Rhys Davies one of the shore excursion team on board the Cruise & Maritime Voyages (www.cruiseandmaritime.com) ship Marco Polo has been enjoying the freezing fjord waters off Tromsø in Norway, whilst on a recent Northern Lights cruise. 

You will be pleased to know Rhys had not lost the plot but was keen to get his crew colleagues and passengers to sponsor his noble efforts for the RNLI (Royal Navy Lifeboat Institute). He managed to get £880 in money raised towards one of the company’s preferred charities. The Cruise & Maritime Voyages shore excursion team will be continuing to raise money for RNLI with a series of charity events over the coming season. They will also be competing against the shore excursion team on CMV’s other ship Ocean Countess to raise the most for charity.

Rhys who comes from Powys in Wales was not seeking to impress the girls with his macho swim as he was engaged to Cait Stevens the Assistant Cruise Director on board. In fact he and Cait are due to get married this Saturday 14 April after a romance that blossomed again on Marco Polo having first met at school. The wedding takes place in Chrickhowell.

Marco Polo operated three cruises this year to search for the Northern Lights that were a total sell out months before. In 2013 the company plan three more departures during February/March and already have more than 60% of the cabins booked. Prices are from £1339pp.

Prices are based on two people sharing a standard twin inner cabin on a full board basis and include guest lectures, daytime activities and stylish ‘big show’ evening entertainment. You can find out more about these and other cruises on www.cruiseandmaritime.tv

A fuel supplement of £5 per person per night applies to these cruises

For more information on Cruise & Maritime Voyages visit www.cruiseandmaritime.com or to book please click here to contact your local ACE travel agent. 

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is very proud of its innovative Vistas onboard enrichment programme, offering guests a special interest, to add spice to their cruise. One of the most popular pastimes in the UK must be gardening, and Black Watch’s cruise, W1217, to the Azores and Canary Islands, boasts not one, but two, leading gardening experts hosting the Vistas theme.

Joining the attractive cruise of 14 nights that departs from Dover on 8th November 2012, will be Chris Beardshaw and Professor Stefan Buczacki. The ports of call offer plenty of opportunities to go ashore and explore local gardens – including the unusual cactus garden in Lanzarote. 

On leaving Dover, Black Watch calls first into the elegant Portuguese capital, Lisbon, which has many lovely public gardens to visit, then makes her way to the sunny Canaries, where she calls into Arrecife (Lanzarote), Santa Cruz (Tenerife) and Santa Cruz (La Palma). On the return voyage, Black Watch calls at Praia da Vitoria, and Ponta Delgada, in the Azores, before docking back in Dover. As well as the delightful and varied ports, Black Watch has a generous amount of time at sea, when guests can enjoy the talks, lectures and other gardening-related activity, hosted by the onboard experts, at no extra cost.

Chris Beardshaw has a very high profile, through his appearances on TV gardening programmes, having appeared on ‘Gardener’s World’, ‘Hidden Gardens’ and ‘Flying Gardener’. He is a highly qualified horticulturist, and has an MA in Landscape Architecture. As well as a busy and successful broadcasting career, he has been a lecturer in horticulture and worked for a leading wholesale nursery.

Professor Stefan Buczacki is probably Britain’s most experienced media gardening personality; as well as being a media celebrity, he is also a scientist with an international reputation. Stefan has published almost sixty books on gardening and natural history, and is believed to be Britain’s second biggest selling gardening author.

A very experienced broadcaster, Stefan appeared most famously on BBC Radio’s ‘Gardeners’ Question Time’ as panellist and chairman for a unique unbroken run of over 600 broadcasts in twelve years. He has also appeared on or presented around 1,000 television programmes.

Prices for this very special gardening themed cruise start from £1,679 per person, based on two adults sharing an outside twin cabin, Grade ‘E’. The price includes all meals and entertainment onboard and port taxes; there is no additional cost for participating in Vistas.

For gardening fans who want to get away sooner, Balmoral also has a cruise to the Canaries with a gardening theme. Cruise L1204 is a 13-night cruise, departing from Southampton on 29th April 2012, and has a similar itinerary to the later Black Watch cruise, visiting Funchal on the ‘Garden Isle’ of Madeira, then the Canary Islands of La Palma, Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote, with a final visit to Lisbon (Portugal) on the way back to Southampton.

The expert hosting the ‘Gardens & Gardening’ theme for Vistas on this cruise is Steve Brookes. Steve is a fun and charismatic gardening broadcaster, who currently presents a lively, very popular, weekly 2 hour gardening show on BBC Radio Coventry & Warwickshire which won him the prestigious ‘Garden Writers Guild’ award for the best radio gardening programme. He can also be seen around the country at the major gardening events presenting his popular “Hints & Tips” stage show. Steve has also been a presenter of Central TV’s popular 'Gardening Time’ programme and has won a Royal Television Society Award for his Channel 4 series ‘Growing Plants'.

Prices for this lovely spring cruise currently start from just £599per person, with a Latesaver deal, based on two adults sharing a twin-bedded cabin. The price is inclusive of all meals and entertainment on board, and port taxes, and there is no extra charge for Vistas activity.

Find out more about all Fred. Olsen cruises, by visiting www.fredolsencruises.com and check the Vista’s Experts and themes at www.fredolsencruises-vistas.com Agents can book online, at the Travel Agents’ Centre or via AmadeusCruise. Alternatively, call Reservations on 01473 742424.

