Cruise International - GoCruise

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2013 | £3.95

YOUR BEST HOLIDAY EVER 65 dream destinations 22 stylish ships 43 idyllic itineraries

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

GoCruise

win A RHINE CRUISE WORTH £3,700 with Avalon

BAKING FOR BECKHAM

The celebrity chef who creates posh cakes

WINTER WONDERLANDS Christmas cruises from the Moselle to Venice

cruise-international.com

SAILING TO RIO  FRENCH LUXURY  ARCTIC ADVENTURES

Cruise from the WIDEST choice of UK ports with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines and We want the start of your cruise to be as enjoyable as the holiday you’re about to set off on, whichever UK departure port you are cruising from. Fred. Olsen Cruises leave the UK from Southampton, Portsmouth, Dover, Harwich, Newcastle, Liverpool, Glasgow (Greenock), Edinburgh (Rosyth) and Belfast.

By sailing from a UK departure port, you’ll avoid flight delays and baggage restrictions and can simply step on board to start your cruise holiday. To make life a little simpler and to ensure the journey to Balmoral, Boudicca, Black Watch or Braemar is as easy as possible, Fred. Olsen have negotiated special rates with a number of coach operators in the UK. When you book with GoCruise you benefit from personal experience, specialist training and unbiased opinion. Our customers value the personal service, dedication and attention to detail they receive from their GoCruise specialist, which is why 70% of our customers book with us time and again.

Norway Winter

9 February 2013 - 16 nights on board Boudicca

£100 On Board Credit

From

£2109

Portsmouth - Molde - Tromso (2 nights) - Alta (overnight) - Kristiansund - Bergen - Portsmouth

Spain & Portugal

per person

£80 On Board Credit

26 April 2013 - 8 nights on board Black Watch

From

£749

Southampton - Lisbon - Leixoes - La Coruna - Aviles Southampton

per person

7 May 2013 - 14 nights on board Black Watch

From

£1559

Harwich - Warnemunde - Stockholm (overnight) - Tallinn - St. Petersburg (overnight) - Karlskrona Copenhagen - Amsterdam - Harwich

29 May 2013 - 17 nights on board Black Watch

18 June 2013 - 9 nights on board Balmoral

Southampton - Alesund - Tromso - Honningsvag Leknes - Molde - Bergen - Stavanger - Southampton

Iberia & Morooco

From

£1639 per person

£100 On Board Credit

2 July 2013 - 12 nights on board Boudicca

OUTSIDE CABIN From

Greenock - Leixoes - Melilla - Tangier - Casablanca Vigo - Greenock

£1459 per person

Highlands & Ireland

Baltic

Lapland & St. Petersburg

Crossing Arctic Circle

per person

£100 On Board Credit

Harwich - Kiel Canal - Warnemunde - Nynashamn Mariehamn - Vassa - Kemi - Tallinn - St. Petersburg (overnight) - Ronne - Copenhagen - Kiel Canal - Harwich

From

£2219 per person

16 July 2013 - 10 nights on board Balmoral

OUTSIDE CABIN From

Southampton - Guernsey - Dublin (overnight) Tobermory - Ullapool - Kirkwall - Stornoway - Belfast - Southampton

£1109 per person

Canary Islands FLY CRUISE 24 January 2013 - 10 nights on board Braemar

Fly to Tenerife (overnight) - El Hierro - La Gomera - La Palma - Madeira (overnight) - Agadir - Lanzarote Tenerife - Fly home

From

£899 per person

BOOK by 5th November and UPGRADE TO ALL INCLUSIVE FOR ONLY £5pp per night*

Book your next cruise with your GoCruise Specialist

Cruise from the UK from convenient ports

No fly cruises offer a stress free start to your holiday

Cruising - Fun for all the family

All offers are valid at time of going to press and can be withdrawn or amended at any time.

All bookings carry ABTA protection. Retail agents for ATOL holders. ACE members.

TERMS & CONDITIONS APPLY.

Keep the whole family entertained

Special Tribute Edition to the Port of Dover

Join our mailing list and start receiving your FREE copy of our quarterly ‘Cruisin’ Magazine‘. Packed full of cruise deals and ideas for your next holiday - make sure you don’t miss out!

MANY MORE CRUISES AVAILABLE!

Call your personal cruise experts now to find out more

FREEPHONE 0808 256 8422 or visit www.gocruise.co.uk *Selected cruises only. Subject to availability, Terms & Conditions apply. Prices are per person based on two adults sharing an inside cabin.

All prices are correct at time of going to print and are subject to change and/or availability. Any On Board Spend is per cabin. Terms and conditions apply. ABTA J5035 acting as an agent for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. Some ports may be at anchor.

WINNER

MSC CRUISES BEST FOR WELLBEING

68 The Cruise International Awards this year were the biggest yet. More than 20,000 votes were cast by you, our readers, showing that the awards have become an important barometer of your favourite cruise experiences. We reveal the winners in our awards special on page 46.

Choosing a holiday is a big decision, so to help inspire you we’ve selected the Best New Cruises for 2013 (page 57), including brand new ships, itineraries and next year’s hottest destinations.

We’re also looking at a selection of the coolest things you can do on a cruise (page 68) and at some of the magical holidays you can take this winter (page 91).

Plus you could win a fabulous Rhine river cruise (page 53).

And don’t forget the 2013 Cruise Planner goes on sale on 16 November, containing everything you need to find your perfect cruise.

PHOTO: © WATERFRAME/ALAMY

EDITOR’S LETTER

Aerial view of limestone islands and lagoon on Wayag Raja Ampat island, Indonesia

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2013

Up front 8 HOT SPOT

Liz Jarvis liz.jarvis@cruise-international.com

Cool off at Dunn’s River Falls in Jamaica

10 CRUISE NEWS

Our essential round-up of all the top travel events, destinations, ships and products

Follow us @Cruisemag

13 SHOPPING

22

Our pick of what to buy to take on your travels december/january 2013 | £3.95

the top cruises chosen by you

your best holiday ever 65 dream destinations 22 stylish ships 43 idyllic itineraries

win

a rhine cruise worth £3,700

17 FIVE OF THE BEST

There’s nothing better than relaxing on board with your favourite cocktail – we bring you the best bars

22 STAR CRUISER

P84 Celebrity chef Eric Lanlard talks to us about baking

17

for the Beckhams and cruising with P&O

with Avalon

Awards 25 THE WINNERS

We reveal the results of the Cruise International Awards 2012, voted for by you

P22 P91

Features

baking for beckham

The celebrity chef who creates posh cakes

winter wonderlands Christmas cruises from the Moselle to Venice

cruise-international.com

sailing to rio  french luxury  arctic adventures

54 CRUISING À LA FRANÇAISE

Cruising French style on board Compagnie du Ponant’s luxurious yacht L’Austral

57 BEST NEW CRUISE HOLIDAYS Cover image iStock

CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM

We get the lowdown on the hottest ships, itineraries and destinations for 2013

DECEMBER /JA N UA RY 2013 |

5

91 WINTER MAGIC We have Christmas-themed river cruises this issue, starting with a voyage on the Venetian Lagoon

91 FESTIVE FAIRYTALE A Christmas markets cruise along the Rhine is a wonderful way to soak up the beauty of its villages

Regulars 88 COMPETITION WINNER

The June/July winner tells us about their wonderful APT cruise through the vineyards of Provence

ONLINE WEB CONTENT MANAGER Oliver Morley-Norris ONLINE EXECUTIVE Terri Eaton

97 YOUR SAY Your news and views, plus details of the annual Cruise Planner, out on 16 November

ADVERTISING DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR Steve Ross ADVERTISEMENT MANAGER Lyndal Beeton

98 WISH LIST Want more inspiration for your next cruise? We pick our favourite itineraries for two dream destinations

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD AVALON WATERWAYS Alan MacLean, APT Gary Bartelings, CARNIVAL Lynn Narraway, CELEBRITY CRUISES Michael English, CUNARD LINE Peter Shanks, EWATERWAYS Daniela Wagner, FRED. OLSEN Nathan Philpot, HEBRIDEAN Ken Charleson, HURTIGRUTEN Ian Nash, MSC CRUISES Giulio Libutti, PRINCESS CRUISES Pieter van der Schee, REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES Cecilia Abert, SCENIC TOURS Chris Townson, VIKING RIVER CRUISES Wendy Atkin Smith, VOYAGES TO ANTIQUITY Ann Brine, THE LUXURY CRUISE COMPANY Scott Anderson

68 COOL CRUISES From chocolate tours to personal shopping experiences, if you’re after a unique holiday there are some incredible options available

74 RUSSIAN VISTAS Fred. Olsen’s Vistas programme proves a hit in the Baltic on board Black Watch

76 ROUTE OF HEROES Saga’s Quest For Adventure follows the WWII route of the Arctic Convoys along the Eastern Front

PUBLISHING PUBLISHER Simon Temlett MARKETING MANAGER Chatty Dobson COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR Vicki Gavin MANAGING DIRECTOR Paul Dobson

SUBSCRIPTIONS CRUISE INTERNATIONAL Subscriptions Department, Tower House, Sovereign Park, Market Harborough, Leics LE16 9EF, UK. Tel: +44 (0)1858 438749 Fax: +44 (0)1858 434958 www.subscription.co.uk/cruise SUBSCRIPTION RATES UK £30 (6 issues) ROW £40 (6 issues)

76

We challenge cruise fanatic John Honeywell to lose weight on board Celebrity Silhouette

NEWS DISTRIBUTION UK and Rest of World: COMAG, Tavistock Road, West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 7QE. Tel: +44 (0)1895 444055 Fax: +44 (0)1858 445255

Competition

CRUISE INTERNATIONAL (ISSN 1758-2326) (USPS 025-056) is published bi-monthly by The Chelsea Magazine Company, Liscartan House, 127-131 Sloane Street, London SW1X 9AS UK.

84 WIN A RHINE RIVER CRUISE

© The Chelsea Magazine Company Ltd 2012.

80 CRUISE CONTROL

Enter to win a fabulous eight-day cruise on the romantic Rhine courtesy of Avalon Waterways

River cruising

86 RIVER CRUISE NEWS

94

New cruises, new ships, and new itineraries are all shaping up for an exciting 2013

Stavanger

Livorno

Jamaica

Cape Verde Islands

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.

Printed in England by Wyndeham Heron Origination by All Points Media allpointsmedia.co.uk

St Petersburg

Rüdesheim Venice Korčula

Yangon

SUBSC R C IBE TO

INTERNRUISE SAVE O ATIONAL VER 4 S ee pa ge 83

South Shetland Islands

0%

CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM

PHOTOS: ISTOCK

68

Liscartan House, 127-131 Sloane Street London SW1X 9AS Tel: 020 7901 8000 info@cruise-international.com www.cruise-international.com EDITORIAL EDITOR Liz Jarvis DEPUTY EDITOR Jessica Tooze ART EDITOR Gareth Jones DESIGNER Rickardo Watkins EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Josephine Price CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Sue Bryant

HIGHLY COMMENDED

JAMAICA BEST DESTINATIONS REST OF WORLD

Hot spot DUNN’S RIVER FALLS, JAMAICA

PHOTO: CORBIS

Said to be the location of the legendary battle of “Las Chorreras” between the English and the Spanish Expeditionary Force from Cuba for ownership of Jamaica, these picturesque falls near Ochos Rios are considered to be one of the country’s national treasures. Shaded by lush, green vegetation, you can paddle in the cool water, which provides welcome relief from the heat of the Caribbean sun. Or if you’re feeling energetic you can hike the falls – the tradition is to do the easy climb holding hands. ›› Jamaica was Highly Commended as Best Cruise Destination in this year’s Cruise International Awards. Turn to page 25 to see all the winners.

inspiration

ShipS • EvENtS • DEStiNatioNS

Cruise News From new ship Royal Princess to tenor Russell Watson, we bring you our pick of the people and events making waves in the world of cruise

Royal Princess will boast a huge movie screen

Lights, camera, action Princess Cruises’ new ship Royal Princess will offer unique entertainment experiences including a TV studio where passengers can take part in live shows, the biggest ever on-board Movie Under the Stars screen, and a dazzling water and light show.

Speaking to Cruise International about the TV studio at a tour of the shipyard in Italy, Executive Vice President of Fleet Operations Rai Caluori said: “There will be an interview with the captain in the morning, cooking

10

| December /ja n ua ry 2013

demonstrations, a special lecture, comedy and game shows running right through from the morning to the evening, and all the shows will be available to watch in the staterooms.

“We really want to promote entertainment on the open decks too,” he added. “Every evening, weather permitting, there will be a fantastic, different spectacle of great music with dancing fountains and beautiful lighting.”

Other highlights on board the new ship include the The Sanctuary, an adults-only

haven which offers private cabanas for rent, a Bellini bar, a DJ booth and video game stations for teenagers, a pastry shop and a gelateria.

Royal Princess will make embark on its Maiden Iberia Voyage from Southampton to Barcelona on 16 June 2013.

Princess Cruises was named Best for Entertainment at the Cruise International Awards 2012. For all the rewards results turn to page 25, and for more on Royal Princess see our feature on Best New Cruises on page 58.

cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

new look for azamara Azamara Club Cruises have announced the renovation of ships Journey and Quest. Shipwide renovations will include new carpets, upholstery, a new colour palette in public spaces, and a resurfaced pool. The Casino Bar will also be expanded and enhanced with new furniture, while the spa and fitness centre will be refreshed with a new steam room, showers, and state-of-the-art Life Fitness cardio equipment.

Azamara Quest will spend eight nights in drydock starting on 7 November 2012.

With renovations complete, it will sail a 13-night Madeira and Canary Islands voyage, beginning on 15 November.

Azamara Journey will enter Singapore’s Sembawang Shipyard on 6 January for a seven-night renovation in drydock before continuing its Asia season.

DID you know? 48% of holidaymakers think the best thinG about cruise holidays is the chance to Visit multiple destinations in one trip*

GrowinG the Globe Crystal Cruises has unveiled the world’s first self-contained, free-standing living world at sea. Designed for an al fresco area in Symphony’s Deck 11 Trident Grill, the unique living wall uses a varied and diverse

selection of indoor plants to display a world map. “we wanted to create a focal point that was both highly contemporary and visually stunning,” says Alexandra Don, Crystal’s vice president, hotel design and services.

*SourCe: The pASSenGer ShIppInG ASSoCIATIon/youGoV

the Voice at sea

cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

Critically-acclaimed tenor Russell Watson will be performing at an intimate gala dinner on board the Seabourn Legend next May. Just 100 suites will be available for the exclusive experience, with prices starting at £2,499 per person. For more information see concertsatsea.co.uk

Girl’s world

Know a small child crazy about Barbie?

From next January Royal Caribbean International will be offering a Barbie Premium Experience, including a stateroom decorated in the iconic doll’s signature style, Mermaid dance class, Tiaras and Teacups party, and a Fashion Designer workshop. Visit royalcaribbean.com/Barbie for more info.

watch us on tV Look out for the Cruise International Awards on Cruise Today throughout December on Travel Channel Sky 251 and 252.

Decem eber /ja n ua ry 2013 |

11

S i m pdl iys ct hoev efri niensdt i wa a y t o

Let the majesty of India entice you, as you explore Rajasthan and travel aboard the Maharajahs’ Express The Captain’s Choice Tour is the acknowledged leader in luxury touring. Discovering the delights of India with us, you’ll travel in unparalleled style, stay in the finest accommodation and dine on superb local cuisine.

On this incredible journey you’ll visit a host of astonishing destinations; Udaipur, known as the city of Lakes, bustling Delhi, the Amber Fort in Jaipur, the sacred Ganges, the iconic Taj Mahal, and much more.

Everything is taken care of by our experienced tour escort team, which even includes a doctor – truly luxury touring at its finest. Prices for this 17 day tour start from £11,485.

To find out more about the Captain’s Choice Rajasthan & The Maharajahs’ Express Tour, call us now.

0845 304 1668

www.captainschoice.co.uk

T H E L E A D E R I N L U X U R Y T R AV E L TO R E M OT E & E XOT I C D E S T I N AT I O N S

SHOPPING

Cruise style Our pick of the hottest travel buys for your next trip

Pucker up

Just juice

Fab for keeping in your beach bag. Stone Lip Print Round Dual Mirror Compact, £55, luluguinness.com

Ideal for charging your iPhone or iPod at sea. Mophie Juice Pack Reserve, £29.95, johnlewis.com

For her

Jimmy Choo’s fragrance has notes of patchouli and tiger orchid.

From £39, see jimmychoo.com for stockists

Complexion perfection

We love the new Visible Difference range – great for pampering your skin while you’re away. Elizabeth Arden Visible Difference Night Cream, £35, houseoffraser.co.uk

Wonder balm

Perfect for travel, this allpurpose balm gets a Christmas makeover. Trilogy Candy Wrapped Everything Balm, £12.50, trilogyproducts.com CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM

DECEMBER /JA N UA RY 2013 |

13

SHOPPING

Cruise style Evening glamour

Sleek and elegant glitter clutch perfect for dinner at the Captain’s table. Valorie Clutch, £350, anyahindmarch.com

Butterfly gold

Simple but glam earrings to take you from the pool to the bar. Butterfly Earrings in 9ct gold, £179, clogau.co.uk

For him

Tom Ford’s fragrance for men has notes of amber accord, cedarwood, patchouli and vetiver. Tom Ford for Men, £60, selfridges.com

Holiday read

J.K’s first adult book, a big novel about a small town, is on everyone’s reading list.

The Casual Vacancy, £20, littlebrown.co.uk

Bag it

Cool wash bag for your holiday essentials. Grand Tour Wash Bag £70, otisbatterbee.com

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| DECEMBER /JA N UA RY 2013

CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM

Free Flights from your local airport to Southampton* Discover a whole new world of amazing activities the moment you step on board. Whether satisfying your taste for adventure or chilling out, with Royal Caribbean you can do as much or as little as you like. And with free flights, upgrades or car parking there has never been a better time to book. The sea is calling. Answer it with Royal Caribbean.

Book with GoCruise, and seeing the world doesn’t need to cost the earth. We are pleased to offer you our advice on the best Royal Caribbean Cruise to suit your requirements and budget and make your booking a smooth and enjoyable process. Our network of specialists offer you a personal, friendly, local service with many prices that beat those of the largest national call centres, giving you the best of both worlds.

