Blount Small Ship Adventures celebrates Presidents' Day with deals and historic cruises

Details

Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Latest offers Latest offers

Published: 06 February 2015 06 February 2015

Blount Small Ship Adventures is offering patriotic discounts and historical itineraries in honor of Presidents’ Day. Guests looking to sail with President Nancy Blount on August’s President’s Cruise can save 15% when booking by Feb. 27, 2015. In addition to the President’s Cruise, guests can honor America’s leaders by booking the ‘Big Apple to the U.S. Capital’ or ‘D.C. to Boston’ itineraries, both of which visit cities that have shaped the nation’s history. History buffs save 40% when booking the ‘Big Apple to the U.S. Capital’ or ‘D.C. to Boston’ cruises, which offer sailings in May and June.

The President’s Cruise gives guests the chance to sail the ‘Two Nation Vacation: Maine & New Brunswick’ itinerary alongside Nancy Blount, President of Blount Small Ship Adventures. The Grande Caribe sets sail from Saint John, New Brunswick on August 2 and introduces passengers to the charming coastal towns of Maine and New Brunswick, including the Canadian ports of Digby, Nova Scotia, Grand Manan and St. Andrews-by-the-Sea, New Brunswick, as well as Eastport, Bar Harbour, Rockland, Bath and Portland, Maine. A festive welcome dinner and celebration with local entertainment marks the start of the voyage, which sails for 10 days.

Guests can also pledge their allegiance on the ‘The Big Apple to the U.S. Capital: New York to D.C.’ and ‘D.C. to Boston’ itineraries. ‘The Big Apple to the U.S. Capital’ carries passengers from New York City to the D.C. area, with stops in the East Coast’s most historic and scenic cities. The eight-night cruise departs May 22, June 1 and 2, with alternating departures and arrivals between New York City and Alexandria, Va. Along the way, guests can partake in historical and cultural excursions, including a visit to the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. When the cruise docks in Alexandria, passengers can venture to D.C. to soak in the nation’s history.

 ‘D.C. to Boston’ allows guests to explore Washington D.C., Baltimore, Md., Philadelphia, Pa., New York, N.Y., New London, Conn., Newport, R.I. and Boston, Mass. while aboard the Grande Mariner. The ship embarks in Alexandria, Va., the home of George Washington, on June 11th and spends 11 nights sailing 15 picturesque East Coast waterways, including the Cape Cod Canal. Highlights of the cruise include spectacular views of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor and the historic steeples of Boston, Mass.

Blount Small Ship Adventures epitomizes the best of small ship cruising. Each ship holds only 88 passengers, featuring patented designs such as retractable pilothouses and shallow-draft bow landing ramps that enable them to dock at remote ports that larger ships simply can’t reach. Access to these lesser-known destinations gives passengers the chance to travel like explorers, immersing themselves in the local culture for a truly authentic travel experience.

All Blount cruises include three meals daily with menus that are fresh, creative and often reflect the local cuisine, refreshments and snacks 24-hours a day, plus guest lectures and workshops. Single-seating meals with an open seating policy allows for the freedom to meet many traveling companions. Blount cruises also feature a BYOB policy, with mixers and set-ups for cocktails available throughout the day, along with complimentary house wine and beer offered during lunch and dinner.

For more information, visit www.blountsmallshipadventures.com or call 1-888-618-4770. Follow Blount Small Ship Adventures on Facebook at Blount Small Ship Adventures, and Twitter at @BlountSmallShip.

Norwegian Cruise Line UK launches Wave Season promotion

Details

Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: Latest offers Latest offers

Published: 06 January 2015 06 January 2015

Norwegian Cruise Line UK says it is introducing ‘Norwegian’s Freestyle Choice’ for its Wave campaign for 2015, giving guests more benefits and greater ability to customise their holidays than ever before.

The offer is available between 8 January and 27 February 2015 on any cruise of five nights or more departing between January 2015 and April 2017.

Guests booking an Oceanview Stateroom or higher can, depending on destination and stateroom category, choose one, two or even three complimentary offers to enhance their Freestyle Cruising® experience:

·         The Ultimate Dining Package. Guests can experience a different speciality restaurant every night of the holiday, along with the great variety of dining options already included in the cruise fare. Guests can savour French cuisine at Le Bistro, tuck into a sumptuous steak at Cagney’s steakhouse or watch delicious Asian cuisine being prepared and cooked before their eyes at Teppanyaki and more.

