Cruise the Canaries with Royal Caribbean

Join Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas on a 14-night Spain & Canary Islands cruise-only from just £895 per person (based on two people sharing an inside stateroom) this spring.

For less than £64 per night, this superb price includes the full two-week voyage, which departs Southampton on March 17 and calls at Vigo, Lisbon, Lanzarote, Las Palmas, Tenerife and La Coruña before returning to Southampton, plus all meals and entertainment on board and all relevant cruise taxes/fees.

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

Seabourn's Free Upgrades On Select Cruises

Ultra-luxury cruise line Seabourn has welcomed in the New Year with the offer of free upgrades on selected popular European cruise-only and fly/cruise itineraries. For UK travellers seeking a luxurious ocean-bound adventure, before the height of summer, Seabourn’s early-season fully inclusive cruises offer exceptional value and variety.

Whether guests opt for the charm and style of the chic 208-passenger ships Seabourn Legend and Spirit or the sleek design and modern comfort of the larger, 450-passenger Seabourn Odyssey, the luxury and comfort of a Seabourn voyage is hard to beat.

All itineraries listed below offer the free suite upgrade:

10-Day Italy & Adriatic, April 5; Seabourn Spirit - ports of call: Malaga, Menorca, Naples, Lecce, Dubrovnik, Sibenik, Pula and Venice. Prices: £1,999pp cruise only, £2,419pp fly/cruise.

9-Day Mediterranean, April 11; Seabourn Legend - ports of call: Athens, Cesme, Mykonos, Corfu, Crotone, Messina, Naples and Rome. Prices: £1,799pp cruise only, £2,189 fly/cruise.

12-Day Atlantic Odyssey, March 21; Seabourn Odyssey - ports of call: Fort Lauderdale, transatlantic, Funchal and Lisbon. Prices: £1,699pp cruise only, £2,499pp fly/cruise.

Prices are all per person, based on double occupancy and fully inclusive of all tips and gratuities, fine-dining, open bars and a fully stocked mini-bar in each suite.

For booking details, see this link for UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Fred. Olsen Launches ‘Captains’ Collection’

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has launched a new brochure of 73 specially-selected, ex-UK cruises for 2012/13, offering exceptional value for money – the ‘Captains’ Collection’. All the featured cruises offer additional savings and selected cruises offer both Double Savings and Free Onboard Spend for selected cabin grades, including both Boudicca and Braemar’s Christmas cruises for 2012, so there are superb deals to be had for early bookers.

The special rates are applicable on bookings made by February 29. Guests booking earlier – by January 10 – can also benefit from free coach travel or car parking, making the offer even better value for money. Fred. Olsen’s ‘No Fuel Surcharge Guarantee’ also applies on all bookings made by January 31, for departures from January 1 onwards, so value for money is guaranteed.

The ‘Captains’ Collection’ brochure includes cruises on all four Fred. Olsen ships: Balmoral, Braemar, Black Watch and Boudicca, sailing from a variety of convenient regional UK ports. Destinations include Norway, Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, the British Isles, Iberia, Canada and the Canary Islands. Savings can be up to £500 per booking, and discounts vary, depending on the cabin grade and duration of the cruise. On a cruise of 14 nights or more, savings range from £100 on a single cabin to £500 for a suite. 

For example, Braemar’s ‘The Azores & the Canaries’ cruise (M1208), a 14-night voyage from Dover on April 14, visits Lisbon (Portugal), Arrecife (Lanzarote), Santa Cruz (Tenerife), Santa Cruz (La Palma), Praia da Vitoria (Azores) and Ponta Delgada (Azores) before returning to Dover, now has prices from £1,229 per person, based on two adults sharing an inside twin cabin, Grade ‘I’. Prices also include all meals, onboard entertainment and port taxes, representing exceptional value for money.

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

A Canary Islands New Year or Norwegian Fjords Summer?

Bring in the New Year with Royal Caribbean on board their Independence of the Seas on a 12-night Spain & Canary Islands cruise, and pay just £949 per person (based on two people sharing an inside cabin).

This fab lead-in price includes the 12-night cruise, departing from Southampton and calling at Lisbon, Funchal (Madeira), Las Palmas (Gran Canaria), Tenerife and La Coruna before returning to Southampton; all meals and entertainment onboard, plus all relevant cruise taxes/fees. Price is based on the December 29 departure.

