Sarah & Bjarne Thelin | Cruisin Magazine Winter 2016

The magazine dedicated to people who love to cruise ESCORTED TOURS

CRUISE RESTAURANTS

PREPARING FOR YOUR EXPEDITION CRUISE

Winter/Spring 2016

£ Priceless

ON BOARD WIFI

TRAVELLING AS A GROUP

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Our featured destination:

Singapore

Food, glorious

Food

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Preparing for your

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Expedition

Escorted

cruise

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Tours

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Onboard guide

Wifi

Travelling as a

26 Group For your peace of mind

Relax with your coffee and this magazine as you are transported to different destinations, ponder your holiday priorities, and get some great ideas for places to visit.

We’re a married couple passionate about cruise holidays as they offer increasing value and opportunities to see the world. We are both accredited by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) as Ambassadors, and we’re well positioned to help you craft your next holiday experience.

Everyone is different and ‘the best holiday’ will be different for each of us. If you’ve never thought about a cruise holiday before, some of the ideas in our Cruisin’ magazine could help you to imagine what your ideal cruise would be.

If you’re an avid lover of the cruise experience then our magazine could point you to your next cruise itinerary.

There are cruises to suit everyone - from supreme refined luxury and exceptional cuisine, destination discovery and cultural immersion, adventure and active exploration, to resort-type entertainment and family fun.

As part of GoCruise, one of the UK’s largest specialist cruise agencies, we deal with major and niche cruise lines.

Give us a call to talk through your holiday ideas and we’ll do our best for you.

Why book with GoCruise?

09 44

ABTA No. J5035

Contact your personal GoCruise Specialists:

Sarah & Bjarne Thelin 01844 390 203 sarah@gocruise.co.uk www.gocruise.co.uk/sarah-and-bjarne GoCruiseWithArtistry

• First-hand knowledge and experience to offer impartial, unbiased advice • Outstanding customer service, exceptional quality and value for money • Personal service, often with availability outside normal working hours • Dedicated to sourcing the right holiday for you • No hidden charges or booking fees • ABTA and ATOL bonding so you can book with complete peace of mind • Fly-cruise and tailor-made itineraries available

GoCruiseSarah&Bjarne

Best Wishes

Sarah & Bjarne Thelin

What’s New for 2016?

Silversea announces its new flagship To complement its current fleet of five classic ships and three expedition vessels, Silversea has announced the construction of its brand new flagship, Silver Muse, which will set sail in April 2017. The new ultra-luxury ship, with just 286 suites and a maximum capacity of 596 guests, will make its maiden voyage from Monte Carlo to Nice at the start of an exciting 2017 season. She will boast the highest number of large suites in the fleet, the most flexibility in accommodations, and crucially more dining options than any other ultra-luxury ship at sea - with eight venues including an exclusive Relais & Chateaux® restaurant La Grande Dame and Japanese restaurant Kabuki.

See page 7 for a choice of Silversea sailings for 2016.

New Ships for AmaWaterways Luxury river cruise line AmaWaterways will be launching two new ships this April – the 159 passenger AmaViola and AmaStella will feature twin-balcony cabins, many of them interconnecting, as well as 350sq ft suites. For more information on AmaWaterways see page 27.

It’s back to Asia for Norwegian Cruise Line In Autumn 2016, Norwegian Cruise Line will cruise to the Far East for the first time since autumn/winter 20012002, with the recently renovated Norwegian Star sailing to the region for several unique itineraries that also feature first-ever visits to The Gulf and India. Throughout December 2016 and January 2017, Norwegian Star will embark on a series of 11 and 14-day sailings in Southeast Asia, departing from Singapore and Hong Kong respectively. Her 11-day Southeast Asia itineraries will feature ports of call in Ko Samui and an overnight in Bangkok (Laem Chabang), Ho Chi Minh City (Phu My) and Nha Trang; Sanya and Hong Kong. Guests who

Another new year heralds a host of new ships and destinations from many of our favourite cruise lines. From the world’s largest cruise ship to the ultimate in luxury river vessels, there is no doubting that cruisers will be spoilt for choice in 2016/17… sail on the ship’s 14-day Southeast Asia itinerary will celebrate the holidays with calls in Kaohsiung; Hanoi (Ha Long Bay), Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City (Phu My); Sihanoukville; an overnight stay in Bangkok (Laem Chabang) and a day visit to Ko Samui; and Singapore.

See page 34 for a choice of Norwegian Cruise Line sailings for 2016.

France, North and South America, Southeast Asia, Japan and China – all freshly prepared. Guests will enjoy a festival celebrating dance, music and crafts of exotic cultures; an array of international guest entertainers; and Las Vegas-style production shows starring a cast of singers and dancers from around the world. See page 36 for a choice of Princess sailings for 2016.

Celebrity Cruises to get the EDGE

World’s Largest Ship - NEW for 2016!

Celebrity Cruises is set to build on its Millennium and Solstice Class vessels with the construction of two new EDGE class vessels, one set to launch in Autumn 2018 and the second in 2020. EDGE will be a new design for Celebrity Cruises and built at the STX France shipyard. The ships are set to be a significant leap forward in environmentally friendly ship design and offer a modern luxury cruise experience like never before.

See page 10 for a choice of Celebrity sailings for 2016.

The latest member of the everpopular Oasis Class from Royal Caribbean International, Harmony of the Seas℠, will make her debut in April 2016 and will boast three fantastic waterslides that twist and turn 10 decks above Central Park. As well as this, the newest addition to the gamechanging Quantum Class, Ovation of the Seas℠ will also be joining the fleet in Spring 2016, sailing to a host of fantastic destinations and boasting the same innovative technology and spectacular features as sister ships Anthem and Quantum of the Seas®.

See page 14 for a choice of Royal Caribbean International sailings for 2016.

A ‘Jewellery Oasis’ at Sea Tiffany’s jewellers has recently opened its first boutique at sea on board Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis of the Seas. Located in ‘Central Park’ the boutique offers a full selection of luxury Tiffany jewellery from watches and rings, including the recently introduced Tiffany T and Atlas collection; to unique keepsakes for passengers to remember their time on board. See page 14 for a choice of Royal Caribbean International sailings for 2016.

Majestic Princess to debut in Europe The newest ship from Princess Cruises is set to debut in the Mediterranean in April 2017 before sailing to Asia for her maiden China season from July 2017. Sailing from Barcelona, Athens and Rome, Majestic Princess will hold 3560 passengers who can look forward to its international onboard cuisine which will span the globe, serving authentic dishes from Italy,

Seabourn Encore to set sail in January 2017 If you’re looking to holiday in the lap of luxury next year then the new addition to the Seabourn Cruises fleet, Encore, may well already be on your radar. The cruise line is famous for its six-star service, providing fine-dining opportunities, personal stewards and stewardesses, complimentary in-suite bars and a one-to-one crew to guest ratio. The 604 guests (at capacity) will be looked after entirely in all-suite accommodation, with the vast majority of these also offering a balcony. Plus, thanks to a partnership with UNESCO, this new luxury vessel will take you to a host of interesting locations. See page 6 for a choice of Seabourn sailings for 2016.

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Singapore Experience

In the Far East, you will find an array of dazzling metropolises filled with skyscrapers, bright lights, fantastic food and warm temperatures.

Founded by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819, Singapore began life as a trading post of the East India Company and was ceded to the British in 1826.

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Despite being a relatively young country, Singapore has grown into an exciting nation of varying neighbourhoods, but at the same time maintains a culture of its own. Today, fans of the urban lifestyle can indulge in a spot of retail therapy, wander through illuminated streets and enjoy fantastic food. What’s more, those seeking more peaceful surroundings can roam around one of the many nature reserves or relax on a golden beach. It’s all possible in Singapore.

Admire Singapore offers a unique range of fascinating architecture, much of which has stood the test of time and will provide a cultural insight. Take a stroll into Chinatown, where you will be able to witness the artistically colourful Sri Mariamman Temple.

Built in 1827, this Hindu temple has been restored many times since its construction to give it a fresh appearance. The gopuram (grand tower) consists of six tiers, each of which is made up of deities and mythological beasts.

The Sultan Mosque, otherwise known as Masjid Sultan, is recognisable by its huge golden domes that fill the skyline of the Kampong Glam district.

Its huge prayer hall and double tiered roof represent the Muslim community of Singapore and is a must-visit.

Enjoy If you love shopping, you will not be disappointed with the options available in Singapore’s bustling city streets. Orchard Road, named after the nutmeg trees that once lined this street in the 1830’s, sits amongst the skyscrapers and is home to the largest concentration of shopping malls in Singapore. In addition to the latest designer labels and fashion trends, you will also be able to find tech goods, spices and even Qing Dynasty antiques.

Explore For those looking for a sense of peace and tranquillity away from the city streets, you will be pleased to know there are many parks, gardens and nature reserves to explore. Located just off mainland Singapore, on the island of Pulau Ubin, you will find the wonder that is the Chek Jawa National

Park. A short ferry journey will take you to vibrant wetlands that are teeming with wildlife and plant life.

Indulge Whatever your favourite dish may be, the chances are that you will find it within the bustling city streets.

Singapore is an international foodie paradise, but it would be a great shame to miss out on the exciting range of local dishes. Try laksa, a distinctive noodle soup that consists of spice and coconut milk. Chilli crab is the combination of a fine chilli sauce with stir-fried crab to create a new spin on classic seafood. This cuisine is one of the finest in the world, with flavour combinations that will tantalise your taste buds.

Relax One of the most traditional elements of any holiday has to be a long sweeping beach of golden sands and tranquil waters. The east coast of the mainland is home to a wonderful beach, wrapped around a series of palm trees. For the adventurous, there are opportunities to hire out sports equipment such as kayaks and windsurfs. Additionally, a short journey off the south coast of Singapore will take you to the island of Sentosa, home to the stunning Tanjong beach.

Getting to Singapore If you wish to sample Singapore for yourself, as well as other nearby delights such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, there plenty of cruising

options available. Between January and March 2016, Princess Cruises will be operating Roundtrip Singapore mini cruise itineraries on board Sapphire Princess. Families can experience everything Singapore has to offer together with three-seven night itineraries between November and February 2016 on board Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas.

Alternatively, adventure seekers can experience Singapore in style on selected Far East itineraries with Star Clippers from December 2016.

Extend your stay As you can probably imagine, Singapore has no shortage of luxurious accommodation to choose between should you choose to prolong your stay in the Far East.

One hotel worth mentioning is the famed five-star Raffles Hotel, which has redefined Singaporean luxury since 1887. Each guest staying at this prestigious hotel can enjoy suite accommodation complete with a butler, who will provide charming service and adhere to any request.

103 suites are situated within beautiful marble surroundings and you will also find bars, a shopping arcade, and 14 restaurants serving everything from English favourites to a North Indian curry. It is also worth noting that the famous Singapore Sling gin-based cocktail was first created here – the perfect tipple to enjoy in the Long Bar.

