MSC Cruises' Massive Sale - $1 Fares for 2nd Passenger!

                 

Like we needed any excuse to set sail aboard one of these incredible cruises! From September 3-9, anyone who books an MSC Cruises’ 2012 Grand Voyage will only pay $1 plus port charges for the second passenger. Seriously!

This hot deal for couples is one of a number from the leading cruise line during the inaugural International Cruise Week promotion, organised by the International Cruise Council of Australasia.

The offer applies to five sailings, one aboard MSC Opera from Venice on November 1, 2012, to South Africa’s Cape Town - 19 nights, the first passenger paying from $1319, the second guest from $476, including the port charges.

Other sailings and prices are as follow:

• MSC Magnifica, from Genoa on October 27, 2012 for 17 nights to Santos in Brazil, from $1289 and $426;
• MSC Fantasia, from Genoa on November 11, 2012 for 16 nights to Santos in Brazil, from $1249 and $401;
• MSC Orchestra, from Genoa on November 25, 2012 for 15 nights to Rio de Janeiro, from $1099 and $376;
• MSC Lirica, from Genoa on November 30, 2012 for 15 nights to Antilles in the Caribbean, from $1169 and $376.

In addition to the Grand Voyage specials, MSC Cruises will offer $100 per person onboard credits on 2013 cruises of the Mediterranean and Northern Europe with prices starting at $609pp twin share for a seven-night Mediterranean cruise and from $1288pp, twin share for a 14-night Grand Mediterranean cruise.

Seven-night Northern Europe cruises start at $919pp twin share, 14-night Grand Northern Europe cruises from $2058pp, twin share.

What are you waiting for? Phone MSC Cruises on 1300 028502 or  head to their website and book that dream cruise!

     

A small ship expedition through Asia aboard the Silver Shadow

Silver Shadow is offering a series of 9 or 11 day sailings from Hong Kong, Bangkok or Singapore to fascinating ports in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam later this year. The bonus of travelling on the smaller Silver Shadow is that it can venture into the heart of many small ports and harbours inaccessible to larger ships. That means each of these six Silver Shadow cruises includes an overnight stay in Ho Chi Minh City, moored close to the city centre - a fantastic sight from onboard and a memorable experience!

With a maximum of only 382 guests in ocean view, all-suite accommodation, the all-inclusive fares start from US$5399 per person, double occupancy, in a Vista Suite. Guests also receive US$1000 onboard spending credit per suite, to spend on spa treatments, boutique purchases, shore excursions and premium wines. Your stay onboard also includes personal butler service in every suite, informative guest lecturers, all fine dining and complimentary wines, Champagne and drinks, 24 hour room service, spacious suites and all gratuities.

 Silver Shadow will also explore Asian waters between February and May next year before returning to Alaskan waters in late May 2013.

For more information and a brochure contact Silversea Cruises on +61 2 9255 0600 or toll free 1300 306 872 (Australia) or 0800 701 427 (New Zealand), or visit www.silversea.com

Take the wheel on a private overnight cruise - Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

Life Resorts has just launched the first of its summertime package for couples wanting a unique experience while in Vietnam: a private two-day-one-night cruise allowing guests to set their own course within Ha Long Bay’s spectacular Central, Eastern and Western Isles.

Features of the 2-day/1-night package include a night aboard the four-star Life Heritage Resort Ha Long Bay, a choice of three customizable itineraries, entrance fees to major attractions in the bay, full meals, complimentary welcome cocktails and afternoon tea, unlimited non-alcoholic drinks, as well as free use of the boat’s kayaks, snorkeling and fishing gear.

Available until Sept. 30, 2012, Life’s summer package is priced at VND 9,450,000 per couple, inclusive of taxes and service charge. 

Designed to accommodate only two guests per cruise, each of the heritage junks is a four-star floating hotel room, manned by its own four-man crew. Guests have full reign of the boat’s quarters, including a luxury cabin with panoramic windows, en-suite bathroom, swim deck, sun deck, and covered lounge area, and you can sail to any point of your choosing. Sounds like an incredible way to see the sights and immerse yourself in the beauty of this world renowned bay!

