Escape the Winter with a cruise in Europe

Escape the Winter with a cruise in Europe

Amazing European cruises from Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises

April 18, 2011 - If you are looking to escape the cold days and long, dark nights of winter, it is not too late to book a northern summer cruise in Europe. New Zealanders also benefit right now from the added incentive of favourable currency exchange rates.

Cruises are a great way to see Europe, particularly if you have time constraints and want to pack many destinations into a short period, or if you are in serious need of some rest and relaxation. They are also one of the most stress-free ways to visit Europe, not to mention one of the most cost effective. Forget about the hassle of trying to find hotels or tiresome flights and train journeys; your cruise fare covers not only the cost of your accommodation but also food and travel to a number of destinations. Plus you only have to unpack and pack once.

When choosing the right European cruise this winter, the decision can largely be dependent on the time you have available.

Seven night cruises

Six to seven night cruises are a great way for the time-poor to experience many destinations in a short period. These moderate-length cruises can also be added to a European experience on land, so that you are guaranteed to get some relaxation from your holiday.

Royal Caribbean offers a seven night Adriatic Coast cruise on Voyager for the Seas which departs weekly between May and October 2011. Prices start from only $892 per person for a 24 September 2011 sailing - less than $130 per day. This is a roundtrip cruise from Venice, Italy, taking guests to ports in Croatia, Slovenia and Italy. This is a great cruise for families as Voyager of the Seas will keep kids and adults alike endlessly entertained with an ice-skating rink, miniature golf course and a full sized basketball court.

A trip to Europe offers a chance to preview the newest and most stylish ship to ever call Australasia home, arriving down under in summer 2012/13. Celebrity Solstice has a six night Mediterranean cruise which sails roundtrip from Barcelona, Spain and offers guests a colourful itinerary visiting Tunisia, Rome, Florence, Cannes and Monte Carlo. Prices start from $1529 per person for the 6 August 2011 sailing.

If glamour is what you are after, then look no further than the seven night Italian and French Riviera Voyage on Azamara Quest. Sailing from Rome to Nice, make sure you pack your most vogue outfits and best shades as Azamara Quest pulls up alongside private yachts in the billionaires' playgrounds of St Tropez and Monte Carlo. With the highly personalised service onboard the boutique cruise ship, you are guaranteed to feel the part. Luckily, you don't have to have a billionaire's bank balance to feel this stylish as cruises start from a mere $2,808 per person for a cruise departing 2 July, 2011.

10 night Cruises

If you have a little more time up your sleeves, 10 night cruises allow you even more time to relax into your cruise and try all the activities, entertainment and dining options on board and longer itineraries allow for a more immersive experience of a region, or opportunity to travel further afield.

Those who love tastefully designed surroundings will appreciate a cruise on one of the most beautiful cruise ships in the world - Celebrity Equinox. Equinox has a 10 night Eastern Mediterranean cruise, a roundtrip from Rome that gives guests the chance to cruise the Mediterranean in style as it sails to ports such as Mykonos and Santorini in Greece, Naples/ Capri in Italy. The cruise departs fortnightly from the end of May through to October 2011. Prices start from just $1851 per person based on 8 July 2011 cruise.

Azamara Club Cruises' smaller boutique ships allow guests to travel to some more unusual destinations that larger ships can't reach. A 10 night Western Europe Voyage on board Azamara Journey will take guests from Dublin, Ireland to Lisbon, Portugal via Wales, Bordeaux, France and Spain along the way. The cruise also features an overnight stop in Bordeaux, giving guests even more time to sample some of the best vino in the world. Prices for a cruise departing August 29 start from $4,565 per person.

12 night or more cruises

Seasoned cruisers will say that for a quintessential cruise holiday, you need at least twelve to fourteen nights. As well as being able to visit more destinations, the luxury of time means there is less of a rush and more space to enjoy one of the great benefits of a cruise holiday - total relaxation and peace of mind.

For the ultimate European cruise experience, try Celebrity Eclipse's 14 night Scandinavia and Russia cruise which sails on 18 June 2011 roundtrip from Southampton, England. While sailing to Bruges in Belgium, Berlin, Helsinki, St Petersburg, Tallinn in Estonia, Stockholm, Sweden and Copenhagen, Denmark, guests can enjoy a picnic or a game of bowls on the real grass of the ship's signature Lawn Club. Prices for this cruise start from $4265 per person and there are other dates available between May and August 2011.

Mariner of the Seas' sails a 12 Night Mediterranean cruise, with prices starting from $1359 per person for a cruise that departs on 8 September 2011. This roundtrip from Rome sails to ports in Italy, Greece and Turkey. There are also the same cruise itineraries for dates between May and October 2011.

Azamara Club's 12 Night Iceland and Fjords Voyage onboard Azamara Journey takes guests on a beautiful passage through the Norwegian Fjords when sailing from Copenhagen, Denmark to Dublin, Ireland. Guests also visit Lerwick/Shetland, Scotland; Akureyri, Iceland; Reykjavik, Iceland; and Torshavn, Faroe Islands along the way. Prices for this cruise start from $5073 per person for a 17 August sailing.

And if you can't make a European escape in 2011, why not start planning for next year? 2012 Mediterranean and Northern Europe cruises are now on sale from Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises.

For additional information or to make reservations, contact your travel agent, call 0800 102 123 or visit www.royalcaribbean.com.au, www.celebritycruises.com or www.azamaraclubcruises.com.

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