NEW THRILLS AWAIT ACTIVE TRAVELLERS IN NORTHERN EUROPE WITH CRYSTAL CRUISES

Between May and September this year, Crystal Cruises’ guests in Northern Europe can hike, drive, ride, fish, climb, sail, row, bob, fly or surf in destinations from western France up to the Arctic Circle and over to Iceland. The ultra-luxury line has set more than 100 new boutique Crystal Adventures to take maximum advantage of the region’s abundant outdoor opportunities and stunning natural beauty.

On new outings, outdoor enthusiasts can:

· River Raft Iceland’s glacial Hvitá River (outside Reyjkavik).

· Rock Climb Ireland’s Mourne Mountains (CS Lewis’s Narnia-inspiration) outside Belfast, or rappel down a Dalkey quarry after taking in the view of Dublin.

· Surf in Biarritz, with Quicksilver’s world-class surf school instruction (from St-Jean-de-Luz).

· Tank-Drive a vintage WWII battle tank for two miles near Portland.

• Helicopter over Paris and Versailles (from Honfleur), Bordeaux wine country or Iceland’s recently-erupted Eyjafjallajökull volcano (from Reykjavik).

· Olympic Wheelbob down Lillehammer’s Olympic Bob & Luge Track outside Oslo.

· Horseback Ride through the “Garden of Ireland”/County Wicklow, Finnish countryside and forest near Helsinki or mountains outside maiden call Akureyri, the latter on the back of Icelandic horses descended from the Viking Age.

· Kayak past colourful Copenhagen via its harbour and canals or the natural beauty of coastal northern Norway (from Tromso).

· Hike the chalky Dorset coastline in Portland or Norway’s highest mountain, Mount Ulriken (in Bergen).

· Fish the Finnish Archipelago, Geirangerfjord or near Reykjavik (sea angling).

• ATV or 4x4 Drive through North Cape’s gateway, Magerøya Island (Honningsvåg) or past glacial Icelandic landscape to either a lobster lunch or snowmobile adventure (Reykjavik).

· Boat past Helsinki’s seaside villas and lighthouses by catamaran; discover caves and orkas in maiden call Heimaey, Iceland by RIB or motorboat; spot puffins on a RIB sea safari to Runde Island (near Ålesund, Norway); or scout for sea eagles by Zodiac in Lofoten, Norway (maiden call).

· Soak weary, post-activity bones in a natural geothermic/volcanic lagoon en route to stunning Godafoss, aka “Waterfall of the Gods” (from Akureyri).

Other new boutique excursions that focus on the arts and off-beat experiences (and require less adrenalin!) include:

· Blown Glassmaking near Saint-Malo: Fashion your own blown glasswork at a local studio.

· Venturing Off-the-Beaten-Path in Berlin: Explore living as the locals do, with shopping at the fruit and vegetable market, riding the Underground and going inside a typical local apartment.

· Painting in St Petersburg: Take a painting master class at Russia’s largest private modern art gallery.

· Evening Walking with a Night Watchman in Copenhagen: Take a different type of walking tour, at night, with a traditional uniformed - and informed - local “night watchman.”

· “Titanic Experience” in Belfast: Visit the new Titanic museum on the centennial anniversary of the ship’s sinking.

· Gourmet Dining and Wine Tasting in Bordeaux: From slow food to Médoc wine, join local experts in exploring the region’s legendary estates, including a gala dinner at Château Haut-Bailly.

Many Crystal Adventures offer new Private Options for couples. For even more intimate time on shore, guests can also custom-craft a Crystal Private Adventure or take an Overland Adventure, such as a two-day trip to Moscow from St Petersburg.

Until 30^th April, “Book Now” fares for Crystal’s Northern Europe cruises start at £2,166 per person/double occupancy for an 11-night sailing from Southampton to Hamburg departing 21^st May. Price includes flight from Hamburg to the UK, overseas transfers and 11 nights in a deluxe stateroom with picture window on an all-inclusive basis.

Crystal’s passion for creating exclusive, eye-opening luxury shore-side experiences is the cornerstone of its Crystal Adventures programme, earning the line top ratings for two decades.

For further information and reservations please call Crystal Cruises on 020 7287 9040 or visit www.crystalcruises.co.uk

Rare Deals on Aurora Expeditions’ Cruises to The Kimberley Coast, Russian Arctic and Scotland

For a limited time, Aurora Expeditions is offering the chance to travel on a number of its iconic expedition cruises to the Kimberley, Russian Arctic and Scotland in 2012 at special discounted rates.

