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planner 2016
365 AMAZING
HOLIDAY IDEAS
from Alaska to the Yangtze
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NEW SHIPS EXPERT TIPS CRUISE DEALS cruise-international.com
9 771758 232012
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To celebrate a record-breaking year at the British Travel Awards Titan is delighted to present
NEW TRAVEL DATES AT
BEST EVER PRICES
WITH SPECTACULAR SAVINGS UP TO £800 PER PERSON! At a glittering ceremony on 25 November 2015, Titan scooped an unprecedented 25 British Travel Awards, the consumer-voted ‘Oscars of the travel industry’, including 15 golds. To say thank you, we have released a selection of brand new travel dates on over 40 of our popular itineraries, at best ever prices and £99 deposit, so that even more travellers can appreciate the peerless quality of a Titan holiday. Overleaf you will find a selection of six exceptional river cruise holidays with great prices and savings. Or find the full range at titantravel.co.uk/besteverprices. Remember - places are limited at these exceptional prices, so don’t miss out - call our friendly travel advisors today!
DOOR-TO-DOOR ESCORTED TOURS FROM ONLY £899 PER PERSON PLUS
SECURE YOUR HOLIDAY FOR JUST
£99 DEPOSIT on selected new travel dates
Portraits of the Rhône
with Sketches of the Saône
BEST EVER PRICE £1,349 Save up to £100 8 days, all inclusive and 5 excursions
NEW 2016 Date & Price
30 April
£1,449
£1,349
Tour Ref: JRP - Please see website for full details
The unparalleled natural beauty of the south of France in the peak summer season has always had immense appeal and this holiday takes you on a fascinating journey to the sun-drenched vineyards, ancient cities and the tranquil villages of France’s fabled wine country. This delightful cruise, aboard the A-ROSA STELLA (4T) or LUNA (4T), takes you on a seven-night voyage on the Saône and Rhône Rivers, legendary for the vineyards of Burgundy and the lavender-scented hills of Provence.
River Saône
Chalon-sur-Saône Tournus Mâcon Lyon
FRANCE
La Voulte Viviers Chateauneuf-du-Pape
River Rhône
Avignon Arles
Jewels of the Rhine and Main from Cologne to Nuremberg Aboard the exclusively-chartered Royal Crown
BEST EVER PRICE £1,899 Save up to £100
A Celebration of Lisbon and the Douro
An exclusively-chartered journey aboard The Spirit of Chartwell
9 days including 23 meals
BEST EVER PRICE £2,499 Save up to £150
NEW 2016 Date & Price
10 days including 25 meals and 7 excursions
20 August
£1,999
Please see website for full details
£1,899
Tour Ref: JE3
NEW 2016 Date & Price
12 August
£2,649
£2,499
Tour Ref: JF1
Please see website for full details
T’s & C’s apply. Calls free from BT landlines, mobiles may vary. Prices are per person based on twin share, are subject to availability, may be subject to change and will be confi rmed upon enquiry. Availability at all offer prices is limited, and once sold, discounts will reduce or be withdrawn completely.
To book call FREE on 0800 988 5175 quoting CI4 6FB or visit titantravel.co.uk/cruiseinternational
The Charming Danube from Vienna to Nuremberg
The Magical Main and Lower Rhine
BEST EVER PRICE £1,749 Save up to £150
BEST EVER PRICE £1,749 Save up to £150
8 days including 20 meals
8 days including 20 meals
Aboard the exclusively-chartered Royal Crown
Sailing from Nuremberg to Amsterdam
NEW 2016 Date & Price
3 September
£1,899
NEW 2016 Date & Price
£1,749
Please see website for full details
Tour Ref: JE5
10 September £1,899
£1,749
Tour Ref: JE6
Please see website for full details
Gems of the Danube With a three-night stay in beautiful Vienna
BEST EVER PRICE £1,799 Save up to £100 9 days including 20 meals
NEW 2016 Date & Price
28 August
£1,899
£1,799
Tour Ref: JE4 - Please see website for full details
The history of Bavaria and Austria is laid out for you along the banks of the Danube. As we wind through beautiful valleys, we find towns that have preserved their cultural treasures with utmost care, and as you step ashore you can understand why. Cruising from Nuremberg you have opportunities to explore medieval Regensburg, Roman Melk, Baroque Passau and futuristic Linz before spending three days in Vienna, where the work of the world’s great composers compliment the city’s grand façades and quiet corners with perfect timbre.
GERMANY Nuremberg Regensburg Krems Linz Melk Passau 2 e ub Grein Vienna Munich River Dan
AUSTRIA
Titan holidays packed with value If you are new to Titan, you might be wondering what makes us special. We are not the cheapest escorted tour operator by any means; we never set out to be. But instead, Titan holidays are, quite simply, packed with value. From door-to-door transfers and complimentary flights to expertly designed itineraries and outstanding tour managers, no-one does escorted travel better. Why would you travel with anyone else? Amazing choice Titan offers over 350 imaginative itineraries to 90 countries worldwide - much more choice than any other operator.
Holidays crafted for British travellers Unlike some other tour operators which attract an international clientele, Titan tours are only on sale in the UK and Republic of Ireland. So our experts can create itineraries that are perfectly suited to British travellers.
Door to door comfort and convenience Titan’s VIP Home Departure Service® ensures that your holiday really does begin and end at your front door. Titan pioneered home transfers many years ago, and still leads the way. Only Titan has a fleet of more than 150 comfortable people-carriers designed solely to transfer customers from their home to the airport and back, and only Titan includes these home transfers on every itinerary and every departure date with no mileage supplement to pay, wherever you live in the UK†.
Fly from your local airport We do not believe that holidaymakers who live in northern England and the rest of the British Isles should be disadvantaged by distance from London. With Titan you can enjoy complimentary VIP home transfers and the choice of international flights from your local airport or free connecting flights to London‡.
The best tour managers and local guides in the business Experienced, personable and knowledgeable, Titan tour managers accompany the group from the UK (in the majority of cases), provide an introductory guiding service and remain on hand 24 hours a day for complete peace of mind. Additionally, the highest quality local guides provide more specialist insight.
Scheduled ights with world renowned airlines Every overseas Titan holiday includes scheduled flights, direct wherever possible, with some of the most renowned carriers, including British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Qantas.
Named hotels, honestly rated The hotels that feature on Titan tours are designed to be more than just a place to sleep. Location and quality are always key considerations. We name hotels and, new for 2016, we are introducing a ‘T’ rating to our brochures, giving an honest assessment of hotel quality.
No fuel surcharges Unlike other escorted tour operators, Titan has never imposed fuel surcharges on our customers after they have booked, and we never will, even if it ends up costing us money.
The UK’s best holiday price promise Titan guarantees early bookers the best prices. If we subsequently reduce the price a holiday to below what you have already paid, we will automatically contact you to refund the difference.
No expensive extras to pay Titan’s holiday prices include excursions and visits to all attractions that obviously constitute highlights of the region toured. Where we do offer optional excursions, they generally feature visits to lesser known attractions or experiences of a specialist interest.
† Front door pick-ups are not currently available in the Scottish islands and Sark, where vehicle access is an issue. However, we invite those residents to nominate any mainland address for their ‘home’ pick-up. Home transfers are not included on the limited range of ‘Traveller by Titan’ holidays. ‡ Complimentary regional flights are offered subject to availability in our designated booking class at the time of your holiday reservation. If this is not available, a supplement may apply. Titan airport representatives and porterage assistance are not available at regional airports.
YOU CAN FIND OUR PRODUCTS AT EXCLUSIVE SPECIALIST RETAILERS AND ONLINE AT WWW.SWAROVSKIOPTIK.COM YOU CAN FIND OUR PRODUCTS AT EXCLUSIVE SPECIALIST RETAILERS AND ONLINE ATOUR WWW.SWAROVSKIOPTIK.COM YOU CAN FIND PRODUCTS YOU CAN FIND OUR PRODUCTS EXCLUSIVE SPECIALIST RETAILERS ATAT EXCLUSIVE SPECIALIST RETAILERS AND ONLINE AT WWW.SWAROVSKIOPTIK.COM AND ONLINE AT WWW.SWAROVSKIOPTIK.COM BY APPOINTMENT TO HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II SWAROVSKI OPTIK SUPPLIER OF BINOCULARS BY APPOINTMENT TO HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II SWAROVSKI TO OPTIK BY APPOINTMENT HER MAJESTY QUEEN SUPPLIER OF ELIZABETH BINOCULARS BY APPOINTMENT TO II SWAROVSKI OPTIK ELIZABETH II HER MAJESTY QUEEN SUPPLIER OF BINOCULARS SWAROVSKI OPTIK SUPPLIER OF BINOCULARS
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CONTENTS
CRUISE PLANNER 2016
EDITOR’S LETTER Your best holiday ever starts here. Our experts have put the Cruise Planner 2016 together to help you choose, book and plan an amazing cruise holiday adventure. Whether you select an ocean or a river voyage, extraordinary, unforgettable experiences await. You could be exploring ancient temples along The Mekong in Cambodia and Vietnam; seeing the fairytale capitals of Scandinavia; visiting historical monuments in the Med or relaxing with a cocktail in the Caribbean. With so many different itineraries to choose from, the world is your oyster on a cruise – and the best thing is, you’ll only need to unpack once. Whether you’re a first-time cruiser or looking for your next holiday by ship, you’ll find lots of ideas to inspire you. We’ve made the Cruise Planner incredibly simple to use; start with the destinations (page 89) or the cruise lines (page 13). And don’t forget, we’ll be at the Telegraph Cruise Show at ExCel in London from 8-10 January 2016 and the Destinations Travel and Holiday Show at Olympia and Manchester in February. Do come along and say hello. The next issue of Cruise International magazine is on sale on 12 Feb 2016 – turn to page 87 to find out about our fantastic subscription offer. Plus, enter our competition on page 114 and you could win £1k of luxury luggage from Bric’s. Enjoy,
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UP FRONT 8
HOT SPOT
The Caribbean island of Tobago, believed to be the inspiration for Robinson Crusoe
CRUISE LINES FOR 2016
81
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YOUR CRUISE GUIDE STARTS HERE
15
LUXURY
33
PREMIUM
39 49 55 67
The ultimate in design and impeccable service on some of the most impressive ships at sea
Exquisite speciality dining, exceptional entertainment and state-of-the-art facilities
CONTEMPORARY
Modern and chic lines showcasing fantastic innovations that wow
CLASSIC
Traditional, elegant cruises offering an informal holiday experience
ADVENTURE & SPECIALIST
These off-the-beaten-track cruises offer historical, cultural and natural wonders
RIVER
Discover the world’s best destinations on a leisurely river cruise and explore on shore
FEATURES 81
110
NEW SHIPS FOR 2016
We look at the best river and ocean ships for the coming year
DESTINATION GUIDE 89 TAKE A TOUR OF THE HOTTEST CRUISE DESTINATIONS 90-91 BRITAIN & IRELAND
Fabulous cruises closes to home
92 NORTHERN EUROPE
Sail to cruise favourites including France, Germany and Portugal
93 THE MEDITERRANEAN
Extraordinary coastline and culture
94 NORWEGIAN FJORDS & NORTHERN LIGHTS The best places to see the aurora borealis
Liz Jarvis, Editor liz.jarvis@cruise-international.com CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM
96 THE ARCTIC & ANTARCTIC
Enter the Arctic Circle or venture to the vast wilderness of the White Continent
Cruise Planner 2016
5
CRUISE PLANNER 2016
Jubilee House, 2 Jubilee Place London SW3 3TQ Tel: 020 7349 3700 info@cruise-international.com www.cruise-international.com
Iceland (p98)
EDITORIAL EDITOR Liz Jarvis SENIOR ART EDITOR Rhian Colley ASSISTANT EDITOR Luke Till CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Sara Macefield, Julie Peasgood
Ireland (p90)
Jamaica (p103)
ONLINE DIGITAL PRODUCT MANAGER Oliver Morley-Norris
India (110) Africa (p108)
ADVERTISING ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Lyndal Beeton PUBLISHING PUBLISHER Caroline Scott MARKETING MANAGER William Delmont COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR Vicki Gavin DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR Steve Ross MANAGING DIRECTOR Paul Dobson SUBSCRIPTIONS CRUISE INTERNATIONAL Subscriptions Department, 800 Guillat Avenue, Kent Science Park, Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 8GU, UK Tel: +44 (0) 1795419841 Email: cruise@servicehelpline.co.uk http://cruise.subscribeonline.co.uk SUBSCRIPTION RATES UK £33 (6 issues) ROW £40 (6 issues)
Australia (p112)
102
CONTENTS 98 ICELAND & THE BALTIC
Discover Iceland and ports of call in Russia’s St Petersburg, Sweden’s Stockholm and more
NEWS DISTRIBUTION News Trade (UK and Rest of World): Seymour International Ltd, 2 East Poultry Avenue, London, EC1A 9PT CRUISE INTERNATIONAL (ISSN 1758-2326) (USPS 025-056) is published bi-monthly by The Chelsea Magazine Company, Jubilee House, 2 Jubilee Place, London SW3 3TQ UK.
100 THE USA AND CANADA
Visit New Orleans or the Hawaiian Islands, spot bears in Alaska or discover New England
102 EASTERN CARIBBEAN
Paradise islands and turquoise waters
© The Chelsea Magazine Company Ltd 2015/2016. All rights reserved. Text and pictures are copyright restricted and must not be reproduced without permission of the publishers. The information in CRUISE INTERNATIONAL has been published in good faith and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. However, where appropriate, you are strongly advised to check prices, opening times, dates etc, before making final arrangements. All liability for loss, disappointment, negligence or damage caused by reliance on the information contained within this publication is hereby excluded. The opinions expressed by contributors to CRUISE INTERNATIONAL are not necessarily those of the publisher. For up to date travel advice, always check fco.gov.uk before you go.
103 WESTERN & SOUTHERN CARIBBEAN
Explore Cuba and the Dominican Republic
89
104 CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA
From Brazil’s capital city Rio de Janeiro to Chile, Argentina and the Amazon River
106 PERSIAN GULF
Ancient ruins and fabulous beaches
108 AFRICA
Combine a cruise with a safari
110 ASIA
Printed in England by William Gibbons, West Midlands. Origination by All Points Media allpointsmedia.co.uk Cover image © Emely/cultura/Corbis
From Myanmar to the Great Wall of China
112 PACIFIC
Cruises around Australia and New Zealand
Follow us @Cruisemag Like us facebook.com/cruiseinternational Follow us pinterest.com/cruisemag
10
COMPETITION 114 WIN £1K WORTH OF LUXURY LUGGAGE Your chance to win a fabulous set of Bric’s luggage
REGULARS 10
CRUISE STYLE
Best fashion, beauty and luggage buys
114 ASK THE EXPERTS Our Q&A and The Insider on what’s hot for 2016
6
Cruise Planner 2016
CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM
With its caster sugar-sand beach shaded by swaying coconut palms and translucent aquamarine bath-warm waters, Pigeon Point is the archetypal castaway beach – and Tobagonians insist their island is the one that inspired Daniel Defoe to write his 1719 novel Robinson Crusoe. It’s also the place to embark on a glass-bottom boat ride to Buccoo Reef, one of the most accessible coral reefs in the Caribbean – and rated by famed oceanographer Jacques Cousteau as the third most spectacular in the world. This is where you’ll find the Nylon Pool, a shallow white ground coral oasis named by Princess Margaret on a visit during her honeymoon in 1962 because, she said, it reminded her of her stockings. >>Turn to page 102 to read about Caribbean cruises for 2016
PHOTO: © AWL IMAGES
PIGEON POINT, TOBAGO
INSPIRATION
FA S H I O N A N D B E A U T Y
CRUISE
Style
Our pick of the hottest buys for your trip
HAIR CARE
Aveda’s Shampure™ dry shampoo is a brilliant solution for reviving and refreshing hair when you’re flying long-haul (available from Aveda Travel Retail Locations worldwide).
FLOWER POWER
Stylish and practical, Orla Kiely’s handy little travel pouch is ideal for evenings at sea or carrying documents (£69, amara.com).
SWEET SCENT With exotic fruit and floral notes Clinique’s exquisite fragrance Aromatics in Black evokes mystery and seductive allure (available from Clinique Travel Retail locations worldwide).
c i h c h Beac A simple one-piece swimsuit with vertical patterned edging will flatter any shape – this one is from La Redoute (£39)
LITTLE GEM
Renew the delicate eye area after long-haul travelling with the fab Re-Nutriv Ultimate Diamond Transformative Energy Eye Creme (available from Estée Lauder Travel Retail Locations worldwide).
RED HOT
This gorgeous scarlet Bellagio carry-on trolley case from luxury Italian luggage label Bric’s is the perfect size for packing your cruise wardrobe (£399, caseluggage.com).
COOL STRIPES
Nautical stripes strike the right note when you’re sightseeing – we love this super soft black and cream-striped tee (£48, bluemarmaladelondon.com).
DISCOVER HIDDEN DEPTHS TO YOUR FAVOURITE DESTINATIONS SMALL- SHIP CRUISING FOR CURIOUS MINDS
In Spain, the Aegean Odyssey sails along the Guadalquivir River right into the heart of Seville, capital of Andalusia and home of f lamenco. To fully appreciate the vibrant atmosphere of this city, we include a f lamboyant f lamenco performance on board. Small details like these along with our guided shore excursions and on-board lecture programme make all the difference, so you can immerse yourself and discover the hidden depths to your favourite destinations.
WINNER
AWARDS
2015 VOYAGES TO ANTIQUITY BEST FOR ENRICHMENT
REQUEST YOUR COMPLIMENTARY 2016 MEDITERRANEAN BROCHURE
01865 410104 VOYAGESTOANTIQUITY.COM
Cathedral Mezquita, Spain
ABTA No.Y2206
CRUISES FOR 2016 40
0162
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20 15 Luxury
Exceptional service and a sophisticated onboard experience
33 Premium Exquisite speciality dining and state-of-the-art facilities
39 Contemporary Modern and chic with fantastic innovations
49 Classic A more traditional cruise holiday experience
60 Adventure & Specialist Taking you off the beaten track
67 River cruises A leisurely way to explore the world
INTRODUCING
SILVER MUSE
SM
2017 VOYAGES NOW OPEN FOR RESERVATIONS
We are pleased to invite you to reserve your suite aboard our stunning new flagship Silver Muse. Be among the first to sail aboard the most exciting new small ship in ultra-luxury cruising. Experience her exquisite decor and sumptuous suites, sample all eight restaurants and relax in an expansive choice of new, exclusive venues. During 2017, Silver Muse will sail throughout Europe, Canada, North and South America as well as the Caribbean, taking in over 130 destinations in 34 countries. Celebrate with us as our newest leading lady makes her debut to the ultra-luxury cruise market, offering the highest expression of elegance and comfort. Make your reservations now and experience small ship sailing at its most divine.
To discover more about Silver Muse’s exciting inaugural itineraries or to book your ocean view suite, call 0845 835 0071, visit Silvermuse.info or contact your travel agent. All renderings are intended as a general reference. Features, materials, finishes and layout may be different than shown.
Luxury These lines offer the ultimate in impeccable service and stunning ships
CRYSTAL CRUISES Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity, bywords for small ship style as they sail the globe, could soon be overshadowed as the company starts a massive expansion. This winter sees the launch of Crystal Esprit, a 62-passenger all-suite yacht sailing to exotic destinations with four 10-passenger Zodiacs for special excursions and a 12-passenger 32ft super yacht tender for adventures. That’s only the start: 2016 brings six-star river cruises, with Crystal Mozart embarking on the Danube in July 2016, and four more ‘river yachts’ due in 2017. Boeing Dreamliner Crystal Luxury Air starts in 2017 with the first of three Crystal Exclusive Class ocean ships arriving in 2018. 020 7399 7601; crystalcruises.co.uk
HAPAG-LLOYD CRUISES Europa 2, with the air of a private yacht, sails the world with one-off itineraries on stretches from several days to several weeks. There are new exotic stops in Oceania, including Fiji, New Zealand and Australia, as well as Dublin. Top designers and their collections visit the ship with the fashion2sea cruise, and works by the likes of Damien Hirst and David Hockney will be displayed on the art2sea cruise. The fitness area has a new sports programme designed by three-time Winter Olympic ski racing champion Maria Höfl-Riesch. There are also expedition cruises from the Antarctic to the Amazon on Hanseatic (for 175 passengers, claiming to be the world’s only five-star expedition ship). 0800 0513 829; hl-cruises.com 16
Cruise Planner 2016
SEABOURN A relaxed yet sophisticated world of American-style excellence. The all-inclusive service features a choice of speciality restaurants, wine tastings, complimentary massages and a daily cocktail party. 604-guest Encore arrives in December 2016, a sixth ship that’s the fleet’s biggest yet still having the feel of a super yacht with all-suite accommodation; maiden voyage is a 60-day Athens-to-Sydney via India voyage (available in segments). The all-inclusive service includes speciality restaurants with food by Michelin-starred chef Thomas Keller, on-deck massage and wine tastings. A new partnership with UNESCO in 2016 means more than 80 sites around the world are included in special behind the scenes tours. 0843 373 2000; seabourn.com
VIKING OCEAN CRUISES Having taken over the world’s rivers, Viking is now taking command of the oceans. Viking Sea launches in the spring, hot on the heels of contemporary Viking Star. And Viking Sky will be here in 2017. All have the same sleek style as Viking’s award-winning river Longships – Scandinavian-feel blonde wood and glass – with the dining room reaching side to side on the 930-passenger ships, reflecting the understated air of the river ships. There’s also an open-air infinity pool and a spa with Nordic touches. On board, guests can enjoy complimentary speciality restaurants, wine with dinner, room service, free wifi and free excursions. New itineraries include the 15-day Bergen to the Bosphrous cruise. 020 8780 8701; vikingcruises.co.uk CRUISE-INTERNATIONAL.COM
Luxury
SILVERSEA Enticing itineraries sailing on eight cruise and expedition ships that share a taste for fine cuisine and lifestyle. The company continues to push forward: 2016 will be the last full season that Silver Cloud sails as a regular cruise ship – early the following year it will be reconfigured as an ice-class ship for polar voyages. A new 596-guest boutique 8 ship, Silver Muse, will join the fleet in April 2017. 0844 251 0837; silversea.com CRUISE-INTERNATIONAL.COM
Cruise Planner 2016
17
SIMPLY
Divine
With superlative service, a diverse range of destinations and a new ship arriving in 2017, luxury cruise line Silversea is the ideal choice for discerning travellers
L
uxurious small ship cruise line Silversea offers some of the world’s most imaginative itineraries for guests who want to see the world in style. With eight beautiful ships in its fleet, and a ninth, Silver Muse, due to launch in April 2017, Silversea is able to provide sailings to more destinations than any other cruise line – over 800 ports of call spanning all seven continents. A staff-to-guest ratio of nearly one to one means service is at an incredibly high standard, with all guests pampered by the services of attentive butlers. 18
Cruise Planner 2016
Complimentary wifi is also provided for all guests regardless of suite category. Every guest can enjoy at least one hour of free wifi per day, while unlimited wifi is available to guests in Owner’s, Grand, Royal, Silver and Medallion suites.
