascinating speaker on Boudicca’s 23-night cruise to the Mediterranean, departing from Portsmouth on October 12, 2012. The cruise visits Portimăo (Portugal), Ibiza (Spain), Valletta (Malta), Piraeus for Athens (Greece), Alexandria (Egypt) for an overnight stay, Tripoli (Libya), Algiers (Algeria) and Gibraltar, before returning to Portsmouth. Prices are from £2,379 per person.

From a very different world comes William John Terence (‘Terry’) O’Neill. Born in Belfast in 1942, Terry has been involved in football from his earliest days, playing as a junior for Bangor before moving to Arsenal in 1959. In the early 1960s, he made 29 league appearances for The Gunners, and was also a regular player for the Northern Ireland team. He became Arsenal captain in 1968 and played 275 games for them, scoring ten goals in total. He moved to Hull City in 1990, as one of the youngest ever player/managers, and was later manager of Tottenham Hotspur, returning to his beloved Arsenal as its manager until his retirement from ‘the beautiful game’ at the early age of 41. Since then, he has run a number of successful sports bars in London, and still commentates on Arsenal games for Arsenal TV.

Neill will be speaking on Boudicca’s 35-night voyage to the Caribbean, departing from Southampton on January 19, 2012. The cruise visits Tenerife, Barbados, Curacao, Colombia, Jamaica, Cuba (for an overnight stay in Havana), the Turks and Caicos Islands, St Maarten, and the Azores, before returning to Southampton. Prices are from £3,249 per person.

Prices are based on two adults sharing an inside twin cabin, Grade ‘I’ and include accommodation, all meals and entertainment onboard, including the celebrity speakers, and port taxes.

Find out more at www.fredolsencruises.com or contact the specialist cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Try The Azamara Style

Azamara Club Cruises’ boutique ship Azamara Journey recently received a number of top awards for small ships at Cruise Critic’s Cruiser’s Choice Awards, including awards for its culinary excellence and exotic ports of call. And now is the perfect time to experience this for yourself, with Journey featuring a seven-night Caribbean fly/cruise from just £1,634 per person this winter (based on two people sharing an inside stateroom).

The price includes return flights from London Heathrow, one-night pre-cruise hotel accommodation, transfers and a five-night cruise departing San Juan (Puerto Rico) and calling at St. John (US Virgin Islands), Gustavia (St. Barts), Marigot (Saint Martin) and Virgin Gorda (British Virgin Islands) before returning to San Juan;. It also includes 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 November 22 departure.

For more info, visit www.azamaraclubcruises.co.uk or contact the luxury cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677.

'Hooray! Hooray! It’s a Holi-Holiday!’

As part of its popular ‘Music and Laughter’ variety programme, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is pleased to announce it will eature a line-up responsible for some of the biggest hits of the Seventies. ‘The Sounds of Boney M, featuring Sheyla Bonnick’ will be entertaining guests on 15-night Caribbean fly-cruise M1126, on board Braemar (above), departing December 8.

Sheyla Bonnick is a member of the original Boney M line-up, and the group will be playing all the famous hits, such as Daddy Cool, Rasputin, Ma Baker and Hooray! Hooray! It’s a Holi-Holiday, in the relaxed, tropical surroundings of the Caribbean.

Sheyla leads a show-stopping set, with spectacular costumes, dazzling dance routines and a great live band, recreating some fantastic songs which will have everyone on their feet joining in the fun.

As an added bonus for golfers, this cruise also features Fred. Olsen’s dedicated golf package, Flagship Golf. For £425 per person, golfers can enjoy some of the finest, most challenging courses on earth, whilst relaxing in the comfort of their cruise. The price includes: a combination of four rounds of golf, onboard professional tuition, practice sessions and social activity for golfers and non-playing partners.

Prices for this ‘Smooth Pop and Soul’-themed Caribbean fly-cruise start from £1,672 per person, based on two adults sharing a twin, inside cabin, Grade ‘I’. The price includes accommodation, all meals and entertainment, and port/airport taxes.

See more info at www.fredolsencruises.com or contact the cruise-agent specialists of The Cruise Line.