Kimberley Coast - AU$500 Discount

$500 Discount on all new bookings on 11 day Broome – Broome voyages departing in 28 May - 7 June and 8 - 18 June, 2012*

To celebrate the $1 million refurbishment of their Kimberley ship Coral Princess, Aurora Expeditions are offering $500 OFF* all new bookings on Broome – Broome voyages departing in 2012. Voyages will be led by the original Kimberley Adventurer, Mike Cusack (of Australian Geographic’s first Wilderness Couple) and his experienced team including Art Historian Garry Darby and expert Naturalist Dan Balint.

Travelling aboard the newly refurbished Coral Princess with a maximum of 44 passengers, Aurora’s innovative itineraries ensure passengers explore new locations each day, discovering all the highlights (and a few hidden gems) of the Kimberley Coast. Activities include fascinating rock art interpretation, night time croc spotting, Horizontal waterfalls, bush walks, beach BBQ’s and shark feeding.

Prices start from AU$6490 (including discount)

Russian Arctic – 2 for 1 Deal! Prices from US$4,445 (including discount)

2 for 1 Discount on 14 day Novaya Zemlya and Franz Josef Land ‘Voyage to the End of the Earth’ departing 8 – 21 September, 2012.

With only one other voyage being run to this region in 2012, Aurora Expeditions is the only ‘small ship’ tour operator visiting the undiscovered region of Novaya Zemlya in the Russian Arctic in 2012.

An area shrouded in secrecy, the ability to visit the far reaches of the Russian Arctic is almost impossible to most. Akademik Shokalskiy carries a maximum of 54 passengers, providing intimate exploration of this region. The Novaya Zemlya archipelago comprises one large island and many small, stretching 1000km in an elongated crescent between the Barents and Kara seas. A veritable feast of wildlife and history, it is the easternmost point in Europe and remains one of Russia’s most restricted regions; which is why so few operators have permission to travel there. Whereas, Franz Josef Land is an archipelago of 191 ice covered islands, the planet’s last major landmass to be discovered and the modern day realm of the polar bear. This spectacular voyage promises to deliver adventure by the bucket-load.

One night’s accommodation in Murmansk pre-voyage (7 September 2012) is included in the voyage price, along with airport transfers and a Murmansk city tour.

Prices start from US$4,445 (including discount)

Wild Scotland and Faroe Islands – Savings of up to AU$1,050

Receive 10% discount off the 14 day Wild Scotland and the Faroe Islands voyage departing 11 – 24 June, 2012 *

Seabird-speckled cliffs, towering sea stacks, mysterious standing stones, secret waterways, glorious mountains and windswept moors. From the mournful beauty of the Outer Hebrides to mountainous Skye, remote outliers Foula and St Kilda to the Orkney’s fertile farmlands and Shetland’s rocky shores, the Scottish Isles offer remarkable diversity. The Faroe Islands are all this, steeped in a Viking past that survives today. Kayaking and scuba diving are also available on this voyage.

Prices start from AU$6750 (including discount)

This 14 day voyage departs Oban, Scotland on 11 June 2012, return to Cophenhagen, Denmark on 24 June 2012. Price includes flight from Torshavn, Faroe Islands to Cophenhagen Denmark.

*Discounts valid to new bookings only. Not valid in conjunction with any other offer. Subject to availability. Other terms and conditions may apply. Offer ends 30 April 2012.

www.auroraexpeditions.au.com

The Majestic Line New Brochure 2012

The Majestic Line's new brochure is now available for its 2012 cruises with a choice of 12 itineraries exploring the beautiful coast of Argyll on the West Coast of Scotland. The specialist Scottish cruise company provides a unique small boat cruise experience with only 11 passengers aboard its traditional wooden vessels, The Glen Tarsan and The Glen Massan. The Majestic Line is becoming increasingly popular and 2012 is filling up fast; 30 of its 60 cruising weeks are already booked out for 2012 and many others have low availability.

The cruise itineraries explore the wonderful islands, tranquil sea lochs and spectacular coastlines of Argyll , a beautiful but remote area which is difficult to access by land, whereas the cruises provide a perfect vantage point from the sea.

The company provides two double cabins for single occupancy on all its cruises at no additional cost. There are still opportunities for single traveller bookings for 2012.

The cost of the 6-night cruise is £1830.00 per person including all meals and wine with dinner. The cost of the 3-night cruise is £965.00

Contact via www.themajesticline.co.uk or adventurecrusie specialists The Cruise Line.

Landing on Staffa

Here we all are landing on Staffa. Zodiacs really are the way to explore when you're cruising. I just couldn't do any of those 2000 people on ship cruises I'm afraid! Have a lovely day now.