It's The New-Look Minerva

Here's a chance to be among the first to sail aboard the new-look Minerva of Swan Hellenic - head to the Med aboard the newly refurbished ship on a 14-day 'Postcard from the Mediterranean' fly-cruise from just £1,495 per person (based on inside cabin accommodation). Highlights include visits to history-rich Rome, Athens and Istanbul, all of which can now be enjoyed via the breathtaking views from the ship’s new observation lounge.

Guests can also discover the delights of Sorrento (Italy), pick up some gems in the bustling medina in Sousse (Tunisia) or learn something new from one of Minerva’s experienced Guest Speakers on topics such as wine, music and ancient history.

The price includes return flights from London, transfers and the 14-day voyage departing from Civitavecchia (Rome) and calling at Naples (overnight), Sorrento, Palermo, Sousse, Valletta (Malta, overnight) and Piraeus (for Athens) before arriving at Istanbul for another overnight stay. It also includes includes a tailor-made programme of shore excursions, talks by eminent guest speakers, meals and entertainment on board, all gratuities and all relevant cruise taxes/fees, on a March 29 departure.

For booking, be sure to check this link for the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Broadcaster Michael Nicholson Aboard Fred. Olsen

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has announced that renowned TV correspondent Michael Nicholson, OBE, MA (above), is the latest in a line of glittering speakers to join its Vistas cruise enrichment programme. Michael will be the guest speaker on Boudicca’s 23-night cruise to the Mediterranean, D1223, departing from Portsmouth on October 12, 2012.

Nicholson is best known as a seasoned and highly-acclaimed foreign correspondent, reporting on wars and natural disasters the world over. He has reported from no fewer than 18 war zones during his long and illustrious career, including Nigeria, Biafra, Vietnam, Cambodia, Beirut, Israel, Cyprus, Congo, Rwanda, The Falklands, the Balkans and both Gulf Wars. Michael was ITN’s first Bureau Chief in South Africa, based in Johannesburg; he reported on news from all over Africa between 1976 and 1981, then journeyed overland back to the UK with his family – a 14,000-mile journey that took six months.

Cruise guests can enjoy Michael's fascinating and informative talks in the comfort and elegance of Boudicca on this exciting Mediterranean itinerary, which visits Portimăo (Portugal), Ibiza (Spain), Valletta (Malta), Piraeus (for Athens), Çanakkale (Turkey), Istanbul (Turkey), Kusadasi (Turkey), Gozo (Malta), Mahon (Menorca) and Gibraltar, returning to Portsmouth. Prices for this cruise start from £2,179 per person, based on two adults sharing an inside, twin cabin, Grade ‘I’, and include all meals and entertainment on board, and port taxes.

There are also ‘Double Savings’ available on this cruise of up to £1,000 per cabin (depending on cabin grade), if booked by February 29, as featured in Fred. Olsen’s "Captains’ Collection 2012/13" brochure of 73 specially-selected, ex-UK cruise deals. 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. There is no extra charge for taking part in Vistas activity.

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

Fred Olsen Sign Up Explorer Tim Severin

Explorer, author and historian Tim Severin is the latest illustrious name to join Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Vistas programme as a special guest speaker. Perhaps best known for his Viking Series of historical novels, Tim’s new association with the cruise line is especially appropriate given the company’s Norwegian heritage.

During a spectacular career, Tim has: retraced the footsteps of Sindbad the Sailor, sailing from Muscat to China; steered a Bronze Age galley to seek the landfalls of Jason and the Argonauts and Ulysses; ridden the routes of the first Crusader knights across Europe to the Holy Land; travelled on horseback with nomads in Mongolia to research Genghis Khan; traced the origins of Moby Dick amongst the aboriginal sea hunters of the Pacific; and sailed a leather boat across the Atlantic from Ireland to Newfoundland, recreating the route taken by Irish monk St. Brendan the Navigator. One of his most recent quests has been to identify the ‘real’ Robinson Crusoe.

This eminent explorer and author will feature on ‘East of Suez: History and Culture,’ a sector of Black Watch’s 2012 World Cruise’. Departing from Southampton on January 11, this 32-night voyage covers the cruise as far as Singapore. Ports of call are Gibraltar, Cueta, Valletta, Port Said, then a transit of the Suez Canal, Sharm el Sheikh and Safaga. Tim will be joining in Safaga and stay aboard for the visits to Salalah (Oman), Mumbai (for an overnight stay), Cochin, Port Blair (Andaman Islands) and Singapore.

Prices start from £2,379 per person, based on two adults sharing an outside, twin cabin, Grade ‘D’. The cost includes return flights from Singapore to London and transfers, accommodation and all meals and entertainment on board, as well as port and airport taxes. There is no extra charge for taking part in Vistas activities.

For more info and booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Discover the Ancient World with Swan Hellenic

Embark on a voyage of discovery in October with Swan Hellenic and explore some of the world’s most fascinating historical sites. Their 'Highlights of the Ancient World' cruise provides a fantastic opportunity to experience four of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World, accompanied by insights from expert speakers to bring their stories to life.