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Cruisin’

Prices

19 nights Yukon & Triple Denali

12 nights Mediterranean Tapestry

16 nights Panama Canal

...aboard ms Zaandam Departing: 31 May 2016 Fly UK - Anchorage for a 12 night Yukon & Triple Denali Tour. Then transfer to Zaandam for 7 nights.

Seward (Anchorage) - Glacier Bay Cruising - Haines - Juneau - Ketchikan - Scenic Cruising The Inside Passage - Vancouver Tour includes: Two nights in Whitehorse, Dawson, Fairbanks, Anchorage, three nights in Denali with Tundra Wilderness Tour Gold Dredge 8, Riverboat Discovery (includes lunch); Klondike Spirit Yukon River cruise; McKinley Explorer luxury domed rail between Anchorage and Denali.

...aboard ms Eurodam Departing: 5 July 2016 Barcelona - Toulon - Monte Carlo - Livorno (Florence/Pisa) - Civitavecchia (Rome) - Naples (Pompeii) - Cruising Strait of Messina - Taormina - Nisos Kerkira Dubrovnik - Kotor - Venice (Overnight)

...aboard ms Nieuw Amsterdam Departing: 7 October 2016 San Francisco - Cabo San Lucas - Huatulco - Puerto Chiapas - Puerto Caldera (Puntarenas) - Enter Panama Canal Balboa - Cruising Panama Canal - Exit Panama Canal Cristobal - Cartagena - Half Moon Cay - Fort Lauderdale

From £3,379pp

From £1,019pp

From £1,449pp

7 nights Viking Sagas

From £2,379pp

...aboard ms Koningsdam Departing: 22 May 2016 Amsterdam - Flam - Scenic Cruising Sognefjord - Stavanger - Kristiansand Scenic Cruising Oslo Fjord Oslo - Amsterdam

“For arguably the best Pan-Asian cuisine at sea with spectacular sea views, pay a visit to the Tamarind restaurant onboard ms Eurodam & Nieuw Amsterdam. At lunch time there’s a tasty (and free) Dim Sum menu, while dinner features Asian delicacies (honouring the elements of water, wood, fire and earth) served in 5* style. Our new ship ms Koningsdam - arriving April 2016 - will also feature Tamarind plus more exciting new dining options!”

A Seabourn ship is like a private club, where members share expansive open decks, inviting social spaces, the personalised attention of an exceptional crew, and gourmet dining experiences that rival the finest restaurants anywhere…

Featured Restaurant...

Seabourn’s Colonnade is the ideal place to relax and enjoy “bistro” and regionally themed cuisine served in a stylish yet informal way, either comfortably seated in a stylish indoor restaurant or on a terrace with fabulous sea views.

On some evenings there will be a lavish buffet, on others a special menu designed to feature local specialities, all accompanied by wines that are carefully chosen to complement the dishes.

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Prices

14 nights Grecian Splendours & the Adriatic

11 nights Mediterranean Isles

...aboard Seabourn Sojourn 11 August 2016 T&Cs: Departing All fares are cruis Monte Carlo - Livorno (Florence/Pisa) Departing: 7 May 2016 Civitavecchia (Rome) - Amalfi - Taormina Istanbul - Nisos Limnos - Cesme - Bodrum Xlendi (Victoria) - Valletta (Overnight) - Rhodes - Thira (Santorini) - Nisos Golfo Aranci (Costa Smeralda) - Ile-Rousse Spetsai - Piraeus (Athens) - Monemvasia ...aboard Seabourn Odyssey

- Katakolon (Olympia) - Nisos Lefkada - Nisos Kerkira - Dubrovnik - Primosten -

- Bandol - Barcelona

Venice

10 nights New England & Canada's Maritimes

From £4,949pp

7 nights The Baltic & St Petersburg ...aboard Seabourn Quest Departing 11 June 2016 Copenhagen - Tallinn - St. Petersburg (Overnight x2) - Helsinki - Stockholm From £3,449pp

From £4,699pp

...aboard Seabourn Quest Departing 21 September 2016 Boston - Bar Harbor - Halifax Charlottetown - Gaspe - Baie-Comeau Saguenay - Scenic cruising Saguenay Fjord - Quebec City (Overnight) - Montreal From £5,269pp

All prices inclusive of flights from London

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Silversea's all-inclusive fares offer a value that is the envy of any luxury holiday experience. Their small luxury ships are designed for those who delight in the thrill of discovery while indulging mind and body in the most lavish surroundings imaginable.

All accommodations are spacious, ocean-view suites that include butler service, and most include private verandas.

Introducing

Silver Muse the new ultra-luxury

flagship from Silversea With just 286 suites and a maximum capacity of 596 guests, Silver Muse represents an exciting evolution of the Silver Spirit, enhancing the small-ship intimacy and spacious allsuite accommodations that are the hallmarks of the Silversea experience.

She will boast the highest number of large suites in the fleet, the most flexibility in accommodations, and crucially more dining options than any other ultra-luxury ship at sea — with eight venues including an exclusive Relais & Châteaux® restaurant La Grande Dame and Japanese restaurant Kabuki.

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Prices

10 days Rome to Venice ...aboard Silver Wind Departing: 30 September 2016 Rome (Civitavecchia), Sorrento, Amalfi, Lipari, Siracusa (Sicily), Dubrovnik, Hvar, Koper, Venice Fares from £3250 per guest

9 days Istanbul to Athens ...aboard Silver Spirit Departing: 1 October 2016 Istanbul, Kusadasi, Marmaris, Santorini, Rhodes, Agios Nikolaos (Crete), Mykonos, Nafplion, Athens (Piraeus) Fares from £2950 per guest

10 days Western Caribbean from Florida ...aboard Silver Wind Departing: 2 December 2016 Fort Lauderdale (Florida), Cozumel, Costa Maya, Santo Tomas, Trujillo, George Town, Key West, Fort Lauderdale Fares from £2450 per guest

7 days Barbados ...aboard Silver Spirit Departing: 8 December 2016 Bridgetown, Bequia, St Vincent & Grenadines, St George’s, Kralendijk, Oranjestad, Willemstad, Bridgetown Fares from £1750 per guest

12 days Venice, Italy & Barcelona ...aboard Silver Muse Departing: 28 May 2017 Venice, Ravenna, Trogir, Brindisi, Taormina, Sorrento, Olbia, Portofino, La Spezia, Monte Carlo, Marseille, Barcelona Fares from £4450 per guest

T&Cs: All fares are cruise only based on two guests sharing the lead in suite category and are subject to availability and change. Prices correct at time of print (December 2015).

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Omnifarious Food

Food

Whilst there are some features that many cruise ships may or may not have (waterslides, robot bartenders and ice bars), food in some form is ever-present. And in the modern age of cruising there are so many options available that the world is your oyster when it comes to what you can eat.

You could tackle a traditional full English breakfast in the morning, before travelling to the Far East for some sushi at lunch and then finish with a traditional home-cooked Italian meal in the evening.

For an insight into what’s on offer, we take a look at a few specific examples found on board current cruise ships.

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Red Ginger – Oceania Cruises – Riviera and Marina

Sabor – Royal Caribbean – Various Ships

This complimentary offering from Oceania Cruises will allow you to explore the flavours of Asia without having to leave the ship. Celebrity chef Jacques Pepin takes classic dishes from countries such as India, China and Thailand before giving them a modern twist. Dishes such as ‘Seven Spices Crusted Lamb Rack’ and ‘Twice-cooked Crispy Chicken’ are sure to delight your taste buds and can be washed down with an excellent selection of flavoured teas. Red Ginger is complimentary to all guests on board.

Mexican madness ensues in this popular restaurant on board a number of Royal Caribbean’s ships.

The menu is filled with various tacos, fajitas, burritos and quesadillas amidst colourful décor and a vibrant atmosphere. The word Sabor translates from Spanish to mean flavour and that is exactly what you will get when dining at this speciality restaurant. First debuted on the Oasis Class ships, Sabor has now been added to Navigator of the Seas and Freedom of the Seas, with plans to continue rolling it out elsewhere.

For a small cover charge of $25pp, it offers a fun dining experience for all the family.

Prime 7 – Regent Seven Seas – All Ships Meat eaters rejoice, as this spectacular steakhouse on board all of Regent Seven Seas’ ships is completely complimentary for all guests. All the beef is U.S.D.A approved and has been dry-aged for 28 days, ensuring that whatever you choose from the menu, you’re in for a treat. Having said that, top of the list to try has to be the surf and turf, where a 6oz filet mignon is accompanied by your choice of lobster tail or Alaskan king crab legs.

Your meal here could well become the steak by which all other steaks are judged.

Palo – Disney Cruise Line – All Ships All four of the Disney Cruise Line ships feature the adult-only restaurant Palo. While the children are enjoying themselves in the Oceaneer Club or the Vibe teen zone, parents can enjoy a romantic meal within sophisticated surroundings. Once you learn that the name comes from the poles that are used by gondoliers in Venice, it becomes clear that Palo could serve nothing less than the most refined Italian cuisine. This speciality restaurant comes with a $25pp surcharge.

Garden Café – Norwegian Cruise Line – All Ships If you are not quite sure what you fancy, dining venues like the Garden Café are perfect. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, you can search the different food stations for whatever it is you are craving and then go back for more when you’re done. The meal suddenly turns into a competition to see who can place the most random foods next to each other on the plate, but it always tastes delicious. The Garden Café, on all of Norwegian’s ships, is a great example but most lines have their own incarnation and it’s usually free.

If you would like to experience the wide range of food that can be found on modern day cruise ships, call today to book or for more information.

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DOUBLE YOUR ENJOYMENT. MODERN LUXURY LIVES HERE. There’s more to a modern luxury holiday. A choice of over 280 worldwide destinations, and more time to explore them; award-winning cuisine with service to match, and one of the largest wine collections at sea… But we want to give you even more. Book an Ocean View Stateroom or above on selected 2016 sailings before 29 February 2016 and you’ll pay just half price for the second person, PLUS enjoy a Free Drinks Package worth up to $1,800.

Book today.

BUY ONE GET ONE HALF PRICE PLUS FREE DRINKS *

*The Free Classic Drinks Package and Buy One Half Price promotion is valid for new bookings created and confirmed between 15th December 2015 and 29th February 2016 on selected 4 night or longer sailings departing April 2016 through April 2017 excluding Celebrity Xpedition, Transatlantic, Transpacific, repositioning, Asia and South America repositioning cruises. Applicable to bookings made in Ocean View stateroom categories & above. The Buy One Get One Price Off promotion is a saving of 50% from the Cruise Cost of the second guest booked into a stateroom, no other guests within the stateroom will be eligible for the saving. The Cruise Cost refers to Cruise Fare and Taxes & Fees only. All prices are per person, subject to availability and change and include the Buy One Get One Half Price saving. Flight inclusive prices based on Birmingham flights, exc 9 May Italy & Croatia which is based on London Gatwick. Celebrity Reflection departures available May - Sep 2016. Sailing itinerary may vary by departure date. Details correct at time of print (Dec 2015). Further operator T&Cs apply.

