January Savings With Star Clippers

Tall ship sailing specialist Star Clippers is offering generous discounts of up to 20% on selected voyages on the line’s three square-riggers for bookings made by January 31. In addition, returning guests qualify for an extra 5% discount. The savings apply to exciting and romantic cruises under sail in the Caribbean, the Baltic, the Western and Eastern Mediterranean, Central America and on transatlantic crossings during 2012.

Examples of savings off Star Clippers’ 2012 voyages include:

 

· Up to 10% off Mediterranean cruises on Star Clipper, now from £629 per person for four nights, round-trip Venice, departing July 28

· Up to 10% off Mediterranean cruises on Royal Clipper, now from £702 per person for four nights, round-trip Rome, departing June 5

· Up to 10% off Baltic cruises on Star Flyer, now from £499 per person for three nights Amsterdam-Hamburg, departing May 16

· Up to 20% off Costa Rica cruises on Star Flyer, now from £824 per person for seven nights round-trip Puerto Caldera, departing December

· Up to 20% off Caribbean cruises on Royal Clipper, now from £932 per person for seven nights round-trip Barbados, departing various dates in December

· Up to 20% off Caribbean cruises on Star Clipper, now from £824 per person for seven nights round-trip St Maarten, departing various dates in December

· Up to 20% off transatlantic crossings, now from £980 per person for 14 nights on Star Clipper, Las Palmas-St Maarten, departing November 10. 

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

Maiden Baltic Cruises for Star Flyer

One of our favourite cruise experiences, the blissful tall-ship style of Star Clippers, is branching out in 2012 with their 170-passenger Star Flyer sailing in the Baltic for the first time during summer 2012, offering a wide variety of voyages from two nights to 11 nights.

The highlights include:

· Special offer: A five-night voyage from Southampton to Hamburg, via Amsterdam, departing May 5, from just £999 per person, including five nights’ full board on the ship, five nights’ parking at Southampton, transfers to Hamburg airport and a return flight to Heathrow, with a private taxi transfer from Heathrow to Southampton to collect parked vehicles.

· A series of two and three-night mini-cruises out of Hamburg and Warnemunde, a German port with a great sailing tradition, to coincide with the 2012 Sailing Parade of tall ships. From £465pp for two nights in Warnemunde on August 10, including port taxes (flights extra).

· Seven-night voyages featuring the dramatic Norwegian capital Oslo, which is situated at the head of a long fjord - ideal for sail-cruising. Oslo to Copenhagen, for example, calls at Marstrand, Goteborg, Halmstad and Helsingborg in Sweden; and Kalundborg in Denmark, finishing in Copenhagen. From £1,490 for seven nights, departing Oslo May 26, including port taxes (flights extra).

· Three 10 or 11-night voyages round-trip from Stockholm, with an overnight in St Petersburg. Ports of call on the 10-night sailing departing July 21 include Visby, Tallinn, St Petersburg, Helsinki, and two additional ports in Finland, Hanko and Mariehamn-Aaland. From £2,120pp for 10 nights, including port taxes (flights extra).

For more info on Star Clippers or booking details, see this link from the luxury cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Star Clippers New Cruises from Malaga

Here's an exciting new itinerary series from our favourite sail-cruise operator Star Clippers next year.

In the autumn 2012, the eye-catching four-masted Star Flyer (above) will operate five 7-night cruises round-trip from Malaga between September 15 and October 13, exploring the Moorish heritage of Andalucia and the North African coast.

The ports of call include Casablanca and Tangier in Morocco, and Gibraltar, Cadiz and Motril, for Granada, setting of the magnificent Alhambra Palace. It is priced from £1,370pp, excluding flights.

And be sure to check with adventure-cruise specialist The Cruise Line Ltd for any special booking offers on this link.

Royal Clipper Sailing Off Naples

A final look at my cruise experience aboard the beautiful Royal Clipper of Star Clippers...

