Variety Cruises Weddings and Honeymoons

What can be more romantic than a wedding or a honeymoon at sea on a cruise?

Not much!

Making sure that more may enjoy this romantic start to wedded life, Variety Cruises has now started to concentrate on providing special things for those in the bridal and honeymoon segment.

Variety Cruises, the Greece-based, family-run company that operates a fleet of mega yachts carrying up to only 72 passengers, has released a host of new honeymoon packages and cruise options, available to newlyweds, as well as couples renewing their vows.

Advantages of these special packages include the ship’s captain taking part in the ceremonies, a 25 percent price reduction for the bride, a cabin with a double or king bed for the happy couple, a celebratory bottle of Champagne and fresh fruit, a candle-lit dinner in a private, secluded place on board, or in a preferred restaurant in Santorini or Mykonos, and even a complimentary massage for two.

Before you think that this may be fun, even if you're not getting wed, note that there has to be proof of marriage and that the cruise has to take place within  six months of the actual wedding ceremony.

For more information visit the Prow's Edge profile of Variety Cruises or take a look at the Variety Cruises website at:
http://www.varietycruises.com

Specific Savings – Vairety Cruises

Here are the specific cruise savings as mentioned in the previous blog at Variety Cruises Savings

2012 Greek Cruises

ANTIQUITY TO BYZANTIUM: Discover Ancient Greece aboard the Harmony G starting in Athens with visits to the tombs at Mycenae, Olympia and the spectacular Oracle Temple of Delphi; book select dates starting November 2.

JEWEL OF THE CYCLADES: Board in Athens on the M/S Galileo, a classic steel motor sailer, en route to the Aegean Islands with stops in Santorini, Mykonos and off the beaten path islands such as Paros and Folegandros; book select dates starting May 18.

CLASSICAL GREECE: Board the Harmony V mega yacht in Athens and explore stops in Mykonos, Santorini, Crete, the hidden-gem island of Kythira and more; Book select dates starting May 25.

AEGEAN ODYSSEY: Cruise through the Aegean Islands and Turkey aboard the Panorama (spring/fall) or Panorama II (summer) experiencing the sights and sounds of the Mediterranean's rich cultural heritage; Book select dates starting May 11.

New Itineraries

THE SEYCHELLES - CRUISES IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN: The latest addition to Variety Cruises, guests can island hop in perfect harmony with this unspoiled paradise visiting centuries-old rain forests and take in unique wildlife and flora and fauna. Book select dates starting December 1.

DODECANESE MOSAIC: Travel on the three-masted Panorama sail cruiser embarking from Rhodes or Aghios Nikolaos sailing through the beautiful ports of Bodrum, Santorini and the islands of Karpathos and Amorgos; Book select dates starting June 30.

ROMANTIC RIVERAS: The French and Italian Rivieras come to life as the new 223-foot Variety Voyager mega yacht travels through chic hotspots such as Nice, St. Tropez, Portofino, Monte Carlo and more; Book select dates starting July 14.

TREASURES OF SOUTH ITALY AND MALTA: Board the new Variety Voyager mega yacht as it cruises around Sicily exploring Taormina, Syracuse, Agrigento and Cephalu, with stops in Capri, Malta and Lipari; Book select dates starting September 15.

ARABIAN JOURNEYS 2012/13: Experience the wonders of the Arabian Gulf and the Omani Coast departing from Abu Dhabi to Muscat aboard the new Variety Voyager mega yacht; Book select dates starting November 29.

RIVERS OF WEST AFRICA: Operating from Dakar to Senegal, the Harmony V mega yacht will sail up the Gambia River, with stops in colorful fishing villages, nature and wildlife reserves; Book select dates starting December 21.

For more information visit www.varietycruises.com for more information on participating sailing dates or call 1-800-319-7776 (US) and 1-866-944-8498 (Canada) to receive the 2012/13 Variety Cruises brochure.

Variety Cruises Savings

Variety Cruises is offering hot deals on last-minute bookings made on select sailings through 2012/13.

Special offers are available on new and classic itineraries, with visits to hotspot destinations like Dubrovnik and The Seychelles and off-the-beaten-path ports larger ships cannot access like Kythira in the Greek Islands.

