It’s time to take to the waves, explore new places, experience new cultures and enjoy a short break away with DFDS Seaways’ new collection of Mini Cruises & Hotel Breaks for 2010.

With many inspiring new value for money breaks, DFDS Seaways’ short breaks range includes destinations in Holland, Denmark, Germany and Belgium.

Whether it is a relaxing break with a loved one, a fun family trip or a weekend away with a group of friends, DFDS Seaways really does offer the best way to travel. With none of the stress of airports, simply sit back and enjoy the onboard experience. You will find shops, a cinema, live entertainment, bars and fabulous restaurants, including à la carte dining and a sumptuous all you can eat international buffet. There is plenty to keep you entertained while you sail to your chosen destination.

For those who are travelling with families – keep your little pirates entertained in the play area, where they can have fun in the ball pool and watch videos, and in the school holidays, there is even a Pirate’s Club with children’s entertainer, meaning you can have time to relax while your children play.

So take a look below at some of the fantastic new offerings from DFDS Seaways, designed to make your short break in 2010 the most relaxing and enjoyable yet.

Mini Cruises

DFDS Seaways’ Mini Cruises make for a perfect getaway. Escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and step on board for a relaxing 2-night Mini Cruise to Amsterdam in Holland or Esbjerg in Denmark.

Why not enjoy a visit to the vibrant city of Amsterdam for an unforgettable cultural experience. With sailings every day from Newcastle, choose a departure date that suits you. When you arrive, take a stroll down the romantic tree-lined canals, visit the art galleries and world-class museums, hit the shops or take in the bars and restaurants that this diverse capital city has to offer. Included in the Mini Cruise package is 2 nights onboard the cruise ferry in an en suite cabin, a sightseeing tour and coach transfers from the port to the city, from £69pp.

Renowned for its maritime history, Esbjerg in Denmark is an attractive city offering a wonderful relaxing short break away from home. Visit the Art Museum and the Music House, try out the seal safari or explore the Fisheries and Maritime Museum where you can watch seals being fed. Prices are from £85pp and include 2 nights onboard the cruise ferry sailing from Harwich.

For further information on Mini Cruises visit www.dfds.co.uk/minicruises

Themed Mini Cruises

DFDS Seaways’ new collection of Themed Mini Cruises from Newcastle to Amsterdam has something to suit all. These special 2-night themed breaks are available throughout the year and offer an unforgettable onboard experience and special entertainment. Fully themed throughout, the Mini Cruises include St Patrick’s Day celebrations, romantic cruises, wildlife watching cruises and Halloween fun.

The ORCA Wildlife Watching Mini cruise is the perfect break for families and wildlife lovers. The exhilarating break allows you to see seals, dolphins, sea birds and much more in their natural habitat and with onboard presentations from experts you can be educated as you sail to Amsterdam for a day of exploring.

To celebrate the EAT! festival of food and drink that takes place annually in NewcastleGateshead, DFDS Seaways have a special themed EAT! at Sea Mini Cruise with North East star chefs Terry Laybourne and Dave Kennedy designing a special and exceptional menu – the perfect trip for foodies across the country. And with cooking demonstrations, cocktail parties, beer tasting and much more, this is one that can’t be missed.

Priced from only £69pp, all Themed Mini Cruises offer return coach transfers to the city of Amsterdam and 2 nights on board.

For further information on Themed Mini Cruises go to www.dfds.co.uk/theme

Special Mini Cruises

The range of Special Mini Cruises has been specially designed to offer a variety of trips focusing on history, traditions and cultures, gardens and family fun.

Choose from a selection of fantastic breaks departing from Newcastle including a trip to quaint Dutch town Alkmaar famous for its traditional cheese market. Embark on a journey to Haarlem, the city of flowers and a pocket-sized, relaxed, version of Amsterdam. Alternatively, enjoy Holland in bloom and book a Mini Cruise to Keukenhof Gardens or the Spring Flower Festival in Holland. Prices are from £83pp.

For further information on Special Mini Cruises go to www.dfds.co.uk/special

Cruise & Hotel Breaks

DFDS Seaways’ Cruise & Hotel Breaks are the perfect way to explore some of Europe’s most stunning and cultural cities. All trips include 2 nights on board a DFDS Seaways cruise ferry and overnight accommodation from a range of city centre hotels. And if you want to book your hotel independently, DFDS Seaways have teamed up with global accommodation provider Octopus Travel to offer customers up to 30% discount on normal room rates.