Head to Vinopolis, London’s premium wine and food pairing destination, on 19 April to enjoy a bespoke tasting Masterclass developed by Vinopolis senior wine expert Tom Forrest. The Masterclass has been created as part of Vinopolis’ new partnership with luxury cruise line, Celebrity Cruises, and will feature European wines from vineyards such as Bordeaux, Rioja and Quinta da Aveleda. The Masterclass – the first of its kind – has been developed to appeal to all wine connoisseurs, whether cruise enthusiasts or not.

Inspired by the sailing itinerary, discover food and wine pairings from the ports visited during Celebrity Cruises’ new Vinopolis Immersive Wine Cruise – in France, Spain and Portugal – with hosts Tom Forrest and Celebrity Cruises’ Michael English.

During this special Masterclass guests will taste seven different wines, including classics such as Rioja and Bordeaux, which will be matched with various cheeses and chocolates. The evening will provide a sample of some of the experiences that are on offer during the Celebrity Cruises Vinopolis Wine Cruise. Tom has an itinerary bursting with flavours that will feature on the Vinopolis inspired cruise.

Tickets are £49 per person. For further information and to book tickets, call the team on 020 7940 8300 or visit www.vinopolis.co.uk.

Celebrity Cruises has joined forces with Vinopolis to create a Vinopolis inspired cruise on 13 October 2012, including a number of exclusive events hosted by leading wine connoisseur Oz Clarke.

For more information on Celebrity Cruises please visit their website at www.celebritycruises.co.uk or to book a cruise please click here to contact your local ACE travel agent.

Between May and September this year, Crystal Cruises’ guests in Northern Europe can hike, drive, ride, fish, climb, sail, row, bob, fly or surf in destinations from western France up to the Arctic Circle and over to Iceland. The ultra-luxury line has set more than 100 new boutique Crystal Adventures to take maximum advantage of the region’s abundant outdoor opportunities and stunning natural beauty. 

On new outings, outdoor enthusiasts can:

• River Raft Iceland’s glacial Hvitá River (outside Reyjkavik).
• Rock Climb Ireland’s Mourne Mountains (CS Lewis’s Narnia-inspiration) outside Belfast, or rappel down a Dalkey quarry after taking in the view of Dublin. 
• Surf in Biarritz, with Quicksilver’s world-class surf school instruction (from St-Jean-de-Luz).
• Tank-Drive a vintage WWII battle tank for two miles near Portland.

• Helicopter over Paris and Versailles (from Honfleur), Bordeaux wine country or Iceland’s recently-erupted Eyjafjallajökull volcano (from Reykjavik).
• Olympic Wheelbob down Lillehammer’s Olympic Bob & Luge Track outside Oslo.
• Horseback Ride through the “Garden of Ireland”/County Wicklow, Finnish countryside and forest near Helsinki or mountains outside maiden call Akureyri, the latter on the back of Icelandic horses descended from the Viking Age.
• Kayak past colourful Copenhagen via its harbour and canals or the natural beauty of coastal northern Norway (from Tromso).
• Hike the chalky Dorset coastline in Portland or Norway’s highest mountain, Mount Ulriken (in Bergen).
• Fish the Finnish Archipelago, Geirangerfjord or near Reykjavik (sea angling).

• ATV or 4x4 Drive through North Cape’s gateway, Magerøya Island (Honningsvåg)orpast glacial Icelandic landscape to either a lobster lunch or snowmobile adventure (Reykjavik).
• Boat past Helsinki’s seaside villas and lighthouses by catamaran; discover caves and orkas in maiden call Heimaey, Iceland by RIB or motorboat; spot puffins on a RIB sea safari to Runde Island (near Ålesund, Norway); or scout for sea eagles by Zodiac in Lofoten, Norway (maiden call).
• Soak weary, post-activity bones in a natural geothermic/volcanic lagoon en route to stunning Godafoss, aka “Waterfall of the Gods” (from Akureyri).

Other new boutique excursions that focus on the arts and off-beat experiences (and require less adrenalin!) include:

• Blown Glassmaking near Saint-Malo: Fashion your own blown glasswork at a local studio.
• Venturing Off-the-Beaten-Path in Berlin: Explore living as the locals do, with shopping at the fruit and vegetable market, riding the Underground and going inside a typical local apartment.
• Painting in St Petersburg: Take a painting master class at Russia’s largest private modern art gallery.
• Evening Walking with a Night Watchman in Copenhagen: Take a different type of walking tour, at night, with a traditional uniformed - and informed - local “night watchman.”
• “Titanic Experience” in Belfast: Visit the new Titanic museum on the centennial anniversary of the ship’s sinking.
• Gourmet Dining and Wine Tasting in Bordeaux:From slow food to Médoc wine, join local experts in exploring the region’s legendary estates, including a gala dinner at Château Haut-Bailly.

Many Crystal Adventures offer new Private Options for couples. For even more intimate time on shore, guests can also custom-craft a Crystal Private Adventure or take an Overland Adventure, such as a two-day trip to Moscow from St Petersburg. 

Until 30th April, “Book Now” fares for Crystal’s Northern Europe cruises start at £2,166 per person/double occupancy for an 11-night sailing from Southampton to Hamburg departing 21st May. Price includes flight from Hamburg to the UK, overseas transfers and 11 nights in a deluxe stateroom with picture window on an all-inclusive basis.

Crystal’s passion for creating exclusive, eye-opening luxury shore-side experiences is the cornerstone of its Crystal Adventures programme, earning the line top ratings for two decades. 

For further information and reservations please call Crystal Cruises on 020 7287 9040 or visit www.crystalcruises.co.uk

2012 is a celebratory year for Great Britain, with both the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, and the Olympics, taking place in the summer. What better year, then, to take a cruise that visits some of the less well-known corners of our own beautiful islands, with Fred. Olsen, the quintessentially British cruise line?