Well, I'm home again to a wet Northumberland - and how I'm missing the contrast with the sun and style of the wonderful Royal Clipper (as my photo shows!).

She has to be the ultimate in luxury adventure sailing. I could write thousands of words here but your best bet is probably just to go and experience her yourself. Yes, it really is that good.

Steve Newman

For more details, see www.starclippers.co.uk or the luxury sailing and adventure cruising specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Off Amalfi with Royal Clipper

Continuing the live blog from the decks of Royal Clipper...

Just about a mile off Amalfi (above) and what a superb sunrise. Last night leaving Naples was magical, with the lights on the sails and Vangelis blaring out from the speakers. We lost four sails in the high winds the other night but the ship was so stable you would not have known.

We are waitng for our achorage time and then the tenders will take us ashore to explore. I may also go snorkelling before I leave the ship to head home.

What a fabulous experience this is on board. Or, as an American guest said to me, "Royal Clipper Rocks!"

Steve Newman

To find out more about Star Clippers go to www.starclippers.co.uk or talk to the adventure and luxury cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Winds Up On Royal Clipper

Day Two, Part Two of my Live Cruise Blog from the deck of Star Clippers...

Now we really are sailing! The wind has come up big style, so much so that we couldn't land at Ponza and are now heading south in the open sea. The weather is glorious and everybody is on deck, listening to sails cracking and the spars and rigging groaning in the wind.

I tried out the swimming pool, which was great; no need to change, my costume was dry in about three minutes after getting out.

Then it was off to get a coffee and pastry from the bar (which are free) and watch the Italian mainland slip by. There are also some new lines in the clothing shop on board to check out.

Now it's off now to the Tropical Bar, which becomes the heart of the ship after supper.

Steve Newman

For more info on this cruise, see www.starclippers.co.uk or the luxury cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677.

Approaching the Island of Ponza

Continuing with my 4-day trip on Royal Clipper, today we are visiting the island of Ponza. The dolphins were amazing off the bow this morning and the breakfast is just as I remember it, simply stunning. Having a choice of teas served in a Chinese replica personal teapot is something else!

The sails have been hoisted and they were a beautiful golden yellow colour as the rising sun bathed them in its light. The crew and the captain are having their meeting behind me, so out of courtesy I am going to sign off. See you tonight!

Steve Newman

For more info on Star Clippers, see

www.starclippers.co.uk or adventure sailing cruise specialists The Cruise Line Ltd.

Star Clippers Brings Costa Rica Expert on Board

Tall ship sailing specialist Star Clippers has announced that it will carry a guest lecturer, German-born Steffi Adels (above), on board Star Flyer for the ship’s forthcoming 2011/2012 Costa Rica season.

During each voyage, Steffi will talk to the guests about her experiences in Costa Rica, where she worked for a year as a tour guide. She has guided and travelled in all the most beautiful and popular areas of the country, including the volcanoes, the cloud forests, the rivers and canopy trails, the rainforests and national parks, as well as being a regular visitor to neighbouring Nicaragua.

The 170-guest Star Flyer spends from November to March each winter sailing the tropical waters of Central America’s Pacific coast, visiting dramatic rainforests, sweeping beaches and secluded inlets and islands, with plentiful opportunities for spotting wildlife and birds, as well as snorkelling over the reefs and hiking the forest trails.

Star Clippers offers a seven-night Costa Rica and Nicaragua cruise from just £1,140, cruise-only, round-trip from Puerto Caldera, calling at San Juan del Sur, Playa del Coco, National Park Santa Rosa, Samara, Puerto Carrillo, National Reserve of Curu and Isla Tortuga.

For more info, visit www.starclippers.co.uk or sailing cruise specialists The Cruise Line Ltd.

Cabin Upgrades from Star Clippers

To celebrate National Cruise Week, which runs from September 18-25, tall-ship sailing specialist Star Clippers is offering free cabin upgrades for all bookings made during that period.