·         The Ultimate Beverage Package. Guests can enjoy their favourite wine, beer, cocktails and also a wide selection of premium spirits for as long as they sail in up to 22 bars and lounges. There’s a venue to match every mood from ambient champagne and piano bars to lively cocktail bars and night clubs.

·         On-board spending money. Guests can get up to $300 on-board spending money per stateroom to pamper themselves with a spa treatment, book one of many shore excursions be it enjoying a cocktail on a beach hideaway in the Bahamas or trekking a glacier in Alaska and much more.

Guests who book a cruise in Europe can choose any 2 offers, when sailing in an Oceanview Stateroom or above. If cruising in a luxury Suite or accommodation in The Haven by Norwegian guests will receive all three offers.

Those booking an Oceanview Stateroom or above in the Caribbean, the Bahamas & Florida, Bermuda, Alaska, Canada & New England, the Mexican Riviera or South America can choose one offer unless they are staying in a Suite or The Haven where they will receive all three.

Guests experiencing the beautiful islands of Hawai’i on board Pride of America in an Oceanview Stateroom or above will receive both the Ultimate Dining Package and up to $300 on-board spending money, regardless of the accommodation they choose.

And customers cruising the Panama Canal or enjoying Transatlantic or repositioning cruises booked into an Oceanview Stateroom or above will receive a choice between the Ultimate Dining Package and on-board spend, while guests in Suites or The Haven accommodation receive both.

Graham Sadler, Managing Director Norwegian Cruise Line, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises said: “We are thrilled to be offering this promotion as it allows guests to create the holiday that they want, which is what Freestyle Cruising is all about. By choosing the offer that suits them, guests can find out what “Cruising Like a Norwegian” really means on board 13 ships in destinations all over the world.”

The offers are valid on a huge array of destinations including early and late 2015 winter sun cruises to the Canary Islands or Mediterranean; summer 2015 and 2016 programmes, including Norwegian Epic’s first year-round itineraries in Europe; plus winter 2016 cruises, right up to April 2017.

Itineraries in ‘Norwegian’s Freestyle Choice’ promotion include:

A seven-night Western Mediterranean from Barcelona cruise on board Norwegian Epic departing various dates between 3 May and 22 November 2015. Travelling: Barcelona, Spain – Naples (Pompeii), Italy – Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy – Livorno (Florence/Pisa), Italy – Cannes, France – Palma (Majorca), Spain – Barcelona, Spain.

An Inside stateroom is priced from £579 and a Balcony stateroom is priced from £769 per person. Based on two people sharing on both the 15 and 22 November 2015.

A 14-night South America from Buenos Aires/Valparaiso cruise on board Norwegian Sun departing various dates between 21 November 2015 and 26 March 2016. Travelling: Valparaiso (Santiago de Chile), Chile – Puerto Montt, Chile – Puerto Chacabuco, Chile – Cruise Patagonic Channels – Cruise Chilean Fjords – Cruise Strait of Magellan – Punta Arenas, Chile – Cruise Beagle Channel (Glacier Cruising) – Ushuaia, Argentina – Cruise Cape Horn – Stanley, Falkland Islands – Puerto Madryn, Argentina – Montevideo, Uruguay (on 16 Jan Punta del Este replaces Montevideo) – Buenos Aires, Argentina or vice versa.

An Inside stateroom is priced from £1139 and an Oceanview stateroom is priced from £1389 per person. Based on two people sharing on 5 December 2015.

A seven-night Adriatic, Greece & Turkey from Venice cruise on board Norwegian Jade departing various dates between 25 April and 10 October 2015. Travelling: Venice, Italy – Dubrovnik, Croatia – Piraeus (Athens), Greece – Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey – Split, Croatia – Venice, Italy.

Carnival Cruise Line offers special Carnival Vista Europe group promotion through February 28

Details

Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Latest offers Latest offers

Published: 26 January 2015 26 January 2015

With reservations now open for the new Carnival Vista, which debuts in May 2016 with eight- to 13-day Mediterranean itineraries, Carnival Cruise Line is hosting a special promotion offering reduced initial deposit requirements for group bookings by 50 percent, as well as an enhanced amenity points program for travel agents, through February 28, 2015.