Norway & Cork

1st June 2013 for 14 nights on board Independence of the Seas®

FROM

£829

per person Southampton > Cobh > Olden > Alesund > Flam > Stavanger > Kristiansand > Oslo > Bruges (Zeebrugge) > Southampton Flights available from Aberdeen, Belfast, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle

Mediterranean Cities

FROM

7th July 2013 for 14 nights on board Adventure of the Seas®

£1129

per person Southampton > Malaga > Cannes > Barcelona > Palma De Mallorca > Valencia > Cartegena > Lisbon > Vigo > Southampton Flights available from Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle

Italian Mediterranean

FROM

21 July 2013 for 14 nights on board Adventure of the Seas®

£1229

per person Southampton > Malaga > Cannes > Civitavecchia (Rome) > Livorno > Genoa > Gibraltar > Lisbon > Southampton Flights available from Aberdeen, Belfast, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle

Italian Mediterranean

4 August 2013 for 14 nights on board Adventure of the Seas®

FROM

£1289

per person Southampton > Malaga > Nice (Villefranche) > Civitavecchia (Rome) > La Spezia > Genoa > Gibraltar > Lisbon > Southampton Flights available from Aberdeen, Belfast, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle

Norway & Cork

7th September 2013 for 14 nights on board Independence of the Seas®

FROM

£959

per person Southampton > Cobh > Olden > Alesund > Flam > Stavanger > Kristiansand > Oslo > Bruges (Zeebrugge) > Southampton Flights available from Aberdeen, Belfast, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle

MANY MORE CRUISES AVAILABLE! FREEPHONE 0808 256 8422 or visit www.gocruise.co.uk Prices are per person based on two adults sharing an interior stateroom. All prices are subject to change and/or availability. *Free flights from selected airports on selected sailings, subject to availability. Free upgrade from Oceanview to Balcony. All offers must be booked by 31st October 2012. Applies to new bookings only and are non retrospective. Full terms and conditions apply, please ask for details. ABTA and ATOL protected.

Royal Caribbean International terms and conditions apply.

Five Star Premium Cruising By booking early you may experience the spectacular scenery of the Baltic or Norwegian Fjords in both style and value with premium Holland America Line in summer 2013.

early ADVANTAGE

Our spacious, mid-sized ships accommodate far fewer guests than most. Guests stepping onboard will find elegant lounges adorned with fine art and antiques; large, comfortable staterooms, most with ocean views, and many with private balconies; restaurants that sparkle with chandeliers, crystal and conversation – including the intimate “Pinnacle Grill”.

Traditional features such as polished brassware and the wraparound teak promenade deck.

book early and save

7 NIGHTS FROM

£699 PER PERSON

All creating the ambience of a gracious hotel at sea, and featuring Holland America Line’s special “Signature of Excellence”.

• Early Advantage benefits include worry free deposit^, lower • • • • • • • FL NO YI NG

7-Night Viking Sagas ms Ryndam 11 May*; 8 Jun* & 3 Aug 2013 Roundrip Dover

• Early Advantage fares from £699pp • Free upgrade from inside to ocean view • Worry free deposit means changes can be made without penalty^

• Early Advantage fares from £699pp • Free upgrade from inside to ocean view • Worry free deposit means changes can be made without penalty^

£699

£699

EARLY ADVANTAGE FARE PP

Ocean-view Stateroom Verandah Suite Deluxe Verandah Suite *Lead in fares based on 11 May & 8 Jun 2013

£699 £699 £1,399 £1,699

14-Night Jewels of the Baltic

ms Ryndam 4 May*; 1 Jun*; 13 Jul 2013 Roundrip Dover

CRUISE ONLY FROM

Interior Stateroom

FL NO YI NG

7-Night Norse Legends

CRUISE ONLY FROM

NO FLYING

early booking fares and free upgrades!

Spacious staterooms, many with private balcony Nearly one crew member for every two guests Fine dining with casual to formal options Culinary Arts Centre, presented by Food & Wine magazine Greenhouse Spa and Salon Enrichment at sea and explorations ashore Full days ashore and overnights in some ports

NO FLYING

ms Ryndam 15 Jun*; 20 Jul 2013 Roundrip Dover

• • • •

Overnights in St Petersburg and Stockholm Early Advantage fares from £1,499pp Free upgrade from inside to ocean view Worry free deposit means changes can be made without penalty^

Ocean-view Stateroom Verandah Suite Deluxe Verandah Suite *Lead in fares based on 4 May & 1 Jun 2013

£699 £699 £1,399 £1,699

NO FLYING

Cruise beyond the Arctic Circle!

Early Advantage fares from £1,599pp Free upgrade from inside to ocean view Worry free deposit means changes can be made without penalty^

£1,599

EARLY ADVANTAGE FARE PP

Interior Stateroom Ocean-view Stateroom Verandah Suite Deluxe Verandah Suite *Lead in fares based on 18 May

Verandah Suite

• • • •

CRUISE ONLY FROM

£1,499

EARLY ADVANTAGE FARE PP

IN 14-Night G Voyage of the Midnight Sun

ms Ryndam 18 May*; 29 Jun 2013 Roundrip Dover

CRUISE ONLY FROM

Interior Stateroom

FL NO Y

FL NO YI NG

£1,499 £1,499 £3,199 £4,499

NO FLYING

EARLY ADVANTAGE FARE PP

Interior Stateroom Ocean-view Stateroom Verandah Suite Deluxe Verandah Suite

£1,599 £1,599 £3,199 £4,499

*Lead in fares based on 15 Jun

Thermal Suite, Greenhouse Spa

Call Holland America Line Reservations on 0843 374 2300 www.hollandamerica.co.uk Fares are per person based on double occupancy, cruise only basis including taxes. Upgrade offers are valid on select sailings and in select categories only. For more information about stateroom categories and suite descriptions, to view deck plans please refer to www.hollandamerica.co.uk. For full Holland America Line terms and conditions, refer to the Holland America Line 2013-4 Worldwide Cruise Holidays brochure. Offers are capacity controlled and may be modified or withdrawn or sailing/departure dates may be substituted without prior notice. Subject to availability. Other restrictions may apply. It is the responsibility of guests to ensure they have a full passport valid at least 6 months beyond the date travel is to commence. ^Worry Free Deposit: a 15% deposit is required for all cruise bookings. Changes to guest names, sailing date, accommodations booked and price promotion can be made up until 90 days prior to sailing (or final payment date), whichever is first. Bookings cannot be changed within 90 days of sailing. Terms and conditions apply.

bars on boarD

Five of the best

Bars Whether you fancy a mojito, martini or Bellini, these stunning ship bars offer the perfect setting for a relaxing holiday cocktail, says Julia McDonald

cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

December /ja n ua ry 2013 |

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17

The Martini Bar Celebrity Equinox, Solstice, Eclipse and Reflection CElEbRity CRuiSES

Drink of choice the 20-year Martini While the Martini Bar is indeed a haven for connoisseurs of gin and vermouth, it is without a doubt the bartenders who steal the show.

Concocting both classic cocktails and modern adaptations with infinite skill and ease, they are also famed for some noteworthy feats that include pouring ‘flights’ of up to 12 stacked martinis into a pyramid of glasses, without spilling a single drop.

The Martini Bar’s extensive menu of cocktails is complemented by an equally impressive list of vodkas. Depending on the ship, you may have upwards of 100 varieties to try, including Russian favourites as well as a host of rarer breeds.

As for the bar itself, there is only one word to describe it: cool. Or perhaps icy. Covered in a frosty layer of ice crystals, the surface is guaranteed to keep your drink cool and offers an unusual medium for the impromptu game of noughts and crosses.

Alternatively, if the prospect of a cosy nook and a comfortable armchair sounds more appealing, head to Michael’s Club for your choice of more than 60 beers and the ultimate gentlemanly setting.

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| december /ja n ua ry 2013

Ingredients Grey Goose vodka La Poire, rose essence, fresh lime, fresh sage, passion-ginger foam, and a splash of Brut champagne

Method Served in a souvenir glass in celebration of Celebrity’s 20th Anniversary

cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

BARS ON BOARD

Silver Lounge MSC Divina Drink of choice Flirtini; shaken not stirred Sleek curves, glistening chrome and sparkling glass welcome guests to the aptly named Silver Lounge on board MSC Divina. Easily reached by the elegant glass staircase sweeping up from reception, not only is the Silver Lounge one of the first bars you encounter on board, it’s one of those rare spots you’ll find yourself returning to again and again.

The setting is unquestionably sophisticated and stylish, without any hint of pretension. As a result, it’s both comfortable and chic, a combination that few bars successfully achieve.

The Silver Lounge cocktail menu offers everything from classic Cosmopolitans to an Adam’s Apple Martini. However, our favourite form of pre-dinner refreshment takes the shape of the ever-enticing Silver Lounge Flirtini.

Ingredients Grey Goose premium vodka, raspberry flavoured vodka, Frangelico, dash of dry vermouth, dash of Cointreau

Method Shake all the ingredients and strain into a nice chilled martini glass

Pink Disney Dream DISNEY CRUISE LINE

Drink of choice Taittinger champagne If the concept of sipping champagne while immersed in a sea of pink bubbles sounds too fantastical to comprehend, make your way to Disney Dream’s decadent champagne bar and prepare yourself for a wonderfully surreal setting.

Lavish velvet, polished wood and smooth marble lay the foundations for Pink’s elegant décor. However, it’s the finer details that lend the bar its intangible air of enchantment. Backlit glass bubbles cascade up the walls, sculpted light fixtures resembling champagne flutes dot the room and even the detailing on the bar resembles the wire cage surrounding a cork.

As for its menu of champagnes and sparkling wines, the list is robust to say the least, making Pink the perfect spot to enjoy a celebration.

For a very literal change of scenery, the full-length LED ‘windows’ in the sophisticated Skyline bar boast skyscraper views overlooking a new city each day. The menu also changes every 24 hours, making each visit to this bar a unique experience.  CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM

DECEMBER /JA N UA RY 2013 |

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bars on board

Casino Bar Riviera and Marina Oceania cRuises

Drink of choice Big ‘O’ Martini Nothing complements big stakes and high rollers quite like a Vodka Martini, and on Oceania’s sister ships Riviera and Marina, the Casino Bar will see that your glass never goes dry.

This glamorous space features plush highbacked Victorian benches and a backlit bar, but it’s the layout and location that impressed us most.

Where so many casinos put their bar in the same room as their blackjack tables and slot machines, the Casino Bar can be found just next door. Close enough to grab a drink between hands, yet removed enough to offer refuge from the roulette wheel, Oceania has created something of an oasis.

If, on the other hand, you find yourself craving a Malbec over a martini, head to La Reserve on the 12th deck. However, be warned that you will need to book ahead if you plan to indulge in one of their renowned wine-paired dinners.

Ingredients 70ml (2½fl oz) Grey Goose vodka L’Orange, 15ml (½fl oz) Cointreau, orange and cranberry juice as needed, dash of fresh lime juice

Method Shake and serve in a chunky martini glass with a slice of orange as garnish

The Planet Bar azura Oceania cRuises

Drink of choice Brodie’s Bombay cooler If setting sail on P&O’s Azura has reignited your dreams to travel the world and discover its most spectacular sights, you may be closer to achieving your ambition than you realise.

Located on the Ocean Deck, the Planet Bar’s 15 metres of plasma screens will blow you away with its panoramic footage of Earth’s most incredible scenery. Featuring a new continent each evening, you could be exploring the Egyptian pyramids on your first evening, traversing the Great Wall of China on your second and heading to Sydney’s Opera House on your third, all while enjoying an exceptional pre-dinner cocktail.

The Planet Bar also succeeds in incorporating these screens into a stylish and sophisticated setting, a substantial task given their proportions.

As a result, your experience here will be a memorable one, no matter which of the world’s continents you are ‘visiting’.

As for drinks, guests are undoubtedly spoiled for choice in the Planet Bar. If you find yourself overwhelmed by the pure number of options, try P&O’s 175th anniversary cocktail, the Brodie’s Bombay Cooler, for some deliciously fruity, thirstquenching refreshment.

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| december /ja n ua ry 2013

Ingredients

Method

50ml (1½fl oz) Bombay Sapphire, 15ml (½fl oz) elderflower cordial, 50ml (1½fl oz) cranberry juice, tonic water, 2 lemon wedges

Add Bombay Sapphire, elderflower and cranberry juice to a highball glass with ice, then squeeze and drop a fresh wedge of lemon. Fill with tonic water and add another squeeze of lemon. Stir well and finish with a straw. cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

Taste A AN N A AF FF FO OR RD DA AB B LL EE LL U UX XU UR RY Y

The essence of taste reaches far beyond the culinary creations of our Master Chef, Jacques Pépin.

The essence of taste reaches far beyond the culinary creations of our Master Chef, Jacques Pépin.

It’s in the hand-selected furnishings of our gourmet restaurants. It’s in our richly appointed It’s in the hand-selected furnishings of our gourmet restaurants. It’s in our richly appointed staterooms and lounges. It’s how our staff warmly welcomes you to the comfort of our staterooms and lounges. It’s how our staff warmly welcomes you to the comfort of our country club-casual ambiance. From the serenity of our Canyon Ranch SpaClub® country club-casual ambiance. From the serenity of our Canyon Ranch SpaClub® to the allure of more than 300 global destinations, our style reflects your tastes. to the allure of more than 300 global destinations, our style reflects your tastes.

The essence of taste is The essence of taste is

Value Value

without compromise. without compromise.

CONTACT YOUR T R AVEL AGENT O R VISIT WWW.OCE ANIACRUISES .COM CONTACT YOUR T R AVEL AGENT O R VISIT WWW.OCE ANIACRUISES .COM

eric lanlard

Interview by Jessica Tooze

“I take my inspiration from around the world” French pastry chef Eric Lanlard famously created cakes for Madonna and Brooklyn Beckham, has presented his own Channel 4 series and writes best-selling recipe books. Here he tells us why he’s preparing to join P&O Cruises’ Chefs at Sea. Tell us how you came to be a pastry chef... it’s something i’ve wanted to do since i was a kid. i started making cakes on my own from the age of six. the highlight of my week was sunday, when we went to the pâtisserie to buy our ‘gâteaux du dimanche’. i was fascinated by the presentation, service and luxury around this French tradition to buy cakes on sunday. what is more extraordinary is i never had a sweet tooth.

Why do you think you have been so successful in the UK? i was at the right place at the right moment. we opened our business when the food revolution started in the Uk, and for the first time we were offering a similar pâtisserie to one you could find in paris.

photos: istock/adam lawrence

Can you tell us about some of your celebrity clients?

I made a grand cake for the Grand Event in Southampton, and it was cut by HRH Princess Anne

we have been lucky to get commissions from high-profile clients. people like elizabeth hurley and claudia schiffer know and love their food, so it is great to design something for them. my favourite client was hm the Queen mother for her true ‘joie de vivre’.

And on top of that, you have your own shop and training school, four TV series, six books and more.

How do you fit it all in? it’s funny how people are surprised to see me in the shop or kitchen. we run a small business with a small efficient team. the diary fills up very fast, but i like to keep grounded. i’m the first one in the kitchen at 6am every morning. after 20 years, my love for my profession is still as high and i am having a ball working on all these projects, even if it’s stressful at times.

to the luxury of your cabin. and if you really like a place, you can always come back and spend more time there. my cruise with p&o was fantastic; we went around the Baltic sea in spring. the weather was beautiful, the food was out of this world with so many dining options, and there was great entertainment too.

You were also at Southampton for the Grand Event.

What was that like? it was spectacular; the view of the seven ships in the harbour on arrival was something out of a hollywood movie and the bad weather gave it a kind of mystical feel. i made a grand cake to mark the occasion and it was cut by hrh princess anne. the whole day had a great sense of history, power and inspiration, and the future of cruising looks good too.

And next year will see you joining the team of Chefs at Sea. What does this involve? i’ll be joining marco pierre white, atul kochhar and olly smith on board the p&o fleet to do demonstrations, intimate masterclasses and talks inspired by local ports of call. i am very excited about it, because i love sharing my passion for my work, meeting new people and being on a cruise ship.

Tell us about your new book, Tart It Up! tart it Up! is my fourth book and the first one that includes savoury recipes. savoury baking is the underdog of the baking world – people think about heavy pies for winter – but i’ve waited a long time to show that it doesn’t have to be like that.

What’s next for you? i’ve just finished writing my next book, which will come out next June, and i am off on a Us book tour this october. next year, as well as travelling with p&o, i am embarking on a world gastro tour taking me to south africa, the maldives, china and other exciting destinations… oh, and i’ll be the first chef in space aboard the Virgin Galactic flight with richard Branson.

Tart It Up! is published

by Mitchell Beazley and is priced at £18.99 ›› See opposite for Eric’s scrumptious mince pies recipe

Have you been on a cruise before? my passion is for making cake that tastes as good as it looks, taking my inspiration from the many parts of the world i have travelled to. i have been on many cruises before and love them. it’s a great way to travel and see different places in a short time. i like the way that, at the end of the day, you always come back

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cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

Meet top chefs on your holiday Eric Lanlard will be joining other famous chefs for Food and Wine cruises in 2013 Together with Michelin-starred restaurateur Atul Kochhar (below), well-known TV chef Marco Pierre White (bottom) and wine expert Olly Smith, Eric Lanlard will be travelling on Food and Wine cruises in partnership with P&O Cruises next April and November. Taking in destinations including the Mediterranean, Canary Islands, Baltic Sea and the Caribbean, the chefs will lend their expertise and local knowledge as they lead a range of shore excursions. These include visits to vineyards, breweries, distilleries, restaurants and markets to discover the local fare. They will also host activities on board the liners. For more info visit pocruises.com or call 0843 374 0111.

Eric Lanlard’s Mince pies The build-up to the festive season wouldn’t be the same without mince pies, and it’s a tradition I am more than happy to embrace – I just love them. I’ve added a little continental twist to this recipe…

ServeS 6 Preparation time: 30 minutes, plus marinating Cooking time: 20 minutes For the mincemeat 250g (8oz) golden sultanas 250g (8oz) natural glacé cherries, halved 250g (8oz) raisins 100g (3.5oz) mixed peel 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp ground nutmeg 1 tsp ground mixed spice 125g (4oz) unsalted butter finely grated zest of 1 orange finely grated zest of 1 lemon 250g (8oz) dark muscovado sugar 250ml (8fl oz) amaretto liqueur For the pies butter, for greasing plain flour, for dusting 1 x quantity shortcrust pastry 250g (8oz) ready-made or homemade puff pastry 1 egg, lightly beaten 15g (0.5oz) light muscovado sugar cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

1. The mincemeat should be made a few weeks before so that the flavours develop. Put all the dried fruit, spices and butter into a large bowl and mix thoroughly. Place the grated zest, sugar and amaretto in a small saucepan and heat gently until the sugar has dissolved – do not let it boil. Pour over the mixed fruit and stir gently. Cover the bowl with clingfilm and leave to infuse for 48 hours.

2. Pack the mincemeat into sterilized jars and seal. Store in a cool dark place for a couple of weeks to allow the flavours to mature.

When you are ready to make the mince pies, preheat the oven to 180°C (fan 160°C)/350°F/gas mark 4. Grease 6 x individual 10cm (4in) diameter loose-bottomed tartlet tins.

3. Roll out the shortcrust pastry thinly on a lightly floured surface and use to line the tins. Generously fill the pastry cases with the mincemeat (this will use approximately 500g (1lb).

4. Roll out the puff pastry thinly on a floured surface and brush with egg. Using a cutter, cut out six shapes to cover the tart and place on top of the mincemeat. Sprinkle with light muscovado sugar.

5. Bake in the oven for 25–30 minutes, or until the pastry is golden and the tops have puffed up. Serve warm with crème fraîche drizzled with amaretto and sprinkle with roasted flaked almonds…

Tip This recipe will also make 24 small mince pies in two 12-hole tins – just reduce cooking time to 20–25 minutes or until pastry is golden.

TUUKK A ERVA STI/ IM AG

The world´s easiest job?

Postcard photographer in Stockholm.

