Crystal's Maiden Slovenia Call

With 2011 marking the 20th anniversary of Slovenia’s foundation as an independent nation, it’s only fitting that Crystal Cruises is making a maiden call there this autumn.

As part of its November 16 “Italian Splendour” sailing, ultra-luxury Crystal Serenity (above) will visit medieval Koper, Slovenia’s largest coastal town. Six new shore excursions, spread throughout the tiny Italo-Slavic nation, provide an in-depth exploration of the history and culture well beyond the Adriatic port.

Fairytale castles, oenophile indulgences, coastal hamlets and underground geological wonders are all part of the authentic local experiences planned. Guests can explore Koper, full of historical charm from centuries of Venetian rule…or join a Crystal Adventure to:

Ljubljana: The country’s picturesque capital and a former centre of Yugoslavian music and arts, full of cobblestone streets and architecture ranging from the Baroque to the neo-classical of famed local architect Joze Plecnik.

Bled & Miramare Castles: Two majestic, storybook castles - one, the oldest in Slovenia (dating to 1011); the other, a 19th century Austro-Hungarian relic of the Habsburg era.

Postojna Cave: Twelve miles of underground stalactite-filled passages, galleries and cathedral-like chambers, with the world’s only operating cave train.

Wine Region: A wine-tasting visit to Slovenia’s most prominent winemaker (out of 40,000 in the country), where the vines pre-date those of Italy, France and Spain.

Piran: A quaint, Mediterranean-style coastal town, full of Venetian Gothic buildings and narrow, atmospheric streets.

Portorož: A modern, beachside resort hub for sunbathing, swimming and thermal spas.

Trieste: A crossroads of Germanic, Latin, Austro-Hungarian and Slavic trade and culture, situated just over Slovenia’s border in Italy.

This 11-night “Italian Splendour” sailing starts with an overnight in Venice on November 16 and visits Koper, Dubrovnik, Sicily, Naples, Rome and Florence before finishing with an overnight in Barcelona. Prices start from £1,854 per person (a saving of £419 per person) including return economy flights from London, overseas transfers, 11 nights in a deluxe stateroom with picture window with all meals and soft drinks and port taxes.

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

Swan Hellenic's Highlights of the Ancient World

Two offers for you this morning everyone!

1) Swan Hellenic's Highlights of the Ancient World

Prices start from only £1,495 per person (based on two people sharing an inside cabin) and include return flights, transfers and a 13-night cruise departing from Valletta (Malta) and calling at Sousse (Tunisia), Heraklion (Greece), Alexandria (Egypt), Rhodes (Greece), Kusadasi (Turkey) and Nauplion (Greece) before arriving at Piraeus (Greece); gratuities and service charges, meals and entertainment, on board talks from a team of renowned Guest Speakers and a full programme of tailor-made shore excursions. Price is based on October 28 departure.

For more information, visit www.swanhellenic.com or he cruise specialist agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

2) Voyages of Discovery’s Classic Mediterranean

Explore the Mediterranean this September with Voyages of Discovery’s 12-day Classic Mediterranean for only £999 per person aboard the classic MV Discovery (above).

As the temperatures drop and the crowds disperse, September presents the ideal month to explore the Med. Travel at ease while visiting Europe’s finest cities from Rome to Dubrovnik taking in the breathtaking scenery and varying cultures of this colourful continent.

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), Messina (Sicily) before arriving at Dubrovnik (Croatia; overnight); 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 September 19 departure.

For more info, visit www.voyagesofdiscovery.co.uk.

Costa Favolosa's Trieste Debut

Costa Cruises are set to return to Trieste in 2012 with 28 calls and an estimated 65,000 passenger movements. More importantly, Trieste will also be hosting the naming ceremony on July 2 for the Costa Favolosa, Costa's new flagship.

The 15th member of the fleet is scheduled to depart on her debut cruise from Venice on July 4. The three-day voyage calls at Dubrovnik (Croatia) and Koper (Slovenia). This will be followed by her Grand Inaugural cruise, which leaves Venice on July 7, an 11-day itinerary taking in Greece, Turkey and Croatia with stopovers in Bari, Izmir, Istanbul, Mykonos, Athens, Olympia and Dubrovnik.

Throughout the 2011 summer season, Favolosa will be offering eight-day cruises from Venice and Bari to Olympia, Izmir, Istanbul and Dubrovnik. In Winter 2011/12, she will be positioned in Dubai for eight-day Arabian Nights cruises in the United Arab Emirates, including Dubai (two days), Muscat (Oman), Fujairah (UAE), Abu Dhabi (UAE) and Bahrain.

For more info, visit www.costacruises.co.uk or contact specialst cruise agents The Cruise Line Ltd.

Seabourn's 2012 Europe Season Now Open!

