Classical International Cruises (CIC) is the independent cruise line that continues to operate smaller, more traditional tonnage with five charming ships ranging in passenger capacity from 320 to 590 and visiting some of the more exciting parts of the globe. The fleet includes the well known and fondly remembered vessels – Funchal, Princess Danae, Princess Daphne, Athena and Arion.

The philosophy behind the success of CIC is to offer passengers ‘excellent value for money cruising', whilst maintaining their much cherished independence and conservative approach to business and traditional maritime heritage. To help maximise the cruise experience, each ship offers the highest standard of onboard services - excellent cuisine, fine wines, and good onboard facilities. There’s an international crew on board offering a friendly and personalised service.

Classic International Cruises is delighted to announce that their 5,800 tonne ship ARION, known as 'The Pearl' of the fleet, returns to UK shores in 2012 to operate a series of ex UK cruises. ARION with her yacht-like ambience, has a particular style, charm and grace which can only be found on vessels of her size. ARION is able to offer you a truly memorable cruising experience combined with a service that is second to none.

ARION caters for 320 passengers and offers a unique personalized service. ARION is the ideal choice for passengers wishing to visit cosy harbours and ports of call larger vessels are not able to access.

ARION will begin her Spring season 2012 in Nice on 30th April 2012 with an eight night Mediterranean cruise back to Falmouth. She will then operate cruises from Falmouth to the Fjords of Norway and a cruise to the Isles of Scilly, Ireland and Scotland during the Diamond Jubilee weekend. She then sails from Dundee for two cruises - North Cape and Land of the Midnight Sun and Magic Iceland.

The Summer programme offers cruises from Hull to the Baltic Cities and Magic Iceland and a Summer Gardens Cruise to Oostende, Honfleur and the Isles of Scilly, ending in Falmouth for the Eden Project. At the end of August the ship will sail from Falmouth again on a wonderful cruise to the wine regions of France, Spain and Portugal. She finally sails back to Nice on the 6th September with an 11 night cruise to Spain, Portugal, North Africa and the Balearic Islands.

Prices lead-in at £399 per person for the shorter cruises and £749 per person for the longer itineraries. All port taxes and gratuities are included.

If you would like more details on these fabulous cruises, please contact the Classic International UK office for a brochure and more information on 0208 324 3115.

You can also visit our website at www.classicintcruises.co.uk or to book please click here to contact your local ACE agent. 

Classic International Cruises are delighted to announce a new cruise for their 350 passenger ship ARION for this coming Autumn.

There’s two opportunities in one here! The longer cruise (12 nights) sails from Corinth on 11 October, 2011 through the Canal to Cannakale, passing the Bosphorus, Odessa, Sevastopol, Yalta, Theodosia, Kerch, Sochi, Trabzon, Istanbul (overnight), and returns to Corinth on 23 October.

For those who may prefer a shorter cruise, they can join in Istanbul on 13 October (8 nights), and disembark there on 21 October.

Wonderful sightseeing opportunities throughout this exciting holiday. Prices for the 12 night cruise start at £919 cruise only, per person, sharing twin or double cabin, and £729 cruise only for the 8 night cruise, and include chosen accommodation, meals, entertainment, and leisure facilities. Flights to both Athens for Corinth cruise, and Istanbul, available on request.

Please call our reservations team on 020 8324 3115 or click HERE  to find your local ACE agent.

 Classic International Cruises will be sending their flagship ATHENA to Australia, and she arrives down under just in time for the Christmas festivities! She sails from Civitavecchia on 15 November 2011 for 33 nights, and arrives in Fremantle on 18 December 2011. An ideal cruise for those wishing to be with loved ones over Christmas and New Year and with the pleasure of visiting ports such as Naples, Messina, Valletta, Port Said, Aqaba, Salalah, Phuket and Singapore en route! Prices, per person, start from an incredible £2,859, double occupancy and includes port taxes and gratuities.

Athena’s return cruise to the UK allows plenty of time in Australia as she sails from Fremantle on 14 April 2012 via Port Louis, Point de Galets, Durban, Mossel Bay, Cape Town, Jamestown, Georgetown, Porto Grande, Tenerife, Casablanca and Lisbon. She arrives in Portsmouth on 24 May 2012. The lead-in price for this 40 night cruise is £3,999 per person, double occupancy and includes port taxes and gratuities.

Athena was originally built as a trans-Atlantic ocean liner and in 1994 the vessel changed ownership and was virtually stripped to her hull and re-constructed and restored as a beautiful new premium rated contemporary cruise ship. With a handsome profile and a traditional walk around promenade deck, Athena is a medium to small sized cruise ship by today’s standards carrying about 550 passengers and offering a wide selection of well appointed public lounges and comfortable cabin accommodation spanning eight passenger decks serviced by two lifts.

The ship’s enhanced facilities include the impressive Olissipo Restaurant with an alternative buffet dining facility in the Lotus Lounge, a choice of five comfortable lounges and bars including the impressive Calypso Show Lounge, plus a nightclub, cinema, casino, shopping boutique and photo shop, library, card room, fitness and health centre with a sauna and massage, an outdoor swimming pool and a beautiful marbled reception area.

Classic International Cruises is an independent cruise line that continues to operate smaller, more traditional tonnage with five charming ships carrying between 350 and 590 passengers, visiting some of the most exciting parts of the globe.