Book any Star Clippers voyage to the Mediterranean, the Caribbean or Central America during National Cruise Week, or one of the longer ocean crossings, and the cabin paid for will be upgraded by one category (terms and conditions apply).

For example, pay for a Category 3 cabin on Commodore Deck and stay in a Category 2 cabin, which has more space and superior fittings and is located on Clipper Deck. On one of Royal Clipper’s seven-night Caribbean cruises this winter, this represents a saving of £110 per person. Better still, this cabin upgrade offer, if taken up during National Cruise Week, can be combined with existing early booking offers. These include 10% off any cruise in the 2011/2012 programme and a spectacular 20% discount on selected sailings for 2011 and 2012, as follows:

On Royal Clipper, the five-masted flagship of the fleet, special offers include departures in October and April and certain sailings out of Barbados in December and January.

Special offers on the four-masted, 170-passenger Star Clipper are valid for Mediterranean cruises in April, early May and October, as well as four Caribbean sailings from St Maarten in December 2011. Take advantage of a Mediterranean mini-cruise; a five-night short break from Athens to Malta (departing October 8), which calls at Monemvasia and Pilos in Greece and historic Siracusa in Sicily.

The 20% saving on cruises operated by sister ship Star Flyer, meanwhile, applies to six Mediterranean cruises and five sailings out of Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica in 2011 and 2010. These fantastic Central American voyages call at the laid-back beach resort of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, as well as the national parks, scattered islands and sheltered bays of Costa Rica’s rich, rainforested coastline, with superb opportunities for diving, snorkelling and hiking.

For more details, visit www.starclippers.co.uk or contact the specialist cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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.

Tall Ship Sailing In The Med

Tall ship sailing specialist Star Clippers is offering two wonderful opportunities to explore the history of the Mediterranean this autumn, combining the romance of a voyage through the Balearic Islands and Andalucia to Morocco with a stay in a beautiful riad in Marrakech. A second option combines a mini-cruise with both Marrakech and two nights in historic Lisbon.

Sailing on the line’s flagship, the five-masted square rigger Royal Clipper, the first voyage departs Civitavecchia, the port for Rome, on October 15. After a day exploring the dramatic medieval fortress town of Bonifacio in Corsica, the ship sets a course to Mahon, Menorca, Lord Nelson’s chosen base for the British fleet during the Napoleonic wars. There’s a day in Ibiza, best known for its nightlife but actually rich in history, from its Carthaginian origins to 500 years of Moorish rule. On board, guests can relax on the warm, teak decks, enjoy their favourite cocktail from the Tropical Bar, or help the crew raise thousands of square feet of billowing sails.

Royal Clipper next calls at Motril on southern Spain’s Costa Tropical, an easy hop from Grenada and the magnificent Alhambra Palace. Then there’s a day at Safi in Morocco, famous for its pottery, before disembarking in Casablanca for the short flight to Marrakech.

Here, guests will stay for four nights at the tranquil, four star Les Jardins de la Medina, a traditional 19th century riad inside the city’s massive terracotta ramparts, surrounded by luxuriant gardens and complete with its own gastronomic restaurant, cookery school, hammam and spa, before flying back to London on October 27. Priced from £2,585 per person, including flights, full board on the cruise, transfers, B&B at the hotel, a bottle of wine and a three-hour private tour of Marrakech.

The second option departs London on October 21, for two nights at Les Jardins de la Medina, before flying to Casablanca on October 23 to join Royal Clipper for a four-night cruise to Lisbon via Tangier, Cadiz (for Seville, the magnificent Andalucian capital) and Portimao on the popular Algarve coast. Guests disembark in Lisbon and spend two nights at the boutique Lisboa Plaza hotel. A complimentary train ticket to the beach resort of Cascais is included, as well as a Lisbon Card, for discounts on entries to the city’s museums and attractions, and free public transport, as well as the Elevador da Gloria funicular, a scenic tram that links Baixa with the Bairro Alto.

