Travel Bulletin Cruising Supplement 2017

TB Cruising Supplement 2017 Cover 26/06/2017 14:57 Page 1

June 2017

all about

cruising

Your one-stop guide to all the latest news and developments in cruising

Produced by

www.travelbulletin.co.uk

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10 REASONS

1 2 3 4 5

To recommend our River Cruises to your customers.

More customers from the UK choose Riviera Travel for their European River Cruises than any of our competitors.

Four brand new five-star ships in the last four years with another five brand new five-star ships in 2017.

Relaxed itineraries - more time in each destination.

Tea and Coffee making facilities in all cabins.

6 7 8 9 10

Direct flights from many regional airports.

Book online or call:

01283 744370

UK regional rail connections on many Eurostar departures.

No discounting - Everyone enjoys the same great value.

Best prices in the premium river cruise sector.

High repeat booking ratio.

Don't just take our word for it!

Which? Magazine awarded us best River Cruise Operator as well as receiving their prestigious Which? Recommended Provider for cruise operators in February 2017.

Email for agency sales support: agencysales@rivieratravel.co.uk

Riviera Travel booking terms and conditions apply. Prices correct as of 20/06/17.

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all about

cruising CONTENTS s our annual cruise review revealed earlier this year, a record 1.9 million holidaymakers from the UK and Ireland took an ocean cruise in 2016 and river cruising saw an 11 per cent rise in the number of UK passengers. In speaking to our cruise line members and trade partners, this is set to continue throughout the rest of 2017 as more and more holidaymakers choose to take a cruise holiday for the very first time. Whether that be a traditional Med or Caribbean sailing, opting for a luxury getaway or heading to some of the more off the beaten track destinations on an adventure cruise.

For agents selling European sailings, there is huge scope within the ex-UK market as a greater number of holidaymakers make the most of the convenience of travelling to the port by car, the wide range of state of the art ships now sailing from the UK and the incredible value for money that an ex-UK sailing offers.

It will also come as no surprise that the traditional Med fly-cruise remains a firm favourite with Brits, thanks to the guaranteed sunshine and the chance to visit multiple European hot spots in one getaway. With even more destinations, shore side experiences and an increase in the number of ships on offer in the region there really is something to suit every customer’s holiday preferences.

As for luxury breaks, it seems that more and more cruise lovers are keen to experience a piece of the high-life for themselves. The good news for everyone is that this can be surprisingly affordable with many of the cruise lines offering room upgrades, premium drinks packages and VIP transfers as part of the experience.

We’re also seeing a huge increase in the number of holidaymakers choosing ‘expedition cruising’ as a great way to see destinations such as Alaska, the Galapagos and the Amazon River. Gone are the days when we were happy to just ‘fly and flop’ as more and more of us look to explore the incredible scenery and wildlife in these relatively undiscovered parts of the world.

Of course, with a number of the cruise lines now offering some incredible shore excursions, holidaymakers need not travel to the ends of the earth to fulfil their sense of adventure. Why not encourage customers to dip their toes in the water on an adventurous excursion closer to home? For example, hiking a remote part of Iceland’s volcanic landscape or exploring Europe’s towns and villages by bike as part of a river cruise along the Rhine or the Danube.

My advice to agents would be to make the most of these trends and to do your research to ensure that your customers are aware of the wide variety of cruise holidays available this year and beyond.

Most importantly, by knowing their travel likes and dislikes, there is incredible scope to capitalise on these current trends.

A

Andy Harmer SVP Membership & Director, CLIA UK & Ireland

River Cruises - 4

New River Ships - 6

River Itineraries - 9

Ocean Cruises - 11

Ocean Itineraries - 13

New Ocean Ships - 15

Best Of The Rest - 17 Published by

University House, 11-13 Lower Grosvenor Place, London SW1W 0EX Tel: 020-7834 6661 Publisher: Jeanette Ratcliffe Written and researched by: Angela Cronin Email: angelacronin2003@yahoo.co.uk Design/Layout: Miriam Brtkova, Nicky Valsamakis Printed by: Buxton Press - Cover Picture: Viking Sky, Viking Cruises

3 All About Cruising

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River Cruises

Saga’s Romantic Rhineland’s cruise is a great way for first-timers to experience river cruising

Streamlining all the way From first-timers to epicureans, there’s a river cruise to suit everyone these days iver cruising is on the up despite a bumpy ride this century. In 2016, there was an 11% increase in passenger numbers with cruising in European, in particular, the Rhine/Moselle taking the number one spot with numbers up by 50% since 2012.

The Danube is close behind with Portugal’s Douro up by 33% since 2012.

We catch up with the experts to get their top recommendations for cruises to suit all types of tastes.

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“If your client’s idea of river cruising is sitting on deck gliding through stunning countryside, passing medieval villages on the river bank one minute, and castles on a hill the next, the Rhine is definitely for you. If iconic cities such as Budapest, Vienna and Bratislava appeal, then a Danube river cruise combines all of these and more into a perfect week, while only unpacking once.”

Prices lead in at £999 per person for an eight-day Blue Danube River Cruise. rivieratravel.co.uk

First-time cruisers “For first-time river cruisers, it tends to be a ‘heads or tails’ between a Rhine or Danube itinerary,” says Joseph Grimley, head of agency sales at Riviera Travel.

Saga agrees with Riviera Travel that the Rhine is a good experience for first-timers and recommends its seven-night Romantic Rhineland cruise as it shows off the beauty of the middle

Rhine and offers coach-based travel rather than flights if people prefer cruising because of the no-fly option it offers. The cruise sails down the Middle Rhine past castles, fortresses and breathtaking scenery with time to explore pretty wine towns and villages and join optional excursions to Bonn, the vineyard-clad Ahr Valley and Reichsburg Castle.

Prices lead in at £879 per person and includes 20 meals and return coach travel via Eurotunnel or ferry.