Tall Ship Cruising From The UK

Tall ship sailing specialist Star Clippers, who offer fully-crewed, sailing cruises on board magnificent head-turning tall ships, will bring the 170-passenger square rigger Star Flyer to the UK in 2012 for the first time since the vessel's launch in 1991, as part of the company's first ever season sailing the Baltic.

During summer, the Flyer will cruise out of Hamburg, Oslo, Stockholm and Copenhagen as well as to and from Southampton. She will be seen in the Solent and harboured in the British port on May 5 and September 1, 2012, attracting plenty of attention with her four masts, thousands of square feet of sail and graceful lines, modelled on the great clipper ships of the 19th century.

New Star Clippers cruises into and out of Southampton include:-

On April 14, Star Flyer sets out from St Maarten in the Caribbean on her repositioning cruise to Europe, arriving into Southampton on May 5, after a 21-day trans-Atlantic sailing (fares to be announced shortly).

She then departs Southampton later on May 5 for a five-night voyage to Hamburg, via Amsterdam - a unique chance to sail on a genuine tall ship from a British port, with two days at sea included, on which there will be plenty of chance to relax on the teak decks, learn about the wind, stars and navigation or even help the crew hoist the sails. The five-night sailing costs from £1,035 per person, including all meals on board and port taxes (excluding return flights from Hamburg).

On August 25, Star Flyer will sail from Hamburg to Southampton on a seven-night voyage via Amsterdam, Ijmuiden, Antwerp and Zeebrugge, presenting another chance to sail up the Solent in one of the most dramatic-looking ships afloat.

This seven-night sailing costs from £1,490 per person, including all meals on board and port taxes (excludes one-way flight to Hamburg).

On September 1, the head-turning square rigger departs Southampton once more, sailing for Lisbon and on to Malaga, from where she will operate five 7-night cruises in the Mediterranean prior to her transatlantic crossing back to her winter base of Costa Rica. This will be bookable in sectors, for which prices will be announced shortly.

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

NCL's Great Bahamas Upgrade

Norwegian Cruise Line has announced that it has completed the first phase of enhancements at Great Stirrup Cay (above), the line’s 250-acre private island in the Bahamas.

The company has opened a new marina and dining facility on the island, representing a significant milestone in the more than $20 million enhancement project currently under way.

Norwegian Sky’s 2,000 guests were the first to experience the opening of the marina basin with four docks for the island’s tenders and the new 8,500sq ft dining facility, complete with two bars and four picnic pavilions.

NCL president and CEO Kevin Sheehan explained: “Both the new marina and the dining facility greatly enhance the guest experience on Great Stirrup Cay, which is our second busiest port of call this year. By moving the tenders’ arrival to the marina and away from the beach, we have now opened up a great expanse of beachfront for our guests to enjoy and relax. We’ve also built a new, large dining facility that is similar to the action station restaurants we have on board our Freestyle Cruising ships.”

The marina is approximately 12ft deep at low water and is home to the island’s four tenders. It took more than eight months to excavate the basin and the entrance channel. The dining facility includes a central pizza-making station, two grills, hot and cold food stations, as well as fresh fruits and breads. There are two full bars on either side of the facility for added convenience.

The four pavilions, each more than 1,800sq ft, offer picnic tables with a total seating capacity for more than 500 guests. Enhancements have been under way since January 2010 and will continue until the end of this year.

Several new activities have been added since the project began, including more than 16 wave runners, kayak rentals and an eco-adventure boat tour around the island. These are in addition to the existing snorkelling, floats, inflatable hippo slide and parasailing.

The second phase of enhancements includes an arrival/departure pavilion; additional bar facilities; several comfort stations; a band stand; cruise programme activity area; private beachfront cabanas; a kids' play area; straw market; and beach volleyball courts. The beachfront will continue to be expanded on the island’s west end.

NCL has owned the island since 1977 when it became the first to offer an uninhabited tropical island experience exclusively for its guests. Great Stirrup Cay offers magnificent white sand beaches, majestic palms and calm, pristine waters where an abundance of colourful marine life inhabits the surrounding coral reefs.

