Maiden Voyages of the MS Caledonian Sky

Noble Caledonia have acquired the MS Caledonian Sky, sister ship to their MS Island Sky, to sail an inaugural series of voyages for them from May to July next year, including The British Isles, Iceland, Norway and Russia's White Sea.

Caledonian Sky accommodates a maximum of 114 passengers in 57 spacious outside suites. Many have walk-in wardrobes and some feature tub baths. There will be seven categories of suites and 16 suites will have private balconies.

For those familiar with the Island Sky, she will feel like a second home, although there are some differences. The dining room, lounge, Lido Deck and bar are all similar. However, The Club on the Caledonian Sky has been transported to the very top deck. Here, there is a library and bar which leads out on to a lovely forward deck, with wonderful views from ceiling-to-floor windows.

For more info, check out www.noble-caledonia.co.uk or consult the UK's adventure Cruise specialists The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677.

Dolphins, Whales and Basking Sharks

Here's another great early-booking offer, with a great saving on a Noble Caledonia voyage to the Isles of Scilly, Ireland and the Channel Islands.

Wildlife fans in particular will want to make note of this out-of-the-ordinary expedition cruise, which explores our coastal waters to observe the marvellous seabird and marine life around some untouched coastal wilderness areas, with a flexible schedule that allows the captain and expedition team to take advantage of the unexpected, whether it be a sighting of dolphins or any unusual event.

In just eight days, passengers will get the chance to stroll along the leafy lanes of beautiful Tresco in the Isles of Scilly; visit the neighbouring islands of Bryher and St Agnes; land on uninhabited Great Saltee Island with its huge colony of gannets; and explore the bird colonies of little known Les Sept Iles by Zodiac.

On Lundy Island, guests will enjoy the antics of the puffins and, later in the day, sail around Grassholm, one of the world’s largest gannetries. No coastal cruise in this region would be complete without a visit to the Channel Islands, and this island adventure continues with calls at two of the most attractive, Alderney and Sark.

Exploration of these protected coastal waters will be made all the more enjoyable by the use of Zodiac landing craft, similar to those used by Jacques Cousteau. Zodiacs enable passengers to land in remote places, providing for an unusual perspective and make the otherwise inaccessible readily available. The expedition staff have a wealth of local knowledge, having undertaken numerous expeditions around Britain and Ireland. The experienced team lead the way and also provide evening round-ups of the day’s events and briefings on board.

This 8-day expedition cruise to the Isles of Scilly, Ireland and the Channel Isles is on board the charming little MS Island Sky, sailing from May 18-25, 2012, and costing from £2,195pp. And here's the special offer: book by October 28 and save £100 per person.

For more information, visit www.noble-caledonia.co.uk or the UK's adventure cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Noble Caledonia's Scottish Adventure

Noble Caledonia have late booking offers on their "The Lordship of the Isles" cruise, taking in Argyll, the Hebrides and Isle of Man, aboard the MS Quest from only £1995.



The voyage sails from September 29 to October 6 and promises to be a real in-depth look at this unique and historic part of the word, with first-class lectures and shore excursions.

For more information, visit www.noble-caledonia.co.uk or contact the adventure-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Noble Caledonia's New Arctic Cruises

Svalbard is a remote and spectacular archipelago of immense glaciers, narrow fjords and abundant wildlife, somewhere we have featured several time in World of Cruising in recent issues. And here's a new opportunity to visit it in style and comfort:

Let Noble Caledonia's small but comfortable sister expedition ships, the MS Quest and the MS Ocean Nova, take you on a memorable journey into the realm of the polar bear. In Spitsbergen, there are twice as many polar bears and walrus as there are people. The polar bear population is estimated at more than 3,000 and we hope to encounter some of them during our summer voyages.

Our guests will witness a vast geological spectacle of soaring mountains and immense glaciers. A photographer’s paradise unfolds before us: black basaltic islands rise from shimmering waters punctuated with gleaming ice sculptures, and lush tundra blazes with purple saxifrage and moss campion. Within this dramatic landscape resides a wealth of wildlife: seals, walrus, whales, Arctic foxes and, our ultimate goal, polar bears. The area is also home to hundreds of thousands of breeding seabirds, including kittiwakes, murres, dovekies, puffins and rare ivory gulls.

Guests will take full advantage of the long daylight hours and embark on numerous Zodiac excursions to view the profuse wildlife up close.