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is offering two itineraries around the UK in 2012; one aboard Braemar and the other on Black Watch. First departure is Braemar's M1212, a cruise of nine nights, departing from Dover on 22nd May 2012. The first port of call is vibrant Dublin (Ireland), the welcoming city with its famous ‘craic’ where guests can delight in the beautiful Book of Kells in Trinity College, indulge in a tour of the Guinness Brewery, or enjoy superb shopping, sightseeing, or sampling fine food and wine in the many excellent bars, restaurants and cafés. The ship stays here overnight, giving more time to explore and allowing guests the extra pleasure of an evening visit to Dublin, to take in some great Irish entertainment.

Braemar next visits Belfast, in Northern Ireland. This is a port with which the cruise line enjoys long associations; another part of the Fred. Olsen group, Fred. Olsen Energy, owns the famous Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast, where the Titanic was built exactly 100 years ago. Guests here can visit the recently opened ‘Titanic Belfast‘ exhibition, which tells the whole story of the fateful ship in film, video and archive material. An alternative excursion is a visit to the extraordinary Giant’s Causeway, which never fails to delight visitors. Fred. Olsen is pleased to be offering cruises from Belfast startingin 2013.

On leaving Belfast, Braemar heads north, travelling right up to the Orkney Islands, where she visits beautiful Kirkwall. The town has a Scandinavian feel and, in fact, the name ‘Kirkwall’ comes from the Norse for ‘Church Bay’, referring to the 11th Century Church of St Olaf. The most northerly port on this cruise, Kirkwall is the largest settlement and administrative centre of the islands. It is an amazing, haunting place, with over 5,000 years of history and a wealth of wildlife, where you will feel you are in another world.

Braemar finally calls at Invergordon, in Scotland, a town long associated with the Navy, and home to a fine golf course. She then journeys south, returning to Dover. Prices for this cruise start from just £399 per person with a Latesaver deal; this is based on two adults sharing twin-bedded accommodation, and includes all meals and entertainment on board and porttaxes. The cabin grade will be confirmed on embarkation.

An added attraction on this cruise is a theme of ‘Houses & Gardens’ through the onboard enrichment programme, Vistas. This is hosted by the expert gardening writer, John Negus. Starting his long career in horticulture as a student at the Merrist Wood Horticultural College, Guildford, John Negus passed out of that establishment with distinction and went on to RHS Wisley, gaining a Wisley Diploma in 1961.

Between 1964 and 1967 he was sub-editor for “Home Gardener“, before taking up an appointment as Horticultural Information Officer at Syon Park, Brentford. He left there to become Technical Editor of Popular Gardening in 1972 and then, from 1985 onwards chose a freelance career writing for magazines as diverse as “Woman’s Realm” and “Woman’s Weekly”, for whom he is Gardening Editor.

Black Watch has a very similar itinerary on her ‘Around the UK’ cruise, W1205, departing form Dover, on 11th June 2012, for 10 nights. She travels south for her first port of call; the picturesque capital of Guernsey, St. Peter Port. Stroll the quaint cobbled streets and relish the fine seafood on the island, or visit some of the stunning gardens. The rest of Black Watch’s itinerary mirrors that of Braemar, visiting Dublin for an overnight stay, then Belfast, Kirkwall and Invergordon, before returning to Dover. Prices for this attractive cruise start from £899 per person, based on two adults sharing an outside, twin-bedded cabin. An added attraction on this cruise is, appropriately, ‘Whisky Tasting’ through the onboard enrichment programme, Vistas, hosted by whisky tasting expert, Richard Paterson. A Master Blender for Whyte and Mackay, Richard is the third generation in a family which has long been associated with the Scotch Whisky Industry, beginning with his grandfather, who established W R Paterson Ltd in Glasgow in 1933, and specialised in Blending, Bottling and Broking. Richard has an in-depth knowledge of wines and spirits, having studied with the Wine & Spirit Education Trust.

 In 1970 he joined Whyte & Mackay Distillers and within 5 years he became their Master Blender; aged 26, he was reputed at that time to be Scotland’s youngest Master Blender. Winner of numerous awards in his industry, Richard Paterson will host a whisky tasting for guests on this cruise. There is no charge for participating in Vistas talks and lectures, although there may be a small charge for whisky used intastings.

Bill Gibbons, a Director of Cruise Britain and the PSA, comments:-
“Last year 23,000 Brits holidayed at home, by taking a ‘Round Britain’ cruise. Britain is unique in Europe, in that you can cruise around it and visit the wonderful ports of call, both on the mainland and the great British Islands. It is a wonderful opportunity to experience the delights of the British coastline and the variety of the ports of call. “The British are able to discover Britain”

We commend Fred Olsen Cruise Lines for scheduling two ‘Round Britain’ cruises in 2012.  We expect to see the number of these remarkable cruises increase every year”

Agents can book online, at the Travel Agent Centre, or via AmadeusCruise. Alternatively, call Reservations on 01473 742424. www.fredolsencruises.co.uk

Celebrate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee on-board Swan Hellenic’s (www.swanhellenic.com) newly refurbished ship, mv Minerva from £2,185 per person (based on two people sharing an inside cabin).

Departing from Portsmouth (UK) on 22 May 2012, passengers on the 16-day St. Petersburg and the Baltic cruise will be able to celebrate the Jubilee by taking part in ‘A Right Royal Quiz’ including musical clues taken from Her Majesty’s 60 year reign. Passengers will also be treated to a special performance of ‘Theatre Royal’ from the Shakespeare Revue Company, enacting some of the Queen’s favourite shows from across the ages, as well as a commemorative meal to mark the occasion.