For bookings or enquiries, email halong@life-resorts.com or call +84 (0)33 6253 000.

Experience 'La Dolce Vita' with an Italian River Cruise in 2013

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises will add another extraordinary river cruise destination to their collection of itineraries: Italy, the Po River, and the Venice Lagoon. The 13-day Splendours of Italy itinerary combines a 7-night river cruise along the Po River and the Venice Lagoon with a 2-night land stay in Florence and 3-nights in Rome.  

What a stunning way to explore the region's art, architecture, music, cuisine, landscapes, culture, religious and political history - you get to experience the 'must see' sights in the iconic cities of Rome, Florence and Venice, and have the opportunity to venture off the beaten path, travelling to such places as Ravenna, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, and enchanting Verona―the home of literature's most famous lovers―Romeo and Juliet. 

And hey, this is Italy .... food features big! Guests will also be introduced to Italy's distinctive culinary delights attending a pasta-making workshop in Bologna, the culinary capital of northern Italy. Throughout the journey, they'll also indulge in the culinary flavours of the region―from crispy Roman pizza to creamy Venetian gelato to hearty Chianti. Yum!

Couples wishing to travel to Italy with Uniworld during their inaugural season, will receive from $700 to $800 savings p/person by paying in full at the time of booking before June 30, 2012. From $6049 (p/person - twin share, excluding tax), Uniworld's new 13-day Splendours of Italy includes: 7-nights in a riverview stateroom onboard the luxurious River Countess; 2-nights in a deluxe hotel in Florence and 3-nights in a deluxe hotel in Rome. All meals onboard with complimentary fine wine, beer, and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, fully guided excursions with local experts and all transfers on arrival and departure days, and throughout the program. The 8-day Venice & the Po River cruise only itinerary is priced from $3199 (p/person - twin share, excluding tax). 

Sailing the Greek Isles aboard the majestic Star Clippers

Three consecutive seven-night cruises will cap the tall ship Star Clipper’s Greek Isles and Turkey 2012 sailing season in the Mediterranean.

The 110m 170-passenger replica clipper ship will sail from Athens on September 29, and October 6 and 13. The first and last cruise will visit ports in the Southern Cyclades (Rhodes, Bodrum, Dalyan River, Santorini and Hydra). The October 6 sailing will cover the Northern Cyclades, with highlights including an opportunity to visit the ancient site of Ephesus, the picturesque harbour and sacred cave of St John the Divine on Patmos, the remnants of old civilisations and the 11th century cliff-face monastery on Amorgos and the perfectly preserved Byzantine ruins on Monemvasia.

Prices start at $3022 including port charges, and all meals and entertainment on board. 

Star Clippers combines the romance of the legendary era of sailing ships with the indulgence of a luxury private yacht. The other sailing ships in the fleet are Royal Clipper and Star Flyer. It's a grand way to travel the high seas, with style and elegance, and a respectful nod to a rich history on these waters that have seen so many great ships throughout the centuries. What a way to travel!

For reservations contact your travel agent or Star Clippers on 1300 362 599 or email.

Free Upgrades on MSC Cruises' Grand Mediterranean program

MSC Cruises is offering passengers the chance to “move up the world” with a free upgrade on a selected number of its Grand Mediterranean cruises. Furthermore, the family-owned cruise line is offering complimentary transfers between Venice and Genoa to link the back-to-back seven-night Eastern and Western Mediterranean cruises which make up the Grand Mediterranean package.

The offers apply to combo bookings on MSC Armonia and MSC Sinfonia from July 20 until October 19, 2012, as well as MSC Splendida and the yet-to-be-launched MSC Divina (pictured here) in October, 2012.

The upgrades deal means you could pay for an inside category one cabin only to find yourself boosted to a category six to 10 ocean view cabin on some of the cruises - so you can have an ocean view cabin from just $1318 per person, twin share for a combo cruise on MSC Armonia and MSC Sinfonia in October. That’s 14 nights for less than $100 a night with the free transfer between ships (Venice and Genoa) thrown in. Impressive value!