NEW SHIP FOR 2017
Due to launch in April 2017, new 596-guest boutique ship Silver Muse will combine modern luxe amenities with state-of-the-art design and provide a welcoming blend of spaciousness, luxury and comfort where guests can feel immediately at home.
Elegant accommodations will feature contemporary interior furnishings and most will feature a private veranda. From the stylish Classic Veranda Suite to the opulence of the two-bedroom Owner’s Suite – a luxurious apartment offering the ultimate level of spaciousness – Silver Muse maintains a stunning level of extravagance and exquisite design touches throughout. Silver Muse will offer eight superb restaurants, including the exclusive La Grande Dame by Relais & Châteaux®, for an outstanding culinary experience. CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM
FEATURED CRUISE LINE
Fishermen collecting their nets, Bangladesh
Other dining venues range from the new, elegant Atlantide, which serves designer seafood dishes, fish specialties and enticing options for steak lovers; La Terrazza – authentic Italian fare; Kabuki, where menus have been inspired by the five elements of Japanese nutritional cuisine; Hot Rocks, where guests grill their own prime cuts on heated volcanic plates; and pizzeria Regina Margherita. Silver Muse will make her maiden voyage from Monte Carlo to Nice at the start of an exciting 2017 season. The 13-day sailing will depart on 20 April 2017 and arrive in Nice on 3 May 2017, stopping at many beautiful ports along the way, including Amalfi and Sorrento.
STUNNING ITINERARIES
Highlights from Silversea’s 2017 schedule include new ports of call such as Ilhabela, Brazil; Gisborne, New Zealand; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; and Sir Bani Yas Island in the United Arab Emirates.
Silversea’s 116-day World Cruise 2017, departing San Francisco on 6 January, will visit 62 destinations in 25 countries. Silver Whisper will sail around Hawaii and cross the International Date Line to the South Pacific, New Zealand and Australia, before weaving through Bali and Sandakan. After calling at Shanghai, Hong Kong and Singapore, she will then sail to India, Arabia and the Mediterranean.
SIGNATURE CRUISES
Silversea’s signature cruises include Barcelona to Civitavecchia (Rome), with time spent at the Monaco Grand Prix, in 2016 and 2017, and the 63-day Circle South America voyage, departing Florida on 16 January 2017 on board Silver Spirit, which allows guests to experience the Rio Carnival. Guests embarking on any Silver Shadow Asia cruise in 2016 can enjoy complimentary Silver Shore Select excursions, free wifi, return economy air travel and transfers, and a two-night pre-cruise stay at a Shangri-La hotel. Silversea also offers an exciting choice of pre- and post-cruise land programmes. Those embarking on Silver Cloud’s 16-day West Africa cruise on 16 March 2016 are given the opportunity to gain unique insights into the culture of Ghana with the six-day pre-cruise land adventure Accra & the Ashanti Kingdom, with a rare opportunity to participate in the Festival of Akwasidae.
SILVERSEA EXPEDITIONS
For the more adventurous traveller Silversea’s Expedition cruises provide alluringly unique journeys to some of the CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM
world’s most exotic destinations. Each voyage features the all-inclusive elements that are synonymous with the Silversea brand as well as excursions including Zodiac® tours, snorkelling trips, diving and hiking. In November 2017, Silversea will move Silver Cloud to its luxury expedition fleet. Destined mostly for polar waters, the elite 296-guest ship will be converted into an ice-class ship. Silversea is also the first cruise line to visit ports in Bangladesh. Sleek 120-guest expedition ship Silver Discoverer will depart Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo before calling at the green hills of Chittagong, rural Maheshkhali Island and the Sundarbans mangrove forest. Silversea Expedition’s pre- and post-cruise land programmes include the four-night Amazon Experience, which includes a stay at the only lodge within the Yasuni National Park. After disembarking Silver Explorer, guests will fly from Guayaquil to Quito, before connecting for a spectacular 30-minute flight over the Andes landing at Coca and transferring to nearby Puerto Francisco de Orellana. For anyone with a love of travel, adventure, and the finer things in life, Silversea is the ideal choice.
Find out more: Visit the website silversea.com or call 0845 835 0071 for more information. Cruise Planner 2016
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Luxury
CUNARD Grand and traditional, Cunard still moves on – September 2016 will see the first Transatlantic Fashion Week, linked to New York Fashion Week, with guests such as Dame Zandra Rhodes. There’s an aim to bring more star name entertainment on board – Cunard’s Transatlantic Crossings have featured, in September, Crosby and Stills & Nash with several crossings starring former Byrd Roger (Mr Tambourine Man) McGuinn. Queen Mary 2 emerges from a major refit in June while Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth continue with cruises around the world and major voyages as well as hops across the Channel. All with grace, style and white-gloved waiters serving 8 afternoon tea. 0843 373 4090; cunard.co.uk 20 Cruise Planner 2016
CRUISE-INTERNATIONAL.COM
The Grills Experience. The ultimate Cunard holiday.
The Grills Experience is the apex of luxury in ocean travel. After priority boarding, chocolates and champagne or sparkling wine await you in your suite – one of the most spacious at sea. All suites feature separate living and sleeping areas, walk-in wardrobes, marble bathrooms and generous private balconies. You’ll also enjoy exclusive access to private decks, plus the attention of the Grill concierge – while dedicated butlers look after all our Queens Grill passengers. Your table is reserved at whatever time you choose in our world-famous Princess and Queens Grill restaurants.
To discover more visit cunard.co.uk, contact your travel agent or call 0843 373 4090.
Luxury
REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES Regent Seven Seas Explorer sets sail from Monaco in July on her maiden voyage. Claimed to be the most luxurious ship ever built, accommodation tops out with the Regent Suite that features its very own spa retreat, Steinway grand piano and glass-enclosed outdoor Vista Garden with 270-degree views over the ship’s bow. Explorer joins the three other mid-size ships with an exclusive hotel feel – suites, butler service, free mini-bar, Canyon Ranch Spa – that circle the globe. There are new small-port destinations (with included shore excursions) on cruises that vary from seven to 128 nights as the company gears up to its 25th year in 2017. And from October 8 all ships will have free onboard wifi. 0238 068 2153; rssc.com 22
Cruise Planner 2016
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THE MOST INCLUSIVE LUXURY EXPERIENCE TM
EUROPE | ALASKA | CARIBBEAN & SOUTH AMERICA | AFRICA & ASIA
2016/17 cruises from £2,199pp Regent Seven Seas Cruises® is the world’s MOST inclusive luxury cruise experience. Our fares include: return flights and transfers, all-suite accommodation, free unlimited excursions in every port, gourmet cuisine, fine wines and premium spirits, impeccable personalised
Our award-winning ships, Seven Seas Mariner®, Seven Seas Voyager® andSeven Seas Navigator® are pinnacles of elegance and grace, carry no more than 700 guests and are among the most spacious at sea. The summer of 2016 heralds the launch of our newest addition, Seven Seas Explorer® the MOST luxurious ship ever built.
Learn more about THE MOST INCLUSIVE LUXURY EXPERIENCE TM
CALL: 023 8068 2153 | VISIT: www.rssc.com or contact your travel agent
*Terms & Conditions apply in 2016 – please visit www.rssc.com for full details.
service, free Wi-Fi* and all gratuities.
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SAILINGS
Regent Seven Seas Cruises® offers exceptional inclusive luxury cruises and with a new ship launching in 2016 there has never been a better time to experience the Regent difference
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f you’re looking for an inclusive luxury ocean cruise experience then Regent Seven Seas Cruises® is cruising as it’s meant to be. Everything is included on their itineraries, without exception or compromise. From return flights and transfers to free unlimited shore excursions, all fine dining, beverages and gratuities, on a Regent Seven Seas Cruises® voyage you can liberate your expectations and luxuriate in all-inclusive, space, freedom and elegance. And with three all-suite ships – Seven Seas Voyager, Seven Seas Mariner and Seven Seas Navigator – sailing all around the world to destinations including Alaska, Europe, the Caribbean, South America and Asia, Regent Seven Seas Cruises® epitomises the ultimate way to see the world.
NEW SHIP FOR 2016 Arriving in July 2016, Seven Seas Explorer is the most luxurious ocean cruise ship ever built, bringing a new standard in luxury and sophisticated glamour. 24
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With spacious interiors and luxurious design, the new ship will also feature a new culinary kitchen experience, infinity plunge pool and three speciality restaurants including a French-style (Chartreuse) and Asian-fusion restaurant (Pacific Rim). Highlights of this fabulous vessel, which has capacity for 750 guests, include:
The Regent Suite
A new category of luxury suite, the Park Avenue-style apartment is 3,875sqft and comes complete with an in-room spa retreat, custom Steinway Arabesque piano – both firsts at sea – and features an outdoor, glass-enclosed sitting area aptly named the Vista Garden that will provide unobstructed 270-degree views over the ship’s bow. The privileges of booking the Regent Suite extend beyond its doors. Inclusive amenities to those booking this suite include a private car with driver and guide in every port, free unlimited laundry, business and first class air travel as well as limousine transfer to and from the airport. CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM
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Three distinct specialty restaurants
Open exclusively for dinner, Prime 7 is one of three distinct specialty restaurants on Seven Seas Explorer available for guests’ epicurean pleasures imposing no surcharge to dine at any of the specialty restaurants. The two new speciality venues are: • Chartreuse – a tantalising new gourmet French specialty restaurant featuring a classic French menu with dishes expertly prepared using both classic and modern techniques for a multiple course celebration of French gastronomy. Evoking memories of a chic Parisian fine dining restaurant, this is the perfect respite for guests to enjoy an apéritif, including specialty cocktails infused with the French liqueur Chartreuse. The design team at ICRAVE responsible for this sophisticated French restaurant left no detail unattended, including a silver-leafed ceiling that is interspersed with dramatic gold-bordered black lacquered lines to complete the elegant Parisian motif, and a decorative iron sculpting throughout the bar pays a graceful and subtle homage to Paris’ iconic Eiffel Tower. The back portion of the restaurant seamlessly transitions from a regal dining room to a whimsical Parisian courtyard, creating the illusion of al fresco dining. • Pacific Rim – celebrating the culinary traditions of Asia, Pacific Rim will be yet another historical first for guests to experience. Savour a diverse array of delightfully prepared pan-Asian dishes in an elegant dining room whose design takes inspirational cues from a variety of Asian cultures, such as a Tibetan prayer wheel, contemporary lotus inspired windows, traditional Japanese rain chains and custom Chinese screens, all melded harmoniously together for a truly remarkable culinary experience. Culinary Arts Kitchen – Regent’s first culinary instruction centre will provide guests with all the ingredients to expand their culinary skills in a welcoming environment reminiscent of the most prestigious cooking schools in France in both layout and design. The culinary CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM
workstations are fully equipped with top-of-the-line induction cooktops and a comprehensive collection of additional cooking essentials, and offer more than a dozen unique classes covering a wide array of topics including healthy cooking, fish and shellfish preparation, perfect food and wine pairings for entertaining, high-heat grilling and classes inspired by the destinations visited by the ship. Canyon Ranch SpaClub® & Infinity Pool – the lavishly appointed spa featuring an infrared sauna and aromatic steam room will debut together with a selection of treatments developed by Canyon Ranch in partnership with beauty experts Red Flower®. On a private outdoor deck, guests will find a terrace filled with lounge chairs that surround a infinity-edged plunge pool contouring the stern of the ship for magnificent views across the horizon. 8
ALL INCLUSIVE LUXURY Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ inclusive luxury experience includes: • Return flights and transfers • Free and unlimited shore excursions • All alcoholic beverages including Champagne, fine wines and branded spirits • All non alcoholic beverages • All dining • All speciality dining – no cover charges • Complimentary in-suite mini-bar replenished daily • 24-hour room service • Gratuities • Book a Concierge Suite or higher and guests can enjoy further inclusions such as a free pre-cruise luxury hotel stay and free wifi (terms apply) • Guests choosing a Penthouse Suite or higher have the benefit of their own personal butler
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CRUISES FOR 2016/2017 The world’s most all-inclusive luxury cruise line just become more inclusive by offering free unlimited wifi on all Regent Seven Seas Cruises® voyages, beginning with the 2016-17 Winter Collection of itineraries. The complimentary unlimited wifi is available to all suite categories and provides internet access from any location on the ship via laptop, tablet or smartphone. Along with the complimentary wifi, Regent Seven Seas Cruises® is offering even more inclusive elements as part its 2016-17 Winter Collection by expanding its free land tour programme to include 11 sailings in Asia and Africa. Regent Seven Seas Cruises® will also be celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2017 with a special voyage on Seven Seas Explorer. On 11 select sailings in the 2016-17 Winter Collection guests can further enrich their cruise holiday with a free, three-night land adventure in exotic locales such as Cape Town, Angkor Wat, Hong Kong and Beijing. The free land programme is available in all suite categories and includes sightseeing adventures such as an African safari, a Thai elephant camp and a visit to the 2,000-year old Great Wall in China. The Regent Seven Seas Cruises® fleet will also visit iconic cities in South America and the Mediterranean, and explore the natural wonders of the Caribbean and the South Pacific as part of the recently announced Winter Collection. Among the destinations available include four ports of call never before visited by Regent Seven Seas Cruises®, including: • Gisborne, New Zealand – the country’s chardonnay capital, found on the east coast of the North Island, replete with renowned boutique wineries along with stunning views and botanical gardens • Rijeka, Croatia – a charming, historic city of ornate Austro-Hungarian-style buildings complemented by gorgeous beaches 26
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• Harvest Caye, Belize – where solace mixes with eco-adventure, thanks to jungles, rainforests and a breathtaking coral reef • Mazatlan, Mexico – a hidden gem featuring a cobblestoned pueblo viejo (old town)and the region’s most alluring beaches
Seven Seas Explorer
The newest member of the Regent Seven Seas Cruises® fleet, Seven Seas Explorer boasts one of the highest space ratios in the cruise industry and features elegantly designed lounges and showplaces, lavish gourmet restaurants, and the line’s first culinary cooking centre. One of the highlight of its 18-voyage season will be the Grand Canal Crossing, a 16-night Miami-to-Los Angeles holiday cruise that traverses the Panama Canal. Later, it will make an Atlantic crossing and embark on its first full season in the Mediterranean, highlighted by the aforementioned 25th anniversary cruise.
Seven Seas Mariner
Seven Seas Mariner begins the season in the warm waters of the Caribbean, then heads through the Panama Canal to visit South America and the Mexican Riviera before returning to Alaska in May 2017. Among its 16 voyages guests will find the exotic Villages of the Amazon, a 25-night, roundtrip-from-Miami sojourn that explores the Amazon River and eastern Caribbean with visits to 13 stunning and mysterious ports of call.
Seven Seas Voyager
The 11-cruise collection for Seven Seas Voyager has guests exploring Australia and New Zealand, along with several Asian destinations before cruising to the Mediterranean. Among its exciting itineraries is Koalas to Kiwis, a 14-night Sydney-to-Auckland voyage featuring close-up views of Australia’s charming wildlife, and a stunning journey through the breathtaking Milford Sound fjords of southwest New Zealand.
Seven Seas Navigator
In January 2017, Seven Seas Navigator embarks on her 128-night World Cruise, which features a Panama Canal crossing, leisurely visits to Hawaii and Tahiti, an Aucklandto-Singapore leg, and an 18-night Suez Canal crossing. Among the many amenities are shoreside experiences in Dubai and Monte Carlo. In total, the World Cruise will cruise to six continents, 31 countries and 62 ports. CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM
Find out more: Visit rssc.com or call 02380 682153 for more details. Cruise Planner 2016
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Luxury
HEBRIDEAN ISLAND CRUISES Scottish country house charm on 50-person Hebridean Princess, all single malt whisky and rich regional cuisine in an all-inclusive package. In 2016 there are first time visits to Lunga, on the Treshnish Isles, and Stroma Island amonst many calls around Scotland and her islands. Also new are 16 themed cruises. Whisky is one while there’s the Hebridean Symphony cruise, including an exploration of Fingal’s Cave on Staffa, inspiration for Mendelssohn, together with classical music recitals in spectacular locations. Excursions led by expert locals are also included. There will be two 2016 forays outside Scottish waters – on a Northern Ireland Explorer – and a three port call to the Isle of Man. 01756 704 704; hebridean.co.uk
OCEANIA CRUISES Half a dozen ships exuding East Coast elegance with Ralph Laurenstyle chic. Princess Cruises’ Ocean Princess arrives in March and immediately undergoes as £27m transformation. It will emerge as Sirena to summer in the Med. Speciality restaurants, including the Polo Grill steakhouse, have no extra charge. Impressive cuisine is overseen by Frenchman Jacques Pépin, who will host various gourmet sailings. Sirena means that in winter 2016 there are 60 new itineraries and 19 new ports of call. On 6 January 2017, Insignia departs Miami on Around The World in 180 Days, said to be the longest and most comprehensive world cruise offered by anyone, calling at 98 ports in 36 countries. 0345 505 1920; oceaniacruises.com 28
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SEADREAM YACHT CLUB Twin ships with teak decks and a private party air carry 112 guests to exotic destinations. The finest drinks are part of SeaDream’s ethos (even Champagne comes in the all-inclusive package) and eight new wine cruises for 2016 take it to the limit. Guests on Mediterranean sailings to Italy, Spain, Greece and France will enjoy visits to boutique vineyards, casual tastings highlighting local producers and in-depth tastings that focus on a specific topic, grape or region. They will get to try the produce of a selection of the world’s most well-known wineries, paired with excellent cuisine, particularly at the Winemaker’s Dinner, in which a local grower or winery shares treasures from their own cellars. 0800 783 1373; seadream.com
CELEBRITY CRUISES Celebrity, cruising the globe on 10 ships that have a sleek, modern feel with plenty of boutique touches, will be sailing from Abu Dhabi for the first time in 2016. Celebrity Constellation will home port there, with overnights in a range of destinations such as Dubai and Oman. Seven new European ports of call include Skagen, Denmark; Isafjordur, Iceland; and Riga, Latvia. On a 2 July sailing, Michelinstarred chefs Josh Eggleton and Gennaro Esposito will host dining experiences, on board and at Gennaro’s restaurant. From January, more than 40 Caribbean cruises will have overnight stays, with 14 new evening shore excursions, such as a jazz bonfire party in 8 Cozumel, Mexico. 0844 493 2043; celebritycruises.co.uk CRUISE-INTERNATIONAL.COM
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Rangoon - Burma, March 8 , 2016 , MS Insignia
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Grand LUXURY
A Cunard voyage is a holiday like no other, and an effortless way to discover the world in sophisticated style
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ailing with Cunard is more than just travelling – it is becoming part of a living legend. Discovering must see destinations on board ships that turn heads, touch hearts and inspire pride wherever they go. The world’s most incredible destinations – New York, Sydney, Venice – become still more extraordinary from the deck of a Cunard liner. Cunard opens the door to a world of heightened experiences. From the moment you arrive on board you feel that you are at the centre of something very special. Drawing on an unrivalled heritage and enduring sense of glamour and style, Cunard ushers you into an unhurried, uncrowded world where the highest quality is assured, the 30 Cruise Planner 2016
dining is exceptional and the experience is sublime. This is travel without compromise, where every need is anticipated, every detail taken care of. Things are done properly, but with a light touch. White Star Service ensures that the welcome is as personal as the service is intuitive and discreet. A kaleidoscope of activity options includes inspiring talks by notable speakers on board and stimulating tours on shore. Cunard’s reputation for creating life-long memories extends around the world, with seasoned cruisers and first-timers alike being invited to enjoy its legendary luxury. If you haven’t sailed with the cruise line before, you’ll soon become
accustomed to certain aspects of the cruise that are uniquely Cunard. The first is being the centre of attention – because the sight of their ships and distinctive red funnels always causes a stir, wherever they dock. The Cunard fleet comprises three exceptional ships – Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria and Queen Mary 2. Grand in scale, yet stylish down to the tiniest detail, each one is a world unto itself. An oasis of discovery and relaxation and the perfect setting from which to explore new destinations, or old favourites. Of course you simply can’t take a Cunard cruise without experiencing Afternoon Tea in the splendid surroundings of the Queen’s Room. CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM
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Served by white-gloved waiting staff and often accompanied by a string quartet, this is a little slice of heaven in the middle of each afternoon. The Queen’s Room is also the setting for Cunard’s legendary themed Balls. They’re a wonderful excuse to dress up and take to the floor in the largest ballrooms at sea, to the accompaniment of renowned musical ensembles and big bands.
throughout, she’ll be every inch the grandest ship upon the oceans – while reconfigured restaurants and lounges will help create an even more relaxed ambience. Cunard will also be adding single staterooms, and expanding their hugely popular kennels to meet demand – accommodating an additional 10 four-legged friends who choose to travel in style.