EBAN K SWED EN

N EDE

K SW BAN AGE

/ IM SON ERIC OLA

ORK CRUISE NETW

RS BO ARD

VISITO

STOCKHOLM

KHOLM

STOC

AMSSON/ PER-ERIK AD

Most places in the world have their charms and their beauty but sometimes you have to squint a little. And then there is Stockholm. Built on 14 islands with sparkling blue water in every direction, you get history, culture and stunning scenery everywhere you look.

Come and see for yourself. More inspiration on www.visitstockholm.com

A celebrat ion of cruise More than 20,000 votes were received for this year’s Cruise International Awards.

Read on to see how your favourite cruise companies fared... cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

october / nov ember 2012 |

25

ERIC LANLARD

From left to right: Gyles Brandreth, Cruise International Editor Liz Jarvis, Nathan Kemp and Erin Johnson from Carnival Cruise Lines, Claudia Quas from Tourism Stockholm, and Classic FM’s Nick Bailey

With special thanks to

onestop4: 26

| OC TOBER / NOV EMBER 2012

CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM

Cheryl Baker with Nathan Philpot from Fred. Olsen Cruises

The cruise industry turned out in force to honour the winners of the Cruise International Awards 2012 at London’s Soho Hotel. Host Gyles Brandreth and guest presenters including Cheryl Baker and Nick Bailey from Classic FM handed out the coveted gongs, and Carnival UK chief executive David Dingle CBE was there to receive his Lifetime Achievement Award. This year’s results, all voted for by readers of Cruise International, again rewarded some old favourites, and there were plenty of suprise winners too.

David Dingle CBE with Gyles Brandreth and Neil Barclay from Viking River Cruises

cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

october / nov ember 2012 |

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DISCOVER A DIFFERENT VIEW OF THE WORLD Europe • Russia • Asia Inspiring destinations, extraordinary comfort, exceptional cuisine, unrivalled service and fascinating tours – there is no more rewarding way to see the world than on a Viking river cruise.

With prices starting from just £1,095pp for an 8-day European river cruise holiday, come and discover a different view of the world with Viking.

Call 020 8780 7900 www.vikingrivercruises.co.uk Travel safe, you are fully protected Price is correct at the time of going to print. All holidays are subject to availability..

CRUISE AWARDS

BEST CRUISE LINE CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES The powerhouse of the cruise world, with the largest fleet of the 11 cruise ship brands owned and operated by the Carnival Corporation & PLC, Carnival’s 23 ‘fun ships’ offer lively entertainment and endless activities in a laid-back atmosphere that’s perfect for families, couples and friends. Next year Carnival starts sailing from the UK, which will enable even more British passengers to discover its laid-back style.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines (Highly Commended) Fred. Olsen impresses again with its quintessentially British cruise experience and excellent value for money holidays.

BEST RIVER CRUISE LINE VIKING RIVER CRUISES River cruising continues to grow, and our winner this year again capitalises on last year’s success. But with the £80million that Viking River Cruises has spent on its slick new longships – with six launching this year alone – we think it’s a highly deserved win. These revolutionary vessels are setting innovative standards in style, space and comfort, and are sailing throughout Europe’s beautiful waterways. Book an Explorer Suite on Aegir, Embla, Freya, Idun, Njord or Odin for a truly memorable and supremely relaxing holiday.

Uniworld (Highly Commended) This luxury river cruise company offers the epitome of timeless elegance, particularly on its flagship SS Antoinette.

CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM

DECEMBER /JA N UA RY 2013 |

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SAIL ON A LEGEND . . .

CRUISE ON THE SUNSHINE . . .

Introducing the new 2013 season from Carnival

Legends are made, not born, and Carnival Legend certainly lives up to her title. Cruise on Carnival Legend and experience a vacation that’ll go down in your family’s history books . . . sailing Nine Mediterranean and Eight Baltic and Norwegian Fjords itineraries in 2013.

Carnival Sunshine will offer new fun experiences of every kind. From Guy Fieri burgers to the BlueIguana Tequila Bar, a fully-soaked WaterWorks to one calm Serenity area, enjoy all that’s new as you cruise the Mediterranean from Barcelona. With all of these new additions, Carnival has dialed up the fun on Carnival Sunshine creating the ultimate Carnival Cruise Experience.

Carnival Legend 12 NIGHTS FROM

£1,029 June 2013 to August 2013

pp*

Visiting: Dover • Copenhag en • Berlin • Helsinki • St Pete rsb • Tallin • Amsterdam urg • Dover *Ba sed on the 21st June2012

EUROPE 2013 FREE DO VER CAR PARKING IN BALCONY AND ABOVE

Carnival Legend 12 NIGHTS FROM

£839

pp*

22nd Apr, 16th M ay & 19th Oct

Visiting: Barcelona • Palma De Mallorca • Marseilles • Olbia/ Sardinia • Livorno • Civitavec chia (Rome) • Naples • Messina,S icily Dubrovnik • Venic • e *Cru ise Only from £669pp bas

ed on the 22nd Apr

EUROPE 2013 OBC OF FE $150 PER STATEROOM R BALCONY AND ABOVE

To book call 0845 351 0557 or visit www.carnival.co.uk The above lead in fares are per person sharing a twin stateroom on a cruise only basis. Fly/Cruise prices available on www.carnival.co.uk. All prices shown are subject to availability. Please visit www.carnival.co.uk for full terms and conditions. Itineraries may vary according to sailing date.

Carnival Sunshine 9 NIGHTS FROM

12 NIGHTS FROM

£869

£719

pp*

pp*

5th May, 16th Ju n, 28th Jul, 08th Se p& 20th Oct 2013

26th Apr, 7th Ju n, 19th Jul, 30th Aug & 11th Oct 2013

Visiting: Venice • Dubrovnik • Messina, Sicily • Naples • Ci vitavecchia (Rome) • Livorno • Marseilles • Monaco • Palma De Mallorca • Barcelonae

Visiting: Barcelona • Monac o • Civitavecchia (Rom • Livorno e) • Messina,Sicily • Du Naples • brovnik • Venice *Cruise Only from £539pp

Carnival Sunshine

based on the 26th Apr

*Cruise Only from £669pp

EUROPE 2013 OBC OF FE $100 PER STATEROOM R

based on the 5th May

EUROPE 2013 OBC OF FE $150 PER STATEROOM R

WINNER

HIGHLY COMMENDED

WINNER

HIGHLY COMMENDED

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE BEST CRUISE LINE

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE BEST FOR KIDS

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE BEST INNOVATION

BEST FOR ENTERTAINMENT

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE

WINNER

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE BEST CRUISE LINE

PROMOTION

Welcome to fun

For a truly relaxing holiday everyone can enjoy, look no further than a Carnival cruise, which next year will set sail from the UK

A

t Carnival, they go the extra mile to make every cruise an unforgettable adventure.

And in 2013, Carnival Sunshine will be sailing out of Barcelona from April, and Carnival Legend will sail out of Dover from June – the first Carnival ship to sail from a UK port for over five years. So it’s never been easier to start your holiday.

Exceptional holidays Having fun is more important than ever before – and Carnival cruises provide a truly exceptional holiday where everyone can thoroughly relax and enjoy themselves.

On board their ships, you can relax in air-conditioned bars, bistros, restaurants and nightclubs, enjoy top-of-the-range sports and leisure amenities, find your perfect spot in the sun, chill in the spa, watch the latest film or join an activity – from wine tasting and quizzes to golf, Pilates, spin and volleyball.

Outside in the sunshine, an extensive deck area features sparkling pools, whirlpools, water slides and delicious snacks alfresco.

Dining options range from elegant restaurants to informal bistros, a sushi bar and 24-hour pizzeria. You’ll be treated to first-class entertainment in their intimate piano bars and comedy clubs, as well as enjoying our cutting-edge shows. And Carnival fun isn’t limited to on-board activities. You can experience the best and most fun excursions on offer in the world’s most memorable destinations. Whether you’re a sun lover or thrill-seeker, these cruises have something for everyone.

Fun for the whole family Carnival make every effort to create an adventure that the whole family can enjoy.

Their rooms are extraordinarily spacious and there are interconnected rooms, too.

CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM

They have a host of on-board family entertainment. And if you want a bit of peace and quiet, drop the kids off at Camp Carnival, which offers lots of fun activities designed for children.

Carnival Legend Carnival Legend will operate 17 European cruises between April and October 2013, visiting 34 ports across 18 countries. Cruises from Dover will include Norway and Western Europe, British Isles, Norway and France and Baltic Wonders and St Petersburg. On board highlights include two saltwater pools, a 9-hole miniature golf course, Carnival’s Twister Waterslide, 24-hour complimentary room service, the Firebird Lounge and Billie’s Piano Bar,.

Carnival Sunshine Taking ‘fun for all’ to a whole new level, Carnival Sunshine brings guests the best that Carnival has to offer – all on one ship.

You can dine on the best burgers at sea at Guy’s Burger Joint, or enjoy Italian, Mexican and Asian cuisine. Chill poolside with a Margarita in hand at Blue Iguana Tequila Bar or Caribbean-style at RedFrog Pub and RedFrog Rum Bar. Leisure highlights include Hasbro, The Game Show, and Serenity – an oasis of calm.

Carnival Sunshine will embark on a schedule of nine and 12-day Mediterranean voyages from Barcelona and Venice from April to October 2013, then launch yearround seven-day Caribbean departures from New Orleans beginning November 2013.

To find out more about cruises on Carnival Legend or Carnival Sunshine, visit

carnival.co.uk or call 0845 351 0556 or call your travel agent DECEMBER /JA N UA RY 2013 |

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THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR VOTES We were delighted to be named

‘Best Affordable Cruise Line’ and ‘Best for Learning’ in the 2012 Cruise International Awards.

At Fred. Olsen we do our utmost to give people the best possible holiday experience and we’re pleased to have been successful in these awards two years in a row. It shows our work is noticed by the people who matter.

We’d like to express our sincere gratitude to Cruise International readers for voting and look forward to welcoming you on board in the near future.

Fred. Olsen makes cruising even better value

We’re not one to rest on our laurels, now we’ve made cruising even more affordable by introducing an All Inclusive drinks package.* So you can enjoy selected wines, spirits, beers and soft drinks for just £5 per day. This is available for departures 6th April 2013 onwards but you’ll need to hurry as the offer ends 5th November 2012!

For a Fred. Olsen brochure, visit fredolsencruises.com contact your travel agent or call 0800

* See fredolsencruises.com for full details, terms and conditions

0355 102

CRUISE AWARDS

BEST FOR LEARNING FRED. OLSEN CRUISE LINES Fred. Olsen gains another top spot with its Vistas cruise programme. On selected cruises, they offer a range of activities and entertainment that adds to your holiday experience, from enlightening talks by guest speakers who are experts in their field, to specially tailored Shore Tours designed to help bring places to life.

Cunard (Highly Commended) Cunard’s enrichment programmes offer a vast array of lectures and events to expand your horizons on board.

BEST SPECIALIST CRUISE VOYAGES TO ANTIQUITY Voyages to Antiquity combines the excitement of exploring incredible locations with the comfort and service of boutique-style cruising on board a small ship. The company has just one vessel but the handsome MV Aegean Odyssey is spacious and elegant, offering educational and informative holidays for the more adventurous traveller.

Hurtigruten (Highly Commended) The Norwegian line continues to be a big hit with those of you who want an authentic and adventurous experience.

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DECEMBER /JA N UA RY 2013 |

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CRUISE AWARDS

BEST FOR FOOD CUNARD LINE Dining on board a Cunard ship is always a superior experience, but it is also unique in that where you eat is determined by class.

The Verandah Grills on Queen Mary and the original Queen Elizabeth were perhaps the most exclusive dining rooms at sea, available to first-class passengers who wanted a truly exclusive experience. In keeping with this tradition, The Verandah restaurant on the new Queen Elizabeth offers an experience that encompasses exquisite cuisine, contemporary design and impeccable service, with a menu created by Chef Zimmermann that is a fabulous celebration of French cuisine.

Holland America Line (Highly Commended) Exclusive to Holland America Line’s Signature-class ships, the Tamarind Restaurant offers exceptional Pan-Asian fare.

BEST INNOVATION CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES Carnival wins in this category for their understandably popular new attraction – the 5D cinema on board Breeze. Films here don’t just jump off the screen, they practically make the audience a part of the action. The special effects explode from the film reel as you hear the floor rumble around you and feel the wind in your hair.

Norwegian Cruise Line (Highly Commended) The ice bar on board the Epic is one of only 14 true ice bars in the world, set at or below 17 degrees. Cosy faux fur coats are provided.

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CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM

small-ship cruises to

ancient civilisations WINTER 2012/13

india & southeast asia From the serene Angkor Wat in Cambodia

and the grandeur of the Taj Mahal, to bustling Hong Kong and the exotic markets of Bangkok, each of the itineraries in our winter programme will take you on a voyage you will never forget.

16 TO 22-DAY CRUISE-TOURS START FROM JUST £2,695*

CALL NOW FOR A BROCHURE

SPRING/SUMMER 2013

classical europe From the ruins of Pompeii to monumental Sicily

and the classical elegance of Greece, Voyages to Antiquity brings to life the history, art and cultures of western civilisation aboard our ship, Aegean Odyssey.

13 TO 19-DAY CRUISE-TOURS START FROM JUST £1,695*

All the comfort of small-ship cruising with the very best of cultural travel.

All our voyages offer remarkable value and include: • • • • •

Scheduled flights & regional UK connections Shore excursions & gratuities on board Pre- & post-cruise 4 & 5-star hotel stays Award-winning Guest Speaker programme Open-seating dining and complimentary wine with dinner

Proud recipients of the 2012 Specialist Cruise Line Award. Thank you for voting for us!

V OYAGES A NTIQUITY TO

10093

0845 437 9737 www.voyagestoantiquity.com *Price per person, based on two people sharing a category N cabin.

ABTA No.Y2206

CRUISE AWARDS

BEST SHORE EXCURSIONS UNIWORLD The highlight of a river cruise for many people is the ease of hopping on and off at different destinations, as the ships often dock in the very centre of cities and places of interest, without the need for lengthy coach journeys or queuing through customs. Uniworld’s shore excursions are included in the cruise price and range from special visits to museums, castles and restaurants to classical concerts, elegant receptions, and home-hosted lunches. They also offer walking tours in selected cities and ‘Go Active’ excursions.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines (Highly Commended) Fred. Olsen’s shore excursions are consistently popular and well researched, from tours of Amsterdam’s canals to jeep safaris.

BEST FOR ENTERTAINMENT PRINCESS CRUISES For many the entertainment is one of the main draws of a cruise holiday, with shows of all kinds often of the highest quality. Princess wins this new award for the continued high quality of the live performances on board their ships. Princess Signature Shows are featured on every cruise, entertaining passengers with lively music, stunning choreography, and some of the largest casts at sea.

Carnival Cruise Lines (Highly Commended) Featuring talented singers, musicians and dancers performing crowd-thrilling numbers, Carnival’s stage shows are fun for everyone.

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• FREE Balcony upgrades†« • Mini ini-s -suit uite e upgrades from £200pp*

Mediterranean & Scandinavia 2013

PLUS book a Balcony or above to choose one of these fantastic benefits: • FREE car parking^ • FREE coach transfers^ • OR up to $200 per couple FREE onboard spending money#

Fares are cruise only pp

Here’s a sample of some of the 2013 Cruise Extra cruises available.

FREE BALCONY UPGRADE†

Visit www.princess.com for more details.

Interior

Oceanview

Balcony

Mini suite

Suite

Canary Islands Crown Princess • 11 nights • 30 Apr, 1 Jun 2013 Southampton • Las Palmas • Santa Cruz de Tenerife • Arrecife • Madeira Vigo (for Santiago de Compostela) • Southampton

£999

£1,449 £1,449 £1,849 £3,585

£899

£1,099 £1,099 £1,299 £2,615

Fares based on 30 Apr departure. Fares for other departures may vary.

Norwegian Fjords Crown Princess • 8 nights • 10 Aug, 1 Sep 2013 Southampton • Bergen • Flaam/Sognefjord • Olden/Nordfjord • Hellesylt Geiranger Fjord scenic cruising • Geiranger Fjord • Stavanger • Southampton Fares based on 1 Sep departure. Fares for other departures may vary.

Mediterranean Medley Crown Princess • 14 nights 11 May, 27 Jul, 30 Sep 2013

Southampton • Barcelona • Monte Carlo • Florence/Pisa (Livorno) • Rome (Civitavecchia) • Naples (for Capri & Pompeii) • Ajaccio • Gibraltar • Southampton

£1,299 £1,749

£1,749 £2,149 £4,055

Fares based on 11 May departure. Fares for other departures may vary.

Mediterranean & Adriatic Crown Princess • 17 nights • 12 Jun, 9 Sep 2013 Southampton • Seville (Cádiz) • Valletta • Venice • Ljubljana (Koper) Dubrovnik • Corfu • Gibraltar • Southampton

£1,899 £2,449 £2,449 £2,849 £4,625

Fares based on 9 Sep departure. Fares for other departures may vary

Book now to receive some fantastic benefits, benefits including FREE balcony upgrades† on all featured cruises, mini-suite upgrades from just £200pp* PLUS a choice of FREE car parking in Southampton or Dover^, FREE coach transfers to and from Southampton^ or up to $200 FREE onboard spending money# when you book a balcony stateroom or above.

Free car parking is available on all Crown Princess, Caribbean Princess and Ocean Princess cruises sailing roundtrip from Southampton or Dover when you book a balcony stateroom or above. Free car parking must be confirmed at the time of booking, quoting RDB. Once your cruise booking is confirmed, contact Cruise and Passenger Services to book parking in Southampton (tel: 0845 0713939; www.candps.com), or Dover Cruise Port to book parking in Dover (tel: 0844 5041771; www.doverport.co.uk), quoting RDB and your six-digit cruise booking reference. Car parking can only be booked from 72 hours after you have confirmed your cruise until 35 days prior to your cruise departure.

Free coach transfers between Southampton and a range of pick-up points around the UK are available on all Crown Princess cruises of 7 nights or longer sailing roundtrip from Southampton, as well as the North Cape & Norwegian Fjords cruise on Caribbean Princess, when you book a balcony stateroom or above. Free coach transfers must be confirmed at the time of booking, quoting RDC. Once your cruise booking is confirmed please book your coach transfers by calling Eavesway Travel on 01942 727985, or visit www.eaveswaytravel.com, quoting RDC and your six-digit cruise booking reference. Coach transfers can only be booked from 72 hours after you have confirmed your cruise until 35 days prior to your cruise departure.

Remember - if you choose not to take advantage of our free parking or coach transfers, or you are booking a fly-cruise, you can opt to receive up to $200 FREE onboard spending money# instead!