Norwegian Gem, Jewel, Sky and Pearl regularly call there throughout the year. For more information, call 0845 201 8900 or visit www.ncl.co.uk.

Looking ahead - Chance to check on Celebrity Eclipse

We will be sailing on the Celebrity Eclipse (the third of Celebrity's eye-catching Solstice-class vessels in 2010) from Miami this weekend, which will be the ideal opportunity to report back on the latest updates on Celebrity's popular and award-winning ship.

More than any other recent class of cruise ship (with the possible exception of the luxury-orientated Odyssey-class of Seabourn and the brand new Marina of Oceania Cruises), this is one that has really captured the public imagination and provided almost faultless word-of-mouth feedback from the people who matter most - the passengers.

It will be my first chance to see the Solstice class on a regular cruise and see just how she performs under normal circumstances, instead of the usual media previews.

So expect 'live' reports from the Caribbean next week (Internet permitting!) and a host of photos from our itinerary, which includes San Juan (Puerto Rico), St Maarten and St Kitts.

Stay tuned, now...!

Crystal's Grand Autumn Cruise Sale

Crystal Cruises’ autumn voyages are now on sale with newly reduced fares from as little as £2,249 per person and new Penthouse and Balcony Stateroom savings up to £5,078 per couple. Starting with its August 26 Mediterranean cruise on Crystal Serenity and its September 13 Canada/New England voyage on Crystal Symphony, Crystal is offering new savings on every one of its 22 autumn cruises, including both Christmas and New Year departures.

In addition, guests will still receive up to $2,000 per couple “All Inclusive–As You Wish” onboard spending money as well as free air from London.

Crystal’s autumn cruise collection includes a fabulous array of destinations, including the Mediterranean, Black Sea, Canary Islands, Morocco, Holy Land, a swinging Big Band Transatlantic sailing, Panama Canal, Mexican Riviera, Caribbean (above), New England and Canada, Pacific Coast and Christmas and New Year cruises to Hawaii and the Caribbean with Panama Canal highlights.

Prices start from £2,249 per person based on a seven-night Mexican Riviera itinerary with departures on November 20 and 27. Price includes free return economy class flights from London, seven nights in a deluxe stateroom with picture window with all meals and soft drinks, port taxes and basic gratuities. In addition, as part of Crystal's "All Inclusive - As You Wish" promotion, guests will also receive onboard spending money of $500 per person, which can be spent on shore excursions, spa treatments, alcoholic beverages, purchases in the onboard boutiques, gratuities or Vintage Room experiences.

One signature example of the value inherent in the Crystal Experience is an abundance of all-inclusive fine dining options, now incorporating new, flexible Perfect Choice Dining, which allows guests to choose what time they would like to eat and where.

For more information, visit Crystal Cruises at http://www.crystalcruises.co.uk/ or contact the luxury cruise specialists of The Cruise Line.

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.

‘Strictly Come Cruising' Fred Olsen Style

By guest blogger Steve Newman.

If you were inspired by Kara Tointon's triumphant victory in the final of Strictly Come Dancing, why not join a cruise to the home of hot Latin dance, and try your hand at Tango and Salsa while on board?

Fred. Olsen has some limited availability on the final sector of its epic Black Watch ‘Around South America’ voyage in 2011. The 30-night sector is the final leg of the voyage, joining Black Watch in Callao (Peru), and travelling back to Southampton, via the Panama Canal and the Caribbean.

Flights are from London-Gatwick, departing on February 21, to Callao (Lima, Peru), where there is an overnight stay, before visiting Salaverry (also Peru), then cruising to Manta (Ecuador), from where it is possible to visit the old Spanish colonial city of Montecristi.

Next port is the wonderfully named Flamenco (anchor port for Balboa), at the entrance to the Panama Canal, for another overnight stay. A great highlight of this cruise is a day-time transit of the Panama Canal, which brings Black Watch to her next port of call, Puerto Limon in verdant Costa Rica. This is one of the oldest cities in Latin America, and is steeped in history.

