Norwegian Cruise Line and Belleair Cruise Holidays have partnered with Midcounties Co-operative to offer exclusive rail & stay cruise packages and fly, stay & cruise packages to Co-operative Travel customers.

The dedicated brochure, in stores 15 July 2013, showcases a portfolio of holiday options including attractive new rail and stay-cruise holiday packages between 8 and 12 nights combining return rail journeys from London St. Pancras with hotel nights and cruises in the Western and Eastern Mediterranean from Barcelona, Marseille and Venice. In addition, guests can chose from fly-and stay-cruise packages offering flexible departures from most regional airports**, and containing a selection of handpicked well-located hotels in each destination.

The packages will take guests to the Mediterranean, the Baltics, the Caribbean and Bahamas on board a choice of five Freestyle Cruising® ships.

Nick Wilkinson, Director Business Development, Norwegian Cruise Line said: “Changes in ATOL policies have made it more onerous for high street travel agents to create tailor-made packages, but by offering new opportunities in conjunction with Belleair Cruise Holidays, including new exclusive rail and cruise targeted at the non-fly and ex UK market,  we are trying to change that.

“Working closely with our travel partners has never been more important and by giving customers what they want will help to boost cruise sales. We’re looking forward to strengthening this partnership further in the future.”

Martin Zahra, Chief Executive Officer, Belleair Cruise Holidays said: “By working closely with Norwegian we have created some enticing itineraries for those looking for new experiences. There remains a strong market for no-fly cruises and by offering rail & stay packages we are responding to customer demand in a really positive way.”

Itineraries include:

·      8 night Norwegian Epic Western Mediterranean Rail & Stay-Cruise from Marseille. Travelling: London (UK) - Rail to Paris (France) – 1 night hotel stay in Paris – Rail to Marseille (Provence, France) to join ship – Palma (Majorca, Spain) – Barcelona (Spain) – Naples (Italy) – Civitavecchia (Rome, Italy) – Livorno (Florence / Pisa, Italy) – Marseille (Provence, France) – Rail to London (UK).

·      12 night Norwegian Jade Greek Isles Rail & Stay-Cruise from Venice. Travelling: London (UK) – Rail to Venice (Italy) – 3 night hotel stay in Venice – join ship in Venice – Corfu (Greece) – Santorini (Greece) – Mykonos (Greece) – Katakolon (Olympia, Greece) – Venice (Italy) – Overnight rail to London (UK).

·      12 night Norwegian Star Baltic Capitals Fly & Stay-Cruise from Copenhagen. Travelling: Fly UK / Copenhagen (Denmark) – 3 night hotel stay in Copenhagen – join ship in Copenhagen - Warnemunde (Berlin, Germany) – Tallinn (Estonia) – St. Petersburg (overnight, Russia) – Helsinki (Finland) – Stockholm (Sweden) – Copenhagen (Denmark) / Fly UK.

·      15 night Norwegian Breakaway Bahamas & Florida Fly & Stay-Cruise from Port Canaveral. Travelling: Fly UK / Orlando (USA) – car rental – 7 night stay in Orlando – join ship in Port Canaveral (Orlando, USA) – Great Stirrup Cay (Norwegian’s private island, Bahamas) – Nassau (Bahamas) – New York (USA) – Port Canaveral (Orlando, USA) – Orlando (USA) / Fly UK.