EXPLORE WASHINGTON STATE’S ISLANDS & SHORELINE

EXPLORE WASHINGTON STATE’S ISLANDS & SHORELINE ON A BRAND NEW ADVENTURE CRUISE ITINERARY FROM MUNDY ADVENTURES

Adventure and expedition cruise specialist, Mundy Adventures, is giving active travellers the chance to explore Washington State’s coastal shores from South Hood Canal to the Olympic Peninsula and San Juan Islands on a brand new seven-night voyage on the 60-guest expedition vessel, Wilderness Adventurer.

The new Explore! Olympic Wilderness & San Juan Islands itinerary round-trip from Seattle explores the scenic inlets and islands in Puget Sound with highlights including hiking in the Olympic Mountains, Mount Constitution and Washington State Parks; waterborne expeditions by kayaks, skiffs and paddle boards exploring glacial fjords and the San Juan archipelago; oyster and clam tasting hosted by a local family; and discovering native cultures in Port Townsend. Travellers will spend the week spotting marine life and seabirds as well as Gray whales, Orcas, seals, sea lions, bald eagles and tufted puffins, all of which live in the area. A knowledgeable team of expedition guides will lead excursions and provide interpretation along the way.

The Wilderness Adventurer expedition vessel carries a full complement of adventure gear for kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, hiking and skiff excursions. A custom made kayak launching system allows four kayaks at once to quickly and safely launch off a stable platform. An underwater camera mounted on the ship’s bow streams video from the underwater world to flatscreen televisions in all guest rooms and the lounge. Also available is fitness equipment, a resource / DVD library, hot tub, daily yoga classes and delicious meals featuring fresh ingredients including locally sourced produce and seafood.

The seven-night Explore! Olympic Wilderness & San Juan Islands itinerary round-trip from Seattle explores South Hood Canal, Olympic Mountains, Quilcene Bay, Deception Pass, San Juan Islands, Lopez Island, Orcas Island, the towns of Port Townsend and Friday Harbor and Sucia Island. There are 13 departures in 2014 between 5^th April and 1^st November with prices starting from £2,195 per person including seven nights onboard the Wilderness Adventurer, all meals onboard, port taxes and fees, entry to national park and selected activities and equipment, one night pre-cruise hotel stay, transfers and direct British Airways flights from London Heathrow.

For further information and reservations, call Mundy Adventures on 020 7399 7630 or visit www.mundyadventures.co.uk

