A series of cruises to the Baltic from Dover has been announced by Carnival Cruise Lines. Carnival Liberty will make the first of these 12 night Baltic cruises on 9^th May 2009and will call at Copenhagen, Warnemunde (for Berlin), Helsinki, St Petersburg, Tallinn – Estonia and Amsterdam.  The stop in St Petersburg will be for 2 full days including an overnight stay in port. Early booking fares start from below £700pp for half term week in May with 3 berth cabins from £1800.

A cruise with a sporting theme has been announced by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines.

Braemar will depart Malaga on October 23^rd  and cruise Trans-Atlantic to Miami.

A new Exotic Cruises brochure for 2009-10 has been launched by Princess Cruises.

The brochure features ports-of-call not previously visited by Princess cruise ships and offers savings of up to 45% on all bookings made up to and including 30th November 2008.

Luxury cruises and family cruises can be viewed at a great website called Cruise Maestro.

Cruise ship operator Holland America Line has announced that the name of it’s 15^th ship, on order for delivery in 2010, will be Nieuw Amsterdam. This new cruise ships interior, and collection of art displayed throughout, will reflect New Amsterdam which was the previous name of New York City. Nieuw Amsterdam will carry a little over 2,100 passengers and will be sister of their most recent Signature Class ship, the Eurodam which sailed her inaugural cruise in July this year. Holland America Line is renowned for offering a quality cruise experience and is an excellent choice for the discerning customer looking for, amongst other things, a superb culinary experience in elegant surroundings.

The first ever brochure from cruise operator Azamara Cruises has been issued for 2009/10. Azamara Cruises, part of Celebrity Cruises, operates two almost identical boutique style ships, the 30,000 ton, 670 passenger Azamara Quest and Azamara Journey. Each stateroom has butler service whereas suites on the ships of Azamara Cruises come with head butler service. Next year will see itineraries to the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and the Caribbean from Azamara Journey and China, Japan and the Mediterranean from Azamara Quest.

The 2008 winners of the Condé Nast Traveller magazine’s 2008 Readers Poll of ‘Best Small Ship Cruise Company’ is Windstar Cruises it has recently been announced. Windstar Cruises operates two small sail-ships, the identical Wind Star and Wind Spirit and one of the world’s largest sail-ships the Wind Surf. They offer the ultimate in sail-ship cruising with some wonderful itineraries and a fantastic choice of destinations. Windstar Cruises offers luxury cruising with a difference and is suited to those looking for contemporary surroundings in a relaxed atmosphere and great food and service.

Luxury cruise operator Seabourn is creating a lot of interest and excitement with many of those who enjoy luxury cruises.

The reason is that it is now only a matter of months before it’s new luxury cruise vessel, the Seabourn Odyssey, enters service.

Not only is the Seabourn Odyssey the first brand new luxury cruise vessel in six years but it is the first from Seabourn for fifteen years.

Seabourn Odyssey will join Yachts of Seabourn three other award-winning luxury ships, the Seabourn Legend, Seabourn pride and Seabourn Spirit, all of which offer the same level of luxury service including open-seating dining and complimentary open bars.

More information on the progress of Seabourn Odyssey will follow.