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Prices

10 nights Italy & Croatia ...aboard Celebrity Constellation® Departing: 9 May 2016 Venice > Koper > Zadar > Split > Dubrovnik > Kotor > Naples > Catania > Venice Balcony from £1759pp* Concierge from £1949pp* AquaClass® from £1999pp*

11 nights Greece, Turkey & Italy ...aboard Celebrity Reflection® Departing: 16 May 2016 Rome (Civitavecchia) > Santorini > Athens (Piraeus) > Athens (Piraeus) > Mykonos > Kusadasi (Ephesus) > Bodrum > (Souda) > Naples > Rome (Civitavecchia) Balcony from £1479pp* Concierge from £1669pp* AquaClass® from £1819pp* (itinerary also available May - Sep 2016)

10 nights Italy & Greek Isles ...aboard Celebrity Reflection® Departing: 27 May 2016 Rome (Civitavecchia) > Sicily (Messina) > Mykonos > Rhodes > Ephesus (Kusadasi) > Santorini > Athens (Piraeus) > Naples > Rome (Civitavecchia) Balcony from £1559pp* Concierge from £1709pp* AquaClass® from £1859pp* (itinerary also available May - Sep 2016)

14 nights Scandinavia & Russia

Featured Restaurant...

“There is simply no place like Murano. Specialising in modern French cuisine you can enjoy smart casual dining in sumptuous surroundings as expert chefs create your dish in front of your eyes. From wild mushroom cappuccino to Muscovy duck breast, every dish at Murano will leave you wanting more. All dishes are lovingly paired with their ideal wine accompaniment from an extensive list of French and American wines.

You can even stop off in Murano for a Champagne high tea, or really indulge yourself with our exclusive “five senses” experience, which features a set five course menu, taking you on an adventure for the stomach and the mind”.

...aboard Celebrity Eclipse® Departing: 5 June 2016 Southampton > Zeebrugge > Stockholm > Muuga (Tallin) > St. Petersburg (2x overnight) > Berlin (Warnemunde) > Copenhagen > Southampton Balcony from £1800pp* Concierge from £2250pp* AquaClass® from £2479pp* (itinerary also available 19 June 2016 & 3 July 2016)

7 nights Italy, France and Spain ...aboard Celebrity EquinoxSM Departing: 25 June 2016 Rome (Civitavecchia) > Florence/Pisa (Livorno) > Villefranche (Nice) > Ajaccio, Corsica > At Sea > Palma De Mallorca (overnight) > Barcelona Balcony from £1229pp* Concierge from £1399pp* AquaClass® from £1519pp*

Would you like to fly from your regional airport? Call today for a personalised quote.

Jonathan Peat, Celebrity Cruises Cruisin’ Magazine 11

Tours

Escorted

That could be yours

Although cruising makes up a large percentage of what we offer, there is always the option to take a land-based holiday if you prefer. In past editions we have discussed extensions that can be added to the start or end of a cruise, but these escorted tours stand alone as fantastic trips in their own right.

There are so many options available that take you all over the world. The best thing is that everything is planned out for you, leaving you to relax and enjoy your adventure.

Here are just a few of the plentiful options available.

Iceland Adventure 9 night tour Iceland is definitely one of the trendiest holiday destinations at the moment and the local tourist board have been doing all they can to inspire travellers to visit this cool island. Not that they need to do too much, as the stunning natural scenery and cosmopolitan capital of Reykjavik sell themselves effortlessly.

This particular trip takes you to all the major sights and attractions. It traces large portions of the ring road which encircles the entire country, stopping to visit places such as the stunning Thingvellir National Park, the breathtaking Gullfoss waterfall and the vast Vatnajokull Glacier. There’s also plenty of time at the beginning and end of your tour to explore the sights and sounds of Reykjavik.

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Ultimate South Africa 10 day tour South Africa is a country that manages to juxtapose bustling modern cities like Cape Town and Johannesburg with wild regions that offer fantastic safari experiences.

You’ll be pleased to know that this 17-day tour gives you plenty of opportunities to see both sides.

Your time in Cape Town will be action-packed, with a trip up to the top of Table Mountain and a coastal drive down to Cape Point. The opportunity to see penguins and seals will be exciting but merely a precursor for the wildlife you’ll witness at the Kruger National Park. Here, an early morning game drive will take you in search of elephants, buffaloes, lions, rhinos and many more animals besides.

This South African tour also offers the chance to visit the Zulu battlefields and learn about the conflict between these native people and the British in the 1800s.

Experienced guides will bring the stories to life as you tread these sacred grounds. Finally, you can enhance your trip by adding a four-night stay in Zambia, during which you will get to see the cascading Victoria Falls.

Japan: Land Of The Rising Sun 13 day tour Spend 13 days discovering the history and culture of Japan on this fascinating tour. Your journey will take you

to cities such as Tokyo and Kyoto, as well as allowing you to see some jawdropping natural beauty in the form of Kegon Falls, Mount Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi.

Your immersive encounter will also include authentic experiences that celebrate the traditions of Japan. You will learn the delicate art of origami, sample local foods and even have the opportunity to stay in a tradition Japanese Ryokan (inn). Pause for a moment as you look back into the past at the sombre Hiroshima Peace Park and museum, before leaping into the future by travelling at around 189 mph on some of Japan’s famous bullet trains. Before you leave, there will be some time to search the luxury shops in Tokyo’s Ginza district for the perfect gifts and souvenirs.

Amazing Australia 22 day tour Australia is the envy of many countries around the world, with its glorious weather, beautiful beaches and spectacular natural beauty and you can see it all on this 22-day tour, specially designed for solo travellers.

Visit major cities such as Perth, Cairns, Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne, as well as natural wonders like Ayers Rock, the Red Centre and the Great Barrier Reef. There will be leisure days where you are free to carry out your own explorations, along with guided sightseeing tours which take in iconic landmarks such as the Sydney

Harbour Bridge, Captain Cook’s cottage in Melbourne and Bondi Beach. Included in the price you pay will be accommodation in your own room, without a single supplement, and various meals along the way.

Great Cities of Eastern USA 9 day tour America’s east coast is littered with iconic cities that provide the perfect basis for an all-encompassing tour.

This 9-day itinerary features Boston, New York and Washington DC, allowing you to visit some of the most popular attractions along this stretch of coastline.

Start your tour in Washington DC, where you can visit the Lincoln Memorial and take photographs standing on Capitol Hill. Then travel on to Philadelphia to see the Liberty Bell and taste a bona fide Philly cheese steak or funnel cake. By now it will be day four and you will be heading onto Boston. Here, you can explore over land and sea by following the Freedom Trail and taking a cruise to Bunker Hill Monument. Finally, you will arrive in New York City where you can catch a Broadway show, do some shopping and see the major sights before flying back home.

If you like the sound of any of the above or you would like more information about holidays of this kind, please call today.

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ALL IN BOOK ONE ALL INCLUSIVE CRUISE, YOUR SECOND GUEST GOES HALF PRICE.

Go all out in 2016 with selected drinks included in the price of your holiday and, what’s more, we’ll give you 50% off the cruise fare for the second guest on your booking when you book by 29th Feb 2016. Terms and conditions apply.

Book now with only £50pp deposit!

The All Inclusive (Select Beverage Package) & Buy One Get One Half Price promotion is applicable to new bookings created and confirmed from 23.12.15 to 29.02.16 Applicable to bookings made in all stateroom categories, excluding Z, Y, XN, X & W GTYs, for all departures between 01.02.16 & 3.12.16 with a duration of 6+ Nights.

The Buy One Get One Half Price promotion is a saving of 50% from the cruise fare of the second guest booked into the stateroom, no other guests within the stateroom will be eligible for the saving. The 50% saving is calculated based on the cruise fare of the first guest in the stateroom only.

The All Inclusive (Select Beverage Package/Royal Refreshment Soda Package) promotion will be applied to the 1st & 2nd guests booked in each stateroom All prices are correct at time of print, subject to availability and change and includes Buy One Get One Half Price savings. Further operator T&Cs apply.

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Prices

14 nights Italian Mediterranean ... aboard Independence of the Seas® Departing: 10 Jul & 16 Jul 2016 Southampton, UK > Gibraltar, UK > Nice (Villefranche), France > Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy > Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Italy > Provence, France > Malaga, Spain > Lisbon, Portugal > Southampton, UK FROM £1,689 per person

7 nights Norway ... aboard Independence of the Seas® Departing: 30 May 2016 Southampton, UK > Bergen, Norway > Bergen, Norway > Alesund, Norway > Stavanger, Norway > Southampton, UK FROM £959 per person

7 nights France & Spain

Featured Restaurant...

“Royal Caribbean have such a diverse and amazing choice of cuisine onboard but I have to confess - I love Johnny Rockets! The whole atmosphere is incredible, with 1950’s style duke boxes that you put quarters in, the staff dancing and the burgers and milkshakes are out of this world! It’s a truly unforgettable experience especially with the children. On a more formal side however, Chops is definitely up there.

The fillet mignon is a firm favourite of mine - steak with extreme tenderness and exceptional flavour that just melts in the mouth! It makes me hungry just thinking about it!”

Stephen Joyner, Royal Caribbean Intl

... aboard Ovation of the SeasSM Departing: 22 April 2016 Southampton, UK > Gijon, Spain > Bilbao, Spain > Paris (Le Havre), France > Cherbourg, France > Southampton, UK FROM £849 per person

7 nights Western Mediterranean ... aboard Harmony of the SeasSM Departing: 27 Aug 2016 Barcelona, Spain > Palma De Mallorca, Spain > Provence, France > Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Italy > Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy > Naples, Italy > Barcelona, Spain FROM £1,379 per person

9 nights Greek Isles ... aboard Jewel of the Seas® Departing: 30 Sep 2016 Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy > Naples, Italy > Santorini, Greece > Mykonos, Greece > Ephesus, Turkey > Athens, Greece > Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy FROM £1,209 per person Cruisin’ Cruisin’ Magazine Magazine 15 15

Award-winning Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines operates four smaller, more intimate ships – Balmoral, Braemar, Boudicca and Black Watch. Being on a smaller scale, Fred. Olsen’s stylish fleet can access many ports that larger cruise ships cannot, and in 2016/17 will take you ‘right to the heart’ of over 200 destinations around the world, from ten convenient, regional UK departure ports.

Whether travelling as a couple, a solo cruiser or part of a group, friendly Fred. Olsen has just the cruise holiday for you!

What’s more, we’ll cover your tips and give you our All Inclusive Drinks Upgrade FREE on most 2016/17 sailings* Selected house wines by the glass, selected beers, spirits and soft drinks are included all day, every day, along with the gratuities for your cabin stewardess and waiter too. So you can relax with complete peace of mind, knowing that your holiday is great value with almost everything covered.

Alternatively, book three cruises at the same time with the same lead name and the cheapest will be free of charge*

Featured Restaurant...

“My favourite restaurant has to be The Grill, with Al Fresco Dining.

The friendly, more personal style of service Fred. Olsen is renowned for seems even better when dining under the stars, taking in tranquil views and relaxing to the sounds of the ocean.”

