Celebrity's Adriatic Bonus

Here's a great cruise deal to ponder this weekend: Join Celebrity Cruises’ excellent Solstice-class ship Celebrity Eclipse on a 16-night Western Mediterranean and Adriatic cruise this autumn from just £1,299 (or just £81.19/person per night, based on two sharing an inside cabin).

The price includes the full 16-night voyage sailing from Southampton and calling at Seville (for Cadiz), Cagliari (Sardinia), Palermo (Sicily), Venice, Dubrovnik (Croatia), Cartagena and La Coruna before returning to Southampton; all meals and entertainment onboard and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. Price is based on an October 14 departure.

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

Try Moorish Heritage With Sea Cloud II

For pure spectacle, it doesn’t come much more eye-catching and, indeed, genuinely original than Sea Cloud Cruises’ fleet of luxury tall ships. And Sea Cloud II is featuring a great-value 8-day “Moorish Heritage” cruise from Lisbon to Barcelona calling at cultural cities such as Seville, Granada and Valencia from just £1,596.

The voyage departs from the Portuguese capital on May 4 and also calls at Portimao on the Algarve and Motril in Southern Spain (for access to Granada and Seville), as well as Palma de Mallorca.

Some say this is a more intellectual cruise as the trips revolve around pleasant social gatherings with a casual and relaxed informal lifestyle of the 64 guests on board. But what you really have here is customised travel at the luxury level which has been consistently refined over the years.

For more information, visit http://www.seacloud.com/ or check with the luxury and adventure-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line.

Huge savings with Celebrity Cruises in 2011

By guest blogger Steve Newman

We all know January is now officially classed as 'Wave' season, when most cruise lines roll out some big discounts and special offers to attract savvy customers. Here is a great one from Celebrity Cruises for this year.

Look to a book a Celebrity Eclipse voyage, on Celebrity's 14-night Italian Mediterranean itinerary, and it will cost just £1,419 per person before the end of February (based on two people sharing an ocean view cabin).

The price includes a New Year special offer of $100 onboard credit; free car parking in Southampton; the 14-night Med cruise (departing Southampton and calling at Gibraltar, Provence, Florence/Pisa, Rome, Cagliari (above), Seville, Lisbon and Vigo, before returning to Southampton; meals and entertainment onboard; and all relevant cruise taxes/fees.

Price is also based on May 7 departure and includes an early booking offer, which expires on February 28.

For more information, visit http://www.celebritycruises.co.uk/ or check with UK cruise specialists The Cruise Line Ltd.

Oceania Cruises offers up to $1000 onboard credit

By guest blogger Steve Newman

For selected departures between April and July 2011 on three of its upper premium luxury ships, Oceania Cruises is offering $1,000 of onboard credit per booking. Included among the offer sailings are:-

23rd April: Wonders of the Ancients – 14-night cruise on Insignia (above), embarking in Civitavecchia (Rome) and cruising to Sorrento, Taormina, Zakynthos, Alexandria, Cairo, Haifa, Jerusalem, Limassol, Tartous, Alanya, Ephesus and Athens. The price of £2,571 per guest is based on 2 sharing and includes all meals, complimentary soft drinks and bottled water, as well as the $1,000 credit per stateroom (excludes flights).

27th May: Gems of Europe – this 15-night voyage on Insignia now comes with a $1,000 onboard credit per stateroom and is priced from £2,690 per guest, including all meals, complimentary soft drinks and bottled water (excluding fights). The cruise sails from Rome (Civitavecchia) to Marseille, taking in Barcelona, Malaga, Seville, Lisbon, Oporto, La Coruna, Bilbao, Bordeaux and Lorient before completing the voyage in Greenwich.

Other sailings with the enticing $1,000 onboard credit include in Alaska on Regatta and winter 2011/12 voyages on Nautica.

To find out more, visit http://www.oceaniacruises.co.uk/ or check with the luxury cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Head for the Med, Italian Style

By guest blogger Steve Newman

The Mediterranean will always be a favourite spot for the UK cruising community. It’s not that far away, is pleasantly warm and has fascinating cultures and cities around its rim. Add to that the links with our own history and some of the best food found anywhere on the planet and you know you are on to a winner.

Now you can see the sights of Italy and the Mediterranean aboard Celebrity Cruises Celebrity Eclipse on a 14-night Italian Med cruise costing from only £1,409 per person (based on two people sharing an inside cabin).

As with all of Celebrity's eye-catching Solstice-class vessels, onboard features include a real grass lawn on deck, a glass-blowing show and studio developed with the renowned Corning Museum of Glass and the Celebrity iLounge, the Apple-only internet café and iconic store. As you’ll be visiting Italy, why not try a taste of the country beforehand in the Tuscan Grille? With its vibrant ambiance, this steakhouse offers a variety of exquisite selections, from Caesar salad prepared tableside to an antipasti station. Paired with any number of quintessential Italian wines, this is an experience destined to please more than just the palate.

Price includes a 14-night Med cruise departing from Southampton and calling at Gibraltar, Provence (Toulon), Florence, Rome, Cagliari (Sardinia) with its famous ice cream parlours (above), Seville (Cadiz), Lisbon and Vigo, before returning to Southampton (England); meals and entertainment onboard and all relevant cruise taxes/fees.

Price is based on 07 May 2011 departure.

For more information visit http://www.celebritycruises.co.uk/.

Celebrity Cruises will also be exhibiting at the Cruise Show in Birmingham on October 16-17.

Rivers and Coasts of Spain and Portugal

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Spain and Portugal have much to offer the traveller and their rivers in particular are a very under explored when it comes to cruising. Now Archers Direct are offering the chance to travel along Andalucia's Guadalquivir River and The Algarve's Guadiana River for seven nights to marvel at a landscape of sun-blushed fields and quaint wine villages as well as ancient cities.

Designed to meet and exceed the expectations of a spacious and bright river cruiser, MS Belle de Cadix (above) offers style and superb service. Well-maintained and equipped with the latest technologies, the fully air-conditioned river cruiser accommodates 178 passengers in 89 light, airy cabins as it explores one of the most attractive regions in Europe.

The cruises start from Seville down Andalucía’s longest river to the port of Cadiz, then hugging the coastline to the Algarve and entering the River Guadiana to Alcoutim and Vila Real. Then, taking the coastal route again, you call at the Spanish port of El Puerto de Santa Maria before returning to Seville.

MS Belle de Cadix has a swimming pool; large sun deck; restaurant; lounge bar with dance floor; Panorama bar; swimming platform with access to the sea; gift shop and lift. The dining room is large enough to accommodate all passengers in one sitting.

Breakfasts are buffet style, while lunch and dinner have set menus, usually including a choice of regional specialities and traditional favourites. Aperitifs, coffee and digestifs are available in the lounge bar. Vegetarian meals and any special dietary requirements should be requested at the time of booking. There is an evening programme of entertainment and a welcome cocktail on the first night. While on board you will be looked after by the ship's hostess and purser.

All outside cabins have twin or double beds; air-conditioning/climate control; satellite TV; radio; hairdryer; safety deposit box; shower and WC; and large picture window. Your holiday price includes a 2-berth main deck cabin, or you may choose to upgrade.

For more information go to http://www.archersdirect.co.uk/