DESTINATIONS LIFE ON BOARD All Cunard’s ships have an impressive range of onboard services, entertainment and restaurants; all delivered with their signature White Star Service. Thanks to the Cunard Insights programme, guests can enjoy learning about a variety of historical and contemporary topics from expert guest speakers such as Dame Kelly Holmes, Sir Max Hastings and Lord Michael Howard while on board. Fitness lovers and spa seekers may indulge their passions in the fully equipped gym and superlative spa, which offers a comprehensive menu of services to ensure total relaxation. For those seeking complete indulgence, the Grills Experience guarantees an unsurpassed level of luxury, with accommodation in the ship’s finest Suites, a private butler (Queen’s Grill guests only) and dining in the Princess Grill or Queen’s Grill restaurants.
QUEEN MARY 2 REMASTERED In June 2016, Queen Mary 2 sets sail fresh from a full makeover that will take her to new levels of luxury. With new furnishings and bold decorative designs CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM
Wherever you travel with Cunard you can be certain about one thing: seeing the world’s most wonderful places on board an iconic Queen is an experience without equal. Covering all dream destinations, including the Mediterranean, the Baltic and the classic New York Transatlantic Crossing, Cunard offers an impressive range of itineraries rich in cultural discovery, as well as their iconic Exotic and World Cruises.
Queen Elizabeth’s British Isles Culinary Discovery
Cruising around the British Isles from Southampton between 23 June and 5 July 2016 • Queen Elizabeth’s first ever culinary voyage for food lovers everywhere. • Celebrating the acclaimed and much loved regional delicacies from around the British Isles through shore-side tours and hosted onboard events. • Bringing together Queen Elizabeth’s expert chefs and sommeliers with reputable names and producers from the world of gastronomy, including Charles Sichel of Maison Sichel and wine critic Jilly Goolden.
Big Band Balls
The beautifully adorned Queen’s Room ballroom will provide the perfect backdrop to dance the night away while a magnificent 13-piece Big Band Orchestra delights guests with music from Glenn Miller, Count Basie and Duke Ellington. • Queen Mary 2: 19 – 26 November 2016, Southampton – New York Transatlantic Crossing • Queen Elizabeth: 19 – 22 November 2016, Southampton and Bruges • Queen Victoria: 15 November – 9 December 2016, Caribbean.
Find out more: To book your Cunard cruise visit cunard.co.uk or call 0843 373 4090. Cruise Planner 2016
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www.jetlinecruise.com Offering the perfect combination of cruise lines, destinations, value and experience all brought together for you to choose the perfect holiday.
JetlineCruise Cruise 0800 082 2176 Open 7 days a week 9am - 9pm
Premium
These lines offer exquisite speciality dining, exceptional entertainment and state-of-the-art facilities
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Premium
MSC SHIPS FEATURE THE MSC YACHT CLUB, A SHIP-WITHIN-A-SHIP COMPLEX OF PRIVATE DECKS, RESTAURANTS, POOL AND BUTLER SERVICE MSC CRUISES Sleek Italian style on a collection of ships that offer cruises in all corners of the globe. MSC Lirica takes a 60-day world cruise from Rio in March, ending in Shanghai where it will be based. Chinese celebrity chef Jereme Leung, who unites modern Chinese cuisine with traditional provincial food, has been signed up to oversee the food. MSC Opera will homeport in Havana for the winter 2015/2016 season, offering Caribbean cruises with two nights in the Cuban capital. A new generation ship, MSC Seaside, is due in 2017 with another to follow in 2018. The ships feature the MSC Yacht Club, a ship-within-a-ship complex of private decks, restaurants, pool and butler service. MSC Cruises is also making big play of its extended sports coverage with big screen European and world football (including Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League and Europa League), tennis, rugby and more. 020 3426 3010; msccruises.co.uk
HOLLAND AMERICA LINE Arriving in Europe in spring is MS Koningsdam, the company’s 16th ship with cool, contemporary interiors that reflect the early days of cruise style. Much of the interior is the work of design guru Adam D Tihany, who created the modernistic At.mosphere restaurant 122 floors up Dubai’s Burj Khalifa. Exciting spaces include the atrium skylight that will feature changing projections such as the night sky. From the end of 2015 the suites in many ships will start to be upgraded (first is Eurodam with Oosterdam heading into dry dock in April), with extra amenities available to all suite passengers from the start of the year. A partnership with BBC Earth starts in April with guest programmes arriving across the fleet, including the Frozen Planet concert (footage accompanied by 8 musicians), children’s workshops and fact shows. 0843 374 2300; hollandamerica.co.uk CRUISE-INTERNATIONAL.COM
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Premium DISNEY CRUISE LINE Four stylish ships that appeal to all generations, and those travelling without children too, with an elegant, luxurious feel. Disney Cruise Line makes its roundBritain debut in 2016 with a Disney Magic cruise from Dover circling the UK in June. Throughout the summer of 2016, it will also return to Norway, Iceland and more than 15 European ports. Disney Wonder will return to Alaska for the summer while Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy will sail from Port Canaveral in Florida to the Caribbean. In late 2016, Disney Magic will return to New York with Bahamas cruises. There will be a Star Wars Day at Sea on eight Disney Fantasy sailings from January to April with characters, activities and themed food. And in an autumn dry dock, Disney Magic received a Star Wars play area. 0800 028 3179; disneycruise.disney.go.com
PRINCESS CRUISES Glamorous, contemporary ships (16 big ships plus two smaller ones) with cruises around the world in unassuming international style. Emerald Princess and Caribbean Princess will sail from Southampton in summer 2016, with cruises to the Mediterranean, Norwegian Fjords and around the UK. A TV-style talent show is sweeping through the Princess fleet with The Voice of the Ocean being fleet-wide by the summer. There are auditions, personal mentoring with ship’s entertainers and a last night show. Stephen Schwartz, Oscar award-winning composer of Wicked and Godspell, has created a show, Magic To Do, which will be on Emerald Princess and Ruby Princess. Australian celebrity chef Curtis Stone opens his restaurant, SHARE, on Ruby Princess and Emerald Princess. Fleet-wide, there will be Crafted by Curtis menu items in the main dining rooms along with Stone’s Chef’s Table experience. 0843 374 2261; princess.com
AZAMARA CLUB CRUISES Azamara is giving both its boutique-feel 700-passenger ships – Quest and Journey – a radical refit before the summer season in a process it calls Reimagine Azamara. Suites and staterooms will all be revamped in a wealth of stone, porcelain and other natural materials, and spa suites will be created next to the Sanctum. Azamara continues its ‘Destination Immersion’ concept that involves longer stays, more overnights, evening excursions and VIP experiences. Complimentary AzAmazing Evenings get to the heart of a destination. In 2015 Azamara sailed to Australia for the first time and in 2016 makes debut calls in New Zealand. The service is all-inclusive, with butlers for suite guests and shuttles into city centres. 0844 493 4016; azamaraclubcruises.com 8
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COME BACK WITH A STORY TO TELL Choose from more amazing destinations and experiences than any other cruise line. From whale watching off the coast of Alaska and swimming with giant turtles by the white sands of the Caribbean, to watching movies under the stars, and soaking up the local culture before you’ve even set foot on shore. Embark on a voyage of self-discovery that’s as much about the destination as it is the journey, and bring home stories you’ll never tire of telling. Come back new, from a Princess cruise. To book or request a brochure contact your travel agent, call 0843 374 2261 or visit princess.com
BEST LUXURY CRUISE LINE British Travel Awards 2014
BEST CRUISE LINE Cruise International Awards 2014 & 2015
FOOD & DINING EXPERIENCE
Good Housekeeping Reader Recommended 2015
ABTA and ATOL protected. Calls cost 3p/min plus your telephone company’s network access charge. Princess Cruises on board restaurants have been reviewed by 100 Good Housekeeping readers and awarded the Good Housekeeping Reader Recommended endorsement.
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THAT’S
entertainment
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With an exciting range of cool bars, glitzy nightclubs, live music and world class productions, it’s no wonder Norwegian Cruise Line was named Best Cruise Line for Onboard Entertainment at the Cruise International Awards
f there’s one thing that has made Norwegian Cruise Line stand out over the past 50 years, it’s innovation. It was, for example, the first cruise line to have its own private tropical island; the first cruise line to offer a genuine ice bar on a ship; and it also pioneered supervised kids’ activity programmes. Along with numerous bars and lounges on board each of its ships, live entertainment is another area where Norwegian Cruise Line has pushed the boundaries of holidays at sea. From world class Broadway and West End shows, such as Rock of Ages, Legally Blonde and Million Dollar Quartet, to brand new dinner-and-show concepts including Cirque Dreams and Dinner and For the Record: The Brat Pack, Live at the Supper Club, Norwegian Cruise Line continues to delight its guests with fresh, contemporary and popular entertainment experiences. Rehearsals for Norwegian Cruise Line’s spectaculars take place at its dedicated facility in Florida. Norwegian Creative Studios is a workspace where creative talents from around the world develop new innovative shows. From soaring acrobats in Elements to a revolving showgirl staircase in Paradis, Norwegian Cruise Line’s award-winning entertainment is customised for every itinerary.
NORWEGIAN EPIC
Currently sailing the western Mediterranean from its homeport Barcelona, Norwegian Epic has brand new entertainment in the form of musical Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, dance extravaganza Burn the Floor, with its heart-pounding music and breathtaking moves, 38
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and music venue The Cavern Club, playing the classic sounds of the Beatles and the best of British pop. Norwegian Epic also has 20 different bars and lounges to choose from, including the Miami-inspired Posh Beach Club and outdoor nightclub Spice H2O.
NORWEGIAN ESCAPE
Not to be outdone, Norwegian Cruise Line’s latest ship – the 4,200-guest Norwegian Escape, which launched in October and homeports in Miami, offers its own twist on fantastic entertainment. Along with Norwegian Cruise Line’s acclaimed dinner-and-show For The Record: The Brat Pack at The Supper Club, guests can choose from musicals After Midnight, showcasing the songs of Duke Ellington and a roof-raising onstage jazz band, and Tony Award winning Million Dollar Quartet. Other live options include the sensational Howl at the Moon, a rousing rock ‘n’ roll dueling piano show, and Headliner’s Comedy Club, offering several hilarious gigs per week. Norwegian Escape also boasts a brand new venue, the Skyline Bar, where you can savour delicious signature cocktails – perfect for a post-show nightcap. Find out more: Visit the website
WINNER
ncl.co.uk or call 0845 201 8900 for more information.
AWARDS
2015 NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE BEST FOR ONBOARD ENTERTAINMENT
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CONTEMPORARY Modern and chic with fantastic innovations, these cruise lines offer something for everyone
CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE Carnival’s 25th ship, Carnival Vista, arrives in spring. It’s the biggest, carrying 4,000 guests, and celebrates Caribbean style with Cuban-themed rooms and outdoor hangouts such as the Havana Bar & Pool. All Carnival’s vessels are called ‘Fun Ships’ – full of children’s activities alongside contemporary action for adults – but Carnival Vista is ‘the Future of Fun’. Attractions include the innovative SkyRide at SportSquare, an 800ft track suspended around the top deck that passengers can circle in pedal-powered cars; the first IMAX cinema at sea; and WaterWorks, the fleet’s largest aqua park with the Kaleid-O-Slide enveloped by music and colourful lights. It makes its debut in the Med in spring and later heads off to cruise the Caribbean. 8 0845 351 0556; carnival.co.uk 40 Cruise Planner 2016
Contemporary
CARNIVAL VISTA WILL CELEBRATE CARIBBEAN STYLE WITH CUBAN-THEMED ROOMS AND OUTDOOR HANGOUTS PLUS THE FIRST IMAX CINEMA AT SEA
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ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL More than 20 resort-style ships packed with activities, with sailings from the UK, Europe, the US and even China. Hot on the heels of Anthem of the Seas and Quantum of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas arrive in Southampton in April. Ovation has all the attractions – skydiving simulator, North Star viewing pod and bumper cars – of Quantum and Anthem. Harmony will be the world’s biggest cruise ship, carrying 5,400 guests, and sails the Med before heading to Florida for Caribbean cruises. Ovation departs for China (a 52-night Global Odyssey to Tianjin), joining four other ships, including Quantum, the biggest fleet of any cruise company to be based in the country. Navigator of the Seas (fresh from a £50m refit) and Independence of the Seas return to Southampton. Also new are the Royal Genies, trained by the British Butler Institute, providing 24-hour service to Royal Suite guests on Quantum and Oasis of the Seas. 0844 493 4005; royalcaribbean.co.uk
P&O CRUISES The uplifting red, white and blue livery of Britannia, which launched in spring 2015, heralds the modern British style of P&O Cruises with its year-round sailings from Southampton. In 2016 itineraries take in more events and festivals, such as flamenco in Spain, the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Monte Carlo and jazz in New Orleans, as well as offering many more overnight stays. P&O has eight ships offering everything from short breaks to fly-cruises. Britannia is to sail from St Lucia for the first time as part of an extended Caribbean fly-cruise programme for 2016/17, the first time P&O has offered seven-night Caribbean cruises. The increasingly popular Strictly Come Dancing Cruises return, featuring stars from the show, and there are more sailings with Food Heroes celebrity chefs and special guests. 0843 374 0111; pocruises.com
THOMSON CRUISES Thomson offers value cruises, both for families and adults-only, in simple modern style. In summer it welcomes Discovery, its biggest ship yet. It was formerly Royal Caribbean’s Splendour of the Seas (and has an outdoor cinema, rock climbing wall, mini-golf course, five-storey atrium and indoor pool) and will sail out of Palma for Med cruises with plenty of Spanish calls – and with Saturday flights from 19 regional airports. Discovery replaces Island Escape and joins the fleet’s four other ships. Thomson Dream is again based in Jamaica through winter and spring with various cruises taking in Cuba. Next winter Thomson Celebration will sail out of Dubai for Gulf itineraries. 0871 230 2800; thomson.co.uk 44 Cruise Planner 2016
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Contemporary Luxury
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE Cool, stylish ships with a relaxed approach to cruising. Norwegian Escape, the cruise line’s 14th ship arrived in October and is sailing year-round Caribbean cruises from Miami; the 4,200-passenger fun palace is Norwegian Cruise Line’s largest, with a three deck high aqua park and ropes course, Broadway musicals and many new bars and restaurants continuing the new concept of the Waterfront, an on-deck boardwalk of bars and restaurants. There’s also the Haven, a ship-within-a-ship luxury enclave. A sister ship is underway for spring 2017. Norwegian Epic, sailing the Med in summer 2016, has just undergone major refurbishment, and now has the first Cavern Club at sea, an official replica of the Liverpool original where the Beatles had a residency, with live tribute bands. Epic 8 also has the Broadway musical Priscilla Queen of the Desert. 0845 201 8900; ncl.co.uk CRUISE-INTERNATIONAL.COM
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fun
THE FUTURE OF Carnival Cruise Line’s newest and biggest Fun Ship, Carnival Vista, launches in Europe this summer and will offer endless entertainment for all ages
A
rriving in April 2016 and spending the summer cruising around Europe, Carnival Vista will be Carnival Cruise Line’s biggest ship to date – a Fun Ship that promises to brings the indoors outdoors. New onboard features range from the exhilarating SkyRide bikes course to the world’s first floating IMAX cinema, while kids’ clubs and specialty restaurants ensure every guest is catered for whatever age they are.
ACCOMMODATION
Family Harbor staterooms can be found near the exclusive 24-hour venue Family Harbor Lounge, which offers concierge service serving breakfast and snacks during the day and comes furnished with Hasbro board games, family movies and video games. Children staying in Family Harbor staterooms eat free in most 46 Cruise Planner 2016
onboard specialty restaurants while parents receive one free evening of Night Owls babysitting service. A Havana stateroom or suite (for guests age 12 or older) is like your very own personal retreat and found in a very exclusive location, near the Havana bar, pool and club – a members-only spot by day and a fun-for-all hotspot by night. Havana Cabanas offer private hammocks and private outdoor patios overlooking the promenade; inside a Havana Cabana suite you’ll find a luxurious rain shower and a lounge-ready hammock outside.
DINING OPTIONS
New England-style diner Seafood Shack is the place to go for fruits de mer served in rolls or with salads. Evening dinner venue Horizons Restaurant offers flexible dining times, pre-dinner drinks and a menu CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM
FEATURED CRUISE LINE
bursting with classic favourites, while the Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse serves delicious steaks, lobster, lamb and more at both indoor and outdoor tables. Tuck into seafood and soy sauce creations among expertly pruned trees at Bonsai Sushi, or indulge in a series of delectable plates at The Chef’s Table where you can also enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at where the culinary magic happens with a galley tour. Modern dining spot Ji Ji Asian Kitchen serves up enticing dishes in an eclectic space, with Cucina del Capitano offering large family-style Italian favourites.
NEW FEATURES
Set to be the most fun of all Carnival Cruise Line’s Fun Ships, Carnival Vista’s incredible all-new SkyRide allows children and adults alike to zip around a bikes course high above the deck. For indoor activities, the Clubhouse offers mini bowling and arcade-style basketball, with football, volleyball and table tennis also available. For something a little more daring, try your hand at Carnival Vista’s onboard ropes circuit SkyCourse. At the Havana Bar & Pool, order a classic Cuban cocktail and graze on complimentary Cuban snacks before cooling off in the sparkling waters of the pool complete with ocean views.
ENTERTAINMENT
The Carnival Multiplex boasts three levels of big screen fun across two theatres. Catch the latest films at the first IMAX Theatre at sea or overload your senses with 3D visuals that leap off the screen in the Thrill Theatre. Carnival Cruise Line’s biggest and best aqua park comes in the form of WaterWorks – Carnival Vista’s complex of spiralling waterslides, an expanded SplashZone and water toys. The pièce de résistance is the all-new Kaleid-O-Slide – a raft flume that takes one or two guests down a tunnel filled with colourful lights. CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM
Another feature of Carnival Vista is Carnival Cruise Line’s best ever Bookville & Dr Seuss – a brilliant children’s library bursting with bright colours and fun furniture where Dr Seuss characters adorn the walls and books fill the shelves. Camp Ocean puts younger guests – 2 to 11 year olds – into supervised age based groups and keeps them busy with fun ocean-themed activities, allowing parents to enjoy their day knowing their children are in safe hands. For adults, Carnival Vista produces its very own microbrew beer at the RedFrog Pub and Brewery, a venue where snacks, games and live music complement the pints on offer perfectly.
ITINERARIES
Following its launch in April 2016, Carnival Vista will be cruising to Italy, France, Spain, Croatia and Turkey along with brand new ports of call across Greece and the Greek islands. The 13-day Europe from Trieste, Italy cruise departs on 1 May 2016 and starts from £959pp; the 10-day Europe from Barcelona, Spain cruise departs on 14 May 2016 and starts from £859pp; and the 10-day Europe from Athens, Greece cruise departs on 24 May 2016, with ports of call such as Rhodes, Malta and Messina (Sicily), and starts from £839pp.
Find out more: Call 0845 351 0556 or visit the website carnival.co.uk for more information. Cruise Planner 2016
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SAGA INCLUDES…
Small ships, big value!
Return chauffeur to the port or free parking
S
Table wines with lunch and dinner on cruises from April 2016
aga’s award-winning ships are smaller, more intimate and welcoming than the big cruise lines, and with two staff to every three passengers you’ll always be treated to first-class service. Being smaller also means Saga can take you to lesser-known ports that larger ships have to sail past. They might be small in size, but they’re big on value, with so much included in the price. To see Saga’s new 2016/17 Cruise Collection call FREE on 0800 068 5053 quoting SGCA4 or visit saga.co.uk/great-value
Optional travel insurance and cancellation rights Tips to all on-board staff Free Wi-Fi internet All meals and entertainment Free shuttle bus in most ports Unlimited tea and coffee
and so much more!
WINNER
AWARDS
2015 SAGA CRUISES
BEST VALUE FOR MONEYBEST AWARDED CRUISE LINE
VALUE FOR MONEY CRUISE LINE TWO YEARS IN A ROW!
Included chauffeur is a private service up to 75 miles each way, or a shared service from 76-250 miles each way. All excursions are optional, at an additional cost, and are subject to availability and change. Some of the highlights detailed may only be seen on optional excursions or by exploring independently. Saga’s cruises are exclusively for those aged 50+; a travelling companion may be aged 40+. This is not a brochure. Terms and conditions apply, please see saga.co.uk/cruises for details. NHA-CC2315.