On the program, the MSC Armonia sets sail from Venice and calls on Ancona in Italy, Corfu, Greece’s Santorini, Athens and Atgostoli before cruising to Kotor in Montenegro and back to Venice.

Passengers are then transferred to Genoa where they board MSC Sinfonia for a round cruise which includes calls on Civitavecchia (Rome), Salemo (Amalfi Coast), Tunis, Ibiza, Palma and Marseille.

In October, with prices starting at $1598 with an upgrade to a category 4 or 5 ocean view cabin, MSC Divina will cruise from Venice to Bari, Katakolon (Olympia), Izmir, Istanbul and Dubrovnik before the passenger transfer to Genoa for a cruise aboard MSC Splendida to Barcelona, Tunis, Valletta, Messina and Civitavecchia (Rome) and back to Genoa.

The MSC Divina will be christened by screen legend Sophia Loren at a gala ceremony in Marseille in late May, and the ship’s maiden voyage will be a six-nighter from Marseille to Venice before it begins a series of seven-night East Mediterranean cruises, prices from $939 per person twin share.

For more details phone MSC Cruises on 1300 028502, or head to their website and set sail in style!

Star Clippers 'Malta to Athens' cruise price cut

Fancy a European cruise aboard the majestic Star Clipper luxury tall ship? Well check out their latest special offer - a one-off cruise  from Malta to Athens via Sicily and the Greek Isles has been reduced by 35 percent for early bookings!

Discounted cabins start at $2069 per person twin share if booked before January 31 for the seven-night rare sailing cruise as Star Clipper relocates from the Caribbean to Athens for the European Mediterranean summer. The price includes port charges and all meals and entertainment on board.  

The cruise starts in Valetta (Malta) on April 28 to Syracuse in Sicily, then the picturesque seaside town of Katakolon in Greece followed by famed Mykonos and Hydra before berthing in Athens.

From its summer home port in Athens, Star Clipper will operate 23 cruises mainly to the Greek Isles but with some special cruises to Venice and Istanbul.

On October 20 the ship leaves Athens for a 35-night westwards repositioning cruise through the Mediterranean and across the Atlantic to St Maarten in the Caribbean. Segments of this great ocean crossing are sold separately offering the opportunity to visit Spain, Morocco and the Canary islands.

Star Clippers operates three of the world’s largest and tallest sailing vessels visiting ports often untouched by larger cruise ships with passengers experiencing the activities, amenities and atmosphere of a private yacht. And, having travelled aboard one of these incredible ships before, we can tell you it is a journey like no other - travelling on the high seas on one of the finest tall ships in the world is an experience that makes for incredible memories!

All three ships have expansive teak decks, swimming pools, informal dining, a convivial Tropical Bar on deck, a comfortable piano bar and first class accommodation and dining. The two smaller ships, Star Flyer and Star Clipper, take 170 passengers each, with a crew of 70, and Royal Clipper carries 227 with a crew of 106.

For reservations contact your travel agent or Star Clippers on 1300 362 599 or email:starclippers@creativecruising.com.au. You can get more information at their website.

MSC Cruises launch a new round of European gourmet voyages

Leading cruise line MSC Cruises will really whet the appetite of foodies with their recently launched luxury European cruises, on board the MSC Splendida, MSC Fantasia and MSC Lirica. There is an exciting new series of gourmet voyages planned which will feature the creations of some of Europe’s highly acclaimed celebrity chefs, including two-time Michelin Star winner, Spain’s Paco Roncero, the UK’s “celebrity chef” Antony Worrall Thompson (pictured) and Germany’s highly rewarded Kolja Kleeburg. Italy’s equally commended Mauro Uliassi and Frenchman Gilles Epie, awarded a Michelin Star at a youthful 22, will also weave their magic on the cruises, and all will be putting on demonstrations and tastings of European cuisine to make for a truly gourmet experience in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.