Saga.co.uk Culture vultures Rivera Travel’s Joseph Grimley says they have introduced a new 15-day itinerary for 2018 that ticks all the right boxes

4 All About Cruising

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River Cruises

for cruisers looking to indulge their cultural side. “The Budapest to the Black Sea – The Gems of Eastern Europe includes: 16 visits and guided tours in Budapest, Belgrade, Bucharest, Novi Sad, Kalocsa, Pecs, Osijek,Vukovar and Pleven; a scenic drive into the Puszta with an equestrian show; a cruise into the Danube Delta; guided visits to Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanassi; the churches of Ivanovo, the rock formations at Belogradchik; the Mesolithic archaeological site of Lepenski Vir; and a visit to the ancient city of Constanta,” says Grimley Prices start at £2,299 per person and include full-board accommodation, all visits and excursions and airport transfers.

Riveratravel.co.uk CroisiEurope is offering its guests an Impressionist View of the Seine with a new art-themed cruise for 2017. The seven-day cruise from Paris to Honfleur features three on-board presentations by experts as well as guided visits to sites that inspired numerous masterpieces.

Highlights of the cruise include: a presentation on the origins and techniques of Impressionism; a presentation on the geography of Impressionism: Paris and the suburbs, Honfleur and the Norman coast; a tour of the 17th-century Chateau d’Auvers-sur-Oise; a visit to the Musée Marmottan in Paris; and a visit to Claude Monet's house in Giverny; a tour of Rouen and the Musée des Beaux-Arts; a tour of the Abbaye Saint Wandrille; a visit to Jumièges and the 10th-century church of Sainte-Pierre; a tour of Honfleur, the cradle of Impressionism; a visit to the Alabaster Coast; a cruise on the Seine by night; and an evening in a Guinguette, a French dance hall. croisieurope.co.uk

The Generations departures have proved to be so popular with Uniworld’s customers that the brand has expanded its family friendly offerings, introducing a further six departures on the Danube, the Rhine, the Main, the Seine and a cruise through Northern Italy.

An example of a family friendly cruise is the 10-day Delightful Danube and Prague voyage, which has a whole raft of activities for all the family including: a Segway tour of Budapest;; a Go Active day in Passau including on-river activities such as rowing, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding; a visit to the Fascination BMW Factory; an exploration of Nuremburg’s ancient tunnels and a whistle-stop tour of Prague’s famous sights and spires.

Prices start at £3,719 for adults and £1,859.50 for children for 26 July departure. Prices for flights to Budapest from London, and from Prague to London start from £88 per person.

Uniworld.com

Foodies Epicureans among you will be delighted to hear that Uniworld has a number of voyages that will appeal to fans of all things food and wine.

The Connoisseur Collection visits the vineyards of Bordeaux, with wine tastings, exclusive pairing lunches, vineyards tours and bike rides through the countryside.

Uniworld’s eight-day Bordeaux, Vineyards and Chateaux voyage gives guests the chance to taste lovely Médoc vintages; visit the cellars of Premier Grand Cru in Saint-Émilion; enjoy a wine-pairing lunch at Château de Cazeneuve; experience the House of Rémy Martin, which has been producing premium cognac since 1724; visit La Cité du Vin, an interactive museum dedicated to French wine culture; and celebrate sunset on Patiras Island in the heart of the Gironde Estuary with cocktails and a view of Pauillac, known for its world-famous wines.

Prices lead in at £3,199 per person.

Uniworld.co.uk

Uniworld is tapping into the family with multigenerational cruises that cater for the needs of children, parents and grandparents

Families River cruising and the family market are not natural bed fellows but Uniworld has seen an increase in enquiries from this market so has developed Generations, which involves special departures that welcome all members of the family on board their ships for cultural and immersive journeys through Europe’s waterways.

5 All About Cruising

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River New Ships

Time for something

new

It’s a bumper year ahead for river cruiselines with a raft of new sailings and activities for 2018

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iver cruiselines are expanding their programmes for 2018, with a wide range of offerings. From an increase in capacity to the traditional Rhine, Rhone and Danube voyages to new themed cruises along Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady River and the Amazon, river cruisers are spoilt for choice.

Emerald Waterways The river cruiseline has bolstered its European river cruise programme with three new sailings.

These include: the eight-day Majestic Rhine river cruise from Mainz to Basel; the eight-Day Charms of Holland and Belgium round trip from Amsterdam; and the eight-day Classic Rhine voyage from Amsterdam to Mainz.

Scenic The festive programme for Scenic has expanded this year with the addition of the eight-day Christmas Markets sailing from Nuremberg to Budapest and the eight-day Rhine Christmas Markets cruise from Amsterdam to Basel.

Meanwhile, the cruiseline has introduced a 15-day Imperial Russia cruise along the River Volga sailing from Moscow to Volgograd.

Aqua Expeditions The luxury river cruiseline is celebrating its 10-year anniversary with new itineraries and sailings on Aria Amazon.

These include adventure cruises into the heart of the Amazon jungle, guided jungle walks across suspended bridges, Aqua Expeditions is adding new sailings on the Amazon to celebrate its 10-year anniversary

on-board telescopes for guests to identify and learn about the planets and constellations in the night sky, wildlife photography, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, swimming and nighttime excursions into the jungle to witness the nocturnal wildlife.

Aqua Expeditions has also launched a series of guest hosted departures and collaborations throughout 2017/18 to diversify their offering.

These voyages, which are available on both Aria Amazon and Aria Mekong, include: a wildlife departure with famed conservationist Jean-Michel Cousteau; a wellness departure with Alex Salihin, brand ambassador for Lululemon and fitness guru; and a photography departure with Francisco Marin, architectural and interior design photographer.

Aqua Expeditions CEO and founder Francesco Galli Zugaro will be hosting a number of departures along with Pedro Miguel Schiaffino, Aqua Expeditions’ consulting chef and owner of Lima¹s Malabar.

American Queen Steamboat Company The US riverboat cruiseline has launched its 2018 brochure which features sailings on its new ship American Duchess.

The 166-passenger, all-suite American Duchess, which will set sail from New Orleans on August 14 on a 23-day voyage to Minneapolis, is the first purpose-built boutique, functioning paddlewheeler and features the largest suites on the river in every category.

American Duchess will operate 49 sailings in 2018, the American Duchess will mirror the route of American Queen, showcasing the history of America’s heartland along the Mississippi River with new stops and overnights in vibrant ports including Nashville and Chicago.