Classic Traditional, elegant cruises that offer an informal holiday experience
CELESTYAL Celestyal is the only home-porting cruise operator in Greece and a specialist in the Greek Islands and Turkey, with smart, locally-themed ships. Celestyal Nefeli (replacing Celestyal Odyssey) joins Celestyal Crystal and Celestyal Olympia. The three mid-sized ships, with sunny Aegean style and Greek cuisine, sail the Eastern Med, March to October, calling at smaller ports, such as the isles of Symi and Kos. A 2015 move towards Turkish departures has been expanded with cruises from Istanbul, Izmir and Kusadasi. There are more Greek themed events in 2016, including cooking demonstrations by local chefs, performances from leading Greek musicians and dancers and talks from archeologists.The company’s new brand, Cuba Cruises (+1 855 364 4999; yourcubacruise.com ), offers sevenday winter cruises on Celestyal Crystal. 00 30 210 458 3400; celestyalcruises.com
FRED. OLSEN CRUISE LINE This might be classic cruising on four mid-sized ships, and repeat bookings are high, but there’s always something new. In 2016 cruises are being introduced from Falmouth, one of 10 departure points in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland, with visits to a record 253 destinations in 84 countries. There will also be more river, fjord and scenic cruising, from Scottish lochs to Chile’s Strait of Magellan. Another first is a five-night taster to the Norwegian fjords from Newcastle. The ships (Boudicca, Balmoral, Braemar and Black Watch) have the air of Scottish country hotels. 0800 0355 197; fredolsencruises.com
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SAGA CRUISES OFFERS CRUISING FOR THE OVER-50S WITH AN INCREASINGLY CONTEMPORARY AND ADVENTUROUS EDGE
CRUISE-INTERNATIONAL.COM
Classic
SAGA CRUISES Multi-award winning Saga Cruises offers cruises for the over-50s, but with an increasingly contemporary and adventurous edge. Now here’s a new port – Bournemouth. On the August 18 Around Britain and Ireland cruise you watch Bournemouth Air Show while at anchor in Dorset. The cruise, from Dover, also stops at Poole for the Jurassic Coast. In November Saga Sapphire takes off from Southampton on her longest mystery cruise yet – 23 days of wondering where you’ll be next. Sapphire, for 720 passengers, is understatedly modern; Saga Pearl II is smaller but no less contemporary. Apart from innovative British itineraries there are plenty of Med and Baltic cruises along with grand voyages and far-off destinations. Saga is expanding – having ordered a new ship for 2019. 0800 068 5053; travel.saga.co.uk
CRUISE AND MARITIME VOYAGES A company that specialises in cruises from the UK, many from London Tilbury although in 2016 there’s an expanded programme from Bristol Avonmouth and more cruises from the Scottish ports of Dundee, Greenock and Leith. Flagship, Magellan, which debuted in 2015, sails from Tilbury to destinations as varied as the Amazon and the fjords, while Astor gears up for a 46-night world tour. 8 0845 430 0274; cruiseandmaritime.com CRUISE-INTERNATIONAL.COM
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Explore IN STYLE
Cruise the Mediterranean and English Channel in relaxed comfort with no-fly holidays from Saga Cruises
O
utstanding ocean cruise line Saga Cruises offers a selection of fantastic itineraries exclusively for guests aged 50 and over. Its two ships – Saga Sapphire and Saga Pearl II – offer a warm, relaxing atmosphere with first-class service from the friendly crew. And the smaller size of the vessels enables Saga Cruises to take guests to lesser known ports, little islands and remote harbours. Elegant Saga Sapphire is a classic vessel with a modern twist. Carrying no more than 720 passengers, guests can enjoy comfortable staterooms, an informal atmosphere and a range of stunning public spaces, including the Drawing Room and Britannia Lounge, while Cooper’s is perfect for late-night drinks and live comedy. Dining options include main restaurant Pole to Pole, 52
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speciality Asian restaurant East to West and the Verandah and Grill for indoors or al fresco buffet dining. Other facilities include a gym, sauna and spa, hot tubs, cinema and indoor and outdoor pools. Smaller yacht-like ship Saga Pearl II offers an informal and enjoyable way to cruise, and with no more than 449 passengers on board the atmosphere is relaxed and sociable. Main bar Shackleton’s hosts a resident pianist while the Discovery Lounge offers daytime lectures or dance classes and evening entertainment. The ship also has outdoor and indoor pools as well as a gym, sauna and spa. Fine dining is one of the time-honoured traditions of cruising and Saga Cruises serves superb cuisine each and every day. From cooked or continental breakfasts and hot or cold lunches to sumptuous afternoon teas,
everything is expertly prepared by a team of chefs that use local produce to give guests a real flavour of each destination. Themed evenings often reflect the places guests visit. All meals on board, snacks and afternoon teas are included in the price. Speciality restaurant dining is also included with no supplement to pay – guests simply reserve a table and enjoy. Dinner is always served in a single sitting from 7pm until 9pm meaning guests are never rushed to leave and make room for new guests. Guests can either enjoy the freedom and sociability of open dining, opt to sit at fixed tables if preferred, or dine in their stateroom free of charge with Saga’s included 24-hour room service. Plus, with their Early Bird Price Promise, should Saga Cruises ever cut the price of a cruise or release a CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM
FEATURED CRUISE LINE
WHAT’S INCLUDED WITH SAGA CRUISES: • Table wine with lunch and dinner on all cruises from April 2016.
• All meals on board, snacks, afternoon teas and
new special offer after a customer has booked, Saga will work out the difference and return the value of the saving to the guests. Take a look at the following itineraries for a flavour of the destinations you can sail to with Saga Cruises in 2016.
MEDITERRANEAN ODYSSEY Enjoy a superb voyage on board Saga Sapphire, from beautiful sun-kissed islands to five fabulous ports on the Turkish coast, giving you the chance to visit ports of call such as Troy, Ephesus and Gallipoli.
Offers
• Save up to £400pp when you book by 31 January 2016^ • Selected Twin cabins for sole occupancy at no extra cost^^ • Includes wine with lunch and dinner. -Inside cabins from £4,899‡ £4,599‡ -Outside cabins from £5,659 £5,359 -Superior cabins from £6,739 £6,339 -Suites from £9,939 £9,539 (including optional travel insurance, or a discount of £53 if not required*) The 30-night Mediterranean Odyssey cruise departs on 12 March 2016 [cruise code: SA295].
CITIES OF THE ANCIENT MEDITERRANEAN Discover the reach of the Roman Empire on this exciting cruise to a series of captivating cities and historical towns in Spain and France, including Valencia, CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM
Toulon and Mahon. With plenty of time to explore in each port of call, you can admire crumbling architecture and ancient ruins such as those in Tarragona and Roses, both new ports for Saga Pearl II.
Offers
• Save up to £500pp when you book by 31 January 2016^ -Inside cabins from £2,519‡ £2,144‡ -Outside cabins from £3,527‡ £3,152‡ -Superior cabins from £6,976 £6,476 -Suites from £8,314 £7,814 (including optional travel insurance, or a discount of £53 if not required*) The 17-night Cities of the Ancient Mediterranean cruise departs on 5 April 2016 [cruise code: P2149].
MARITIME HERITAGE Witness the 85th anniversary of the famous ‘Round the Island Race’ where over a thousand brightly coloured spinnakers turn the Solent into a sea of colour every summer. Immerse yourself further in Britain’s great maritime heritage during visits to Portsmouth, Guernsey and Le Havre on board Saga Sapphire.
Offers
• Save up to £200pp when you book by 31 January 2016^ • All-inclusive# -Inside cabins from £779 £679 -Outside cabins from £959 £859 -Superior cabins from £1,452 £1,252 -Suites from £1,919 £1,719 (including optional travel insurance, or a discount of £21 if not required*) The five-night Maritime Heritage cruise departs on 30 June 2016 [cruise code: SA298].
unlimited tea and coffee.
• Chauffeur service up to 250 miles each way, which will take you from your home to your port. Or if you want to drive yourself, we’ll arrange parking free of charge. Alternatively, you can choose from UK domestic flights, coach or rail travel. • Comprehensive optional travel insurance and additional cancellation rights. • All UK port taxes, fees and charges. • All onboard gratuities. • The Early Bird Price Promise. *There are discounts available of £53 for Mediterranean Odyssey and Cities of the Ancient Mediterranean, and £21 for Maritime Heritage — if you do not need Saga’s optional insurance and additional cancellation rights, call for details. Fares quoted are per person based on two people sharing the lowest available grade in the category shown and include any relevant booking discounts and offer savings. ‡Based on an Inside/Outside Guarantee where you will receive your cabin number shortly before sailing (or at embarkation) and not at time of booking, further terms and conditions apply. All fares were correct at time of going to print and are subject to availability and change. ^Save up to £500pp when you book on or before 31 January 2016: As a newcomer to Saga Cruising you can save up to £500pp on all available Superior cabins and Suites and up to £375 on all available Standard cabins. Exact saving depends on your chosen cruise and cabin grade. Greater savings are available to those who have previously sailed with Saga Cruising. Savings are off the current fares at time of booking and cannot be combined with any other offer except the Twin cabins for sole occupancy offer below. By Saga Cruising we mean any cruise aboard any of Saga’s own ships. ^^Selected Twin cabins for sole occupancy at no extra cost on Mediterranean Odyssey: Available on our Twin/Double Inside Guarantees only. Book a twin/double Inside Guarantee for the same fare as the twin per person fare. Offers are applicable to new bookings only and for any existing booking disadvantaged by the offers the price promise will apply. Cabins at the offer fares are limited and Saga reserves the right to extend, reduce or withdraw offers at anytime without notice. #All Inclusive includes selected wines at lunch and dinner, Saga house branded spirits, cocktails containing house branded spirits, draught beer and lager, non-alcoholic cocktails, all mixers and soft drinks. All excursions are optional, at an additional cost and subject to availability and change. Some of the highlights detailed may only be seen on optional excursions or by exploring independently. Please call for further details on our Inside/Outside Guarantees, all offer information and for details of the cabin guide and deck plans.
Find out more: Visit saga.co.uk/cruises or call free 0800 068 5053. Cruise Planner 2016
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Enriching cultural experiences aboard small ship Minerva
SAVE £1,393 UP TO
PER PERSON
Interior of The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, St Petersburg, Russia
Award-winning discovery cruises in the company of experts Our inspiring itineraries not only introduce you to a host of fascinating destinations – they also help you delve into the cultural quirks and intriguing stories that make each port of call unique. Joining you on your cruise will be a maximum of 350 like-minded passengers who share your thirst for knowledge, along with carefully selected Guest Speakers, whose talks bring each destination to life as they uncover layers of history. Why not join one of our no-fly cruises setting sail in summer 2016, which include a voyage around the Baltic Sea region, the chance to discover the dramatic landscapes of Iceland and exploration of a host of treasures in Portugal and Spain. Sail with us to enjoy a cruise experience that has set Swan Hellenic apart for more than 60 years, and that continues to set the benchmark for those with a mind to travel.
COUNTRY HOUSE STYLE
WORLD-CLASS GUEST SPEAKERS
UNIQUE PORTS OF CALL
INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSIONS
EXCEPTIONAL VALUE CRUISES WITH SO MUCH INCLUDED IN THE PRICE • Shore excursions up to the value of £650 • Flights and overseas transfers • All meals with open-seated dining • Engaging talks by expert Guest Speakers • All gratuities • Porterage of luggage • All port taxes • Selection of onboard activities and entertainment
NO-FLY CRUISES SAILING FROM PORTSMOUTH SUMMER 2016 A BALTIC MASTERPIECE
AN ICELANDIC QUEST
IBERIAN MARITIME ADVENTURE
DENMARK • SWEDEN RUSSIA • ESTONIA • POLAND
ISLE OF MAN • ICELAND • FAROE ISLANDS SHETLAND ISLANDS
CHANNEL ISLANDS • PORTUGAL SPAIN • FR ANCE
Departs 28 April 2016 - 17-day cruise from £2,705 per person
Departs 27 May 2016 - 15-day cruise from £2,331 per person
Departs 21 July 2016 - 14-day cruise from £1,888 per person
Standard Fare
Discounted Standard Fare
Saving
Balcony Suites from
£6,965
£5,572
£1,393
Outside Cabins from
£3,755
£3,004
£751
Inside Cabins from
£3,005
£2,705
£300
Cabin Type
Standard Fare
Discounted Standard Fare
Saving
Cabin Type
Balcony Suites from
£5,475
£4,928
£547
Outside Cabins from
£3,145
£2,831
£314
Inside Cabins from
£2,590
£2,331
£259
Cabin Type
Standard Fare
Discounted Standard Fare
Saving
Balcony Suites from
£5,475
£4,928
£547
Outside Cabins from
£2,950
£2,360
£590
Inside Cabins from
£2,360
£1,888
£472
For further details on all our offers or to request a brochure please call today, visit www.swanhellenic.com or contact your local travel agent
CALL US FREE ON 0800 567 7399 BEST NICHE CRUISE LINE
and quote Cruise International
We’re open seven days a week, Monday to Friday 9am-8pm, Saturday 9am-5.30pm, Sunday 10am-4pm.
Calls to 0800 numbers are free. All fares apply to new bookings only, are correct as of 30 November 2015, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time and must be booked by 29th February 2016. Fares shown are based on twin occupancy, unless otherwise stated. Fares shown represent the lowest cabin grade available. Retrospective discounts cannot be applied. For full terms and conditions please visit www.swanhellenic.com. All cruise flights included are economy and, where applicable, overseas airport transfers apply to Swan Hellenic dedicated group flights only. Travel insurance is not included. Booking terms and conditions apply. Visas where applicable are included in your cruise fare although there are some exceptions - for full details see our main Swan Hellenic April 2016 brochure and please check visa requirements when making a booking. Swan Hellenic is a trading name of All Leisure Holidays. ABTA W0302 ATOL 3897. Data Protection – Swan Hellenic is a trading name of All Leisure Holidays, Compass House, Rockingham Road, Market Harborough, Leicestershire LE16 7QD. For further information, please see the Privacy Policy at www.swanhellenic.com
ADVENTURE & SPECIALIST These lines will take you off the beaten track to discover historical, cultural and natural wonders
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Adventure & Specialist
SWAN HELLENIC Firsts for history-rich classic cruises on 350-person Minerva include the White Sea (off the northwest coast of Russia) and a three-river cruise, the small ship sailing up the Garonne, Seine and Loire. There’s also A Cuban and Caribbean Medley, and a trip up the Thames and under Tower Bridge (with a Chelsea Flower Show excursion). Winter in the Med includes more overnight stays and plenty of garden tours as well as a wealth of Unesco sites explored on included expert-led tours – with even more information from onboard lectures. And yet Minerva continues to offer a genial, while elegant, all-round cruise experience. 8 0800 567 7399; swanhellenic.com CRUISE-INTERNATIONAL.COM
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CLASSIC CULTURAL Embark on an exciting voyage with small ship cruising experts Swan Hellenic
W
ith their elegant 350-guest ship Minerva and intriguing itineraries Swan Hellenic has been exploring some of the world’s most enticing destinations for over 60 years. Minerva has the feel of a country house hotel, complete with comfortable staterooms and smart lounges, and its small size means it can sail straight into the heart of each destination, including remote villages, iconic coastlines and bustling cities. On board, guests can attend intriguing talks given by guest speakers in the Darwin Lounge, which set the scene for your arrival in the next port of call. Fill your days at sea with visits to Minerva’s well-stocked library, enjoy a dip in the onboard swimming pool, or learn a new skill in one of the workshops. At lunchtime, choose from a delicious à la carte menu in the Swan Restaurant or a lighter buffet in the Veranda. A complimentary traditional afternoon tea is served each day as well. Following a day of exploring, kick back with an ice cold drink in one of Minerva’s bars before enjoying dinner at the table of your choice at any time during opening hours. After dinner, enjoy a varied programme of entertainment, from classical concerts and lively revues to a light-hearted quiz or film screening. Later, you may choose to dance to the Minerva band by the pool, or stroll around the Promenade Deck under the stars. For summer 2016, Swan Hellenic has some spectacular highlights, including the chance to experience the Royal Military Edinburgh Tattoo on a round-Britain cruise in partnership with the National Trust, as well as itineraries spanning the Baltic, Norway and Iceland. Swan Hellenic’s winter 2016/17 season features a wonderful selection of new itineraries with Minerva cruising the waters of the
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Mediterranean, meaning you can escape the British weather without the need for a long-haul flight. There are also opportunities to enhance your cruise with a pre- or post-cruise stay, ensuring you make the most of your time in fabulous destinations. The new itineraries offer a host of superb opportunities, including the chance to visit all seven of the larger Canary Islands in one cruise with Volcanic Islands and Vistas – a first for Minerva. Guests can celebrate the New Year in Barcelona on the Fiestas de Navidad cruise, or choose to extend your holiday both before and after the Italian Overture cruise with stays in Venice and Rome. And as Minerva journeys from the Adriatic Coasts to Venice, you can spend two full days in Dubrovnik, giving you time to explore the UNESCO-listed city along with many other Croatian coastal gems. CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM
FEATURED CRUISE LINE
HIDDEN WHITE SEA & NORSE DISCOVERY
Join Minerva on its inaugural sailing from Kirkenes to the White Sea. Your first ports of call are the remote Solovetsky Islands, where a spectacular 15th century monastery awaits, and Murmansk, home to Lenin, the world’s first nuclear-powered icebreaker and now a fascinating museum ship. Back in Norway, from Leknes, visit the picturesque fishing village of Nusfjord, while Trondheim offers the chance to delve into the rich history of Norway’s original capital. Discover the stunning Art Nouveau architecture at Ålesund, before continuing onto Florø and finally Haugesund.
Highlights
• Visit Arkhangelsk and Murmansk, key destinations for the Arctic convoys of the Second World War. • Visit Nidaros Cathedral, built over the burial site of St Olaf, the Norwegian Viking King who became patron saint of Norway. • This cruise can be combined with Fjordlands & Arctic Norway to make the Grand Voyage Grand Norwegian Fjords and White Sea. The 18-day Hidden White Sea & Norse Discovery cruise departing Kirkenes, Norway, on 23 June 2016 starts from £3,520pp.
CELTIC TRADITIONS AND EDINBURGH’S TATTOO
Your first stop is St Peter Port, the picturesque capital of Guernsey. Minerva then sails to the lively Welsh capital of Cardiff, from where you can visit Tredegar House, a stunning example of a Restoration mansion. County Wicklow is known as the ‘Garden of Ireland’, evident at the exquisite Italian Garden at Powerscourt House. Soak up more outstanding scenery from Greenock and cruise to Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides. Sail to Rosyth, gateway to Scotland’s vibrant capital, which is dominated by Edinburgh Castle, where an overnight stay offers the chance to experience the spectacular Military Tattoo; a stirring celebration of music, dance and military pageantry with a fireworks finale.
Highlights
• Explore Tredegar House, one of the architectural wonders of Wales. • Admire the magnificent Georgian architecture that lends elegance to Dublin’s Merrion Square, St Stephen’s Green and Trinity College. The 14-day Celtic Traditions and Edinburgh’s Tattoo cruise departing Portsmouth on 3 August 2016 starts from £2,336pp.
A PORTRAIT OF PORTUGAL & SPAIN
Embark Minerva in Portsmouth and enjoy two relaxing days at sea prior to exploring Spain and Portugal’s finest treasures. Vigo is your gateway to Santiago de Compostela, the jewel in Galicia’s historic, cultural and medieval crown, where you can see many fine examples of Gothic, Neoclassical, Romanesque and Baroque architecture. Crossing over to Portugal, marvel at the lavish pure-gold interior of
São Francisco Church in Oporto’s Old Town. In Lisbon, explore the Manueline architecture of the Jeronimos Monastery. From Cadiz, visit Jerez, the centre of Spain’s sherry producing industry. Motril is your gateway to Granada and the exquisite Alhambra Palace, one of the world’s most revered Islamic works of art. Finally, an overnight stay in Barcelona gives time to discover the imposing Sagrada Familia.
Highlights
• Visit culture-rich Vigo, on Spain’s Galician coast. • Explore Portugal’s capital Lisbon. • An overnight stay allows time to discover Barcelona. The 15-day A Portrait of Portugal & Spain cruise departing Portsmouth on 16 August 2016 starts from £1,944pp.
IMPRESSIONS OF THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN
Board Minerva in Athens and marvel at the magnificent Acropolis before cruising to Volos. Picturesque Kavala has a wealth of history to uncover, while the ruins of Philippi will prove fascinating. In Turkey, Dikili is your gateway to the dramatic ruins of the Acropolis at Pergamon, while an overnight stay in Kusadasi allows you to explore the ancient city of Ephesus. From Limassol, Cyprus’ second city, travel to Paphos to see fine mosaics before sailing to Larnaca, from where you can visit archeological site Khirokitia.
