List of cruise news articles updates on Mediterranean Cruises thoughtout the day en-gb http://www.iglucruise.com 2010-03-18 Cunard Cruises has celebrated the naming of the forthcoming addition to its fleet of luxury cruise liners, the Queen Elizabeth.

Currently being worked on in the port of Trieste, Italy, the vessel has now been branded with the steel letters spelling out her name.

According to the cruise lining company, such a name will mark the upcoming vessel out as a part of maritime history, with all previous vessels bearing the regal name of Elizabeth having been legendary for their comfort and style.

"As I saw the famous name being welded to the bow, I was overcome by the historical significance," Peter Shanks, president of Cunard Line, said.

"A milestone such as this only continues to build on the already wide anticipation of the debut of our gracious new Cunarder."

The Queen Elizabeth is due to be launched in time for the 2010 Mediterranean cruises season and is scheduled to visit 18 ports in 18 countries in her first year on the seas.

Zagat recently named Cunard as the 'Top Overall' large cruise line in its annual travel industry poll.

Written by Chris Smith

]]> http://www.iglucruise.com/news/cunard-names-new-queen-elizabeth-ship_a19482658 2009-11-27 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.

Written by Chris Smith

]]> http://www.iglucruise.com/news/eastern-mediterranean-cruises-to-become-more-popular_a19482725 2009-11-27
Darcey Bussell will be Godmother to Azura when the ceremony takes place on the vessel's top deck in Southampton Docks on April 10th ahead of her maiden Mediterranean cruise.

Carol Marlow, P&O Cruises' managing director, said that Ms Bussell "epitomises glamour, sophistication and elegance", qualities that Azura hopes to achieve.

"Azura will offer the service, quality and entertainment associated with cruising at its very best and as dance will play a key part in this, it is entirely fitting for Darcey to give Azura the best possible start in life," she commented.

More than 1,200 invited guests will attend the naming ceremony before Azura sails to Malaga, Corfu, Dubrovnik and Venice.

The superliner, which can accommodate 3,100 passengers, features a dance floor in its atrium, ten restaurants and a state-of-the-art health and beauty spa.

One of Azura's highlights promises to be her Sindhu restaurant, which is run by Michelin star-winning chef Atul Kochhar.

Written by Chris Smith

]]> http://www.iglucruise.com/news/darcey-bussell-to-become-godmother-to-po-s-azura_a19483336 2009-11-27
This is according to Roger Allard, chief executive of All Leisure, who told the Daily Telegraph that people aged 50 and over are the most likely to take a cruise holiday.

"The cruise market is growing, it has gone up eight per cent in the last year," he explained to the newspaper.

"People are starting to think they can afford to go on holiday again, but they want better value for money."

Mr Allard went on to say that cruise operators are becoming more competitive, meaning that passengers can easily find good value.

While this winter is expected to be "difficult for everybody", Mr Allard explained, he expects to see an improvement by next summer.

All Leisure acquired the ship Discovery in 2005, offering passengers the opportunity to go on Mediterranean cruises.

Written by Chris Smith

]]> http://www.iglucruise.com/news/more-people-booking-cruises-all-leisure-says_a19475086 2009-11-24 Mediterranean cruises are set to benefit from improved international connections now that Norwegian Cruise Line has entered into a service partnership with the low-cost airline Jet2.com.

Under the new initiative, passengers will be able to fly from either Manchester or Edinburgh to the Italian port city of Venice, from where they will be able to embark on a Mediterranean cruise.

The Norwegian cruise liner operates two separate cruise packages out of the historic city, alternating between its 'Venice and the Greek Isles' and its 'Venice and the Aegean Sea' itineraries.

At the same time, Jet2 flights into Barcelona will also be timed to coincide with the departure of the Norwegian Jade as it embarks on its weekly 'Mediterranean Treasures' cruise between May and September, it has been confirmed.

News of this travel agreement comes as Norwegian Cruise Line has confirmed that its 4,200-passenger Norwegian Epic liner will enter service next June, with fleet veteran Captain Trygve Vorren to take the helm.

Written by Chris Smith

]]> http://www.iglucruise.com/news/norwegian-offers-new-links-to-mediterranean-cruises_a19420990 2009-10-22 Mediterranean cruises may pass along the north Egyptian coast, an area stepped in history.

With a number of cruising options, from all-out luxury to last-minute getaways, arriving by boat can be one of the best ways to see what the north African country has to offer.

Travellers who prefer to stay on water once arriving in Egypt can opt for a felucca, a traditional wooden sailing boat, which can take them along a stretch of the upper Nile at their own pace.

Others may wish to extend their cruise experiencing by travelling down the world's longest river on a larger vessel.

