Small Ships Cruises

Seafarer, a leading Small ship and yacht cruise specialist has announced an exciting new exotic winter cruise destination for 2014 in Costa Rica and Colombia including transit of the Panama canal. This cruise is operated by market leaders in thjeir sector of mage Yacht cruises for under 100 passengers, Athens based Variety Cruises for which Seafarer has for many years acted as UK general sales Agent.

The cruise will be operated on the flagship of the Variety Cruises fleet, the 36 cabin mega yacht variety Voyager. Launched in 2012, this state of the art small cruise ship offers well designed and tastefully appointed cabins (all with windows), spacious public areas, indoor and outdoor lounges with bar, a fitness centre and spa. There is also a spacious aft swimming platform from which guests can enjoy swimming in the pristine waters of secluded bays.

The itinerary offered, bears no resemblance to that offered by large cruise ships cruising in the area having the ability to access smaller harbours and anchorages that large ships simply cannot reach. Highlights of the cruise include the Corcovado and Manuel Antonio national parks with their exotic jungle flora and fauna backed by white sound beaches, Coiba Island, a UNESCO world heritage site, the traditional San Blas islands and of course the transit of the Panama Canal itself.

Variety Voyager Cruise Vessel

The cruise will be running until  April with weekly sailings alternating between Los Suenos, Herradura in Costa Rica and Cartagena, Columbia.
Early booking prices saving you a massive 25% of the cruise only price start at £1269pp plus £ 220 for port taxes and charges. Flights and transfers can be added from £1259 pp

Variety Cruises also operate cruises in the Seychelles (which is a year round programme), The Rivers of West Africa and The Peloponnese coast of Greece during the winter. During the summer season between April and October, they operate an extensive range of cruises in the Greek Isles as well as Croatia and the Adriatic plus Southern Italy and Malta
See here  for full information and prices.

Seafarer have announced an extension of its early booking offers on a range of deluxe mega yacht cruises operated by leading yacht cruise specialist Variety Cruises.

Savings on offer include 25% off the cruise only rate on selected departures, with flights and port taxes extra. Prices start from as little as £799 + £125 for port taxes and charges for 7 nights on the Cycladic Jewels itinerary in Greece. Flights are extra from £295 pp
Summer destinations on offer include the Seychelles, Croatia & Montenegro, The Western Mediterranean including France Italy, Corsica and Malta as well as a choice of superb island hopping cruise itineraries in the Greek isles.

Winter destinations include the Seychelles, Costa Rica, Colombia and the Panama Canal, plus a unique Rivers of West Africa cruise taking in Senegal, Gambia and the Gambia River

The Mega Yachts of Variety Cruises accommodate between 40 and 70 passengers in real style and comfort in spacious en suite air conditioned cabins. Their itineraries are noted for venturing off the beaten track, discovering ports and harbours beyond the reach of large cruise ships. The atmosphere on board is informal and friendly, the service is attentive whist there is plenty of time ashore to explore each destination at your leisure.

Variety Cruises recently won the prestigious Cruise Critic award for Best Small Ship for Scenic & nature Cruises.

Cruises can be booked through UK general Sales agent Seafarer Cruising & Sailing; (www.seafarercruises.com; tel: 0208 324 3118) or with selected independent specialist travel agents.

With today’s ever larger cruise ships the size of small towns, family cruising has become all about every conceivable activity and facility on board from rock climbing walls and surfing pools to toddlers’ kids’ and teens’ clubs to ensure that your children can be occupied 24/7 whilst you pursue your own interests whether that be gambling, shopping dancing or working out in the high tech gym to name just a few of the choices available.

This is all very well if you are sick of the sight of one another and starved of opportunities to do this sort of thing back home. However, small ship & yacht cruise specialist Seafarer has highlighted a completely different approach to the family cruise holiday by niche cruise company Variety Cruises.

Seafarer Managing Director Chris Lorenzo commented ‘Our experience is that busy professional families see nothing like enough of each other with parents and children struggling to keep up with ever busier lifestyles. Intensive work and educational schedules during the day are followed by social, sporting and other commitments during evenings and weekends, to the extent that there is little opportunity to spend time together or simply do things as a family’.

The family Specials of Variety Cruises aim to offer exactly that, relaxing informal yacht cruises that allow families the opportunity to spend time and do things together. The Mega Yachts of Variety Cruises do not even try the dazzling array of facilities on big cruise ships, but they do offer fantastic unique itineraries, great accommodation, ample sun decks and swimming platforms on each mega-yacht, permitting swimming from the vessel in pristine secluded bays and coves. They also offer Sea Kayaks and snorkelling equipment on board. Their unhurried island hopping itineraries offer real exploration, featuring un-commercialised destinations beyond the reach of large cruise ships. It is more about time ashore together than life on board, with plenty of time in each island to do as you please, whether that be relaxing on the beach & swimming, hiking in the hills, or discovering ancient historical sites and lost civilisations.

For the first time this summer, Variety Cruises are offering attractive Family cruise deals where children cruise for free, paying just port charges and flight costs. 1 parent sharing a cabin with up to 2 children will pay only the single cabin rate, whilst 2 parents travelling with between 2-4 children in 2 cabins will pay just 2 single cabins, whilst children pay only flights, transfers and port charges. It all amounts to a great value family package and a great opportunity to re-connect as a family and spend some quality time together on a high quality yacht cruise. Destinations include the Greek Isles, The Adriatic including Croatia, Montenegro and Corfu, or the Western Mediterranean including South Italy and Malta . Discounted prices start at £4995 for a family of 4 cruising the Cyclades in Greece including fights from London.

For more info contact Seafarer on 0208 324 34114