In the beginning of the season, Spitsbergen’s flowers are in full bloom and the bird colonies are bustling with life. In the latter part of the season we have very good possibilities of exploring the eastern parts of the archipelago when the ice is slowly starting to lose its grip.

Our expedition ships have the highest ice class and can carefully break through the pack ice, which is also home to seals, walrus and the king of the Arctic, the polar bear.

For more info, visit Noble Caledonia or contact the adventure-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Become A Silver Travel Reviewer and WIN a £3,000 Mozart-themed Danube River Cruise

Working closely with cruising experts The Cruise Line Ltd throughout July, the over 50s travel advice and holiday review website, Silver Travel Advisor, is offering free entry to a prize draw to win a Mozart-themed Danube river cruise for two with Noble Caledonia. The voyage includes performances by the London Festival Opera and presentations about the life, times and music of Mozart by guest speaker Roddy Greenburgh.

To be in with a chance of winning, entrants simply need to sign up for free membership of the site to be included in the draw and both new and existing members posting a travel review at www.silvertraveladvisor.com will be additionally be entered into the prize draw for every new post they upload.

Silver Travel Advisor provides a forum for members aged 50 and over to upload impartial travel, restaurant and days-out, and offers mature travellers free advice from travel industry professionals.

The site’s July prize draw is for a week-long cruise on board Noble Caledonian’s magnificent MS Johann Strauss, taking guests on a musical journey along the Danube in celebration of Mozart’s life, from Hungary to Bavaria through Slovakia, visiting the cities of Budapest, Vienna, Bratislava and Salzburg, enjoying some of Mozart’s finest work in idyllic settings. The prize is worth around £3,000 and includes all meals, return scheduled flights from London, 7 nights aboard Johann Strauss on full board including wine, beer and soft drinks with dinner, all excursions and gratuities, travelling in November 2011.

Silver Travel Advisor’s MD Debbie Marshall said: “River cruising and cultural experiences both come high on our members’ holiday wish lists and Noble Caledonian’s Mozart river cruise is just the kind of holiday our members love to take. We look forward to welcoming new members and reading all the new holiday and travel reviews posted during July and wish all entrants the best of luck.”

Visit www.silvertraveladvisor.com or The Cruise Line Ltd. You can also find out more in the new summer edition of World of Cruising magazine, published this week.

From Wild Scotland to the Norwegian Fjords

Try a voyage with a difference in the company of Noble Caledonia this summer, taking in the full depths of Scotland to the fjords of Norway.

The cruise begins on the west coast of Scotland in the port of Oban, with the journey north including magnificent St Kilda and calls in the Orkney and Shetland Islands, to be immersed in some of the region's mysterious ancient history.

Reaching Sunnfjord, one of Norway's most stunning areas, the voyages travels along the coast, visiting the vast swathe of fjords and chain of islands all the way up to the Lofoten group.

It is difficult to imagine a more relaxing setting than coastal Norway. Words cannot describe the awe-inspiring scenery that combines mountains, glaciers, waterfalls, valleys and truly dramatic fjords.

The immense size of the fjords and the timeless quality of scenes that have changed little in the past centuries create a unique atmosphere, especially as the journey avoids the tracks of the big cruise ships wherever possible, with many ports of call just tranquil hamlets and small communities, offering a fascinating look at their unique lifestyles.

Such a journey needs a special vessel, and the self-sufficient qualities of the MS Quest are ideal in this instance. Carrying just 50 passengers, this small, friendly ship will be able to land on remote beaches and explore shorelines prolific birdlife, with the daily schedule taking advantage of weather conditions and possible sightings to achieve as much as possible from the voyage.

For more info, visit www.noble-caledonia.co.uk or contact the UK's leading adventure-cruise specialists The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677.

Take a Waltz With Johann Strauss in 2012

Noble Caledonia have just released their new MS Johann Strauss brochure for 2012 featuring cruises along the Dutch Waterways, Rhine, Moselle and Danube Rivers.

The vessel has just been refurbished to offer some of the most comfortable accommodation on the European waterways and the company's themed cruises continue to be extremely popular, including some of the best wines of Europe as well as a garden themed cruise.

The ‘Rivers of Music’ cruise went on sale last month and has already sold out, so there are now an additional two dates for this fascinating cruise with the London Festival Opera.

There are also some new inclusions for 2012 along with a greater range of pre and post-cruise extensions, such as Transylvania, Prague and Lucerne.