Russell Cox, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines

16 Cruisin’ Magazine

Cruisin’

Prices

7 nights Fjords, Mountains & Glaciers (W1611)

11 nights Icelandic Wildlife, Falls & Hot Springs (L1611)

...aboard Black Watch

...aboard Balmoral

Departing: 12 August 2016 Harwich > Cruising Lysefjord, Preikestolen & Kjerag > Cruising Karmsund > Flåm (Flam), Norway > Cruising Nærøyfjord (Naeroyfjord) > Olden, Norway > Cruising Nordfjord > Bergen, Norway > Harwich

Departing: 31 May 2016 Newcastle > Reykjavik, Iceland (overnight) > Ísafjörður (Isafjodur), Iceland > Cruising Haelavikurbjarg & Hornbjarg > Cruising Drangaskörð > Akureyri, Iceland (overnight) > Cruising Eyjafjörður > Crossing the Arctic Circle > Cruising Grímsey > Cruising Skjálfandi Bay > Cruising Borgarfjörður Eystri > Seyðisfjörður (Seydisfjordur), Iceland > Cruising Cape > Enniberg > Klaksvík, Faroe

From £899pp

28 nights The Croatian & Italian Coast with Venice (M1624) ...aboard Braemar

Departing: 10 September 2016 Southampton > Gibraltar > Almeria, Spain > Cagliari, Sardinia > Cruising Stromboli > Cruise Straits of Messina > Dubrovnik, Croatia > Zadar, Croatia > Rovinj, Croatia > Cruising Laguna Veneta > Venice, Italy > Venice, Italy > Koper, Slovenia > Rijeka, Croatia > Split, Croatia > Kotor, Montenegro > Valletta, Malta > Trapani, Italy > Cadiz, Spain > Southampton From £2899pp

15 nights Exploring the Fjords of Greenland (D1615)

...aboard Boudicca

14 August 2016 Liverpool > Tórshavn (Torshavn), Faroe Islands > Reykjavik, Iceland > Tasiilaq, Greenland > Cruising Prins Christiansund > Cruising Torssukatak > Narsarsuaq, Greenland > Cruising Tunulliarfik Fjord > Qaqortoq, Greenland > Cruising Lichtenau Fjord > Nanortalik, Greenland > Cruising Tasermiut Fjord > Belfast > Liverpool

Islands > Newcastle From £1299pp

14 nights Spain, Portugal & the Canary Islands (W1622) ...aboard Black Watch

Departing: 18 November 2016 Tilbury > Leixoes (for Oporto), Portugal > Funchal, Madeira > Santa Cruz de La Palma > Santa Cruz de Tenerife > Las Palmas, Gran Canaria > Lisbon, Portugal > Vigo, Spain > Tilbury From: £1299pp

11 nights The Great British Cruise (M1620) ...aboard Braemar

Departing: 8 August 2016 Southampton > Falmouth > Cardiff, Wales > Barrow-in-Furness > Liverpool > Lerwick, Shetland Islands > Edinburgh (Rosyth) > Edinburgh (Rosyth) > Southampton, UK From £1169pp

From £3899pp (outside cabin)

*Book three cruises at the same time with the same lead name and the cheapest one will be free of charge. Valid for all 2016/2017 cruises on sale except cruise W1610 (Arctic Explorer). Not combinable with free drinks and tips promotion. Further T&Cs apply. **Tips and Tipples valid on all 2016/2017 departures on sale for durations of 5 to 35 nights inclusive, a free upgrade to all-inclusive and gratuities are included. Cruise W1610 (Arctic Explorer) and Grand Voyage sectors are excluded. Not combinable with 3 for 2 offer. Further T&Cs apply. *Enjoyment Promise is only applicable to guests who have not cruised on a Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines ship before. It excludes Party Nights and cruises of 4 nights or less.

Applicable to bookings made for departures more than 12 weeks ahead. Should you wish to invoke the Enjoyment Promise, you will need to inform Guest Relations within 48 hours of sailing at the latest. FOCL will arrange and pay for a flight and/or transport back to the UK. FOCL will refund the cruise cost only. £1 per person deposit offer for second cruise only applicable to guests on their first FOCL cruise, future booking must be made on board. Low Deposit Offer excludes cruise W1610 and cruises of 36 nts and above. Further T&Cs apply.

Cashback offer: valid on selected cruises as shown, for bookings made between 2nd December 2015 and 31st January 2016, subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Cashback is given as on board account credit for use during the cruise and is non-transferable. Unused on board spending credit may be claimed as cash on board at the end of the cruise. Offer combinable with 3 for 2 offer and free tips & tipples offer. Offer only combinable with Freedom Fares.

Cruisin’ Magazine 17

The

Happiness

Of Pursuits

With the introduction of the next generation of big ships over the last few years, the days of cruising being ‘boring’ are well and truly numbered. Whilst time in exotic ports will still be the main draw for many people, there are now so many different activities to enjoy during those sea days that you can’t fail to find something to suit all interests. From relaxing in the spa to defying gravity in a skydiving simulator, cruising is no longer just for those who like to read and play cards.

What are these exciting pursuits I hear you ask?

Here are just a few examples.

Tasting Tuscan Wines – Princess Cruises Wine lovers will find themselves right at home in Sabatini’s on board a number of Princess Cruises’ ships, especially those who prefer a Tuscan tipple. Royal Princess has the largest selection of Tuscan varieties at sea and guests can attend tasting sessions in order to find their favourite.

For around $40pp you can try five different wines accompanied by food pairings.

Risking The Ropes Course – Norwegian Cruise Line The brand new Norwegian Escape has the largest ropes course on any of the Norwegian Cruise Line ships. Simply attach your harness to a metal runner above your head and then navigate a range of different obstacles as you make your way around deck 18. There are rope ladders, tight ropes, zip wires and even two planks that extend off the side of the ship and over the ocean. Younger cruisers can also try their hand at the kids’ rope course.

A Magical Makeover – Disney Cruise Line If your Disney cruise doesn’t already make you feel as though you are part of this magical world, a makeover in the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique certainly will. Children can choose to become a range of different Disney princesses or be transformed into swash-buckling pirates in time for the evening’s entertainment. The passionate staff will make them feel extra special and allow them to live out every child’s dream. Prices vary depending on the package you choose and start from $18.95.

18 Cruisin’ Magazine

Amateur Astronomy – Cunard Cunard’s iconic Queen Mary 2 is home to the first ever planetarium at sea. Most of the time, the Illuminations Theatre shows classic and brand new movies in a cinemalike environment. However, an enrichment programme is often offered which involves key members of the Royal Astronomical Society presenting talks about space, the solar system and the big questions of the universe. A giant dome covers a section of about 150 seats so that guests can lean back and enjoy the projected display.

Make Your Own Morsels – P&O Cruises Although cruising is the perfect opportunity to relax and let others cook for you, there is often the chance to get your hands dirty yourself and learn from the best. The state-of-the-art Cookery Club on board Britannia offers 2-hour cookery classes during which celebrity chefs such as Food Hero James Martin will be sharing their expertise.

This fantastic area also hosts sessions aimed at children and features a chef’s table where large parties can experience gourmet meals.

If you would like to experience any of these exciting activities for yourself, we can offer cruises with all of these cruise lines and more. Simply call today for more details.

Experience An All-Encompassing Entertainment Venue – Royal Caribbean International With the size and nature of Royal Caribbean’s latest ships, it’s no surprise that they feature on this list twice. And we couldn’t really create a list of activities at sea without mentioning the largest indoor leisure facility on the waves.

The SeaPlex, found on board the Quantum Class ships, is a multi-faceted space that offers a variety of different activities. The main area is home to either bumper cars, roller skating, basketball practice or a circus school, whilst the outer areas offer a haven for cruisers who enjoy playing Xbox 360, table football and ping pong.

Beat Them At Bridge – Oceania Cruises If you prefer your cruising activities to be at a slower pace, you can take part in the bridge programme that Oceania Cruises provides on many of its sailings. During certain cruises aboard Insignia, Riviera, Nautica, Regatta and Marina, an accredited American Contract Bridge League master instructor will be on board to stage competitions and reveal some hints and tips in dedicated tutorial sessions.

Cruisin’ Magazine 19

Welcome to a

Better way

to holiday

Picture awaking to a new view every day.

Relaxing, drink in hand, as the next destination comes to you. Collecting life-long friends and discovering places – iconic and unexpected that offer up a blend of sights, scenery and surprises.

Featured Restaurant...

“At ‘Sindhu’, twice Michelin starred chef Atul Kochhar draws inspiration from his native India. Combining a love of spices with a passion for British ingredients, he is famed for his innovative Indian cuisine. Known as our ‘Master of Spices’, Atul Kochhar’s Sindhu restaurant has become a firm favourite with our passengers.”

Marietta Maidman, P&O Cruises

Cruisin’

Prices

14 nights Western Mediterranean ...aboard Ventura Departing: 8 April 2016 Balcony cabin from £1399pp† (HF grade) PLUS £440pp complimentary on board spending money

14 nights Western Mediterranean ...aboard Britannia Departing: 10 April 2016 Balcony cabin from £1299pp† (JE grade) PLUS £380pp complimentary on board spending money

7 nights Western Mediterranean Fly-Cruise ...aboard Oceana Departing: 27 April 2016 Balcony cabin from £949pp† (HF grade) PLUS £300pp complimentary on board spending money

7 nights Norwegian Fjords ...aboard Britannia Departing: 13 August 2016 Balcony cabin from £999pp† (JE grade) PLUS £390pp complimentary on board spending money

12 nights Canary Islands ...aboard Ventura Departing: 18 September 2016 Balcony cabin from £1599pp† (HF grade) PLUS £460pp complimentary on board spending money

†Select Prices shown are per person based on two adults sharing the lowest grade of cabin available within the applicable cabin type and are subject to availability. Fly-cruise prices include economy class flights from/to London and transfers. *Book an applicable Select Price holiday and receive on board spending money to spend during your cruise holiday. Amount varies by cabin and cruise duration. Applicable to new Select Price bookings made between 25 December 2015 and 19 February 2016 on selected cabin grades on applicable departures between March 2016 and April 2017. Full operator T&Cs apply.

20 Cruisin’ Magazine

Upgrade, on us.

Book a stateroom of your choice by 29 February 2016 on the Cunard Fare and pay the fare of the stateroom type below.*

In 2016 embark on Queen Elizabeth or Queen Victoria and explore the Mediterranean, Baltic, Norwegian Fjords, or embark on an iconic Transatlantic Crossing to or from New York aboard a true ocean liner, the newly remastered Queen Mary 2.

Transatlantic Southampton to New York

Spain & Italy

5 November 2016

23 June 2016

7 nights on board Queen Mary 2

9 nights on board Queen Victoria

From £1299pp

From £999pp

Norwegian Fjords

France, Italy & Spain

22 May 2016

15 October 2016

7 nights on board Queen Victoria

14 nights on board Queen Victoria

From £ 1149pp

From £1699pp

Or, book a 2017 World Voyage or Exotic Cruise and receive complimentary money to spend onboard!** World Voyage Southampton to Southampton

Southampton to San Francisco

10 January 2017

7 January 2017

118 nights on board Queen Mary 2

28 nights on board Queen Elizabeth

From £ 12899pp

From £ 3499pp

$1200 on board spending money!