Highlights
• See the awe-inspiring Monasteries of Meteora. • In Turkey, visit the impressive Manavgat Waterfalls. • In Rhodes, visit Lindos, where St Paul is said to have shipwrecked. The 13-day Impressions of the Eastern Mediterranean cruise departing Athens on 21 October 2016 starts from £1,859pp. Find out more: Visit the website swanhellenic.com, call 0800 567 7399 or contact your travel agent for more info. CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM
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Adventure & Specialist
Voyager, carrying 540 passengers, offers a new selection of cruises to dramatic destinations, some from the UK (including Harwich), some from much farther afield. There’s an everchanging array of guest speakers, some known from TV, with expert knowledge on history and other subjects. Excursions and add-ons immerse you in history – new are the beaches of Mauritius, a game drive in a private reserve in South Africa and city breaks in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong. Voyager is understated yet stylish with a swimming pool, classy dining and live entertainment. 0800 043 9422; 8 voyagesofdiscovery.co.uk
PHOTOS: © AWL IMAGES
VOYAGES OF DISCOVERY
Luxury Adventure & Specialist
HURTIGRUTEN A fleet of working ships that has been travelling up and down the Norwegian coast for more than a century, combining mail and delivery services with increasingly smart cruise accommodation. In 2016 it adds “explorer style” coastal voyages: some ships will have an expedition team on board and offer activities such as hikes and lectures. For winter 2016, Hurtigruten is tripling its capacity to Antarctica, by moving the MS Midnatsol off the Norwegian coastal route, making it the largest provider of active travels to the deep south. A new ship – MS Spitsbergen – will fill the gaps in Norway. The passenger/freight ships provide an almost daily service between Bergen and Kirkenes, in the north near the Russian border. Voyages, six nights one way, make 32 calls, with most people opting for the round trip. 020 3411 3264; hurtigruten.co.uk
SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS ON VOYAGES TO ANTIQUITY IN 2016 INCLUDE A GREECE AND THE ADRIATIC CRUISE IN MAY WHERE GUESTS GET THE CHANCE TO SING WITH BOB PORTER, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF THE BRANDENBURG ORCHESTRA
Small ship cruising that gives you an insight into ancient civilisations and grandiose settings – but always on the lookout for new ports, including a number in Africa, India and Asia in early 2016. The single ship, 350-passenger Aegean Odyssey can berth in small ports, ready for the expert-led inclusive tours. Special attractions include a Greece and the Adriatic Sea cruise in May where guests get the chance to sing with choirmaster/conductor, Bob Porter, founder of the Brandenburg Choral Festival of London. 01865 410101; voyagestoantiquity.com 8 62
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PHOTOS: © AWL IMAGES
VOYAGES TO ANTIQUITY
AWARD-WINNING DISCOVERY CRUISING CRAFTED BY US, TAILORED BY YOU SAVE UP TO
£845
PER PERSON
OP TI ON A L S H OR E E XCU RS I O N S
D I V E RS E PO RT S O F C A LL
LI V E LY TA LKS FROM G U E S T S PE A K E RS
A LL TI P S & TA X E S I N C LU D E D
YO U R C R U I S E I N C LU D E S: Flights and transfers on all overseas cruises Onboard gratuities and service charges All meals with open-seated dining in a choice of restaurants Afternoon tea each day Captain’s welcome and farewell cocktail parties with gala dinners Lively Talks by Guest Speakers Onboard entertainment, workshops and activities All port and airport taxes Chauffeur service or meet and greet airport parking for higher grade cabins Facilities including a library, gym, plunge pool, hot tubs, spa with sauna, duty free shop and a choice of bars
Adventure is at the heart of every Voyages of Discovery cruise, and we aim to ensure that each passenger uncovers the very best in each port of call they visit. This is complemented by our fascinating Guest Speaker programmes, our expertly crafted optional shore excursions and our excellent onboard facilities and activities. We are delighted to have been named as winner in the ‘Best for Adventure’ category at the 2015 Cruise International Awards, voted for by the magazine’s discerning readers and our loyal passengers.
FROM M AY TO SEPTEMBER 2016 ESCAPE TO MADEIR A & THE A ZORES
VIKING L ANDS & ICEL ANDIC E XPLORER
DALMATIAN , VENETIAN & GREEK WONDERS
CHANNEL ISLANDS | SPAIN | AZORES MADEIRA | PORTUGAL
NORWAY | ICELAND | FAROE ISLANDS
CROATIA | SLOVENIA | ITALY MONTENEGRO | GREECE
22ND MAY 2016 16-DAY CRUISE FROM £1,574pp
20TH JUNE 2016 13-DAY CRUISE FROM £1,574pp
13TH SEPTEMBER 2016 14-DAY CRUISE FROM £1,815pp
STANDARD FARES - PER PERSON
VGR160522
STANDARD FARES - PER PERSON
VGR160620
STANDARD FARES - PER PERSON
VGR160913
CABIN TYPE
WAS
NOW
SAVING
CABIN TYPE
WAS
NOW
SAVING
CABIN TYPE
WAS
NOW
SAVING
2 Bed Inside
£1,749
£1,574
£175
2 Bed Inside
£1,749
£1,574
£175
2 Bed Inside
£2,269
£1,815
£454
2 Bed Outside
£2,099
£1,679
£420
2 Bed Outside
£2,099
£1,574
£525
2 Bed Outside
£2,359
£2,123
£236
Balcony Cabin
£3,379
£2,534
£845
Balcony Cabin
£3,929
£3,536
£393
Balcony Cabin
SOLD OUT
Book your cruise today or request our latest brochure by calling
0800 043 9422
and quote cruise international
visit voyagesofdiscovery.co.uk or contact your local travel agent
Calls to 0800 numbers are free. All fares apply to new bookings only, are correct as of 26th November 2015, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time and must be booked by 29th February 2016. Fares shown are based on twin occupancy. Fares shown represent the lowest cabin grade available. Retrospective discounts cannot be applied. For full terms and conditions please visit www.voyagesofdiscovery.co.uk. Flights included are economy and where applicable overseas airport transfers apply to Voyages of Discovery dedicated group flights only. Travel insurance is not included. Booking terms and conditions apply. Visas where applicable are included in your cruise fare although there are some exceptions. For full details on visa exclusions see our Voyages of Discovery Ocean cruise brochure and please check visa requirements when booking. Voyages of Discovery is a trading name of All Leisure Holidays. ABTA W0302 ATOL 3897. Data protection – Voyages of Discovery is part of All Leisure Holidays, Compass House, Rockingham Road, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, LE16 7QD. For further information, please see the Voyages of Discovery Privacy Policy at www.voyagesofdiscovery.co.uk
INCREDIBLE ADVENTURES Named Best Cruise Line for Adventure at the 2015 Cruise International Awards, Voyages of Discovery has some spectacular itineraries for the year ahead
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nown for their extraordinary itineraries, expert guests speakers and attentive crew, small ship cruise line Voyages of Discovery offers incredible itineraries for its intrepid guests. On board the 540-guest Voyager, you will meet like-minded people to share your travel experiences with and enjoy a more personal service from Voyager’s friendly crew. With destinations both off the beaten track and close to home, all accompanied by expert guests speakers, passengers are sure to experience the best of each port of call on a Voyages of Discovery cruise. A team of planners ensure the best choice of shore excursions is available at each port of call, allowing passengers to select exactly which excursions they wish to take. And with varying onboard activities, open-seated dining and two choices of restaurants, it is easy for guests to experience the cruise they want. Voyager stays in port longer too, allowing guests more time to fully explore each destination. Back on board, and after a full day of exploring, Voyager offers a brilliant programme of evening entertainment, different every time it sails. Relax with a pre-dinner cocktail while listening to the resident pianist in Scott’s Lounge, enjoy a fantastic show courtesy of a theatre company, or dance the night away at the Sunset Club. For a stress-free holiday, all Voyages of Discovery cruises include flights, all onboard meals and overseas transfers, gratuities, taxes and porterage of luggage, daytime and evening entertainment, and engaging talks by guest speakers. To sample the Voyager experience, Voyages of Discovery is offering a four-day Essence of Voyager, Jersey & France cruise in June, taking in the 64 Cruise Planner 2016
delights of St Helier on the island of Jersey – a maiden call for Voyager – and Honfleur in France, with the chance to visit Giverny and Monet’s incredible gardens. Highlights for summer 2016 include Greek wonders such as the Acropolis and the Meteora, as well as Croatia’s medieval walled city Dubrovnik and the ancient Turkish city of Ephesus. Voyages of Discovery has also recently launched its winter 2016/17 season, which features calls at stunning destinations in Arabia, the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea, with chances to experience a melting pot of cultures in Malaysia and unwind on the idyllic beaches of the Maldives among the possibilities. Featuring vibrant cities, ancient treasures and natural wonders, along with maiden calls in Indonesia and Sri Lanka, Voyages of Discovery’s itineraries are fresh, exciting and diverse.
ESSENCE OF VOYAGER, JERSEY & FRANCE
Board Voyager in Portsmouth for a four-day cruise taking in the delights of St Helier on the island of Jersey and Honfleur in France, where you can discover the iconic water lily pond Monet made so famous during a visit to his house and gardens in Giverny. This cruise is ideal for those wishing to sample life on board Voyager or who simply seek a short summer break.
Highlights
• Experience the wonderful atmosphere and lifestyle on board Voyager. • Visit Jersey’s port town of St Helier. • Explore medieval Honfleur, the birthplace of Impressionism and gateway to Giverny and Monet’s gardens. The four-day Essence of Voyager, Jersey & France cruise departing Portsmouth on 6 June 2016 starts from £359pp. CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM
FEATURED CRUISE LINE
ENCHANTING MEDITERRANEAN
Discover diverse architecture and an enticing blend of cultures as Voyager sails from ancient Marseilles to the marble streets of Dubrovnik. In Cagliari, Sardinia, enjoy a drink in an inviting piazza, and in Valletta, Malta’s intriguing capital, wander the winding streets of 4,000-year-old Mdina. Set foot on Europe’s tallest active volcano, Mount Etna, in Messina, Sicily, before visiting Alberobello’s UNESCO-listed Trulli houses near Brindisi. Finally, discover the medieval walled cities of Kotor in Montenegro followed by the equally stunning Dubrovnik in Croatia.
Highlights
• Overnight stay in port to explore Nice. • Join Voyager on a maiden call to stunning Calvi in Corsica. •Visit UNESCO-listed Alberobello. The 12-day Enchanting Mediterranean cruise departing Marseilles on 2 September 2016 starts from £1,592pp.
GREEK & TURKISH DELIGHT
In Greece, explore Thessaloniki and Kavala, before heading to Turkey and its capital Istanbul – the only city to span two continents – where you’re free to roam its famous mosques, bazaars and palaces. Once an Ottoman fortress, Canakkale is also gateway to Troy, one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. After visits to Dikili CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM
and Cesme, Voyager returns to Greece where you’ll discover Kos and Santorini.
Highlights
• Overnight in port to explore Istanbul. • Visit the magnificent archaeological sites of Pergamum and Ephesus. • Extended stay in Piraeus to discover Athens’ ancient treasures. The 14-day Greek & Turkish Delight cruise departing Athens on 26 September 2016 starts from £1,673pp.
ANCIENT KINGDOMS & THE RED SEA
Voyager begins its journey in the Cypriot city of Larnaca, famous for its golden sand beaches and clear waters. In Alexandria, marvel at the great pyramids of Giza and the mighty Sphinx, before cruising along the 100-mile-long Suez Canal. At Aqaba in Jordan, discover the ‘Lost City’ of Petra, abandoned in the 4th century. Back in Egypt, cruise the Nile to Luxor to discover the Valley of the Kings. Later, in Oman, buy Frankincense oil at a local souk, and then head to Muscat to explore the superb Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque.
AN INSIGHT INTO INDONESIA
Join Voyager as it makes four maiden calls in Indonesia, including an overnight stay in Bali. Starting in bustling Singapore, explore its skyscrapers and peaceful green areas. Following a day at sea, cruise close to the mighty Krakatoa, discover the famous Komodo dragon, and in Lombok, explore the island’s diverse landscapes. On the island of Java, visit the city of Semarang, where you can discover the magnificent UNESCO-listed Borobudur Temple, now considered one of the greatest Buddhist monuments. End your journey with an overnight stay in Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpa, where you can admire old grandeur in the Sultan Abdul Samad Building along with the modern architecture of the Petronas Towers.
Highlights
• Explore cosmopolitan Singapore and diverse Kuala Lumpur. The 15-day Insight into Indonesia cruise departing Singapore on 6 December 2016 starts from £1,852pp.
AWARDS
2015
Highlights
• Discover the Alexandria, Egypt. • Uncover the ‘Lost City’ of Petra. • Visit Arabia’s ‘Perfume City’, Salalah. The 17-day Ancient Kingdoms & the Red Sea cruise departing Cyprus on 22 October 2016 starts from £1,206pp.
WINNER
VOYAGES OF DISCOVERY BEST FOR ADVENTURE
Find out more: Visit voyagesofdiscovery.co.uk or call 0800 043 9422 for more information. Cruise Planner 2016
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We are delighted to announce that Uniworld, sold exclusively in the UK through Titan, has been awarded ‘RIVER CRUISE LINE OF THE YEAR’ & ‘CRUISE LINE OF THE YEAR’ for the very first time at the Food and Travel Reader Awards 2015, whilst its latest addition to the fleet, the elegant SS Maria Theresa, won ‘BEST NEW RIVER SHIP’ at the Cruise International Awards 2015! Nobody does river cruises better than Uniworld - its unforgettable boutique cruises along the great waterways of Europe, Russia, Egypt and Asia redefine luxury cruising. Uniworld travellers enjoy the finest staterooms, outstanding Zagat-recommended cuisine, a peerless staff-to-guest ratio and a choice of included shore excursions at every port of call. Door to door transfers wherever you live in the UK are included as part of Titan’s VIP Home Departure Service®. And now you can appreciate premium all-inclusive value on all European itineraries unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks onboard, Wi-Fi and gratuities are complimentary. It all adds up to a first-class service. Uniworld are very grateful to all who voted, and for the support in adding these accolades to its collection of prestigious awards.
UNIWORLD BOUTIQUE RIVER CRUISE COLLECTION S.S. MARIA THERESA
BEST NEW SHIP (RIVER)
Watch a special 5-minute film about Uniworld titantravel.co.uk/uni-video
To request a brochure visit titantravel.co.uk/cruiseinternational or call free on 0800 988 5175 quoting CI4 6FU (Open Monday to Friday 9am-6pm, Saturday 9am-5pm, Sunday 10am-4pm)
River
A leisurely way to discover the world, with plenty of opportunity to disembark and explore
CONNOISSEUR
voyages
Discover the stunning destinations of France in luxury and style with Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection and Titan Travel
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FEATURED CRUISE LINE
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ward-winning river cruise line Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection offers one of the world’s most lavish fleet of vessels and a superb range of itineraries. Its Connoisseur Collection 2016 includes a host of exceptional experiences for lovers of fine food and wine, with routes exploring France’s most famed regions. Available on selected Bordeaux, Vineyards & Châteaux, Paris & Normandy and Burgundy & Provence sailings, the Connoisseur Collection is a new range of outstanding excursions and events available to Uniworld passengers at no extra cost, such as a live cooking demonstration at l’Institut Paul Bocuse. A cruise with Uniworld will transport you to a world of total luxury and comfort. Their ships, including the sumptuous S.S. Maria Theresa, named Best New River Ship at this year’s Cruise International Awards, are impeccably appointed and offer every indulgence imaginable, with Champagne, fine wines and exquisite meals all included. Your experience begins and finishes with Titan’s VIP Home Departure Service®, which collects you from your front door, takes you to the airport and returns you home again after your cruise, ensuring a stress-free beginning and end to your holiday at no extra cost.
PARIS & NORMANDY
Arriving in Paris, board the beautiful River Baroness and cruise the river Seine to Vernon where you can visit Monet’s house and gardens in Giverny, the subject of his iconic Water Lilies series. Visit the Normandy Beaches and experience the spectacular circular cinema at Arromanches. Later, visit Rouen’s stunning Gothic cathedrals and Renaissance clock tower Gros Horloge. Cross the river delta via the Normandy Bridge and travel through the Calvados countryside to the French harbour town of Honfleur. In Auvers-sur-Oise, follow in the footsteps of another Impressionist painter and learn about Vincent Van Gogh’s final days as you stand in the very place where he set his easel. Back in Paris, your city tour takes in sights including the Champs-Élysées, Arc de Triomphe and Eiffel Tower.
Highlights
• Sit among the apple orchards at a Normandy farm and sample rich cheeses and warming calvados • Onboard Champagne tasting Eight-day cruises depart on 19 June; 17 and 24 July; 7 and 14 August 2016 and start from £3,249pp (book by 31 December 2015 and save up to £350pp). CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM
BORDEAUX, VINEYARDS & CHÂTEAUX
Embark the elegant River Royale in Bordeaux and prepare to sail three rivers – the Garonne, the Dordogne and the Gironde – all offering exceptional landscapes of historic architecture and virtually untouched Roman vineyards. During a tour to nearby Cadillac, enjoy a fantastic wine pairing lunch at Château de Cazeneuve. In the pretty town of Pauillac, visit a winery where you’ll get a chance to taste the celebrated Médoc wines. From Blaye, cruise the Gironde Estuary and Dordogne River to Libourne, discover the historic architecture of Saint-Émilion and later, visit the cellars of a Premier Grand Cru estate and sample some of the world’s most highly rated wines. Visit the bustling farmers’ market in Libourne before enjoying an exclusive evening tour of Bordeaux. The following day, explore the city’s markets and luxury food halls and sample its famous canelés and chocolates.
Highlights
• Enjoy a food and wine pairing lunch at the famous Renaissance Château de Roquetaillade, neighbour to Château de Cazeneuve • Rendezvous at the House of Rémy Martin, which has been producing premium cognac since 1724 • Celebrate sunset on Patiras Island in the heart of the Gironde Estuary with cocktails and a view of Pauillac, known for its world-famous wines Eight-day cruises depart on 26 June; 24 and 31 July; 14 and 21 August 2016 and start from £2,949pp (book by 31 December 2015 and save up to £350pp).
BURGUNDY & PROVENCE
Fly to Marseille and transfer to the port in Avignon to board the spectacular S.S. Catherine. In Arles, see why the region greatly inspired the artist Vincent Van Gogh, and discover a wealth of fascinating Roman monuments, among them the Amphitheatre and the Baths of Constantine. Later, explore Avignon’s picturesque hidden alleys on a guided tour, or spend an afternoon kayaking the clear waters of the Gardon River. Discover the stunning views of Viviers before heading into its 12th century cathedral for a recital of music composed by Puccini, Bach and Handel. Visit Tournon and its historic castle, then cross the suspension bridge to Tain l’Hermitage and indulge in some midvalley Côtes du Rhône wines from the Hermitage. Lyon is France’s lively capital of gastronomy and a stroll around its
YOUR UNIWORLD BOUTIQUE RIVER CRUISE COLLECTION CRUISE INCLUDES • Titan’s VIP Home Departure Service®. • Scheduled direct return flights. • Beautifully appointed ships and luxurious staterooms. • All gratuities on board and on shore. • Unlimited onboard drinks, including Champagne, fine wines, beers, spirits, soft drinks, speciality coffee, tea and mineral water (except premium wine and premium spirits). • All onboard meals, all prepared to an exceptionally high standard. • Shore excursions in the company of local English-speaking expert guides. • Complimentary culinary experiences, including Captain’s Welcome, Farewell Receptions and Gala Dinners. • All entertainment plus signature lectures. • Award-winning service. • All transfers, airport taxes, security charges and UK Air Passenger Duty (APD).
world-famous food market, Les Halles, offers a perfect introduction to the city. In Mâcon, visit Hospices de Beaune, a beautiful former charitable hospital, and then explore another food market, where this time you’ll find Burgundian and Jura cheeses, heirloom vegetables, honey and sausages.
Highlights
• Experience some of the Bocuse magic at l’Institut Paul Bocuse • Go in search of the ‘black diamond’ at La Rabassière truffle farm • Celebrate the tradition of winemaking at an induction ceremony by Saint Joseph and Crozes-Hermitage Winemakers Brotherhoods • Onboard, enjoy a Valrhona chocolate and wine pairing Eight-day cruises depart on 5 and 26 June; 10, 17 and 24 July 2016 and start from £3,299pp (book by 31 December 2015 and save up to £350pp).