To accompany the on board entertainment, off shore Swan Hellenic offers a programme of activities fit for any Queen, visiting the prestigious Mariinsky Theatre to celebrate St Petersburg’s 20th Music Festival “Stars of the White Nights”, seeing a performance of Tchaikovsky’s Opera ‘Eugene Onegin’, and a behind the scenes tour with a curator at the Vasa Museuem, Stockholm.

The St. Petersburg and the Baltic cruise departs from Portsmouth (UK) and calls at the Kiel Canal (Germany), Ronne (Denmark), Visby (Sweden), St. Petersburg (Russia)-overnight, Tallinn (Estonia), Gdansk (Poland) and Copenhagen (Denmark). Price based on a 22 May 2012 departure.

Prices for all cruises 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. Special terms and conditions apply – please visit website for details.

For more information visit www.swanhellenic.com or call 0844 822 0679. Follow Swan Hellenic on twitter - @Swanhellenic and like us on Facebook or to book please click here to contact your local ACE travel agent. 

Costa Cruises compares 2012 figures with bookings from previous year

Costa Cruises has announced that bookings over the last two weeks for its Easter cruises in 2012 have exceeded figures recorded over the same period for its Easter cruises in 2011, demonstrating that cruising remains one of the most popular types of holiday this Easter.

Costa Cruises has five ships operating in the Mediterranean this Easter offering a variety of itineraries. Costa neoRomantica departed on a nine-day Western Mediterranean cruise on 31 March to Savona, Marseilles, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Cagliari, Malta, Catania and Naples, while Costa Mediterranea departs today, 4 April, on an 11-day cruise to Greece, Israel and Turkey, a route also operated by Costa Pacifica, leaving on 8 April. On 6 April, Costa Deliziosa sets sail on a five-day mini-cruise to Savona, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca and Ajaccio, while Costa Serena embarks on a one-week Western Mediterranean itinerary on 8 April visiting Savona, Civitavecchia, Palermo, Palma de Mallorca, Valencia and Marseilles.

Among the most popular new cruises in the Mediterranean this season are the mini-cruises of Costa Luminosa, Costa Atlantica and Costa Deliziosa, introduced for spring 2012 and especially suited to first time cruisers and people with a limited time frame who want to make the most of their holiday.

For those wishing to venture further afield to more exotic destinations this Easter, there are also one week cruises to the Caribbean on Costa Atlantica and Costa Luminosa, one week cruises to the United Arab Emirates and Oman departing from Dubai on the flagship Costa Favolosa, and two weeks on Costa Classica to Malaysia and Thailand, departing from Singapore.

Sunsets, sand dunes, coral reefs and ancient sites to discover

MSC Cruises is offering customers a magical world of crystal clear waters, golden sands and historical discovery as it introduces the Red Sea as a new destination for the 2012-2013 winter season.

On 2 November 2012, MSC Armonia will depart from Venice for a nine-day/eight-night cruise, arriving at her new homeport in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt just over a week later. En route she will travel from the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez transit canal to the Red Sea, with scheduled stops in Ancona, Italy; Heraklion, Greece and Marmaris, Turkey arriving in Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt on 10 November 2012.

From 10 November 2012 through to 6 April 2013, MSC Armonia has a full schedule of 21 8-day/7-night cruises, departing every Saturday from Sharm El Sheikh, with scheduled stops in Safaga, Egypt; Elat, Israel; Aqaba, Jordan and Sokhna Port, Egypt.

Guests will even have the opportunity to combine the positioning cruises to and from Sharm El Sheikh with the first and last cruises of the Red Sea season for the perfect mix of days at sea and calls at port in this stunning region.

The Red Sea will bid farewell to MSC Armonia on 6 April 2013, when she starts her 10-day/9-night return cruise from Sharm El Sheikh to Venice. Scheduled stops are Sokhna Port, Egypt; Limassol, Cyprus; Antalya, Turkey; Rhodes; Heraklion, Greece and Kotor, Montenegro.

During the Red Sea experience, guests can enjoy a wide choice of shore excursions, offering the perfect combination of relaxation, sightseeing and adventure. Whether it’s snorkeling among the region’s unique aquatic wildlife, enjoying the therapeutic waters of the Dead Sea, visiting Bedouin settlements or touring ancient mines that once belonged to the great pharaohs of Egypt, there really is something here for everyone.

MSC Armonia features 777 beautifully appointed cabins. Its luxurious facilities include four restaurants - offering the finest Mediterranean and international cuisine - several bars and lounges, the incredible MSC Aurea Spa, a mini golf course, numerous boutiques, casino, theatre, nightclub and children’s club.

For further information visit www.msccruises.co.uk or to book please click here to find your local ACE travel agent. 

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Cunard’s highly popular Apple iStudy courses are now available on all three Cunard ocean liners, following the recent opening of the Apple Learning Centre on board Queen Victoria. The centres offer the latest iMac machines for confidence-boosting seminars and workshops that aim to familiarise guests with the latest technology, from Facebook to iPads, in a fun and interactive way. iStudy has been a feature of Queen Mary 2 since October 2011 while Queen Elizabeth has had an Apple centre on board since her introduction in 2010.

The workshops have proved a particularly strong draw on Queen Mary 2’s transatlantic crossings to and from the Big Apple, with many guests bringing along their own iPads to use during the sessions.