Titan Launches New Escorted River Cruise Brochure For 2014

Titan (0800 988 5858, www.titantravel.co.uk), the multi-award-winning travel company, has unveiled its new River Cruise 2014 brochure, featuring its widest ever range of escorted river cruise holidays aboard a choice of quality river vessels with eight brand new itineraries. The exciting range of tours includes some of the world's most beautiful rivers, from European favourites such as the Rhine, Danube and Douro to more exotic locations including the Amazon, Yangtze and the Nile. The brochure also introduces two new rivers, the Dnieper, which affords the opportunity to cruise from Kiev to Odessa and the Oder which winds its way from Berlin through the beautiful German and Polish countryside to the newly emerging destination of Pomerania. The 10-day 'Berlin and the Oder River' cruise begins in the German capital with a 2-night stay before boarding the MS Katharina Von Bora or MS Frederic Chopin for a 7-night cruise on the Oder River. The cruise includes a visit to the Berlin Gate at Szczecin, the stunning chalk cliffs at the Jasmund National Park on Rügen, as well as tours of the charming cities of Ahlbeck, Göhren and Eberswalde. The cruise costs from £2,195 per person, including a saving of up to £100 per person subject to availability, and departs in June, July and August 2014. The prices includes international flights, accommodation in a hotel and 7-nights cruise, 24 meals, excursions, a Titan tour manager and Titan's VIP Home Departure Service transferring customers from their front door to the airport and back, wherever they live in the UK*. The 12-day 'Voyage to Odessa' begins in the charming city of Kiev on board the Dnieper Princess. There is an optional excursion to the Kiev-Pecherskaya Lavra - the Monastery of the Caves, which dates back to 1051. Other excursions included in the price are a visit to the Taras Shevchenko Museum Preserve in Kaniv, a Cossack museum in Zaporozhye, monuments of the Crimean War in Sevastopol. The cruise ends in Odessa where passengers spend the remaining days exploring the fabulous seaside destination on a guided tour and at their own leisure. The holiday costs from £1,795 per person including international direct flights, transfers, accommodation on board the Dnieper Princess on a full-board basis, a Titan tour manager and Titan's VIP Home Departure Service*. The expanded range also includes a number of exclusive Titan charters, including a very special opportunity to sail aboard the Royal Barge - the 'Spirit of Chartwell'. This luxury vessel hosted the royal party and provided the centrepiece of the Thames Pageant during the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012. It has now relocated to Portugal to sail along the Douro Valley for a 3 or 4 night cruise, combining this with a 3 or 4 night stay at a regal Pousada. Available on selected dates in 2014, it costs from£1,945 per person for 8-days including flights, accommodation, excursions, a Titan tour manager and Titan's VIP Home Departure Service*. For those who prefer not to fly there is an expanded programme of no-fly cruises on the Rhine and the Moselle River. Providing a more leisurely mode of travel and the opportunity to enjoy the passing scenery, options include the 8-day 'Romantic Rhine and Majestic Moselle' which costs from £995 per person, departing on selected dates from April to October 2014.  Travelling by coach to Cologne passengers will embark the MS Bellejour in time for dinner on day one. The cruise begins by travelling down the Middle Rhine to the city of Mainz and includes excursions to Heidelberg, Strasbourg and Koblenz. There is also a visit to the romantic Moselle Loop area, famous for its wine production, and to Reichsburg Castle in beautiful old town of Cochem. Cost includes coach travel, 7-night cruise, 20 meals, excursions, an exclusive Titan onboard cocktail party, a Titan tour manager and the VIP Home Departure Service*. For passengers looking for an adventure further afield, one of  the new itineraries for 2014 is the 13-day 'An Amazon Adventure'.  Departing in May, June, September, October and November 2014 the tour combines the dual pleasures of a river cruise along the Coca and Napo Rivers (two tributaries of the Amazon) with a three-night stay in the culturally-rich Ecuadorian capital of Quito, located high in the Andes.  The cruise on-board the Manatee Amazon Explorer allows ample opportunities for excursions ashore to discover native wildlife such as spider monkeys, giant otters and the Amazon's famously pink, freshwater dolphins in the company of knowledgeable naturalists. The expedition-style ship, which has been specially built for cruising along the Amazon, with the ability to reach small tributaries, can accommodate up to 30 passengers in 14 comfortable air conditioned cabins. The holiday costs £2,895 per person, saving up to £300 per person if booked before 31st October 2013 and includes international flights, 4-nights hotel accommodation, a 7-night cruise,  transfers, 26 meals,  excursions, taxes, a Titan tour manager and Titan's VIP Home Departure Service*. A further new itinerary for 2014 is the 13-day 'Treasures of China' tour, which utilises the new direct flights with British Airways to Chengdu in the centre of Sichuan Province, to begin the tour with a 3-night stay in Chengdu. Here the tour visits the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mount Emei and the magnificent Giant Buddha carved out of the hillside in Leshan before a tour of the famous Panda Breeding Research Institute. Passengers then embark on the MV Century Sky and undertake a 3-night cruise along the Yangtze discovering its beautiful Gorges, and excursions to the Shibao Pagoda and the Three Gorges Dam. After disembarking the vessel, the tour continues with a visit to the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an and finishes in Beijing with a visit to the Forbidden City and the awe-inspiring Great Wall of China. The holiday costs from £2,245 per person saving up to £200 per person, subject to availability and includes international flights, transfers, accommodation in hotels and on-board the MV Century Sky, 30 meals, excursions, local English-speaking guides, a Titan tour manager and Titan's VIP Home Departure Service*. For details or to book call Titan on 0800 988 5858 or visit www.titantravel.co.uk

Saga's Cruise Adventure

One of the most popular cruises in the Saga calendar is the Mystery Cruise with passengers putting their holiday in the hands of the ship’s captain – and with all-inclusive drinks there’s bound be a party atmosphere adventure

Saga Sapphire’s Captain Philip Rentell is a favourite among passengers and he has devised a magical, mystery tour to seven ports, in a minimum of three countries, for his fun Mystery Cruise.

Capt Rentell promises there will be three maiden ports of call, so even well-travelled passengers can rest assured they will be visiting places where Saga Sapphire has never docked before.

Only Captain Rentell and his Chief Purser will be privy to the secret destinations – and they not accept bribes under any circumstances!

The ports will be announced once the ship has berthed and a half-day surprise tour will be included at each port.

No cheating will be allowed and all passenger electronic charts will be turned off to ensure that destinations are really is a surprise!

This all-inclusive 16-night cruise, set to leave Southampton on December 1, is sure to get everyone in the mood for Christmas and there will be opportunities to buy gifts ashore and duty free items on board.

The fun, full programme of activities will also mean there will be plenty more mysteries to solve during the cruise...

Want to know more?

Call free on 0800 056 8986 or visit saga.co.uk/cruises

Price from £2299, departing Southampton on December 1 and returning December 16, 2013.

The holiday includes all house-brand spirits, cocktails, beer, mixers and soft drinks,

a return chauffeur service up to 250 miles each way, travel insurance, all meals onboard, including 24-hour room service, welcome cocktail party and Captain’s Dinner, unlimited tea and coffee, entertainment and activities, all on-board gratuities, port taxes and visas and porterage.