$280 on board spending money!

*Cunard Fares shown are per person based on two adults sharing and are subject to availability. Book a Cunard Fare holiday before 29 February 2016 and when you select the stateroom type of your choice you will pay the fare of a stateroom at least one type lower (e.g. book a Balcony and pay the fare of an Inside or Oceanview). Applicable to new Cunard Fare bookings, on selected stateroom grades and departures. Offer varies by ship, valid for new bookings only and is subject to availability **On board spending money is available on selected cruises and amounts vary by stateroom type and cruise duration. Offer expires 29 February 2016 and valid on selected 2017 Exotic Cruises departing January – May 2017. Applicable to new Cunard Fare bookings only and apply to the first two passengers sharing a stateroom.

Cruisin’ Magazine 21

Preparing for your

Expedition cruise

Expedition cruises are different from your standard cruises. These are journeys of discovery and of authentic adventure, often stopping at multiple exotic destinations, and with many on-land activities. So you’ll need to come prepared. Here are a few tips to help you get the explorer in you ready.

Do your research Many of our voyages have on-board specialist lecturers to help give you extra insight into the landscapes and wildlife you will be seeing.

Similarly, for our cultural voyages along Norway’s stunning coastline, we also often invite locals to give presentations about the customs, folklore, food, and day-to-day life of their native land. Still, it is always a good idea to read up a bit on the route and destinations you will be visiting beforehand, if only to whet your appetite for your epic journey.

22 Cruisin’ Magazine

Gear up All specialist gear such as life jackets and muck boots are provided on board before certain excursions like kayaking and penguin colony landings, but you’ll still want to ensure you have sturdy hiking boots, thermal wear, and windproof clothing. Bring some warm gloves which also have some grip on them – to hold on tight during your husky dog sledge ride. Some voyages take you to warmer climes like Brazil and the Amazon Rainforest, and the warm waters there will be far too tempting to resist taking a dip, so don’t forget your swimwear either.

UV protective sunglasses Sunglasses are an essential item on whichever voyage you pick. Trips to Antarctica or Iceland and Greenland will have a good amount of snow and ice in the surrounding landscape, and without eye protection, the glare of the sun’s reflection can cause temporary snow blindness. Likewise, if cruising into the likes of Casablanca, where the sun is fairly fierce, your shades will really come in handy.

Plus, you know you look very cool wearing them.

Careful with the camera A good camera is a given as you’ll surely want to snap your prize-winning shots of whales, polar bears, and the Northern Lights. But make sure you bring extra batteries and extra memory cards for all the memories you’ll want to capture. One tip is to make sure that your camera has a cord for your neck or wrist, just so that it doesn’t accidently get dropped in all the awe and excitement. No need to bring a smile for the photos – they will come all on their own during your voyage.

Your inner explorer Hands down, the most vital element you will need on your expedition cruise is a sense of adventure. After all, adventure and exploration is what an expedition cruise is all about. It’s what sets Hurtigruten apart from all those big cruise ships and passive passengers. Don’t be afraid to jump in, feet first. You will be seeing and tasting new things, and the right attitude will help you to really experience each destination to the full.

All that’s left to do then is to awaken your inner explorer and come aboard!

Cruisin’

Prices

12 nights A Cultured Journey ...aboard Seven Seas Explorer® Departing: 13th August 2016 Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy > Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Italy > Monte Carlo, Monaco > Saint-Tropez, France > Toulon, France > Palamos, Spain > Barcelona, Spain > Ibiza, Spain > Valencia, Spain > Alicante, Spain > Cruise The Strait Of Gibraltar > Lisbon, Portugal (overnight onboard) From £6499pp

8 nights Masters & Legends ...aboard Seven Seas Explorer® Departing: 4th October 2016 Monte Carlo, Monaco > La Spezia (Cinque Terre), Italy > Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Italy > Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy > Sorrento/ Capri, Italy > Cruise The Strait Of Messina > Nauplion, Greece > Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey > Athens (Piraeus), Greece From £3889pp

11 nights Temples & Pantheons ...aboard Seven Seas Navigator® Departing: 15th September 2016 Istanbul, Turkey > Cruise The Scenic Dardanelles Strait > Alanya, Turkey > Jerusalem (Haifa), Israel > Jerusalem (Haifa), Israel > Jerusalem (Ashdod), Israel > Limassol, Cyprus > Antalya, Turkey > Rhodes, Greece > Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey > Patmos, Greece > Athens (Piraeus), Greece

The Most Inclusive

Luxury

Experience™

•

FREE Roundtrip Business Class Air* on European Voyages In Penthouse Suites and above

•

FREE Luxury Hotel Package in Concierge Suites and Higher

•

FREE Unlimited Beverages Including Fine Wines and Premium Spirits

•

FREE Open Bars and Lounges PLUS In-Suite Mini-bar Replenished Daily

•

FREE Transfers Between Airport and Ship

•

FREE Unlimited Shore Excursions

•

FREE WiFi Throughout the Ship*

•

FREE 24-Hour Room Service

•

FREE Specialty Restaurants

•

FREE Pre-Paid Gratuities

•

FREE Roundtrip Air*

From £3299pp

11 nights Sun & Style ...aboard Seven Seas Mariner® Departing: 4th November 2016 Miami, Florida > Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas > Cruise the Bahamas Islands > San Juan, Puerto Rico > Tortola, British Virgin Islands > Gustavia, St. Barts > St. John's, Antigua > Castries, St. Lucia > Philipsburg, St. Maarten > Cruise The Atlantic Ocean > Miami, Florida From £3999pp

10 nights Caribbean Dawn ...aboard Seven Seas Explorer® Departing: 18th December 2016 Miami, Florida > Cruising the Bahamian Waters > Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos islands > San Juan, Puerto Rio > Philipsburg, St. Maarten > Gustavia, St. Barts > Tortola, British Virgin Islands > Cayo Levantado, Dominican Republic > Cruising the Bahamian Waters > Nassau, Bahamas > Miami, Florida From £4959pp

Featured Restaurant..

“My favourite restaurant is Sette Mari on board Seven Seas Voyager!

By day it is La Veranda, but at night it transforms into a wonderful Italian dining experience. My favourite meal starts with a welcoming glass of Prosecco, then a wonderful arrangement of artisan breads and antipasti including my favourite Le Mozzarella Fritte (Fried Mozzarella balls) and Focaccia bread with cherry tomatoes and extra virgin oil!

I always choose Gnocchi di Patate al pesto for my pasta course – the dreamiest, most melt in your mouth gnocchi I have ever tasted accompanied by a delicious Chianti or Sangiovese red wine, a must for an Italian feast! For my ‘Secondi Piatti’, the Mediterranean Sea bass fillet, which just melts in your mouth, followed by an extravagant choice of wonderful desserts including Tiramisu which is deliciously moist and beautifully flavoured with Amaretto – the best I have ever tasted!”

Corrina Hickman, Regent Seven Seas

*Terms and conditions apply. Free WiFi only applies to last 2 cruises featured. Prices based on two people sharing the lead in grade H unless otherwise stated, subject to availability and change.

Cruisin’ Magazine 23

When you choose to cruise with Voyages of Discovery you are choosing to discover the world your way and set sail on the adventure of a lifetime. Wherever you go, our small ship Voyager takes you to the heart of your destination in comfort and stays in port longer so you can explore not only the iconic sites but also the off-the-beaten-track treasures…

Cruisin’

Prices

16 days Escape to Madeira & the Azores

14 days Dalmatian, Venetian & Greek Wonders

Discover the charming Azores and Madeira’s colourful flora during a voyage enhanced by your onboard guest speakers Departing: 22 May 2016 Portsmouth > St Peter Port > La Coruña > Horta > Ponta Delgada > Funchal > Porto Santo > Lisbon > Portsmouth From £1,574pp SAVE up to 20%

This beautiful voyage is bursting with stunning sights, which will be brought to life by expert guest speakers Departing: 13 September 2016 Dubrovnik > Split > Rijeka > Koper > Venice > Kotor > Corfu > Katakolon > Monemvasia > Piraeus From £1,815pp SAVE up to 20%

13 days Viking Lands & Icelandic Explorer

14 days Greek & Turkish Delight

Explore stunning landscapes as expert guest speakers discuss the history of this fascinating part of the world Departing: 20 June 2016 Harwich > Bergen > Akureyri > Isafjordur > Reykjavik > Torshavn > Harwich From £1,514pp SAVE up to 25%

12 days Enchanting Mediterranean Expert guest speakers will enhance your journey as you discover charming cities overflowing with historic treasures Departing: 2 September 2016 Marseilles > St Tropez > Nice > Calvi > Cagliari > Valletta > Messina > Brindisi > Kotor > Dubrovnik From £1,504pp SAVE up 15%

Discover the many highlights Turkey and Greece have to offer in the company of experts Departing: 26 September 2016 Piraeus > Thessaloniki > Kavala > Istanbul > Canakkale > Dikili > Cesme > Kos > Santorini > Gythion > Piraeus From £1,673pp SAVE up to 20%

14 days Tales of Turkey & A Grecian Escapade Soak up the beauty of Turkey and Greece as our expert guest speakers delve into their history Departing: 9 October 2016 Piraeus > Volos > Thassos > Lesvos > Izmir > Kusadasi > Bodrum > Rhodes > Kas > Alanya > Larnaca From £1,394pp SAVE up to 25%

T&Cs: All prices are based on double occupancy unless otherwise stated. Subject to availability and change.

24 Cruisin’ Magazine

Cruisin’

Prices

7 nights Rhine & Moselle Multiple departures throughout May-Oct 2016 Regional airports available Eurostar and rail option also available From £1,199pp

From the very first moment of your river cruise, you’ll know you’re travelling in true four or five star luxury on your very own “home from home,” state-of-the-art floating hotel. You’ll be on one of the most spacious, stylish, well-equipped cruise ships gracing the waterways of Europe and the wider world – the perfect setting for your river cruise in 2016.

Featured Restaurant...

All Sailings Include: • Return flights or Eurostar • Transfers • Full board on the ship • Complimentary Wifi • All guided excursions • The services of a Riviera Travel Cruise Team

7 nights Rhine Cruise to Switzerland Multiple departures throughout May-Oct 2016 Regional airports available Eurostar and rail option also available Four day fully guided post-cruise extension available from £599pp!

From £1249pp

13 nights Cruise the Heart of Europe Multiple departures throughout Apr-Oct 2016 Regional airports available From £1699pp (Middle Deck)

“All of our five-star ships have a stern restaurant at night that serves a set menu based on local food so that you can truly experience your destination. An intimate restaurant catering for around 20 you can book this free of charge once you are on board the ship.”