For more information or to book use this link for specialist cruise agents The Cruise Line Ltd.

Or how about planning a summer voyage? You can have fun in the Fjords with Celebrity Cruises aboard their Celebrity Eclipse on an eight-night Norwegian cruise from just £937 per person in May (based on two people sharing an inside stateroom).

This price includes an eight-night cruise departing Southampton and calling at Bergen, Flam, Geiranger (above) and Oslo before returning to Southampton; all meals and entertainment and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. Price is based on a May 4 departure.

For more information or to book use this link for agents 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.

Free Balcony Upgrades With Celebrity

Head to the geysers in Iceland, learn how to dance like a Russian or just soak up the sun in the Med, and do it all in the ultimate luxury of a private balcony with a new offer from Celebrity Cruises. Book a holiday on Celebrity Eclipse in 2012 by October 31 and receive a FREE upgrade to a veranda stateroom.

A typical 14-night Mediterranean cruise in September costs from just £1,699 per person and qualifies for the free upgrade offer (based on two people sharing). Departing from Southampton, the voyage calls as Malaga, Nice (Villefranche), Rome (Civitavecchia), Florence (Livorno), Genoa, Gibraltar and Lisbon before returning to Southampton and includes meals and entertainment onboard and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. The offer is available on 22 sailings on Celebrity Eclipse from May to October 2012.

In addition, Celebrity Cruises is also offering guests $100 onboard credit per stateroom on any cruise over six nights in 2012 (except Alaska and Galapagos).

For more information, visit www.celebritycruises.co.uk or the UK's leading cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Welcome In The New Year With Royal Caribbean

Join Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas (above) for a 12-night Spain & Canary Islands cruise from just £899 per person (based on two people sharing an inside cabin) this December.

This excellent price includes the full 12-night cruise, departing from Southampton and calling at Vigo, Lisbon, Lanzarote, Las Palmas, Tenerife, Funchal (Madeira) and La Coruna, before returning to Southampton; all meals and entertainment onboard and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. Price is based on December 29 departure.

For more information, visit www.royalcaribbean.co.uk or the cruising specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd at 0800 008 6677.

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.

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.

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.

40,000 Free Nights With P&O Cruises

P&O Cruises is giving away 40,000 free cruise nights on cruises of seven nights or more when booked in June or July 2011.

All cruises of seven nights or more, departing between August 1 and December 31 are eligible for one free cruise night when booked by July 31.

A nine-night cruise on board Oceana departing October 17, 2011 (E128) is priced from £761 per person including a one free night saving of £95 per person. Departing from and returning to Southampton, ports of call include Vigo, Lisbon, Cadiz, Casablanca and Oporto.

For bookings throughout June and July, P&O Cruises is also offering complimentary three night pre or post-cruise city hotel stays on selected exotic cruise holidays.

Aurora’s San Francisco to Sydney cruise is a 22-night cruise from January 26 to February 18, 2012. Ports of call include San Francisco, Hilo, Honolulu, Apia, Pago Pago, Port Denarau, Auckland, Bay of Islands and Sydney. Prices start at £2,086 and include three free nights in a Sydney Hotel but do not include flights.

All prices are per person and based on two adults sharing on a full board basis including all main meals, entertainment and most facilities.

All bookings must be made before July 31, 2011. More info at www.pocruises.com or, to book, contact the specialist cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Windstar Unveils New 2012 Collection

Windstar Cruises, operator of a three-ship fleet of luxury yachts, has unveiled its new 2012 collection of luxury voyages in the Caribbean, Costa Rica, Baltic, Italy, Mediterranean and Greek Isles, with nine new itineraries and the lowest introductory pricing in years.

In addition, guests who book by June 30 will receive a $200 shipboard credit per cabin. Windstar’s Foremast Members receive an additional 5% discount on all itineraries.

The 2012 programme features a unique collection of islands, highlighting diverse countries, styles, landscapes and cultures of the Caribbean. For example, seven-night sailings on Wind Surf round-trip from Philipsburg, St Maarten, visit Le Marin, Martinique; Pigeon Island, St Lucia; Roseau, Dominica; Falmouth Harbour, Antigua; and Gustavia, St Barts, with cruise-only prices from £1,577 per person.

