The Ocean Liner Society Chooses Croisières de France and its Horizon for its 2012 Group Cruise, Departing Marseilles 27th May

In 2010, the Ocean Liner Society chose Croisières de France and its 37,301-ton Bleu de France (delivered in 1982 as Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ previous Europa) for its annual group cruise. This “all-inclusive” cruise proved such a success that in 2012 the Society is returning to Croisières de France to sample its latest ship, the 46,811-ton Horizon, the first new ship to be built for Celebrity Cruises in 1990.

The 2012 cruise will take the “Tutti Frutti” itinerary, departing Marseilles on Sunday, 27th May for Portofino, Rome, Salerno, Trapani and Valetta, with a full day spent at sea before returning to Marseilles.

Celebrity Cruises was formed by Chandris Cruises in April 1988 in order to fulfil a new cruise contract it had negotiated with the Government of Bermuda. As well as acquiring the Italian liner Galilio Galileo, which it rebuilt in 1988/89 and renamed Meridian, Celebrity built two new ships specifically for the Bermuda run. These were the sister ships Horizon of 1990 and the Zenith of 1992. The Horizon‘s initial run was the weekly service between New York and Bermuda, serving both St George’s, on the islands’ east end, and Hamilton. Regular service between New York and Hamilton had been started as far back as 1864 by the Quebec Steamship Co Ltd, which was taken over in 1919 by the Furness Bermuda Line, and which in turn lasted until 1966.

In 1997, Celebrity Cruises was bought by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd and the newer and larger ships of the Century and Millenium classes were introduced, eventually making the Horizon the smallest ship in the fleet. In 2005, the Horizon was allocated to a new joint venture with TUI Group called Island Cruises, taking on the new name of Island Star. When Royal Caribbean withdrew from Island Cruises, she rejoined her sister ship Zenith at Royal Caribbean-controlled Pullmantur Cruises in Spain and was again renamed, this time as Pacific Dream. Now having reverted to her original name, Horizon will join Pullmantur’s French-based cruise operation Croisières de France in the spring of 2012 to replace the Bleu de France, which has been sold to Saga Cruises to become the Saga Sapphire.

OLS group fares are valid for a minimum number of double cabins, and there is a limited number of category DE and DI cabins available for singles with no single supplement provided enough doubles are booked. Bookings can be made through the OLS group agent The Cruise People Ltd in London.

2012 Horizon fares compare very well with Bleu de France fares in 2010 as lead-in prices are lower – €510 per person for an inside cabin compared to €585 in 2010 and €630 per person for an outside cabin compared to €850 in 2010.

While fares are all-inclusive of passage, full board, port charges and drinks, spirits, wine and beer in the dining rooms and bars on board, a service charge of €65 per person for gratuities will be added to your on board account.

Itinerary                                                       Arrive             Depart
MARSEILLE                                                                                17.00
PORTOFINO  (Santa Margherita)                09.00                18.00
ROME  (Civitavecchia)                                   08.00                19.00
SALERNO                                                        08.00                19.00
TRAPANI                                                          08.00                19.00
MALTA (Valletta)                                              09.00                17.00
AT SEA                                                                         (sea day)
MARSEILLE                                                      08.00        

Ocean Liner Society Group Rates – Horizon 27th May 2012
	(Fares are cruise-only and include port charges of €175)
Category		Brochure		120-day		OLS Group
Fares are in Euros €		Fare (1)		Fare (2)		Fare (3)
Staterooms
DI Discovery Inside		€725		€560		€510
HI Horizon Inside		825		630		570
DE Discovery Outside		925		700		630
HE Horizon Outside		1125		840		755
C Comfort Outside		1325		980		880
P Prestige Outside		1525		1120		995
PB Prestige with Balcony		1685		1232		1095
Suites
JS Junior Suite		€1785		€1302		€1145
JB Junior Balcony Suite		1925		1400		1235
S Royal Suite		2125		1540		1355
SB Royal Balcony Suite		2325		1680		1480
(1) The above fares are cruise only per person in double occupancy and do not include service charge of €65, which is added to your account on board  (CDF published brochure fares are thus €65 higher than brochure fares shown here).
(2) For bookings made prior to 120 days before departure.
(3) OLS Group fares include no single supplement on a limited number of cabins in Categories DI and DE, provided the minimum number of double cabins is booked. Note: This allocation is now sold out, but we are able to offer a lump sum single supplement of €275 on any grade, subject to availability.

   

A deposit of 25% will confirm a reservation and penalties for cancellation by the passenger are as follows:

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More than 90 days before departure: € 90
61-90 days before departure: 25% of the fare amount
30-60 days before departure: 50% of the fare amount
Fewer than 30 days before departure: 100% of the fare amount

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Members of the general public can qualify to travel on this cruise by joining the Ocean Liner Society. Membership is £20 in the UK, £23 in Europe and £25 in the rest of the world. As well as the opportunity of joining OLS group cruises, this includes a subscription to their 48-page quarterly journal, Sea Lines. Further details can be found at www.ocean-liner-society.com.

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For further information and availability for this cruise please contact The Cruise People Ltd at 020 7723 2450, Freephone 0800 526 313 or e-mail cruise@cruisepeople.co.uk.