Find out more: Visit the website titantravel. co.uk/uniworld or call 0800 988 5175 for more information. Cruise Planner 2016 69
EMERALD WATERWAYS Emerald, which only launched in 2014 with a bright, modern style and two ships, added two more in 2015 and in April welcomes its fifth ship, Emerald Belle. The ships are all identical with a bright, modern style and a signature indoor heated pool with a retractable roof that transforms into a cinema at night. Itineraries are mostly classics on the Danube and Rhine, along with the Moselle, Main and Dutch waterways, but there are still two new itineraries (Danube Explorer and Legends of the Moselle, Rhine and Main) for 2016. 0808 102 1205; emeraldwaterways.co.uk
PANDAW Company with luxury cruises in Myanmar (Burma) and Vietnam/ Cambodia, founded by Scotsman Paul Strachan in 1995 with rebuilding of historic steamer Pandaw. In February its 14th new vessel, Kha Byoo Pandaw, built to the same colonial style as the rest of the fleet, arrives on the Irrawaddy. New for 2016 are Mekong cruises into China, taking in three other countries (Laos, Thailand, Burma), cruises on Burma’s Salween river and circular cruises on the waterways of the Irrawaddy Delta. February sees the first ocean cruise, a Burmese coastal expedition on five-cabin MV Drenec – with the prospect of Pandaw building its own, larger vessel. Also new are family-friendly Burma cruises, mountain bikes on all ships and suites on two ships. 020 8326 5620; pandaw.com 70
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River UNIWORLD Extravagantly upmarket Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection launches its Connoisseur Collection and Monarch Collection excursions and events on selected departures in 2016, all included in the cost. The former, in France, features wine tastings in top chateaux and the chance to hunt for truffles; the latter, on the Danube, includes a visit to Austria’s Artstetten Castle, where Princess Anita von Hohenberg, great-granddaughter of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, will host guests. Also new for 2016 is India’s Golden Triangle and the Sacred Ganges, a 14-day adventure including a 7-night Ganges cruise. Uniworld’s all-inclusive ships, with opulent 18th-century decor, include S.S. Maria Theresa, which started on the Rhine, Main, and Danube in 2015, and S.S. Catherine, new to the Saone and Rhone in 2014. Uniworld, in partnership with Titan Travel, also provides a VIP home departure service for its guests. 0800 988 5175; titantravel.co.uk/uniworld 8
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VIKING RIVER CRUISES Multi-award winning luxury river cruise line with an ever-expanding fleet of Longships (cool Scandi design and a glass wall folding back to open the lounge to the Aquavit terrace at the front). There’s never a year when Viking doesn’t launch more ships than some companies have in their fleet – after 16 in 2014 and 10 in 2015, there’s a (relatively) modest seven for 2016. Six will be be Longships sailing the Rhine, Danube and Seine, with another on the Douro. Viking complements Europe’s main rivers with Russia, Burma, China and Vietnam. Cruises include imaginative itineraries, first-rate excursions and wine with dinner. 020 8780 8701; vikingrivercruises.co.uk
VIKING RIVER CRUISES IS A MULTI-AWARD WINNING LUXURY LINE WITH AN EVER-EXPANDING FLEET OF LONGSHIPS AND COOL SCANDI DESIGN PAUKAN Four ships now cruise on the Irrawaddy and Chindwin rivers in Myanmar (Burma), from the historic, Scottish-built steamer RV Paukan 1947 to the new, but still traditional RV Paukan 2014. The style is classic colonial, all polished teak and ceiling fans. The ships are run by the Ayravata Cruise Company. Itineraries take in the evocative city of Mandalay (with one-night taster trips to Bagan, rich in pagodas and temples), the city of Prome, and the royal capitals Amarapura and Ava on cruises between four and 10 nights. +95 1 380877; ayravatacruises.com
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AMA WATERWAYS
APT RIVER CRUISES
Luxury all-inclusive cruises with excursions, a fleet of free bicycles and onboard cultural entertainment. AmaViola, for 158 guests, with rooms featuring twin balconies, a choice of dining venues and heated pool with swim-up bar, in April joins the fleet on the Rhine and Danube (following 2015’s AmaSerena and AmaVista). Starting in spring are 22 Taste of Bordeaux sailings (with eight wine-themed voyages) on AmaDolce, sailing the Garonne and Dordogne Rivers with visits to vineyards. In autumn 2015 AmaDama sets sail on the Mekong. 0808 1598604; amawaterways.co.uk 8
A family owned firm operating since 1927 offering luxury river cruises around the world: Europe, Vietnam and Cambodia, China, Burma, India and the USA. Its all-inclusive Royal Collection in Europe feature a host of Royal Invitation experiences and events such as a rail journey aboard Austria’s Majestic Imperator and a private concert at the City Palace in Vienna. There are two new itineraries from Bordeaux in 2016. 0800 046 3002; aptouring.co.uk CRUISE-INTERNATIONAL.COM
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Discover EUROPE’S RIVERS Superb itineraries, brilliant value and a brand new ship for 2016 make AmaWaterways a top choice for the coming year
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uxurious river cruise line AmaWaterways has been offering impeccable service, fantastic cuisine, enriching theme cruises and unique onboard amenities for almost 15 years. Out of more than 280 ships that were assessed in the first edition of the Berlitz River Cruising in Europe travel guide gave all 11 AmaWaterways vessels the highest rating and received higher scores than any other river cruise line. Its 164-guest ship AmaPrima was rated the highest of any river cruise ship, followed closely by the rest of the AmaWaterways European fleet. Carefully crafted itineraries immerse guests in the scenery, history and culture of all of the destinations on your chosen river cruise holiday. On board, enjoy ever-changing views from spacious sun decks, panoramic windows or your stateroom’s private balcony. Cruising with AmaWaterways allows you to experience destinations in an 74
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authentic and in-depth way. Its ships allow you to enjoy all the sights and activities without having to worry about accommodation and meals. Visit famous landmarks and explore hidden gems with a variety of included shore excursions. Be as active as you desire with plenty of walking tours or as relaxed as you wish, with plush staterooms, a lively bar, onboard entertainment, gym and spa services. AmaWaterways is also the only river cruise line to offer a fleet of complimentary bicycles on board, so you can experience Europe’s incredible scenery on riverside pathways while getting some exercise. Docking close to city centres and small towns, guests are able to ride with the locals, free to visit markets or stop and photograph landmarks along the way. Alternatively, AmaWaterways provides the option of guided bicycle tours too. In the onboard restaurants, savour bold new flavours and delicious regional
specialties with menus designed by AmaWaterways’ team of classically trained chefs complimented with free flowing regional wines and beers. AmaWaterways ships are inspired by luxury yachts and designed specifically to maximise every aspect of guests’ experience. From beautiful lobbies, staterooms with twin balconies – a French balcony and outside balcony – and spacious decks, innovation continues to be a driving force in every new vessel it designs. For 2016, 158-guest sister ships AmaViola and AmaStella will accommodate a new category of traveller, with innovative features such as connecting cabins offering added convenience for groups and families travelling together. Four suites with convertible sofabeds will accommodate families of up to four, while six sets of adjoining cabins connected via an internal doorway will house families of up to five. CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM
FEATURED CRUISE LINE
AmaWaterways prides itself on tailoring every river cruise uniquely for each of its customers, allowing guests to choose from a wide selection of options including: cruise only; cruise packaged with flights or rail; the option to fly from a local airport with times convenient to you; private or shared transfers; pre- or post-cruise hotel accommodation arranged at a budget level that suits you. With river cruises on the Danube, Rhine, Bordeaux, Main, Seine, Rhone, Douro, Mekong, Irrawaddy and Chobe, sailing with AmaWaterways is a superb way to discover the towns, cities and rural areas of Europe, Asia and Africa.
on board every AmaWaterways cruise in Europe. In addition to enjoying his culinary creations during onboard mealtimes, you will find one of his recipes on your pillow each night too, should you want to recreate some of his dishes once you’ve returned home. AmaWaterways is also the only river cruise line to be inducted into the Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, a prestigious international gastronomic society dedicated to fine cuisine. Founded in Paris, it is the oldest and largest food and wine society in the world. Membership to La Chaîne is by invitation only and is extended to those possessing world-class culinary acumen.
EXQUISITE DINING AmaWaterways Executive Chef, Primus Perchtold, is the winner of three gold medals at the European Championship of Culinary Art and oversees the menus
DISCOVER NEW EXPERIENCES For 2016, AmaWaterways has over 40 wine themed cruises to choose from, and has developed itineraries to further
WHAT’S INCLUDED ON YOUR AMAWATERWAYS RIVER CRUISE? • Return flights and non-UK transfers. • Luxurious cruise accommodation, many with twin balconies
• Fine dining including complimentary wines, beers and soft drinks at lunch and dinner • State-of-the-art infotainment system featuring complimentary wifi throughout the ship and free Hollywood movies • Enriching tours and daily excursions with personal headset included • Special highlights including lectures, themed dinners, cooking demonstrations, onboard music, dance performances and live piano music every afternoon and evening • Complimentary bicycles for you to explore destinations on your own or with free guided bicycle tours
showcase the acclaimed wine regions of Europe. Featuring complimentary lectures and excursions to vineyards and wine cellars, these sailings take you to the heart of Europe’s wine production. AmaWaterways’ art themed Paris & Normandy cruises allow guests to paint their own versions of Monet’s Water Lilies following a visit to the artist’s home and gardens in Giverny.
Find out more: Visit amawaterways.co.uk or call 0808 159 8604. CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM
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ROOMS HAVE GLASS WALLS THAT SLIDE DOWN TO CREATE ROOM-SIZED BALCONIES AND THERE’S A ROOF-TOP POOL
SCENIC TOURS Scenic Amber, the latest Space-Ship (a huge lounge occupies the front of the ship, rooms have glass walls that slide down to create room-sized balconies and there’s a roof-top pool) joins in spring, sailing the Rhine, Main and Danube alongside Jasper, Jade and Opal (new in 2015) and four others. Scenic Azure launches on the Douro while Spirit and Aura launch on the Mekong and Irrawaddy respectively. Cruises are all-inclusive with free excursions including FreeChoice (solo with GPS devices) and Scenic Enrich, exceptional experiences including private concerts and home visits. 0800 566 8777; scenictours.co.uk
ZAMBEZI QUEEN This modern ship, with its 14 glasswalled suites, continues to offer twoand three-night trips along a 15-mile stretch of Chobe River, which divides Namibia and Botswana, alongside Chobe National Park. Watch elephants and big game from the deck, then board a small boat to see other animals and birds, with village visits and fishing expeditions. The ship’s style is a magical mix of boutique elegance and safari lodge chic. There’s a top deck pool, bar, and local and international food. 01483 425465; zambeziqueen.com 76
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MEKONG WATERWAYS Classic eight-day cruises between Siem Reap in Cambodia and a spot close to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam on Mekong Prestige II. Mekong Waterways is a subsidiary of small, upmarket French river cruise company Rivages du Monde. The 64-passenger ship is traditional with modern furnishings and a topdeck whirlpool. There are two massage salons, fitness room and bar. +331 4949 1550; en.rivagesdumonde.fr
A-ROSA German company with 10 ships on the Rhine, Danube and Rhône/ Saône. Four – Aqua, Flora, Silver and Stella – are again aimed at the English-speaking market in 2016. The modern European design is bright and fun-loving with an upmarket edge. Many of the rooms have French balconies. Cuisine is healthy with a Mediterranean edge. Cruises are all-inclusive, including excursions. 0808 168 6450; cruisedirect.uk
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WORLD CLASS From Hawaii to Hong Kong and beyond, award-winning escorted tour specialist Titan Travel has an impressive selection of new itineraries available for 2016
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hether you want to experience a grand voyage, discover the world’s most intriguing destinations or enjoy a picturesque river cruise, you’re guaranteed to find what you’re looking for with Titan Travel. Offering a wide range of exceptional ocean and river cruise holidays, unbeatable customer service and the prestigious door-to-door VIP Home Departure Service®, it’s easy to see why Titan was named Best Cruise Agent at the Cruise International Awards 2015. Their large collection of ocean and river cruise itineraries combine relaxing days on board luxurious ships with incredible opportunities for land exploration. Titan is proud to work in partnership with many of the world’s leading cruise line operators. On the oceans you’ll find holidays with Azamara Club Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Fred. Olsen Cruise Line, Hurtigruten, Holland America Line and Iceland Pro Cruises. Among their river cruise partners is Uniworld Boutique
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River Cruise Collection, whose cruises are recognised as some of the world’s finest, offered in the UK exclusively by Titan. New itineraries available through Titan for 2016 include the Hawaii Islands Cruise, which includes two nights in San Francisco, while Grand Discoveries of the Orient tours Hong Kong and beautiful ports of call in Cambodia, Thailand and Singapore. For the trip of a lifetime, Adventure from Cape Horn to the Penguins of Antarctica takes you to the Great White Continent where you’ll encounter incredible wildlife and scenery. And with Titan’s award-winning VIP Home Departure Service®, which provides complimentary door-to-door transfers from wherever you live in the UK to the airport or cruise terminal and back again when you’re returning home, you can be sure of a stress-free start and end to your holiday at no extra cost.
HAWAII ISLANDS CRUISE
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America sails exclusively within the
Hawaiian Islands, meaning you can avoid the long sailing across the Pacific. Following a two-night stay in San Francisco, fly to Honolulu where you will be transferred to port to board Pride of America and sail to Kahului, where you can journey up Maui’s huge Haleakala volcano to view its immense crater. On Hawaii, explore the scenic marvels of Hilo, with its lush tropical plants, towering banyan trees and thundering waterfalls, and in Kona, discover macadamia nut orchards and coffee plantations. Overnight in Kauai on Nawiliwili gives you the chance to visit Waimea Canyon and take a trip up the Wailua River to Fern Grotto. A final day in Honolulu completes your voyage.
This itinerary includes
• 2 nights in hotels, a 7-night cruise on Pride of America and 1 night in flight • San Francisco city tour • 3-meal speciality dining package on Pride of America • Exclusive Titan onboard cocktail party The 11-day Hawaii Islands Cruise starts from £2,999pp (save up to £300pp on selected dates). CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM
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ALL TITAN TRAVEL ITINERARIES INCLUDE: • Titan’s VIP Home Departure Service • Free connecting flights from regional airports • Check-in service by Titan staff with porterage • Services of an experienced Titan tour manager • Scheduled flights • Best available coaches with experienced drivers • Hotel porterage (one bag per person) • Airport taxes, security charges and fuel surcharges • Port taxes • UK Air Passenger Duty (APD)
GRAND DISCOVERIES OF THE ORIENT
Spend time in Hong Kong before boarding MS Volendam for your journey of discovery through the pearls of the Orient. In Macau, visit Saint Paul’s Ruins, a reminder of how Christianity reached the east, and then visit the limestone islands of Halong Bay before cruising across the Gulf of Tonkin to Danang, where you can explore the palace and pavilions of Hue. A day’s sailing across the South China Sea takes you to the Cham Ponagar Temple in Nha Trang. In Phu My, discover the pagodas and cathedrals of Ho Chi Minh City, before heading to the warm waters of Sihanoukville in Cambodia – ideal for snorkelling. Later, explore the bustling streets of Bangkok, or the ancient capital of Thailand, the UNESCO-listed Ayutthaya. Bask in the greenery and sunshine of Koh Samui’s white sand beaches before heading to Singapore.
This itinerary includes
• 3 nights in hotel, a 14-night cruise on MS Volendam and 2 nights in flight • Exclusive Titan cocktail party CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM
• US$150 per person onboard credit • Hong Kong and Singapore city tours The 20-day Grand Discoveries of the Orient starts from £2,899pp (save up to £300pp on selected dates).
stuck, offering a fantastic spectacle when it occurs. When it’s time to head back to South America, your ports of call along the way will be dependent upon those visited on the outbound route.
ADVENTURE FROM CAPE HORN TO THE PENGUINS OF ANTARCTICA
• 1 night in a hotel, a 14-night voyage on MS Midnatsol and 2 nights in flight • Several landings in Antarctica by Polarcirkel boats, plus onshore activities 18-day Adventure from Cape Horn to the Penguins of Antarctica cruises start from £5,399pp (save up to £500pp on selected dates).
Experience the untouched magnificence and astounding natural beauty of the Great White Continent with this superb voyage. A flight from Santiago to Punta Arenas allows you to board MS Midnatsol and set off for Antarctica. Cruise through the Magellan Strait to the Chilean Fjords and set foot on remote landing sites Puerto Williams or Cape Horn. The Drake Passage brings you closer to Antarctica where local conditions will determine the exact nature of your programme and schedule. Now is your chance to get up close with the local wildlife. Cuverville Island is home to one of the largest known colonies of chinstrap penguins; shallow water between Cuverville and Danco islands often causes icebergs to become
This itinerary includes
WINNER
AWARDS
2015 TITAN TRAVEL BEST CRUISE AGENT
Find out more: Call 0800 988 5175 or visit titantravel.co.uk/uniworld for more information. Cruise Planner 2016
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DINE IN A DIFFERENT RESTAURANT EVERY NIGHT FOR FREE
If you’ve an appetite for good food, you’re in for a treat on our new ocean ships. Dine in 11 different restaurants – including more alfresco eateries than on any other ship of the same size – for free. From superb Italian in Manfredi’s and daily changing menus in the light and bright Restaurant to Scandinavian specialities in Mamsen’s or room service on your private veranda. All with complimentary wine with lunch and dinner. Outstanding cuisine all included? We’ll drink to that.
8-day ocean cruises from £1,899pp Everything you need to enjoy yourself is included Veranda Stateroom Choice of 11 restaurants and free 24-hour room service Complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner on board Complimentary speciality teas and coffees any time on board Free excursion in almost every port, plus on board entertainment Free Wi-Fi on board* Free use of spa facilities including sauna, snow grotto and hydrotherapy pool Return flights from London on quality scheduled airlines Fly from selected regional airports at no extra charge
CALL 020 8780 8701 THE MEDITERRANEAN
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SCANDINAVIA & THE BALTIC
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THE CARIBBEAN
VIKINGCRUISES.CO.UK Aquavit Terrace, Viking Star
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NORTH AMERICA
*Restrictions apply Prices correct at time of going to print. From prices are per person and based on two people sharing the lowest grade veranda stateroom available on Mediterranean Getaway departing 17 January 2016. Prices valid until 31 December 2015. Single supplements apply. For more information please visit www.vikingcruises.co.uk/terms-conditions or call us.
New Ships There are some fabulous ocean and river ships launching in 2016 – Nick Dalton reveals the ones to watch out for
REGENT SEVEN SEAS EXPLORER Launches: July 2016
Very possibly the most luxurious cruise ship ever built, this is sumptuous sea-going on a grand scale – Explorer takes 738 guests. Even by Regent’s standards, the Regent Suite is something else; it has its own spa, garden-balcony at the front of the ship and a Steinway Arabesque grand piano. Even if you’re in what might pass for regular accommodation, there’s butler service and free mini bar, and you can pop to the Canyon Ranch Spa and enjoy free shore excursions. Explorer’s inaugural 14-night fly-cruise from Monte Carlo to Venice, departing 20 July, starts at £8,789pp, all-inclusive 8 (02380 682 280; rssc.com ).
New Ships OCEANIA SIRENA Launches: April 2016
Not a new ship (it was formerly Princess Cruises’ Ocean Princess) but by the time it makes its debut as Oceania’s Sirena it will have cost £27m to transform her. She will have the same upmarket US elegance as Oceania’s five other ships – rooms are rich in hardwoods and fine fabrics and most have a teak-floored veranda – with capacity reduced to 684. Dining includes Enjoy Toscana’s (Italian), Terrace Grill (American), the steakhouse Polo Grill and the modern continental cuisine of the Grand Dining Room, all included in the price. An 11-day Idyllic Ionian – Venice to Rome fly-cruise departing 11 May starts at £2,469pp (0845 505 1920; oceaniacruises.com).
THOMSON DISCOVERY Launches: June 2016
Thomson’s biggest ship (2,000 passengers), with outdoor cinema, rock climbing wall, mini-golf course, five-storey atrium and indoor pool. Discovery (replacing Island Escape) was formerly Royal Caribbean’s Splendour of the Seas. The refurbed ship will specialise in Mediterranean cruises with a Spanish bias, sailing out of Palma. There’s entertainment in the 800-seat Show Lounge, seven restaurants and eight bars. A seven-night Highlights of the Mediterranean fly-cruise departing Palma, Majorca weekly from June to October starts at £856pp (0871 230 2800; thomson.co.uk).
OVATION OF THE SEAS Launches: April 2016
HARMONY OF THE SEAS Launches: May 2016
High-tech, high-energy resort ships with extraordinary attractions. Ovation of the Seas has the multi-deck Two70 lounge, converting to an evening entertainment venue with Roboscreens, Sea-Plex, the largest indoor sports complex at sea, the North Star viewing pod on its crane-like arm and a skydive simulator. Harmony of the Seas, built around seven ‘neighbourhoods’, is the biggest of all cruise ships, carrying 5,400 guests. Its enormous waterpark features Ultimate Abyss, the tallest slide at sea with a 10-storey drop. Ovation summers in Southampton before heading to the Caribbean while Harmony does a Med stint, then sails to China where it will be based. A five-night France & Belgium on Ovation of the Seas departing Southampton on 17 April starts at £699pp (0844 493 4005; royalcaribbean.co.uk). 8 82
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PROMOTION
SAFE TRAVELS Cruise insurance specialist Insurance Choice offers all the assistance you need for peace of mind
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*BASED ON ALL POLICIES INCEPTED BETWEEN 1ST APRIL 2014 AND 31ST MARCH 2015
nce your cruise is booked you can relax knowing that your next adventure is firmly on the horizon. Waves lapping at the hull, fine dining, excursions to beautiful far-flung destinations – you can imagine it all. But what if something happens to interrupt your much-anticipated holiday? Do you have the right travel insurance to protect you? While there’s an abundance of information available to you at the click of a button it can sometimes be hard to digest and getting the best quote to suit your needs can be difficult.
“CRUISES ARE UNIQUE AND YOUR INSURANCE NEEDS TO REFLECT THIS SO YOU CAN ENJOY YOUR JOURNEY KNOWING THAT YOU ARE PROTECTED” “Most people thankfully enjoy their cruises without any issues, but there is always a risk that something might happen and this is where having the right travel insurance can really make a difference,” says Neil Muldoon, Operations Director at Insurance Choice. “There is nothing more frustrating than realising a policy is inadequate when it’s too late.” Insurance Choice is a specialist in arranging bespoke cruise insurance tailored to individuals. It can source policies for any journey, including high-end cruises, and for people with pre-existing medical conditions, including terminal illnesses. “60%* of Insurance Choice customers purchasing travel cover have a pre-existing medical condition and we have an experienced team of operators who work hard to arrange suitable travel insurance policies for them,” continues Neil. “Unlike the vast majority of travel insurance brokers, we can also offer policies to customers awaiting treatment or suffering with an undiagnosed disorder.” CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM
TOP QUESTIONS TO DISCUSS WITH YOUR ADVISOR WHEN LOOKING FOR A CRUISE POLICY • Am I covered if I miss the port departure, especially if I have booked the journey there independently? • Does the policy cover me for illness? What if I am confined to my cabin? • If the cruise itinerary changes or I am ill, can I claim for prepaid excursions that are missed? • If my cruise is interrupted – for example, if I need hospital treatment – will the policy cover the costs of rejoining the ship at another port? • Can I claim for pre-existing medical conditions? • Is the full value of my cruise covered?
Knowing exactly what is included in your cover is the key to having peace of mind, and with a cruise there are different things to consider. It’s important to assess whether any travel insurance you already have or are thinking of buying is right for your voyage. “Cruises are unique in many ways and your selected insurance needs to reflect this so you can enjoy your journey happy in the knowledge that you are fully protected,” adds Neil. “Cancellation cover, for example, can often be capped at an amount much lower than the cost of a cruise on regular holiday insurance policies.” With lots to consider, Insurance Choice would always suggest speaking to an advisor, leaving them to find the perfect policy so you can continue to picture your perfect cruise.
Find out more: Call 01926 319 107 or visit insurancechoice.co.uk/ cruise for your unique quote. Cruise Planner 2016
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New Ships VIKING SEA
Launches: April 2016 Viking’s first ocean ship, Viking Star, arrived in 2015, and Viking Sea is its identical twin. It’s Scandi chic of the first order, and with an ambience that anyone who’s done a Viking river cruise will recognise – intimate, low-ceilinged restaurants, and airy public spaces. The spa is gloriously Nordic, with rustic wood touches and a snow room to roll around in. The all-inclusive ship carries 930 passengers (but feels more intimate) and really does include just about everything – speciality restaurants, wine with dinner, excursions and wifi. A 15-day Bergen to the Bosphrous fly-cruise departing Bergen for Istanbul on 31 July starts at £3,190pp (020 8780 7900; vikingcruises.co.uk).