Or how about the Treasures of Northern Europe? Discover six of the region's most captivating countries with 11-night sailings on Wind Surf between Lisbon and Oslo, visiting Le Havre, Dover, Antwerp and Amsterdam and cruise-only prices from £2,376 per person.

Windstar’s 2012 voyages are available to book now. For more info, visit www.windstarcruises.com or contact the adventure-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Great Azamara Offer

Join Azamara Club Cruises’ Azamara Journey for a seven-night Spain & Portugal fly/cruise from just £1,618 per person this June (based on two people sharing an inside stateroom).

The price includes return flights from London Heathrow, transfers and a seven-night Spain & Portugal cruise departing from Lisbon and calling at Bilbao, St. Jean De Luz, St. Malo and St. Peter Port (Guernsey) before arriving in Rouen (for Paris); 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 June 25 departure.

For more info, visit www.azamaraclubcruises.co.uk or the UK's leading luxury cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Great Summer Sailing With Royal Caribbean

Join Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas for a 14-night Mediterranean Treasures cruise-only from £1,205 per person (based on two people sharing an inside cabin) this June.

This excellent price includes the full two-week cruise, departing from Southampton and calling at Gibraltar, Cannes, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Alicante, Lisbon and Vigo before returning to Southampton; meals and entertainment onboard and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. Price is based on a June 25 departure.

For more info, see www.royalcaribbean.co.uk or call the specialist cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677.

Uniworld Launches New Douro Spirit

This week, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises’ new ship, the Douro Spirit (above), made its debut on the "Portugal, Spain and Douro Valley” itinerary.

The Douro Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage region, is being increasingly recognised for its wine making and natural beauty, reflected in an impressive 80% growth in UK river cruisers in 2010 over 2009, according to recent figures from the Passenger Shipping Association.

Its port heritage dates back over 2,000 years, with the oldest demarcated wine region in the world. The Douro Valley is also a cultural landscape of exceptional beauty, with rambling vineyards and charming quintas clinging to the steep slopes of its valley, creating an incomparable backdrop to one of Europe’s most unspoiled regions. And this is what you can expect to see and experience from the comfort of Douro Spirit.

Every riverview stateroom and suite onboard features a French balcony, so guests can get closer to the breathtaking scenery of the region’s unspoiled natural landscapes. The Spirit’s common areas provide added comfort with a main lounge featuring a full-service bar and dance floor, a restaurant, sun deck with jacuzzi and small swimming pool, a lovely onboard restaurant with open seating, fitness room, massage room, beauty salon and a boutique.

And all of this is presented on an intimate ship built to accommodate a maximum of 128 passengers and provide the small-ship boutique ambience that Uniworld has become known for.

The 11-day "Portugal, Spain & the Douro River Valley" cruise includes: three nights in Lisbon at a deluxe hotel; a 7-night cruise in a stateroom with a French balcony onboard Douro Spirit; all meals, with complimentary fine wine, beer and soft drinks served with dinner onboard; 10 fully-hosted shore excursions by English-speaking local guides; return flights and transfers. Prices start at just £2,499 per person.

For more info, visit www.uniworldrivercruises.co.uk or contact the river-cruise specialists of top UK cruise agents The Cruise Line Ltd.

OperaBabes Set Sail With Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines

As part of the popular ‘Music and Laughter’ programme of cruises, with high quality, live entertainment, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is delighted to welcome back, for a second season, The OperaBabes.

Rebecca Knight, soprano, and Karen England, mezzo soprano, were discovered by a talent scout in 2001 when they were busking in Covent Garden. Their first big break came when they were booked to perform at the FA Cup Final, giving them a worldwide audience of 500 million people, and they have never looked back.

Their first album was launched to great critical and popular acclaim and reached Number 1 in the UK Classical Charts, selling over a million copies, and also reaching Number 4 in the USA chart.

They entertained guests aboard a Fred. Olsen cruise last October, to enormous acclaim, and will now be cruising once more and delighting guests with their special style of opera and glamour.

The cruise featuring this high class headline act is Braemar M1123, to Iberia, an 11-night voyage departing from Dover on October 28. The OperaBabes will join the cruise to entertain guests from November 3-8. The ports of call visited are Motril (Spain), Ibiza (Spain), Cartagena (Spain) and Lisbon (Portugal) before returning to Dover.

Prices start from £948 per person, based on two adults sharing an inside twin cabin, Grade ‘I’, and include accommodation, all food and entertainment on board, and port taxes.