For more info, visit Noble Caledonia or contact the river-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Noble Caledonia's Burgundy & Provence Special

Leave the crowded roads behind and relax onboard Noble Caledonia's first class river vessel through Provence and Burgundy on a seven-night river journey along the Rhone and Saone Rivers - at a special reduced rate this June.
This sailing has been chartered by the company's US associates, Travel Concepts. Due to some late availability, the remaining cabins can be offered at very special prices. The 78-passenger MS Rembrandt will sail all the way from the enchanting town of Arles to Chalon-sur-Saone near Beaune.

Enjoy time in historic Avignon and Arles, forever associated with some of the greatest impressionist artists. From here, there will be the opportunity to visit some of the great Roman sites for which Provence is justly famous. Continue to the ancient town of Vienne with its dramatically sited medieval cathedral, then visit the gourmet capital of Lyon before cruising through the vine-covered hills of Burgundy, ending in the historic town of Beaune, the region's wine capital.

The 7-night voyage now costs from just £995 and departs on June 30. For more info, visit www.noble-caledonia.co.uk or contact the river-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Explore The Falklands & South Georgia

Here's a great offer from Noble Caledonia this week, with a chance to save on a wonderful 22-night cruise to Antarctica that also takes in the Falklands and South Georgia. Book by April 30 and save £400 per person on a 2011 departure (£300 per person on 2012), with prices now from £6,995.

In today’s highly accessible world, there are few places that still hold the power to enthrall and enchant. Antarctica is certainly one of these.

Antarctic Peninsula

Explore both sides of the Peninsula, taking in such memorable sights as the Antarctic Sound, often referred to as Iceberg Alley. Explore with Zodiacs, cruising among ice floes, land at penguin rookeries and visit research stations. Most Antarctic Peninsula cruises will include Deception Island. A highlight of any voyage comes as you navigate through the narrow entrance and sail inside the volcanic caldera. Hot, geothermal springs bubbling up close to shore allow those more hardy souls to experience a very hot and very cold bath almost simultaneously!

Other highights include - Paulet Island (above): Ice conditions permitting, this is a fascinating place and home to hundreds of thousands of Adelie penguins. Unconcerned by our presence they carry on about their business as do the blue-eyed cormorants and Weddell seals. Petermann Island: Visit the bridge as you deftly nudge aside ice floes and navigate the Lemaire channel to Petermann Island where Gentoo penguins have formed their southernmost nesting colony. Humpback and minke whales are often sighted offshore here.

The Falkland Islands

Combining the Peninsula with a few days on the Falkland Islands makes for an interesting contrast. The wildlife on these 420 rocky islands is staggering and it is a truly enchanting place, a true outpost with a unique character and particularly fascinating for the British.

South Georgia

Although South Georgia is a couple of days extra steaming from Antarctica, it is well worth the effort. Here you will experience one of the world’s natural wonders, the ‘Alps in mid-ocean’.

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

Island Sky's Refit A Hit With Noble Caledonia

Boutique little adventurer Island Sky underwent a significant multi-million pound refurbishment last year to make her one of the finest small ships in the world. Now, Noble Caledonia are offering a full season aboard this smart vessel, with some 37 cruises across the globe, including visits to the Pacific Coast of South America, Catalonia, Casablanca, The Baltic, The Azores, Cuba and the islands of the British Coast.

With a maximum passenger capacity of only 116, a vessel of her size is usually capable of carrying many more but, instead, the MS Island Sky has the benefit of unusually large suites, luxuriously appointed public areas and spacious outside decks.

Having cruised on her myself, I can vouch for what a luxurious ship she is and her small draft allows her to visit places other larger cruise ships cannot get to.

To find our more, visit MS Island Sky or contact the UK's leading adventure-cruise specialists The Cruise Line Ltd.

Noble Caledonia's Sardinia

From May 27 to June 5, Noble Caledonia have a unique voyage around the wonderful island of Sardinia aboard the 34-passenger Callisto. They will be joined by guest speaker Stephen Phillips, who will bring much to guests' understanding and enjoyment of the region.

Prices start from £3,395 per person based on double occupancy and include return flights from London, nine nights aboard the Callisto on full board, wine with lunch and dinner, shore excursions with English-speaking local guides, services of a cruise director, guest speaker, transfers, port taxes and airport taxes. The ports to be visited include Cagliari, Alghero, with an exursion to Bosa (above), and Olbia.