CARNIVAL VISTA
Launches: April 2016 A family fun park at sea, and all like being in a resort in Florida. This is Carnival’s 25th ship, its biggest (4,000 guests) and offers non-stop attractions, from the 1950s sci-fi styling of the SkyRide hanging bicycle cars that circle way above deck and the first IMAX cinema on a ship to a massive waterpark to keep children of all ages happy. It’s great for grown ups too, with a colourful Caribbean style Havana pool bar, adults-only Serenity retreat, live bands and a comedy club. Carnival Vista makes its debut in the Med and heads to the Caribbean for winter. A 13-night Mediterranean fly-cruise departing from Trieste on 1 May starts at £1,299pp 8 (0843 374 2272; carnival.co.uk). 84 Cruise Planner 2016
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PHOTOS: © ISTOCK
PROMOTION
Bespoke
GETAWAYS
As one of the UK’s leading cruise specialist agents, Jetline Cruise offers tailor-made holidays to the US, the Caribbean, the Far East and more
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ounded in 2001, Jetline Cruise is now firmly established as one of the UK’s leading cruise specialist agents, carrying thousands of passengers to destinations all over the world. It prides itself on an efficient, courteous and helpful service to its customers and is committed to achieving and maintaining the highest level of quality at affordable prices. Jetline Cruise has done all of the hard work for you already. Its team of product designers has created a huge range of exciting, diverse and innovative packages for you to choose from, offering an extensive range of cruise-and-stay itineraries, which include; The Mediterranean, Australia, North and South America, The Far East and the Caribbean. In some destinations you can combine your cruise with a pre-packaged land tour;
CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM
these are particularly popular in Alaska, South America and the Far East. Or combine the two most relaxing forms of travel on a Cruise and Rail Holiday and experience the best of both worlds as you explore diverse ports of call at sea, coupled with unique, scenic train journeys over land, travelling in effortless comfort; often without the need to fly. Jetline Cruise has an extensive range of Cruise and Rail holidays on offer all year round. Continents include Asia, Europe and North America. In North America; choose from the ever-popular Amtrak routes across the USA combined with a range of different cruise itineraries which include; Alaska, Transatlantic sailings and the Caribbean. In Canada, choose the luxurious Rocky Mountaineer for a trip through the heart of the Canadian Rockies combined with an Alaskan
cruise, or Via Rail, for a trans-Canadian rail journey from the East to West coast. And in the Far East, enjoy a trip on the world-famous bullet train followed by a cruise to exotic ports of call across the Orient. Can’t find what you’re looking for? The Jetline Cruise team of experts will tailor-make your trip to suit your interests and budget, creating your dream holiday.
Find out more: Call 0800 082 2176 or visit jetlinecruise.com for more information. Cruise Planner 2016 85
New Ships
AMAVIOLA
Launches: April 2016 A luxury 158-passenger ship which, like most AmaWaterways ships, features a choice of dining venues (including Chaîne des Rôtisseurs culinary creations in the main dining room), heated pool with swim-up bar, complimentary in-room wifi and a fleet of free bicycles. Most outside rooms have twin balconies. A 7-night Tulip Time fly-cruise departing Amsterdam on 21 April starts at £2,429pp (0808 223 5009; amawaterways.co.uk).
VIKING RIVER SHIPS
SEABOURN ENCORE
Viking never stands still and the latest launches bring their total on Europe’s rivers to almost 70. Longships Vilhjalm, Kadlin and Rolf join the Seine, Alruna joins the Rhine and Egil enters the Danube. All are the same sleek Scandinavian design as the several dozen that have entered service in the past few years. Viking Osfrid still has the contemporary chic but is slightly smaller to cope with Portugal’s Douro. An eight-day Paris & the Heart of Normandy cruise on Viking Rolf departing regularly from March to November starts at £1,645pp (020 8780 7900; vikingrivercruises.co.uk).
Superyacht style for 600 on a cool ship with understated American style. Interiors are by design icon Adam D Tihany (who has worked on everything from At.mosphere, the restaurant 122 floors up Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, to elements of Holland America Line’s new MS Koningsdam) and every room has a veranda. Service (almost one crew member to every guest) is all-inclusive with speciality restaurants, wine tastings and cocktail parties. A sister ship, Seabourn Ovation, arrives in 2018. A 16-Day Great Barrier Reef & Queensland Coast cruise departing on 17 Jan 2017 starts at £6,999pp, cruise only (0843 373 2000; seabourn.com).
Launch: March 2016
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Launches: December 2016
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DESTINATIONS
2016
From the breathtaking glaciers of Alaska to the villages along the Mekong, and the glittering Mediterranean coastline to the spectacular Norwegian Fjords, an ocean or river cruise is the perfect way to see the world
BRITAIN & IRELAND Cruises around the British Isles sell like hot cakes, and no wonder: we have the best collection of ancient monuments, castles, stately homes and gardens anywhere in the world – and that’s a fact. Increasingly we are beginning to appreciate what’s on our doorstep so you’ll find mostly Brits on round-Britain and Ireland cruises, along with Americans, Australasians and Europeans. The British Isles consists of more than 6,000 islands (6,289 to be precise), although only about 800 are what most of us would consider an island; the rest are rocks. Scotland has the biggest share and with its gorgeous lochs and fishing villages it is a good get-away-from-it-all destination on a small ship cruise. Cruise lines as diverse as Princess Cruises, Cunard and Saga Cruises offer round-Britain cruises calling at bigger ports such as Liverpool, Newcastle, Glasgow and Leith for Edinburgh, but visits to smaller ports are increasing. This summer Hebridean Island Cruises has first-time visits to Stroma,
between the northern tip of Scotland and the Orkney Islands, and Lunga, the largest of the Treshnish Isles in Argyll and Bute, which has some wonderful gardens thanks to the warming Gulf Stream. Meanwhile the company’s Hebridean Princess – which HM The Queen has chartered for family holidays – has a cruise with three calls of port on the Isle of Man, which is unusual to say the least. Fred. Olsen Cruise Line is also offering a Lochs of Scotland cruise from Liverpool in September, with Boudicca sailing up Loch Fyne to the fishing village of Tarbert, Loch Linnhe to Fort William and through Loch Torridon and Loch Shieldaig. Cruises including visits to specific events have been a growing trend for the past few years, and Swan Hellenic has trips that take in the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London in May and the Edinburgh Military Tattoo in August. Saga Cruises has a particularly unusual Around Britain And Ireland cruise in August, when Saga Sapphire will depart Dover for a day at Bournemouth, to see the Bournemouth
Air Show, then on to Poole where you can take the chain ferry to millionaires’ seaside favourite Sandbanks. The cruise also goes to Ireland’s Killybegs, near Fintra Beach – one of the finest in Ireland – and on up to Scotland to Holy Loch near Glasgow. And for the first time, Voyages to Antiquity’s Aegean Odyssey will be calling at selected British ports. It stops at Falmouth in Cornwall, close to the Eden Project gardens, and Dartmouth, in Devon, on its way back to Dover, from where it departs several times this year. 8
CRUISE LINES THAT GO HERE INCLUDE: Azamara Club Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Cunard Line, Disney Cruise Line, Hebridean Island Cruises, Oceania Cruises, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Saga Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line, Silversea, Swan Hellenic, Voyages to Antiquity, Voyages of Discovery.
DESTINATIONS 2016
BRITAIN & IRELAND
PHOTO: © HEMIS/AWL IMAGES
Picturesque Castle Stalker on Loch Laich, an inlet off Loch Linnhe, Scotland
DESTINATIONS 2016
NORTHERN EUROPE
NORTHERN EUROPE In the UK we are well-placed for cruises over to the Netherlands, Belgium and France – all just a few hours away – or down to Spain and Portugal’s Atlantic coastlines which are only a day or two away. But this summer First World War centenaries will continue to catch the eye – Saga Cruises’ Remembering The Somme trip in July, for example. The 100th anniversary of this battle, which caused the British Army’s biggest-ever loss, will call at Boulogne in France for excursions to the Somme and the Allied-held town of Albert. Dunkirk, in Belgium, is also on the itinerary and, along with Boulogne, will be a maiden call for Saga Sapphire. First World War and Second World War tours are available at the town, scene of the 1940 evacuation of 338,000 British and Allied troops. Avalon Waterways also has a new First World War-themed cruise in April called Pride of Belgium. This includes visits to the Battlefields of Ypres and Eastern Flanders and is one of two new history-themed cruises for 2016. The other is the new Danube Dreams
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cruise in April featuring onboard lectures about the Hapsburg Empire. Sailing down a river in an ocean-going cruise ship is a growing trend, with France’s River Seine in Normandy and excursions to the cathedral city of Rouen leading the way, although there are always new river cruise options too. For instance Titan Travel, in partnership with luxury line Uniworld, has new food and wine cruises in its Connoisseur Collection. These include truffle hunting expeditions, exclusive meals in castles and visits to vineyards in France’s Bordeaux wine region. The River Garonne and River Gironde in Bordeaux is fast-growing in popularity with ocean-going ships, too. Swan Hellenic’s small ship Minerva has cruises to both these rivers but it also has a cruise down part of the River Loire, which has France’s best collection of chateaux as well as more vineyards. AmaWaterways has a new Taste of Bordeaux itinerary with stops along the Garonne and Dordogne Rivers to explore wine villages and estates, and more wine-themed sailings down the
Rivers Seine, Rhone, Rhine, Danube and Portugal’s Douro River to visit port wine establishments. Elsewhere, Uniworld has a new Monarch Collection of river cruises that offer insider access to places such as Vienna’s Spanish Riding School and the Austrian castle home of Princess Anita von Hohenberg, great-granddaughter of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Other themed cruises include Swan Hellenic’s gardeners’ delight that, as well as visiting the RHS Chelsea Show, also takes in Jardin des Plantes, Monet’s gardens at Giverny and Parc Oriental de Maulevrier in France.
CRUISE LINES THAT GO HERE INCLUDE: AmaWaterways, Azamara, Cunard, MSC, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Saga, Silversea, Swan Hellenic, Uniworld, Viking River Cruises, Voyages to Antiquity, Voyages of Discovery.
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The beautiful cliffside village of Positano on the Amalfi Coast, Italy Facing page: The water lily pond at Monet’s garden in Giverny, France
PHOTOS: © FRANCESCO RICCARDO IACOMINO/TRAVEL PIX COLLECTION/AWL IMAGES
THE MEDITERRANEAN If you like more or less guaranteed sunshine your first cruise choice is likely to be a Mediterranean itinerary. Most of us start with the Western Med, sailing from the UK to Spain, France and Italy, and work our way down the list of cruise options to the Eastern Mediterranean – usually flying out to Venice, Dubrovnik, Istanbul or even Athens to join our ships. The one thing many of us want is longer in port explore cities by night. Swan Hellenic has more overnight stays than ever in 2016; not only in the massively popular Istanbul and Dubrovnik but also in the less well-known Dikili in Turkey, the port for the ancient Greek mountain citadel of Pergamon that was once as important to the Roman empire as Ephesus. Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ new all-suite luxury ship, Seven Seas Explorer, will be sailing in the Mediterranean after its launch this July CRUISE-INTERNATIONAL.COM
and calling at some of Europe’s small but chic destinations, including St Tropez in the south of France and nearby Sanary-sur-mer. Watch out for cruises to the South of France in September, when the Cannes Film Festival celebrates its 70th anniversary. Marseille, too, has been featuring in more cruise itineraries recently and Norwegian Cruise Line will be calling there for the first time in 2016, offering excursions to Provence and atmospheric towns such as Aix-en-Provence, where you can visit the studio of Post-Impressionist painter Paul Cezanne, or go to Avignon – with its nursery rhyme bridge – although old Marseille is worth exploring as well. The Greek islands continue to be a cruise line favourite, and P&O has increased its reach there for 2016, with itineraries on Azura, Ventura and Aurora to some of the most popular holiday islands such as Mykonos, where the film Shirley Valentine was set, Santorini with its stunning sunsets over its volcanic
caldera, and Zakynthos, or Zante, famous for its shipwreck beach. And if you want an epic cruise try Viking Ocean Cruises’ new Bergen to the Bosphorus itinerary, a 15-day journey from Norway to Istanbul. Viking also has a new 15-day Ancient Empires and Holy Lands cruise from Civitavecchia in Italy, the port for Rome, that has an overnight stay in Haifa, Israel, and a day in Jerusalem on the way to Istanbul. 8
CRUISE LINES THAT GO HERE INCLUDE: Azamara Club Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Cunard, Disney Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Saga, Seabourn Cruise Line, SeaDream Yacht Club, Silversea, Star Clippers, Swan Hellenic, Thomson Cruises, Viking Ocean Cruises, Voyages to Antiquity, Voyages of Discovery. Cruise Planner 2016
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The beautiful cliffside village of Positano on the Amalfi Coast, Italy Facing page: The water lily pond at Monet’s garden in Giverny, France
PHOTOS: © FRANCESCO RICCARDO IACOMINO/TRAVEL PIX COLLECTION/AWL IMAGES
THE MEDITERRANEAN If you like more or less guaranteed sunshine your first cruise choice is likely to be a Mediterranean itinerary. Most of us start with the Western Med, sailing from the UK to Spain, France and Italy, and work our way down the list of cruise options to the Eastern Mediterranean – usually flying out to Venice, Dubrovnik, Istanbul or even Athens to join our ships. The one thing many of us want is longer in port explore cities by night. Swan Hellenic has more overnight stays than ever in 2016; not only in the massively popular Istanbul and Dubrovnik but also in the less well-known Dikili in Turkey, the port for the ancient Greek mountain citadel of Pergamon that was once as important to the Roman empire as Ephesus. Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ new all-suite luxury ship, Seven Seas Explorer, will be sailing in the Mediterranean after its launch this July CRUISE-INTERNATIONAL.COM
and calling at some of Europe’s small but chic destinations, including St Tropez in the south of France and nearby Sanary-sur-mer. Watch out for cruises to the South of France in September, when the Cannes Film Festival celebrates its 70th anniversary. Marseille, too, has been featuring in more cruise itineraries recently and Norwegian Cruise Line will be calling there for the first time in 2016, offering excursions to Provence and atmospheric towns such as Aix-en-Provence, where you can visit the studio of Post-Impressionist painter Paul Cezanne, or go to Avignon – with its nursery rhyme bridge – although old Marseille is worth exploring as well. The Greek islands continue to be a cruise line favourite, and P&O has increased its reach there for 2016, with itineraries on Azura, Ventura and Aurora to some of the most popular holiday islands such as Mykonos, where the film Shirley Valentine was set, Santorini with its stunning sunsets over its volcanic
caldera, and Zakynthos, or Zante, famous for its shipwreck beach. And if you want an epic cruise try Viking Ocean Cruises’ new Bergen to the Bosphorus itinerary, a 15-day journey from Norway to Istanbul. Viking also has a new 15-day Ancient Empires and Holy Lands cruise from Civitavecchia in Italy, the port for Rome, that has an overnight stay in Haifa, Israel, and a day in Jerusalem on the way to Istanbul. 8
CRUISE LINES THAT GO HERE INCLUDE: Azamara Club Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Cunard, Disney Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Saga, Seabourn Cruise Line, SeaDream Yacht Club, Silversea, Star Clippers, Swan Hellenic, Thomson Cruises, Viking Ocean Cruises, Voyages to Antiquity, Voyages of Discovery. Cruise Planner 2016
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DESTINATIONS 2016
NORWEGIAN FJORDS
NORWEGIAN FJORDS & NORTHERN LIGHTS Seeing the Northern Lights tops the wish list of many Brits and although the 2013-2015 spike is behind us the lights don’t just go out overnight. In fact they never go out – they are with us all year round, but most visible in spring and autumn. This spring the Aurora Borealis will be only marginally less spectacular than in autumn 2015 so keep your eyes peeled on cruises to northern Norway. Summer cruises to Norway are all about the Midnight Sun, though, and as part of P&O Cruises’ plan to give passengers more time in port so they can sample the local nightlife it has
several midnight departures in 2016. This includes a midnight sailing from Stavanger in Aurora’s eight-night Fjord Cruise in June, when the Midnight Sun will be at its strongest. Swan Hellenic’s 350-passenger Minerva will call at 15 Norwegian ports during its summer cruises but it will also be heading for the White Sea for the first time, a sheltered inlet off north west Russia in the Barents Sea. This area has been on the radar for expedition ship cruise lines and luxury small ship cruise lines including Silversea, for the past few years, but expect to see it increasingly becoming part of itineraries to Norway and the Arctic Circle.
CRUISE LINES THAT GO HERE INCLUDE: Azamara Club Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Cruise & Maritime Voyages, Crystal Cruises, Cunard Line, Disney Cruise Line, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Saga Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line, Silversea, Swan Hellenic, Voyages of Discovery.
Dramatic scenery at the Geirangerfjord, Norway
PHOTO: © DOUG PERSON/AWL IMAGES
THE NORTHERN LIGHTS NEVER GO OUT – THEY ARE WITH US ALL YEAR ROUND, BUT MOST VISIBLE IN SPRING AND AUTUMN
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*The Enjoyment Promise is only applicable to guests who have not cruised on a Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines (“FOCL”) ship before. It excludes Party Nights and cruises of 4 nights or less. The promise only applies to bookings made for departures more than 12 weeks ahead. The Enjoyment Promise only applies to passengers who have contracted with FOCL and excludes cruises on vessels operated by FOCL but booked through 3rd Party operators. Should you wish to invoke the Enjoyment Promise, you will need to inform Guest Relations within 48 hours of sailing at the latest. FOCL will arrange and pay for a flight and/or transport back to the UK. FOCL will refund the cruise cost only but will not refund other costs. **Cruise Sale offers are combinable with Freedom Fares only, are available on cruises with durations of 5 to 35 nights, inclusive, and exclude cruise W1610 and Grand Voyage sectors. Cruise Sale offers are valid for bookings made between 2nd December 2015 and 2nd March 2016, inclusive, and are subject to availability. Not all offers are combinable. Please refer to FOCL website for full Terms & Conditions. E&OE.
THE ARCTIC AND ANTARCTICA
THE ARCTIC AND ANTARCTIC Norway’s Svalbard islands in the Arctic Circle are the best place to see polar bears on this side of the Atlantic, although the far north of Canada provides even more opportunities. Quark Expeditions is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a series of expedition cruises to the Arctic and Antarctic, including an Arctic Circumnavigation through the Northwest and Northeast Passages to explore the Canadian High Arctic and Greenland. It also has bespoke Falklands and Antarctica expedition cruises, such as Crossing the Circle via Falklands and South Georgia, which follows in the footsteps of Sir Ernest Shackleton and allows you to explore the world’s
seventh continent and the quaint Falklands capital of Port Stanley. Noble Caledonia has two summer expedition cruises around Svalbard, sailing through its fjords and past glaciers. Armed guides always accompany groups as a safety precaution against bears, although these are mostly seen from a safe distance. On sale now are Silversea’s 2017 Russian Far East cruises offering luxury expeditions to Arctic islands such as Tyuleniy, Chirpoy, Yankicha and Matua that very few people have ever heard of, let alone travelled to. Titan has also launched a new Cruise Compendium brochure for 2016. It includes a 14-day expedition-style cruise to Iceland and Greenland on MS Ocean Diamond, with highlights including a
NORWAY’S SVALBARD ISLANDS IN THE ARCTIC CIRCLE ARE THE BEST PLACE TO SEE POLAR BEARS ON THIS SIDE OF THE ATLANTIC
A group of Gentoo penguins on an iceberg, Antarctica Facing page: The soaring mountains and blue waters of the Chilean Fjords
visit to Greenland glaciers such as the Sermeq Kujalleq, which produces 35 cubic kilometres of ice every year. It also has an 18-day Adventure from Cape Horn to the Penguins of Antarctica on MS Midnatsol, which goes in search of wildlife and also takes in South America’s Patagonia, the Chilean fjords and Cape Horn. 8
CRUISE LINES THAT GO HERE INCLUDE: Azamara Club Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, MSC Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line, Silversea, Swan Hellenic.
PHOTOS: © BLUEGREEN PICTURES/DAVID NOTON PHOTOGRAPHY/ALAMY BLUEGREEN PICTURES/DAVID NOTON PHOTOGRAPHY/ALAMY
DESTINATIONS 2016
Iceland’s spectacular waterfall Godafoss at sunset Facing page: Painted houses in Stockholm’s Old Town, Sweden
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DESTINATIONS 2016
ICELAND Some might say 2010’s Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption was the making of Iceland’s tourist industry. Suddenly the world knew all about its live volcanoes, shifting tectonic plates, geysers and waterfalls. With air travel impossible for several days the world also saw the sense in sailing – and cruise companies have not been slow to cash in. Many now include at least one Icelandic cruise on their summer schedules, such as Swan Hellenic’s Iceland Quest cruise with included excursions to places like UNESCO-listed Thingvellir, a national park where you can see the Mid-Atlantic Ridge that separates the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates.
Voyages of Discovery’s ship Voyager is also heading for Iceland to see, as well as waterfalls and geysers, the island’s wonderful birds: puffins and eiders among the most exotic. Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Balmoral circumnavigates Iceland on its 11-night Icelandic Wildlife, Falls and Hot Springs cruise, which includes two days in Rejkjavik – enough time to see the museums and visit the Blue Lagoon Spa, Iceland’s most popular attraction. The trip also has a stop in Akureyri on the north coast and the opportunity to go whale watching. Seydisfjordur, one of Iceland’s most picturesque towns with 25 waterfalls cascading into a lagoon, is also on the itinerary.