The philosophy behind the success of the cruise ships is to offer their passengers ‘good value for money’ cruising whilst maintaining their much cherished independence and conservative approach to business and traditional maritime heritage. To help maximise the cruise experience, each ship offers the highest standard of onboard services - excellent cuisine, fine wines, and good onboard facilities. There’s an international crew on board offering a friendly and personalised service.

Further information available at: www.ClassicIntCruises.co.uk as well as the ATHENA brochure can be found here:
www.cic-cruises.com/ebook/ATHENA_PresentationBrochure_10_2010_ENG/index.html  or to book click here to contact your local ACE agent.

Classic International Cruises are sending their 550-passenger ship ATHENA to Australia, and she arrives down under just in time for the Christmas festivities! She sails from Civitavecchia on 15 November, 2011 for 33 nights, and arrives Fremantle on 18 December. An ideal cruise for those wishing to be with loved ones over Christmas and New Year – having already been to Naples, Messina, Valletta, Port Said, Aqaba, Salalah, Phuket and Singapore en route! Prices, per person, start at £2,859, double occupancy and includes port taxes and gratuities.

Her return cruise allows plenty of time in Australia as she sails from Fremantle on 14 April via Port Louis, Point de Galets, Durban, Mossel Bay, Cape Town, Jamestown, Georgetown, Porto Grande, Tenerife, Casablanca, Lisbon, and arrives Portsmouth on 24 May, 2012. Lead-in price for this 40 night cruise is £3,999 per person, double occupancy and includes port taxes and gratuities.

Great way to escape the English winter, and arrive home in time for the English summer!

For more information and to book click here to find your local ACE Travel Agent

Agent contacts at Classic International Cruises are George Nakos, UK Sales Manager, and Desri Omer, Marketing Co-ordinator – telephone 020 8324 3115.

Classic International Cruises are delighted their 9,500 tonnes cruise ship FUNCHAL returns to the Fleet at the end of June following a 12M Euro refurbishment programme, and many agents who have sold cruises on her in the past, or made a ship visit, will see a big difference!

Over 70% of the cabins are being completely reconstructed, including 49 Suites, (the remainder having been refurbished just a few years ago), a new library, internet cafe and Club Lounge. The Reception and two restaurants have been much improved, the gym has been moved inside, and there’s a new sauna and massage rooms. In other words, past passengers will hardly recognize her!

To celebrate her ‘new look’, she is going to spend the first part of 2012 in the Far East on a series of 8 cruises starting in Singapore on 18 January, and the 9^th  ending in Portsmouth on 18 May.

Classic International Cruises has just published a 24-page brochure dedicated to FUNCHAL’s Far East 2012 cruises – there’s 9 nights, 10, 11, 14, 15 and 33. Embarkation ports are either Singapore or Hong Kong, and it is possible for passengers to enjoy consecutive cruises without visiting the same port, thus making a longer, more interesting stay in the Far East. Itineraries include Singapore, Ho Chi Minh, Penang, Manila, Hong Kong, Shanghai - to name but a few!  

Prices are great too – from just £699 per person, double occupancy, and include port taxes and gratuities!

The last cruise is an exciting one, 33 nights – FUNCHAL sails from Singapore on 15 April, via Thailand, Maldives, Oman, Jordan, Egypt, Malta, Italy, Gibraltar, Portugal, arriving Portsmouth on 18 May – just in time for the English summer! Prices start at £2,589 per person, double occupancy, including port taxes & gratuities. This cruise offers excellent value for money – less than £80 per night!

For more information and to book, click here to find your local ACE Agent.

Travel Agent contacts at Classic International Cruises are George Nakos, UK Sales Manager, and Desri Omer, Marketing Co-ordinator – telephone 020 8324 3115.

CLASSIC INTERNATIONAL CRUISES have just announced a lecture programme for their 320 passenger ship ARION  when she undertakes a series of 7-night cruises in the Eastern Mediterranean between April and July 2011. 

Professor Leslie McLoughlin, who has worked and lived in the Arab world for over 40 years and is an historian by training, joins 5 cruises and will lecture on Western Travellers in the Levant, Egypt, Lebanon and Syria. 

Peter Clayton, an Egyptologist, archaeologies and numismatist, and who has excavated on sites in England and Egypt will lecture on two summer cruises,  and will focus on the itinerary and ports, offering an historical, archaeological and modern perspective. 

Passengers can join ARION in either Limassol or Antalya, and cruise to Alexandria, Antalya, Beirut, Limassol, Mersin, Port Said and Tartous.  Prices from £599 per person, include gratuities.’

Classic international Cruises has announced some great late booking savings on its exceptional far East Cruise series sailing from Singapore. Departures are  between December and March on the Princess Daphne, starting from the 'Christmas in Malaysia and Thailand cruise' between 19th and 28th December.

 FREE Cabin upgrade up to three categories
 PLUS save up to £450 pc
 PLUS up to £100pp on board credit
 PLUS all meals, port taxes and gratuities included in price.

A Classic ship in every way Princess Daphne is an elegant and sophisticated vessel with 241 of the largest cabins to be found on any ship cruising today, including 27 suites. Ideal for both short journeys and longer ocean-going passages, and with beautifully appointed public areas and wide exterior decks, she is the ideal choice for cruising connoisseurs. With over 20 years experience in   cruise operations Classic International Cruises are today associated with a relaxing, friendly and informal style of cruising and a memorable "value for money" cruising experience.

For more information on cruise itineraries and ships visit www.classicintcruises.co.uk.