Fred. Olsen to increase number of sailings from Liverpool, Newcastle in 2019-20

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: Latest offers Latest offers

Published: 04 May 2018 04 May 2018

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines is offering a record number of departures out of Liverpool and Newcastle in 2019-20. Black Watch will operate 22 ex‑Liverpool sailings between April 2019 and March 2020, up from 18 this year. Prices for the five-night Scottish Lochs & Islands cruise on May 24 next year lead in at £649. The lead-in price for the 16-night Mediterranean & French Riviera cruise, departing October 12, 2019, on Black Watch, is £1,999.

From Newcastle, the number of Balmoral sailings between April 2019 and March 2020 will increase from 15 to 16. Prices for a Cruising German Waterways sailing on Balmoral, departing on April 21, 2019, from Newcastle, lead in at £899.

Fred Olsen is also offering a ‘three cruises for the price of two’ deal on selected sailings. Agents booking one selected cruise departing between October and December 2018, plus any two cruises in 2018, 2019 or 2020 before May 31, will receive the lowest-priced sailing for free.

Clare Ward, the line’s director of product and customer service, said: “The appealing combination of choice and value offered by Fred Olsen has already seen many first-time cruisers and repeat customers from the Newcastle and Liverpool areas make the decision to sail from their local port.”

Lindblad to offer shorter Galapagos voyages

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Latest offers Latest offers

Published: 31 March 2018 31 March 2018

Galápagos is a bucket list destination for many travelers, but not everyone has the luxury of time to commit to an extended voyage. Now for the first time in Lindblad Expeditions’ 50+ years of bringing citizen explorers there, they are offering brand-new, shorter itineraries.

The new Wild Galápagos Escape packs a ton of activities into one exhilarating week to discover the wonders and wildlife of this magical place, with departures on Saturday and Thursday. Set aboard the newly refurbished 48-guest National Geographic Islander, the expedition features 5 days in the archipelago exploring the islands, with one night pre-voyage in Guayaquil, and the option of another night post voyage at no additional charge. With multiple adventures each day on land and undersea—including options for walks and hikes, kayaking, paddle-boarding and snorkeling—guests will enjoy the full Lindblad-National Geographic Galápagos cruise experience on these shorter expeditions with five days exploring the archipelago.

Dr. Sylvia Earle, marine biologist and Explorer-in-Residence at the National Geographic Society, will join the first two Wild Galápagos Escape voyages as special guest speaker. Named one of Time magazine's "Heroes for the Planet," Sylvia is former chief scientist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and founder of SEAlliance, which partnered with National Geographic on Mission Blue to further global initiatives aimed at restoring health and productivity to the ocean. She will join the November 24 and 29, 2018 voyages.

The other departures for Wild Galápagos Escape include April 27; May 2, 11, 16; August 31; September 5, 14, 19, and October 31, 2019. Rates begin at $5,450 per person based on double occupancy in a category 1 cabins.

Guests can also experience the best of Galápagos and Machu Picchu in nine action-packed days on Lindblad’s new Wild Galápagos & Peru Escape. Starting in Lima on a Saturday night, stay two nights in the Sacred Valley, enjoy fabled Machu Picchu and see Cusco, imperial capital of the Inca. Journey to Galápagos for a five-day voyage aboard National Geographic Islander, with multiple adventures every day on land and undersea—returning home on Sunday. Departures are December 1, 2018; May 4 & 18, September 7 & 14, November 2, 2019. Rates begin at $6,250 per person based on double occupancy in a category 1 cabin.

Lindblad is providing complimentary roundtrip charter flights from Ecuador to Galápagos for guests that book Wild Galápagos Escape or Wild Galápagos & Peru Escape on the above noted departures.

Other Galápagos news for 2018 & 2019:

– Hotel del Parque: Guests booked on National Geographic Islander will stay at the Hotel del Parque in Guayaquil, an elegant boutique hotel set along the banks of the Río Daule. Housed in a lovingly restored 19th-century building nestled within the secluded haven of Parque Histórico’s lush botanical gardens, it is a fitting retreat to an expedition aboard the yacht-scaled National Geographic Islander. Guests can enjoy after-hours access to the Parque’s botanical and zoological exhibits; the Museo del Cacao y del Chocolate; the cobble streets lined with colorful, historic buildings; and the verdant grounds, where the chatter of macaws and spider monkeys replace the sounds of a busy port city. With just 44 beautifully appointed rooms, two courtyards, a 19th-century chapel, and a gourmet café facing the river, this serene tropical refuge will elevate guests’ Galápagos experience.

– Free Round Trip Air: Lindblad is offering free roundtrip air from Miami to Guayaquil, Ecuador for guests traveling aboard National Geographic Islander and National Geographic Endeavour II on select departures on the longer 10-day expeditions through Dec. 2018. Guests can also opt for an upgrade to Business Class for $500 on Miami/Guayaquil flights on select departures. Both offers are subject to availability and must be ticketed by Lindblad Expeditions.

Complimentary Bar Tab and WiFi time: New for 2019 aboard any Lindblad voyage in Galápagos, guests will receive complimentary bar (excluding certain premium brands) and an hour of free Wifi a day per person.