Priced from £1,725 per person, including flights from London, full board on the cruise, two nights’ B&B at the Jardins de la Medina and two nights’ B&B at the Lisboa Plaza, as well as a bottle of wine, three-hour private tour of Marrakech, the Lisbon Card and train tickets.

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

Early Christmas Presents with Star Clippers

Tall-ship sailing specialist Star Clippers is offering an early Christmas present for those booking a cruise along the coast of Costa Rica over Christmas on the graceful, four-masted, 170-passenger square rigger Star Flyer.

On either the Christmas departure, a ten-night voyage departing Puerto Caldera on December 18, or the 11-night New Year sailing, which departs on December 28, the following special offers apply:

• In all double cabins, there will be a €300 per person onboard credit towards drinks in the restaurant and Tropical Bar, shore excursions, purchases in the Sloop Shop and beauty and massage treatments.
• In triple cabins, the third person sails free (port taxes still apply) and the first two occupants qualify for onboard credit of €300 per person.
  
• For single travellers, there will be no single supplement in cabin categories 2 to 6.

In the New Year departure only, these additional offers apply:

• Children only pay 50% of the published fare.
• Repeat Star Clippers passengers qualify for a loyalty discount of 5%.

The Christmas cruise includes calls at San Juan del Sur in Nicaragua; Costa Rica’s Playa del Coco and National Park Santa Rosa; the gorgeous beaches and rainforest walks of Quepos, Isla del Cano and Drake Bay; and the desert island paradise of Isla Tortugas. Christmas day is spent anchored in Golfito, a lush bay surrounded by mountains and known for its wildlife refuge, orchid garden and jungle canopy expeditions. From £1,770 per person, excluding flights.

On December 28, Star Flyer departs Puerto Caldera once more for the New Year cruise, which includes all of the ports above and in addition, Panama’s Isla Gamez, with superb snorkelling and palm-fringed sandy beaches. New Year’s Eve will be spent in Playas del Coco, sailing overnight to toast the New Year in the Tropical Bar, where there will be dancing until late, and recovering on the beach the following day at Santa Rosa National Park. From £2,051 per person, excluding flights.

To take advantage of these fantastic deals, see www.starclippers.co.uk or the adventure-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

New 'Chill and Cruise' Yoga Sailings

Tall ship specialist Star Clippers has added two new dates to its programme of yoga and meditation themed cruises this summer. Yoga expert Christel Vollmer will now be on board the head-turning tall ship Star Flyer this October in the western Mediterranen as well as August, when cruising the Greek Islands and Turkey’s coastline.

The two new yoga cruises are the `Tyrhennian’, departing Monte Carlo on October 1 and calling at Calvi, Bonifacio, Costa Smeralda, Giglio (Italy), Lerici (for Florence) and St Tropez, ending in Cannes. And `Spain and the Balearic Islands’, departing Cannes on October 8 and calling at Mahon, Pollenca, Formentera and Cartagena. This itinerary includes two days at sea for extra relaxation and contemplation.

Prices for all four yoga cruises are from £1,295 per person, including port taxes, all yoga classes and all meals on board. Prices exclude flights.

All four cruises include free daily Astanga (power) yoga and meditation sessions on deck in the cool morning air, with a second session just before sunset, including meditation. They are hosted by Christel Vollmer, who will also deliver lectures on the philosophy of yoga and advice for practice at home. For those on a diet, Star Clippers’ sumptuous breakfast buffets, piled with fresh 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.

Look up more at www.starclippers.co.uk or the luxury cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Star Clippers - And a Load Of Rubbish!

Guests from niche tall ship operator Star Clippers have removed 1,700lbs of rubbish from North Friar’s Beach and Keys Beach in St. Kitts in a beach-clean operation organised by on-board marine biologist Mariano Peruzzo. This is the third time Star Clippers guests have taken part in clean-ups, on this occasion joining volunteers from a local charity to rid the island’s beaches of plastics and other litter.