Through the new “Meet Up in the Med” promotion, guests may enjoy reduced deposits of $200 per person (compared to the standard $400 per person) on Carnival Vista sailings departing between May 1, 2016 and October 21, 2016.  In addition, Carnival is offering travel agents eight amenity points versus the normal six amenity points for each group booking.

“We heard from travel agents over the last year how important group business is to them, so we wanted to present a value-driven group opportunity that not only offers attractive options on our newest ship but also on our first European sailings in three years,” said Joni Rein, Carnival’s vice president of worldwide sales. “From multigenerational family gatherings to girlfriend getaways, this promotion offers agents a multitude of ways to bring together groups who want to visit breathtaking European destinations on our newest, most innovative ship.”

Group fares applicable to this promotion, which are available between now and February 28, 2015, begin at $999. Certain restrictions apply.

Designed to connect guests to the ocean with sweeping views and plenty to do both outdoors and in, Carnival Vista will take cruising to new heights and introduce an exciting array of groundbreaking new features. These include SkyRide, a breakthrough suspended open-air cycling experience; the world’s first IMAX® Theatre on a cruise ship; an expanded water park featuring the colorful Kaleid-O-Slide, the line’s first raft-riding water tube slide; Seafood Shack, a delectable New England-inspired eatery; RedFrog Pub, including the line’s first onboard brewery, and other enhanced dining, bar and entertainment options, along with new tropics-inspired Havana staterooms and other accommodation types.

For a complete list of terms and conditions regarding the “Meet Up in the Med” promotion, travel agents may visit GoCCL.com.

Bookings open for Britain's first cookery school at sea on Britannia

Details

Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: Latest offers Latest offers

Published: 17 December 2014 17 December 2014

Bookings are now open for Britain's first cookery school at sea on the new P&O Cruises ship Britannia, as well as availability for Eric Lanlard's afternoon tea and the new Limelight Club, the company said in a statement.

"Passengers with holiday bookings may now reserve places in advance through the cruise personaliser site up to three months before departure. https://cp.pocruises.com/login/

The Cookery Club run in consultation with Britain’s favorite TV chef James Martin is a unique opportunity to learn from one of the best chefs in the business through a series of fully interactive classes inspired by James’s favourite dishes and the destinations Britannia will visit. Classes start from £45 per person up to £100 for a hosted dinner.

James will be travelling on the following cruises:
B502 - Maiden cruise, 14 to 28 Mar, 2015   Bookings open December 17, 2015
B510 - Mediterranean, 13 to 27 Jun, 2015  Bookings open February 13, 2015
B513 - British Isles, 6 to 18 Jul, 2015         Bookings open March 8, 2015
B521 - Iberia, 14 to 25 Sept, 2015             Bookings open May 17, 2015
B523 - Mediterranean, 9 to 23 Oct, 2015    Bookings open June 11, 2015

Book for master pâtissier Eric Lanlards signature afternoon tea which is a far cry from traditional tea and scones. Expect the likes of edible Earl Grey perfumes, savoury gruyère cheese éclairs with brie, rocket and red onion marmalade, and exotic pop cones topped with orange blossom Persian candy floss. Eric’s unique twist on this classic British institution elevates the humble afternoon tea into something utterly decadent and indulgent. Served at 15.30, book a table for between one to six people from £15 per person.

Eric will be travelling on the following cruises:
B502 - Maiden cruise, 14 to 28 Mar, 2015  Bookings open December 17, 2015
B508 - Guernsey, Spain and France, 23 to 30 May, 2015 Bookings open January 1, 2015
B522 - Canary Islands, 25 Sep to 9 Oct, 2015 Bookings open May 28, 2015
B524 - Caribbean transatlantic, 23 Oct to 6 Nov, 2015 Bookings open June 25, 2015

A first for P&O Cruises, The Limelight Club is an adults only venue that combines great food and entertainment. Passengers can expect a lively and enjoyable evening in the company of some great performers that are exclusive to the Limelight Club whilst enjoying dinner.
Book a table for up to six people from £22 per person