The ship will sail Ohio, Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers, the Upper and Lower Mississippi and Illinois River including a nine-day Kentucky Derby-focused itinerary from Louisville to Cincinnati, Ohio. Other new itineraries include: Cincinnati, Ohio to Memphis; Louisville to Pittsburgh; and Nashville to Chattanooga.

There will also be a number of themed cruises including the Pacific Northwest Adventure sailing on American Empress, which offers soft-adventure activities, such as a tandem ride on a kayak and zip-lining through towering trees.

To appeal to the family market, the cruiseline has created five family suites by combining five existing suites with five inside rooms, in addition to the four larger suites created for the start of the 2017 season. All nine suites sleep up to four people.

6 All About Cruising

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River New Ships

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Frontier America features a nine-night package, which includes seven nights on board American Duchess, one night in Memphis at the iconic Peabody Hotel and one night at the Joie de Vivre Troubadour Hotel in New Orleans, for £3,775 per person including flights. frontier-america.co.uk; americanqueensteamboatcompany.com Saga The river cruiseline operator has added three departure dates on board the new 126-passenger Douro Serenity from DouroAzul.

The seven-day Douro Discovery takes in the beautiful landscapes and quaint towns of the Douro Valley. The highlights include visits to Casa de Mateus Palace and the village of Figueira Castelo de Rodrigo, sightseeing in Salamanca, a tour of Lamego and Oporto, dinner at a local quinta and winery and port tasting.

The new Douro Serenity has 63 cabins, all outside facing.

Cabins on the upper and main decks have floor-to-ceiling windows ,which open to form French balconies, while cabins on the lower deck have smaller windows that do not open. There’s also a spa, gym and heated pool on board.

Prices lead in at £1,749 per person for the seven-night voyage and include 20 meals, seven excursions, flights and transfers. Departures are 3, 17 and 24 July.

Saga.co.uk/douro The Strand Cruise The luxury river cruiser has announced new dates for its series of expert-led themed cruises following the success of its first classical music voyage along Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady River.

The Strand Cruise will host its first photography cruise with professional photographer, Lucas Gurdjian, on 16 October 2017, who will be sharing his knowledge on different styles of photography, including landscapes, food photography and portraits; tips on framing, lighting, aperture and depth of field; as well as post-production techniques.

Then in November 2017 and February 2018, classical musicians from the Opéra de Paris and Orchestre de Paris will return to present a new programme of scores in different locations to an audience of just 42 passengers on board.

These themed four-night cruises travel from Bagan to Mandalay and are priced at $2,026 per person sharing a Deluxe Cabin. Rates include all excursions and activities on board, three meals during full sailing days, soft drinks & local beer, house wine during meals, transfers, English speaking guides and satellite wifi in all cabins and public areas.

Thestrandcruise.com

All About Cruising

Uniworld The river cruise operator has teamed up with luxury biking and walking tours specialist, Butterfield and Robinson, to offer a new cycling river cruise itinerary.

The eight-day Rhine River Cruise Biking on Antoinette departs from Basel, Switzerland and includes daily biking excursions will lead travellers through the Black Forest and Wiese Valley in Germany, along the river to Obernai and Strasbourg and to the colourful foothills of the Vosges Mountains in France.

The last stops through Heidelberg, Koblenz and Cologne reinforce the reach of the Rhine, a former trade route dating back a millennium.

The Rhine River Cruise Biking tour runs in May, June and September 2018, with prices from £5,695 per person.

Uniworld.com

Family Holidays with COSMOS and A-ROSA

fr £

20 18 O IS N SA NO LE W

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The ultimate family break!

WHY BOOK WITH COSMOS:

With an all-inclusive drinks concept, pools and/or whirlpools on every vessel and 15% off all SPA & Beauty treatments, your clients can concentrate on having an unforgettable cruising experience!

Great value holidays with no hidden costs

A-ROSA is the only river cruise to offer free cruises to kids under 15 (transfers and flights must be paid for), so it’s a great family holiday choice!

We’ve been part of the same family-owned company since 1961

Your holiday is fully protected through ABTA and ATOL VIP private home pick-up service is included on all holidays with flights, to take customers to and from the airport Great for single travellers Generous travel agent incentive programme

DANUBE FAMILY CRUISE ITINERARY 6 day Danube Route on board A-ROSA DONNA From £850 per person Depart 12th October from London Luton A variety of child-friendly excursions A variety of child-friendly excursions Includes flights, transfers and taxes plus a VIP home pick-up service from home to airport (within 50 miles)

Call today:

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or visit:

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ÂŁ20

Per booking incentive

Applicable to all new 2017 & 2018 Avalon bookings booked before 9th July 2017 Receive £20 worth of love2shop vouchers for every Avalon cruise you book. There’s no cap on the number of vouchers you can get - the more you sell the more you earn.

Why choose an Avalon river cruise? • Exclusive to Avalon: the largest suites on Europe’s rivers, with beds facing stunning river views

• Sightseeing tours in every port of call

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• On board gratuities included for Cruise Director and crew

• Full board à la carte dining on board with soft drinks, wine and beer at lunch and dinner

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email: agencysales@cosmos.co.uk with your name, agency details and booking reference to claim your vouchers

To book visit www.avaloncruises.co.uk/agent-login ABTA No.V3031

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River Itineraries

Uniworld’s new ship Joie de Vivre will sail eight-day round cruises from Paris

Banking on growth The growth in the river cruise market shows no signs of abating with new ships coming online at an impressive rate of knots CroisiEurope The river cruise specialist has a busy year of ship launches ahead with five new river cruisers coming online.

African Dream launches in December and feature six suites and two deluxe suites with an exterior view, a panoramic restaurant, lounge bar and rooftop.

The river cruiser will sail four-day cruise safaris on the Chobe and Zambezi rivers followed by a five-day stay in one of two five-star lodges, owned by CroisiEurope, including safaris and a day at Victoria Falls.

Cruise-only prices start at £3,713 per person including flights from Johannesburg to Kasane, an overnight in a four-star hotel in Johannesburg, the three-night cruise, the four-night stay in a CroisiEurope lodge, all meals and drinks on the cruise and in the lodge and excursions as listed.

CroisiEurope has already planned a second ship for next year.

Indochine II will embark on its inaugural cruise along the Mekong in August and will complement CroisiEurope’s four existing vessels on the river.

