Saga River Cruises publish 2024 programme

Saga River Cruises, which is part of the UK based Saga plc group, has published its  2024 itineraries. 

“There are a lot of exciting new experiences for our river guests in 2024, including Spirit of the Douro arriving in the fleet to operate one of our most popular regions, the introduction of ‘taster cruises’ that are just five nights, new itineraries including to Lake Ijssel and Flanders Field and more of what our customers love most, such as André Rieu events,” Nigel Blanks, CEO of Saga Cruises, said in a statement.

“Our ‘Spirit’ river cruises are now all-inclusive from dining and drinks to wifi and gratuities, and we offer a complimentary chauffeur service from home to the airport or St Pancras, and back again. Everything is taken care of so our guests can just relax and enjoy the rivers.”

Excitingly, Saga’s fleet will be joined from March 2024 by a new addition, Spirit of the Douro, which will operate on its namesake river throughout the full season.

The ship will offer 63 cabins, all of which face out onto the river. Like its sister ships, Spirit of the Rhine and Spirit of the Danube, Spirit of the Douro will also boast a restaurant with panoramic views and a sun deck for the warm weather. It will be almost impossible to miss any of the sights from the ship and guests can expect the same high-quality, all-inclusive experience and ‘Spirit’ service that they experience on other Saga cruises.

Spirit of the Douro will undertake 36 Douro Explorer cruises between March and November 2024, with prices starting from £1,461 per person. The region, which is incredibly popular with travellers, is famous for its beautiful wines and attractions such as the city of Salamanca and Lamego’s baroque Sanctuary of Nossa Senhore dos Remedios.

Saga will also be offering a range of five-night ‘taster’ river cruises, which are a great option for those who want to try river cruising before committing to a longer itinerary. Examples include A Taste of Holland with Keukenhof which starts in Amsterdam on 4 April 2024 and visits Hoorn, Lelystad, and Zaandam, where guests will tour the famous Keukenhof Gardens.

Battlefields and concerts

Saga will also be offering an Ypres and Flanders Fields cruise, stopping at the town that saw some of the most bitter fighting of World War I. The tour will call at the Flanders Field Memorial Museum and the Menin Gate Memorial during the Last Post ceremony to pay respect to those who fought and fell. The cruise, which starts in Amsterdam on 1 May 2024, will also call in Rotterdam, Dordrecht, Ghent, and Brussels. Prices start from £1,536 per person for this six-night itinerary on Spirit of the Rhine.  

A new Rhine in the Springtime cruise, also on Spirit of the Rhine, will offer the only stop of the season in beautiful Bingen – once the home of visionary and composer Hildegard von Bingen. The cruise will start in Dusseldorf on 20 March 2024 and call in Koblenz, Rudesheim, Speyer and Arnhem. This eight-night cruise starts from just £1,409 per person.

An unusual itinerary along Lake Ijssell in the Netherlands will explore the maritime ports and tiny islands on its shores. This 11-night Hidden Treasures of the Ijsselmeer cruise departs from Amsterdam on 8 June 2024 on Amadeus Elegant, and will visit Enkhuisen, Den Helder, Oudeschild, Harligen, Sneek, Kampen and Deventer. Prices start from £2,511 per person.

And due to the overwhelming demand, Saga will now be offering four 2024 André Rieu cruises (in previous years there has been a maximum of three), all including tickets to one of the ‘King of Waltz’s’ concerts. One, a seven-night André Rieu’s New Year Concert in Amsterdam promises to be a brilliant start to 2024, as it departs on Spirit of the Rhine on January 3, 2024, with cabins available from £1,849 per person.

The other 2024 André Rieu cruises will be on Amadeus Elegant, which joins the fleet in May 2023. These include: André Rieu in Maastricht, a four-night cruise departing on July 5 and July 9 2024 respectively with prices from £1,299; The André Rieu Hometown Experience, an 11-night cruise departing on 24 June 2024 from Amsterdam starting from £3,144 per person, and The Moselle and André Rieu, a 12-night cruise departing on 13 July 2024 from Maastricht with prices from £3,314 per person.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines to visit Antarctica on 78 night cruise from Portsmouth

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines will be cruising from Portsmouth this December, offering a selection of festive cruises and an unforgettable exploration of South America and the Antarctic.

Leaving on 10th of December, Balmoral will depart from Portsmouth on a festive voyage to Spain and Portugal where guests will be able to admire the festive light displays of Vigo and meander Funchal’s Christmas markets in Madeira.

Other sailings from the port include a chance to enjoy a warm festive break with Christmas celebrations in the Canaries, offering guests an unforgettable Christmas at sea with Balmoral in full festive decorations. 