Seabourn is delighted to offer up an expanded array of voyages in Europe during 2012. The luxury line's six stylish ships will explore an unprecedented 165 different destinations among the continent's landmark cities, historic sites and natural splendours on cruises from seven to 19 days. The extended eight-month season, from April to November, is now open for sale, and itineraries, fares and other details can be viewed on www.seabourn.com.

Popular European itineraries include:

Greek Isles & Golden Treasures – Seabourn Quest – 7 days
Departures: 10 August, 21 September 2012
Athens to Istanbul: Mylos, Mykonos, Patmos, Kusadasi, Khylos, Troy. Fares start from £2,450pp based on two people sharing a Seabourn Suite.

Adriatic Gems & Venice – Seabourn Spirit – 10 days
Departures: 15, 25 April; 5, 15, 25 May; 4, 14, 24 June; 3, 13, 23 July; 2, 12 September 2012
Ports of call: Venice, Corfu, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Split, Rovinj. Venice round trip, with option to stay overnight in Venice. Fares start from £2,240pp based on two people sharing a Seabourn Suite.

Idyllic Rivieras & Spain – Seabourn Legend – 10 days
Departures: 20 April; 10 May; 7, 27 June; 17 July; 6, 26 August; 15 September
Rome to Monte Carlo: calling at Elba, Portofino, Cannes, Sanury-sur-mer, Barcelona, Menorca, Collioure, Porquerolles, and Monte Carlo. Fares start from £2,800pp based on two people sharing a Seabourn Suite.

The full 2012 cruise season in Europe starts from £1,890 per person, including return air, based on double occupancy. For bookings, visit www.seabourn.com or see the UK's leading luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Oceania's New 7-Day Med Cruises

Inspired by strong response it to its new seven-day itineraries for 2012, Oceania Cruises has created two 7-night departures in the Mediterranean this autumn, timed to take in the autumn foliage in Tuscany and the French Riviera.

The new “Tuscan Charms” cruise sails from Barcelona on October 29, calling into Civitavecchia (the port for Rome), Provence (Marseille), Monte Carlo, Portofino, Livorno and Sorrento/Capri en route, with an overnight in Livorno to allow for extensive visits to Pisa, Florence and Cinque Terra. Fares start at £1,518 per guest, based on two sharing and including all meals, soft drinks and bottled water.

“Italian Treasures,” from Rome to Venice, departs on November 5, calling at Amalfi/Positano, Taormina, Corfu, Bari and Dubrovnik. Guests also enjoy an overnight aboard ship in Venice at the end of the cruise. Fares start at £823 per guest, based on two sharing and including all meals, soft drinks and bottled water.

The cruises are on board Oceania's luxurious, 684-guest Insignia – an intimate ship with open-seating dining in four gourmet restaurants, all with no surcharge, luxurious public rooms, sumptuous accommodations, and warm, attentive service.

For more info, see www.oceaniacruises.com or contact the UK's leading luxury cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd

New 2011 Titan Brochure

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Titan HiTours has unveiled its brand new Cruise & Tour brochure for 2011. The programme encompasses an extensive selection of ocean cruises combined with imaginative, land-based touring packages that take in every possible point of the compass from Alaska to Antarctica. With highlights ranging from the splendour of a stylish cruise around the British Isles on the new Queen Elizabeth to a passage through the Panama Canal - as well as a wide choice of no-fly cruises with direct departures from UK seaports - the Cruise & Tour programme presents an unrivalled choice of exciting holidays afloat combined with the quality, high standards and value for money for which Titan HiTours is renowned.

The popular VIP Home Departure Service, which collects customers from - and returns them to - their own front door has now been extended to cover mainland Scotland, The Channel Islands and Northern Ireland and allows for every client to be picked up from their home address, transferred to their departure point and returned to their own front door at the end of their holiday at no extra cost. That means those in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands are entitled to a home pick-up and door-to-door transfer to their nearest regional airport, plus free domestic flights to the London airports to connect with any international departure (or free onward connections to the major seaports for clients taking an ex-UK cruise).

Another new addition with plenty of possible departure dates (11 in total) is the 8-day Dubrovnik & the Dalmatian Islands itinerary, which incorporates a brief stay in this fabled city (known romantically as the Pearl of the Adriatic) with a voyage along the stunningly beautiful Dalmatian coastline. The holiday costs from £995 per person, to include flights, transfers, half-board accommodation, sightseeing tours as detailed in the itinerary, port taxes and the VIP Home Departure Service.

Those looking to avoid the cost and hassle of jetting away might prefer the brochure's wide selection of no-fly cruises, which involve direct departures from the UK's major seaports. There are a total of five new no-fly cruise itineraries in the brochure, of which the closest to home is the 11-day Queen Elizabeth's maiden Around the British Isles cruise, which has to be booked by 30 November 2010 for a departure from Southampton on 2 September 2011.

For details or to book, visit the website http://www.titanhitours.co.uk/