The colonial-style ship, which also has a pool, can accommodate 60 passengers in 30 cabins and features private balconies.

Cruise-only prices start at £1,978 per person for an 11-day sailing along the Mekong from Siem Reap and Ho Chi Minh City.

Elbe Princesse II will launch next year, operating cruises between Berlin and the heart of Prague.The ship will be the sister ship to Elbe Princesse I, accommodating 90 passengers in 45 cabins with French balconies on the upper deck. It will also boast a restaurant, a panoramic lounge at the stern a patio and a sun deck.

The ship's adapted size will allow it to enter and moor in the heart of the city centres, allowing easy access to sites in Berlin, Potsdam, Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Meissen, Dresden, Litomerice and Prague.

Due to its paddlewheel technology, Elbe Princesse II will be able to cruise the shallow waters of the Elbe and travel right into the centre of Prague.

The 132-passenger Miguel Torga launched earlier this year, sailing six and eight-day cruises along the Douro.

All 66 cabins have exterior views, a double bed that can be separated into two twins, armoire, flat-screen television, hair dryer, safe and private bathroom.

There is also a spacious lounge, panoramic restaurant, boutique, vast sun deck with sun loungers and a pool.

Miguel Torga is the fifth boat to join CroisiEurope’s fleet on the Douro.

Finally, CroisiEurope’s Douce France has gone through a complete makeover to upgrade it to a premium-rated ship that offers four to seven-day cruises along the Rhine within the Moselle, Main and Rhine valleys.

The ship has 48 double occupancy cabins, four single occupancy cabins, two suites and one cabin designed especially for people with reduced mobility, all of which accommodate 106 guests. All cabins have air-conditioning, a double bed that can be separated into twin beds, private bathroom, flat-screen television, radio, hair dryer and safe. All upper deck cabins feature French balconies. The public areas include a bar and lounge with dance floor, restaurant, sun deck with sun loungers and a shop. croisieurope.co.uk

Crystal River Cruises It’s back-to-back ship launches for Crystal over the next 12 months, with the first new kid on the river cruise block being Crystal Bach, which starts sailing in August.

The all-balcony, all-suite ship will feature king-sized beds that face towards the panoramic balcony windows, walk-in closets and dual vanity in the bathrooms in most categories, robes and slippers, wall-mounted flat-screen HD TVs, Nespresso machines and butler service.

Guests will be able to tuck into Michelin-inspired cuisine in a number of open-seating restaurants on board.

There will also be a library, gym and spa on board and the ship will carry a variety of sporting equipment, including electric bikes and kayaks.

Crystal Bach will cruise on the Rhine and the Moselle sailing 14-day cruises between Frankfurt and Amsterdam as well as 10-day cruises between Basel and Amsterdam with cruise-only prices starting at £2,500 per person for 10 days in a suite with butler service, all meals and drinks onboard, overseas transfers, gratuities and a choice of complimentary shore excursions in each port.

Hot on the heels of Crystal Bach will be the launch of Crystal Mahler in September, which will also be an allbalcony, all-suite ship offering from the luxury cruise operator with rooms kitted out in the same high-quality furnishings.

Again the dining experience will feature menus from Michelin-inspired restaurants. The ship will cruise on the Rhine, Main and Danube offering 16-day cruises between Amsterdam and 9

All About Cruising

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River Itineraries

Budapest with cruise-only prices from £4,235 per person for 16 days in a suite with butler service, all meals and drinks on board, overseas transfers, gratuities and a choice of complimentary shore excursions in each port.

Finally, launching in May 2018, Crystal Ravel will also be an all-balcony, all-suite ship with all rooms kitted out to the cruiseline’s high standards.

The ship will cruise on the Rhine, Main and Danube offering 14-day cruises between Basel and Vienna and seven-day cruises between Vienna and Budapest with cruise only prices starting from £2,423 per person for seven days in a suite with butler service, all meals and drinks onboard, overseas transfers, gratuities and a choice of complimentary shore excursions in each port. crystalcruises.co.uk/river Uniworld The river cruise line is setting its sights firmly on epicureans with the launch of

Joie de Vivre which has a number of different dining venues, including La Cave du Vin where with the help of Uniworld’s chefs, guests can prepare a seven-course meal then relish their creations with expert wine pairings by the sommelier.

The ship has two royal suites, eight junior suites and 54 staterooms, all with made-to-order Savoir of England beds, 100% Egyptian cotton sheets and European duvets, a menu of pillow options and marble-lined bathrooms stocked with L’Occitaine and Hermès bath and body products.

The ship also boasts a fitness centre and enclosed heated swimming pool, Serenity River Spa, and a Deck de Montmartre with a life-sized checkerboard and seating.

The ship will sail eight-day round trips from Paris, sailing through Normandy’s countryside, stopping off at Richard the Lionheart’s Chateau Gaillard, the medieval capital of Rouen, Monet’s beloved home in Giverny and the famed

Rolling on the River... ... Cruising on the Mississippi

Normandy beaches.

Prices lead in at £2,719 per person based on 5 November departure. uniworld.com/uk DouroAzul The river cruise specialist has launched two new luxury cruise liners to its fleet: Douro Elegance and Douro Serenity.

Each ship will have a 126-passenger capacity, and feature two master suites, six junior suites, and 55 standard staterooms as well as a spa, gym and heated pool.

Their USP is the fact that they are painted in steel grey, which is designed to give them more of a super-yacht feel rather than a standard river cruise ship.

Saga features a seven-night Douro Discovery sailing on board Douro Serenity departing on 03, 17 and 24 July 2018 with prices from £1,749 per person, including 20 meals, seven excursions, return flights and transfers.

Saga.co.uk

The American Duchess Steamboat Launching in September 2017. The Duchess will be the only ‘All Suite’ deluxe steamboat operating on the Mississippi. Featuring cruises to New Orleans, Memphis, Nashville and Chicago.

Packages from:

£3,395

pp

In picture below: Deluxe Loft Suite American Duchess

The American Queen Steamboat Return flights and US transfers, 2 pre-cruise hotel nights, 7 nights cruise, full board, and excursions.

Packages from:

£2,895

pp

Discover the sights and sounds of America’s Deep South, cruising between Memphis and New Orleans, on the magnificent six deck American Queen Paddle Steamer. Step back in time to a slower pace of life, explore the historical heartland of the States, visiting civil war battlefields and antebellum style plantation houses.