For more details of these and many more Princess cruises, please contact your ABTA travel agent or visit princess.com

To request your FREE copy of our Mediterranean & Scandinavia 2013 brochure call 0844 579 0099 This advert should be read in conjunction with Princess Cruises Booking Conditions which can be found in the Mediterranean & Scandinavia 2013 1st edition brochure. Prices shown are cruise only, subject to availability based upon the lowest available grade within the stateroom type specified and include Government Fees and Taxes. Prices are correct at time of going to print, and may go up or down. †Free balcony upgrade is from the lowest available unobstructed Oceanview to the lowest available Balcony, and on Royal Princess from the lowest available Balcony to the lowest available Deluxe Balcony. *Upgrade to a Mini-Suite from £200pp on cruises up to nine nights, and from £400pp on all other cruises. CRUISE EXTRA: Passengers who book a balcony stateroom or above are offered the option of either free onboard spending money, free coach transfers or free car parking. #Free onboard spending money is $100 per stateroom on cruises of 10 nights or less, and $200 per stateroom on cruises of 11 nights or more. Offer excludes inside and oceanview staterooms and third/fourth passengers. Onboard spending money may be used on a single cruise only and expires at the end of that cruise. ^Free car parking is available on Crown, Ocean and Caribbean Princess cruises sailing roundtrip from Southampton or Dover. Free coach transfers are available on Crown Princess cruises of 7 nights or longer sailing roundtrip from Southampton, and Caribbean Princess 17/6/13 sailing. Offer excludes inside and oceanview staterooms and third/fourth passengers. Car parking and coach transfers must be confirmed at the time of booking, and booked directly with the relevant company no later than 35 days prior to the cruise. Princess Cruises cannot be held responsible for any passenger who does not book their car parking with or coach transfers with the relevant company. All offers are subject to availability on new bookings made by 31 October 2012.

ABTA No.V8764

ABTA No.V8764

CRUISE AWARDS

BEST LUXURY CRUISE LINE SEABOURN The ultimate in high-class cruising, Seabourn again wins our top award for luxury at sea.

Described by the cruise line as “luxurious yet relaxed; elegant yet casual; sumptuous yet understated”, Seabourn’s intimate ships cater to the most discerning of passengers. The fleet of six ships visit some of the world’s most intriguing destinations, sailing to the heart of big cities as well as to hidden gems that larger ships cannot access. On board, the impeccable service, gourmet cuisine and elegant design and décor mean these vessels are in a league of their own.

Oceania Cruises (Highly Commended) Sumptuous cuisine, exceptional service and exciting itineraries are all part of the Oceania cruise experience.

BEST LUXURY RIVER CRUISE LINE UNIWORLD The unsurpassed benchmark of luxury river cruising, Uniworld’s attention to detail, unparalleled customer service and award-winning food ensure that the experience aboard its vessels rivals that of the best ocean-going ships. With an average of 130 guests on board, the crew always go above and beyond your expectations, so you enjoy the ultimate travel experience. The fleet includes the luxurious SS Antoinette, and the elegant River Beatrice.

Viking River Cruises (Highly Commended) Viking impressed you with its brand new longships, including the fabulous Odin, and continued improvements to the quality of its river cruise experience.

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Thank you

“Thank you for voting Seabourn Best Luxury Cruise Line, we hope to see you onboard soon” Lynn Narraway Managing Director UK Business

Visit your Travel Professional or call 0843 373 2000 - www.seabourn.co.uk

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

THE WORLD’S BEST RIVER CRUISES - SAVE UP TO £500pp Douro • Rhine • Moselle • Danube • Rhone • Seine • Dutch Waterways • Volga • Mekong • Nile • Yangtze • Po

Here at Titan, we really believe that our deluxe boutique river cruise holidays, in exclusive partnership with multi award-winning cruise operator Uniworld and featuring door-to-door transfers from any UK address, deserve to be called ‘The World’s Best River Cruises’. Our 2013 brochure showcases a host of perennially popular programmes, along with seven brand new itineraries and three brand new super-luxurious cruise ships.

Book by 31 December and take advantage of outstanding early booking discounts up to £500 per person*, with exclusive extra loyalty savings if you have travelled with Titan or Uniworld before.

INCLUDED AS STANDARD IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

THE WORLD’S BEST RIVER CRUISES 2nd Edition • January - December 2013

Door-to-door transfers wherever you live in the UK Direct, scheduled flights 5★ boutique river cruise vessels Best river-view staterooms (Zagat Survey®) Best river cruise dining (Zagat Survey®) The best in-room amenities

Private butler service in suites† Complimentary fine wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner* The finest onboard amenities, including a Serenity River Spa Signature lectures by experts A choice of included shore excursions

Call 0800 988 5175 quoting CI10 UNI or visit www.titantravel.co.uk/uniworld Calls free from BT landlines, mobiles may vary. * Selected itineraries † Selected vessels

WINNER

UNIWORLD BEST LUXURY RIVER CRUISE LINE

PROMOTION

mostluxurious

The world’s

T

he winners of Cruise International’s Best Luxury River Cruise Line award, Uniworld offers the ultimate indulgent river cruise experience.

In terms of service and attention to detail they remain unsurpassed, and the fabulously over-thetop opulence of flagship SS Antoinette means she is still queen of the world’s river ships.

In exclusive partnership with Titan, Uniworld offers five-star boutique holidays featuring award-winning accommodation, excursions and dining. Guests enjoy the ultimate in relaxing luxury travel with Titan’s VIP Home Departure Service providing door-to-door transfers wherever they live in the UK. On board, culinary teams prepare a selection of sumptuous offerings using only the finest and freshest ingredients.

And with an average of 130 guests on board, the crew are able to anticipate individual preferences and offer those extra special touches that will make you feel at home.

On-board elegance Antoinette is surely the most wonderful river cruise ship afloat, while River Beatrice and the new Queen Isabel are also leading the way on the rivers they sail. With sumptuous interiors, spacious and cleverly-designed staterooms, fine cuisine (including complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner), and insightful shore excursions included at every major port of call, Uniworld’s vessels offer some of the most relaxing and rejuvenating travel experiences available.

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river cruises

Uniworld’s fleet of deluxe boutique vessels offers exceptional holidays in stunning settings

Local artists and entertainers perform during each Uniworld river cruise, and guests can also enjoy Signature Lectures on a variety of topics such as art, music and architecture. On-board demonstrations relating to the regions cruised include glass blowing, cookery classes and more.

Captivating shore excursions Uniworld’s river cruise itineraries mean that the discerning traveller is able to choose from an impressive and varied programme of destinations and excursions across the world. The Mekong, Danube, Rhine, Seine and Nile are just some of the great rivers that are sailed by Uniworld’s vessels, and each itinerary gets to the very heart of these incredible destinations, giving a real feel for local history, people and customs.

Uniworld also offer three new programmes to help personalise your river cruise journey, at no extra charge. These include excursion options in selected cities designed to provide alternative experiences; gentle walking tours; and a ‘Go Active’ programme, allowing guests to cycle, hike or explore the countryside at their own pace.

In a market that is becoming increasingly popular, Titan and Uniworld continue to distance themselves from the competition by providing a complete service that’s a cut above the rest, leading the way on the world’s most spectacular rivers.

For more information on holidays with Uniworld, visit

www.titantravel.co.uk/uniworld or call 0800 988 5175 DECEMBER /JA N UA RY 2013 |

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CRUISE AWARDS

BEST FOR KIDS DISNEY CRUISE LINE Winning for the second year in a row, Disney Cruise Line is, unsurprisingly, hugely popular with children, who love meeting their favourite characters at sea. But there’s plenty for the adults too on these luxury ships and this year’s majestic new Disney Fantasy will capture the hearts and imagination of the whole family.

Carnival Cruise Lines (Highly Commended) Carnival’s wonderful kids’ club Camp Carnival, which offers tons of activities, makes it a worthy runner up in this category.

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CRUISE AWARDS

BEST CRUISE AGENT THOMAS COOK The largest independent cruise retailer began offering cruise holidays 170 years ago with the first Thomas Cook Nile cruise. Today the company offers holidays from over 30 top cruise lines and with 250 ships.

Virgin Holidays Cruises (Highly Commended) You were impressed by Virgin’s extensive range of cruise holidays, early booking offers and great value deals.

BEST CRUISE BLOGGER CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES – JOHN HEALD BEST SERVICE/PRODUCT TITAN VIP HOME DEPARTURE Titan considers the transfers to and from the international airport to be amongst the most important aspects of your holiday. Done right, they can preserve that delightful sense of anticipation at the start and relaxation at the end. Every one of their tour and cruise holidays includes the VIP Home Departure Service, transferring you from your front door to the airport and back again in fine style.

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Saga Taxis (Highly Commended) Saga can arrange any type of airport transfer for any party size in over 7,000 resorts and cities worldwide, making your holiday stress-free right from the start.

Bubbly blogger John Heald unsurprisingly wins this award again for his irreverent cruise musings. Carnival Cruise Lines’ senior cruise director keeps us entertained from all over the world and he answers about 60 questions about cruising every day.

Carol Marlow - P&O Cruises (Highly Commended) The Managing Director of P&O Cruises, Carol Marlow, gives a fabulous insight into the world of cruise.

DECEMBER /JA N UA RY 2013 |

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Free Flights from your local airport to Southampton* Discover a whole new world of amazing activities the moment you step on board. Whether satisfying your taste for adventure or chilling out, with Royal Caribbean you can do as much or as little as you like. And with free flights, upgrades or car parking there has never been a better time to book. The sea is calling. Answer it with Royal Caribbean.

Book with GoCruise, and seeing the world doesn’t need to cost the earth. We are pleased to offer you our advice on the best Royal Caribbean Cruise to suit your requirements and budget and make your booking a smooth and enjoyable process. Our network of specialists offer you a personal, friendly, local service with many prices that beat those of the largest national call centres, giving you the best of both worlds.

Norway & Cork

1st June 2013 for 14 nights on board Independence of the Seas®

FROM

£829

per person Southampton > Cobh > Olden > Alesund > Flam > Stavanger > Kristiansand > Oslo > Bruges (Zeebrugge) > Southampton Flights available from Aberdeen, Belfast, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle

Mediterranean Cities

FROM

7th July 2013 for 14 nights on board Adventure of the Seas®

£1129

per person Southampton > Malaga > Cannes > Barcelona > Palma De Mallorca > Valencia > Cartegena > Lisbon > Vigo > Southampton Flights available from Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle

Italian Mediterranean

FROM

21 July 2013 for 14 nights on board Adventure of the Seas®

£1229

per person Southampton > Malaga > Cannes > Civitavecchia (Rome) > Livorno > Genoa > Gibraltar > Lisbon > Southampton Flights available from Aberdeen, Belfast, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle

Italian Mediterranean

4 August 2013 for 14 nights on board Adventure of the Seas®

FROM

£1289

per person Southampton > Malaga > Nice (Villefranche) > Civitavecchia (Rome) > La Spezia > Genoa > Gibraltar > Lisbon > Southampton Flights available from Aberdeen, Belfast, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle

Norway & Cork

7th September 2013 for 14 nights on board Independence of the Seas®

FROM

£959

per person Southampton > Cobh > Olden > Alesund > Flam > Stavanger > Kristiansand > Oslo > Bruges (Zeebrugge) > Southampton Flights available from Aberdeen, Belfast, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle

MANY MORE CRUISES AVAILABLE! FREEPHONE 0808 256 8422 or visit www.gocruise.co.uk Prices are per person based on two adults sharing an interior stateroom. All prices are subject to change and/or availability. *Free flights from selected airports on selected sailings, subject to availability. Free upgrade from Oceanview to Balcony. All offers must be booked by 31st October 2012. Applies to new bookings only and are non retrospective. Full terms and conditions apply, please ask for details. ABTA and ATOL protected.

Royal Caribbean International terms and conditions apply.

WINNER

PROMOTION

TITAN BEST CRUISE PRODUCT/ SERVICE

In a class of their own Titan were well-deserved winners at this year’s Cruise International awards and offer a truly exceptional holiday experience

W

hen you’re setting off on holiday, you want everything to go as smoothly as possible. That’s why Titan’s innovative VIP Home Departure Service was the well-deserved winner of the ‘Best Cruise Product or Service’ category at this year’s Cruise International Awards. With their own constantly updated fleet of luxuriously appointed, fully-licensed private hire vehicles, Titan ensure that their guests always travel in total comfort and style, to and from their destination.

Titan’s exclusive partnership with Best Luxury River Cruise Line winners Uniworld means they can take discerning travellers on holidays cruising some of the world’s most majestic rivers in unparalleled elegance. There is no better way to discover the spectacular scenery and cultural treasures of Europe, Egypt, Cambodia, Vietnam and China than a river cruise, and together Titan and Uniworld offer superb choice, from the Rhine and Danube to the Mekong, the Yangtze and the waterways of Russia.

The VIP Home Departure Service is the original and best private holiday transport service – and it’s just one element of the exceptional

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holiday experience Titan offer. They really go out of their way to ensure complete peace of mind, while satisfying the most adventurous spirit. Their Cruise and Tour concept combines luxuriously carefree cruising with award-winning escorted touring, for holidays that offer customers the best of both worlds.

Titan’s expertly crafted holidays, many of which are presented in partnership with the world’s most renowned cruise operators, feature, as standard, full-board cruise accommodation, carefully selected and centrally located hotels, scheduled flights and the services of a tour manager on the majority of itineraries. Many also feature a number of included visits, excursions and a land stay, and customers outside England and Wales needn’t feel disadvantaged with complimentary regional flights and home transfers available on every departure.

Titan’s two new brochures, Cruise & Tour and River Cruise, feature fantastic itineraries, plus a host of added value elements including pre-paid gratuities and special offers such as low or no single supplements, ensuring unparalleled value for money and the holiday of a lifetime, every time.

For a brochure visit titantravel.co.uk or call 0800 988 5175

DECEMBER /JA N UA RY 2013 |

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BEST FOR ACTIVITIES ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL Royal Caribbean are well known for their innovative ships that really have something for everyone, from rock climbing walls to Flowrider, the first ever surf-simulator at sea.

The Sports Deck on board Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas even features an adrenalin-pumping Zip Line.

Celebrity Cruises (Highly Commended) With categories divided into Taste, Learn, Revive and Play, Celebrity has a variety of on-board fun for the whole family.

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CRUISE AWARDS

BEST DESTINATION (WORLDWIDE) ALASKA Alaska is America’s Last Frontier, an unspoilt wilderness of soaring eagles, prowling bears and spouting whales, of majestic peaks, eye-wateringly beautiful fjords and glaciers that stretch as far as the eye can see. But it’s also surprisingly easy to get to – and around 10 cruise lines sail in Alaska during the short season, from mid-May to mid-September, offering a range of excursions.

Jamaica (Highly Commended) Golf, rum and golden sands bring visitors flocking to Jamaica but the Caribbean’s fifth largest island also has a fascinating history.

BEST DESTINATION (EUROPE) NORWAY With its natural beauty, unspoiled landscapes and deep fjords, Norway is the perfect cruise destination. You will rarely be out of sight of land and so will always have something to see.

This constantly changing backdrop, from the temperate climes of Bergen in the south to the glacier-covered Svalbard Islands on the edge of the Arctic, makes for one of the most inspiring cruise journeys in the world.

Stockholm (Highly Commended) Sweden’s beautiful capital has a beguiling mix of heritage and history, tradition and modernity and makes a fantastic stopover.

CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM

DECEMBER /JA N UA RY 2013 |

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Free Flights from your local airport to Southampton* Discover a whole new world of amazing activities the moment you step on board. Whether satisfying your taste for adventure or chilling out, with Royal Caribbean you can do as much or as little as you like. And with free flights, upgrades or car parking there has never been a better time to book. The sea is calling. Answer it with Royal Caribbean.

Book with GoCruise, and seeing the world doesn’t need to cost the earth. We are pleased to offer you our advice on the best Royal Caribbean Cruise to suit your requirements and budget and make your booking a smooth and enjoyable process. Our network of specialists offer you a personal, friendly, local service with many prices that beat those of the largest national call centres, giving you the best of both worlds.

Norway & Cork

1st June 2013 for 14 nights on board Independence of the Seas®

FROM

£829

per person Southampton > Cobh > Olden > Alesund > Flam > Stavanger > Kristiansand > Oslo > Bruges (Zeebrugge) > Southampton Flights available from Aberdeen, Belfast, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle

Mediterranean Cities

FROM

7th July 2013 for 14 nights on board Adventure of the Seas®

£1129

per person Southampton > Malaga > Cannes > Barcelona > Palma De Mallorca > Valencia > Cartegena > Lisbon > Vigo > Southampton Flights available from Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle

Italian Mediterranean

FROM

21 July 2013 for 14 nights on board Adventure of the Seas®

£1229

per person Southampton > Malaga > Cannes > Civitavecchia (Rome) > Livorno > Genoa > Gibraltar > Lisbon > Southampton Flights available from Aberdeen, Belfast, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle

Italian Mediterranean

4 August 2013 for 14 nights on board Adventure of the Seas®

FROM

£1289

per person Southampton > Malaga > Nice (Villefranche) > Civitavecchia (Rome) > La Spezia > Genoa > Gibraltar > Lisbon > Southampton Flights available from Aberdeen, Belfast, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle

Norway & Cork

7th September 2013 for 14 nights on board Independence of the Seas®

FROM

£959

per person Southampton > Cobh > Olden > Alesund > Flam > Stavanger > Kristiansand > Oslo > Bruges (Zeebrugge) > Southampton Flights available from Aberdeen, Belfast, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle

MANY MORE CRUISES AVAILABLE! FREEPHONE 0808 256 8422 or visit www.gocruise.co.uk Prices are per person based on two adults sharing an interior stateroom. All prices are subject to change and/or availability. *Free flights from selected airports on selected sailings, subject to availability. Free upgrade from Oceanview to Balcony. All offers must be booked by 31st October 2012. Applies to new bookings only and are non retrospective. Full terms and conditions apply, please ask for details. ABTA and ATOL protected.

Royal Caribbean International terms and conditions apply.

WINNER

PROMOTION

FRED.OLSEN ALASKA CRUISE LINE BEST BEST DESTINATION CRUISE LINE

Amazing Alaska

WORLDWIDE

There’s never been a better time to take a holiday to this US state. Alaska offers experiences beyond your dreams, but within your reach

S

tunning scenery, breathtaking glaciers and abundant wildlife – the US state of Alaska offers unforgettable holiday moments that are accessible to everyone.

From whale watching, glacier tours and pure Alaskan wilderness, to historical towns, gold mines and cultural displays, there’s an incredible array of experiences to enjoy. And the new Icelandair flights to Anchorage with connections from Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and Glasgow mean it’s never been easier to get there from the UK.

Wonderful wildlife Nature lovers will be spoiled for choice in Alaska.

You can see grizzly bears, polar bears, grey wolves, bald eagles, blue and humpback whales, orcas, lynx, moose, and hundreds of other rare and endangered species in their natural habitats.

and a wealth of cultural events – plus delicious Alaskan seafood to try.

New routes from the UK Icelandair (icelandair.com) is launching a new route from Reykjavik to Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city, from 15 May 2013. It’s also increasing its services from Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, and Glasgow airports to the Icelandic capital, offering easy connections, and a faster and more economical way for Brits to travel to Alaska, shaving five hours off other routes. The flights are perfect for those interested in small ship cruising or adventure cruising from Anchorage.

Whether you’re visiting Alaska on a cruise or flying there from the UK for a holiday, there has never been a better time to visit.

Spectacular scenery Alaska has a longer coastline than all the other US states combined, and more than 17 of the 20 highest peaks in Alaska are found there. It also boasts half the world’s glaciers – it’s estimated that there are more than 100,000 glaciers in the state.

