Civilisations Cruises

Civilisations is an add-on package on selected cruises aboard Black Watch and Boudicca, that offers a more in-depth experience. It allows travellers to learn more about the history and culture of destinations, escorted by expert guides and lecturers and appeals to those who want a more mentally challenging holiday.

The subjects covered in the 2009-10 programme include Polar Exploration, Ancient Polynesian Culture, The Great Plant Collectors, Literature of the Baltic, Celtic History and Ancient Mythology. Each cruise is escorted by a dedicated, on-board host, who will help participants achieve greater fulfilment from their vacation and open their eyes to the culture and history of the destinations visited.

The price of the Civilisations package includes all on-board and tours gratuities, meals, specialist lecturers, privately escorted tours, port and passenger taxes and a beautiful leather-bound journal to record the highlights of the cruise.

There are some highly respected experts in their various fields among the lecturers involved with the Civilisations programmes. The 2008-09 programme includes:-

• Professor Sir Arnold Wolfenden, the 14th Astronomer Royal. Professor Wolfenden was President of the Royal Astrological Society from 1981-83, the Institute of Physics from 1994-96 and 14th Astronomer Royal from 1991-95. He is now President of the European Physical Society and was knighted in 1995.

• Catherine Pollock - Russian History. Catherine Pollock is a Russian expert and visiting lecturer at the universities of Moscow, St Petersburg, Saratov and Ekaterinburg She has delivered papers in Russian to conferences in that country and writes books of Russian-English dialogue for university entrance examinations. She is also involved in a research project at Oriel College, Oxford.

Some sample cruises include:-

BW95123 – Journey across the South Seas is a holiday of 19 nights and is part of Black Watch’s World Cruise, departing by air from London on 4th February 2009 with a Civilisations topic of Ancient Polynesian Culture. This fly/cruise holiday comprises the sector from Tahiti to Sydney, Australia. Special excursions include Tahiti and her History in Papeete; Trails of the Ancients in Moorea; Suva – the Jewel of Fiji; Myths of the Kanak Culture in Noumea; and O’Reilly’s Rainforest in Brisbane. Prices for the cruise start from £2,389 per person and the Civilisations package is priced at £549 per person.

Boudicca’s Civilisations programme include her Italian Renaissance cruise, BD068, a 16-night cruise departing Southampton on 15th September 2008. The theme is Renaissance Culture and excursions include Cultures of Jerez in Cadiz; Middle Ages in Mahon in Menorca; Florence and its Renaissance; Renaissance Rome; Pompeii in Naples; and Tangiers Museums. Prices for the cruise start from £1,743 per person and the Civilisations package is an extra £469 per person.

BD073 is Boudicca’s Caribbean Jewels fly/cruise with a Civilisations theme of Colonial History, and departs 20th November 2008 with flights from Gatwick, Manchester, and Edinburgh to Bridgetown, Barbados. Civilisations excursions include Colonial History in Barbados, St Joseph in Port of Spain; Gouyave Town and Hudson’s Forest in Grenada; Natural Wonders in Aruba; Historical Tortola; Historical Local Knowledge in Antigua; and Plantation Tour in St Kitts. This cruise is priced from £1,383 per person and the Civilisations package is priced at a further £429 per person.

For more information on all cruises offering a Civilisations theme, visit www.fredolsencruises.co.uk/civilisations To book, call Reservations on 01473 742424 or see your local ABTA travel agent. You can also book online.