Find out how music shaped the way of life along the Mississippi and discover the delights of Mark Twain.

French Quarter Parade - New Orleans

www.lightbluetravel.co.uk

CALL 01223 568904

Beale Street - Memphis

13:47:44

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Ocean Cruises

Epicureans will be thrilled to hear that celebrity chef Massimo Capra will be joining Paul Gauguin as guests on a seven-night cruise around Tahiti and the Society Islands

Broadening

horizons Ocean cruises are as popular as ever and the choice of experience is getting bigger every year

hat’s not to love about an ocean cruise? The fresh sea air, the tantalising destinations to visit, the on-board facilities and entertainment on every ship, outstanding food and drink – it really is the perfect holiday options.

Figures from CLIA UK and Ireland show that a record 1.9 million holidaymakers took a cruise last year with Mediterranean flycruises proving to be the most popular. Closely followed by Western Europe voyages from UK ports.

Here is a round-up of some of the best cruises to suit the variety of different demands for your clients so you can help match their needs to the perfect sailing.

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Solo travellers Cruise and Maritime Voyages are pulling out all the stops to cater for solo travellers by setting aside 150 twin cabins on Columbus and Magellan for single occupancy with a 25% supplement.

An eight-night Majestic Fjords sailing on Columbus departing on 30 June 2018 leads in at £899. cruiseandmaritime.com Families US cruise giant Carnival is gearing up to provide the ultimate entertainment for

children with the first-ever Carnival Playtime event in partnership with Hasbro on board Carnival Imagination.

The event, which will be available on three and four-day three-day cruises from Long Island between 13 July and 17 September, will feature activities and games inspired by the My Little Pony and Transformers TV and movie series featuring characters from the shows.

Games will include Rainbow Dash’s cupcake toss, Knock out the Autobots and Target the Enemy, along with face-painting, prizes, music and character meet and greets with Transformers Optimus Prime and BumbleBee as well as My Little Pony’s Pinkie Pie and Twilight Sparkle.

A special screening of Transformers: Age of Extinction movie will also be shown on board. Cruise-only prices start at £289 per person based on 10 September 2017 four-day sailing round trip from Long Beach visiting Ensenada and Catalina Island. Price is based on two people sharing an inside stateroom. carnival.com Families have also become a focus for CMV this year with the addition of two multi-generational cruises, giving CMV cruisers the opportunity to take their children and grandchildren on holiday with them.

The first cruise to the Norwegian fjords in August sold out in just a few weeks so as a result, the cruiseline has increased the number to eight, all of which are during the school holidays with prices for children sharing with an adult leading in at £99 per child. cruiseandmaritime.com Culture vultures Voyages to Antiquity has a whole menu of voyages featuring guest speakers that will give cruise travellers the chance to get under the skin of the destinations they are visiting.

Dr Thomas Mannack, a reader in Classical Iconography at the University of Oxford and Maggie McNie a celebrated Master of Wine, will be on board the 15-day Best of France and Portugal voyage, which takes in the highlights of Nantes, La Rochelle and Bordeaux, including visits to Villandry and the Fontevraud Royal Abbey before sailing on to Oporto and Lisbon in Portugal.

Prices lead in £2,595 per person for an inside cabin and the cruise departs on 22 August 2017.

Archaeologist Gillian Hovell and Classicist John Osbourne will be holding lectures on the 14-day Classical Greece and Aegean Islands cruise, which visits the Acropolis and National 11

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Ocean Cruises

Archaeological Museum in Athens and The Palace of Knossos in Heraklion, Crete.

Prices lead in at £2,595 per person departing 5 October 2017 and include flights, guided shore excursions, all meals on board, drinks with on-board dinners, gratuities and expert on-board guest speakers. voyagestoantiquity.com Opera fans will be jumping up and down in their theatre seats when they find out about Saga Sapphire’s 19-night Musical Mediterranean voyage with onboard singing lessons and performances as well as a visit to Puccini’s favourite haunt, Torre del Lago, in Italy.

The opera-themed events also feature a ‘pop-up’ opera and the chance to listen to the modern genre of rock opera.

The 720-passenger ship also calls into Cartagena, Castellón de la Plana and Ibiza, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal; Monte Carlo, Monaco and Gibraltar with prices leading in at £3,075 per person departing from Dover on 19 July 2019.

Saga.co.uk Luxury excursions Celebrity Cruises has teamed up with international TV series The Wine Show to offer five new wine-themed shore excursions across selected sailings on-board Celebrity Constellation, Celebrity Reflection and Celebrity Silhouette.

Highlights of the new shore excursions include: a visit to the awardwinning Argyros Estate on Santorini where passengers will sample five of the estate’s superior-quality wines, including its rare 20-year-old Vinsanto collection.

Prices for this tour start at $199.

There is also a tour and a tasting of Chateau de Cremat, which dates back to the 3rd century BC. The Chateau’s vineyard is famous for its rose France.

Having explored the origins of the Bellet appellation, wine-lovers will indulge in a gastronomic pairing experience in Nice’s Le Grand Balcon with prices from $325.

There’s also wine tasting at Villa Nittardi in Chianti, Italy with prices from $380 and the chance to experience Spain’s rich wine-making tradition at the Bodegas Torres, just Barcelona. Prices start at $195.

Finally, a visit to the Pallavicni Winery

Celebrity is offering personalised shore excursions hosted by The Wine Show presenters Joe Fattorini and Amelia Singer

in Lazio, famous for its Frascati grape with prices from $229.

The personalised shore excursions hosted by The Wine Show presenters Joe Fattorini and Amelia Singer start at $195 per person.

Joe will join the 11-night Best of Western Mediterranean fly/cruise onboard Celebrity Reflection departing from Rome Civitavecchia (Italy) on 11 September. Amelia will also be on board Celebrity Reflection for the Best of Western Mediterranean cruise with the same itinerary but departing on the later date of 9 October.

Celebritycruises.co.uk Ex-UK cruises Royal Caribbean will be bringing its much-loved Independence of the Seas back to Southampton for 2018 with three to 14-night voyages to the Mediterranean and a 14-night adventure to the Canary Islands all from Southampton.