Amazing adventures If you’re looking for a taste of adventure, Alaska has it all from the mild to the wild. Raft a worldclass river, kayak, hike or bike a mountain trail.

Take a fishing trip or join a sightseeing cruise.

All-year round destination Alaska is known as the Land of the Midnight Sun – it receives more sunlight in spring and summer than any other state and many other parts of the world.

Winter is not as cold as you might think, and Alaska’s most popular and iconic winter experiences include dog mushing, viewing the magnificent Northern Lights, snowboarding, skiing CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM

For more information on holidays to Alaska, visit

travelalaska.com

DECEMBER /JA N UA RY 2013 |

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CRUISE AWARDS

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT DAVID DINGLE, CBE Daivd Dingle, CBE, joined P&O Cruises in 1978 and became Managing Director in 2000. In June 2007 he was appointed CEO of Carnival UK, with full operating responsibility for P&O Cruises and Cunard.

GIANLUIGI APONTE BEST CRUISE EVENT P&O CRUISES 175TH ANNIVERSARY This incredible milestone on 3 July was celebrated in style with all seven ships of the P&O Cruises fleet together in their home port of Southampton on the same day. Her Royal Highness, the Princess Royal and Darcey Bussell were among the honoured guests as the ships with their gleaming white hulls sailed past in a procession from Southampton Water out into the Solent.

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Cunard – Three Ships (Highly Commended) Cunard Line celebrated Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee with the three ships of the Cunard fleet arriving in formation at their home port of Southampton.

The first of our two international Lifetime Achievement award winners, Gianluigi Aponte founded in MSC in 1970. Today it is the world’s largest privately-owned cruise group, employing over 12,000 people.

RAI CALUORI

Currently overseeing the building of Royal Princess, Rai began his career with Princess Cruises as assistant cruise director but was quickly promoted. Today he is the Executive Vice President of Fleet Operations.

DECEMBER /JA N UA RY 2013 |

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cruise awards

BEST AFFORDABLE CRUISE LINE Fred. OlSen CruiSe lineS Our winner for best cruise line comes out on top in the value for money stakes this year.

The company has recognised the popularity of all-inclusive cruising, offering new all-inclusive drinks packages, and has launched an early booking ‘Price Pledge’ across its 2013/14 cruise programme.

Thomson Cruises (Highly Commended) Thomson Cruises’ ships offer a range of cruises, from family-friendly to adults-only, and also ‘cruise and stay’ options.

BEST FOR WELLBEING MSC CruiSeS A haven of calm and tranquility on MSC’s big and bustling ships, the Aurea Spa is again a worthy winner of this award. Guests can choose a variety of treatments from Balinese or hot stone massages to detox programmes that help relax and rejuvenate in beautiful, tranquil surroundings with floor-to-ceiling sea views. You can even opt for a blow dry and manicure before heading out to one of the many on-board restaurants to feel truly pampered and glamorous on your travels.

Silversea Cruises (Highly Commended) Catering to all types of travellers, Siversea’s specialised wellness programmes are designed for men and women.

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Française Cruising à la

Sue Bryant joins Compagnie du Ponant’s L’Austral and falls for the ship’s French charm, friendly atmosphere, and yacht-style cruising

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alter the DJ is just too cool.

With his cropped hair, edgy clothing and high-tech deck, his look shouts ‘urban club’ rather than ‘cruise ship’. And for once, we’re dancing to chart music rather than the ‘sounds of the 70s’ favoured by many cruise ship DJs. But this is no ordinary cruise ship nightclub.

We’re dancing under the stars on the top deck of L’Austral, the whole Milky Way arching across a black sky above us. The music pounds out, making conversation impossible, but there’s plenty to watch because the crew have joined us. The maître d’ is getting on down with the chef. The guest relations officer has just executed a backflip on the dance floor and the sommelier is setting fire to a row of Sambuca shots lined up on the bar. Everybody is shaking their booty to Walter’s tunes – husbands and wives, grandparents, teens, gay couples, officers, bartenders, people who have never met. It’s one wild party.

I ask Eric the hotel director, who stands at the bar observing, why he’s not enjoying the privacy of the crew bar below decks. “I prefer it up here with the guests,” he shrugs, lighting another cigarette.

“It’s much more fun.”

And fun it is. A voyage on L’Austral is rather like sailing on a beautiful private yacht with a touch of the jolliness of Club Med. L’Austral belongs to Compagnie du Ponant, a line offering a mixture of elegant yacht cruising in the Med and posh expeditions to some of the most far-flung corners of the Earth (although my disco diva experience takes place closer to home, in Croatia). This is the second in a series of three new ships; sister Le Boréal was launched two years ago and a third ship, Le Soleal, arrives in 2013.

On my cruise, out of 224 passengers, 127 are French and the rest a mishmash of Americans, Germans, South Americans (“There’s a lot of money in Venezuela,” Eric confides), Scandinavians, Australians and even Japanese.

It’s European school holidays, so there are several families on board, all the kids impeccably dressed and very well behaved, especially at mealtimes.

Because the ship is essentially French, everybody is very polite and I quickly get used to saying ‘Bonjour’ to everybody I pass in the corridors, regardless of their nationality. On the other hand, the waiters, who are mainly Indonesian, like the English-speakers as they can gossip with us more fluently than they can with the French passengers.

The ship, sleek and modern, is exceptionally beautiful, with interiors like those of a boutique

hotel. Everything is taupe, cream and white, with an emphasis on luxurious textures, from leatherfronted white drawers in my cabin to taupe silk cushions on the bed. Black-and-white Philip Plisson photo-art lines the corridors. The on-board shop sells designer labels like Lacoste and Façonnable, although we find it open only once during the entire week. The guests are masters of smart casual; Louis Vuitton and Missoni rather than M&S. Food is most definitely French, with the most amazing pastries coming out of the galley at breakfast time, and a range of French classics on the dinner menu – everything from foie gras and chicken gizzards to duck confit, veal and wild boar. The vegetarian options are good – a long way from the omelettes and frites to which veggies would resign themselves in France in years gone by.

Much of the fish is bought fresh locally, as are huge peaches and strawberries; one of the joys of a small ship that can be provisioned more spontaneously.

Being a French ship, there are other points of difference. The small kids’ club is token at best; French families do everything together. Tipping is barely mentioned. An envelope is left on my bed on the last night to “thank the crew” but there’s no tipping at the bar or in the gorgeous spa, which is operated by Parisian firm Sothys.

The ship is strictly non-smoking inside and on the balconies, but on deck it’s a free-for-all; I even see one man holding his cigar aloft as he submerges the rest of his body in the pool to cool off. And there’s almost a family atmosphere between the guests and the officers, in the disco, at least.

Evening entertainment is limited, although there’s a fantastic singer in the Karikal Lounge every night and some competent dancers in the small theatre.

But often, we’re ashore at night, which is what I love most about this cruise. Compagnie du Ponant sees the ship very much as a luxurious mode of transport, with the focus on the itineraries. So we have a digestif on the waterfront in Split at 11pm, and in Korcula, we sit on the ancient ramparts with a pichet of local wine as the sun sets.

L’Austral isn’t all perfect. I find dinner times too regimented; the waiters get flustered when we turn up at 9pm. One of the receptionists is positively terrifying and the internet is beyond hopeless.

But I love the relaxed atmosphere, the chic, friendly people and the feeling of being on a yacht, rather than a giant ship.

DJ Walter gives me a CD of his favourite mixes before we leave and, back home, I groove along happily to Euro-pop in the car, transported back to those Bacchanalian nights under the stars, with L’Austral’s crazy crew.

It’s like sailing on a beautiful private yacht with a touch of the jolliness of Club Med

DECEMBER /JA N UA RY 2013 |

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PHOTOS: CELEBRITY CRUISES ILLUSTRATION: IAN MITCHELL

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COMPAGNIE DU PONANT

(1) VIP welcome aboard : Complimentary bottle of champagne in the stateroom and a welcome note from the captain.

Experience another way of cruising...

SECRETS OF THE ADRIATIC on board L’AUSTRAL

Venice

Rovinj CROATIA Pula Trogir Sibenik Split Hvar ITALY Mljet Dubrovnik Kotor GREECE

Parga

So you think you know the Adriatic?

Join us to rediscover the region’s treasures on board L’AUSTRAL, a yacht with 132 staterooms and suites, on a cruise which offers a subtle balance between culture and relaxation.

On the tranquil clear waters of the Dalmatian Coast you will be sailing between sheer cliffs, sheltered coves and sleepy villages. Relax as you travel back in time through the area’s extraordinarily rich history and architectural heritage.

For moorings inaccessible to large ships, gourmet cuisine and discreet service, embark on a cruise with that inimitable “French touch”, a combination of elegance and intimacy.

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Best new cruise holidAys for 2013

Start planning your next holiday now. Sue Bryant has the lowdown on the hottest ships, itineraries and destinations

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s cruise holidays continue to capture the imagination of holidaymakers, the choice of where to go and on what type of ship is getting bigger. burma, cuba, cambodia and cape Verde are all up-and-coming destinations – places you would barely have dreamed of visiting a few years ago, all now easily accessible by ship. there are new ships, too. 2013 promises to be a bumper time for innovative new vessels with features to rival any resort ashore, from private cabanas on deck to luxurious suites, butler service and West end shows. and the good news is that cruising isn’t really getting any more expensive.

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so where will you sail? experts are predicting itineraries both exotic and close to home. “the croatian coast is really taking off with ships visiting the smaller ports in addition to dubrovnik, such as split, rovinj, Hvar and Korcula,” says scott anderson, general manager of the luxury cruise company. “river cruising continues to grow in popularity, not just in europe but on the mekong, too.” some cruise lines are hedging their bets on the amazon and central america, while others are taking passengers to the far north of russia. the year 2013 will also see more ships than ever before sailing from british ports. cruising has never been as accessible, or as affordable, as now.

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NEw SHIpS FoR 2013

JuNE 2013 Hapag-LLoyd Europa 2

MaY 2013

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ new vessel will take to the high seas in May 2013. The ship will feature 11 decks, all-suites with their own outdoor verandas, and the largest space per passenger ratio. Destinations include the Mediterranean, Arabian Peninsula and Southeast Asia.

A seven-night cruise from Lisbon to Barcelona, departing 25 May 2013, starts from £3,188 (approx).

Visit hl-cruises.com for more information.

CELEBRITy rEFLECTIoN

MarCH 2013

Interiors reminiscent of a private yacht, spa suites with private butler and half an acre of living lawn on the top deck, on which you can sunbathe with a Pimms, listen to jazz or luxuriate in a private cabana are all hallmarks of Celebrity Cruises’ new ship Reflection. The ship will sail out of Miami in winter and in the Mediterranean next summer.

A seven-night east Caribbean cruise from Miami to San Juan, Philipsburg and Basseterre (St Kitts) departing 2 March 2013 costs from £1,265pp, including flights. Visit celebritycruises.co.uk or call 0844 493 2043.

VOYAGES OF DISCOVERY MV VOYAGER

MARCH 2013

If you prefer a smaller, more intimate ship, Voyages of Discovery’s new MV Voyager carries just 550 in relaxed, contemporary surroundings. The ship was built in 1990 and underwent an extensive refit before joining the fleet in December 2012. The inaugural season includes some impressively adventurous itineraries in Central and South America; a 14-night Amazon voyage traces the coastline of Brazil and then heads deep into the rainforest, cruising all the way to Manaus, with opportunities for exploring the many tributaries in the dense jungle by small excursion boat.

The 14-night voyage costs from £2,359pp, departing 12 March 2013 and including flights. Visit voyagesofdiscovery.co.uk or call 0844 488 0892.

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE BREAKAWAY

OCTOBER 2013

Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship Norwegian Breakaway launches in May with no fewer than 15 restaurants and eight bars, alongside all manner of evening entertainment, from a circus show to a seagoing version of musical Rock of Ages.

With no formal dress code, open-seating dining and great nightlife, Breakaway is a

great ship for younger cruisers looking for a more informal holiday.

A seven-night cruise costs from £509pp, round-trip from New York to Florida and Nassau, cruise-only, departing 11 October 2013. Visit breakaway.ncl.co.uk or call 0845 201 8900.

PRINCESS CRUISES ROYAL PRINCESS

JUNE 2013

Princess Cruises’ newest ship launches in the UK next June (and with a name like that, we’re wondering who might make the perfect godmother?). Highlights include a vast atrium lobby that will form the glittering backdrop to glamorous cocktail parties, an adults-only pool with private cabanas, an evening water-and-light show spectacular and the SeaWalk, an enclosed walkway and bar cantilevered out over the water – with a glass floor.

A 12-night Maiden Mediterranean voyage from Barcelona to Venice, departing 23 June 2013 costs from £1,499pp, cruise only. Visit  princess.com or call 0845 075 0031.

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nEw JoUrnEYs for 2013

ClassiCs roCk

JUNE 2013

a fantastic way to help children enjoy history and culture is to discover monuments and galleries together – and a cruise is the ideal fuss-free way to travel with kids. but you also want to have fun, too, and what better way to do both than in the company of captain mickey and his crew? Disney Magic returns to europe next summer, with four, seven and 12-night mediterranean sailings to destinations including Venice, croatia’s dalmatian coast, ephesus, turkey and athens. a four-night cruise to Villefranche, Palma and barcelona costs from £699, based on two adults sharing.

Visit virginholidayscruises.co.uk or call 0844 417 5040 for more details.

sail from thE Uk

MAY 2013

royal caribbean international has stepped up its presence in the uK with three ships here next summer. choose between big and not-so-big; the 2,112-passenger Brilliance of the Seas, sporting a multi-million pound facelift, will sail from Harwich to the baltic, while big sisters Adventure of the Seas and Independence of the Seas will operate from southampton to the med and other european destinations. a 12-night scandinavia and russia cruise on Brilliance of the Seas, departing Harwich and calling at copenhagen, stockholm, Helsinki, tallinn, Gothenburg and st Petersburg, departing 15 may 2013, costs from £1,146pp. Visit royalcaribbean.co.uk or call 0844 493 4005.

antarCtiC ExprEss

FEBRUARY 2013

no time for a two-week expedition to antarctica? Quark expeditions has introduced an eight-night fly-cruise on the expedition ship Clipper Adventurer, skipping the drake Passage, notorious for its rough waters, by flying passengers on a charter plane from Punta arenas in chile to King George island. there are five days to explore the south shetland islands and the icy coast of the antarctic peninsula, home to millions of penguins as well as albatrosses and seals. the eight-night sailing departs on 6 February 2013 and costs from £5,000, excluding flights to Punta arenas. book through peregrineadventures.com or call 0845 863 9667.

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Beautiful Burma almost inaccessible for decades and the subject of much controversy, wonderful mysterious burma (myanmar) has now tentatively opened its doors to tourism. the captain’s choice tour offers a 16-day tour of burma from yangon to mandalay, including a luxurious cruise along the irawaddy on the road to mandalay, and the chance to visit a burmese village, and discover ancient bagan with its aweinspiring site of approximately 2,000 sacred temples and pagodas. Prices start from £6,305 per person. For more information see captainschoice. co.uk or call 0845 304 5227.

african isles

FEBRUARY 2013

explore the cape Verde islands, known for their unique Portuguese-meets-West-african culture and their stark, volcanic scenery.

Fred. olsen has introduced fly-cruises direct to the canary islands in 2013, sailing to cape Verde, as well as dakar in senegal

and banjul in the Gambia. an 11-night african beaches and tropical islands cruise, departing on 24 February 2013, costs from £1,099pp, including flights.

Visit fredolsencruises.com or call 01473 746175 for details.

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cultural mediterranean

MAY 2013

explore the med in the company of expert guest lecturers on a new cultural itinerary from Voyages to antiquity. the cruise includes two nights in rome, and a meander through 2,000 years of history via elba, livorno, bonifacio, Palma, barcelona, sète, marseille and cannes. Visits to historic sites such as carcassonne and avignon are included, as well as a tour of roman barcelona.

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the 12-night cruise costs from £2,395pp, departing on 17 may 2013 and including flights, all tours, wine with dinner and gratuities. Visit voyagestoantiquity. co.uk or call 0845 437 9737.

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new JouRneYs FoR 2013 see The lighT

UNTIL MARCH 2013

thanks to an ongoing flare-up of solar storms, we’re enjoying a phase in which the northern lights are more spectacular than ever, rippling across the starlit skies of northern norway, where there’s next to no light pollution. Hurtigruten, which offers short break coastal voyages in the far north of norway in winter, is making it even easier to see the lights this winter with the introduction of direct regional flights from Gatwick, edinburgh and manchester. a five-day ‘arctic Highlights’ voyage from tromsø to Kirkenes and back departs on various dates until march 2013 and costs from £949pp, including flights and half-board. Visit hurtigruten.co.uk or call 0844 272 8961.

Thomson PlaTinum

JANUARY 2013

thomson cruises has upgraded its flagship, Thomson Dream, to create a new ‘Platinum’ standard with contemporary interiors, refurbished cabins and themed à la carte restaurants but retaining the friendly, ‘british’ atmosphere for which the line is known. thomson is one of the few lines operating fly-cruises from barbados this winter, with a week taking in Venezuela, tobago, Grenada, st Vincent and st lucia. the seven-night tropical delights cruise costs from £1,084 per person, departing 13 january 2013, including flights. Visit thomson.co.uk/cruise or call 0871 231 4691 for more information or to book.

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Free Flights from your local airport to Southampton* Discover a whole new world of amazing activities the moment you step on board. Whether satisfying your taste for adventure or chilling out, with Royal Caribbean you can do as much or as little as you like. And with free flights, upgrades or car parking there has never been a better time to book. The sea is calling. Answer it with Royal Caribbean.

Book with GoCruise, and seeing the world doesn’t need to cost the earth. We are pleased to offer you our advice on the best Royal Caribbean Cruise to suit your requirements and budget and make your booking a smooth and enjoyable process. Our network of specialists offer you a personal, friendly, local service with many prices that beat those of the largest national call centres, giving you the best of both worlds.

Norway & Cork

1st June 2013 for 14 nights on board Independence of the Seas®

FROM

£829

per person Southampton > Cobh > Olden > Alesund > Flam > Stavanger > Kristiansand > Oslo > Bruges (Zeebrugge) > Southampton Flights available from Aberdeen, Belfast, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle

Mediterranean Cities

FROM

7th July 2013 for 14 nights on board Adventure of the Seas®

£1129

per person Southampton > Malaga > Cannes > Barcelona > Palma De Mallorca > Valencia > Cartegena > Lisbon > Vigo > Southampton Flights available from Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle

Italian Mediterranean

FROM

21 July 2013 for 14 nights on board Adventure of the Seas®

£1229

per person Southampton > Malaga > Cannes > Civitavecchia (Rome) > Livorno > Genoa > Gibraltar > Lisbon > Southampton Flights available from Aberdeen, Belfast, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle

Italian Mediterranean

4 August 2013 for 14 nights on board Adventure of the Seas®

FROM

£1289

per person Southampton > Malaga > Nice (Villefranche) > Civitavecchia (Rome) > La Spezia > Genoa > Gibraltar > Lisbon > Southampton Flights available from Aberdeen, Belfast, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle

Norway & Cork

7th September 2013 for 14 nights on board Independence of the Seas®

FROM

£959

per person Southampton > Cobh > Olden > Alesund > Flam > Stavanger > Kristiansand > Oslo > Bruges (Zeebrugge) > Southampton Flights available from Aberdeen, Belfast, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle

MANY MORE CRUISES AVAILABLE! FREEPHONE 0808 256 8422 or visit www.gocruise.co.uk Prices are per person based on two adults sharing an interior stateroom. All prices are subject to change and/or availability. *Free flights from selected airports on selected sailings, subject to availability. Free upgrade from Oceanview to Balcony. All offers must be booked by 31st October 2012. Applies to new bookings only and are non retrospective. Full terms and conditions apply, please ask for details. ABTA and ATOL protected.

