National Geographic Quest – Lindblad Expeditions’ new ship named

Lindblad Expeditions is happy to announce the name for the latest addition to its fleet. The National Geographic Quest is currently being built in Seattle and will make her first voyage on 26 June 2017.

The inaugural will be the 12-night “Treasures of the Inside Passage: Alaska & British Columbia” itinerary.

The new vessel will feature 50 cabins, 22 with balconies, and eight that can be configured into four adjoining cabins for families. All Category 5 cabins can accommodate a third passenger. All public spaces are designed for maximum viewing. An outdoor walkway around the entire sun deck will feature an al fresco bar and grill, in addition to the restaurant and a lounge with bar.

Quest will feature a fleet of 24 sea kayaks, paddle boards, and a specially designed landing craft; a fully equipped fitness centre and a Wellness spa; Remotely Operated Vehicle, hydrophone, spashcam, underwater video camera, crow’s nest remote-controlled camera, video microscope and snorkelling gear for all guests.

The National Geographic Quest will operate on the popular “Exploring Alaska’s Coastal Wilderness” voyage on a Saturday to Saturday schedule as well as “Treasures of the Inside Passage: Alaska and British Columbia.”

Following the Alaska season, the ship will remain in the Pacific Northwest for a series of voyages between Seattle and Vancouver, with stops in the San Juan Islands, Victoria, Alert Bay, and more far reaching stops in British Columbia’s channels and fjords. Beginning in December 2017, National Geographic Quest will reposition and operate voyages in Costa Rica and Panama before kicking off a series of new voyages in Belize and Guatemala starting in mid-February 2018.

Rates for the voyage, “Treasures of the Inside Passage” on-board NG Quest begin at AU$11,740 to AU$18,550.

AzAmazing Bonus Deal – $500 Onboard Spending Money on Journey Sailings

Boutique cruise line Azamara Club has launched a bonus deal on Azamara Journey sailings between 10 December 2016 and 12 May 2017, offering USD$500 in onboard spending money per stateroom.

The bonus deal is available to book until 31 May 2016, and includes a range of sailings throughout the ship’s extensive Asia season, departing from Hong Kong, Singapore and Mumbai, as well as Azamara Journey’s two Singapore-Sydney 18-night repositioning cruises, departing Singapore 1 February 2017 and the reverse itinerary departing Sydney on 22 March 2017.

Prices start from $3,189 per person for a 13-night Hong Kong to Singapore sailing in an interior stateroom, including USD$500 onboard credit. The sailing departs 10 December 2016 and calls in Hue (Danang) and Ho Chi Minh City together with an overnight stay in Hanoi (Halong Bay) in Vietnam, as well as Koh Samui and Bangkok in Thailand, where Azamara Journey remains for two overnights in a row.

Or choose to sail for 18-nights from Singapore to Sydney from just $5,719 per person for an interior stateroom, including $500 onboard spending money. The sailing departs Singapore on 1 February 2017 and calls in Bali and Komodo in Indonesia, as well as Darwin, Port Douglas, Thursday Island, Cairns, Townsville and Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays before arriving in Sydney for the commencement of Azarama Journey’s inaugural season down under.

APT Reveals Unforgettable New Europe River Cruising Highlights for 2017

An exclusive portfolio of Small Group Discoveries, new Signature Experiences and Special Interest Cruises are just a handful of the highlights featured in APT’s elegantly designed Europe River Cruising 2017 brochure.

Commenting on the new brochure, APT Executive General Manager, Global Sales and Marketing, Debra Fox said, “Next year we celebrate 90 years since our founder Bill McGeary brought his first bus, thus sowing the seeds of APT as we know it today. This brochure showcases our achievements, and in particular our extensive award winning European river cruise program. It features an evolved look and feel for our brand, lots of exciting new additions to our cruise portfolio and we are also introducing a new touring concept which we are confident guests will love.”

The luxury travel operator has redesigned the brochure to make it even easier for travel agents and their clients to navigate the extensive range of APT Collection cruises, grand rail journeys and luxury land journeys.

The latest addition to APT’s European portfolio is its new Small Group Discoveries, an exclusive collection of seven luxury land journeys crafted for just 20 guests. Designed to give guests a detailed exploration of their destination at a more leisurely pace, guests travel in comfort aboard a luxury coach on APT’s new journeys.  Destinations include Croatia & Montenegro, France, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Sicily and Spain.

Staying in unique and authentic accommodation and with a dedicated APT escort guiding the group  throughout, guests who choose these exceptional tours will enjoy Signature Experiences ranging from a special cooking class with a Michelin Star Chef at their private apartment in Lyon; to the chance to assist with a live seafood auction in the Spanish port of Palamós; learning about Sicily’s Mount Etna accompanied by a professional Volcanologist; and taking an after hours private visit, followed by dinner at the Museum of Cycladic Art in Athens, featuring magnificent works of the 3^rd Millennium BC.

Sailing aboard it’s Magnificent Europe APT Collection cruises, which in the new brochure are priced from $6,495* per person, twin share, the award winning operator already features three Royal Signature Experiences: a journey aboard the luxurious Majestic Imperator train: a private visit to Namedy Castle; and a private musical soiree at Vienna’s newly refurbished City Palace.

Uniworld fly free deal

Uniworld is offering guests the opportunity to’ fly free’ to Europe with bookings on selected 2016 river cruise departures.

This offer allows guests to experience the luxury of an all-inclusive river cruise through the fascinating European continent and fly in comfort and style with the award winning Qatar Airways on a return journey.

To take advantage of this incredible ‘fly free’ offer travellers simply need to make a booking on selected Uniworld Europe river cruises by 31^st May 2016.

This offer is applicable across a selection of Uniworld river cruises departures including the 13 day Legendary Rhine and Moselle and 15 day Grand France river cruise along the River Seine with the opportunity to walk through Monet’s beloved Giverny and take a poignant visit to the beaches of Normandy.