Star Clippers’ vessels operate under wind power up to 70% of the time. All ships use high-quality low-sulphur gas oil, for which the company has been awarded the International Air Pollution Prevention Certificate. And all three ships’ crews operate on a ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’ policy, while only eco-friendly, biodegradable products are used for cleaning on board the three ships.

Other eco-initiatives include the appointment of a qualified naturalist/marine biologist to accompany all cruises on the 170-passenger square rigger Star Flyer on winter sailings in Costa Rica, Panama and Nicaragua, providing passengers with first-hand information about the incredible diversity of flora and fauna in the region, as well as the volcanoes and cloud forests.

On December 11, one of Britain’s most respected authors, environmental campaigners, broadcasters and botanists, David Bellamy, will be on board Flyer in Central America to host a shore excursion, mingle with guests and give presentations about the environment.

Including an additional three days land stay, the 10-night Central America holiday costs from £2239pp, with return flights from London, transfers, 3 nights’ hotel accommodation and the seven-night cruise with David Bellamy, including all meals on board.

Star Flyer also carries a highly qualified dive master, who will give talks on board on invertebrates, crustaceans, fish and marine mammals.

To find out more, visit www.starclippers.co.uk or contact the UK's leading adventure-cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Unleash Your Inner Picasso on Star Clippers

Tall ship specialist Star Clippers (www.starclippers.co.uk) is offering novice and experienced artists alike the chance to express themselves and refine their technique in the most inspiring of settings, the Mediterranean, on board the 170-passenger Star Flyer, one of the world’s most beautiful and graceful tall ships.

The voyage will be escorted by Suffolk-born Richard Nichols (above), a successful artist who specialises in seascapes and coastal scenes. Richard will run workshops on board the seven-night cruise in anything from sketching to watercolours, aimed at all levels of experience.

Included in the cruise price is a special artist’s backpack that converts into a seat for sitting and sketching on location. The backpack contains sketchbooks, paper, watercolours, brushes and pencils, so guests do not need to supply any equipment.

The cruise departs Cannes on September 24 and calls at Corsica, Elba, Portofino and the Hyeres islands, ending in Monaco – all perfect settings for capturing the colour and vibrancy of the Mediterranean, from the ochres and terracottas of Portofino to the jagged mountains and bottle green pines of Corsica.

The 7-night cruise costs from £1,469 per person, including return flights from London, transfers, seven nights’ full board accommodation on Star Flyer, daily art classes, the artist’s backpack and port charges. Single travellers pay just £1,659.

To book, visit www.starclippers.co.uk or specialist cruise agents The Cruise Line Ltd.

Star Clippers New 'Rail & Sail' Offers

Star Clippers has new `Rail & Sail’ departures this summer, allowing guests to take the train directly from the UK to the south of France and join one of its magnificent tall ship sailings, completely avoiding airports and flying.

The company’s tall ship cruises from Cannes or Monaco operate between June and October and new rail-cruise packages cost from £1599 per person, including all meals, return rail travel from London, a night’s B&B pre-cruise accommodation in a 4-star hotel in Monaco or Nice, non-UK transfers to and from the ship and all port taxes.

The sailings are on board Star Clippers’ four-masted Star Flyer, departing from Cannes or Monaco on June 4, September 10 and October 1.

For the June and October departures, the ship sails from Cannes to Calvi (Corsica), the Costa Smeralda (Sardinia), Giglio (Italy) and Lerici (Italy), returning to St. Tropez and Monaco 7 nights later.

In September, Star Flyer departs Monaco for a 7-night sailing to L’Ille Rousse (Corsica), Portoferraio (Elba), Portofino (Italy), Hyeres Island and Sanary-sur-Mer (France) and St. Tropez beach and town, returning to Cannes on September 17.

Find out more by visiting www.starclippers.co.uk or the UK's leading adventure-cruise specialists The Cruise Line Ltd.