Course creator and iStudy Presenter trainer Richie Litchfield says:
“All the seminars and workshops are fronted by specially trained presenters to make learning fun, in a positive and relaxing environment. There is something for everyone - from the beginner to the more advanced, our aim is for the guests to walk out of the iStudy feeling enriched and more confident”.

Aboard Queen Elizabeth, Cunard also offers iRange as an Authorised Apple Reseller at sea.Guests can test drive the latest Apple devices at their leisure and Apple trained staff are available to give specialist advice on all the products offered for sale on board, including iPods (Shuffle, Nano and Touch), iPad 2, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, cases, bags, sleeves and speakers. It is hoped that these iRange Stores will also be opened on Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria in the future.

The iStudy on all three ship aims to take advantage of today's technology and present computer-based learning in an accessible and un-threatening way. All Guest Computer Services Managers have been trained on the latest Apple technology to offer Apple courses to interested passengers.

Apple iMacs are fitted throughout iStudy to provide guests with an intuitive and stimulating learning experience. Designed exclusively for Cunard the iStudy programme offers three levels of learning:

 In ‘First Steps’ the programme provides hands on learning for basic computer skills, both Mac and Windows, as well as an introduction to many of Apple’s iLife applications.

The ‘Next Steps’ workshops cover more creative or advanced topics. With photo editing, building a family tree, DVD and movie- making courses on offer, guests are able to edit photos and videos of their voyage when they return home.

In the complimentary ‘iStudy Seminars’ guests receive a taster on all aspects of new technology, from Facebook to iPads.

Peter Shanks, Cunard President and Managing Director, says:
“We are delighted to offer this additional attraction to passengers on board our ships. We find that guests today are increasingly computer savvy and iStudy is an innovative new programme designed to introduce and showcase the latest Apple technology. The concept is great for those who are already confident with Apple products as well as for those who want to try out an iPad for example or learn how to get the best out of devices they already own”.

In addition, the top Grand Duplex Suites on all three ships have been fitted with iPads for their guests to download the newspaper of their choice and use to browse the internet.

Cruise and Maritime Voyages (CMV) www.cruiseandmaritime.com has a great short cruise itinerary from Hull to the spectacle of the Norwegian Fjords scenery this month departing 21 April for 6 nights.

Cruising on the delightful and traditional ship Ocean Countess is an ideal way to spend the end of April if you like the idea of admiring the views and having endless opportunities for capturing waterfalls, mountains of the breathtaking fjordland. From Hull you will sail to Ulvik, then cruise the beautiful Hardangerfjord up to Eidfjord. The next part of the itinerary goes into the mighty Sognefjord leading to the village of Flåm with its famous mountain railway waiting for you to experience this remarkable construction. Stavanger, one of Norway’s oldest towns is the final call before taking a passage through Lysefjord and setting off back to Hull.

A 7 night sailing to the fjords departing Hull on 27th April is now available from £349pp sharing an inner cabin, £449pp ocean view. Price is per person based on two people sharing an inner cabin on a full board basis with afternoon teas and entertainment. Gratuities at £5pp per night charged to on board accounts.

CMV has some other good reductions which can be found online with full details of the itineraries www.cruiseandmaritime.com There is also more information about the various cruises on offer on CMV TV www.cruiseandmaritime.tv

Royal Caribbean International today announced that Liberty of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas will be among the cruise line’s ships in 2013 to offer sailings throughout Europe. Calling at 30 ports, the latest deployment plan features 121 sailings on 25 itineraries. Following the already announced Independence of the Seas and Adventure of the Seas’ deployment from Southampton, Royal Caribbean International’s 2013 Europe cruise offerings will feature five of the world’s largest and most innovative cruise ships, sailing to some of Europe’s must-see destinations. Royal Caribbean International’s 2013 Europe cruises for these five ships are open for booking and additional deployments in the region will be announced later in April.

“Royal Caribbean International is the perfect choice for couples and families to experience and share all the wonders, flavours and colours of Europe,” said Dominic Paul, Vice President & Group Managing Director for EMEA, Royal Caribbean International

“Liberty of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, and Serenade of the Seas already offer holidaymakers so many things that other operators do not, such as the DreamWorks Experience onboard Liberty of the Seas, or a real ice-skating rink featuring breath-taking shows onboard Navigator of the Seas and even self-levelling pool tables onboard Serenade of the Seas. In fact, Royal Caribbean International will be the only cruise line to feature Madagascar 3 in 3-D at sea in Europe this summer onboard Liberty of the Seas, making it a perfect option for families.”

As the only ship in Europe to offer the DreamWorks Experience, as well as featuring Madagascar 3 in 3-D, Liberty of the Seas will delight guests with onboard entertainment featuring the lovable characters from DreamWorks Animation’s popular films. Guests can also watch DreamWorks Animation’s films in 3-D in the ship’s onboard 3-D cinema. Shrek and Fiona, Alex the lion, Po the Dragon Warrior, and many more characters also join in daily to greet guests, offer photo opportunities and lead themed-activities for kids.

Holidaymakers can also choose a Royal Caribbean International Europe Cruisetour to experience the not-to-be-missed destinations that lie inland in Spain in Italy. Royal Caribbean Cruisetours combine a sailing onboard one of the cruise line’s ships with an escorted land tour itinerary. Guests can choose from a five-night Venice, Florence & Rome Cruisetour, which features tours of the must-see attractions in the three cities followed by a sailing onboard Navigator of the Seas, or a four-night Madrid & Barcelona Cruisetour, which is coupled with a sailing onboard Serenade of the Seas.