The next part of the cruise offers a host of glorious Caribbean islands in the sun – Aruba, Curacao, Barbados (above), St Lucia, St Kitts, Antigua and St Maarten, then the return Atlantic crossing broken by a visit to the Azores, en route back to Southampton.

A special extra on this cruise is a theme of ‘Latin American Rhythms’ through Fred. Olsen’s exclusive programme of special interests, The ArtsClub. Guests can learn some of those stunning dances, while visiting their homeland. Whether your dancing talents match those of Pamela Anderson or Anne Widdecombe, you can improve your steps and have a lot of fun in the process, learning from experts on board.

Prices for this cruise start from £2,704 per person, based on two adults sharing a Superior Outside cabin, with a Latesaver deal. This price includes the outward flight to Callao, transfer to the ship, accommodation, all meals and entertainment on board, and port and airport taxes. There is no extra charge for participating in The ArtsClub.

Find out more by visiting http://www.fredolsencruises.com/ or call the special cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677.

Oh, and Merry Chrustmas!!

New Brochure for Star Clippers

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Niche saling cruise specialist Star Clippers, who operate fully crewed sailings on board its four and five-masted tall ships, has launched a new brochure for 2011 and winter 2012 featuring new destinations and maiden calls in Central America and the Mediterranean.

All itineraries are also featured on Star Clippers’ new-look, re-designed website, dedicated to UK guests. Visitors to the site can take virtual tours of the ships and look at detailed maps and satellite images to see exactly where each itinerary goes. There’s extensive detail on ports of call and beautiful new imagery to depict in clear detail the pleasure of sailing on a genuine tall ship.

New itineraries an entire maiden season in Costa Rica, Panama and Nicaragua, where the 170-passenger Star Flyer will sail six, seven, 10 and 11-night cruises out of Puerto Caldera to explore the bays and inlets of the Pacific coastline, with visits to lush rainforests and hidden lagoons. Priced from £1,065 for a six-day cruise in March 2011, including port charges and all meals on board (excluding flights).

Sister ship Star Clipper returns to the Caribbean island of St Maarten for 2011, with regular seven-night departures to either the Leeward Islands (Nevis, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Iles des Saintes, Antigua, St Barths) or the British Virgin Islands on the Treasure Islands cruise (Anguilla, four calls in the BVI, St Kitts and St Barths). Six and eight-night sailings are also available. From £980 for six nights in December 2011, including port charges, cruise-only.

Also new for 2011 are the 228-passenger Royal Clipper’s itineraries from Barbados to the British Virgin Islands, with calls at Norman Island, Soper’s Hole, Jost Van Dyke and Virgin Gorda, some of the finest sailing areas in the Caribbean. From £1,940 for 10 nights, departing December 17, 2011 (a special Christmas sailing), including port charges and all meals on board (excludes flights).

For further information, visit http://www.starclippers.co.uk/ or contact the UK cruise specialist agents The Cruise Line Ltd.

The World's Largest - Together!

We have just been on board Royal Caribbean's stunning new Allure of the Seas (the 'world's largest cruise ship,' being 5cm longer than sister vessel Oasis, last year's BIG cruise news), and the highlight (among very many) was a rare sea rendezvous of the two leviathans of the seas outside Port Everglades last night.

Captain Hernan Zini of the Allure positioned his ship - on a two-day travel trade preview cruise - a few miles out to sea off the south Florida port for Fort Lauderdale and waited for the line's other big ship, which was on her way out on her regular Saturday sailing to the Caribbean.

The two unmistakeable vessels then met up at almost 6.30pm as darkness fell, and each launched a small boat to offer a special commemorative gift to each other.

Passengers thronged the rails on both ships and lightbulbs flashed madly as most people tried to snap a memorable photo of the event. Finally, after nearly an hour in close proximity, the two ships went their separate ways.

It may also be a long time before they meet up again as the Allure will begin her regular 7-day Sunday cruises on December 1, so the two colossi will only cross paths as they go hither and thither on either eastern or western Caribbean routes in future.

