Ultra-luxury cruise line Silversea have announced two new Galapagos itineraries commencing from March 2017. Approved by the Galapagos National Park, the sailings will each be seven nights long onboard Silversea small-ship Silver Galapagos.
Accommodating just 100 guests, Silver Galapagos offers a comfortable and intimate cruising experience on a ship small enough to have minimal impact on the protected National Park.
Itineraries focus on the north or the west with highlights such as Genovesa, San Cristobal, Floreana, Post Office Bay and more. Both itineraries provide ample opportunities for wildlife watching.
Modern luxury favourites Celebrity Cruises recently unveiled the names of their two new Galapagos expedition cruise ships; Celebrity Xperience and Celebrity Xploration.
Celebrity Cruises acquired the ships from Galapagos Islands tour operator Ocean Adventures earlier this year. Drydock is planned for 2017 when Celebrity Cruises signature look and feel will be applied to both ships.
An enhanced list of destinations will be made available featuring popular highlights such as Wall of Tears, Darwin Bay and Black Turtle Cove plus the opportunity to enjoy local hotel stays and land based tours.
Stay tuned for further updates on Celebrity Cruises in the Galapagos.]]> http://www.iglucruise.com/news/new-itineraries-in-the-galapagos_a19736388 2016-06-15 Watch England's World Cup games on a cruise break
The competition runs from June 11th until July 11th, with England kicking off their Group C campaign against the US, before games against Algeria and Slovenia.
However, those travelling with Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises or Azamara Club Cruises have nothing to fear, as every fixture from the tournament will be shown.
The lines have all secured rights to air all of the games from South Africa in international waters and will offer a choice for games to be watched in designated onboard lounges and staterooms.
Meanwhile, special themed activities will be running on board certain ships, offered cruise fans the chance to take part in events, including tournaments and workshops.
Food and beverages will also be provided for supporters of any team competing in the tournament.
England's first game takes place on June 12th, while their other group fixtures are set to commence on June 18th and June 23rd.
Written by Chris Smith
]]> http://www.iglucruise.com/news/watch-england-s-world-cup-games-on-a-cruise-break_a19710745 2010-04-08 UK cruise holidays to hit 1.75m in 2011
In 2009 1.53 million people took a cruise holiday, a rise of four per cent on the previous year, but 2011 is projected to push the limit to 1.75 million, the PSA revealed.
The growth is down to a wide choice of itineraries offering exceptional value and high standards, which are encouraging an increasing number of Brits to opt for voyages.
PSA director William Gibbons said that "the all-inclusive nature of cruising and the very high standards of quality and service" helped the UK cruise industry to survive the difficult economic climate.
"These are values intrinsic to cruising and will continue to encourage greater numbers of passengers," he added.
With 595,000 passengers and a 39 per cent share of the market, the Mediterranean continues to be the most popular cruise destination, the organisation stated.
Written by Chris Smith.
]]> http://www.iglucruise.com/news/uk-cruise-holidays-to-hit-175m-in-2011_a19671313 2010-03-16 Backstreet Boys to stage a concert at sea Carnival Cruises towards the end of the year may just be lucky enough to catch one of the biggest selling musical groups of all time.
The Backstreet Boys has revealed plans to stage a concert at sea on board what is believed to be a Carnival ship from December 9th to 13th.
Dubbed the Backstreet Boys Cruise 2010, the event "is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience that the boys will embark on and share with you, the fans", said a message on the band's website.
The ship will depart from South Florida and take in "exotic ports" along the way, heading back to its departure point on the morning of December 13th, added the website.
It appears musicians are being attracted to cruising as the 1990s boy band's planned concert comes in the wake of a sell-out fan itinerary by 1980s boy band New Kids on the Block last year.
]]> http://www.iglucruise.com/news/backstreet-boys-to-stage-a-concert-at-sea_a19648831 2010-03-03 2010 Cruise Travel Show to provide exclusive offers
According to the national newspaper, cruising has squeezed into the mainstream of the travel industry as its profile increases and a wider variety of ships with a myriad of itineraries are introduced.
The newspaper said that the event, which is taking place at London's Olympia on March 27th and 28th, is ideal for "anyone dreaming of a holiday afloat" thanks to what is on the programme.
As well as meeting travel experts and journalists from a variety of media organisations, visitors will have an opportunity to enjoy a rock-climbing wall courtesy of Royal Caribbean Cruises.
MSC Cruises will be on hand to showcase its Spa and Relax treatment centre, while Fred Olsen Cruise Lines will provide virtual golfing, with exclusive show only offers for cruise holidays also to be provided.
An estimated 1.65 million UK cruise holidays will take place this year, according to the Passenger Shipping Association.