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

A Med Cruise For Less than £55 Per Night? Yes, With Royal Caribbean!

Join Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas for an 18-night Ultimate Mediterranean cruise from just £948 per person this November (based on two people sharing an inside cabin). That's less than £55 per person, per night - including meals.

The price includes the full 18-night voyage departing Southampton and calling at Lisbon, Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona, Livorno (for Florence/Pisa), Civitavecchia (for Rome), Naples (for Capri and Pompeii), Gibraltar and Cádiz before returning to Southampton; plus all meals and entertainment, and relevant cruise taxes/fees. Price is based on November 11 departure.

For more info, visit www.royalcaribbean.co.uk or specialist cruise agents The Cruise Line Ltd.

Costa Pacifica and Mediterranea To Sail New Routes This Autumn

Costa Pacifica (above) will return to Israel and Costa Mediterranean will cruise to Lisbon/Casablanca the Canary Islands and Western Mediterranean instead of the Eastern Med this autumn as Costa Cruises announces new routes for the duo.

Costa has reinstated calls to the Israel ports of Ashdod and Haifa on Costa Pacifica itineraries, where they were previously removed. On seven cruises, from September 12 to November 17, Costa's clients will once again be able to experience the unique charm of Israel.

Also during autumn 2011, instead of the previously scheduled Eastern Mediterranean cruises to Greece & Turkey, Costa Mediterranea will cruise to Lisbon and Casablanca, the Canary Islands, or Western Mediterranean, in order to meet the growing demand for these destinations.

From the beginning of October to mid November, five Greece and Turkey cruises will be replaced with three Lisbon and Casablanca and two Canary Islands cruises. Two mini-cruises, sailing November 21 and 26, will be added between the Canary Islands programme and the positioning cruise to Abu Dhabi, where Mediterranea will be deployed during winter 2011/12.

For more info, visit www.costacruises.co.uk or specialist cruise agents The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677.

Ken Barlow's Fred Olsen Cruise

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is delighted to announce a treat for soap fans. The legendary Coronation Street actor William Roache, MBE, who has played Ken Barlow ever since the long-running soap first aired in 1960, and is the only member of the original cast still starring in the programme, will be joining a Braemar cruise to the Western Mediterranean in June, travelling as a VIP guest.

During the cruise, William will be giving a special talk and holding a separate Question and Answer session, which guests on board are invited to attend at no extra charge.

William will be aboard Braemar’s 14-night ‘Captivating Cities of Iberia’ cruise M1113, departing from Dover on June 19. Ports of call are Gibraltar, Cartagena, Barcelona, Seville – where William will leave the cruise – Portimao and Lisbon, before returning to Dover.

As Ken Barlow, William has become something of a national treasure, and there will be numerous fans on this cruise who will be thrilled to meet their favourite soap star, and gain an insight into his varied and fascinating career.

Prices for this cruise start from £1,049 per person, based on two adults sharing an inside twin cabin, Grade ‘I’. £100 per cabin free onboard spending is available on this cruise, and free parking. The price includes accommodation, all meals and entertainment on board, and port taxes.

Find out more at www.fredolsencruises.co.uk or contact specialist cruise agents The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677.

Swan Hellenic's Summer Bargain

Don’t miss out on Swan Hellenic’s 14-night ‘Rivers and Vineyards’ cruise this summer at the new lower fare of £1,375 per person (based on two people sharing an inside cabin). If you enjoy a fine glass of wine, then this is the cruise for you: not only does the itinerary offer a superb programme of wine-tasting across some of Europe’s most famous vineyards but guests will also be joined on board by guest speaker Christopher Campbell, Managing Director of Rothschild Waddesdon Wine, who will share his knowledge on wine varieties, regions and much more.

The price includes flights from London, transfers and a 14-night cruise departing Lisbon (Portugal) and calling at Oporto (Portugal), Gijon (Spain), Bilbao (Spain), Bordeaux (France), St Peter Port (Channel Islands), St Malo (France), Rouen (France) before arriving at Portsmouth; meals, entertainment and gratuities on board and all relevant cruise taxes/fees, plus inclusive shore excursion programme and onboard lectures from a team of renowned guest speakers. Price is based on a June 8 departure.

For more information, see www.swanhellenic.com or the adventure cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.