We will have a LOT more to say about Allure - both here on Time Spent at Sea and in the Winter edition of World of Cruising magazine - in the near future, but suffice it to say for now she is easily an equal technological marvel to her sister but the addition of new entertainment options really marks her out as THE cruise ship to see in 2010/11.

SeaDream's Amazon Adventure

SeaDream Yacht Club has unveiled its 2012 winter and spring itineraries, featuring a FIRST for the ultra-deluxe line. Because, in February 2012, SeaDream II will sail two 20-night voyages to the mighty Amazon, with prices from $11,799 per person ($1,120pp taxes & fees).

The line's two luxury mega-yachts will spend the late aitumn season of 2011 and early 2012 cruising the Caribbean - with an emphasis on visiting the smaller yachting playgrounds and harbours that large ships cannot reach - and then offer the two signature Amazon voyages.

SeaDream’s President Bob Lepisto explained: “We are thrilled to be adding the Amazon to our programme of itineraries. While at the same time, the British Virgin Islands, such us Norman Island, Jost van Dyke and Virgin Gorda are true yachting destinations and continue to be a favourite with our SeaDream guests.”

Whether travellers are looking for adventure and exploration in the Amazon, or simply seeking a pampering, tropical Caribbean holiday, SeaDream’s intimate size and award-winning service are unmatched at sea. Lepisto added: “In fact, it is our size and maneuverability that allows our yachts to reach tricky spots like Anavilhanas, Brazil, and Iquitos, Peru.”

2012 Amazon Adventure Highlights:

· In February and March 2012, SeaDream II will sail the Amazon on two 20-night voyages: departing on February 13 from Barbados, sailing to Iquitos, Peru; or departing Iquitos on March 4, sailing to Barbados
· Itineraries showcase the best of the Amazon including Cuxiu Muni, Brazil, where guests have the option to take a night canoe trip in search of crocodiles, snakes and other night creatures.
· In Alter do Chao, Brazil, SeaDream hosts their Champagne and Caviar Splash™ on one of Brazil’s best beaches and guests may take a riverboat cruise on Maicá Lake to see rare pink dolphins.
· In Manaus, Brazil guest go “Flightseeing” in single or twin-engine aircraft, soaring over the Rio Negro, Rio Solimões, the Meeting of the Waters, the Amazon River and the magnificent expanse of jungle below.
· Visiting a small village located on Tupinambarana Island, guests enjoy a “Boi-Bumba” celebration. This exotic ritual of magic, mystery, passion and faith is a feast for the eyes and ears.
· A naturalist will be aboard both Amazon voyages, providing in-depth information about the great river wilderness.
· Excursions will showcase Amazonian tribes, museums, markets and the jungle’s exotic plants and animals.

Caribbean 2011/2012 Highlights:

· SeaDream II will operate two voyages round-trip from Barbados, exploring the glorious, lush Grenadines, St. Lucia and Grenada.
· SeaDream I will operate a round-trip voyage from Marigot, St. Martin, with an emphasis on the unspoiled French West Indies.
· SeaDream I & II will call on St. Barts with overnight stays, allowing guests to go ashore and enjoy the island nightlife.
· SeaDream I & II will call on the unique and less visited islands of Saba and Culebrita. Culebrita offers the rare opportunity for guests to swim in a Bioluminescent Bay.

The expression “Yachting” is not a sentiment about size; it is a statement about lifestyle aboard the small vessels. Chic and stylish, SeaDream’s 56-stateroom yachts are favoured for their elegant informality, state-of-the-art facilities, personal service provided by a crew of 95, inclusive open bar and gratuities, oceanview accommodations, luxury spa and world class cuisine.

SeaDream fares are always voyage only, and include open bar, wines with lunch and dinner, use of recreational and water sports toys (subject to local conditions) and include onboard gratuities.

Allure of the Seas and Twin Funnels

By guest blogger Steve Newman

With its twin funnels lowered for the first time, new cruise ship Allure of the Seas has passed under the Storebaelt Bridge with a tiny amount of breathing space. The 18km-long Storebaelt Bridge stretches between the Danish islands of Zealand and Flynn and towers to a height of 254 metres (833ft) with the road it carries at 65 metres (213ft) above the sea.