Liberty of the Seas

• Sailing from its homeport of Barcelona between April and October 2013, Liberty of the Seas will begin with a series of five-night Western Mediterranean cruises with calls in France and Italy.
• Liberty of the Seas will then sail every Sunday on seven-night Western Mediterranean itineraries, calling at ports on the French and Italian rivieras, including Provence (Toulon), Nice (Villefranche, France), Florence/Pisa (Livorno, Italy), Rome (Civitavecchia), and Naples.
• Guests can also choose to embark on a seven-night cruise aboard Liberty of the Seas at Provence (Toulon) or Naples. Called interporting, the option offers guests the flexibility to board a cruise at secondary embarkation ports where they will return to debark.
• The Liberty of the seas five-night Short Western Mediterranean fly/cruise is available from £662 per person (based on two people sharing an inside stateroom). Price includes return flights from London Heathrow, transfers and a five-night cruise departing Barcelona (Spain) and calling at Villefranche (Nice, France), Civitavecchia (Rome, Italy) and Livorno (Florence/Pisa, Italy) before returning to Barcelona for the flight home; meals and entertainment on board and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. Price is based on 25 April 2013 departure.

Navigator of the Seas

• Navigator of the Seas will sail seven-night itineraries from Rome (Civitavecchia) and in the Eastern Mediterranean. Ports of call include Sicily (Messina, Italy), Ephesus (Kusadasi, Turkey), Athens (Pireus, Greece), Chania (Souda, Greece) and Crete.
• Guests can also choose to embark on their seven-night Eastern Mediterranean cruise roundtrip from Sicily.
• The Navigator of the seas seven-night Eastern Mediterranean fly/cruise is available from £842 per person (based on two people sharing an inside stateroom). Price includes return flights from London Heathrow, transfers, meals and entertainment on board and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. Price is based on 21 April 2013 departure.

Serenade of the Seas

• Serenade of the Seas offers guests a choice of 12-night Mediterranean Greek Isles and Mediterranean Venice itineraries, both sailing from Barcelona.
• Guests can choose among several variations, but nearly all Mediterranean Greek Isles itineraries feature calls in Cannes (France), the Italian cities of Florence/Pisa (Livorno, Italy), Rome (Civitavecchia, Italy), and Naples (Salerno, Italy) and the Greek ports of Athens (Piraeus) and Santorini.
• The Mediterranean Venice itinerary also offers several variations, but all feature an overnight call in Venice, as well as calls in Florence/Pisa (Livorno, Italy), Rome (Civitavecchia, Italy), Naples(Salerno, Italy), and Ravenna (Italy), and a call at either Cannes (France) or Monte Carlo (Monaco).
• The Serenade of the seas 12-night Mediterranean Greek Isles fly/cruise is available from £1,094 per person (based on two people sharing an inside stateroom). Price includes return flights from London Heathrow, transfers and a five-night cruise departing Barcelona (Spain) and calling at Villefranche (Nice, France), Livorno (Florence/Pisa, Italy), Civitavecchia (Rome, Italy), Piraeus (Athens, Greece), Kusadasi (Ephesus, Turkey), Santorini (Greece) and Naples (Salerno, Italy) before returning to Barcelona for the flight home; meals and entertainment on board and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. Price is based on 19 May 2013 departure.

For more information on Royal Caribbean International and Liberty of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas please visit www.royalcaribbean.co.uk, call 0844 493 2061, or talk to your travel agent. Travel professionals should visit www.cruisingpower.co.uk.

Thomson Cruises has unveiled its cruising holidays for Summer 2013 in its new brochure, which sees the introduction of some exciting new itineraries and ports of call. The latest brochure also features Thomson Cruises new Platinum Cruises collection and the Thomson Majesty, that joins the fleet this summer.

Thomson’s cruising holidays for Summer ‘13 are available to book from 25 April 2012 and covers sailings between May 2013 to October 2013. Customers can also pre-register for their summer 2013 cruise today through Thomson and First Choice retail shops.

Across the fleet, new ports of call include Algiers, Algeria and La Rochelle, France for the Mediterranean Odyssey onboard Thomson Spirit. The Thomson Spirit will now call at Torquay on its British Isles itinerary. Whilst the Thomson Celebration will now call into in Beirut, Lebanon on the Portraits of the Past itinerary and the Dream will call at Rapallo, Italy on the Mediterranean Medley cruise.

Thomson Celebration will be sailing as Platinum Cruises for Summer ’13 from Mamaris in Turkey. She will be offering some amazing Black Sea adventures on the Crimean Discovery sailing calling at the new ports of call Nessebar, Bulgaria, Sevastopol, Ukraine, Constanta, Romania and Istanbul and Cesme, Turkey.

Thomson Spirit will be returning to the UK again next summer, sailing from Newcastle and Harwich. She sets sail on the Baltic Explorer itinerary on 9 May 2013, calling at Aalborg, Denmark, Stockholm, Sweden, Helsinki, Finland, St Petersburg, Russia, Tallinn, Estonia and Kalundborg, Denmark. Thomson Majesty will be introducing the Adriatic Explorer cruise on 3 May 2013, calling at Corfu, Greece, Koper, Slovenia, Venice, Italy, Sibenik and Dubrovnik, Croatia and Kotor, Montenegro.

Customers booking their Summer 2013 cruise early can take advantage of the unmissable discounts and offers, including FREE all inclusive upgrades on Thomson Majesty, Thomson Celebration and Thomson Dream for sailings departing May to October and
Thomson Spirit sailings from Cyprus in October.