7 nights The Blue Danube

Tom Morgan, Riviera Travel

Multiple departures throughout Apr-Oct 2016 Regional airports available From £1099pp

Multiple departures throughout May-Oct 2016 Regional airports available Four day fully guided post-cruise extension available from £399pp!

From £1199pp

7 nights Burgundy, the River Rhone & Provence

7 nights The Douro, Oporto & Salamanca Multiple departures throughout Apr-Nov 2016 Regional airports available Four day fully guided post-cruise extension available from £399pp!

From £1299pp

T&CS: All prices based on two people sharing a stateroom and are subject to availability and change. Rhine and Moselle lead in price based on 21/07/2016, including Eurostar.

Fly-cruise also available from £1278pp. Rhine and Switzerland lead in price based on 14/07/2016, Heart of Europe based on 30/10/2016, The Blue Danube lead in price based on 13/7/2016, Burgundy, River Rhone & Provence based on 31/10/2016, Douro based on 09/11/2016.

Cruisin’ Magazine 25

Connected Staying

With Family & Friends

Whilst checking your emails and browsing the internet probably aren’t the first things on your ‘must do’ list once you’ve set sail on your holiday of a lifetime, there is no denying that at some point during your trip, you will want (or need) to do just that.

From sharing those all-important ‘selfies’ or virtual ‘wish you were here’ postcards to your friends and family back at home; to checking your bank balance or flight details for the journey home, there are many reasons you may want to get online.

We take a look at just some of the cruise lines making it easier for you to do this and how…

Celebrity Cruises Having a reliable internet connection on board a cruise is every bit as important as the price you pay for it.

All Celebrity cruise ships offer 24 hour internet cafés, whilst many others provide WiFi in public areas. $100 (around £65) gets you 208 minutes, whilst $199 gets you nearly ten hours of browsing time. Additionally, guests sailing onboard Eclipse, Millennium, Solstice, Silhouette, Summit and Infinity can visit the iLounge, where you attend classes on how to use the latest Apple products.

26 Cruisin’ Magazine

Royal Caribbean International

Hurtigruten

WiFi access and internet cafés are both available across all Royal Caribbean ships and is available for a low price of $15 per day per device on Oasis-class and Quantum-class ships; and $20 per day per device on all other vessels. Guests sailing onboard Oasis-class and Quantumclass ships can take advantage of the fastest available internet at sea, thanks to a unique new antennae.

A satellite, powered by O3b, beams internet access to these ships as they sail around the world. This results in a strong internet connection, where the user is able to stream and upload video content. Royal Caribbean is looking to provide O3b internet services across the entire fleet in the coming years.

Even when you’re sailing amongst the glaciers of the northernmost and southernmost regions of the earth, it’s possible to stay in touch with those back home and share your experiences. Internet cafés and WiFi services are both available across the Hurtigruten fleet. What’s more, guests sailing on Norwegian coastal voyages will be able to take advantage of free internet services during their time onboard. Guests sailing onboard MS Fram to the more remote regions of the world will have to pay a small charge (200 Norwegian Kroner (approx. £15) for 6 hours), but this is worthwhile when it comes to sharing your penguin selfies.

Holland America Line Sometimes, you just want somewhere quiet to relax and unwind whilst on board. Holland America vessels offer a cosy venue known as The Explorations Café, which is powered by the New York Times. Grab a coffee and either login to one of computers on board or connect via a mobile device. As Holland America is owned by Carnival Corp, all ships will have Wifi@Sea enhanced internet by 2016. Those just wanting to stay in touch with friends and family can take advantage of the social media package available onboard Westerdam. Guests can pay a mere $5 for 24 hours or $25 for the week to gain access to eight social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Be confident you are booking with THE BEST river cruise line 2015

2015

2015

U.K. Editors’ Picks

U.K. Editors’ Picks

U.K. Editors’ Picks

AmaWaterways Best for Active Cruisers

AmaWaterways Best Overall Line

AmaWaterways Best Dining

STAR CLIPPERS Tall Ships That Dreams Are Made Of

STAR CLIPPERS New for 2016

Star Clippers is returning to Asia for the first time since 2010...

Thailand & Malaysia

Depart the UK on 6th December 2016 for your overnight flight

European River cruises from just £1499pp Includes free flights, transfers, excursions, drinks with meals & much more...

TOP 11 RATED EUROPEAN RIVER CRUISE SHIPS

DANUBE | RHINE | MAIN | SEINE | MOSEL | RHONE | DOURO | BORDEAUX

Your private transfer will take you to your two night pre-cruise stay at Anantara Sathorn, Bangkok (with breakfast) Spend a half day city tour in Bangkok, visiting the Royal Palace and the Holy Wat Phra Kaew Embark Star Clipper on 9th December for your 7 night sailing visiting: Phuket | Ko Butang | Penang | Ko Adang | Ko Rok Nok | Phang Nga Bay | Ko Hong | Similan Island | Phuket On 16th December your private transfer will take you to your 3 night post cruise stay at Sala Phuket, Phuket (with breakfast) Your private transfer will then take you to the airport for your return flight on 19th December

From £2439 per person

T&Cs: Lead in fare is based on 2 adults sharing a category 6 cabin, full board cruise.

Economy overnight flights from London, non UK transfers, hotel stay and port charges are included. All prices are correct at time of print and are subject to availability and/or change and can be withdrawn at any time.

Cruisin’ Cruisin’ Magazine Magazine 27 27

New Year Sale

Save up to 40% on 5* Luxury River Cruises with Scenic Book before 28 February 2016

Featured Restaurant...

“Sailing with Scenic means opening up a world of culinary delights across a choice of venues. For fine dining in an intimate setting though, it has to be the speciality restaurant Portabellos, or L’Amour on our French river cruises.

Catering for just 30 guests at a time, authentic Italian (or French) inspired dishes are paired perfectly with wine as a truly unforgettable night unfolds over five delicious courses. From a typical antipasti starter bursting with the flavours of sun-dried tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella to mouthwatering freshly-prepared mains and delicious desserts, savour superb flavours along with great river views in a wonderful setting. Even better, every guest will enjoy at least one visit to Portabellos – and as with everything on a Scenic river cruise, it’s all included in the price.”

Cruisin’

Prices

8 Day Iconic Danube Passau > Budapest

Save a guaranteed £1,800 per couple Cruise from £1,495 per person

8 Day Treasures of the Rhine Amsterdam > Nuremberg Save up to £1,500 per couple Cruise from £1,495 per person

9 Day Black Sea Explorer Budapest > Bucharest Save up to £2,300 per couple Cruise from £1,695 per person

8 Day Idyllic Rhone Chalon-sur-Saone > Tarascon Save up to £2,500 per couple Cruise from £1,995 per person

Jasmin Brady, Scenic Tours *prices are based on two people sharing a stateroom unless otherwise stated. All prices correct at time of print (Dec 15) and subject to availability/change.

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Prices

15 days Splendours of Europe

Save up to £1,000 per person plus enjoy an extra £125pp off selected Balcony Suites when you book by 29th February 2016

Departing: April – October 2016 Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, Dürnstein, Melk, Passau, Regensburg, Kelheim, Nuremberg, Bamberg, Würzburg, Miltenberg, Rüdesheim, Koblenz, Cologne, Amsterdam From £2,695pp, Save up to £1,000pp

10 days Enchantment of Eastern Europe Departing: March – October 2016 Budapest, Kalocsa, Osijek, Belgrade, Iron Gate, Svishtov, Veliko Tarnovo, Arbanassi, Silista, Bucharest, Snagov, Bucharest From £1,295pp, Save up to £900pp

8 days Danube Delights Departing: March - October 2016 Nuremberg, Kelheim, Regensburg, Passau, Melk, Dürnstein, Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest From £1,495pp, Save up to £700pp

8 days Rhine – Main Discovery

*prices are based on two people sharing an Emerald stateroom unless otherwise stated. All prices correct at time of print (Dec 15) and subject to availability/change.Prices include return flights from London. Regional flights also available at a supplement.

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Departing: May – August 2016 Nuremberg, Bamberg, Würzburg, Miltenberg, Rüdesheim, Koblenz, Cologne, Amsterdam From £1,295pp, Save up to £700pp

Exceptional

Inclusive

Value

Stimulating, informative, relaxing, sociable - just some of the words Swan Hellenic passengers have used when describing their cruise experience. A cruise aboard Minerva is like nothing else, with meticulous attention to the finest details and with a quality and charm that is simply unique…

Cruisin’

Prices

31 days Grand Norwegian Fjords & White Sea

14 days Glorious Gardens & the Chelsea Flower Show

Departing: 10 June 2016 Portsmouth > Bergen > Flam > Maloy > Geiranger > Kristiansund > Svolvaer > Tromso > Hammerfest > Honningsvag > Honningsvag > Kirkenes > Arkhangelsk > Solovetsky > Murmansk > Leknes > Trondheim > Alesund > Floro > Haugesund > Portsmouth

Departing: 14 May 2016 Portsmouth > Honfleur > St Malo > Cruise On Minerva > Nantes > Douarnenez (Quimper) > St Peter Port > Caen > Cruise On Minerva > Rotterdam > London (Greenwich)> Portsmouth

Highlights • Discover the Hanseatic heritage along Bergen’s colourful waterfront • Visit the most famous fjord in Norway as you sail towards the village of Geiranger • Visit the Polar Museum in Tromso • Witness the natural phenomenon of the Midnight Sun. • Join Minerva on her inaugural sailing from Kirkenes to the enigmatic White Sea. • Arkhangelsk and Murmansk, the Arctic convoys of World War II • Discover the remote, UNESCO listed Solovetsky Islands • Alesund, Art Nouveau architecture stretches across three islands From £6,206pp SAVE up to 15%

Highlights • Cruise designed in partnership with the Royal Horticultural Society and featuring a range of garden themed excursions • Stroll amongst the picturesque gardens of impressionist painter Claude Monet in Giverny, Explore La Ville Intra-Muros, the ancient walled city of St Malo & admire flowers and garden vegetables at the glorious Victorian Walled Garden in Guernsey’s Saumarez Park • Includes entrance to the Chelsea Flower Show From £2,495pp SAVE up to 25%

13 days Mediterranean Mosaic Departing: 12 September 2016 Civitavecchia (Rome) > Naples > Lipari > Cruise Past Stromboli > Messina > Syracuse> Valletta > Cruise On Minerva > Sarande > Brindisi > Dubrovnik

Highlights • Witness the fascinating treasures of Pompeii and Herculaneum from Naples, ascend the slopes of Mount Etna, Europe’s highest active volcano and discover the UNESCO-listed ancient city of Butrint in Albania • Enjoy an overnight stay in the fortified port of Valletta, with plenty of time to discover the well-preserved city From £1,998pp save up to 20%

14 days Hellenic Odyssey Departing: 8 October 2016 Dubrovnik > Cruise On Minerva > Katakolon> Corinth Canal > Nauplia > Milos > Kos > Fethiye> Symi > Samos > Tinos > Piraeus (Athens) Highlights • Explore UNESCO-listed Dubrovnik, with its impressive city walls and marble streets • Minerva transits the narrow Corinth Canal - a remarkable feat of engineering • Discover Fethiye, the jewel of Turkey’s Lycian coast and home to three UNESCOlisted sites - Kayakoy, Xanthos and ancient Letoon From £2,359pp SAVE up to 20%

