Get Britain And Ireland Adventure Cruising

Royal Clipper     www.starclippers.co.uk

Push the boat out for the Sixth National Cruise Week (21 -29 September 2013) with the latest news from the Adventure cruise companies  and fantastic offers to exciting destinations worldwide The sixth annual National Cruise Week takes place between 21-29 September. This year the focus is to get 'Britain and Ireland Cruising' by highlighting the great range of destinations and experiences that cruising offers UK consumers both on board and ashore. The campaign's aim is to encourage more people to consider a cruise holiday for the first time and highlight the range of cruises available from river cruising along the European waterways to ocean cruises that travel to destinations only accessible by sea.                                                   Fram       www.hurtigruten.co.uk The number of holidaymakers who take a cruise holiday continues to grow with more than 1.7 million Brits taking a cruise last year.  The popularity of a cruise holiday lies in the  exciting itineraries, experiences and destinations available from members of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) which has  60 cruise line members. Andy Harmer, CLIA UK and Ireland director, said: "This year we will celebrate the sixth National Cruise Week, an event that has gone from strength to strength  thanks to the terrific support of travel agents and our cruise line members.  More people than ever choose to cruise because of the incredible range of cruises available, the fabulous destinations, some of which are only accessible by sea, and the wonderful value added experiences that I don't believe are available from any other type of holiday. All-in-all, young or old, solo or family, there is a cruise to suit everyone's taste and everyone's pocket." Three Cruise Shows are also taking place in Manchester (7 & 8 September), Birmingham (21 & 22 September) and Glasgow (5 & 6 October) where visitors are able to meet cruise lines and discover inspirational travel ideas. The Discover Cruises website www.discovercruises.co.uk is the home for everything cruise, whether it's for a family travelling for the first time, a couple looking for adventure, or a solo traveller in need of a relaxing spa break - all of which can be classed as a great journey.  Offering luxury, deluxe, river and specialist collections, Discover Cruises gives visitors access to the latest information on destinations, what's new on-board and a range of exciting and innovative excursions and activities. For further information about the Cruise Shows visit http://www.cruisingshow.com/

River cruise offers from AmaWaterways

17^th September 2013 : Douro valley river cruise, saving £104pp + free flights

AmaWaterways is offering a 7 night Douro river cruise with free return flights from London and transfers, for £2279pp, saving £104. The cruise embarks and disembarks in Porto and meanders through vineyards and past fishing villages along the picturesque Douro valley and the price includes all meals, daily sightseeing tours, complimentary wine and beer with lunch and dinner. Contact AmaWaterways freephone 0808 223 5009,www.amawaterways.co.uk

18^th November 2013 : The Romantic Danube wine cruise, saving £346pp + free flights

Cruise through the autumn colours of Austria’s Wachau Valley and join in Oktoberfest festivities in Vilshofen. Taste beer and wine in wineries and breweries between  Vilshofen  and Budapest  and enjoy presentations from top wine experts on a 7 nights celebration of wine sailing on board the luxury 5* river cruiser, AmaCerto. Departing on 18th November the cruise price of £1465pp includes a saving of £346pp, with free return UK flights, daily tours and excursions, wine presentations, all meals with free-flowing wine with lunch and dinner, free Wi-Fi and free use of on-board bicycles. Contact AmaWaterways freephone 0808 223 5009,www.amawaterways.co.uk

New: Arctic Wilderness Adventure in Greenland

 In summer 2014 the Hurtigruten expedition ship MS Fram is setting off on an extended voyage to explore the north-west of Greenland. The new trip includes new harbours and points of disembarkation, allowing guests to get to know the Greenland coast, with its breathtaking landscape and unique culture.

The 'Arctic Wilderness Adventure’ is available as an 11 or 13 day voyage, starting from June 2014.

Impressive ice landscapes, beautiful nature and wilderness, trips to small settlements and encounters with the Inuit and their culture are the focal point of the two new expeditions which begin in Kangerlussuaq and set a northern course across Disko Bay along the west coast of Greenland.

The northernmost harbour of the tour and a new stop on the itinerary is Upernavik, located on Melville Bay in north-west Greenland. For centuries the settlement attracted hunters every spring with its rich population of animals and many of the inhabitants still make a living from hunting today.

A further new stop is Qasigiannguit. The town with around 1,300 inhabitants, is known as 'the pearl of Disko Bay'. The small, colourful residential buildings on the bay are worth seeing, along with the old colonial buildings and the museum with important artefacts of the hunting and fishing culture of the Inuit. The island Illorsuit on the mouth of the Uummannaq Fjord is also a new part of the schedule. The traditional fishing settlement has approximately 90 inhabitants and makes for an unusual photo opportunity as fish are hung up to dry alongside the laundry outside many of the houses.

Along with the new harbours, MS Fram will continue to visit amongst others the charming town of Uummannaq, the impressive glaciers of Eqip Sermia as well as the famous ice fjord of Ilulissat, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The 11-day 'Arctic Wilderness Adventure’ (26 June – 6 July 2014) costs from £4,900 per person including early booking discount.

The 13-day version (14 June – 26 June 2014) costs from £5,341 including early booking discount.

The trip includes return flights from Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq (the departure point), transfers and cabin on full board basis (based on 2 sharing). Flights to Copenhagen are available for an additional £360 per person.

Both schedules are the same, with the longer trip offering more time to discover the surrounding area of Ilulissat.

Book before 31 October 2013 and receive an additional on-board credit of £120 per person.

For more information call Hurtigruten on tel: 0844 448 7601 or visit www.hurtigruten.co.uk.