This is the first time Independence of the Seas will offer shorter tester sailings, including two and three-night sailings at the end of the school summer holidays allowing more families access to a cruise holiday.

Navigator of the Seas will join

Independence, sailing five to 14-night itineraries from Southampton to the shores of the Mediterranean, the cultural hubs of Western Europe and the inspirational cities of Northern Europe. royalcaribbean.com Voyages for foodies Celebrity chef Massimo Capra will be joining Paul Gauguin guests on a seven-night cruise around Tahiti and the Society Islands voyage for a lecture and culinary demonstration.

The Italian chef started his career in a famous trattoria near Venice before relocating to Toronto where he worked Prego della Piazza restaurant for nine years. He launched his first restaurant Mistura Restaurant of Toronto in 1997, providing upscale Italian dining. And from there his culinary empire has grown with TV shows and awardwinning cookbooks.

Prices for this seven-night cruise start at £5,549 per person for return flights from the UK, overseas transfers, one night pre-cruise in Los Angeles and seven nights on the Paul Gauguin with all meals, soft drinks, selected alcoholic beverages and gratuities. The cruise departs on 23 September. pgcruises.com

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Ocean Itineraries

Variety is the ocean spice From new world journeys to adventures in Cuba, there’s a bunch of exciting cruises to experience in 2018

s more and more people fall in love with cruising, the desire to experience different destinations and different styles of sailing is increasing. And to meet this demand, cruiselines are adding more diverse experiences for passengers to enjoy.

From sailing around the Cuban coast in a luxury yacht, to throwing down anchor in St Petersburg to enjoy the action from the football World Cup 2018, the variety of voyages for next year really packs a punch.

A

SeaDream SeaDream has added nine new Wine Voyages to its 2018 season with five to 10 day sailings around

the Mediterranean and Caribbean. SeaDream’s chef and sommelier will be putting together a selection of the world’s most renowned wineries and exclusive and rare wines for guests on board SeaDream I and II to taste.

Voyages start at £3,855 per person based on double occupancy. seadream.com Titan The escorted tours specialist has strengthened its cruise programme with the addition of two new voyages for 2018.

The 24-day Australian Explorer to Singapore begins with a two-night stay in Sydney on 3

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Ocean Itineraries Celebrity Silhouette will homeport in Southampton next summer sailing a variety of Mediterranean and northern Europe voyages

March before jumping on board the luxury cruise ship Azamara Journey for an 18-day adventure around the Australian coastline, taking in the Great Barrier Reef, rainforests and aboriginal lands, before sailing to Bali.

Prices lead in at £4,299 per person for the 24-day adventure and include two nights’ accommodation in Sydney, 18 nights on Azamara Journey and three in flight.

Meanwhile, a 24-day Japan and North Pacific Adventure to Alaska has also been introduced for 2018.

The adventure begins with a few days in Kyoto, Hakone and Tokyo, before setting sail on board Holland America Line’s Volendam for a voyage across the North Pacific to witness the scenery of Alaska in early spring. The tour culminates with a two-night stay in Vancouver seven nights in a hotel, a 14-night cruise on Volendam and two days in flight. Prices start at £6,299 titantravel.co.uk Tauck The escorted travel and river cruise company is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its small ship ocean cruising with an expanded partnership with luxury cruiseline Le Ponant, which will see the introduction of four new luxury cruise yachts throughout 2018 and 2019.

The first of these, Le Lapérouse, a luxe mega-yacht with 92 staterooms and suites, will be launched in the summer of 2018 with the first Tauck sailing departing on 3 July on the sevennight Iceland: Land of Fire and Ice itinerary.

Next year will also see the launch of a new Cuba itinerary for Tauck on the three-masted yacht, Le Ponant. The ten-day journey, which has departures on 14, 23 and 28 December 2018, explores the coast between Havana and Santiago de Cuba and includes a two-night hotel stay in Havana with the chance to visit Ernest Hemingway’s former winter home, meet local artists and dine with Cuban families at privately run paladares.

Azamara Club Cruises The boutique cruiseline will embark on its first World Journey next year, which will begin in Sydney on 7 March and end in London on 17 June.

The epic 102-day voyage on Azamara journey will visit 61 ports in 29 countries as well as experience two major international events. There will also be 18 late-night stays and 14 overnights, as well as eight AzAmazing Evening events.

Highlights of the World Journey include visits to Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok,Yangon, Dubai, Muscat, Barcelona, Lisbon and Amsterdam. During the cruise, there will be the opportunity to visit the Cannes Film Festival and the Monaco Grand Prix.

Full itinerary pricing starts at £19,078 per person for a Club Interior stateroom and ranges up to £45,558 per person for a Club World Owner’s suite.

Azamaraclubcruises.com Celebrity Cruises Celebrity Silhouette, Celebrity Eclipse and Celebrity Constellation will be operating a number of new itineraries in 2018.

Celebrity Silhouette will homeport in Southampton next summer sailing a number of different voyages including: seven and eight-night Norwegian Fjord sailings; seven 14-night Scandinavia and Russia sailings on three different itineraries; and 14-night Mediterranean, Canaries and Azores, and Iceland and Ireland sailings from Southampton.

The ship will also operate a Signature Event Sailing to the 2018 World Cup in Russia with the opportunity to attend the third place game in St. Petersburg and the final in Moscow via an overland tour.

After eight years of homeporting in Southampton, Celebrity Eclipse will offer a mini season out of Dublin, Ireland, beginning in late April through to June 2018, making Celebrity Cruises the first major cruise line in the world to homeport out of Dublin.

Itineraries will include a 10-night Ireland and Iceland sailing calling at Belfast, Northern Ireland, Reykjavik, Iceland, Akureyri, Iceland, Lerwick/Shetland, Scotland, and Cork, Ireland, as well as offering an eight-night Norwegian Fjords itinerary In Dublin, the cruise line will be offering a new Celebrity Cruises City Stay, which will give guests the chance to start their holiday earlier with a three-night hotel stay in Dublin and fully-guided tours.

Aurora Expeditions The adventure cruiseline has three new voyages for photography fanatics.

