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.

Experts Enrich Crystal's Autumn Med Cruises

Atlantis...the “Old City”...Constantinople...the modern Middle East conflict. Throughout time, the eastern Mediterranean has been an epicentre of historic significance. This autumn, former Ambassador Marc Ginsberg, historian and National Geographic author Dr Jean-Pierre Isbouts and Persian winemaker Darioush Khaledi are among the distinguished experts helping to illuminate that significance onboard Crystal Cruises’ October 24 sailing through the region.

From Athens to Istanbul, the 12-night Crystal Serenity sailing visits Santorini and Mykonos in Greece; Ashdod, Israel (overnight); Limassol, Cyprus; Iraklion, Crete; and Kusadasi, Turkey. As a Wine and Food Festival cruise, the sailing also boasts an impressive line-up of gastronomic pros sharing their trade

Prices for this 12-night Epicurean Discoveries voyage start from £2,176 per person, including return scheduled flights, overseas transfers, 12 nights in a deluxe stateroom with picture window, all meals and soft drinks, and port taxes.

For further info, see www.crystalcruises.co.uk or the UK's luxury cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Discover New Experiences With Celebrity Silhouette

Be among the inaugural cruise season crowd aboard Celebrity Cruises’ brand new ship Celebrity Silhouette on a 12-night Holy Land fly/cruise from just £1,072 per person (based on two people sharing an inside stateroom).

Silhouette offers a host of brand new onboard venues and experiences including the interactive “Lawn Club Grill,” where guests can select and grill their own meats alongside expert chefs; “The Alcoves” relaxing, private, Wi-Fi-equipped cabanas on the real grass lawn; and “The Hideaway” with private tree-houses available where guests can read, listen to music and surf the net.

The price includes return flights from London Heathrow, transfers and a 12-night cruise departing from Civitavecchia (Rome) en route to Palermo (Sicily), Haifa (Israel), Ashdod (for Jerusalem), Mykonos (Greece) and Naples/Capri (Italy) before returning to Civitavecchia; meals and entertainment onboard and all relevant cruise taxes/fees.

Price is based on an October 10 departure.



For more info, visit www.celebritycruises.co.uk. or, for bookings, consult the specialist cruise travel agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Greece & Turkey The Celebrity Way

How's this for the Deal of the Day? Join Celebrity Cruises Celebrity Constellation on a 12-night Greek Isles & Turkey fly/cruise from just £1,262 per person this autumn (based on two people sharing an inside stateroom).

The price includes return flights from London Heathrow, transfers and a 12-night Greek Isles & Turkey cruise departing from Istanbul and calling at Kusadasi (for Ephesus, Turkey), Bodrum (Turkey), Rhodes (Greece), Marmaris (Turkey), Santorini (Greece), Piraeus (for Athens), Mykonos (Greece) and Chania (Crete) before returning to Istanbul; meals and entertainment onboard and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. Price is based on October 13 departure.

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

The 'Fairytale Ship' Completes Sea Trials

Costa Favolosa, the new Costa Cruises flagship, has successfully completed her official sea trials. The ship, the 15th in Costa’s fleet, completed her first crossing during which tests were conducted to verify the correct operation of the various systems, equipment and engines.

During the tests at sea, Favolosa was brought up to her maximum speed (more than 23 knots or 40km/h) which was maintained for eight consecutive hours to test the ship’s endurance. There was also a “crash stop”, meaning a complete stop at maximum speed to determine in how many metres the ship comes to a stop during an emergency.

During the test known as the “UMS”, Favolosa sailed for six straight hours only using the automatic energy and propulsion system controls. Finally, with the “blackout” test, the electric power was cut off to check that all ship functions automatically returned to normal when the power was restored.

After completing her trials, the ship returned to the shipyard in Marghera, Italy, to complete the fitting-out of the interiors prior to being placed into active service. Costa Favolosa will be ready for delivery on June 30, while the naming ceremony will take place two days later in Trieste.

Costa Favolosa - The Fairytale Ship

As her name suggests (Favola is Italian for “fairytale”), Favolosa is a veritable “fairytale ship”, a “contemporary enchanted castle” with a perfect combination of fabulous atmosphere and state-of-the-art hi-tech fun. The main innovations on board include:

Six new veranda suites with their own Jacuzzis

A new entertainment area for teenagers with 4D Cinema, PlayStation World, and a bar with ice-cream, drinks and popcorn

A new children’s open-air Aqua Park water playground with its own pirate galleon

The Samsara Spa, one of the largest and most exclusive wellness centres ever built on a cruise ship

A large central lido extending over two decks, with a sliding glass roof and giant movie screen

A Grand Prix driving simulator

A golf simulator

In addition, the shipboard gym will offer all the latest state-of-the-art Technogym equipment, including machines with Internet access, so you can surf the Internet while guests work out.