Amsterdam in Holland, 3 nights from £119pp
Amsterdam offers a cultural experience, fabulous architecture, wonderful shopping, vibrant entertainment and much more. Priced from only £119pp, this break includes 2 nights on board the cruise ferry sailing from Newcastle, 1 night bed and breakfast in your hotel and coach transfers to and from the city. And as there are sailings every day, you can extend your break for as long as you wish.

Esbjerg in Denmark, 3 nights from £136pp
Take advantage of the Esbjerg sailing from Harwich and a enjoy break in this picturesque city. This 3-night breaks start from £136pp and includes 2 nights on board the cruise ferry and 1night bed and breakfast in your chosen hotel.

Hamelin, Bruges, and Brussels Beer Festival, 4 nights from £216pp
Explore the setting for the Pied Piper’s famous tale as you embark on a 4-night city break to the beautiful medieval German town, Hamelin. Stay at the centrally located four star Mercure Hotel and take full advantage of its wellness centre, restaurant and bars. Prices start from £259pp including 2 nights on board the cruise ferry from Newcastle, 2 nights bed and breakfast at the hotel and coach transfers to and from Hamelin.

Renowned for its historic beauty and atmospheric charm, Bruges is famous for its beer, chocolate, great restaurants, parks, gardens and the harbour. With so much to explore, this 4 night break is priced from £216pp and includes 2 nights on board the cruise ferry from Newcastle, 2 nights bed and breakfast at the Novotel Brugge Centrum, and coach transfers to and from Bruges.

If tasting ice cold Belgian beer in stunning surroundings is your thing, then the Brussels Beer Festival Cruise & Hotel Break is an excellent choice. Perfect for groups of friends looking for fun-filled break, prices start from £229pp and include 2 nights on board ship and 2 nights bed and breakfast at the Novotel.

Tulip Time River Cruise in Holland and Belgium, 5 nights from £459pp
Enjoy a colourful 5 night break on a river cruiser taking you to Amsterdam, Keukenhof Gardens and Antwerp.

River cruising is a great way to experience several different destinations, plus excellent food and great company on holiday. On this meal-inclusive 5 night break you will cruise from Amsterdam to Antwerp, enjoying time in both cities and enjoy stop-offs on the way, including an excursion to the stunning tulip fields of Keukenhof Gardens. Prices start from £459pp including 2 nights onboard the cruise ferry from Newcastle, 3 nights on the river cruiser, plus all meals on both the DFDS Seaways’ ship and the river cruiser.

For further information on Cruise & Hotel breaks go to www.dfds.co.uk/hotel

Cruise & Drive Breaks

The ideal choice for people who like to get the most out of their short break and explore their surroundings while enjoying a relaxing time with the family or a loved one. All packages include carriage of a standard car.

Enjoy taking in the idyllic medieval and Viking sites of Ribe, Denmark’s oldest town, or take the children to the holiday centre in Middlefart where they can have endless fun playing mini golf, tennis or bowling.

If you fancy a fun-filled trip away with the kids, then why not visit Legoland in Denmark where the kids can have endless fun on the rides. Legoland Lalandia Billund holiday village, located just outside the adventure park, boasts a tropical aquadome with water slides, pools and jacuzzis, mini golf, a bowling alley and a children’s play area. Prices for the Lalandia break start from £208pp and include 2 nights on board and 2 nights in a self catering cottage, plus carriage of your car.

If you want to stay closer to the action, then what better place than in the park itself at the Legoland Hotel? With themed rooms for your little princess, knight or pirate, the kids will love it. Prices start from £233pp and include 2 nights on board and 2 nights bed and breakfast.

DFDS have teamed up with Center Parcs Europe and Sunparks holiday villages to offer great family fun time together. With locations across Europe, both holiday villages are the perfect getaway for an active and adventurous holiday with the children. What’s more, DFDS Seaways’ customers can save €50 on bookings made before 31 March at Center Parcs and Sunparks. Prices for Center Parcs Europe start from £68 per villa per night, and from £49 per villa per night at Sunparks. DFDS Seaways ferry crossings from Newcastle to Holland start from £159 for a car and 4 people, one way.

For the explorers out there, take the ferry from Harwich and enjoy the scenic drive to Copenhagen. Visit The Little Mermaid, enjoy the quaint cobbled streets and don’t miss Tivoli Gardens, the world’s oldest amusement park. Make the most of the car and drive out to the coast or explore the surrounding countryside. With a selection of top rated hotels to choose from, DFDS Seaways do the organising for you.

Prices for DFDS Seaways’ Cruise & Drive breaks are from £156pp and range from 4, 5 and 6 nights including 2 nights on board ship, carriage of your car, departing from Harwich and Newcastle. With flexible departure dates over the year there is something to suit all.