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Cruisin’

Prices

12 days Radiant Rhythms

21 days Polynesian Paradise

...aboard Insignia Departing: 7 November 2016 Buenos Aires (overnight) > Montevideo > Punta del Este > Rio Grande > Porto Belo > Sao Paulo (Santos) > Parati > Ilha Grande > Buzios > Rio de Janeiro (overnight) Fares from £2889pp PLUS $100 to spend on board + pre-paid gratuities

...aboard Sirena Departing: 4 January 2017 Los Angeles > Nawiliwili > Honolulu > Kahului > Hilo > Nuku Hiva > Fakarava > Bora Bora (overnight) > Raiatea > Moorea > Papeete (overnight) Fares from £4509pp PLUS $350 to spend on board

16 days Continental Passage

...aboard Marina Departing: 25 February 2017 Miami > George Town > Cozumel > Costa Maya > Roatan > Santo Tomas > Harvest Caye > Key West > Miami Fares from £2399pp PLUS $350 to spend on board

...aboard Marina Departing: 21 November 2016 Lisbon > Seville (Cadiz) > Tangier > Santa Cruz de Tenerife > Mindelo (Sao Vicente) > Recife > Salvador (overnight) > Rio de Janeiro (overnight) Fares from £2959pp PLUS $100 to spend on board + pre-paid gratuities

12 days Sunny Celebrations ...aboard Riviera Departing: 22 December 2016 Miami > Nassau > St John’s > Fort de France > Bridgetown > St George’s > Castries > Philipsburg > Miami Fares from £4079pp (Outside Stateroom) PLUS $150 to spend on board 30 Cruisin’ Magazine

10 days Seaswept Breezes

34 days Southern Cross Sojourn ...aboard Sirena 6 March 2017 Sydney > Brisbane > Whitsunday Island > Cairns > Alotau > Port Moresby > Darwin > Komodo > Bali (overnight) > Broome > Exmouth > Perth > Esperance > Penneshaw > Portland > Melbourne > Geelong > Hobart > Eden > Sydney Fares from £6819pp PLUS $300 to spend on board

Life

ADVANTAGE

FREE Gratuities • FREE WiFi • FREE House Select Drinks Package when you book any stateroom or suite

Plus receive Free on board spending money on selected sailings*

Featured Restaurant...

“Choosing a favourite restaurant for Oceania is almost impossible… we have Toscana’s authentic Italian dishes, Polo Grill’s steakhouse fare, Continental cuisine in the Grand Dining Room, and made-toorder American favourites in the Terrace Café. Onboard Sirena you can enjoy our new specialty dining restaurant, Tuscan Steak, inspired by the gourmet cuisine of Toscana and Polo Grill, and Jacques Bistro, which will serve seasonal French fare during lunch in the Grand Dining Room. Marina and Riviera both offer two additional complimentary dining venues: Jacques, the eminent Jacques Pépin’s exquisite French bistro, and the contemporary Asian culinary masterpiece called Red Ginger. And best of all, regardless of which of our restaurants you select, there are no dining surcharges!”

Louise Craddock, Oceania Cruises

*All advertised fares are per person based on double occupancy unless otherwise indicated, including discounts, shipboard credits, offers, upgrade and/or special amenities are valid for new bookings only on selected sailings and are subject to availability at time of booking. Cruise-related government fees and taxes are included. Shipboard credits are per stateroom based on double occupancy; internet packages are one per stateroom; beverage packages are one per full-fare paying adult of 21 years of age or older with a maximum of two per stateroom; free gratuities are not applicable to bar, spa, salon or boutique purchase, all of which are non-refundable and non-transferable. Shipboard credit is in US$ one per suite or stateroom and cannot be redeemed for cash or used for further discount off cruise fare. It may only be used for on-board services. These sailings may require a 1 night pre-cruise hotel stay. These are not included in any fares shown but can be arranged for a supplement. Overseas transfers are not included but can be arranged for a supplement

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Better

Together

the benefits of group travel

We’ve all heard the phrase ‘two heads are better than one’, but what about four heads? Or 10? Or more..? Travelling with a group of like-minded people is a fantastic way to see the world and taking a cruise with a group of friends, family, colleagues or even strangers is becoming increasingly popular and much easier to arrange than you may think.

Perhaps you are planning a big celebration or family reunion? Do you have a special birthday coming up, or is there a wedding on the horizon? Or perhaps you belong to what those in the trade refer to as a ‘special interest group’ ie a book club, wine or history club for example? Whichever type of ‘group’ you identify with, it’s helpful to know that more and more cruise lines are adding services, facilities and activities to accommodate a huge range of group travellers.

Group-friendly cruise lines include (but are in no way limited to!)

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, Cruise and Maritime Voyages, Pullmantur, Norwegian Cruise Line (particularly when it comes to its conference facilities for corporate groups), Riviera Travel and AmaWaterways; 32 Cruisin’ Magazine

yet depending on your interest and the type of cruise holiday you are looking for, there are many more to choose from. Silversea and Swan Hellenic for example are just two of the cruise lines offering increasingly popular Bridge-themed cruises, complete with host.

There are some great incentives for group travel too, with most cruise lines and holiday companies offering discounted travel, free places for ‘organisers’ and some fantastic on board perks from spa-packages and private cocktail receptions, to reserved areas of the ship for meetings and presentations, or additional onboard spending money for your group. Many also now employ onboard ‘group co-ordinators’ to help you arrange and book activities, organise shore excursions and generally ensure you have everything you need to make your cruise holiday memorable for all the right reasons!

For large groups, it’s also possible to hire whole ships (otherwise known as a charter) where you are free to create your own unique cruise – many companies host annual conferences and award ceremonies on board and cruise ships have also played host to concerts and festivals!

Making the most of your group cruise holiday When it comes to planning your group holiday there are a few things to consider if you want to ensure that everyone has a great time. To get the most out of your trip and ensure that all desired activities, excursions and anything else you have planned can take place as expected, it’s vital to book early. Getting a cabin on the ship of your choice to a popular destination at certain times of the year can be hard enough for one family or couple, let alone for a larger group looking for multiple staterooms.

You will also stand a better chance of being able to choose the cabin type and number itself. It also pays to book a hotel stay the night before you embark – not only will you be able to ‘start your holiday early’ but it also gives you the chance to speak to the group together about upcoming activities before all the excitement of embarkation – simply ask us to add a hotel stay on to your booking!

Group Travel Cost Savings

Benefits

Discounted travel for groups of around 10 or more, sometimes smaller groups, is one of the main benefits of travelling together

Safety When travelling in unfamiliar destinations, many people feel safer travelling as a group

Unique Insight

All Inc lus ive Cr uise Holidays

CABIN ACCOMODATION ALL INCLUSIVE DRINKS ALL OVERSEAS TRANSFERS INCLUDED RETURN FLIGHTS INCLUDED FREE GRATUITIES

Cruisin’

Prices

7 nights Breezes of the Mediterranean ... aboard Sovereign Departing: 23 April 2016, 4 June 2016, 25 June 2016 Barcelona, Spain - Olbia, Sardinia, Italy - Naples, Italy - Rome, Italy - Florence/Pisa, Italy - Provence, France - Barcelona, Spain

7 nights Mediterranean Colours ... aboard Sovereign Departing: 8 October 2016, 22 October 2016 Barcelona, Spain - Palma De Mallorca, Spain - Naples, Italy Rome, Italy - Florence/Pisa, Italy - Provence, France Barcelona, Spain Inside from £699 per person Outside from £769 per person Balcony from £899 per person

By choosing a group tour or guided excursion, you will benefit from the insight of a local guide

Friendship Whether travelling with a group of your own friends or joining a trip created by a special interest group, it’s a great way to get to know your fellow travellers and build friendships and memories to last a lifetime.

On board perks From private function rooms and drinks receptions to upgrades, spa-packages, private excursions and more

Free places Many cruise lines offer a free place for group organisers or for every 10th / 14th or 16th person in the group for example.

REGIONAL FLIGHTS AVAILABLE PRE OR POST STAY IN BARCELONA AVAILABLE Prices are based on 23/04/16 and 08/10/16 departures, prices are subject to availability/change. Flights, transfers, port taxes & and gratuities included in the total price. Full operator terms and conditions apply.

Cruisin’ Magazine 33

NORWEGIAN’S

FREESTYLE CHOICE Create YOUR All-Inclusive Holiday BOOK BY 10 APRIL 10 2016 CHOOSE ONE OF OUR FOUR OFFERS*:

FREE PREMIUM DRINKS PACKAGE FREE SPECIALTY DINING PACKAGE FREE INTERNET PACKAGE FREE SPENDING MONEY

Cruisin’

Prices

7 nights Western Mediterranean

With more destinations available than ever before and 29 global embarkation ports (8 new for 2016/17) it has never been a better time to cruise like a Norwegian.

Now featuring a portfolio of 63 destinations including the first ever visits to the Arabian Gulf & India, the first return to Australia & New Zealand since 2001, and a wider choice of South American itineraries, Norwegian Cruise Line has the most diverse range of cruise durations from 3 to 21 nights.

Winner of Europe’s Leading Cruise Line at the World Travel Awards for 8 consecutive years plus the 3rd consecutive winner of Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Line, know that your holiday is in good hands with Norwegian Cruise Line.

You’re free to plan your days on your own schedule. Either relax, be active, dress up, go casual and party all night, enjoying the best entertainment afloat.

It’s everything a great holiday should be.

Featured Restaurant...

“Fleetwide, my favourite restaurant is Cagney’s Steakhouse. Lots of choices including lamb, ribs, chicken, lobster and sea bass. I always go for a certified Angus beef New York Strip that just melts in the mouth. It’s the best steak I’ve ever had, plus decadent sides like crisp fries with truffle oil, Mac ‘n cheese or Orzo Pilaf. A wonderful dining experience.”

Mark Godden, Norwegian Cruise Line *Full Norwegian Cruise Line Freestyle Choice Terms and Conditions apply.