The brand new pool area will be particularly large and inviting, with 1,000sq m of space dedicated to relaxation and entertainment, 160 sun loungers and whirlpool tubs and an invigorating waterfall.

Costa Favolosa is set to make her debut on a three-day vernissage cruise departing from Venice on July 4, and calling at Dubrovnik (Croatia) and Koper (Slovenia). This will be followed by her grand inaugural cruise 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 summer, Favolosa will be offering seven-day cruises from Venice and Bari to Olympia, Izmir, Istanbul and Dubrovnik

For more info, visit www.costacruises.com or The Cruise Line

Free Flights With Star Clippers

Niche tall ship cruise operator Star Clippers is offering free flights up to £400pp with bookings for tall-ship cruises from Athens, through the Greek islands, this August. Sailings include all meals and a choice of two superb itineraries, the Southern Cyclades (August 6 and 20) and the Northern Cyclades (August 13 and 27), on board the 170-passenger, 4-masted Star Clipper.

The cruise costs from £1295 per person, based on two sharing, for bookings made by June 30. Guests on the August 6 and 20 departures can also enjoy complimentary instruction from yoga teacher Christel Vollmer who will be holding daily sessions of Astanga yoga on deck in the cool morning air, with a second session just before sunset, including meditation. Christel will also deliver lectures on the philosophy of yoga and advice for practice at home.

The Northern Cyclades itinerary departs from Athens and calls into Camlimani and Kusadasi (for the antiquities at Ephesus) in Turkey, and Patmos, Amorgos, Mykonos and Monemvasia in Greece. The August 13 departure has a qualified yoga teacher on board and also offers complimentary talks, classes and guided meditation.

The Southern Cyclades itinerary is a round-trip from Athens, calling at Rhodes; Bodrum and Dalyan in Turkey; and dramatic Santorini and Hydra, haunt of many artists. The August 6 departure has a qualified yoga teacher on board and also offers complimentary talks, classes and guided meditation.

For more info, visit www.starclippers.co.uk or contact the UK's leading adventure-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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.

Go Yoga Cruising With Star Clippers!

Tall ship specialist Star Clippers is offering guests free daily yoga and meditation in August as part of two yoga-themed cruises in the Aegean Sea on board the 170-passenger tall ship Star Clipper.

With settings including the emerald and turquoise coastline of Turkey, or the dramatic, black volcanic cliffs of Santorini as a background, yoga classes will take place in the open air, on Star Clipper’s sun-warmed teak decks, under thousands of square feet of billowing sails – the ultimate relaxation for body and soul, enhanced by the fresh sea air.

Qualified yoga teacher Christel Vollmer will be holding the daily sessions of Astanga yoga, also known as power yoga, on deck in the cool morning air, with a second session just before sunset, including meditation. Christel will also deliver lectures on the philosophy of yoga and advice for practice at home.

For those who want to follow a healthy or vegetarian diet during the cruise, Star Clippers’ usual sumptuous breakfast buffets, piled with fresh, seasonal fruits, and magnificent arrays of salads at lunchtime will be available, as well as vegetarian choices at dinner.

Astanga yoga is a dynamic and powerful style of yoga based on a sequence of easy-to-learn movements called asanas. Christel’s classes, which take place in English, will be suitable for all levels and no prior experience is required. There is no upper age limit for practicing yoga; Christel herself is in her fifties, with many years of teaching experience, having trained under West Coast-based Bryan Kest, yoga guru to stars including Madonna, Cindy Crawford and Sting.

There are two yoga cruises to choose between. 'Southern Cyclades' departs Athens on August 6 and calls at Rhodes, Bodrum, the Dalyan River, Santorini and Hydra. 'Northern Cyclades', also on Star Clipper, departs Athens on August 13 and calls at Kusadasi, Patmos, Amorgos, Mykonos and Monemvasia. Each itinerary includes a day at sea for extra relaxation and contemplation.

Prices start from £1,160 per person, including flights from London (to the value of £350 per person), port taxes and full board on the ship (transfers are extra).

For more info, see www.starclippers.co.uk or the adventure-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Star Clippers Offers Free Flights

Star Clippers, which operates three of the world’s most romantic tall ships, is offering complimentary flights from London for UK-based passengers to join select sailings for summer Mediterranean cruises on the 170-passenger Star Clipper and her sister ship Star Flyer, saving up to £350 per person off published airline fares.