The 14-day Jewels of the Artic led by landscape photographer Martyn Lucas departs on 18 August and cruises along icebergs in Scoresby Sund, the largest fjord system in the world. Passengers will have the opportunity to observe and photograph polar bears and other Arctic wildlife in their natural habitat, capture images of the midnight sun sky and visit the colourful village and people of the remote East Greenland village, Ittoqqortoormiit .

The 20-day In-depth South Georgia and Antarctica cruise, led

by Canon’s Australian ambassador Chris Bray, departs on 27 November and gives photographers the once-in-the-lifetime opportunity to capture spectacular iceberg formations, striking landscapes and the wildlife oasis of South Georgia.

Led by award-winning photographer Scott Portelli, the 18day In Shackleton’s Footsteps delves into the history of Antarctic exploration and traces the last leg of of Shackleton’s South Georgia crossing.

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Ocean New Ships

The Floating Resort

by Scubaspa cruises around the islands of the Maldives

The new

wave From floating resorts in the Maldives to polar expeditions ships, there’s lots of new cruising vessels to get excited about Carnival Cruise Line The US cruise giant is launching Carnival Horizon next April featuring many of the entertainment and activity options that were unveiled on Carnival Vista, currently the line’s newest ship.

These include a bike-ride-in-the-sky attraction called SkyRide, an IMAX Theatre and a WaterWorks aqua park featuring a water tube slide called Kaleid-o-slide.

On-board accommodation includes spa cabins with VIP privileges at the Cloud 9 Spa, staterooms in the Family Harbour section of the ship and tropical-inspired Havana staterooms and suites with exclusive daytime access to a Cuban-themed bar and pool.

Carnival Horizon’s debut voyage will depart from Barcelona on 2 April on a 13-day Mediterranean voyage – the first of four round-trip departures from this Spanish port. Other sailings from Barcelona include two seven-day cruises departing on 15 and 22 April, and a 10day voyage departing on 29 April.

Carnival Horizon will then reposition to the US with a 14-day trans-Atlantic crossing from Barcelona to New York May 9-23, 2018.

Celebrity Cruises The cruise line is launching its first new ship for 10 years next year, Celebrity Edge, and is enlisting the help of interior designer Kelly Hoppen MBE and visionary architect Tom Wright of WKK with the design.

The two designers will be helping to create a new look and feel for some of the more luxury accommodation on board, including two new Iconic Suites with two bedrooms, two-bathrooms, panoramic windows enveloping the dining room, living room and bedrooms and a 270-degree view of the ocean.

New Penthouse Suites will have large soaking tubs on the veranda, dual walk-through showers and expansive walk-in closets, while Edge Villas will offer views from two stories of windows, private plunge pools and direct walk-out access to The Retreat Sundeck, which has its own private pool on The Retreat Sundeck and around-the-clock personal butler service and the exclusive Suite Class restaurant Luminae @ The Retreat.

The Rooftop Garden has been designed to encourage guests to enjoy games and activities through the day,

while in the evening, there will be live music and an outdoor movie-and-meal pairing of A Taste of Film.

Dining experiences include the Magic Carpet, a speciality restaurant that becomes an open-air expansion of the main pool area.

Prices lead in at £2,229 per person on an eight-night Western Caribbean fly-cruise, including flights, transfers, a free classic drinks package for two people, the choice of either $300 on-board spending money, free wifi or paid gratuities. The price is based on 5 January 2019 departure.

Cruisingpower.co.uk Aurora Expeditions Polar adventure cruise line Aurora Expeditions will be taking delivery of its first brand new, purposebuilt, expedition vessel in time for its 2019/2020 Antarctic November to March season.

The cruise line has team up with US-based ship builder SunStone Ships to create the custom-designed ship, which will feature X-BOW technology that makes journeys through the more challenging seas, such as Antarctica’s 15

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Ocean New Ships

Fireworks and celebrations on board the newly re-named ‘Columbus’ from Cruise and Martime Voyages.

notorious Drake Passage, a more smoother experience for small ships.

The new as-yet-to-be-named vessel will have cabin balconies, a 180-degree indoor observation deck, wellness facilities including gym, sauna and spa, and a custom-designed platform to cater for additional numbers of kayakers and divers, and a mud room for easier preparation for climbers and skiers.

The ship will also have inflatable Zodiac crafts that will carry guests between ship and shore with daily landings for guests to get up close to the wildlife in the regions they are visiting.

The new ship will bring the number of vessels in Aurora Expeditions fleet to six. auroraexpeditions.com.au Cruise and Maritime Voyages CMV’s newest ship Columbus set sail from Tilbury earlier this year following a naming ceremony by godmother, TV personality Angela Rippon CBE. CMV commercial director Chris Coates said the launch of the new flag ship Columbus will allow the cruiseline to begin a new chapter.

“Columbus will enable us to respond to growing customer demand for traditional style cruising on board mid-sized cruise ships. The arrival of

Columbus means we are on course to carry 100,000 passengers in 2018 cruising from the UK, which is 10% of the market.”

Coates thanked the trade for the welcome it has given Columbus. “Thanks to the support of our travel trade partners, we have sold 95% of our 2017 Columbus cruise programme and a 40% of 2018 capacity.”

Columbus will be operating a programme of voyages including the Norwegian Fjords, British Isles, Iceland, Baltic Cities, Canary Islands and Madeira, Scottish Highlights and Faroes, Spain, Portugal, France and Gibraltar and a 46night voyage to Cuba, Central America and the Caribbean. cruiseandmaritime.com Scuba Spa A new sea experience has launched in the Maldives giving visitors the opportunity to explore the region by yacht.

Floating Resort by Scubaspa has two luxury yachts, each hosting 40 guests, and they are the only vessels in the Maldives with a five-star PADI rating.

The yachts give divers the opportunity to explore the sub-aqua sites across the island chain, while those who don’t want to dive can make the most of the on-

board spa and morning yoga sessions.

The Scubaspa Best of the Maldives itinerary takes in dive sites including: Kuramathi Kandu, one of the few places to view hammerhead sharks; night dives with nurse sharks at Alimatha House Reef; a research dive with the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme; wrecks including the Kuda Giri; and famed spots such as the Broken Rock Kandooma Thila site.

Teens can also try their hand at snorkelling, paddle-boarding, kayaking and fishing or alternatively, just chill on the sun deck enjoying a film on the outdoor HD cinema or relax in the yacht’s Jacuzzi.

