Traditional Cruises of Distinction
For many years we have specialised in providing ex-UK ‘no fly’ cruising holidays aboard smaller and medium sized classic and more traditional style ships. We believe these vessels, which are generally owned by independent and privately owned shipping companies, offer a more leisurely and friendly ‘home from home’ style of cruising and maritime experience and are accessible to a much wider choice of interesting and remote ports of call.

It was from here that the origins of Cruise & Maritime Voyages began in realising that many seasoned and first time British cruisers alike from our seafaring nation, indeed, still prefer the more traditional cruising experience. However, if you are looking for vast shopping malls and atriums, swimming pools with large flumes, ice skating, and even rock climbing options, the Cruise & Maritime Voyages cruising experience is not for you. These features plus many more can be found on one of the newer breed of mega resort style ships where you will be in the company of up to 3,500 passengers.

Our emphasis will be very much on attaining high levels of customer satisfaction and attentive and friendly service standards and we will be striving to ensure that our passengers return home with many fond memories and will cruise with us again and again.

The ever popular Marco Polo
Over recent years the 800 passenger, 22,000grt Marco Polo has built up a strong following and reputation on the British market offering a fine tradition of destination cruising and we aim to continue in this vein and to provide a great value cruising experience. In 2010, Marco Polo will be positioned as a ‘child free’ ship operating exclusively for adult passengers and her home port will be the London Cruise Terminal in Tilbury.

A new fleet mate
We are proud to welcome the 800 passenger, 17,500grt Ocean Countess to the fleet following a £3 million refurbishment programme prior to joining us in spring 2010. She began service as the popular Cunard Countess and at the time became one of the best-known ships to sail the Caribbean Sea and a favourite on the British market. Ocean Countess will operate year round sailings from six different British ports including Hull, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Leith, Greenock, Liverpool, and Plymouth bringing cruising closer to home and added convenience for many of our new and past passengers.

The Cruise & Maritime Voyages experience

We hope that we may tempt you with the delights of a cruise aboard Marco Polo or Ocean Countess, but the whole experience of selecting your cruise, booking the cabin of your choice and then receiving your travel documents that set everything out in a clear and simple way should be equally pleasurable.

We like to think that we make matters as straightforward as possible, from our brochure design where all the information you need is laid out on the page of each cruise through to the way that your travel agent’s, telephone calls are handled by our experienced team.

The start of your cruise holiday is important too and should be a stress-free experience that allows you to step on board suitably relaxed and ready to be pampered and waited on during the days ahead. As our  programme sails out of the UK, your cruise starts conveniently from a British port.

Your check-in formalities will take place in the relaxed atmosphere of a passenger terminal and whilst a little queuing is inevitable, (we are British, after all!) you will soon have your personalised Cruisecard in your hand and be making your way along the gangway into the  Reception Foyer. Here stewards will assist you with your hand baggage and show you to your cabin, your home from home for the days to come.

The pleasures of the table

Whether you are cruising in the Baltic Sea or the Caribbean it is guaranteed that nothing whets the appetite like sea air. You’ll therefore have even more reason to anticipate the feast of daily culinary delights freshly prepared by expert chefs. Opt for a full English breakfast, savour a leisurely five-course lunch and enjoy a delightful dinner in convivial company each and every day of your cruise. Our carefully constructed menus add a daily spice of variety to a blend of traditional fare and international specialities that will inspire the most jaded of palates.

Add in the morning boullion, afternoon teas, the late night snacks and the traditional shipboard occasions such as the Captain’s Welcome and Farewell Dinners, and the pleasures of the table will surely tempt you from the moment you sit down to dinner on your first night aboard until that final breakfast as you prepare to disembark.

Stylish entertaiment

For many passengers, it is dinner in the evening that is the focal point of the day, and to start your evening you might opt for a pre-dinner drink and enjoy your favourite melodies. Following your meal the show team would enjoy the pleasure of your company as our artists display their talents in a snappily choreographed revue or colourful floorshow – all you need to do is just sit back and enjoy. Our speciality acts and guest entertainers complement the show team to ensure that your evenings go with a swing.

If however it is quieter pleasures that you prefer, how about a liqueur and good conversation; a few hands of cards; or making up a table for a syndicate quiz. Of course there are also acres of deck to take that romantic stroll. And whenever you decide to call it a night, the welcoming haven that is your cabin is just a short walk away.
 

Discover and explore

Discovering new places, touring fascinating cities, or witnessing breathtaking scenery are the highlights of any cruise holiday. To enhance the enjoyment of your cruise, we have created a programme of optional shore excursions designed to show you the highlights of each port of call and to maximise your time ashore. The shore excursion programme will be forwarded to you approximately two months before you sail.

Lecture programmes

All of our cruises are accompanied by a specialist giving informative lectures or practical sessions on a range of fascinating subjects. These may include Norway experts, maritime historians, a Tai Chi expert, a retired New Scotland Yard detective, arts and crafts, and just in case you need one - a stress consultant! To find out more about our lecture programmes, please contact us.

It's a celebration

Surprise your loved one with a gift of a beautiful floral display in their cabin, a selection of fine wines or a relaxing spa treatment. Celebrate a special birthday or just spoil them, or indeed yourself, by ordering an indulgent package of goodies that can be arranged on the date of your choice. Full details will be sent with your pre-sailing information around two months before you sail.

A tantalising choice of cruises and exceptional value Saver Fares too

The 2010 programme includes a varied and wider selection of cruising holidays including longer voyages to the West Indies, Amazon & Orinoco, the spectacular Land of the Northern Lights and Midnight Sun, the breathtaking Norwegian Fjords and Spitzbergen, the glorious Baltic & Russia, Iceland & Northern Isles, the Mediterranean and Canary Islands and closer to home, our ever popular series of Round Britain & Ireland cruises. Our exceptional value early edition Saver Fares will be available for a limited period only so to avoid disappointment we do strongly recommend that you Book early to secure the cruise and cabin of your choice.

 

Many of our cruises do indeed book early, so you are recommended to make your reservation without delay to avoid the disappointment of not getting the cruise and cabin of your choice.

All this is included in the fare:

• Comfortable cabin accommodation of your choice.
• Excellent service standards from an attentive and well trained crew.
• A delicious selection of traditional British and International full board cuisine.
• Afternoon teas and late night snacks.
• A superb programme of stylish daytime and evening entertainment.
• Informative guest lecture programmes.
• A wide range of leisure facilities to enrich your time onboard.
• Innovative and exciting itineraries with wonderful ports of call to both maximise time ashore whilst enjoying relaxing days at sea. 
• Port taxes. 
   

On-board entertainment

Our ships have some great entertainment on board, from show teams to pianists to disco.

Following your meal the show team would enjoy the pleasure of your company in the comfortable Show Lounge as our artists display their talents in a snappily choreographed revue or colourful floorshow – all you need to do is just sit back and enjoy. For a little night music, we have different combos around the ship who will play for your listening and dancing pleasure, everything from strict tempo to disco. Our speciality acts and guest entertainers complement the show team to ensure that your evenings go with a swing.

If however it is quieter pleasures that you prefer, how about a liqueur and good conversation in a secluded corner; a few hands of cards; or making up a table for a syndicate quiz.

And whenever you decide to call it a night, the welcoming haven that is your cabin is just a short walk away. The lights are dimmed, the beds are turned down. Sweet Dreams.