For more information, visit www.noble-caledonia.co.uk or contact the adventure cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Turquoise Coast & Eastern Aegean

You can now travel with Noble Caledonia to some of the greatest ancient sites and hidden islands as you make your way through the Dodecanese and along Turkey’s Turquoise Coast. The journey is perfectly timed to take advantage of the gentle spring temperatures and enjoy the islands at their quieter time of year when the high season crowds have yet to arrive.

The private yacht, with just 24 guests, is a wonderful way to experience the lesser known islands of the Aegean. The laid-back atmosphere of the islands will complement the small, informal vessel as you explore delightful towns, sleepy villages and visit some magnificent ancient sites, all in the company of like-minded travellers and informative guides.

With a nice mix of time spent at sea and explorations ashore, you will visit some fascinating Greek islands, many that are out of bounds to the big ships. Some highlights include untouched Fourni, delightful Simi (above), and Kos with its white-washed buildings and 14th century fortress. You will also see some splendid archaeological sites such as Ephesus, Pergamon and Asklepion. This is an incomparable region of Greek and Roman architectural treasures and offers opportunities to learn more about the many facets of ancient Greek society, and how much of this culture has influenced Western civilisation.

Split into two sections from April 20-May 31, the price includes: Economy class scheduled air travel, 10 or 11 nights aboard the Halis Temel on full board, shore excursions, tour manager, transfers, port taxes, airport taxes. 10/11 nights from £2,795.

For more information, visit http://www.noble-caledonia.co.uk/ or cruise specialists The Cruise Line Ltd.

Cruise From Edinburgh to Tromso

You can now take a cruise aboard the MS Expedition with Noble Caledonia from Edinburgh to Tromso from May 8-19.

The voyage begins on the east coast of Scotland in the port of Leith. From there, the journey continues to the remote Shetland Islands and then the Norwegian fjords, among the most spectacular scenery in the world.

With just over 100 fellow passengers, you can enjoy the beauty of this region in small groups and from aboard a small, friendly ship. With the ideally suited vessel, you will navigate narrow fjords and get close to immense glaciers (above), avoiding the route of big cruise ships wherever possible. Many of the ports of call are tranquil hamlets or small communities and they make for fascinating alternatives with their unique lifestyles.

Amongst the places visited are Lerwick, Rosendal, Sognefjorden and Naeroyfjorden (above).

At Flam, you embark on one of the most dramatic train rides in Europe. The Flâm Railway is only 20 kilometres long but a masterpiece of engineering. The train climbs up from sea-level to 867 metres during these 20km, crossing back and forth across rivers and through 20 tunnels.

Crossing the Arctic Circle, you arrive in the Lofoten Archipelago, an enchanting area of picturesque villages with jagged granite mountain peaks forming a dramatic backdrop. A spot of whale-watching is thrown in before reaching Tromso.

Prices, per person based on double occupancy, start from £2995 and include 11 nights on MS Expedition on full board, transfers as stated in itinerary, expedition team, port taxes, shore excursions, scheduled flight from Tromso to London and airport tax.

Also available from May 19-30 is the reverse itinerary heading south from Tromso to Edinburgh.

For more details, visit www.noble-caledonia.co.uk or the adventure cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Noble Caledonia's 2011 Cruises

By guest blogger Steve Newman

For those who like to combine adventure with luxury, Noble Caledonia have just released a whole range of cruises for 20011. Among these is a new Spring in Provence trip – a special offer from only £695, including flights from London, six-night cruise aboard the 80-passenger MS Rembrandt, full board including drinks with dinner and all shore excursions on March 20-26 or March 26-April 1.

For Wildlife Adventure Cruising, their South America itineraries visit places such as Patagonia, Costa Rica and Belize, which are rich in wildlife, and they have also just released their Antarctica brochure, plus Alaska & the Arctic, Britain & Ireland on purpose-built expedition ships such as Clipper Oddessy (above).

For further details, contact Noble Caledonia or the UK's leading adventure cruise specialists The Cruise Line Ltd.

A night at the Opera in Prague - River Cruise

By guest blogger Steve Newman

How about a Night at the Opera in Prague, combined with a nine-day journey along the Main and Rhine Rivers aboard the MS Johann Strauss, all with a 10-night price from £1595?

Music-themed tours from Noble Caledonian in 2011 will include musical performances either on board your vessel, at your hotel or ashore in idyllic settings. There will also be an expert to provide informal talks and accompany you on excursions.

The musical journey begins in Prague. No central European tour would be complete without a few days in the magnificent Czech capital. To make your stay in this beautiful city even more memorable, the company have included a performance of Puccini’s La Boheme in the magnificent and historic Opera House.