]]> http://www.iglucruise.com/news/2010-cruise-travel-show-to-provide-exclusive-offers_a19571400 2010-01-21 Caribbean, Mediterranean and Middle East cruise itineraries named
The Telegraph has highlighted the available choices, which include a 50-night voyage from Sydney to Dover on Balmoral, a cruise ship operated by Fred Olsen Cruise Lines.
Holidaymakers who opt for the voyage departing March 4th 2010 can expect to take in destinations as diverse as Mauritius, South Africa, Namibia, Ghana, Senegal and Morocco.
Also listed is P&OArtemis' 14-night cruise, which will leave Barbados on March 20th 2010 and pass through Grenada, St Lucia, St Barts, Antigua, Madeira and Southampton, where it will end.
Meanwhile, Cunard Cruises' ship Queen Victoria will depart Southampton on April 22nd 2010 for a one-week cruise calling at Vigo, Lisbon, Bilbao, and Brest, the newspaper stated.
British holidaymakers opting for these voyages will help make up the 1.65 million UK cruise holidays predicted by the Passenger Shipping Association.
�]]> http://www.iglucruise.com/news/caribbean-mediterranean-and-middle-east-cruise-itineraries-named_a19516180 2009-12-16 Guyana increasing in popularity among Caribbean cruise passengers
Despite the current economic climate and the impact it is having on the global travel industry, research carried out for the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) found that visitor numbers to Guyana were up by six per cent between January and October when compared to the first ten months of 2008.
This means that, along with Cuba and Jamaica, the country is one of the fastest-growing tourist destinations in the whole of the Caribbean, outpacing the likes of St Lucia, Dominica and the Dominican Republic in attracting tourists.
Speaking on the back of the publication of the report, Guyana's minister of tourism and commerce Maniram Prashad told Caribbean Life that these figures serve to justify recent efforts to place the island on the travel map, including a series of recent initiatives aimed at promoting it as a destination to Caribbean cruise passengers.
"We have been vindicated in what we have been saying all along that Guyana has seen an increase in arrivals for 2009," he said.
As well as its beaches, Guyana is also home to some of the world's most biodiverse jungles, with the elusive jaguar among the rare animals living in the interior.
�]]> http://www.iglucruise.com/news/guyana-increasing-in-popularity-among-caribbean-cruise-passengers_a19487843 2009-12-01 Hairspray switches to Oasis of the Seas
She has since become the star of the show in Broadway musical Hairspray, with the production having moved to Royal Caribbean Cruises'Oasis of the Seas, the world's largest passenger cruise liner, the Daily Mirror's John Honeywell writes.
The show premiered on Wednesday night (November 25th) and received a standing ovation from the ship's guests.
"It's the first time ever such a lavish full-length musical has been performed at sea, and it will be performed on the ship four times a week for the next four years," Mr Honeywell wrote.
Woods is starring alongside Michael Quinn, another British actor, in the production.
She won her part following auditions in London, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles.
Earlier this month, Oasis of the Seas docked in her home port of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The vessel arrived in the US following a 14-day transatlantic cruise crossing from Turku in Finland.
�]]> http://www.iglucruise.com/news/hairspray-switches-to-oasis-of-the-seas_a19484719 2009-11-30 Eastern Mediterranean cruises to become more popular? Mediterranean cruise thanks to the "pull of eastern promise".
This is the suggestion from Sharron Livingston, editor of the thetravelmagazine.net, who said that countries such as Turkey and Egypt offer travellers "great value for money".
"Other popular destinations are Spain and France for their close proximity and New York," Ms Livingston commented, with all three destinations well served by cruise operators.
The travel expert's comments come after a recent report from American Express, which predicted that Turkey and Egypt will be holiday hotspots going into next year.
According to the company's global foreign exchange services department, there has been a 26 per cent increase in demand for the Turkish lira compared to this time last year, while demand for the Egyptian pound has increased by 60 per cent.
This reflects a trend of holidaymakers looking for destinations that offer both guaranteed sunshine and value for money.
�]]> http://www.iglucruise.com/news/eastern-mediterranean-cruises-to-become-more-popular_a19482725 2009-11-27 Electronic documents launched by cruise lines
Azamara Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean International will begin using eDocs so that guests benefit from a more dynamic cruise documentation experience.
The web-based format, which is fully interactive in terms of personalisation, offers guests all the information they need prior to embarking on their cruise, such as shore excursion choices and the number of onboard offerings.
Vicki Freed, Royal Caribbean International's senior vice president of sales, said that "now is the time" for cruise lines to go electronic in terms of passenger documents.
"Given that close to half of our guests and travel partners already select eDocs as their preferred format, the momentum has been building toward this type of approach as eDocs have become widely accepted by travel partners and cruise travellers alike," she commented.
Royal Caribbean International recently launched Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, its new vessels that promise to offer "collections of amazing experiences".
�]]> http://www.iglucruise.com/news/electronic-documents-launched-by-cruise-lines_a19461512 2009-11-16