For Ex-UK sailings onboard the Thomson Spirit there is FREE parking at Harwich and Newcastle or FREE coach transfers as well as £100 FREE onboard spend. Thomson Spirit offers seven nights on the Myths of the Fjords itinerary from £799 departing 2 June from Newcastle upon Tyne based on two adults sharing an inside cabin on a full board basis.

Thomson Cruises renowned entertainment just got better too, with a fantastic host of guest acts confirmed including dancer extraordinaire Wayne Sleep, England football legend Nobby Stiles and voice of British Broadcasting for four decades Sarah Kennedy.

If this isn’t enough, Thomson Cruises include all tips and service charges as standard and fly from 19 regional airports operated by Thomson Airways making it even easier to jet off from your doorstep.

For customers looking to Cruise & Stay the hotel choices are unbeatable. Thomson Celebration offers a seven night Ancient Wonders cruise, followed by three nights in Turkey from £949. Price is based on two adults sharing an inside cabin onboard, on an all inclusive basis, followed by three nights at the 4T Green Forest Hotel and includes flights and transfers from London Gatwick departing 6 May 2013.

Fraser Ellacott, Managing Director of Thomson Cruises said, “Our Summer 2013 programme is our best yet with fantastic itineraries and ports of call such as Beirut, Algiers, Istanbul, Torquay and Belfast - there really is something for everyone. As the third largest cruise line in the UK we are committed to offering great value for money and our early booking offers are unbeatable. With our newly modernised fleet and great offers we’d advise customers to get booking.”

Thomson Cruises is excited to announce the launch of its Platinum Cruises range. To modernise its cruise line, Thomson Cruises will be making a multi-million pound investment to give Thomson Dream and Thomson Celebration makeovers, and both will be joining the Thomson Platinum collection.

Platinum Cruises will have a lot in common with Thomson’s Platinum hotels. All our Platinum ships will be rated 4T and they’ll have a contemporary look and feel onboard with rich colours, modern furnishings and designer touches. What’s more, like the hotel range, all our Platinum ships have to score ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ with at least 90 percent of our customers to make the grade.

All this will be combined with the first-class service, food and entertainment Thomson Cruises deliver as standard. Thomson Cruises also make it even easier to cruise from your doorstep, as our airline operated by Thomson Airways, offers fly cruises from 19 regional airports.

All the cabins onboard Thomson Dream and Thomson Celebration will be refurbished, with clean-cut contemporary designs and suites that come with extras like iPod docking stations. The bars and lounges will also be revamped, so overall things will be much more modern and minimalist. The à la carte restaurants will be themed offering delicious tailor-made menus. Plus, the spas will get a bit of an update – with Thomson Dream having a new suite of treatment rooms built next to the salon.

Thomson Dream’s first sailing as a Platinum ship will be the Transatlantic Sunset cruise on 9 December 2012, beginning in Lisbon, Portugal and finishing in a Caribbean favourite, Barbados. Thomson Dream will then cruise around the Caribbean for the winter season, calling in on islands like Dominica, the British Virgin Islands and Antigua. Thomson Celebration will be Platinum from 6 May 2013 from her home port in Marmaris, Turkey - offering Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea itineraries.

Fraser Ellacott, Managing Director of Thomson Cruises said, “This is the next step in modernising our cruises in line with Thomson’s strategy of unique holiday experiences, offering getaways that customers cannot buy elsewhere. We’re very excited about
launching Platinum Cruises, which will be on sale to the public from 25 April 2012. We’re sure that our customers will enjoy their new modern surroundings in the cabins and onboard our ships. Two of our strongest performing ships have been selected to offer Platinum Cruises, 90 percent of customers rate the Thomson Dream and the Thomson Celebration as good or excellent in our customer satisfaction questionnaires, so they are the perfect choice.”

As with all Thomson Cruises, customers don’t need to worry about tips and service charges as they’re included in the price of a Platinum cruise. For those wanting to opt for the popular Cruise & Stay option, Thomson Cruises has included several Platinum hotels in their collection. Customers can select one of these for the ultimate Platinum experience.

Thomson Dream offers a 14-night Tropical Delights & Caribbean Treasures cruise from £1599 per person, calling at Bridgetown, Margarita Island in Venezuela, Scarborough in Tobago, St George’s in Grenada, Kingstown in St Vincent, Castries in St Lucia, Basseterre in St Kitts, Philipsburg in St Maarten, Road Town in the British Virgin Islands, St John’s in Antigua, Roseau in Dominica and then returning to Bridgetown in Barbados. Prices are based on two adults sharing an inside cabin on a full board basis departing 12 February 2013 from London Gatwick.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship, Norwegian Breakaway, will debut the largest youth and teen dedicated facilities in the fleet. For the first time, the youth area, named Splash Academy, will span two decks that are conveniently located adjacent to the family-friendly staterooms and feature areas designed specifically for three specific age groups. Teens will have their own dedicated space as well, Entourage, located at the top of the ship on Deck 16. Babies and toddlers under age three, along with their parents, will also have their own dedicated play space with activities.

“The best family vacation will get even better when our new ship Norwegian Breakaway launches in April of next year,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s chief executive officer. “We know how extremely important it is for families to offer engaging, interactive programmes for children and teens in a comfortable, well-equipped environment. Norwegian Breakaway will incorporate our biggest youth facilities with the best youth programming at sea with our new Splash Academy and Entourage programmes.”