The voyages on these beautifully appointed clipper ships include itineraries around the Greek islands and Turkey in the Eastern Med. The complimentary flights offer is for bookings received by April 30 on return travel from London to the airport closest to the embarkation/disembarkation point and includes a choice of nine sailing dates and cruises of 7 nights’ duration.

The offer applies to the following itineraries:

Star Clipper, Northern Cyclades on June 25, July 9 and August 13 and 27, round trip from Athens, calling at Camlimani and Kusadasi (for the antiquities at Ephesus) in Turkey, and Patmos, Amorgos, Mykonos and Monemvasia in Greece. The August 13 departure has a yoga theme, with complimentary talks, classes and guided meditation. From £1,160 per person, including flights from London to the value of £350 per person, full board on the ship and port taxes (transfers extra).

Star Clipper, Southern Cyclades on August 6 and 20, round trip from Athens, calling at Rhodes; Bodrum and Dalyan in Turkey; dramatic Santorini and Hydra, haunt of many artists. The August 6 departure also has a yoga theme. From £1,160 per person, including flights from London to the value of £350 per person, full board on the ship and port taxes (transfers extra).

Star Flyer, Greek Isles & Turkey on July 23, departing Athens and calling at Mykonos, Kos, Patmos, Chios, Dikili (for Pergamum), Cannakale (for Troy) and Istanbul. From £1,160 per person, including flights from London to the value of £350 per person, full board on the ship and port taxes (transfers extra).

Star Flyer, Yachtsman’s Paradise on July 16 and 30, departing Istanbul and calling at Canakkale (for Troy), Myrena, Sarti, Skopelos, Skiathos (where the movie Mamma Mia was set), Skyros, Poros and Athens. From £1,160 per person, including flights from London to the value of £350 per person, full board on the ship and port taxes (transfers extra).

For more info, visit http://www.starclippers.co.uk/ or contact the UK's leading adventure cruise specialists of The Cruise Line

Mum’s The Word on a Fred Olsen Cruise!

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines always likes to celebrate an important occasion - and to make things extra special for guests, whatever the season. And, with Mother’s Day fast approaching, the ships are all planning ways to pamper mothers on board on Sunday April 3.

The specific Mother’s Day offering will vary from ship to ship, but includes giant cakes in the restaurants, emblazoned with ‘Happy Mother’s Day’, special lunch menus, celebratory cocktails in the bars and champagne packages, all designed to make mums feel appreciated.

Balmoral (above), harking back to an old tradition, will be offering Simnel Cake (most often associated with Easter, but it actually has long associations with Mothering Sunday), as well as special prayers in the day's church service.

Boudicca’s Mother’s Day activity includes a delightful enhanced tea, with musical accompaniment from the Rosario Trio, while, on Braemar, the mixologists have created a wonderful cocktail, Mum’s Fizz, a delicious blend of sparkling wine, vodka, cranberry juice and mint, garnished with soft fruit – a snip at £3.95. There is also a Mother’s Day celebration package – a half bottle of Moet & Chandon Champagne, and strawberries (with or without cream) for £21.25.

The Fred Olsen fleet will be in these exotic locations to celebrate Mother’s Day:

Balmoral – cruising between Dubai (United Arab Emirates) and Salalah (Oman).

Boudicca – cruising between Santa Cruz de la Palma (Canary Islands) and Lisbon (Portugal).

Braemar – in port, Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic).

Black Watch – in port, Mykonos (Greece).

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

French Riveria and Greek Islands Reductions

By guest blogger Steve Newman

The French Riveria and the Greek Islands have always been major attractions for a cruising holiday, and the chance of late booking reductions can make them even more attractive. With that in mind, why not have a look at two short cruises from luxury Tall Ship sailing company Star Clippers?

Departing from Cannes on 25th September, the company has a 4-night tall-ship cruise along the French Riviera to Calvi, Corsica, Portofino and Cannes for £649pp (was £730), sailing on the head-turning Star Flyer and including all meals on board and free places for up to two children (accompanying two adults) in their own cabin, paying just port taxes of £85 per person.

The Flyer (above) with its four masts and 36,000sq ft of sails is fully stabilised and has two pools; massage and beauty treatments; water sports equipment; library; internet access; indoor/outdoor bar; and a Sloop Shop. The ship has a smart-casual open dining policy and there are seven cabin grades. from the luxurious Owner’s Cabin with whirlpool bath to inside cabins. Fully 81 of the 85 cabins have a porthole or open on to the deck.