Celestyal Cruises launches 20% commission special for travel agents

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Latest offers Latest offers

Published: 25 April 2018 25 April 2018

Celestyal Cruises is celebrating the launch of its newest itineraries with a 20% commission special on 7-day all-inclusive cruise bookings. The company is pleased to demonstrate its ongoing commitment to its North American travel agent partners rewarding them with commission across the majority of components, including the cruise fare (which includes, standard unrestricted drinks package and select shore excursions), additional pre-sold shore excursions, and pre-sold premium drinks upgrade package. This special 20% commission offer is applicable on new bookings made between now and June 30th, 2018 for any 7 day all-inclusive cruise departing in 2018, 2019, and 2020.

In the ongoing effort to continue introducing new destinations and to reach its goal of presenting year-round cruising in the Aegean, Celestyal Cruises recently introduced three new 7-day all-inclusive itineraries: the new Idyllic with sailings commencing in April 2018, and starting in 2019 the new Eclectic and Three Continents cruise programs.

All of these exclusive new itineraries, like all of the line’s cruises, feature the Celestyal Inclusive Experience – the industry’s best all-inclusive program including meals on board, drinks, entertainment, gratuities, port charges, and the best excursions – all in one price! The line’s generous drinks package offers passengers included top shelf spirits, wines, cocktails and beers, specialty coffees, bottled water, as well as juices and sodas. This is just one of the many reasons Celestyal Cruises has been recognized as one of the industry’s best-value and best-service cruise lines.

Beginning on April 30, 2018, Celestyal Crystal will perform the highly-anticipated new 7-day Idyllic – departing from Athens’ port of Piraeus and featuring overnight stays in the marquee ports of Mykonos and Santorini, ideal opportunities for experiencing these postcard perfect Greek Isles as well as their world-renowned nightlife and unparalleled sunsets. Along the way travelers will discover the off-the-beaten path island of Milos, a volcanic island acclaimed for having some of the most beautiful beaches in the Aegean; Crete, where the Minoan Palace of Knossos awaits adventurers; and Turkey's Kusadasi, where cruisers are sure to be awe-struck on an in-depth shore excursion to explore Ancient Ephesus.

Celestyal Cruises is re-affirming its commitment to supporting tourism in Turkey, and is thrilled to unveil its Eclectic itinerary that will re-introduce the port of Istanbul to its cruise programs. With weekly sailings from October 21st through November 25th of 2019, this itinerary will sail round-trip from Athens’ port of Piraeus and include an overnight in exotic Istanbul, considered a high-demand, bucket list destination for many North American travelers. The itinerary also introduces two new destinations: Greece’s Volos, perfect port for taking in Meteora’s hanging monasteries, and Turkey’s Canakkale, gateway to Troy and site where the WWI Gallipoli Campaign took place. Travelers on this itinerary will additionally have the opportunity to visit Crete and Santorini, and will also experience the lively vibes of Mykonos with an overnight stay.

The new Three Continents sailings will commence in December of 2019 with five sailings from the 2nd through the 30th that will also mark the introduction of Christmas and New Year’s cruises in the Aegean for Celestyal Cruises. This itinerary is an enchanting voyage visiting intriguing destinations on the three Continents of Europe, Asia and Africa. Beginning and concluding in Athens, passengers will explore cities and villages in Greece, Egypt, Israel, Cyprus, the Greek Islands, and Turkey. From Greece's capital, the voyage heads to Alexandria and Port Said in Egypt – land of Pharaohs and Pyramids. The journey continues in Israel, with inspired excursions to sites of biblical and historical importance. Next, and a new destination Celestyal Cruises is introducing as part of this itinerary, is Cyprus' Limassol where travelers can visit the area's mountain villages and tour Paphos. The Greek Island of Rhodes and Turkey's Kusadasi round out this fascinating itinerary before sailing back to Athens, mythical home to the Greek gods and goddesses of centuries gone by.

Pearl Seas Cruises’ complimentary pre-cruise packages for Cuba sailings

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Latest offers Latest offers

Published: 16 March 2018 16 March 2018

Pearl Seas Cruises is offering complimentary pre-cruise packages for new bookings on Fall 2018 Cuba sailings from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The complimentary package includes a one-night premium hotel stay in Ft. Lauderdale and transportation to the ship. Currently, the Line also has savings of up to $3,000 off per stateroom on select Fall 2018 sailings and is waiving port charges and fees. The 11-night Cuba Cultural Voyages are scheduled November through December 2018, with additional sailings in 2019. All cruises are round-trip from Ft. Lauderdale and recent Spring testimonials have been resoundingly positive.

Pearl Seas Cruises is one of the only lines that circumnavigates Cuba and offers 2 days to enjoy historic Havana. The 11-night Cuba Cultural Voyage stops in Havana, Cienfuegos, Trinidad, Casilda, El Cobre, and Santiago de Cuba. Pearl Mist guests experience an all-inclusive cruise with onboard lecturers and experts, guided shore excursions, excellent cuisine, cocktails every evening, and beer and wine served with lunch and dinner.

Pearl Mist’s 11-night Cuba Cultural Voyage follows a “people-to-people” cultural exchange program during which guests engage directly with the warm Cuban people at each port. Pearl Mist passengers have the opportunity to meet local musicians, historians, and artists; experience Havana in a classic American car; enjoy a pottery demonstration in Trinidad; and take a guided excursion in Cojimar, the fishing village that inspired Ernest Hemingway’s famous novel The Old Man and the Sea.