And in early 2023, Balmoral will depart on a 78-night exploration of South America and the Antarctic. On this sailing, there will be a chance to enjoy an unforgettable circumnavigation of the continent, where guests can enjoy cruising the scenic Patagonian Fjords in Chile, the wildlife rich Galapagos Islands, the sandy beaches and blue waters of the Bahamas or, for the first time in Fred. Olsen Cruise Line’s history, the Antarctic.

Portsmouth is just one of Fred. Olsen Cruise Line’s regional departure ports, alongside Southampton, Dover, Liverpool, Newcastle and Rosyth (Edinburgh).

Clare Ward, Director of Product and Customer Service at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said:

“At Fred. Olsen, we have almost 200 years of seafaring history, and so to welcome guests aboard form Portsmouth, a city with rich maritime heritage, is particularly exciting for us.

“These sailings have been hand-crafted by our team of dedicated Journey Planners, to offer our guests something special at the time of year they are visiting. Plus, the smaller size of Balmoral means everyone can be sure of a warm and friendly atmosphere aboard all of her sailings, whether it’s for a warmer festive break, or that once-in-a-lifetime voyage to South America and Antarctica.”

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ sailings from Portsmouth this winter are as follows: 

Balmoral’s 12-night L2233 ‘Festive Spain and Portugal’ cruise, departing from Portsmouth on 10th December 2022. Prices start from £599 per person.
Itinerary: Portsmouth, England – Lisbon, Portugal – Cádiz, Spain – Funchal, Madeira (overnight stay) – Vigo, Spain – La Coruña, Spain – Portsmouth, England
For more details: Visit Balmoral’s L2233 ‘Festive Spain and Portugal’ cruise

Balmoral’s 14-night L2234 ‘Christmas Celebrations in the Canaries’ cruise. Departing from Portsmouth on the 22nd December 2022. Prices start from £1,599 per person.
Itinerary: Portsmouth, England – Funchal, Madeira, Portugal (overnight stay) – Santa Cruz De La Palma, Spain – Arrecife, Spain – Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Spain – Santa Cruz De Tenerife, Spain – Portsmouth, England
For more details: Visit Balmoral's L2234 'Christmas Celebrations in the Canaries' cruise

Balmoral’s 78-night L2301 ‘Exploration of South America and the Antarctic’ cruise, departing from Portsmouth on 5th January 2023 (returning to Southampton).
 Prices start from £7,999 per person.
Itinerary: Portsmouth, England – Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal – Horta, Azores, Portugal – King’s Warf, Bermuda – Nassau, Bahamas – Colon, Panama – Panama Canal – Guayaquil, Ecuador – Callao, Peru (overnight stay) – Matarani, Peru – Arica, Chile – Valparaiso, Chile – Castro, Chile – Puerto Chacabuco, Chile – Cruising Chilean Fjords – Punta Arenas, Chile – Cruising by Cape Horn – Ushuaia, Argentina – Cruising Antarctica Peninsula (three days) – Port Stanley, Falkland Islands – Montevideo, Uruguay – Buenos Aires, Argentina (overnight stay) – Itajai, Brazil – Ilhabela, Brazil – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (overnight stay) – Salvador, Brazil – Recife, Brazil – Mindelo, São Vicente, Cape Verde – Santa Cruz, Tenerife – Southampton, England

Oceania Cruises publishes World and Grand Voyage itineraries for 2024/25

Oceania Cruises, the world's leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line, announced its most extensive, expansive, and immersive series of World and Grand Voyages for 2025. The line reprised its perennially popular Around the World in 180 Days voyage for 2025, albeit in a very unique east-to-west navigation. Underscoring the increasing popularity of the brand's demand for longer, languid, destination-immersive voyages, Oceania Cruises also introduced a series of seven Grand Voyages ranging in length from 50 to 111 days.

 

 2024-2025 WORLD AND GRAND VOYAGES

 

"This new collection of globe-spanning itineraries includes both iconic and off the beaten path ports of call and offers a wealth of opportunities for our guests to explore the farthest corners of the globe, making the journey just as rewarding as the destination," stated Howard Sherman, President and CEO of Oceania Cruises.

 

Each of these Grand Voyages takes advantage of one of life's greatest luxuries: time. The journeys range from a spectacular 111-day expedition of wonders across the South Pacific, New Zealand, Australia, Southeast Asia, Africa and the Mediterranean to an extraordinary journey that is the first of its kind – combining fascinating explorations of three continents aboard two small, luxurious ships with an incredible multi-day Land Program in between. Above all else, these itineraries were designed for the intrepid explorer, the traveler with an endless wanderlust and a penchant for enjoying the finer things in life.