Windstar's New Ionian Sea Cruises

Windstar Cruises has introduced two new nine-night luxury holidays for Autumn 2011, The Hidden Treasures of the Ionian Sea, featuring sailings between Athens and Malta. The packages, which must be booked before May 15, include a seven-night cruise, complimentary hotel accommodation for two nights in Athens at a Windstar designated hotel, one complimentary transfer and an invitation to Windstar’s Yacht Club Party.

Hidden Treasures of the Ionian Sea voyages highlight the rich history and culture of enchanting destinations, UNESCO World Heritage sites, ancient Greek civilisations, charming coastal villages and breathtaking islands.

The 7-night sailing on the beautiful Wind Star departs October 15 and visits Gozo; Gythion; Cephalonia; Butrint National Park in Saranda, Albania; and Siracusa. Prices start from £2,440 per person, including seven nights in an ocean-view stateroom with all meals and entertainment and port taxes as well as two nights’ complimentary hotel accommodation and transfer plus the invitation to the Yacht Club Party.

Another 7-night Malta-to-Athens voyage on Wind Star departs October 22 and visits Siracusa; Butrint National Park in Saranda; Cephalonia; Gozo; and Gythion. Prices are again from £2,440 per person. This offer expires on May 15 and is not combinable with any other offers.

For more info, visit http://www.windstarcruises.co.uk/ or the adventure-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

New `Rail and Sail’ Tall-Ship Cruises

Star Clippers is offering a new selection of 'Rail & Sail' departures for summer 2011, allowing guests to take the train directly from the UK to the south of France to join one of its magnificent tall-ship sailings, completely avoiding airports and flying.

The company’s tall-ship cruises from Cannes or Monaco operate between June and October and new rail-cruise packages cost from £1599 per person, including all meals, return rail travel from London, a night’s B&B pre-cruise accommodation in a 4-star hotel in Monaco or Nice, non-UK transfers to and from the ship and all port taxes.

The sailings are on board Star Clippers’ four-masted, head-turning tall ship Star Flyer, departing from Cannes or Monaco on 4th June, 10th September and 1st October 2011.

On 4th June and 1st October, the ship sails from Cannes to Calvi (Corsica), the Costa Smeralda (Sardinia), Giglio (Italy) and Lerici (Italy), returning to St. Tropez and Monaco 7 nights later.

On 10th September, Star Flyer departs from Monaco for a 7-night sailing to L’Ille Rousse, Corsica, Portoferraio (Elba), Portofino (Italy), Hyeres Island and Sanary-sur-Mer (France), St. Tropez beach and town, returning into Cannes on 17th September.

Sail cruises cost from £1599 for an inside cabin and £1739 for an outside cabin, including return travel from London, non-UK transfers to and from the ship, one night’s B&B, all taxes and 7 nights cruising, with all meals.

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

Windstar's Free Stays in Athens, and More!

Windstar Cruises has announced details of two generous new spring offers giving guests a free two-night stay in Athens plus the choice of cabin upgrade or onboard credit on bookings made before May 15.

Guests booking selected Greece & Turkey voyages starting or finishing in Athens can enjoy a complimentary two-night stay at the Hotel Amalia in Athens. Valid on selected cruises on Wind Star, Wind Surf and Wind Star taking place between May 6 and October 29.

For all 2011 full fare bookings made before May 15, guests can choose from either a complimentary upgrade from a category B stateroom to a category A stateroom OR a $100 per person onboard credit ($150 per person for Suites)

This year's prices start from £2,044 per person cruise-only (based on a seven-night cruise from Rome to Athens departing May 7 on Wind Spirit) including seven nights in an ocean-view stateroom with all meals and entertainment and port taxes. Price also includes two nights complimentary accommodation at the Hotel Amalia in Athens and either a cabin upgrade or $100 per person onboard credit.

For reservations or further info, call Windstar Cruises on 020 7292 2369, visit www.windstarcruises.co.uk or contact the adventure-cruise specialists 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.