On-board meals include some of the region’s finest fish and special beach barbecues on deserted sand atolls.

Original Diving offers a seven-night trip on board the Floating Resort by Scubaspa from £2,465 per person including all meals, dives, daily yoga, international flights and transfers.

Teenagers aged 15 and over can dive without parents, while younger ones must be accompanied by a parental guardian. Children aged 13 and over can book onto a Junior Open Water PADI course.

Originaldiving.com; scubaspa.com

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Best Of The Rest Silver Cloud will have 18 zodiacs on board following its refurbishment

Best

of the rest

From agent incentives to solar eclipse cruises, here is a round-up of the latest news from the cruiselines Crystal Cruises Crystal Yacht Expedition Cruises is bringing back its Sell 3/Sail Free agent incentive to mark its inaugural West Indies season this autumn.

Agents that sell three suites on select November and December 2017 and all 2018 Crystal Esprit voyages between now and 23 December 2017 will earn a complimentary sailing for themselves and a guest on board any 2018 Crystal Esprit voyage. crystalcruises.co.uk Aurora Expeditions The polar specialist has launched its Amazing Antarctica Sale offering savings of up to £1,160 per person on one of its 2017/18 Antarctica voyages travelling in the company of expert naturalists and environmentalists.

The sale includes savings of £775 across selected intrepid voyages such as the Spirit of Antarctica, departing on 16 December 2017, Antarctic Explorer, departing 25 February 2018 and Sub-Antarctic Safari, which departs on 24 March 2018 Savings of up to £1,160 are also available on the In-depth South Georgia and Antarctica sailing, which departs on 27 November 2017, the New Year South Georgia and Antarctic Odyssey voyage, that leaves on 27 December 2017 and In Shackleton’s Footsteps which departs on 7 March 2018.

All voyages are operated on board Aurora Expeditions’ 54-passenger Polar Pioneer. Daily expeditions include Zodiac excursions and shore landings accompanied by expert naturalists, historians and geologists. auroraexpeditions.com.au

Azamara Club Cruises The boutique cruiseline is offering travellers up to four complimentary nights on a selection of 2018 voyages, as part of its brand new Nights on Us sale.

Guests will benefit from two complimentary nights for cruises of nine nights or less; three complimentary nights for cruises of 10 – 14 nights; and four complimentary nights for cruises of 15 nights or longer. cruisingpower.co.uk Royal Caribbean International The US cruise giant is offering cruise travellers the chance to experience the first total solar eclipse in the US for 99 years.

Royal Caribbean has a seven-night sailing on Oasis of the Seas, which will cruise to the optimal spot at sea for guests to witness the total solar eclipse on 21 August 2017.

Passengers on Oasis of the Seas will be treated to eclipse-themed activities, including dance parties, trivia, enrichment lectures, interactive science fun for kids, and tasty cocktails and dishes.

The seven-night Total Eclipse Cruise on board Oasis of the Seas will set sail on 20 August from Orlando Florida and will visit eastern Caribbean destinations, including Phillipsburg, St Maarten; Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas and Nassau, Bahamas.

Seven other Royal Caribbean ships will be in the Caribbean during the total solar eclipse on 21 August, on itineraries ranging from three to nine nights. royalcaribbean.com 17

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Best Of The Rest Crystal Yacht Expedition Cruises is reintroducing its agents incentives

Cosmos Tours and Cruises Cosmos has launched the A-ROSA programme two months early to help agents target the early-booking river cruise market.

The operator is also kickstarting the launch of the 2018 A-ROSA river cruise programme with an early-bird incentive on any bookings made by July 31.

The operator is extending the radius of its VIP home pick-up service to 100 miles from customers’ departure airport, an increase of 50 miles.

The 2018 programme features 37 cruise itineraries on a choice of six ships that will be operating on four rivers. There are also 297 departures for customers to choose from.

Prices lead in at £649 per person for a five-day Mini Cruise Romance on the Rhine itinerary departing on March 14, 2018 and, visiting Cologne, Mannheim, Strasbourg, Mains with the chance to cruise the Middle Rhine.

The price includes a VIP home pick-up service, return flights, full-board cruise accommodation and overseas transfers.

A-ROSA teamed up with Cosmos at the start of this year to form a strategic partnership to provide agents with river cruise packages with flights from a choice of 27 UK airports.

All of the A-ROSA programme is bookable via Cosmos’s new agent portal cosmos.co.uk/agents.

Silversea Silversea’s Silver Cloud is poised to undergo a refit in Augut, which will see it be converted into an ice-class ship and become part of Silversea’s luxury Expedition fleet.

The elite 296-guest ship that launched the ultra-luxury cruise line will be ready in November 2017 and will be sailing

a roundtrip expedition from Ushuaia where guests will traverse Drake Passage, take in views of spectacular iceberg sculptures and glaciers and search for many different species of bird and animal in the region.

The ship will have a fleet of 18 Zodiacs enabling ship-wide explorations in groups of 14 guests.

Prices lead in at £9,500 per person based on double occupancy for a 10-day roundtrip expedition voyage from Ushuaia on 8 February 2018. The price includes beverages in-suite and throughout the ship, in-suite dining and room service, enrichment lectures and guided Zodiac, land and sea tours as well as shoreside activities. silversea.com Holland America Line HAL has added Cuba to its itineraries for the first time.

The US cruise giant will set sail for Cuba from Fort Lauderdale on 22 December this year when 1,350-passenger Veendam embarks on a 12-night Cuban Explorer voyage, calling at Cozumel (Mexico), Costa Maya (Mexico), Key West (Florida), Havana (Cuba), Cienfuegos (Cuba), Montego Bay (Jamaica) and Georgetown (Cayman Islands). Prices start at £989 per person, double occupancy.

Alongside the 12-night sailings will be nine seven-day sailings starting on January 3, 2018, all of which will call in at Havana, with prices from £849 per person based on double occupancy New Cuba shore excursions will also be available, including the Best of Havana all-day trips, with prices from $109 per person, and more off-the-beaten-track tours to the UNESCO biosphere area of Las Terrazas, developed as part of Cuba's Green Revolution in the 1960s. Prices for this tour lead in at £114.

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