With the hassle of packing and unpacking removed, cruises are a popular way to explore the eastern Mediterranean region, which is known for its many attractions.

While Egypt offers travellers the chance to see a slice of north Africa, many cruise ships will also take in the Greek islands, Israel, Turkey and Cyprus.

One of the most popular Egyptian cruise destinations is the Temple of Karnak, which is among the country's most important places of worship.

Written by Chris Smith.

]]> http://www.iglucruise.com/news/egyptian-coast-recommended-for-east-mediterranean-cruises_a19415237 2009-10-19
Venice beat thousands of competing ports to win the poll with a five per cent vote from cruise lovers followed by the Spanish port of Barcelona, which scored four per cent.

Mediterranean ports also emerged as the favourite destinations for many Brits after collectively being backed by 15 per cent of voters, with Caribbean destinations also proving popular among cruise lovers.

The port of Road Town on Tortola in the British Virgin Islands is highly rated among British cruise takers and so are the ports St John's in Antigua and Bridgetown, Barbados.

British cruise lovers' favourite ports in North America are Miami, which is the US' largest cruise port, and Vancouver in Canada, the study showed.

National Cruise Week was held between September 20th and 27th 2009 to showcase and promote the variety available in the cruising industry.

Written by Chris Smith.

]]> http://www.iglucruise.com/news/cruise-lovers-name-venice-their-best-port_a19381532 2009-09-28 Ruby Princess last week were given an unusual treat as one of the world's most famous marine artists agreed to use the bottom of the ship's Neptune Pool for his latest high-profile work.

Artist Wyland, who is known the world over for his painting, writing and underwater photography, was on board the cruise liner as one of several meet-and-greet guests, when the cruise ship's captain Tony Draper was struck with an original idea.

As the Mediterranean cruise pulled into Venice, the artist was asked to add some colour to the on-board pool, with the result – a painting of a dolphin and her calf – now set to be enjoyed by thousands of passengers on board future voyages.

However, far from merely decoration, the artist was keen that his painting be used to highlight the issue of marine conservation, as is the case with much of his other work, which is showcased on-board several cruise ships.

Jan Swartz, executive vice president of Princess Cruises, said: "It's a wonderful way to work with Wyland to address our shared concern with the importance of marine conservation, and to give our passengers a unique experience as they witnessed a one-of-a-kind artwork taking shape."

As well as five pools, the Ruby Princess also boasts three main restaurants and a 'Movie Under the Stars' outdoor cinema.

Written by Chris Smith

]]> http://www.iglucruise.com/news/mediterranean-cruise-passengers-to-benefit-from-new-artwork_a19325872 2009-08-23
Winfrey employs more than 100 staff members at her Chicago-based television production company and paid for them all and their families to enjoy a ten-day break around the Mediterranean.

It is believed that the cruise will stop in destinations including Greece, Malta, Italy, Spain and Turkey, with it costing around £3,500 for each person to climb on board.

The cruise is not the first time that Winfrey has showed her generosity to her staff, having paid for the bill four years ago when she arranged a trip to Hawaii.

All those heading on the journey are already enjoying the fun as the vessel set sail from Chicago on Saturday, with those on board taking advantage of free drinks, food and activities at Winfrey's expense.

Others looking to head on Mediterranean cruises could do so through companies such as Royal Caribbean Cruises and Carnival Cruises.

]]> http://www.iglucruise.com/news/winfrey-pays-for-cruise-holiday-for-staff-and-families_a19230558 2009-06-22 Mediterranean cruise holidays have been praised by one publication.

According to Lake County Calendar, Mediterranean cruises offer cruisers a glimpse of history, a sensation of "elegant ambience" and a sense of the "old European charm".

One of the great things about a Mediterranean cruise, it is claimed, is that it allows travellers to sample a taste of the region but without the traumas of travelling between countries and packing and unpacking.

It is also a good way of saving money as travellers can combine the cost of their accommodation, food and entertainment without being stung by high eurozone prices.

Passengers on Mediterranean cruises can choose from a variety of itineraries too, in the eastern Mediterranean or to the west with ports in countries as far afield as Israel and Egypt available for exploration.

"Some of the Ports of call are so beautiful it brings tears to my eyes remembering. Dubrovnik, Croatia with its terra cotta roofs and ancient walled city is a jewel so wonderful that it's hard to believe that a war took place there not so long ago," the author notes.

Earlier this year, Celebrity Cruises claimed that 2009 would be its "biggest" European cruise season ever.

Written by Sarah Blacow


]]> http://www.iglucruise.com/news/mediterranean-cruises-lauded-_a18679294 2008-07-10