For further information go to www.dfds.co.uk/drive

For more information on the full range of short breaks from DFDS Seaways order a copy of the brand new Mini Cruise & Hotel breaks brochure, visit www.dfds.co.uk or call 0871 882 0886.

DFDS Seaways has recently been awarded Europe’s Leading Long Sea Ferry Operator 2009 at the World Travel Awards, the industry’s “Oscars”. This is the third successive year that the cruise ferry operator has received this recognition.

To get in the spirit of the World Cup frenzy, DFDS Seaways are showing World Cup games on board to ensure that those avid football fans do not miss a second of the world class action!

DFDS Seaways has launched its Mini Cruises & Hotel Breaks 2010 brochure with an extensive range of inspiring new value for money cruise break ideas for 2010. Departures are from Newcastle and Harwich with lead in prices of £69pp for a two night Mini Cruise break.

The new brochure highlights the ever popular Mini Cruises, cosmopolitan city breaks with a hotel stay, family adventures, cultural breaks and trips with a car to destinations across Europe. There’s something for everyone including families, couples or groups of friends.

Andrew Crowe, Head of Sales at DFDS Seaways commented: “In 2010 we are building on the success of 2009. In addition to our traditional two night Mini Cruises and the three night Cruise & Hotel breaks, we are adding even more variety and choice of short breaks.

“We have 27 short breaks in the brochure, offering new and interesting short cruise breaks that will suit families, friends and groups. From themes such as St Patrick’s Day and Halloween, to destination breaks such as Keukenhof Gardens and the Spring Flower Festival in Holland, to Hamelin in Germany and Bruges in Belgium. The range has been developed following customer and agent feedback and we are confident it will give our customers even more reasons to travel with DFDS Seaways.”

Highlights of the new brochure include:

Mini Cruises

DFDS Seaways’ Mini Cruise breaks offer the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, with the ever popular two night Mini Cruise break to Amsterdam from £69pp or Esbjerg in Denmark from £85pp. For further information on Mini Cruises for to www.dfds.co.uk/minicruises

Themed Mini Cruises

These variations on an Amsterdam Mini Cruise include special or themed onboard entertainment and include St Patrick’s Day ‘craic’, a romantic cruise and Halloween fun, all combined with a day in Amsterdam. To celebrate the EAT! festival of food and drink that takes place annually in NewcastleGateshead, DFDS Seaways are putting on a special themed EAT! at Sea Mini Cruise with star chefs Terry Laybourne and Dave Kennedy designing a special and exceptional menu – the perfect trip for foodies across the country. Lead in prices for Themed Mini Cruises are from only £69pp for two night break, plus coach transfers and a day in Amsterdam. For further information on Themed Mini Cruises go to www.dfds.co.uk/theme

Special Mini Cruises

The range of breaks has been specially designed to offer trips focusing on history, tradition and culture, gardens and family fun. Cruises include trips to quaint Dutch town Alkmaar, a journey to Haarlem the city of flowers; enjoy Holland in bloom with the Keukenhof Gardens or Spring Flower Festival, and much more. Lead in prices from only £88pp for a two night break. For further information on Special Mini Cruises go to www.dfds.co.uk/special

Cruise & Hotel Breaks

The perfect way to explore some of Europe’s most cultural cities including Amsterdam, Esbjerg, Hamelin, Bruges and Brussels, all trips include two nights on board and overnight accommodation from a range of city centre hotels. Lead in prices are from £119pp. DFDS Seaways have also partnered up with Octopus Travel so that customers can receive up to 30% discount if they want to book their hotel independently. For further information on Cruise & Hotel Breaks go to www.dfds.co.uk/hotel

Cruise & Drive Breaks

This is the ideal choice for people who like to get the most out of their short break and explore while enjoying a relaxing time away with the family or a loved one. All packages include carriage of a standard car. With breaks to medieval Ribe, wonderful Copenhagen, Legoland and Middlefart in Denmark, plus Centre Parcs Europe and Sunparks holiday villages across Europe, there is much to enjoy. Lead in prices are from £156pp and range from 4, 5 and 6 nights including two nights on board ship, plus carriage of a standard car, departing from both Newcastle and Harwich. With flexible departure dates over the year, there is something to suit all. For further information on Cruise & Drive Breaks go to www.dfds.co.uk/drive

DFDS Seaways has recently been awarded Europe’s Leading Long Sea Ferry Operator 2009 at the World Travel Awards, the industry’s “Oscars”. This is the third successive year that the cruise ferry operator has received this recognition.

To get in the spirit of the World Cup frenzy, DFDS Seaways are showing World Cup games onboard to ensure that those avid football fans do not miss a second of the world class action!