New And Unique In 2014: Douro River Cruise On The Royal Barge

Sail aboard Her Majesty’s royal barge, the Spirit of Chartwell, as it cruises along the ‘River of Gold’ through the vineyards and historic towns of Portugal’s northern valleys. This unique cultural cruise is new for 2014 from ACE Cultural Tours. The Spirit of Chartwell was recently refurbished to host Her Majesty the Queen and Prince Philip during the Diamond Jubilee pageant along the River Thames in 2012. Now based in Portugal, the royal barge is spacious and sumptuous, fully equipped with a restaurant, piano bar, and observation deck. Every cultural tour from ACE is led by an expert Tour Director who is not only a specialist in their field, but a convivial host. We are joined along the Douro by Martin Symington, of the famous Portuguese family that owns the Graham’s Port Lodge business. The cruise includes an exclusive tour and tasting at Graham’s Port Lodge, a vintage port wine celebration one evening on board ship, and a private visit to the Factory House (Association of Port Wine Shippers) in Oporto. Our excursions include the UNESCO World Heritage city of Salamanca, the mediaeval hill-top town of Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo, and the pilgrimage town of Lamego. Douro River Cruise on the Royal Barge, October 18–25, 2014. Cost of £2420 per person includes return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded cabin, full board with unlimited wine, beer, soft drinks, tea & coffee, sparkling wine with breakfast, shore excursions & admissions, music recitals, crew gratuities. For more information please visit the website: http://www.aceculturaltours.co.uk/tourdetails/4209

HOT CRUISE NEWS FROM RAMBLERS WORLDWIDE HOLIDAYS

Ramblers Worldwide Holidays, in conjunction with Fred. Olsen Cruises, is offering no single cabin supplements on a number of selected Cruise & Walk holidays for bookings between now and 28 February 2014.

For these five sailings only, single clients can book either a D grade (outside twin) or a B grade (superior outside twin) for sole use with no single supplement.  Clients who have already booked single cabins for these dates / sailings have been offered a reduction in the price of their holiday.

IBERIA AND FRANCE –  12 nights on board Braemar walking and sightseeing Europe’s Atlantic   coastlines and countryside, embracing Oporto (Portugal); La Coruna (Spain); Aviles (Spain); Santander (Spain); Getxo (for Bilbao, Spain) and Bordeaux (France).    
Price for 12 nights  from £1,250 per person departing on 20 May 2014  and

IBERIA AND FRANCE – 11 nights on board Black Watch walking and sightseeing Europe’s Atlantic coastlines and countryside embracing La Coruña and Vigo (Spain); Oporto and Lisbon (Portugal) and Honfleur (France)
Price for 11 nights from £1,150 per person departing on 28 September 2014.

FJORDS OF NORWAY – 10 nights on board Black Watch amid some of the world’s most spectacular scenery, highlights include Eidjfjord, Bergen, Flåm, Skjolden, Olden and Alesund, Norway.  
Price from £1,269 per person departing on 31 July 2014.

BALTIC DISCOVERY – 13 nights on board Black Watch walking and sightseeing in Oslo  (Sweden); Copenhagen (Denmark); Helsinki (Finland); St Petersburg (Russia) and Stockholm (Sweden)
Price from £1,699 per person departing 10 August 2014 from Rosyth Port.

SAILING TOWARDS THE TROPICS 16 nights on board Boudicca walking and sightseeing in Praia da Vitoria (Terceria, Azores); Vila do Porto (Santa Maria, Azores); Funchal (Madeira); Santa Cruz (Tenerife); Las Palmas (Gran Canaria); Tangier (Morocco) and Cadiz (Spain) 
Price from £1,420 per person departing 24 November 2014 from Liverpool

All of the above prices include all meals, an exclusive welcome party on one evening and a traditional afternoon tea with waiter service on a sea day, walking tours, shore visits, sightseeing programmes, on-board entertainment and restaurant tips plus the services of a dedicated tour leader.

In a recent Which? report, Fred. Olsen Cruises achieved the second highest customer satisfaction rate of 86% primarily on the basis that it was ‘Well suited to people who wanted to avoid Ocean going giants and enjoy a more traditional cruising experience and atmosphere ’.

www.cruiseandwalk.co.uk
01707 386767

Blog next posting

Hello everyone

Due to ill health I'll not be posting again until 13th January.

Hope to see you then!


Best wishes for 2014

Steve

www.stevenewman.co.uk

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