With its signature style of small-ship cruising, the family-run, Greece-based Variety Cruises is the premier line for life-enriching journeys for inquisitive travelers.

Specials on all programs include the following on select departure dates:

·       2-for-1 offers with 2nd passenger free, no single supplement

OR

·       50% discount for 2nd passenger, 25% single supplement

All offers are available for reservations made until June 15, 2012 except for the Arabian Journeys, Antiquity & Byzantium & Seychelles Cruise for which the booking deadline is Aug 31; port charges are excluded from these discounts. When booking a special offer, please reference code: SPECIAL OFFER / MAY 2.

FOR DETAILS OF THESE SAVINGS VISIT: Specific Savings – Vairety Cruises 

For more information visit www.varietycruises.com for more information on participating sailing dates or call 1-800-319-7776 (US) and 1-866-944-8498 (Canada) to receive the 2012/13 Variety Cruises brochure.

Cruises to Ancient Civilizations

Variety Cruises will embark on its newest venture, the Ancient Civilizations of Eastern Mediterranean program, in January 2012. Sailing aboard the 49-passenger Panorama cruiser, the program proposes two embarkation ports for guests’ convenience: Larnaca, Cyprus or Port Said, Egypt. The cruise will sail between both ports from January through April 2012. Regular fares begin at $1,690 per person, per week.

Variety Cruises’ eight-day Ancient Civilizations of Eastern Mediterranean cruises will explore Cyprus, Syria, Israel and Egypt, enabling guests to discover the sites of ancient Eastern Mediterranean empires. Cruises from Larnaca to Port Said will sail January 23, 2012 to April 02, 2012. Cruises from Port Said to Larnaca will sail January 30, 2012 to April 09, 2012.

Itinerary for Larnaca departures:
• DAY 1: Larnaca, Cyprus. Embarkation and overnight sail to Syria.
• DAY 2: Latakia, Syria. Optional excursions to Aleppo, once the third economic center of the Ottoman Empire.
• DAY 3: Tartus, Syria. Excursions to Palmyra to discover its ancient temples and other treasures.
• DAY 4: Tartus, Syria. Home of the antique city of Crack de Chevaliers, the greatest and the most famous medieval citadel in the world.
• DAY 5: Limassol, Cyprus. The major tourism city in Cyprus, the city offers a treasure trove of Byzantine art.
• DAY 6: Haifa, Israel. Visit to Nazareth, the Village of Cana, via the Tiberias to Capernaum on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.
• DAY 7: Ashdod, Israel. Excursion to Jerusalem, Israel’s largest city.
• DAY 8: Port Said, Egypt. Disembarkation.

Cruises departing from Port Said follow the same itinerary in reverse order. Additional port charges are $290 per person. Guests traveling in Category A can benefit from a 30% reduction on the third person.

Variety Cruises’ Panorama, a three-mast sail cruiser, hosts up to 49 passengers in 25 cabins. This 54-meter state of the art sail cruiser was renovated in 2009 and offers the highest standard of accommodation, comfort and safety.

For an overview of Variety Cruises, take a look at the PROW'S EDGE CRUISE MAGAZINE VARIETY CRUISES PROFILE

For more information on Variety Cruises’ Ancient Civilizations of Easter Mediterranean program, please visit www.varietycruises.com

Black Sea Specials from Variety Cruises

Variety Cruises offers a whole new line up of new cruises including Black Sea Treasures and Turquoise Coast & Islands of Eastern Aegean in 2011 with pre-/post-cruise land specials.

Passengers can book by February 1 to enjoy free accommodations, breakfast, transfers and tours to compliment their intimate cruise expedition.

The eight-day Black Sea Treasures cruise sails July – August 2011. The Pegasus mega yacht (22-cabins) travels one-way from Odessa, Ukraine to Istanbul, Turkey (or reverse direction). Passengers breathe in the history of ancient sites in Romania, Bulgaria and the Crimea Peninsula. Fares start at $2,690 per person. Limited Time Special – Free land tour in Istanbul OR Kiev, plus two hotel nights with daily buffet breakfast and private transfers.