After two days in Prague, you drive through the delightful countryside of Bohemia to Bavaria and the river port of Regensburg, just across the border in Germany. Sailing along the Main and Rhine, guests will get to enjoy the subtle changes in architecture and reflect on the many ways in which these mighty rivers have influenced the flow of history.

Just north of Regensburg is a great feat of engineering, The Danube-Main Canal, that allows vessels to connect between the Main and Rhine Rivers. Having meandered along the Main, you reach the Rhine passing through the dramatic Rhine Gorge, the steep banks dotted with romantic castles before arriving at the great city of Cologne and crossing the border into the Netherlands.

Enhancing your river cruise will be London Festival Opera who will be aboard for the duration of the voyage. Bringing together established opera singers from major British opera companies, the LFO have achieved a considerable reputation for presenting opera and music performances in a variety of worldwide venues and will perform on board in the lounge on three evenings.

Price Includes: Economy class scheduled air travel, two nights hotel accommodation in Prague with breakfast and dinner, lunch on day 3, 8 nights aboard Johann Strauss on full board, house wine, beer and soft drinks with dinner on board, shore excursions, guest speaker, performances by London Festival Opera, services of a cruise director, tour manager, transfers, port taxes, airport taxes, gratuities to crew and on shore excursions.

For more information, visit http://www.noblecaledonia.co.uk/

South America with Noble Caledonia

By guest blogger Steve Newman

In 2012, Noble Caledonia are repositioning MS Island Sky to South America and have just launched the new brochure which features itineraries from the tip of Patagonia up to the West Indies.

From January to April 2012 she will operate a number of cruises throughout Latin America, up as far as Central America and through the Panama Canal to little known areas of the Caribbean.

Having been involved with many small ships in South America and the West Indies, Noble Caledonia know this area to be ideally suited to expedition cruising. The wild, open spaces of Patagonia and the dramatic coastal scenery of the Chilean fjords make for an unforgettable trip particularly if you prefer the cooler temperatures.

Alternatively, Chile’s lake region and northern territory with its magnificent national parks combines well with the natural and cultural wonders of Peru. Continuing north along the Pacific coastline, there is the chance to explore Peru, Ecuador and Costa Rica, including the remote Cocos Island, a mini Galapagos located some 300 miles out in the Pacific and an area much favoured by Jacques Cousteau, known for its sea turtles, rays, dolphins and hammerhead sharks.

Later in the season finds Island Sky exploring the little known but remarkably beautiful islands of the southern Caribbean Sea as well as the Caribbean Coast of Panama and Costa Rica. There will also be the opportunity to visit Cuba, the Southern Bahamas, Turks & Caicos islands and the pristine waters of the British Virgin Islands.

Why not join them for the Island Sky’s maiden visit to these endlessly fascinating waters and explore the wonders of nature and man with our accomplished expedition team and guest speakers?

For more information, visit http://www.noble-caledonia.co.uk.

From the Nile to Damascus

By guest blogger Steve Newman

The Middle East has long been a magnet for those who wish to combine cruising with the study of ancient civilisations. Take this tradition with a combined land-and-cruise journey and you really have the chance to get under the skin of these places and their cultures, both past and present.

In March next year, discerning travellers have the chance to take a six-night cruise in the Red Sea combined with land elements to visit some of the most impressive ancient ruins on Earth for an amazing 17-day journey.

Organised in typical exemplary style by Noble Caledonia, the trip starts with three nights in Cairo with trips to the Pyramids and other famous historical sites before you board the MS Island Sky for the cruise from Suez to Aqaba. The ship underwent a complete refurbishment in May and I can thoroughly recommend her as a superb vessel for this type of cruise having sailed on her myself recently.

Calling in at Safaga, a journey through the desert brings you to Luxor for a two-day excursion that also includes the Valley of the Kings. Amazingly, the best is yet to come as, after disembarking at Aqaba, the wonder of the orange and red sands of the desert of Wadi Rum are visited in Jordan, followed by a two-night stay at Petra (above) the "Rose red city, older than time."

Floating in the Dead Sea at its marvellous resort that drips luxury and exclusiveness, walking through Amman and sitting in wonder on the steps of the theatres in the ancient Roman city of Jerash are all followed by the fascination of the Mosques and Orthodox churches of Damascus.

How's that for true Middle Eastern magnificence?

For more information, look up http://www.noble-caledonia.co.uk/