Splash Academy is centrally located on Decks 12 and 13 adjacent and easily accessible to the family-friendly staterooms. As parents enter the reception area on Deck 12, they will utilise Norwegian’s e-Youth tablet-based electronic registration which allows them to swipe their keycard and input a password to sign in their children. Just past the brightly-coloured and welcoming reception area, the three to five year olds will have their own space decorated with vibrant, engaging colours along with child-sized furniture. Wall mounted activities will keep little hands busy in between organised programming. In a separate area decorated with fun graphics to captivate children’s imaginations, the six to nine year olds will enjoy building block activity centres. An interactive dance mat with corresponding large video screen will encourage lots of activity. In addition, a dedicated space houses popular video game stations, along with a relaxing video viewing lounge.

Upstairs on Deck 13, the 10 to 12 year olds will have their own space designed specifically for older children. It will include a multipurpose visual dance space with a touch screen jukebox, plenty of moveable tables for activities and comfortable bean bags for lounging. An activity zone will include everything needed for arts and crafts and more. There is also a “hang out” area with dedicated gaming stations that will feature the latest video games. Rounding out the space will be a cool and comfortable lounge area with sofas and chairs in vibrant colours creating the perfect atmosphere to chill out.

Entourage is Norwegian Breakaway’s high energy, exclusive teen zone for ages 13 through 17, located on Deck 16. This hip, sophisticated area was designed to give teens their own funky space that includes air hockey; table football; and an arcade centre with five separate areas featuring large screens to play the latest video games while lounging on comfy sofas. In the evening, Entourage transitions into a teens-only nightclub with a dance floor, large screen television and music, including a video jukebox. Entourage has the advantage of being located next to the video arcade and a step away from an outdoor eatery and refreshment area to round out the teens’ experience.

Entering service in April 2013, Norwegian Breakaway will sail from her year-round homeport of New York City to Bermuda in the summer and The Bahamas & Florida and The Caribbean in the winter. More information can be found at www.ncl.co.uk/project-breakaway. To book a cruise on Norwegian Breakaway, click here to find your local ACE travel agent or visit www.ncl.co.uk

- Line provides further details about enhanced curriculum including focus on sports, creative arts and family activities -

Norwegian Cruise Line has selected new names for its youth and teen programmes. Splash Academy is the new name for its enhanced youth programme and Entourage is the new moniker for its revitalised teen programme.

Names were also selected for the four age groups in the youth programme: Guppies for ages up to 2; Turtles for ages 3 to 5; Seals for ages 6 to 9; and Dolphins for ages 10 to 12. The company announced its new enhanced youth and teen programmes earlier this year that launched on Norwegian Gem in February and are currently being rolled out to all the ships in the Norwegian fleet.

“We introduced our new youth and teen programmes on Norwegian Gem to rave reviews from parents and kids alike,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s chief executive officer. “The new names capture the spirit and fun-filled nature of the new exciting programmes that are designed to be educational and interactive.”
The enhanced curriculum focuses on team building and assisting in developing children’s interpersonal and confidence-building skill. With activities that are tailored specifically to each age group, the new youth and teen programmes focus on creative and unique activities, along with more sporting events, through a partnership with King’s Foundation and Camps. A highlight of the programme is a circus school in partnership with Hilario Productions Cirque du Jour, a New York-based company that specialises in teaching children real circus skills. The overall curriculum focuses on team building and assisting in developing children’s interpersonal and confidence-building skills.

Both Splash Academy and Entourage will feature a different theme every day. Whether it’s ocean-related, pirates, space cowboys, jungle fever or circus, every day will offer a new surprise that is tailored to the individual age groups with a variety of themed activities. Specific emphasis is being placed on sports through the partnership with The King’s Foundation and Camps, a UK-based organisation that provides high quality sport and activity programmes designed to make a positive impact on children. A large variety of sports activities and workshops are being offered including football skills; physical challenges; and icebreaker action games. For teens, bowling tournaments, football challenges and dodge ball under the stars are just a few of the active offerings. There is also a chance for the whole family to play along with a variety of sports including dodge ball, sports court fun, tug-of-war and King’s Camps’ family challenges.

Creative arts also play a big role in the programme. With a focus on theatre and the arts, young cruisers will have the chance to participate in puppet shows, mini improvisational acting classes and the ability to act out their favourite spy or survivor in themed activities such as Superspy Mission Impossible and Desert Island Adventures.

Through the partnership with Hilario Productions Cirque du Jour, Norwegian is offering circus workshops for the whole family teaching a variety of skills such as balancing feathers, juggling, plate spinning and even stilt walking. Classes will take place within the youth programme and there is also a family circus school performed in a circus ring, hosted by a ringmaster. Hilario Productions Cirque du Jour was established by a team of performers from the famed Ringling Brothers, so kids and parents can learn from some of the best circus entertainers.

Additional offerings for families to participate in together include cupcake decorating; pizza making; a variety of family game shows; family charades; Family Deck Party; and a special Family White Hot Party.

Splash Academy also offers activities for cruisers under three and their parents who can enjoy sensory play classes which include baby art featuring “Wee Can Too” organic art products. There are also fun events such as parent and baby “Rhyme Time” where a storyteller recites popular nursery rhymes featuring puppets or “Motion in the Ocean,” a parent and baby mini workout.

Norwegian’s youth counsellors have a degree or relevant qualification in child care or sports education. The company has recruited staff with leadership qualities and those who can serve as positive role models. The counsellors will continue to use cute, catchy nicknames which the children enjoy.

Splash Academy and Entourage are currently available on Norwegian Gem and are rolling out to all of Norwegian’s ships between April and the end of August. Norwegian Breakaway launching in April 2013 will also feature the new youth and teen programmes.

Further information on Norwegian’s family offerings can be found at www.ncl.co.uk/freestyle-cruising/family-fun/.

To book a cruise click here to find your local ACE travel agent or visit www.ncl.co.uk for more information.