The company is also offering a £200 saving off its 3-night 'Cruise & stay’ short break, also on board Star Flyer, departing from Athens on 28th September, sailing the Greek islands of Mykonos and Santorini, now from just £799 per person (was £999), including all meals and a night’s B&B accommodation in Athens at the 5-star St. George Lycabettus Hotel on 28th September.

For more information, log on to http://www.starclippers.co.uk/

Istanbul to Athens. The Black Sea and Mykonos

By guest blogger Steve Newman

As a region, the eastern Mediterranean does not appear to be so well explored by dedicated cruisers as other parts of the world. However, in reality, it is one of the most fascinating cruise destinations around.

One cruise set to go there shortly will be operated by Silversea Cruises who maintain a deserved reputation for cruises that deliver 6-star luxury. They have an exceptional choice of destinations and a fleet that is as accommodating and as wonderfully elegant as you could imagine.

The company’s Istanbul to Athens 7-night cruise departing on the 10th of September with their newest ship Silver Spirit (above) looks to be a mouth-watering experience for the discerning cruise traveller who seeks that high standard of service and more than a taste of exotic eastern culture and history.

Exploring the coast of the Black Sea, Spirit visits Constanta, Odessa, Yalta and Sevastopol before re-entering the Mediterranean and calling at the magical island of Mykonos.

Mykonos Town is a colourful maze of narrow streets lined by whitewashed houses with bright blue doors and shutters. As an attractive backdrop, those famous windmills are lined up like toy soldiers on the hillside, reminders of a time when wind power was used to grind the island's grain. The many bars and restaurants leading down to the waterside are a great place to relax.

Silver Spirit herself is an evolution in luxury cruising. With one of the highest space-to-guest ratios, she accommodates only 540 in ultimate style and comfort. Her interiors hint at a sophisticated 1930s Art Deco ambiance, with the latest modern innovations and advance maritime technology.

There is also a choice of up to six dining venues, an expanded spa, and the largest suites in the fleet, fully 95% of which feature a private veranda.

Silversea Cruises will be exhibiting at The Cruise Show in Birmingham in October.

Cruise and snooze, anyone?

Cruise-and-stay holidays are becoming big business. I know, because Thomson Holidays told me so this week in their latest press release:

Cruise and Stay – The Best of Both Worlds

Thomson Celebration’s New Home Port Increases Cruise and Stay Options

In the past decade. the number of British cruisers has increased by over one million per year, and cruise holidays now account for one in 10 package holiday bookings, according to the 2009 PSA review. When comfort and experiences compete with value for money in the holiday decision making process, Brits are searching for ever more ways to make the most of the holiday budget. That’s why the UK ’s second largest cruise line, Thomson Cruises, has introduced Turkey into its ‘cruise and stay’ programme.

This combination of time at sea with time at a beach resort sees Thomson Cruises not only offer great value on their cruise ships, but to go one better. Teaming a week of cruising around the Med, the Aegean or even the Caribbean on a Thomson cruise ship with a week in a stunning beach resort, quite often on an all-inclusive basis, allows customers to budget for a two-week holiday and get so much more.

For the first time, Thomson Cruises has positioned Thomson Celebration in Marmaris, Turkey. Itineraries sail around the Aegean towards the islands of Mykonos and Santorini as well as the historical ports of Canakkale and Istanbul . The ship being based in Turkey means passengers are able to opt to extend the holiday to two weeks and stay at a selection of 3T to 5T hotels in the beautiful resorts of Olu Deniz, Marmaris or Sarigerme from just £1,171 per person*.

With the rise in people seeking experiences above and beyond traditional ‘bucket and spade’ holidays, Thomson Cruises on board offering of West End-style entertainment, fantastic service from attentive and friendly crew (at no extra charge) and great dining options combine with a fabulous array of destinations to create the very best of both worlds.

OK, I'm definitely prepared to buy into the good-value nature of the cruise-and-stay idea (especially with Thomson's patent charter holiday approach), but unless you do the week's 'stay' part of the holiday first, do you see this being anything other than a 'cruise-and-snooze' on the sybaritic beaches of the Med (or Caribbean)?

To be honest, if I'm going to go away for a full 2-week spell (which, admittedly, is highly unlikely these days; where 'highly' translates to about a 150% chance!), I would much rather opt for a full 2-week cruise which includes some relaxing sea days (and only one set of transfers, packing and unpacking) but still affords the ever-changing scenario that cruising provides par excellence.

But maybe I'm wrong. Is cruise-and-stay the wave of the future; am I in the minority; or am I just wrong? Answers on a postcard, please.....!