The eight-day Turquoise Coast & Islands of the Eastern Aegean cruise will sail aboard the Halis Temel motor yacht (12 cabins) April – November 2011. The program explores coasts of Turkey and Greek islands of the Aegean. Fares start at $1,490 per person. Limited Time Special – Free two-night Istanbul stay with hotel and daily buffet breakfast OR three-night Marmaris stay with hotel and daily buffet breakfast.

Specials are available for a limited number of cabins and subject to availability at time of booking. For more details, please visit www.varietycruises.com or call 1-866-944-8498 (Canada) and 1-800-319-7776 (US).

For more information about other cruise lines, take a look at Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine

Something REALLY Different for the Holidays

If you're really looking to get away from it all for the holidays - Variety Cruises has two programs sailing over the holiday season and they're very different from the usual offerings for the season.

Rivers of West Africa and King & Pharaohs offer passengers local cuisine, intimate surroundings, and an authentic experience aboard lavish mega yachts.

The Rivers of West Africa cruise explores a land of lush vegetation and cultural beauty by way of the winding Saloun and Gambia rivers. Embarking from Dakar, Senegal, the program sails from December 17 - 24, 2010, with fares beginning at $2,490 per person. An optional seven-day land program extension in Mali and Timbuktu following the cruise is available for additional cost. Alternative holiday travel dates include December 24 – 31, 2010 and December 31, 2010 through January 7, 2011.

The Kings & Pharaohs cruise sails along the Red Sea coast, including Egypt, Jordan and other gateway ports to world famous sites of ancient history. A one-way cruise between Aqaba, Jordan and Suez, Egypt sails from December 24 - 29, 2010. Travel is available from Suez to Aqaba December 29, 2010 through January 3, 2011. Fares begin at $1,490 per person, per week.

For more information visit www.varietycruises.com, 1-866-944-8498 (Canada) and 1-800-319-7776 (US).

For an overview of Variety Cruises, visit the VARIETY CRUISES page at Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine

Cruising the Rivers of West Africa

Ever in the search of new and exciting destinations, cruise lines are helping their guests find ever more exotic locations to explore.

Variety Cruises, for example, now offers The Rivers of West Africa cruise departing Fridays from Dakar in Senegal, sailing down the Saloun River to the following ports of call:
* Diffjre, a quaint fishing community
* Dakar, notable for its expansive markets filled with local treasures
* Tendaba, home to Kiang West National Park and the Baobolong Reserve
* Kuntaur, a thriving port village on the Gambia River
* Janjangbureh, location of River Gambia National Park
* Banjul, capital city of Gambia near the Nature Reserves of Abuko and Makasutu

Passengers will sail aboard Variety Cruises' mega yacht Pegasus, which hosts just 46 guests with 23 cabins in a relaxed, congenial atmosphere. The vessel was refurbished in March 2010.

And to make the lure of the African rivers even more enticing, Variety Cruises now welcomes guests on its new Rivers of West Africa cruise with two free nights at a four-star hotel in Dakar, Senegal for bookings made by September 30, 2010. The inaugural special is valid pre- or post-cruise for category A and B cabins and includes two transfers. The exotic program sets sail from December 24, 2010 through March 4, 2011, with fares starting at $2,240 per person, per week.

The Rivers of West Africa special does not apply to currently confirmed or group bookings. Reservations and 50% payment required by September 30, 2010.

For more information, please visit http://www.varietycruises.com/, or call 1-866-944-8498 (Canada) and 1-800-319-7776 (US).

A Variety of Spiritual Makeover Cruises

You never need a reason to go on a cruise – there are too many of them – but here’s a new one to add to your long list.

Can luxury travel give you a spiritual makeover? asks Variety Cruises.

Yes, that’s the idea behind Variety Cruises’ experiential travel trend. Harnessing the emotion of powerful experiences in exotic locales, the journey becomes a traveler’s personal quest to happiness, self-actualization, and building connections to loved ones and the world, it says.

Find out for yourselves as Variety Cruises set the course for experiential travel, spanning Greece, West Africa and the Red Sea.

