Voyages to Antiquity cancels 2013 winter sailings The cultural cruise line has axed its forthcoming winter cruise programme in Asia following one inaugural season in the region blaming rough weather in the South China Sea. David Yellow, the cruise line's managing director admitted the six weeks of six- to 10-metre-high seas witnessed last winter were unusual but said he was not prepared to take any chances. Both passengers and crew suffered, so food could not be prepared and the ship was unable to deliver its usual high standards, he added. It is not in the best interests of our passengers to go ahead with the cruises. Yellow declined to reveal how many passengers had booked this winter's Asia cruises, which were scheduled to run from November 2013 to March 2014, but confirmed they will all receive a full refund and a discount off a future cruise, valid until to the end of 2014. The line's ship, Aegean Odyssey, will now spend this winter laid up in Piraeus, the port for Athens, as it is too late to plan and sell a new itinerary. A schedule of cruises in Asia for winter 2014-15 that avoids too much time in the South China Sea is being hastily prepared. This summer Odyssey will sail in the Mediterranean, Aegean, Adriatic and Black Sea before moving to the Southern Mediterranean for a Red Sea sailing in October. The line also sells a series of Grand Voyages featuring longer sailings of up to 31 days. Several cruise lines have winter seasons in Asia, regarded as one of the fastest-growing cruise regions. Voyages of Discovery will be there this winter, Celebrity Cruises made its Asia debut last winter and is back for a second time in 2013-14, and Royal Caribbean International has two ships based in the region between now and March 2014. Compagnie du Ponant's new ship, Le Soléal, which launches on July 1, will be based in Asia this coming winter.