 

First Of Its Kind – Far and Wide: The Ultimate Odyssey

74 Days, Two Ships, Five Countries, Three Continents – December 22, 2024 - March 6, 2025

 

This ultimate odyssey transcends the imagination as it explores three continents on two small, luxurious ships linked by an amazing, immersive Mid-Cruise Overland Program. Kicking off with a 50-day circumnavigation of Australia, Indonesia, and New Zealand sailing roundtrip from Sydney, guests are then flown via business class air service to South America for explorations of Patagonia, Antarctica, and the Chilean Fjords. Linking these two extraordinary cruises are two enthralling overland tours that guests will get to choose from – six days in the extraordinary Blue Mountains of Australia or six days in the Andean Lakes District of Chile and Argentina. Truly the ultimate odyssey, this eclectic journey stretches from great cities Down Under to Ushuaia, the city at the end of the world, and staggeringly beautiful lands of Patagonia and Antarctica.

 

Ultimate Odyssey Highlights

 

Explorations of 3 awe-inspiring continents and 5 countries

5 overnights offering a blend of cultural and free-spirited Australian destinations and spellbinding Patagonian outposts, plus an overnight in the paradise of Bali

A south-of-the-equator masterpiece that reveals boundless adventure on an itinerary spanning from the Tasman Sea to the Chilean Fjords

A sought-after circumnavigation of multifaceted Australia, spending about a month visiting 18 destinations, along with a week-long exploration of incredible New Zealand

A stunning multi-week tour of legendary Patagonian landscapes and surreal Antarctic seascapes

Choice of an included 6-day Overland Program in either the Blue Mountains of Australia or northern Patagonia

 

The Gold Standard of World Cruises – Around the World in 180 Days 180 Days, Five Continents, 32 Countries, 89 Ports – January 5, 2025 – July 3, 2025

 

Setting sail on a rare east-to-west journey, the 2025 Around the World in 180 Days cruise is filled with exotic horizons and illuminating experiences. From Miami, the 656-guest Insignia heads south for explorations in vibrant Brazil and the wilds of the Amazon before crossing the great Atlantic Ocean for adventures in the villages and majestic landscapes of Africa. En route to South Africa, this crossing features a call on the most remote inhabited island on the planet: the volcanic isle of Tristan da Cunha.

 

Insignia then continues east, to the great cities and untold wonders of Asia, with explorations of some of the most exclusive islands lining the Indian Ocean along the way. The French Comoros, Maldives and Seychelles give way to captivating destinations in Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Indonesia and beyond. As Insignia heads south along the less explored coast of Western Australia, you will have the opportunity to discover some of this continent's most unsung treasures. During our navigation of the South Pacific, we'll make a rare call on Champagne Bay on Vanuatu along with some of French Polynesia's most stunning islands before heading north to visit the lush Hawaiian Islands to conclude this global journey.

 

The full 180-day Around the World cruise is made even more exceptional with our Exclusive Prestige Package, which includes a collection of generous amenities such as Free Pre-Paid Gratuities, Free Laundry Services and immersive Shoreside Events.

 

Around The World Highlights

 

Exclusive Shoreside Events:

Montevideo – Estancia Asado & Cultural Immersion

Namibia – Starlit Desert Dune Dinner

Singapore – A Magical Night in the Garden of Wonders

Bali – A Lavish Evening of Indonesian Culture

Adelaide – Quintessential Barossa Valley Wine Experience

Overnight Port Stays:

Manaus, Brazil

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Walvis Bay, Namibia

Cape Town, South Africa

Richards Bay, South Africa

Mahé, Seychelles

Colombo, Sri Lanka

Yangon, Myanmar (2 Nights)

Singapore, Singapore

Bangkok, Thailand

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Shanghai, China

Bali, Indonesia

Adelaide, Australia

Sydney, Australia

Auckland, New Zealand

Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Papeete, French Polynesia

Honolulu, Hawaii

Mid-Cruise Overland Programs

Amazon Rainforest Experience from Manaus

African Safari from Cape Town

Taj Mahal from Cochin

Ancient Temples of Bagan from Yangon

Angkor Wat from Sihanoukville

Terracotta Warriors from Shanghai

Additional Grand Voyage Offerings

 

Ultimate Pacific Traveler – Los Angeles to Sydney – 79 Days, October 3 – December 22, 2024

 

11 countries, 7 overnight port stays

Nearly two weeks in Japan and three weeks exploring Australia and New Zealand

A literal tapestry of destinations including Alaska, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore, and Indonesia

South America Kaleidoscope – Miami to Rio de Janeiro – 50 Days, December 7, 2024 – January 26, 2025

 

11 countries, 6 overnight port stays

A comprehensive exploration of South America that includes Chile, Brazil, Peru, Argentina, and Uruguay

Three days cruising in Antarctica and a crossing of the Panama Canal

Grand Eastern Reflections – Abu Dhabi to Singapore – 78 Days, December 22, 2024 – March 10, 2025