Royal Caribbean International terms and conditions apply.

Best new river cruises

JUNE 2013 the Po delta tour the magnificent towns and cities of northern italy with this new itinerary from uniworld on board the opulent River Countess, which sails the Venice lagoon and the river Po. tours include Padua, olive oil tasting in ravenna, a day in romantic Verona and a pasta workshop in Bologna, foodie capital of northern italy. a seven-night river Po cruise starts from ÂŁ2,199, departing on 7 april 2013 and including flights, full board, excursions and wine with meals.

Visit titantravel.co.uk/uniworld or call 0800 988 5823.

the douro and lisBon explore the tranquil Douro Valley, heart of port wine country, where steeply terraced vineyards cling to sun-drenched hillsides. Highlights include a day in salamanca, one of the world’s oldest university towns, and two nights in lisbon. nine nights on the Viking Douro costs from £1,895pp, departing on 6 December 2013, including flights, full board, two nights in a lisbon hotel and eight tours. see vikingrivercruises.

8 co.uk or call 0808 163 8758. cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

Free Flights from your local airport to Southampton* Discover a whole new world of amazing activities the moment you step on board. Whether satisfying your taste for adventure or chilling out, with Royal Caribbean you can do as much or as little as you like. And with free flights, upgrades or car parking there has never been a better time to book. The sea is calling. Answer it with Royal Caribbean.

Book with GoCruise, and seeing the world doesn’t need to cost the earth. We are pleased to offer you our advice on the best Royal Caribbean Cruise to suit your requirements and budget and make your booking a smooth and enjoyable process. Our network of specialists offer you a personal, friendly, local service with many prices that beat those of the largest national call centres, giving you the best of both worlds.

Norway & Cork

1st June 2013 for 14 nights on board Independence of the Seas®

FROM

£829

per person Southampton > Cobh > Olden > Alesund > Flam > Stavanger > Kristiansand > Oslo > Bruges (Zeebrugge) > Southampton Flights available from Aberdeen, Belfast, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle

Mediterranean Cities

FROM

7th July 2013 for 14 nights on board Adventure of the Seas®

£1129

per person Southampton > Malaga > Cannes > Barcelona > Palma De Mallorca > Valencia > Cartegena > Lisbon > Vigo > Southampton Flights available from Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle

Italian Mediterranean

FROM

21 July 2013 for 14 nights on board Adventure of the Seas®

£1229

per person Southampton > Malaga > Cannes > Civitavecchia (Rome) > Livorno > Genoa > Gibraltar > Lisbon > Southampton Flights available from Aberdeen, Belfast, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle

Italian Mediterranean

4 August 2013 for 14 nights on board Adventure of the Seas®

FROM

£1289

per person Southampton > Malaga > Nice (Villefranche) > Civitavecchia (Rome) > La Spezia > Genoa > Gibraltar > Lisbon > Southampton Flights available from Aberdeen, Belfast, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle

Norway & Cork

7th September 2013 for 14 nights on board Independence of the Seas®

FROM

£959

per person Southampton > Cobh > Olden > Alesund > Flam > Stavanger > Kristiansand > Oslo > Bruges (Zeebrugge) > Southampton Flights available from Aberdeen, Belfast, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle

MANY MORE CRUISES AVAILABLE! FREEPHONE 0808 256 8422 or visit www.gocruise.co.uk Prices are per person based on two adults sharing an interior stateroom. All prices are subject to change and/or availability. *Free flights from selected airports on selected sailings, subject to availability. Free upgrade from Oceanview to Balcony. All offers must be booked by 31st October 2012. Applies to new bookings only and are non retrospective. Full terms and conditions apply, please ask for details. ABTA and ATOL protected.

Royal Caribbean International terms and conditions apply.

Best new river cruises

spain By train Great rail journeys is offering a 2013 river holiday taking in two of europe’s lesser-known rivers – and there’s no flying. travel by sleeper train to madrid and then join the Belle de Cadiz in seville, sailing along the Guadalquivir to cadiz. then sail along the coast and up the Guadiana river, which forms the border with Portugal’s alentejo, a remote hilly area dotted with medieval villages. a 12-night holiday starts from £2,575pp including rail travel, hotels, seven-night cruise with full board and most sightseeing. departs april, june and september; visit greatrail.com or call 01904 521936.

cruising the irrawaddy orient-express has for many years operated the luxurious, colonialstyle Road to Mandalay riverboat on the irrawaddy, and has just announced that it is building a second river cruiser for burma. and noble caledonia has, for the first time, chartered a riverboat, the 28-passenger RV Thurgau Exotic II, to explore the cultural sites along the river, including bagan, which boasts 3,000 ancient buddhist shrines, and the ancient city of mandalay, with its magnificent palaces, pagodas and golden buddhas.

scenic Jewel river cruising will reach a new height of luxury next year with the introduction of scenic tours’ new Scenic Jewel, a ship on which everything is included, right down to the WiFi and the minibar, and every guest, no matter what cabin grade, has a butler. one of the best features is the ability to convert your private balcony to an indoor 66

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sun lounge at the press of a button. an eight-day nuremberg to budapest cruise on Scenic Jewel costs from £2,465pp, departing on 17 june 2013 and including all meals, drinks, flights, a choice of excursions and gratuities. Visit scenictours.co.uk or call 0800 690 6987.

the 16-night voyage costs from £4,995, departing on 26 january 2013 (other dates are available) and including flights, full board on the ship and all excursions.

Visit noble-caledonia.co.uk or call 020 7752 0000. cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

www.justtravelcover.com

Set sail with great cover on 0800 542 7169

The launch this year of Coachella’s first festival at sea on board Celebrity Silhouette, headlined by Pulp and Hot Chip, marks a new age of cruising. From chocolate tours to personal shopping experiences, if you’re after a unique holiday there are some incredible options available, discovers Annabelle Bladon

Cool

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PHOTOS: © BRANDON ALMS/PATRICK ROHERTY/PHOTODYNAMIC/PESKYMONKEY/JOSELITO BRIONES/ISTOCK

TAILORED TO YOU

Samba your way to the Rio Carnival From the cosmopolitan city of Buenos Aires, birthplace of the tango, to the laid-back beaches of Rio de Janeiro, fiery Latin rhythms lie at the heart of this Azamara cruise, which culminates in three days at the largest carnival in the world. On your way you will pass through Punta del Este, summer playground of Latin America’s rich and famous, and the lush green island of Ilhabela, once a hideout of smugglers and pirates. With an emphasis on overnight and late stays, you will have plenty of time to explore, but as the ship enters

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Rio’s spectacular harbour, make sure you savour the peace and quiet with a Caipirinha; you’re about to hit the frenzy of the street parties and the world-famous Sambadrome.

Azamara (azamaraclubcruises.com) Twelve nights on Azamara Quest, 31 January 2013, from £2,309 (approx.) based on double occupancy, cruise only, calling at Buenos Aires, Argentina; Montevideo, Uruguay; Punta del Este, Uruguay; Ilhabela, Brazil; Parati, Brazil; Buzios, Brazil; and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 

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Create your own Indonesian escape Whether you are an underwater enthusiast or simply need to get away from it all, eastern Indonesia is an unrivalled paradise. Though its emerald waters churn with life, the thousands of islands are largely uninhabited, and remain almost untouched by tourism.

A few small boats are now starting to explore the region, from Komodo with its dragons to the otherworldly wilds of West Papua’s Raja Ampat. Our favourite is Tiger Blue, a timber and teak phinisi, hand-built by village craftsmen, which promises to leave civilisation behind while retaining its comforts (ensuites,

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sun loungers and an excellent chef).

Charter the schooner and its crew with up to ten of your friends and tailor-make your own itinerary. Dive with mantas in the lava flow of a dormant volcano, kayak through swamps and spend a night on deck under the stars. Lazing on one of the only pink beaches in the world with not another soul in sight, you might just have to pinch yourself; this is the ultimate desert-island experience.

Tiger Blue (tigerblue.info) The schooner charters from ÂŁ2,055 (approx.) per day, including dives and excursions, excluding flights.

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tAiloRED to YoU

Shop like a local in the Med If you fancy cruising the Italian Riviera or the Côte d’Azur, the chances are you’ll want to do a spot of shopping. Not only are Seabourn’s megayachts the way to sail in style and luxury, they also make shopping easy, allowing you to book a special shopping excursion in just about any port in the world.

Whisking you away in a private car with the help of an English-speaking guide, Seabourn will take you to the special places you might miss on your own, and make sure that every item on your wishlist is located. Arrange to explore the boutiques of Monte Carlo or the ateliers

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of Florence – broken up with lunch at a carefully chosen local restaurant – and you could be taking home some very special souvenirs.

Seabourn (seabourn.com) Ten days aboard the Seabourn Sojourn from 1 May 2013 will cost from £3,010pp based on double occupancy and excluding flights. The cruise will be calling at Civitavecchia, Italy; Ile Rousse, Corsica; Livorno, Italy; Monte Carlo, Monaco; Ile de Porquerolles, France; Palamós, Spain; Barcelona, Spain; Valencia, Spain; Cartagena, Spain; and Lisbon, Portugal. 8

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TAILORED TO YOU

Peruvian cuisine in the heart of the Amazon With a spate of Peruvian restaurant openings across the world, Peru is enjoying the spotlight as South America’s foodie capital, and boutique river cruise company Aqua Expeditions is offering the chance to learn about its cuisine from deep within the Amazon.

Developed by top Peruvian chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino, the multi-course menus incorporate rainforest ingredients with dishes such as shrimp escabeche and armoured catfish caviar. You can even learn how to prepare your own ceviche and mix the perfect pisco sour.

Starting in Iquitos, Aqua’s custom-built

vessels take you into the remote and pristine wilderness of Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. For the adventurous, a team of local guides lead you through the flooded forest in search of three-toed sloths, howler monkeys and caimans.

Breakfast next to pink river dolphins and try your hand at piranha fishing.

Aqua Expeditions (aquaexpeditions.com) offer three nights aboard MV Aria exploring Peru’s Ucayali, Yarapa and Yanallpa rivers starts at £1,557pp, based on double occupancy, including excursions, food and drink, transfers, flights and entrance to the Reserve.

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

Chocolate tasting in the Caribbean For the chocolate addicts among you, this unique tour of the Southern Caribbean takes place aboard one of Silversea’s small and intimate ships.

Beginning in Barbados with three nights at the Relais & Châteaux hotel Cobblers Cove, the cruise will stop at the lesser-known ABC Islands before meandering along the unspoiled Venezuelan coast. From the glitzy boutiques and resorts of Aruba, to the magnificent coral gardens of Bonaire and the thousands of pink flamingos that grace its saltpans, this is the Caribbean that large cruise ships cannot show you. The final destination and highlight of the trip is the tiny ‘Spice CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM

Isle’ of Grenada (grenadagrenadines. com). In among the nutmeg and cinnamon is the organic cocoa plantation that supplies trendy London chocolatier Rococo. Chantal Coady, founder of Rococo, will escort you to the plantation. She will then demonstrate the art of chocolatemaking and hold tastings.

Mundy Cruising (mundycruising.com) offers 11 nights in a Vista Suite on Silversea’s Silver Whisper on 5 November 2013 from £3,095pp, including return flights from London, calling at the islands of Barbados, Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Margarita Island and Grenada.

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R

istas V

ussian

Fancy learning while you’re on holiday? Lynn Houghton joins presenters from the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow on board Fred. Olsen’s very own antique, the Black Watch

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CULTURAL CRUISE

PHOTOS: ISTOCK/ANTON SOKOLOV

PHOTOS: CELEBRITY CRUISES ILLUSTRATION: IAN MITCHELL

Main: The dramatic spires of St Petersburg’s Church of our Saviour of Spilled Blood. Right: Lennusadam Seaplane Harbour museum

T

he name of this St Petersburg cathedral, Church of our Saviour of Spilled Blood, could grab anyone’s attention, but it was the exterior – all blue onion domes with golden twists and spires standing out against the azure sky in a spectacular, awe-inspiring way – that caught mine.

These blues were echoed in a riotously colourful Chagall piece we’d seen at the Hermitage earlier during our two-stay stay in this wonderful city. Full of myriad treasures, the Hermitage contains ancient artefacts, baroque masterpieces and shimmering impressionist art.

Our Baltic adventure on the Black Watch set sail from Dover into somewhat turbulent seas. We were enthusiastic about the journey ahead and about visiting the region’s historic ports and cities. And there was something extra thrown in. The BBC Antiques Roadshow was travelling with us, too, as part of Fred. Olsen’s new Vistas programme (formerly the Arts Club). There were no antiques on board to be valued, but there were frequent, interesting talks with the antiques experts.

Speaking of antiques, on 26 June our ship, Black Watch, celebrated 40 years at sea with many of her long-time supporters on board.

Though the 800-passenger Black Watch is an undisputedly popular ship, the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow presenters enticed even more to book this particular itinerary. Vistas programmes are all about enrichment, so serious presentations were given by experts Lars Tharp and Clive StewartLockhart on the subject of porcelain, ceramics and Victorian paintings.

But there were fun, frivolous entertainments, too.

An Antiques Roadshow Call My Bluff was popular and there was a very funny Ready Steady Cook with Lars, Clive and Martin, the ship’s executive chef. There was an interesting lecture explaining the nuts and bolts of how the Antiques Roadshow is produced, peppered, of course, with amusing anecdotes. Of the 20,000 objects brought along on a typical production day, only 30 will be featured on the show. With the queues often being four hours long, many discovered, to their dismay, that their precious item had the unfortunate moniker of ‘Dishwasher Safe’ printed on the bottom.

“I gave my first lecture on board a Fred. Olsen ship 15 years ago and in those days, guests did not know in advance who the presenters would be,” Lars Tharp confessed. Lars is Danish born but educated at Cambridge, attaining a degree on the subject of the Stone Age. He is a self-professed destination cruiser who takes trips three times a year. “I find the Baltic Sea itinerary endlessly fascinating from an historic perspective. These ports played a massive role in who we are in Europe today.”

Cruise Director Ronnie Finch, who has worked for the cruise line for 18 years, said: “Vistas themed cruises are proving to be very popular. We have a 53 per cent repeat rate so we need to offer something different to keep people coming back.”

Vistas shore excursions are meant to carry the Antique Roadshow experience on to land. We visited the pretty and atmospheric old town of Tallinn, Estonia, and afterwards veered off to see the new Lennusadam Seaplane Harbour. A 1.5km walk down a gravel path from the port, this sophisticated and interactive museum is well worth a visit. We even explored a submarine.

Another excursion was to the Open Air Museum in Kiel, which shows off the farming traditions of the Schleswig-Holstein region. But by far my favourite excursion was to Catherine Palace in Tsarskoe Selo, the leafy suburbs of St Petersburg.

The baroque gilt decoration has been painstakingly restored after WWII and the Amber Room was

There were frequent, interesting talks with the antiques experts overwhelming in its detail. Outside, a small male choir made use of the amazing acoustics of the Palace Grotto to give us a short performance. The basso profundo rumbled along on a G below low C, astonishing as it is the lowest note a human voice can produce. Later the same day, guests wandered around a small area of St. Petersburg.

Copenhagen was an important port of call where we took in Tivoli Gardens, an amusement park that has been in operation since 1843, and the Royal Palace. There were two obvious highlights: indulging in delicious Scandinavian food at the Brdr (Brothers) Price restaurant, and trying out two of the best roller coasters around.

In all, it was an exceptional itinerary that matched well with the Vistas antiques theme. ›› For more information on Fred. Olsen cruises see fredolsencruises.com or call 01473 746175.

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 Bodø

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 Archangel

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Route of heroes

Arctic Convoy missions to Russia saw some of the harshest sea conditions and deadliest battles of WWII – Winston Churchill called it ‘the worst journey in the world’.

Lesley Bellew travelled with veterans from the campaign on Quest For Adventure, to honour those who risked their lives to ensure vital supplies reached the Eastern Front

PHOTOS: ISTOCK/ALAMY/LESLEY BELLEW

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darkness, hammering off ice s Quest For and snow to stop their vessels Adventure sinking. Despite the threat of glided through U-boat torpedoes, battleship the Barents fire and attacks from the Sea, bathed in air, more than 66,000 allied mellow rays of the midnight sailors risked everything to sun, passengers watched in ensure that supplies of food, awe while the millpond water medicine and munitions and clear sky merged into a reached Russia. kaleidoscope of pastel shades, The passengers’ freedom from gold to topaz to pink, in Four veterans: Charles Downs, David Craig, Gordon Kilner and Jock Dempster to enjoy the midsummer a show to rival the Northern spectacular in the northern-most point of Europe Lights. On the longest day of 2012, Mother was never more keenly felt than during this Nature’s prime-time performance was a world peaceful midnight hour – without another ship or away from the conditions endured by Merchant Navy and Royal Navy sailors 70 years ago, and the land in sight. At each port there was a story to tell.

With eight veterans from the conflict on board, the atmosphere on ship was emotional. journey became a unique, living history lesson.

How could anyone not help thinking, in this Jock Dempster, who joined the Merchant Navy most magical of landscapes, that this was Mother at 16, remembered how Murmansk was almost Nature’s way of displaying the perfect peace that completely destroyed. He said: “We had the most the veterans had fought so hard to achieve? horrendous journey, through raging storms and In wartime, the 24-hour daylight left the Allies enemy fire, but when we arrived in the city we were too vulnerable in these vast Arctic waters between shocked. The people were starving. We gave away Norway and Russia. The summer convoys were everything we had – they had nothing.” switched to winter, when the sun never rises, and Quest For Adventure’s officers joined passengers the sailors faced average temperatures of minus to pay their respects to the international crews of 20˚C while 60ft waves lashed their ships in the the Arctic Convoys at the Alyosha memorial in  blackest of seas. Men remained on deck in the 76

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Above: Solovetsky monastery. Below: Svolvaer, capital of Lofoten. Right: The world’s northernmost town, Honningsvag

arctic convoys

in russia these ‘Polar bears’ as they are known are held in the highest esteem

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arctic convoys

Above: In Murmansk, the ship’s officers joined passengers and crew to pay their respects to the crews of the Arctic Convoy missions at the Alyosha Memorial

murmansk. under the towering 116ft statue of a soldier (which faces west towards the valley of Glory, where the deadliest fighting of the arctic campaign occurred), we laid red carnations next to a symbolic eternal flame. Wearing their arctic convoys’ white berets, the veterans bowed their heads in silence to remember their comrades. in russia, these ‘Polar bears’, as they are known for their distinctive berets, are held in the highest esteem, and nowhere more so than at the arctic convoys museum in Gymnasium 9 school, murmansk, where students came back from their holidays to welcome the veterans. the 18-year-olds told how their parents’ families had been saved from starvation, and regaled stories of heroism that the veterans had been too modest to mention. english teacher yekaterina yermolina said she felt it was ‘most important’ to remember the sacrifices made during the arctic convoy missions. miss yermolina told the veterans: “you will always be our friends. every family in murmansk has been touched by your bravery. “We work to keep alive this memory and wish to honour and thank you. your dangerous journeys will never be forgotten. it is wonderful to see you today. truly wonderful.” the pristine collection of arctic convoys’ artefacts, photographs and letters in the museum

was all the more remarkable for being housed in a smart room inside the otherwise run-down 1960s concrete-built school that was devoid of any colour and comforts.