PHOTOS: © FRANCESCO RICCARDO IACOMINO/MAURICIO ABREU/AWL IMAGES
THE BALTIC
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The ports of call during a Baltic cruise are quite rightly regarded as some of the most dazzling you can visit: Russia’s St Petersburg, Sweden’s Stockholm, Denmark’s Copenhagen, Finland’s Helsinki and Estonia’s Tallinn are cultural treasure houses. Most Baltic itineraries will include these cities, with the occasional smaller gems thrown in and it is these ports that often swing the decision to choose a particular Baltic cruise. Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth will be calling at Skagen in June, one of Denmark’s most northerly towns,
ICELAND AND THE BALTIC
CRUISE LINES THAT GO HERE INCLUDE: Azamara Club Cruises, Celebrity, Cunard Line, Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruise Line, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Saga Cruises, Silversea, Swan Hellenic, Voyages of Discovery.
which is on a large spit of sand with red and yellow clapboard houses that has attracted artists for years. Similarly, Celebrity Cruises’ Scandinavia & Russia cruise in May has Rostock as its extra port, for excursions to Berlin. But Fred. Olsen has a slightly alternative offering with its Fjords of Denmark cruise in July. The 13th century port town of Aabenraa is new the cruise line and is followed by cruises through Aabenraa Fjord, Als Fjord and Limfjorden as well as stops in Hundested, to see Hamlet’s Kronborg Castle, Copenhagen and the medieval Aalborg. 8
CRUISE LINES THAT GO HERE INCLUDE: Azamara Club Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Cunard Line, Disney Cruise Line, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Saga Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line, Silversea. Cruise Planner 2016 99
Ornate French Quarter balconies on Royal Street, New Orleans
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DESTINATIONS 2016
PHOTO: © JOHN COLETTI/AWL IMAGES
THE USA AND CANADA
CRUISE-INTERNATIONAL.COM
New Orleans has become the United States’ most exciting cruise destination in recent years, thanks to improved terminal facilities giving better access to this colourful and energetic city. New Orleans’ Jazz & Heritage Festival is the main event when P&O Cruises’ Oriana calls in this April, so passengers can enjoy the jazz, Cajun, blues, R&B, Latin and other music on offer as well as the general buzz of the old French quarter. Celebrity Cruises is already taking bookings for its 2017 Mardi Gras cruise that calls in on a round-trip from beautiful Fort Lauderdale in Florida. P&O Cruises also has two new 14-night Caribbean and New Orleans cruises on Azura in December, one leaving on 23 December in time for Christmas, and the British-market cruise line also has overnight stays at New York to give you plenty of time to see catch a Broadway show or enjoy the famous skyline lit up at night. It’s the 75th anniversary of Japan’s Second World War attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii next December, and commemorations are planned on the island of Oahu. Winter is the
USA AND CANADA
most popular time to visit the islands, thanks to the warm (but wet) weather and whale watching opportunities, and there are itineraries from Holland America Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Carnival Cruises and Celebrity Cruises. Norwegian Cruise Line is the only operator to offer year-round cruising there, though, with Honolulu departures on its US-flagged ship Pride of America. Meanwhile, Oceania Cruises’ 684-passenger Regatta will spend summer in Alaska with stops at fascinating Sitka, founded by the Russians in 1799 and still with a Russian feel to it. Wrangell, another former Russian outpost, retains its original Alaskan character, with Boy Scouts selling local garnets from the pier. Autumn cruises of Canada and New England, for the leaf-peeping season, will be available in September and October on Royal Caribbean’s smart ship Anthem of the Seas. These will leave Cape Liberty, near New York, and head to the classic east coast ports of Boston, Portland and Bar Harbour, before reaching Halifax in Nova Scotia, with its City of Trees, a network of trails from its vibrant waterfront through local parks and gardens. 8
CRUISE LINES THAT GO HERE INCLUDE: Azamara Club Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Cunard Line, Disney Cruise Line, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Saga Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line, Silversea. Cruise Planner 2016 101
A red-billed streamertail hummingbird feeding on Bleeding Heart vine Facing page: The Blue Mountains of Jamaica
PHOTOS: © ROLF NUSSBAUMER PHOTOGRAPHY/DOUG PEARSON/ALAMY
EASTERN CARIBBEAN The Caribbean is the United States’ favourite playground. Its people in particular love the East Caribbean thanks to its proximity to the US and the more Americanised destinations of the British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and the Bahamas. SeaDream Yacht Club’s 112-passenger SeaDream II is small enough to slip in and out of some of the less showy ports, so its 2016 Caribbean itineraries include places such as Jost Van Dyke, Norman Island and Peter Island in the British Virgin Islands. Short cruises featuring the Bahamas are popular from the US, such as Celebrity Cruises’ three- or four-night round-trips from Fort Lauderdale. These are a great choice for Brits on holiday in Florida and take in the party town
of Key West at the end of Florida Keys, where novelist Ernest Hemmingway’s home is one of the main attractions. Nassau, capital of the Bahamas, has gorgeous colourful colonial buildings.
CRUISE LINES THAT GO HERE INCLUDE: Azamara Club Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Cunard Line, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Saga Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line, SeaDream Yacht Club, Silversea, Star Clippers, Thomson Cruises.
DESTINATIONS 2016
WESTERN & SOUTHERN CARIBBEAN Cuba will be the big Caribbean story for 2016, as the ban on American cruise lines visiting the island continues to loosen. Several European-based lines have been including Havana in itineraries for the past few years, and now might be a good time to see the UNESCO-listed Old Havana before its crumbling Art Deco and Art Nouveau buildings and its Baroque and Neo-Classical cathedrals and squares have an American tourist makeover. MSC Cruises will homport its refurbished MSC Opera in Havana until mid-April as the departure point for 16 Caribbean cruises. These will include two and a half days in the Cuban capital during cruises to Jamaica, the Cayman Islands and Mexico. Companies offering round-Cuba trips include Celestyal Cruises, with stops at historic Santiago de Cuba – the former Spanish colony’s capital in the 16th century. There is also diving and palm-fringed beaches at Maria la Gorda, in Cuba’s UNESCO Biosphere Reserve on Guanahacabibes Peninsula. The new Carnival Corporation cruise terminal at Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic will be welcoming an increasing number of ships in 2016 after its opening in October. Among those sailing to the terminal in Puerto Plata will be P&O’s Azura during its 14-night Caribbean fly-cruise programme. The 25-acre north coast complex has its own pool area and water slides that will be free for visiting cruise passengers, plus a zip line and private cabanas as well as shops, bars, restaurants and transport to the country’s attractions.
THE CARIBBEAN
The Dominican Republic is in the eastern two thirds of Hispaniola, with Haiti on the other side of the island, and also has a huge cruise terminal resort called Casa de Campo in La Romana on the southeast coast. Carnival Cruise Line ships have been using Amber Cove since October, as have some of the corporation’s other brands including Cunard and Costa, with Holland America Line and P&O to follow in 2016. More than 40 excursions will be available from Amber Cove, such as culinary and cultural tours but also beach resorts and water sports. There is also a cruise terminal at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic’s vibrant capital. Norwegian Cruise Line is expanding its Caribbean itineraries and its new ship, Norwegian Escape, will spend its first full season there. The company opened its second private resort island, Harvest Caye, off Belize, in October and will be taking on an increasingly important role in the line’s Caribbean cruises, with excursions to Mayan temples and tropical mainland jungle. 8
CRUISE LINES THAT GO HERE INCLUDE: Azamara Club Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Cunard Line, Disney Cruise Line, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Saga Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line, SeaDream Yacht Club, Silversea, Star Clippers, Swan Hellenic, Thomson Cruises, Voyages of Discovery. Cruise Planner 2016 103
CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA
CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA The Rio 2016 Olympics and Paralympics takes place in August and September, making Brazil once again the go-to South American destination. Even without tickets to Olympic events, Rio de Janeiro will be more party-central than ever. Norwegian Cruise Line has increased its sailings from Rio – and from Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires – with cruises taking in some of Brazil’s best beaches and high octane cities, such as Sao Paulo – Brazil’s city that never sleeps. New from Oceania Cruises is a 17-night trip on Marina from Buenos Aires south to Chile, to see the country’s magnificent fjords and travel right to the tip of South America, Valparaiso. Ultra-luxury line Crystal Cruises is already taking bookings for its 2017 programme, which include exploring ancient Mayan ruins along Mexico’s coast and the jungles of Costa Rica. It
also has pre-cruise land programmes such as three nights in Machu Picchu in Peru’s Andes mountain range; and two nights at Brazil’s Iguaza Falls. Also big news, quite literally, for 2016 is the Panama Canal, which has been widened during a major engineering project over the past few years. This could lead to much bigger cruise ships sailing from Florida to California, or vice versa, although there are already plenty of options for what is considered a bucket list cruise, at least by Americans. For example, Seabourn’s 20-day Panama Canal Odyssey in March takes in Fuerte Amador in Panama, a newly developed port where you can take an in-depth look at the canal’s Miraflores locks or visit an Embera Indian village. The trip also includes a day at San Blas Islands in Panama, where the Kuna indigenous tribe lives. Cruise & Maritime Voyages’ annual return trip to the Amazon from London Tilbury is also worth considering for
those who do not want to fly. Its flagship Magellan visits all the usual Amazonian stops in Brazil, with Zodiac landings at the remote village of Boca da Valeria, two nights at the Portuguese colonial city of Manaus, with its ornate buildings such as the opera house, and Alter do 8 Chao, a fishing village on stilts.
CRUISE LINES THAT GO HERE INCLUDE: Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Cunard Line, Disney Cruise Line, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Saga Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line, Silversea, Star Clippers, Swan Hellenic, Thomson Cruises, Voyages of Discovery.
PHOTO: ISTOCK
DESTINATIONS 2016
Pretty coastal buildings in Valparaiso, Chile
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Dubai’s stunning skyscrapers and marina at twilight
PERSIAN GULF Thomson Cruises has chosen Dubai as the new homeport for Thomson Celebration in 2016, for regular Persian Gulf cruises that provide year-round sunshine and some fascinating destinations. Dubai needs little introduction for its larger-thanlife attractions, such as Burj Khalifa – the tallest building on earth – Dubai Mall (the biggest in the world) and 106 Cruise Planner 2016
extraordinary man-made islands such as The World, Palm Islands and Palm Jumeirah. In Oman the walled city of Muscat has traditional souks and palaces, while Abu Dhabi has the world’s biggest indoor theme park, Ferrari World. Beach stops include Khor Fakkan in the United Arab Emirates and Khasab in Oman, a sandy beach backed by mountains. Norwegian Cruise Line has new cruises to the Gulf on Norwegian Star,
such as its Journey to the East from Dubai, which also includes Khasab, and Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, before heading to India and the Far East. The Red Sea remains on itineraries despite some security issues in Egypt, although fewer cruise lines now go to Sharm El Sheik, with its wonderful coral reef diving and snorkelling, or Safaga, where excursions to Luxor and the Nile Valley are more likely than trips to Cairo. Fred. Olsen includes some CRUISE-INTERNATIONAL.COM
PHOTO: © ISTOCK
DESTINATIONS 2016
Egyptian ports on its epic Africa, The Indian Ocean & The Pyramids voyage, with a cruise through the Suez Canal. Jordan’s Aqaba is the other most notable Red Sea port, and Voyages to Antiquity offers an overnight stay near the country’s fabulous lost city of Petra, followed by a three-night hotel stay in the capital, Amman, at the end of its 37-day Grand India and the Red Sea cruise. 8 CRUISE-INTERNATIONAL.COM
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PERSIAN GULF
CRUISE LINES THAT GO HERE INCLUDE: Azamara Club Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Cunard Line, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Holland America Line, MSC Cruises, P&O Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Seabourn Cruises, Silversea, Voyages to Antiquity, Voyages of Discovery. Cruise Planner 2016 107
DESTINATIONS 2016
AFRICA
PHOTOS: © RICHARD SHARROCKS/DANITADELIMONT/ALAMY
Morocco has taken poll position in North African cruise destinations, with the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in mainland Morocco to be visited by P&O Cruises’ Arcadia in October. With Tunisia now largely off-limits and Egypt less popular because of security risks, expect Morocco to get a bigger slice of the action, particularly for autumn cruises when even the Mediterranean can become cool and the sea quite choppy. Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ new ship Seven Seas Explorer will call at Agadir near the Atlas Mountains and Casablanca, Morocco’s largest city. Morocco was once a French protectorate and this is reflected in the
wide boulevards and public parks of Casablanca. An earthquake in 1961 destroyed much of Agadir’s colonial heritage, but it has colourful souks and excursions into the mountains and the Berber villages are a must. South Africa remains a big draw, thanks to its cultural mix and its Big Game safari opportunities. Oceania Cruises’ luxurious Nautica will finish winter with a 15-day round-trip from Cape Town and an overnight stop in Durban, where British colonial architecture is still apparent despite the high rise buildings, and there are excursions to Tala Game Reserve and the Valley of a Thousand Hills, the Zulus’ traditional homeland. This itinerary also has an overnight at Walvis Bay in Namibia, which is ringed by
AFRICA
desert but has a sheltered lagoon where you can watch pelicans, herons and other birds feeding, see the Cape Fur Seal colony and see rare birds such as 8 the Damara Tern.
CRUISE LINES THAT GO HERE INCLUDE: Crystal Cruises, Cunard Line, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, MSC Cruises, Oceania Cruises, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Saga Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line, Silversea, Thomson Cruises, Voyages to Antiquity, Voyages of Discovery.
A Sub-Saharan spotted hyena Facing page: Tiled mosaic pattern at a mosque in Casablanca, Morocco
DESTINATIONS 2016
ASIA
ASIA Clockwise from this image: The incredible colours of Taiwan’s landscape; gatehouse at the Forbidden City palace, Beijing, China; sacks of spices at an Indian market
in Ho Chi Minh City. There is also an overnight at the increasingly popular Ha Long Bay in Vietnam, where limestone rock formations, white sand beaches and hidden caves are UNESCO-listed. A more thorough exploration of Vietnam and Cambodia is easier on a river cruise, and AmaWaterways’ new French colonial-style AmaDara has new itineraries along the River Mekong, which flows through both countries. In common with most Mekong river cruises, highlights include land-based stays to explore the temples of Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, the sights of Vietnam’s busy capital Hanoi and its still colonial-looking Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) plus Cambodia’s
capital Phnom Penh, famous for its Silver Pagoda and ornate Royal Palace. Ocean cruises to Myanmar (Burma) remain thin on the ground, river cruises down the Irrawaddy being more popular, but Voyages to Antiquity continues to have a strong presence there, with its 21-day Burma & The Malay Peninsula cruise spending two and a half days in Yangon. Don’t miss its exquisite gold-plated and gem-studded Shwedagon Paya pagoda plus other temples and the remaining British colonial buildings among this high rise, city. India’s Golden Triangle remains popular too, with cruise lines arranging add-on land tours as part of a sea cruise or Ganges river cruise. Titan, in partnership with Uniworld, has a new India’s Golden Triangle and the Sacred Ganges cruise, which starts with a week in the Golden Triangle followed by a week onboard the Ganges Voyager II.
CRUISE LINES THAT GO HERE INCLUDE: APT Luxury River Cruises, AmaWaterways, Azamara Club Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Cunard Line, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Seabourn Cruise Line, Silversea, Star Clippers, Uniworld Boutique Cruise Collection, Voyages to Antiquity, Voyages of Discovery. 110 Cruise Planner 2016
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PHOTOS: © ISTOCK/NEALE CLARK/NEIL EMMERSON/GETTY IMAGES
China is the headline story in cruising at the moment, with the bigger cruise lines not only basing ships there year-round but even building them specifically for the burgeoning Chinese market. Princess Cruises will base Sapphire Princess there in 2016, with Carnival Cruise Line joining them in 2017, while Royal Caribbean will have five ships based in the Chinese cities of Shanghai, Tianjin, Hong King and Xiamen sailing three to 12-night itineraries to Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam. Quantum of the Seas is in Shanghai offering year-round cruises from three to eight nights long while its Sister ship Ovation of the Seas will be based in Tianjin, 70 miles from Beijing, after its launch in April. Ovation’s maiden voyage will be from Southampton: a 52-night Global Odyssey to Tianjin that will be available in five sections, including a three-night Malaysian cruise departing 9 June on a round-trip from Singapore. Voyager of the Seas will be based in Hong Kong with Mariner of the Seas in Baoshan, the port closes to Shanghai. Seabourn will offer 18-day cruises between Hong Kong and Kobe in Japan on Seabourn Sojourn in 2016. These will include overnight stays in Beijing (also known as Xingang) and three-day visits to Shanghai. Singapore celebrated 50 years of independence in 2015, and its strategic position on the sea route between China and India that made it so important to the British Empire makes it equally important to the cruise industry today. Silversea’s Silver Shadow will spend spring sailing between Singapore and Hong Kong, with itineraries that include Thailand and Vietnam, with two overnight stays in Bangkok to visit its spectacular temples and an overnight
DESTINATIONS 2016
PACIFIC Remarkable rock formations on Kangaroo Island, Australia
PACIFIC taking bookings. It includes a Polynesian Lagoon Luncheon in French Polynesia’s Bora Bora, which has a turquoise lagoon renowned for its scuba diving. Oceania Cruises has several new ports of call in Australia, including Broome in Kimberley. The Indian Ocean resort town has white sand beaches and a history of pearl diving, with a China town that once served the Chinese divers. Its ships also call at Exmouth, gateway to Australia’s Ningaloo Marine Park and reef; Penneshaw on Kangaroo Island, a wilderness haven for native animals; and Esperence in Western Australia, with deserted beaches close to the Great Ocean Drive. Cruise and Maritime Voyages offers its 54-night Southbound Voyage to Australia from London Tilbury in October on board Astor.
CRUISE LINES THAT GO HERE INCLUDE: Azamara Club Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Cunard Line, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Seabourn Cruise Line, Silversea.
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Azamara Club Cruises sails to New Zealand for the first time in 2016, with the newly updated Azamara Quest’s Australia and New Zealand voyage leaving Sydney in January. It heads for Melbourne for excursions to its famous wineries and the Great Ocean Road to see the coast’s extraordinary rock formations. Over in New Zealand the natural beauty of Milford Sound fjord of the South Island is a highlight, with tours of mountains and lakes around Queenstown available. The Art Deco buildings of Napier, on the North Island, are in complete contrast to the Maori culture and geothermal springs of Rotorua, which is an absolute must-see. Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific feature strongly in Oceania Cruises’ epic Around The World In 180 Days cruise in 2017, which is now
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I’ve never been on a cruise before but am longing to visit Asia. Are there any cruise lines you would recommend? There are a number of cruise lines that will give you an authentic experience of Asia, and it’s an excellent idea to discover its exotic range of destinations by ship. In the past, the Far East was only really accessible as part of a world cruise, but now Viking, AmaWaterways and Uniworld (in partnership with Titan) also offer enticing river cruises there. My own favourite Asian destinations include China, Vietnam and Cambodia, where the Yangtze and Mekong rivers showcase some of the most awe-inspiring ancient wonders, such as the Great Wall of China, Phnom Penh and the Angkor Wat temple complex. And travelling through Myanmar (Burma) along
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the mist-shrouded Irrawaddy River is magical – make sure you don’t miss Yangon’s crowning glory, the gold-encrusted Schwedagon Pagoda. Some of the ocean cruise lines that feature the Far East in their itineraries include Saga Cruises, Oceania Cruises, Voyages to Antiquity and Princess Cruises, with Silversea and Regent Seven Seas Cruises providing ultra-luxurious all-inclusive voyages. Silversea have a number of sailings between Hong Kong and Singapore – two of the key cities where passengers can embark on Asian fly-cruise holidays. Highlights include Koh Samui, Langkawi, Malacca and Kuala Lumpur whilst Regent Seven Seas also offer the delights of Bali, Taiwan and the Philippines in their ports of call. Julie Peasgood
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THE INSIDER Our regular column from Andy Harmer, Director of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) UK & Ireland 2016 will be a memorable year in the cruise calendar – we are predicting continued worldwide growth in the number of people taking a cruise and are welcoming 27 new CLIA member ocean and river ships into the global fleet. That’s a pretty impressive number but what’s exciting is the innovation and creativity that accompanies each new ship and which guests will be able to experience in the coming year. On ocean ships, the innovations can be seen in all areas – entertainment, dining, activities, children’s facilities and cabin design. And not to be left behind, the advances continue on the river ships with new alternative dining spaces, spas, swimming pools, cinemas and interconnecting cabins so that larger family groups can travel together – and in 2016 we are likely to see the rise of multi-generational holidays for both river and ocean cruises. These technological advances mean we are also likely to see the rise of the ‘Bleisure’ traveller in 2016. And this could be you – someone who mixes business with pleasure. But whatever type of traveller you are, I’m sure destination is one of the key reasons that drives your decision making and there will be a number of destination hot spots in 2016. One of these will certainly be Cuba. A number of cruise lines have announced plans to feature the island and with a huge demand from holidaymakers, Cuba will be firmly placed on the cruise map. I also expect river cruising to continue to grow in popularity. CLIA river cruise members are introducing 18 new river vessels which will be sailing on the world’s waterways in 2016 offering amazing itineraries taking in America, Europe, Africa and Asia – the latter being another hot spot, particularly south East Asia and Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam and what better way to visit these countries than on a river cruise. My final prediction is that with the great choice of cruise holiday – whether that’s river, luxury, family, traditional or expedition for those with a lust for adventure, there’s a cruise holiday for you and an accredited CLIA travel agent at cruiseexperts.org to help you find it.
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