 

16 countries, 15 overnight port stays

One week in India, 3 days in Myanmar, one week in Vietnam, one week in China, two weeks in Japan, three days in the Philippines, and one week in Indonesia

A unique melding of exotic, ancient cultures with glittering, modern metropolises

Epic Continental Explorer – Papeete to Barcelona – 111 Days, February 25 – June 17, 2025

 

28 countries and 12 overnight port stays

 

A multi-month sojourn that spans the South Pacific, Southeast Asia, Africa and beyond

Multiple weeks spent exploring the Indian Ocean and Africa, including the continent's exotic and mysterious western shores

Patagonia to Iberia Mosaic – Santiago de Chile to Barcelona – 63 Days, March 6 – May 8, 2025

 

10 countries and overnight stays in Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, and Lisbon

In-depth explorations of Uruguay, Argentina, and Brazil

Off-the-beaten path immersion of Spain including Almeria, Málaga, Huelva, Melilla, and Alicante

Asia & Oceania Odyssey – Tokyo to Honolulu – 72 Days, May 22 – August 1, 2025

 

12 countries and 11 overnight port stays

 

An intriguing blend of culture and history throughout Japan, China, and Southeast Asia mixed with the enchantment of the South Pacific and Hawaiian Islands

Some of the world's greatest wonders – Ha Long Bay, Great Barrier Reef and Bora Bora.

 

 

 

P&O Cruises announces new offers to celebrate 60-days to go until Arvia’s maiden cruise

P&O Cruises newest ship Arvia will set sail on its maiden cruise to the Canary Islands in 60 days’ time on December 9, 2022.

The 14-night historic cruise will leave from and return to Southampton and will visit six destinations in Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands, including: Madeira, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Cádiz and Lisbon.

To celebrate the countdown there are new offers available, including a saver price from £849 per person for an inside cabin.

Guests can expect a host of festivities throughout the fortnight from a sail away party on deck and appearances and performances from special guests. Each guest will also receive a commemorative gift in their cabin and will be among the first to try out Arvia’s new entertainment, relaxation and dining experiences.

P&O Cruises offers unbeatable value with so much included, including accommodation, full board meals, pools and entertainment (theatre shows, headline performers, live bands, comedy and first run films), as well as supervised round-the-clock complimentary children’s clubs.

 Shore experiences and drinks can also be pre-purchased in pounds avoiding any currency exchange fluctuations.

 

More on Arvia:

 

  • Arvia is the latest evolution in the P&O Cruises experience, embodying the newest trends in travel, dining and entertainment, and will be the epitome of a sunshine resort sailing year-round to the warmest climates.

  • Arvia is designed to bring guests even closer to the sea, sky and shore, reflecting its name meaning ‘from the seashore’, and will feature P&O Cruises first-ever retractable roof SkyDome.

  • New dining options will reflect the ports on Arvia’s itineraries, including Caribbean dishes designed by Local Food Hero, Shivi Ramoutar and a Mediterranean-inspired menu from José Pizarro. Arvia will also offer entirely new dining experiences, including Green & Co feat. Mizuhana which will have a plant-led menu reflecting the latest trends in vegan, vegetarian and flexitarian dining. 6thStreet Diner will give guests an all-American dining option, complete with great music and ice-cold cocktails.

  • World-class entertainment will provide guests with a multitude of options day or night, with exclusive new stage show, Greatest Days – The Official Take That Musical brought to life by an amazing cast from the Headliners Theatre Company. WaveLength will also be a new addition to Arvia as a new interactive gameshow, virtually starring presenter and game show host Ben Shephard.

  • The new Altitude activity zone will feature activities for guests of all ages, from minigolf, an aqua zone at Splash Valley and P&O Cruises first ever high-ropes experience. Mission Control, a unique escape game combined with multimedia 3D simulation will create a thrilling underwater challenge for all the family.

 

Azamara offers $500 onboard credit, premium beverage package for two in promotion

Receive a free Premium Beverage package* for two plus $500 onboard credit* when you book a select sailing between 14th November 2021 and 5th May 2023!

These offers give you a wider variety of drinks to choose from and $500 to spend on shore excursions, spa treatments, speciality restaurants, and other favourites. Our inclusive amenities such as gratuities, exclusive cultural events and more are always included.

Set sail for Europe and the Mediterranean with our new itineraries. From the whitewashed villages of Greece to the black sand beaches of Tenerife, your days will be filled with fantastic discoveries. Late nights in port and overnights let you explore more, including Rhodes, Greece, where dazzling views and ancient pillars at the Acropolis of Lindos are sure to impress.

Our Cruise with Confidence programme gives you the flexibility to change your voyage up to 48 hours before you sail.† Book by 14th December 2021.