5 Tips for more Cultured Cruising in 2016...

5 Tips for more Cultured Cruising in 2016 If you’re after a cruise with cabaret, disco, casino and 16 meals a day don’t read on. With no disrespect to our ‘floating resort’ style cruising cousins that’s simply not what we’re about. But if you like to spend time ashore collect culture every step of the way here are 5 big reasons why you simply have to add small ship cruising to your 2016 holiday wish list. Cruising should always be about a little bit of luxury, good food and excellent company – but for us it’s also about a cultural journey and the opportunity to experience some of the world’s great places in relative peace and quiet. If you like the sound of that then these five top tips might help you find the cultured cruising you’re looking for: Big ship cruising means big crowds. If you’ve ever been in a port ‘when the boat comes in’ you’ll know just what we mean – loads of coaches on the quayside full of loads of people off to see the local sights. We have no problem with that – but we’d rather be there when the sights are a little more empty, take our time and go by taxi or even just stroll there. Big ships can’t get into small harbours. If you truly want to see the unspoilt sights and sites small ships get you close up and personal to the sort of cultural places big boats only dream of – in many cases we moor right up on the quayside. Big ships can’t get to hidden beaches. For sure they may have 4 or 5 swimming pools on board but for us that simply can’t compare with the experience of mooring up in a shallow cove and jumping off the swimming platform into the warm waters. The company on small ships is more cultured – you get to know the crew and other passengers by name and vice versa. It’s like a wonderful grown up country house party that lasts 7 nights but where you wake up every morning to find they’ve changed the scenery – such a clever idea! Small ship cruising is kinder to the environment. One of the greatest conundrums in travel is that the more beautiful the place the more people want to go there, but the more people the go there the more quickly the true culture gets swamped by commerce. Small is beautiful.  The fact is there are still so many brilliant cultural places in antiquity and so many sites of natural beauty are hidden away not far from a coast and can best be reached and seen by boat. It’s up to you how you want to see them but we would argue small ship cruising is a much more cultured experience. Seafarer runs a fleet of seven gorgeous small ships that offer itineraries taking you off the beaten track in elegant luxury and charming company. Check out www.seafarercruises.com for the full range or simply contact us nigel@holidaytrails.co.uk

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Holiday offers are published in good faith and are correct at the time of publishing. Please note that these are subject to change, and can be withdrawn at any time by the promoter.