Quest For Adventure continued its journey on the White sea, via the solovetsky islands, to archangel. the ship docked exactly where the allies had arrived with supplies in the 1940s. this was not your average tourist hot-spot but a chance to see the real russia. timber and wood products make up the bulk of exports and for miles along the dvina river, chimneys spewed smoke from factories producing pulp, paper, resin and cellulose. archangel was grey, really grey – until we found the arts museum. there, hidden in another brutal concrete block, was a collection of 14th-century religious icons that were jaw-dropping in both their beauty and survival after centuries of revolution and war. the gold leaf and still brightly coloured paintings on large wooden panels at once captured the spirit of our voyage – we had discovered and at last understood the resilience of the russian people. this arctic convoys’ cruise was always going to be an adventure but it connected passengers to a world of understanding way beyond the promise of any itinerary.

Your Cruise Planner

Other cruise holidays to Norway and Russia

featudraeyd holi Saga cruiSeS Expedition to the North Cape 19-day cruise aboard Quest For Adventure, from £3,086 24 june 2013 Round trip from Dover to Stavanger, Bronnoysund, Leknes(Lofoten Islands), Longyearbyen (Spitsbergen), Magdalena Bay, Tromso, Molde, Geiranger and Bergen.

■ Discover the remote Lofoten Islands – rated the most beautiful in the world – and Arctic Wildlife in Magdalena Bay, a magical landscape illuminated by the midnight sun 0800 505030 saga.co.uk/cruises

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cruise & maritime voyages 19 days aboard Discovery

fred. olsen 17 days aboard Braemar

june 2013 Harwich, Bergen, Leknes, Honningsvag, Kirkenes, Archangel, Solovetsky Islands, Tromso and Florø ■ From £1,569pp 0845 430 0274; cruiseandmaritime.com

june 2013 Visiting Stavanger, Bodo, Tromso, Honningsvag and Bergen in Norway; Archangel and Murmansk in Russia ■ From £1,839pp 01473 746175; fredolsencruises.com

voyages of discovery 15 days aboard MV Voyager

cunard 16 days aboard Queen Mary 2

june 2013 Portsmouth, Bergen, Bronnoysund, Tromso, Honningsvag, Hammerfest, Leknes, Molde, Stavanger ■ From £1,719pp 0844 488 0904; voyagesofdiscovery.co.uk

june 2013 Norwegian Fjords and North Cape Adventure visiting Hamburg, Bergen, Andalsnes, Trondheim, Honningsvag, Tromso, Alesund and Stavanger ■ From £1,879pp 0843 374 2224 ; cunard.co.uk

We make every effort to ensure prices and conversion rates are correct at time of going to press but they should be used as a guide only

| december /ja n ua ry 2013

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CRUISE CONTROL No all you can eat buffet, no booze, and plenty of exercise. We challenged Captain Greybeard, aka John Honeywell, to lose weight on board Celebrity Silhouette

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ots of cruises, and a surfeit of steak, spaghetti and sandwiches washed down with buckets of beer and bubbly, have taken their inevitable toll on my waistline. So it’s time for action. And how best to lose weight? Go on a cruise, of course.

It might sound crazy – most of my bright ideas are – but just think about it. Hidden among the all-youcan-eat buffet selections are lots of healthy options such as plain grilled chicken and fish, steamed vegetables, and more salad than you could ever dress at home. In the main restaurant on almost every cruise ship the chef aims to have a low-cal, low-carb option among the selections for starters and main course, and there’s always fruit for dessert.

Pretty much every ship has a gym of some description; the newer ones have enough treadmills and exercise bikes to power every flashing light in their glitzy casinos.

They all have a spa, where, as well as the facials and manicures, wrinkle treatments and teethwhitening, there are weight-loss programmes that require little or no action from the participant –

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just lie back and watch the pounds melt away.

Or so they say. I decided to put the claims, and my theory, to the test, on a five-day break aboard Celebrity Silhouette – one of the sleekest models of the Eclipse-class ships.

My obesity was to face a three-pronged attack – at the meal table, in the gym, and in the treatment rooms of the AquaSpa. First stop when I arrived on board was the spa reception desk, where I set up a series of appointments to fill the days ahead, with no idea what most of them involved. I took the advice of spa manager Mirella, who soon had me booked in for seaweed wraps, Ionithermie sessions, and – as a reward at the end – a hot stone massage.

Next I needed to discover exactly how big was the task ahead. Time to stand on the scales and then attach electrodes to a foot and a hand as part of a body composition analysis from which personal trainer Laura Cull was able to tell me how overweight I was (very), what proportion of my body consisted of fat (too much, much too much), my metabolic rate (too low) and how long it would CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM

photos: celebrity cruises illustration: ian mitchell

HealtHy Holiday

take to bring me back to acceptable levels (much longer than i had expected). laura, a former gymnast whose career was cut short by injury, led me through some elementary dietary advice and expressed horror at the number of cups of coffee i consumed each day. laura also had plenty of dietary suggestions. don’t starve yourself was the bit i liked hearing most. sticking to chicken, fish, steamed vegetables and salads was an expected but less welcome recommendation. the ocean View buffet restaurant always had an almost infinite variety of salads available – i just had to turn my head away as i passed the pizza counter. and the ice cream. the ensemble lounge on deck 5 was best avoided as well, opening up as it does into the temptations of the murano restaurant, the tuscan Grille steakhouse, and the uniquely unordinary delights of Qsine.

When i found myself drawn to the grassy area at the top of the ship, i had to turn my back on the lawn club Grill where last year, unconcerned about my waist, i set about barbecuing enough red meat to feed an army. the burgers at the mast Grill were off-limits as well, but i was free to attack the aquaspa café in the solarium. more advice from laura: don’t eat too late in the evening. excuse me, i’m a night owl, not an early bird. that’s another habit i had to change. but given that i had forsworn alcohol for the week, and coffee had also been put on the banned list, it wasn’t too difficult. cellar masters wine bar, michael’s club and the martini bar were no-go areas. alcohol would not only provide unwanted calories, it might also weaken my resolve; for the first time in i don’t know how long, i was teetotal – well, for a few days at least. i did have to drink plenty, but just water, and i found no difficulty knocking back a litre bottle of evian during the day and another litre of san Pellegrino each evening. there was an upside as well – my spa treatments.

Having changed into a soft bathrobe, i was led by therapist maria into a darkened treatment room where my massage table awaited. maria covered me in a slimy green goo and then wrapped me up in foil to marinate for half an hour. the rest of the treatment, with repeated showers and soothing massages to my head, feet and eventually all my body, passed almost in a trance. i never imagined i could have had so much pleasure lying down with my hands by my sides. it was doing me good as well. Flab was becoming less flabby and i could see that my ankles were already a little less swollen. before long i discovered that the seaweed was helping me lose fluid in other ways – prompting more frequent cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

Below: It’s easy to make visits to the loo. in contrast to the subdued lighting the most of the facilities on and soothing music in maria’s treatment chamber, board Celebrity Silhouette my ionithermie sessions were in a bright room with huge picture windows. i did battle once more with the paper panties and stood in front of the mirror as therapist yselle took five sets of measurements around my girth. it was not a pretty sight and even i had to turn away. Good job we were at sea, with only the occasional passing gull for company, otherwise anyone peering in would have been in for a shock. almost as much of a shock as i received as yselle prepared a mix of warm clay to baste my back and stomach, attached electrodes, and cranked up the power. it started off as a tingling sensation as if i had brushed against an electric fence and then worked up until i felt like an unseen hand was repeatedly gripping and then letting go. no chance to relax either, as yselle embarked on a prepared lecture about the unhealthy fats and unnecessary water stored in my body, and how ionithermie would help restore a healthy balance. i think that’s what she was talking about; it was difficult to concentrate. once my allotted time expired, i was back in front of the mirror to be measured again. Good news, a total of four inches disappeared from the five parameters measured. disappointingly, the one described as “natural waist” reduced by only half 8

Hidden among the all-you-can-eat buffet selections are lots of healthy options

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an inch, sadly showing just how much work there is left for me to do.

Finally then, it was off to the gym, where personal trainer chris arnott put me through my paces. a former professional footballer with Watford Fc, he had clearly benefitted from some serious training himself. after four days of training, my initial breathlessness was a thing of the past, i was pushing and pulling heavier weights and taking shorter breaks. suddenly i realised i was actually enjoying myself – something i never thought would have been possible. throughout the cruise, i still had time to take excursions ashore, enjoy the shows in the theatre and relax on my balcony reading books. rather than spend a temperate time in the bar after dinner, i stayed in my cabin one evening watching The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo via the video-on-demand service on my tV. the passengers i joined for dinner were intrigued by my regime; all of them expected to gain weight while on holiday, especially the two australian ladies i joined one evening who managed two starters and two desserts each. the proof of my endeavour was anywhere but the pudding. measuring up after the second ionithermie session showed a further decrease,

featudraeyd holi

celebrity cruises Celebrity Silhouette’s winter 2012/2013 season will offer a mix of seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings from Fort Lauderdale.

■ Celebrity Silhouette sails on a sevennight Eastern Caribbean fly/cruise from £1,285 per person on 6 January 2013. The price includes return flights from Heathrow and the cruise departs from Fort Lauderdale, calling at San Juan (Puerto Rico), Philipsburg (St Maarten) and Charlotte Amalie (St Thomas) before returning to Fort Lauderdale, for the flight home.

For more information or to book call 0845 456 0523 or visit celebritycruises.co.uk

although my waist had crept up in the two days between sessions. the true worth of my efforts was demonstrated on the scales back in the gym. in just four-and-ahalf days on board, i had lost just over 4lb. just think, if i had been on the ship for the full two-week cruise i might have lost a stone.

Below: The relaxation room on board Silhouette is a good place to unwind after a workout

Your Cruise Planner

Other cruise holidays to boost health and wellbeing MSC CruiSeS 8 days aboard MS Splendida

CoSta CruiSeS 8 days aboard Costa Fascinosa

CryStal CruiSeS 13 days aboard Crystal Symphony

april 2013 The Aurea Spa on board is a cut above the rest – experience true relaxation in Italy, Spain, Tunisia and Malta ■ From £599pp 0844 561 7412; msccruises.co.uk

SepteMber 2013 Wellness cruise to Venice (Italy), Bari (Italy), Katakolon/Olympia (Greece), Santorini (Greece), Rhodes (Greece), Dubrovnik (Croatia) ■ From £1,098pp 0845 351 0552; costacruises.co.uk

February 2013 Mind, Body & Spirit cruises like this one to Bali and Singapore focus on yoga, Pilates, t’ai chi and general fitness on board and ashore ■ From £2,360pp 0207 399 7601; crystalcruises.co.uk

royal Caribbean 8 days aboard Oasis of the Seas January 2013 Make use of the giant gym on this giant ship, and chill out afterwards in the Bahamas, St Thomas and St Maarten ■ From £643pp 0844 493 4005; royalcaribbean.co.uk

norwegian CruiSe line 8 days aboard Breakaway June 2013 The Mandara Spa is now in service aboard the entire fleet of Norwegian’s ships – try it aboard new ship Breakaway from NYC to Bermuda ■ From £1,786pp including flights 0843 373 2000; ncl.co.uk

p&o CruiSeS 107 days aboard Aurora January 2013 Experience pure relaxation and total rejuvenation on a world cruise calling at 39 ports and 25 countries ■ From £9,999pp 0843 374 0111; pocruises.com

We make every effort to ensure prices and conversion rates are correct at time of going to press but they should be used as a guide only

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COMPETITION Classic

Win a luxury cruise on the Rhine Enter our fantastic competition and you and a guest could be sailing on the romantic Rhine with Avalon Waterways

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ou and a companion could be enjoying a fi rst-class river cruise with exceptional personalised service, spacious staterooms and luxurious facilities, courtesy of Avalon Waterways. Enter our prize draw and you could win a wonderful eight-day luxury ‘Romantic Rhine’ cruise for two worth more than £3,700.

Stroll the historic streets of Cologne, Koblenz and Strasbourg, admire the imposing ruins of Heidelberg Castle, and cruise on the picturesque canals of Amsterdam.

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Sailing aboard the brand new ship, Artistry II, you will enjoy one of the largest staterooms available on Europe’s rivers, with a full-size bathroom and either queen-size or twin beds.

Everything has been planned for the ultimate river cruising experience, from the free chauffeur-driven home pick-up service and full board meals including complimentary drinks with dinner, to the services of a professional cruise director. All gratuities for the cruise director and crew have also been included for your convenience.

Avalon Waterways offers the very best in exclusive, luxury river cruise holidays. Their fleet of state-of-the-art Suite Ships is revolutionising river cruising. Every possible comfort and amenity is combined with their unrivalled range of destinations and itineraries, making Avalon river cruises an unbeatable holiday experience. What makes their river cruises even more special is their

| DECEMBER /JA N UA RY 2013

total commitment to impeccable levels of service for all guests and attention to the fi nest details.

Cruise Itinerary Day 1 Fly to Amsterdam where you will be met and transferred to your cruise ship for seven nights.

Day 2 A chance to enjoy Holland’s sophisticated capital with its rich and fascinating history. This 700-year-old city boasts elegant architecture, cafés and restaurants, and the lively marketplace has a distinct ambience. There is no better way to see the city than by canal boat, cruising along elegant grachten lined by stately homes. Your river cruise ship then sets sail for Cologne.

Day 3 Cologne is one of Germany’s largest cities, with a river skyline dominated by the soaring twin spires of its magnificent Gothic cathedral. The Germano-Roman Museum located next to the cathedral is a must for history buffs.

Day 4 From Koblenz to Rüdesheim you will sail the dramatic Rhine Gorge, an incredibly beautiful stretch of the river. Situated at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers, 2,000-year-old Koblenz is the cultural and business centre of the Middle Rhine region. In Rüdesheim, enjoy a visit to Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Cabinet Museum and free time to explore the Drosselgasse.

Day 5 Situated on the left bank of the Rhine, Mainz is Germany’s largest and most important CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM

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wine town. After a visit to the Gutenberg Museum, you’ll head to Heidelberg, the country’s oldest university town. A photo-stop allows you to take pictures of the ruins of Heidelberg Castle, towering above the city, before free time to explore.

WIN AN EIGHT-DAY RHINE RIVER CRUISE Competition entry form How to enter: For your chance to win a fabulous Rhine River Cruise with Avalon

Waterways, simply answer the following question, then complete and send this form to the address below. All entries must be received by 2 November 2012.

Day 6 A day in the cosmopolitan city of Strasbourg, capital of the Alsace region and seat of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament, includes noteworthy sights such as the Gothic cathedral, the Petite France district, Place Kléber and Place Gutenberg.

Which town is the gateway to Germany’s Black Forest region?

A: Breisach B: Cologne C: Berlin Name:

Day 7 You will visit Breisach, located at the foot of Kaiserstuhl mountain on the French-German border. This is the gateway to Germany’s Black Forest region, an area of unrivalled natural beauty.

Address

Day 8 Basel to Zürich. Disembark and transfer to Zürich airport for your fl ight back to the UK.

Send your coupon to: Avalon Waterways Competition, Cruise International, The Chelsea Magazine Company, Liscartan House, 127-131 Sloane Street, London SW1X 9AS, UK

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By entering the competition, you agree and acknowledge that The Chelsea Magazine Company and Avalon Waterways are permitted to receive your registration data. Please tick if you subscribe to CRUISE INTERNATIONAL magazine Please tick if you do NOT wish to receive information about products and services from The Chelsea Magazine Company by phone, post or email Please tick here if you do NOT to receive information from Avalon Waterways by email Please tick here if you do NOT wish to receive information from Avalon Waterways by post Terms & Conditions apply (see box left).

TERMS AND CONDITIONS Terms & Conditions :1. All entrants must be resident in the UK and aged 18 or over, excluding employees (or members of their families) of the Cosmos group of companies. 2. The prize: 8 day ‘Romantic Rhine’ 2013 cruise, based on a category E stateroom, departing from London Heathrow, for 2 people travelling together with free home pick-up if you live within 75 miles of the departure airport. Departure date is 27 October 2013. The holiday is subject to availability. Booking conditions apply (see the current 2013 Avalon Waterways European River Cruises brochure for details). 3. Any further room or cabin upgrades, and any other supplements, are at the customer’s expense. The cruise holiday prize does not include travel insurance, personal expenses or spending money. Entrants must hold a valid passport and it is the entrant’s responsibility to check visa and passport requirements. 4. There is no cash alternative. The prize is not transferable. 5. No purchase is necessary. 6. No responsibility can be accepted for entries lost, delayed or incomplete. 7. Avalon Waterways reserves the right to feature this prize draw on other printed material.

Winners may be requested to take part in post-event publicity. 8. Avalon Waterways reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value should circumstances make this necessary. Entry constitutes acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.

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SHIPS • EVENTS • DESTINATIONS

River Cruise News RIVER CRUISING WILL BE EVEN BIGGER IN 2013

River cruising continues to go from strength to strength, and 2013 is set to continue this trend with a wealth of new itineraries to choose from. Titan’s new 2013 river cruise brochure has several exciting new holidays including Danube Symphony – A Musical Journey on the MS Mozart, and a Deluxe Venetian Cruise with Lake Maggiore. For more information visit titantravel.co.uk or call 0800 988 5807.

MYSTERIOUS MYANMAR Elegant new river cruise vessel Orcaella will be joining its sister ship, Road to Mandalay, to explore the beauty of Burma (Myanmar) on the Irrawaddy river and its mysterious and mountainous tributary.

Offering seven-and 11-night cruises, the new ship will explore the rich heritage of the waterways.

Offshore excursions include unforgettable cultural wonders such as visits to a Noviciation Ceremony of local monks and trips to meet working elephants in the Burmese teak forest with expert guides. Prices start from £3,270 per person. Call 0845 077 2222 or visit orient-express.com.

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Go Dutch Swan Hellenic is giving river cruise lovers a luxurious new option for 2013.

The beautiful Royal Crown will be offering its 79 guests a river cruise with personalised service and surroundings reminiscent of the golden age of cruising. Highlights on board include art-deco style cabins and dedicated rooms for solo cruisers. The elegant new vessel will be gracing Dutch waterways next year with new itineraries exploring Holland’s waterfront destinations from Zaandam to Amsterdam and Antwerp. Cruises start from £2,250 per person. Visit swanhellenic.com for more information.