Passengers will visit the magnificent Pyramids of Giza and the remains of the Temple of Artemis, as well as travelling to where the Lighthouse of Alexandria and Colossus of Rhodes once stood. The cruise also takes in other key historical sites across the Mediterranean, from the Minoan palace of Knossos in Crete to the iconic Acropolis in Athens. 

Prices start from only £1,495 per person (based on two people sharing an inside cabin). Price includes 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 28 October 2011 departure.

For more information, visit www.swanhellenic.com or contact the specialist cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.  Subscribe to World of Cruising magazine.

Sea Cloud and River Cloud Cruises

Sea Cloud and River Cloud are renowned for their luxury sailing and River boat cruises and have spaces on the following cruises.

SEA CLOUD Cruises

October 17-25; Valletta (Malta) to Piraeus (Greece)

October 25-November 1; Piraeus (Greece) round-trip

RIVER CLOUD II cruises

October 15-22; Amsterdam (Netherlands) to Basel (Switzerland)

October 22-29; Basel (Switzerland) to Koblenz (Germany)

For more information, visit www.seacloud.com or contact the luxury cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Great Celebrity Winter Offer

Join Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Solstice for a 12-night Mediterranean & Greek Isles fly/cruise from £974 per person (based on two people sharing an inside stateroom). That’s just £81.17 per person per night.

This price includes return flights from Heathrow, transfers, a 12-night cruise departing from Barcelona and calling at Livorno (for Florence), Civitavecchia (for Rome), Naples/Capri, Chania (Crete), Ephesus (Kusadasi, Turkey), Piraeus (Athens, Greece) and Valletta (Malta) before returning to Barcelona; meals and entertainment onboard and all relevant cruise taxes/fees.

Price is based on a November 4 departure.

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

BIG Savings (And More!) with Oceania Cruises

Oceania Cruises has savings of up to 56% off cruises on board its mid-sized luxury cruise ships, plus an additional $1,000 on board credit per stateroom, allowing guests to make their cruise as inclusive as they want it to be. All prices are quoted per person, based on two guests sharing an inside stateroom and include all meals, complimentary bottled water and soft drinks.

Check out these examples:

7th September: ‘Jewels of the Aegean’, 12-night cruise Venice to Istanbul from £1,799pp

New ship Marina has a spectacular sailing from Venice with $1,000 onboard credit and a saving of £1,654pp. It cruises through the Aegean Sea via Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Corfu, Patras, Zakynthos and Athens before disembarking in Istanbul.

19th September: `Sands of Time’, 12-night Greek island cruise from £1,199pp

Marina has a spectacular sailing from Istanbul to Athens with $1,000 onboard credit and a saving of £1,264pp. It voyages through Rhodes, Limassol, Haifa, Jerusalem, Crete, Patmos and Volos before disembarking in Athens.

3rd October: ‘Jewels of the Aegean’, 12-night Aegean Sea cruise from £1,999pp

Cruise from Venice to Istanbul through the beautiful Aegean Sea via Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Corfu, Patras, Zakynthos and Athens on mid-sized ship Insignia with a saving of £1,182 per person, plus $1,000 onboard credit per stateroom.

1st October: `Roman Revelations’, 14-night Med cruise from £1,399pp

Cruise from Istanbul to Barcelona via Ephesus, Patmos, Crete, Marmaris, Alanya, Limassol, Haifa, Jerusalem and Valletta on Oceania's Nautica, with $1,000 onboard credit and saving up to £1,467 per person.

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

Regent's New Med Offers

FREE FLIGHTS - FREE SHORE EXCURSIONS - ALL-INCLUSIVE

And Now: FREE Business Class Air on Penthouse Suite and higher!

Regent Seven Seas has the following new deals for select Mediterranean cruises this year:

ROME TO ATHENS
Seven Seas Mariner June 7, 10 nights; highlights, Rome (Civitavecchia), Monte Carlo, Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Amalfi/Positano, Taormina (Sicily), Valletta, Monemvasia, Santorini, Ephesus (Kusadasi), Athens (Piraeus); D Balcony Suite was £5,129pp, NOW £3,334pp.

ISTANBUL TO VENICE
Seven Seas Mariner July 16, 10 nights: highlights, Istanbul (overnight), Ephesus (Kusadasi), Santorini, Athens (Piraeus), Zakinthos, Corfu, Kotor, Dubrovnik, Venice (overnight); E Balcony Suite was £5,249pp, NOW £3,412pp.

ATHENS TO BARCELONA
Seven Seas Mariner August 24, 10 nights: highlights, Athens (Piraeus), Ephesus (Kusadasi), Santorini, Zakinthos, Taormina (Sicily), Amalfi/Positano, Rome (Civitavecchia), Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Monte Carlo, Provence (Marseille), Barcelona; F Balcony Suite was £4,999pp, NOW £3,255pp. Alternative suite categories available.

All-inclusive with Regent are FREE return flights & transfers, FREE unlimited shore excursions, ALL fine dining, ALL drinks & beverages, ALL gratuities & ALL activities onboard. Fares guaranteed until March 31. Terms and conditions apply. Please see http://www.rssc.co.uk/ or call the luxury cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.