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Compagnie du Ponant - luxury small ship cruises Compagnie du Ponant embodies the art of luxury yacht cruises, combining a sophisticated à la française lifestyle on board with exploration and discovery. All cruises are English & French speaking and are on a full board basis (breakfast, lunch and dinner - wine is included with lunch and dinner). Excursions are not included in the price, but can be booked prior to travel. Le Boreal L'Austral Luxury motor yacht with 132 cabins - Antarctica, North America, Northern Europe & The Baltic, South America Onboard facilities:  Gastronomic restaurant, Grill restaurant, Panoramic lounge, Sothys Spa/Beauty centre, Hamman, Fitness Centre, Hairdresser, Main lounge, Pool, Theatre/Cinema, library, internet, games room (Wii) 2:1 Guest:crew ratio. Duration of cruises:  Ranges from 7 nights to 17 nights Luxury motor yacht with 132 cabins - Mediterranean, Adriatic, Antarctica Onboard facilities:  Gastronomic restaurant, Grill restaurant, Panoramic lounge, Sothys Spa/Beauty centre, Hamman, Fitness Centre, Hairdresser, Main lounge, Pool, Theatre/Cinema, library, internet, games room (Wii), 2:1 Guest:crew ratio Duration of cruises:  Ranges from 7 nights to 17 nights   Le Ponant Le Soleal Sailing ship with just 32 cabins - South America and Caribbean, Mediterranean & Iberian Peninsula Onboard facilities: Gastronomic restaurant, Panoramic restaurant, Sun Deck, Bar lounge, 2:1 guest:crew ratio. Duration of cruises: Ranges from 7 nights to 17 nights Luxury motor yacht with 132 cabins - Asia, Russia Onboard facilities:Gastronomic restaurant, Grill restaurant, Panoramic lounge, Sothys Spa/Beauty centre, Hamman,  Fitness Centre, Hairdresser, Main lounge, Pool, Theatre/Cinema, library, internet, games room (Wii), 2:1 Guest:crew ratio Duration of cruises: Ranges from 7 nights to 17 nights Mekong Prestige - boutique river cruise vessel on the Mekong River The Mekong Prestige incorporates stunning contemporary design with local styles and cuisine. Full board basis (breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner - local beer and wine is included with lunch and dinner). Excursions are not included in the price, but can be booked prior to travel. Number of cabins: 32 (2 Junior Suites, 2 Terrace Suites, 28 twin/double cabins) Onboard facilities:  Gastronomic restaurant, Sun Deck with whirlpool, Indoor Spa, Lounge Bar, Fitness room. River cruised: River Mekong between Saigon (Vietnam) and Siem Reap (Cambodia) and vice versa. Duration of cruises:  7 nights, 8 days Croatian Sailing Holidays Croatia's premier cruise specialist, with a fleet of 40 vintage and new motor sailing ships providing guaranteed weekly departures from the major ports of Opatija, Split, Dubrovnik. All cruises are on a half board basis (breakfast and lunch included). Each night the vessel moors up in a different port and guests go ashore to explore and find their dinner at a local tavern. With 4 different grades per vessel Croatian Sailing Holidays are perfect for all levels of budget Deluxe category A+ Category New larger, luxury ships lavishly designed, fully air - conditioned, spacious en-suite cabins with double or twin beds. Newly built ships with fully air-conditioned en-suite cabins with double or twin beds.   A Category B Category Vintage wooden sailing ships. Cabins with private bathrooms, mostly bunk beds, air-conditioned salon. Vintage wooden sailing ships, cabins with bunk beds and washbasin, shared facilities. Amadeus River Cruises - river cruising on Europe's waterways River cruising is the single most comfortable way to travel and see many destinations in one holiday effortlessly. Simply unpack once and watch as the scenery changes around you! Full board basis (breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner). Excursions are not included but can be booked prior to travel. MS Amadeus Silver MS Amadeus Diamond Built 2013: 90 cabins. Panoramic Restaurant, bar, sun deck, Golf putting green, hairdresser, massage room, fitness room, lift, internet station. Cruises the Danube River. Built in 2009: 74 cabins. Panoramic Restaurant, bar, sun deck, Golf putting green, hairdresser, massage room, fitness room, lift, internet station. Cruises the Dutch and Belgian waterways, Rhine, Main and Danube.   MS Amadeus Brilliant MS Amadeus Elegant Built 2011: 76 cabins. Panoramic Restaurant, bar, sun deck, Golf putting green, hairdresser, massage room, fitness room, lift, internet station. Cruises the Dutch and Belgian waterways, Rhine, Main and Danube. Built 2010: 76 cabins. Panoramic Restaurant, bar, sun deck, Golf putting green, hairdresser, massage room, fitness room, lift, and internet station. Cruises the Dutch and Belgian waterways, Rhine, Main and Danube. MS Amadeus Princess MS Amadeus Royal Built in 2006: 80 cabins. Panoramic Restaurant, bar, sun deck, Golf putting green, hairdresser, massage room, fitness room, lift, internet station. Cruises the Dutch and Belgian waterways, Rhine, Main and Danube. Built in 2005: 72 cabins. Panoramic Restaurant, bar, sun deck, Golf putting green, hairdresser, massage room, fitness room, lift, internet station. Cruises the Dutch and Belgian waterways, Rhine, Main and Danube. MS Amadeus Symphony     Built in 2003: 73 cabins. Panoramic Restaurant, bar, sun deck, Golf putting green, hairdresser, massage room, fitness room, lift, internet station. Cruises the Rhone     Hotel Barging Our beautiful hotel barges will take you along the peaceful canals of Europe. Carrying between 6 and 22 passengers, these vessels can navigate waterways not accessible to larger ships, allowing you to visit places tourists normally do not see. The barges move at a relaxing, leisurely pace, so you can take in views of the exquisite countryside and explore inland as you wish. La Belle Époque L'Art de Vivre Carries up to 12 passengers and is a state-of the-art luxury hotel barge which benefited from a major refurbishment in 2011. She has been designed with both elegance and passenger comfort in mind and offers a host of luxurious facilities, including a sun deck, spa-pool and wood panelled saloon and dining room. She provides the opulence of a top class hotel with ever-changing Burgundy scenery. Carries up to 8 passengers and after being transformed from a a Scottish munitions carrier, the luxury hotel barge is a noble ship owned by Count Florian Walewski, one of the pioneers of canal barging and a direct descendant of Napoleon, and has been in his family for decades. Today she cruises the magical waterways of Burgundy, a region where the appreciation of all that is good in life - whether it be cuisine, wines, or the land itself - still reigns.       Amadeus Brilliant cabin Croatia cruises, Category A, ship deck   Lounge @ Le Soleal Mekong Prestige Cruise L'art de vivre      Other small ship cruise deals    Last Minute Deals & Promotions Sailing Ships Expedition Cruises Hotel Barging River Cruises Yachts Coastal Cruises

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Holiday offers are published in good faith and are correct at the time of publishing. Please note that these are subject to change, and can be withdrawn at any time by the promoter.