Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic offers seven new itineraries for 2015

 

Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic has seven new itineraries for 2015 on board the 148-guest National Geographic Explorer. With a fleet of Zodiacs and sea kayaks, the ship fosters up-close exploration.

All rates quoted below are per person based on double occupancy in a category 1 cabin.

Azores to Morocco: Island Wonders and Fabled Shores, 10 days/8 nights. Departs March 27, 2015. Rates begin at £5,415.

Morocco, Spain and Portugal: Land of the Moors, 10 days/8 nights.  Departs 4 April 2015. Rates begin at £5,415.

Along the Viking Trail: Iceland to Greenland, 12 days/10 nights.  Departs 19 July  2015. Rates begin at £6,515. Book by 31 Dec 2014 to receive complimentary charter airfare (Kangerlussuaq to Ottawa--a £739 value). New bookings only, subject to availability.

Exploring Greenland & the Canadian High Arctic, 13 days/12 nights. Departs July 28; August 7, 2015. Rates begin at £7,944.

Coastal Treasures from the Panama Canal to Peru, 14 days/12 nights.  Departs 27 September 2015. Rates begin at £7955. Book by 31 Dec 2014 and receive complimentary round-trip airfare between Miami/Panama City and Lima/Miami. 

Patagonia, The Chilean Fjords and Argentina's Staten Island, 21 days/18 nights. Departs 21 October  2015. Rates begin at $18,880. 

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Viking River Cruises announces new route along Portugal’s Douro River

Following demand from customers to create a new river cruise holiday along Portugal’s River Douro, Viking River Cruises, the World’s Leading River Cruise line, is thrilled to launch its new itinerary for 2013: River Douro, Portugal’s River of Gold.

 

Named ‘River of Gold’ for its striking quality of light, Portugal’s Douro River winds its way through steeply terraced vineyards, rolling landscapes and pretty towns with colourful castles, baroque mansions and historic monasteries.

Viking guests will visit vibrant Porto, the medieval Spanish city of Salamanca and enjoy a two-night superior first class hotel stay in Lisbon, with excursions within the capital, including a tour of the 15th century Jerónimos Monastery. Along the way, guests can indulge in delicious cuisine including Portuguese specialities and the region’s famous port and tawny wines.

An exciting new itinerary calls for an exciting ship. The Viking Douro was built specifically to sail this scenic river. Spacious and supremely comfortable with panoramic views, large staterooms with French balconies and 360 degree views from the public areas, guests can sit back and relax as they immerse themselves in the glorious scenery.

With visits to UNESCO World Heritage sites, all excursions, on board meals and wine with lunch and dinner included in the price, this holiday – like all Viking river cruises – offers remarkable value.

Hurtigruten's one off to Morocco, Spain, Portugal and Eastern Baltic.

Have you ever wanted to sail along the coast of France, or call at Agadir in Morocco onboard a ship with a relaxed and informal atmosphere? Hurtigruten is offering guests the chance to do just that when it takes its unique sailing experience outside of its traditional destinations on a host of special European voyages.
The one-off sailings onboard Hurtigruten’s expedition ship, MS Fram, will take place during the spring and autumn and will incorporate some of Europe’s most beautiful cities.
With six voyages to choose from, the schedule will include the south western coasts of Portugal, Spain and France, the eastern Baltic coastline and St Petersburg and will extend to the far north of Europe to Scotland, Iceland and Greenland. There is also a spring voyage around Norway’s fjord area for those who would like to see a little more of this beautiful landscape.

For more info and booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Mist on the Douro River Valley

This is the early morning mist on the River Douro in northern Portugal. The Douro valley has its own micro climate enabling it to grow grapes like nowhere else in the world. Couple this with 17th century British ingenuity and you create Port, that wonderful wine that has graced so many dinner tables.

The picture was taken from the sundeck of the Douro Spirit on a river cruise organised by Uniworld River Cruises who I can heartily recommend. You can see the navigation bouys in the river, at times were in steep barren rock faced gorges with Golden Eagles flying alongside and other times the high open valley with sides covered with vineyards. Try the white port it's amazing!

You can fine out more at www.uniworld.com or The Cruise Line.

Uniworld Launches NEW ship, the Douro Spirit, in Portugal and Spain’s Breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Douro River Valley

This week, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises’ new ship, the Douro Spirit, made its debut on the ‘Portugal, Spain and Douro Valley” itinerary.

The Douro Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage region, is being increasingly recognised for its wine making and natural beauty, reflected in an impressive 80% growth in UK river cruisers in 2010 over 2009, according to recent figures from the Passenger Shipping Association. Its Port heritage dates back over 2,000 years with the oldest demarcated wine region in the world. The Douro Valley is also a cultural landscape of exceptional beauty with rambling vineyards and charming quintas clinging to the steep slopes of its valley, creating an incomparable backdrop to one of Europe’s most unspoiled regions. And this is what you can expect to see and experience from the comfort of Uniworld’s new Douro Spirit.

Every riverview stateroom and suite onboard the Douro Spirit features a French balcony, so guests can get closer than ever to the breathtaking scenery of the region’s unspoiled natural landscapes. The Douro Spirit’s common areas provide added comfort with a main lounge featuring a full-service bar and dance floor, a restaurant, a sun deck with Jacuzzi® and small swimming pool, a lovely onboard restaurant with open seating, a fitness room, a massage room, a beauty salon and a boutique. And all of this is presented on an intimate ship built to accommodate a maximum of 128 guests and provide the small-ship boutique ambience preferred by Uniworld’s experienced travellers.

Uniworld’s 11-day Portugal, Spain & the Douro River Valley cruise includes: three nights in Lisbon at a deluxe hotel; a 7-night cruise in a stateroom with a French balcony onboard the new Douro Spirit; all meals with complimentary fine wine, beer and soft drinks served with dinner onboard; 10 fully-hosted shore excursions by English-speaking local guides; return flights and transfers on arrival and departure days. Prices start at £2,499 per person.

For more information and to book please visit http://www.uniworldrivercruises.co.uk/