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…aboard Norwegian Epic Departing 5 June 2016 Barcelona > Naples > Rome > Livorno > Cannes > Marseille > Barcelona From £722pp (Cruise only) Also available from Rome or Marseille Rail option also available

14 nights Adriatic, Greece & Turkey …aboard Norwegian Jade Departing 13 August 2016 Venice > Dubrovnik > Athens > Kusadasi > Split > Venice > Corfu > Santorini > Mykonos > Katakolon > Venice From £1309pp (Cruise only)

7 nights Bermuda …aboard Norwegian Breakaway Departing 23 October 2016 New York > Bermuda > New York From £1,499pp (Flights from London Heathrow)

7 nights Caribbean …aboard Norwegian Escape Departing 5 November 2016 Miami > St. Thomas > Tortola > Nassau > Miami From £1,519pp (Flights from London Heathrow)

21 nights Journey to the East …aboard Norwegian Star Departing 20 November 2016 Dubai > Abu Dhabi > Khasab > Muscat > Mumbai (x2 overnight) > Mormugao > Mangalore > Cochin > Colombo > Phuket > Langkawi > Penang > Port Klang > Singapore From £1529pp (Cruise only)

Cruisin’

Prices

7 nights Amalfi Coast to Greece ...aboard Azamara Journey® Departing: 16th June 2016 Rome (Civitavecchia) | Sorrento | Amalfi | Giardini Naxos (Taormina) | At Sea | Santorini | Mykonos | Athens (Piraeus) Fares from: £1429pp Includes return flights from London and complimentary AzAmazing Evening in Sorrento, Italy - Songs of Campania at Cinema Teatro Armida

7 nights Eastern Mediterranean ...aboard Azamara Journey® Departing: 2nd August 2016 Venice | Sibenik | Dubrovnik | Kotor | Corfu | Giardini Naxos, Taormina | Sorrento | Rome (Civitavecchia) Fares from: £1719pp Includes return flights from London or Manchester and complimentary AzAmazing Evening in Dubrovnik, Croatia Cello Concert at Old Town Dubrovnik

More

Inclusive…

• AzAmazing EveningsSM on most voyages • Select standard spirits, international beers and wines • Gratuities • Bottled water, soft drinks, specialty coffees and teas • Self-service laundry • Shuttle service to and from port communities, where available • Concierge services for personal guidance and reservations

Early booking benefit Receive up to $1,000 On Board Spending Money* if you book at least 10 months before sailing date!*

7 nights Pearl of the Adriatic ...aboard Azamara Journey® Deaprting: 9th September 2016 Venice | Hvar (overnight) | Split | Dubrovnik | Durres (Tirana) | At Sea | Venice (overnight) Fares from: £1789pp Includes return flights from London or Manchester and complimentary AzAmazing Evening in Split, Croatia Cello Concert at Mestrovic Gallery

5 nights Monaco Grand Prix ...aboard Azamara Quest® Departing: 24th May 2017 Nice, France | Florence, Italy | St.Tropez, France | Cannes (Monte Carlo), France | Montecarlo, Monaco | Nice, France Fares from: £1569pp Cruise only – flights available on request.

A similar itinerary is also available for 2016

Featured Restaurant...

“I love the contemporary, inventive Italian cuisine at Aqualina, where you can enjoy a fresh experience of Italy’s most famous dishes including pastas, poultry, fish and veal. Starters include beef tenderloin carpaccio with orange oil, lobster ravioli, and seared tuna wrapped in veal, followed by second courses such as sweet pea and fennel soup or delicious salads of watermelon and tomato or arugula and radicchio with prosciutto chips. Main courses include forest mushroom risotto, a perfectly grilled veal chop, a Venetian seafood platter or delicate dover sole. Be sure to save room for Azamara’s famous desserts like marsala custard, lemon soufflé, tiramisu and chocolate torte!”

Stuart Pearce, Azamara Club Cruises

Terms and Conditions: All prices based on two people sharing the lead in stateroom, subject to availability and change. Prices correct at time of print (Dec 15). *On board spending money – up to $300 Interior & Ocean View, $400 Veranda, $500 SP/N1/N2 Suites & $1000 CO/CW Suites.

Cruisin’ Magazine 35

Cruisin’

Prices

7 nights Spain & Portugal ...aboard Emerald Princess Departing: 16 April 2016 Sail from Southampton and visit Vigo, Lisbon, La Rochelle & Guernsey Fares from £499pp

3 nights Channel Islands Mini Cruise ...aboard Emerald Princess Departing: 23 April 2016 Sail from Southampton and visit St Peter Port, Guernsey Fares from £249pp

11 nights Canary Islands ...aboard Emerald Princess Departing: 26 April 2016 Sail from Southampton and visit Las Palmas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Lanzarote, Funchal (Madeira) & Vigo Fares from £699pp

ust Pay j

it epofsore d £50u book be th pp

if yo ruary 29 Feb 2016

7 nights Norwegian Fjords ...aboard Emerald Princess Departing: 28 May 2016 Sail from Southampton and visit Stavanger, Olden, Skjolden/Sognefjord & Bergen Fares from £699pp

14 nights Mediterranean Adventurer ...aboard Emerald Princess Departing: 23 July 2016 Sail from Southampton and visit Barcelona, Corsica, Rome (Civitavecchia), Florence/ Pisa, Genoa, Marseille & Gibraltar Fares from £1199pp

14 nights North Cape & Norwegian Fjords ...aboard Emerald Princess Departing: 6 August 2016 Sail from Southampton and visit Stavanger, Flaam, Olden, Trondheim, Honningsvag (North Cape), Tromso, Gravdal, Alesund & Bergen Fares from £1049pp

Featured Restaurant...

“My favourite onboard restaurant is Crown Grill - Princesses own steak house and seafood restaurant which serves the best steaks at sea...

The reason I love this restaurant so much is because I can have the choice of a Fillet steak cooked to perfection with a side of lobster also. Featuring premium aged beef and fresh seafood items, the Crown Grill offers a truly special dining experience with an open, theatrestyle kitchen where chefs customprepare fresh seafood and cookedto-order steaks. The cover charge is from $25pp.”

Charlotte Brailsford, Princess Cruises

T&Cs. Prices are based on two people sharing an Inside stateroom unless otherwise stated and include taxes, fees and are correct at time of going to print. £50 deposit per person is applicable to all sailings within this campaign only and is non-refundable.

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Cruisin’

Save up to 40% on all 2016/2017 sailings Book by 31st March 2016 , subject to availability.

Prices

7 nights Majestic Fjordland …aboard Magellan Sails from London Tilbury Departing: 21st May 2016, Various other dates and ports available.

Cruise only from: £589 per person

9 nights British Isles Discovery …aboard Magellan Sails from London Tilbury Departing: 3rd September 2016, Various other dates available.

Cruise only from: £839 per person

12 nights Iceland & Northern Isles

Featured Restaurant “My favourite restaurant is the Kensington onboard Magellan. This formal restaurant, is decorated in a contemporary style, whilst being light, bright and spacious. With tables ranging from 4 to 8 guests it is the perfect opportunity to meet fellow cruisers over a sumptuous 5 course evening meal.”

…aboard Magellan Sails from London Tilbury Departing: 24th June 2016, Various other dates available.

Cruise only from: £1079 per person

28 nights Canada in the Fall …aboard Marco Polo Sails from Liverpool Departing: 27 August 2016, Various other dates available.

Cruise only from: £2189 per person

Laura Cann, Cruise & Maritime Voyages

Viewing of the Northern Lights are subject to atmospheric conditions. Gratuities of £5 per person per night will be added to your onboard account

Cruisin’ Magazine 37

Baked Lamb

In Pastry The Cunard Way

Chef Jean-Marie Zimmerman has made a name for himself both at sea and on land, having recently been named amongst the Maîtres Cuisiniers de France. After a spell with Celebrity Cruises, he became the executive chef on board the Queen Mary 2 in 2004 and created ‘The Verandah’ restaurants on all three of the Cunard vessels.

A genius in French cuisine, here is his recipe for baked lamb in pastry with a chicken and mushroom duxelle.

Ingredients:

mushroom duxelle and then place it back in the fridge to rest.

• Now it’s time to get the lamb ready. Trim any excess fat from the outside and then cut the whole rack in half.

Carefully remove the middle bones by following the contours with a sharp knife.

• Season both pieces with the salt and pepper, before spreading an even layer of the duxelle mixture on top. This should be about half an inch thick. Do not cover the sides or the bottom of the meat.

• Cut two pieces of puff pastry, each twice the size of the lamb. Place them around the meat and trim any excess, but do not seal the sides.

• Brush with egg wash, allow it to rest in the fridge for 15 minutes and then brush with the egg wash again before the pieces go in the oven.

• Roast for 15 minutes if you like your lamb medium and 20 minutes if you prefer it slightly more done.

• Serve with some diced potatoes and wilted spinach.

For The lamb • 1 x 7-8 boned lamb rack • 1 x sheet of puff pastry For The Chicken Mousse • 50g chicken (diced) • 1 egg white • 50ml whipping cream • Salt and white pepper to season For The Mushroom Duxelle • 50g button mushrooms (finely chopped) • 25g oyster mushrooms (finely chopped) • 25g shallots finely (chopped) • 5g flat parsley (chopped) • 25ml white wine • 15g unsalted butter

Cruisin’

Sudoku

• Salt and pepper to season Method • Preheat the oven to 190°c • Start by preparing the duxelle. To do this, melt the butter over a medium heat and then sweat the shallots until soft.

• Add both types of mushrooms and fry until all the water from them is gone.

• Glug in the wine and allow it to reduce until all the liquid is gone again.

• Season with the salt and pepper, add the parsley and cook for a further 2-3 minutes.

• Remove from the heat and place in the fridge to cool down.

• Next, it’s time to prepare the chicken mouse. Place the diced chicken, salt, pepper and egg white in a blender and mix slowly.

• Whilst the machine is running, add the cream bit by bit until everything comes together to form a paste.

• Pass the mixture through a fine sieve, mix with the 38 Cruisin’ Magazine

For the correct answers, call or email us today!

Holiday

Extras

Don’t leave home without them!

Your cruise holiday specialist can help you organise so much more than just your cruise. Arrange your holiday extras before you travel, and you can make your holiday completely hassle-free.

Cruise Insurance

Standard Insurance

Hopping on-board your cruise holiday will be your first step into complete relaxation with Holiday Extras’ cruise insurance by your side. You won’t need to worry about a thing - you will be protected against cruise departures, cabin confinement, missed ports, itinerary changes and more.

If you need to cancel, our insurance could protect costs up to £150k!

Taking out an insurance policy should be the first thing you do after booking your cruise holiday. You’ll be protected from the point of purchase, so you’ll be covered in case you need to cancel - as well as insurance for medical expenses, possessions and delays while you’re away.

Latitude Insurance Pre-existing medical conditions should not hold you back from exploring the world. If you’ve struggled to find insurance to cover your medical conditions on holiday, and particularly for when you’re on-board, then perhaps Holiday Extras’ Latitude Insurance could help? It’s been specially designed for cruise trips too!

Port Extras Whether you’re starting in Southampton or Dover, or flying somewhere exotic first, Holiday Extras can take the hassle out of your predeparture plans with their range of port & airport hotels and car parks.

Contact your Cruisin’ Specialist TODAY to arrange your HOLIDAY EXTRAS

Cruisin’ Magazine 39

Contact your personal GoCruise Specialists

Sarah & Bjarne Thelin  01844 390 203  sarah@gocruise.co.uk  www.gocruise.co.uk/sarah-and-bjarne For your peace of mind 09 44

ABTA No. J5035

All prices are per person based on two adults sharing the lead in cabin grade unless otherwise stated. Prices correct at time of print (Dec 2015), and are subject to availability and change. Full operator terms and conditions apply and offers can be changed/withdrawn at any time. E&OE.

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