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FESTIVE CRUISES Europe’s historic Christmas markets are the perfect way to get you feeling festive (see our Christmas river cruises special on page 91). This year eWaterways cruises to the best market towns that the Rhine and Main rivers have to offer. Picturesque places come to life as the advent season dawns with their selection of five-day cruises aboard the Arosa Brava. The completely renovated,

86-cabin ship is equipped with a luxurious spa and gourmet restaurant that will keep you refreshed, relaxed and entertained between each port of call.

Itineraries include the charming historic cities of Koblenz, Cologne and Strasbourg that truly transform at Christmas time.

Prices start from £245 per person sharing a cabin. Call 0808 168 1458 or visit ewaterways.co.uk

AT YOUR OWN PACE

PHOTOS: ISTOCK WORDS: JOSEPHINE PRICE

Avalon Waterways are tailoring their programmes differently for 2013.

“We’ve listened to our customers and realise that not everyone wants to do the same thing,” says Karen Woods, Product Manager. “Some people might want a leisurely stroll while others might just want a little guidance and more time on their own. So we have developed these excursions so that there is a choice and everyone gets the best from the places they visit.”

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Passengers can choose from three different options when exploring each port of call: ‘leisurely’, ‘traditional’ or ‘essential’ sightseeing. Local guides will be on hand to share their wealth of knowledge to make passengers feel engaged with each destination.

Personal headsets will also be given out on all programmes so the commentary can be followed at your leisure. See avalonwaterways. com for more details.

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READER WRITES

A real French connection

Margaret Appleton and her husband won a wonderful competition in the June/July issue of Cruise International for an APT cruise through the vineyards and rivers of Provence

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ittle did I realise when I entered the competition in Cruise International to win a river cruise on the MS Amadagio that I would win.

We were flown to Lyon airport and transported to the ship. On arrival, we were welcomed warmly and shown to our suite, which was light and airy with a balcony that proved a blessing in the heat.

All meals throughout the cruise were superb with plenty of choice.

Many dishes reflected the French cuisine of the region, such as Daube de Boeuf Provençale and Cream of Escargots soup. The complimentary wines were from local regions such as Beaujolais Villages and Côtes du Provence Blanc de Blancs.

The actual cruising was a delight and the scenery kept changing regularly as we travelled through the different areas.

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Excursions were well planned and Main: The scenic banks of Lyon from the river gave us a real taste of France. In Saône. Above right: Pont Lyon, the guided tour with the du Gard, the ancient panoramic view of the city at Roman aqueduct near the city of Avignon Fourvière Hill (the Hill of Prayers) and the iconic white Basilica of Notre Dame were not to be missed. Back in the Renaissance district of the city, we enjoyed the café culture and took a walk through the narrow passageways.

We were also able to view many of the ‘trompes l’oeil’, or painted walls, for which Lyons is famous.

The Beaujolais region proved to be a revelation with its rolling hills, vineyards and vibrant A visit to a truffle farm flower gardens. in Grignon was such a We greatly enjoyed wine delightful experience, tasting in a local and to watch the family vineyard and the visit to the small dog locate the truffles town of Oingt, was truly unique

| DECEMBER /JA N UA RY 2013

with its medieval past and golden stone buildings.

In Boucieu le Roi, we visited a traditional goat farm and sampled a number of goats’ cheeses.

A visit to a truffle farm in Grignon was a delightful experience, and to watch the family dog locate the truffles was truly unique.

Avignon proved to be wonderful and the visit to Pont du Gard, the Roman aqueduct built more than 2,000 years ago, was a real highlight. A visit to Avignon is not complete without passing the famous bridge, and we cruised past it accompanied by the song Sur le Pont d’Avignon played over the ship’s speaker system.

Our thanks go to APT and the crew of the Amadagio for a magnificent cruise, and to all at Cruise International.

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Discover the delights along Europe’s great rivers SAVE £2,000 up to

per couple

on 2013 cruises* Book by 31 October 2012

There is no finer way to discover the treasures that line Europe’s great rivers than on a luxury river cruise. With 85 years experience delivering inspiring touring holidays around the world, you can trust APT to provide the ultimate river cruise experience.

You’ll travel in luxury, enjoying exceptional dining, fine wines and stylish surroundings aboard some of the most beautiful river ships afloat. On shore you’ll enjoy carefully-crafted excursions, led by expert local guides who will bring the history, heritage and culture of each destination to life.

Exceptional value with all this included in your price All enriching shore excursions

Luxurious accommodation

Return travel from the UK

Whether discovering iconic treasures, enjoying cultural performances or sampling regional delights, your broad range of guided tours and sightseeing experiences are all included.

Enjoy a fantastic onboard experience, with impeccable service, stylish surroundings, world-class amenities, and a choice of elegant and spacious balcony suites and cabin styles.

Fly aboard quality scheduled airlines from a choice of up to 15 UK airports, at no extra cost.

Or if you prefer we also offer no-fly rail options on a selection of cruises††.

Delectable dining at every meal

All onboard drinks

Taking care of all the details

All delicious meals onboard are included. You’ll enjoy fine dining from menus created by our master chefs that reflect regional flavours and use the finest fresh local ingredients.

New in 2013, you’ll enjoy unlimited complimentary drinks on board. Be it an espresso with breakfast, European beer at lunch, regional wines at dinner, or anything in between – it’s all included†.

Provence Cruising

Rhine & Moselle Treasures

Magnificent Europe

8 day luxury river cruise Lyon to Arles

8 day luxury river cruise Amsterdam to Basel

15 day luxury river cruise Amsterdam to Budapest

Enjoy the scenic and gastronomic delights of beautiful Provence on this unforgettable cruise along the Rhône.

• Visit a family owned vineyard in the Beaujolais region • Enjoy truffle tasting at a farm in Grignan • Explore the quiet town of Viviers on a ‘ghost walk’ • Discover Roman relics & monuments in Arles

Discover castles, cathedrals and culture on this spectacular cruise along the magical Rhine.

• Explore Amsterdam, Cologne and historic Koblenz • Visit the beautiful hillside castle Reichsburg Cochem • Sample delicious local wines at a Rhine valley winery • Explore Speyer’s famous Technik Museum

Take in the spectacular scenery of five countries on this magnificent cruise along the Rhine & Danube.

• Explore the great cities of Amsterdam, Vienna & Budapest • Discover historic Wertheim Castle • Taste wines at Germany’s oldest wine cellar • Enjoy a private recital at the Hungarian State Opera House

NOW from only £1,912PP*

NOW from only £2,995PP*

NOW from only £2,182PP*

All tipping, airport-to-ship transfers and port charges are included in your price – saving you as much as £1,077 per couple over a 15 day cruise.

Contact us for more information or to request your free brochure

Call 0845 602 1137

aptouring.co.uk/cruising2013 Book with confidence:

DISCOVER THE WORLD WITH THE EXPERTS IN GUIDED TOURING AND LUXUR Y RIVER CRUISING *Applies to new 2013 bookings made before 31 October 2012 unless sold out prior. Offers subject to availability & can be withdrawn at any time. Not combinable with any other offer. £2000 per couple saving based on two adults travelling together, twin share on Magnificent Europe. All prices are per person, twin share, based on E cabin. Details correct as at time of print. † Excludes French Champagne & selected premium spirits/wines. †† Supplement may apply. Please call for details.

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CHRISTMAS CRUISES

PHOTO: © STATION96/ISTOCK

WINTER A cruise on the Venetian Lagoon at Christmas time is an enchanting way to explore the city, as Jane Gifford discovers

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inter is one of the best times to visit Venice – the weather is often surprisingly bright and sunny, and without the summer heat haze you can just see the snow-capped peaks of the Dolomites in the distance across the lagoon. Even when the famous sea mists do completely envelop the city, it still has a charm you will find nowhere else in the world.

At Christmas the city is strung with lights, and there are markets to visit. But as with the rest of Italy, it’s very much a family occasion where food and tradition take centre stage.

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A four- or five-night mini-cruise of the Venetian Lagoon is an excellent way to enjoy this unique and magical city and its surroundings.

Accommodation in Venice is notoriously expensive, especially on the waterfront, so it is an extra special treat to be able to enjoy constant panoramic views of this remarkable city from the very water that has made this city so famous.

And by sailing off-season between the end of November and the beginning of April, you avoid the high season heat and mosquitoes as well as enjoying a welcome escape from the crush of  summer tourists.

Venice’s Grand Canal – the city’s main waterway

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the Ms Michelangelo is purpose-built for the shallow waters of the lagoon and small enough to blend in with the city’s bustling water traffic. taking a maximum of only 156 passengers, it feels intimate but still has enough room to chill out undisturbed when you fancy. Most importantly, there are excellent views from all parts of the dining room, bar, entertainment lounge and most cabins and, when relaxing on deck, you really do feel part of the life of the city. You might have to wrap up warm but it’s worth it as you watch the sunset reflected on the water before that iconic skyline of extraordinary churches and palaces.

Even though Venice is fairly small, with all that extraordinary architecture packed on to what is really only a group of tiny islands set in a swampy lagoon, it’s very easy to get lost, so guided walks and special events are bookable on board every day to all the main sights, galleries and museums. there are no cars and miles of narrow allies and canals between three-storey buildings of all kinds. the vision of those early Venetians is aweinspiring. the whole city is built on wooden posts.

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Buildings are no more than three storeys high because the ground won’t support taller buildings for long. that‘s why all the bell towers eventually start to lean.

We joined the Michelangelo at san Basilio moored next to the Zattere, a wide promenade alongside the Canale della Giudecca, where you can walk at the water’s edge the length of the Dorsoduro district from the harbour to Punta della Dogana and the Customs House. the walk ends with the Basilica santa Maria della salute at the mouth of the Grand Canal. this famous white marble fantasy was commissioned in 1630 in thanks to the Madonna for sparing two thirds of the population of Venice from the plague. Enjoy the company of Venetians out walking their dogs, while watching the fading light on the dome of Palladio’s vast 16th-century red-brick church, il Redentore, across the water on the Giudecca. later that evening you cruise out into the san Marco Basin between the Customs Point and the island of san Giorgio Maggiore where another of Palladio’s massive churches dominates the water.

photos: jane gifford/istock

Sunset in Venice over Santa Maria della Salute, seen from the lagoon

CRU isE-i N t ER NAt ioNA l .CoM

christmas cruises

Where the michelangelo cannot take you, a water-bus (vaporetto) will. it’s a great way to get to know Venice after a morning’s gentle sailing towards burano, with its trademark leaning bell tower, and torcello, the Michelangelo returns to Venice and the riva dei sette martiri, your base for the rest of the trip.

From here you can walk along the water’s edge and be in saint mark’s square in 15 minutes. a visit to the basilica is a must. midnight mass on christmas eve is fabulous even if you are not religious. the district of castello is right on your ‘doorstep’, as well as two parks for a welcome bit of green space after the narrow streets. the view from the boat takes in san Giorgio and the salute and the entrance to the Grand canal, with open water and the lido in the other direction. a constant stream of buses, water taxis, gondolas, construction boats and delivery vehicles of all shapes and sizes passes by. it’s a great skyline and the view changes with the mood of the sea and the weather. the islands of burano and torcello and the coastal town of chioggia are definitely worth visiting for a broader picture of life on the lagoon. all three have canals but they are very different from Venice. burano is more like holland than italy. the small two-storey houses are very simple, except that each is painted a different bold colour. every family has their own colour scheme so they can easily identify their homes when returning from sea in dense fog. local boats are full of fishing nets and lines of duck decoys for shooting. only a few families now live on torcello, once the most

cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

populated island in the lagoon. there has been a cathedral here since the seventh century; it’s the oldest on the lagoon. isolated and massive, the plain exterior of santa maria assunta gives an extra power to the beauty of the byzantine mosaics inside. chioggia, on the mainland coast of the adriatic to the east of Venice, has been a busy fishing port since roman times and it is good to see the industry still thriving. this is an unpretentious working town. it’s inexpensive, traditional and very friendly. the large fish market is the centre-piece of town. the old wooden fishing boats – the bragozzo – are still in use, their prows decorated with angels and mythical beasts, with an eye painted somewhere prominent to ward off evil.

Where the michelangelo cannot take you, a water-bus (vaporetto) will. it’s a great way to get to know Venice. even bus stops are fun – they are floating pontoons and you move to the rhythm of the water while you wait. blend in with the constant busy flow of passengers while watching palace after palace go by. bridges, churches, gondolas, more palaces and churches, each built to out do the other in architectural opulence. there’s so much to take in on this trip. there are many excursions to choose from if you prefer. either way, you will fall in love with Venice, and always find ways to return. ›› Jane Gifford travelled with Voyages Jules Verne. For more information on similar holidays to Venice see vjv.co.uk

Above: Venice Carnival mask.

Below, from left: Designer shopping on Calle Larga XXII Marzo near Saint Mark’s Square, San Marco District; View over Saint Mark’s and the Doge’s Palace from the Campanile

December /ja n ua ry 2013 |

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CHRISTMAS CRUISES RIVER CRUISES

Festive fairytale Jennifer Baron was the lucky winner of our Shearings Christmas Markets competition, and last November she and her sister Marilyn set off on their river cruise on MS Rotterdam

Clockwise from above: Cologne Christmas market; timbered houses; candyfloss; Christmas decoration

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ur journey to Germany began with a ferry crossing from Dover to France and an overnight stay near Lille.

We continued through Belgium the next day and on into Germany to the old city of Koblenz, where we boarded the Rotterdam, which was delightfully decorated for Christmas with garlands of golden stars and baubles. After lunch we visited the small markets of Koblenz and, armed with our Christmas purchases, we prepared to spend our first night on board.

The early morning sailing the following day took us to the picturesque town of Cochem, known as the ‘Pearl of the Moselle’. The Christmas markets there are as beautiful as the town itself, with decorated wooden stalls along the cobbled streets, the aroma of roasting food and chestnuts everywhere. In every other stall, we felt obliged to sample the local mulled wine, Glüwein, which was very warming on a cold day.

We sailed on to the town of Zell, Germany’s biggest single wine growing community, and took an excursion to Bernkastel, a lovely town with an imposing castle high above the town. With its fairytale houses, quaint cobbled streets, and stalls and surprises around every corner, it was magical.

| DECEMBER /JA N UA RY 2013

That night, dinner was a speciality meal cooked entirely by the Indonesian staff. The dining room was specially decorated and the Indonesian crew served the delicious meal wearing national costume.

A very early start the next day enabled us to negotiate the many locks on our way to Alken, where, after lunch, the coach took us on another trip to the wonderful markets of Rüdesheim (which is famous for its speciality coffee containing brandy). We returned to the ship for our last night on board and the Captain’s Farewell Gala dinner.

We enjoyed the coach trip to Cologne – a lovely city with its towering cathedral and many big shops as well as wonderful Christmas markets. There was also an ice rink for anyone with any energy left after all the last-minute shopping.

After a few happy hours we made our way to our final overnight stay in a lovely hotel in Belgium, before setting off for home the following morning through Flanders Fields and northern France back to the port of Dover. We said a sad farewell to our new-found friends, vowing to meet again soon.

Thank you so much Shearings and Cruise International for a wonderful holiday. ››Turn to page 84 to find out how you could win a holiday CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM

CHRISTMAS RIVER CRUISES

Your Cruise Planner FEATUDRAEYD HOLI

PHOTOS: ISTOCK/JENNIFER BARON

SHEARINGS HOLIDAYS 7 days aboard MPS Da Vinci THROUGHOUT 2013 Vienna, Budepest, Esztergom, Bratislava, Durnstein, Melk ■ Enjoy this cruise at Christmas and throughout the year. Discover Vienna, the beautiful ‘City of Waltzes’.

See Budapest, ‘Queen of the Danube’ and home to a myriad of historical treasures. Cruise to Esztergom, a picturesque town full of historical delights. And call in at Bratislava, an amazing cultural capital city with lots to see and do.

0844 824 6351 shearings.com/rivercruises

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Other Christmas markets cruise holidays EWATERWAYS 5 days aboard Royal Crown

VOYAGES JULES VERNE 5 days aboard MS Vivaldi

APT 8 days aboard MS AmaCerto

DECEMBER 2012 Advent on the Rhine cruise visiting the Christmas markets of Frankfurt, Koblenz, Rüdesheim, Strasbourg and Basel ■ From £399pp excluding flights and transfers 0808 168 1458; waterways.co.uk

DECEMBER 2012 Christmas Markets and Music Danube minicruise visiting Vienna, Budapest and Bratislava ■ From £945pp including flights and transfers 0845 166 7003; vjv.co.uk

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012 Christmas Time Cruise from Nuremberg to Regensburg, Passau, Vienna and Budapest ■ From £1,795pp including flights and transfers 0845 604 0792; aptouring.co.uk

FRED. OLSEN 8 days aboard Boudicca

VIKING 8 days aboard Viking Pride

TITAN 8 days aboard Antoinette

DECEMBER 2012 Christmas Markets cruise from Portsmouth to Gothenburgh, Copenhagen and Bremerhaven ■ From £400pp 01473 746175; fredolsencruises.com

NOVEMBER 2013 Explore France at winter time on this wonderful Paris & the Heart of Normandy cruise ■ From £1,195pp 0808 256 1747; vikingrivercruises.co.uk

DECEMBER 2012 Rhine Festive Markets cruise visiting Strasbourg, Speyer, Mainz, Rüdesheim, Koblenz and Cologne ■ From £2,299pp including flights and transfers 0800 988 5823; titantravel.co.uk

We make every effort to ensure prices and conversion rates are correct at time of going to press but they should be used as a guide only

DECEMBER /JA N UA RY 2013 |

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Your say

CONTACT US Have you taken a brilliant photo on your cruise holiday? Email it to us at info@cruise-international. com and you could see it in a forthcoming issue

...and the winner is We had some incredible entries in the Best Cruise Photo category for this year’s Cruise International Awards. Bronwyn Moon won with her photo of Emerald Princess.

WINNER

FRED.OLSEN CRUISE LINE BEST CRUISE LINE

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Everything you need to help you choose your cruise holidays for 2013

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The winner of the Thomson competition (Oct/Nov) is Mary Thomas from Oldham. The winner of the Cruise International Awards draw and Fort Lauderdale prize is Maureen Wild.

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Congratulations

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his expedition offers the perfect chance to discover the best of the Antarctic Peninsula, the white continent’s most northern region. Exploring this area is an unforgettable experience, where you’ll encounter the iconic sights that make this one of the world’s most pristine and magical natural environments.

Quark Expeditions Antarctic Explorer: The Classic Adventure cruise departs on 22 March 2013 and costs from £3,430. Call 0808 120 2333 or visit quarkexpeditions.com

t the end of the world lies the Land of the Long White Cloud, the breathtaking fjord landscapes and vast green expanses of New Zealand.

On this section of Hapag Lloyd Europa’s World Tour you can see an active volcano on the North Island, explore the natural beauty of Stewart Island on the South Island and then cruise onwards to Australia and enter the spectacular harbour of Sydney, one of the most amazing cruise experiences in the world.

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Where in the world would you like to visit? If you’re still deciding which cruise to book in the coming months, here’s our pick of two of the best

From £7,916 (approx) for a 19-day voyage, including scheduled flights, departing on 4 February 2013. Call +49 (0)40 3070 3070 or visit hl-cruises.com 98

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