To complement two of these cruises, MSC Cruises (Australia and New Zealand) has created a 19-night Italian Gourmet Fly/Explore and Cruise package from Australia, priced from $5359 per person twin share from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide, from $5169pp twin share from Perth.

Departure from Australia is on January 24, 2012, and includes return Qantas economy class airfare, a meet and greet with the tour manager at Milan Airport, two nights’ stay in Lake Como (including daily breakfast and one dinner), sightseeing with entry to the Cenacolo Vinciano museum to view Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Last Supper” and a cruise on Lake Como visiting Bellagio.

Guests will then transfer from Lake Como to the beautiful Piedmont region with wine tasting and farmhouse village lunch before having an overnight stay in the stunning city of Turin with breakfast and sightseeing. En route to Genoa to board MSC Splendida for the first of two back to back seven-night cruises, there will be wine tasting in Monteferrato. It's a truly sublime trip, filled with history, culture, and some seriously good wine and food!

During the cruises, which include ports Barcelona, Casablanca, Gibraltar, Valencia, Marseille, Valetta, Tunis and Civitavecchia (Rome), there will be demonstrations from Michelin star French chef Gilles Epie (Jan 28 until Feb 4) and UK Michelin Chef Antony Worrall Thompson who will “inspire our healthy side” on the cruise between February 4-11. Airport taxes, fuel charges and port charges are included. 

For more details you can phone MSC Cruises in Australia on 1300 028502 or check out their website. 

Experience the Amazon aboard an intimate luxury boat

Now this is the way we would like to experience the majesty and might of the Amazon River! Discover Peru's greatest natural eco system aboard the luxury cruise ships, M/V Aqua and M/V Aria - just imagine lounging on the deck as the sun sets over the waters, or awake at sunrise each morning as the rainforest comes alive and the wildlife greet the morning sun. Viewing the Amazon and its tributaries from aboard the M/V cruise boats transports you to a whole new world, traveling in comfort, deep into the Amazon rainforest and jungle. 

Aqua Expeditions is a specialist travel company, offering their guests a pretty amazing itinerary - every day of your Peruvian luxury cruise experience will be packed with new discoveries as you explore remote places along the Amazon by water and on foot, spot unusual wildlife, and meet with local native people. 

They offer three, four and seven-night Amazon River luxury cruises and they all leave from Iquitos, a bustling town which was once a rich center of the rubber industry. So you can explore as much of the sites of the rest of Peru as you like before stepping off land and in to the luxury of your private cabin aboard one of these majestic boats. Completely throws the whole notion of an Amazon adventure being rough and tough, doesn't it?

Romance and adventure on the Caribbean sea

Having been personally blessed to have traveled aboard a Star Clippers cruise along the Italian coastline a few years back, this writer can attest to just how amazing the experience can be. Sailing the high seas aboard one of these majestic ships is truly stunning, watching those sails hoist up each day, sipping champagne on deck as the sun sets, the ocean stretching out before you ... it's exquisite with grandeur, luxury and elegance.

So take that picture and put yourself in it ... in the southern Caribbean! Star Clippers is running an incredible 14-night sailing cruise aboard the luxury clipper Star Flyer along the northern coast of South America, calling at a string of exotic islands and ports along the way. Scheduled to depart from Bridgetown, Barbados on November 6th this year after a 29-night respositioning cruise from Cannes, the Caribbean itinerary will take in the islands of Margarita, with their stunning white sand beaches, and Blanquilla, home of the renowned "Venezuelan Wall", a 300 metre drop-off of coral and sea life. You'll pass through the scuba diving meccas of the Lesser Antilles - Bonaire, Curacao and Aruba, call at the tropical city of Cartegena in Columbia, and culminate the journey with a crossing of the Panama Canal. 

The 14-night cruise costs from $6210 including all meals and entertainment on board, port charges and gratitudes. For reservations contact your travel agent or Star Clippers on 1300 362 599.