DJENNÉ, MALI – RESTORING THE GRANDE MOSQUE
THE CRUISE: The new Rivers of West Africa cruise sets sail on December 2010, exploring lush vegetation and cultural beauty by way of the Saloun and Gambia rivers. Land tours to Mali and Timbuktu are available.
EXPERIENCE: Land tours journey to Djenné, Mali, home of the mud brick Grand Mosque, the largest in the world. Every February through April, the village of Djenné restores the mosque in a festival filled with food, music and community. Passengers can take part in this unique event, and in turn become part of the mosque’s extensive history.

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL – LIVE THE NEW TESTAMENT
THE CRUISE: The new Kings & Pharaohs cruise, embarking December 2010, will explore the Red Sea and gateway ports that preserve ancient history. Pre and post-cruise land tours are available between Suez, Egypt and Aqaba, Jordan.
EXPERIENCE: Enter Jerusalem during your land tour, home to powerful religious and historical wonders. Explore places significant in the New Testament, including Mount of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, the room of the Last Supper and the little town of Bethlehem. Passengers are enveloped in the physical manifestation of faith and can literally walk in Jesus’ footsteps.

CRETE, GREECE – THE LABYRINTHS OF KNOSSOS
THE CRUISE: The Classical Greece cruise, sailing now through October 2010, traverses the Aegean Islands, Crete and continental Greece. Embarking from Marina Zea in Athens, this eight-day cruise makes stops in Mykonos, Santorini, and Crete.
EXPERIENCE: Knossos, the labyrinth palace preserved from the Bronze Age, awaits in Crete. Home to Greece’s enduring legend of Theseus and the Minotaur, it features more than 1,000 interlocking rooms. Wander through the maze-like passages, following Prince Theseus’ path toward the ferocious Minotaur, who lurked at the palace’s center.

For more cruises and cruise reviews, visit Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine

Last Minute Deals in Greece and the Adriatic Sea

Variety Cruises is unveiling last-minute sales to Greece and the Adriatic Sea. Now through May 30, travelers can save big when booking Aegean Odyssey, Jewels of the Cyclades, Classical Greece and Tales of the Adriatic cruise programs. It’s just one more reason to experience the intimacy and ambiance of small-ship cruising with Variety Cruises!

I. GREECE
Classical Greece, Aegean Odyssey and Jewels of the Cyclades
• 50% discount for the second person based on double occupancy.
• No supplement required for single travelers.
• Includes choice of two-nights at a deluxe Athens hotel OR a $140 shipboard credit per person.
• Aegean Odyssey: Seven-night cruise including stops in Kusadasi, Turkey and Patmos and Samos islands. Regular fares begin at $1,935 per person. Sale dates: May 7 & 28, June 4, July 23, August 13 & 20, September 3, October 8, 15, 22 & 29.
• Jewels of the Cyclades: This seven-night cruise heads southeast of mainland Greece through a collection of charming islands. Regular fares begin at $1,530 per person. Sale dates: April 30, June 4, August 27, October 15, 22 & 29.
• Classical Greece: Discover the best of the Aegean Islands, Crete and Continental Greece over seven nights. Regular fares begin at $2,150 per person. Sale dates: June 18, July 9, August 6 & 13, October 15 & 29.

II. ADRIATIC SEA
Tales of the Adriatic: New for 2010, this program traverses Venice and the Croatian Coast of the Adriatic Sea. Regular fares begin at $2,690 per person. Sale dates: June 27, July 4 & 11, August 6, 8 & 13.
• Two for one fare – second passenger in a twin cabin sails for free.
• No supplement required for single travelers.

Variety Cruises offers are available for limited number of cabins and do not apply for group bookings. Port charges are excluded from these discounts. All reservations are on request and on first come first served basis. Special is valid for reservation requests made up to May 30, 2010.

For more information see the Variety Cruises profile at Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine . For up-to-date availabilities, please contact the reservations department at reservations@varietycruises.com, or call 1.800.319.7776 in the USA and 1.866.944.8498 in Canada or visitthe official Variety Cruises web site at www.varietycruises.com.