Allure of the Seas also stands at 65m at its highest point – the twin funnel stacks. The architects from Royal Caribbean behind the design of the new ship developed funnels that retract inside the stack to reduce its height by one metre, thus allowing the vessel to pass under the bridge. The tight manoeuvre took place as Allure made its way to its new permanent home, Fort Lauderdale in Florida via the North Sea, Dover Straits and English Channel having left the STX shipyard in Turku, Finland, on October 29.

The first paying guests will join Allure on December 1 when the ship begins offering cruises in the Caribbean for the first time. Prices for a nine-night fly/cruise, including flights from the UK for a seven-night voyage, start from £1,470 per person.

At 225,282 gross registered tonnes, Allure can accommodate over 6,200 guests and is 360 meters and 5mm long (1,187ft). If stood upright, bow to stern, the ship would dwarf the One Canada Square building at London’s Canary Wharf and New York’s Chrysler building.

Featuring huge outdoor spaces, highlights include an open air park – Central Park – longer than a football pitch, a two-level shopping street, 17 different bars, over 20 restaurants and cafes, two rock climbing walls, two FlowRider surf simulators, a zip-line ride and even a large outdoor AquaTheater for high diver performances and water shows.

For more information, see http://www.allureoftheseas.com/. (Photo: Simon Brooke Webb)

Fred Olsen's Caribbean Braemar Games!

By guest blogger Steve Newman

You can now join Fred Olsen's Braemar (above) for a unique 15-night Caribbean/Cuba cruise on December 9 this year.

Flying from London Gatwick or Manchester, the grand voyage begins in Bridgetown, Barbados, with ports of call at Willemstad (Curacao), Oranjestad (Aruba), Ocho Rios (Jamaica), Costa Maya and Cozumel (Mexico), Havana (overnight), George Town (Grand Cayman) and Montego Bay (also Jamaica) for flight home.

Fred Olsen's 'Late Saver' fares are from just £1,141 per person, based on an inside twin bedded cabin, subject to availability, and includes charter flights, all food and entertainment on board, port and airport taxes, transfers and fuel supplement.

(Please note: cabin numbers are not confirmed until embarkation; Manchester flights have very limited availability)

This cruise also features Flagship Golf, an exclusive package designed for golfers who want to incorporate their favourite sport into a cruise holiday. This is available on all the company's ships in the fleet, and on a variety of cruises from the UK to destinations including the Mediterranean, Canaries and Baltic, and fly-cruises to the Caribbean.

There is an additional charge of £425 per person for Caribbean fly-cruises, and £375 per person for all other cruises.

You can also learn more about Fred Olsen's offerings at The Cruise Show at Birmingham NEC on October 16-17 and at London's Olympia next March (26-27). For more great deals on Fred Olsen's Caribbean cruises, check out top specialist agents The Cruise Line Ltd.

Maiden Port of Call for MSC Poesia

By guest blogger Steve Newman

MSC Poesia sailed to Southampton on a maiden port of call during its Ocean Voyage Cruise on the 7th of September. This was the first time the ship has called to Southampton port.

MSC Cruises marked the event by inviting travel agents, consumers, press and MSC Club members on board for the day, where they enjoyed a ship tour and lunch. Prior to dining in the Ii Palladio restaurant, guests were presented with a food demonstration on how to make an Italian classic, gnocchi.

Other highlights of the day included a presentation by Agustin Garcia from the Spanish Tourist Board and Susana Roel Cabal of La Coruna Port Authority, who were invited onboard following a recently formed collaboration between MSC Cruises and the Spanish Tourist Board to promote Mediterranean sailings and Spain as a destination.

MSC Poesia is currently cruising to the United States where it will tour North America and Canada, including New York (above) before positioning to the Caribbean for the winter cruiser season.

MSC also cares about the welfare of children as the company recently forged a partnership with UNICEF to fund a community project aimed at providing disadvantaged children in Brazil with a high quality education.

Find out more at http://www.msccruises.co.uk/