PLAN YOUR PERFECT HOLIDAY
WIN
500 A £ 2, I S E C R U WO T FO R WITH S AG A
CRUIS
ES
planner
2020
“My Travel Secrets” BY MARCO PIERRE WHITE
T H E H OT T E S T C RU I S E S BY OCEAN & RIVER
S A I L AWAY I N S T Y L E
C R U I S E - I N T E R N AT I O N A L . C O M
New Ships
£4.95 F E AT U R I N G
Silver Moon. Discover a new world of travel. Arriving August 2020.
SEE YOU
ON THE
MOON Discover a new world of travel with Silver Moon, our newest all-suite, all-inclusive intimate ship. She pushes the frontier of luxury travel with a pioneering new culinary concept, S.A.L.T. (Sea And Land Taste), which will adapt according to the visited destination to unlock immersive culinary experiences for guests.
For further details on availability and fares please visit Silversea.com. For reservations please call 0207 340 0700 or contact your travel agent.
BY APPOINTMENT TO HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II SWAROVSKI OPTIK SUPPLIER OF BINOCULARS
CL COMPANION THE FREEDOM TO EXPERIENCE MORE SEE THE UNSEEN
92
Editor’s Letter
62
Make 2020 the year of your best holiday ever with our fantastic Cruise Planner, your essential guide to all the hottest itineraries, cruise lines and new ships for the year ahead. Whether you’re a first-time cruiser or you’ve collected lots of cruise cards from your travels already, on the following pages you’ll find all the inspiration you need to help you choose, book and plan an incredible cruise. We’ve made the Cruise Planner as user-friendly as possible. Either start with the destinations you’re longing to visit, from Antarctica to Vietnam (page 85), see which cruise lines go there and then turn to page 15 to find out more about them; or vice versa. And to make things even more straightforward, on page 112 you’ll find a handy Cruise Lines Directory. There’s also an interview with the wonderful Marco Pierre White, who reveals some of his favourite destinations (page 114), and we’re giving you the chance to win a magical Christmas cruise with Saga Cruises (page 82). The next issue of Cruise International magazine will be in the shops on 31 January, jam-packed with the latest news, reviews and the coolest new ships plus amazing cruise deals. You definitely won’t want to miss it. Enjoy,
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The Chelsea Magazine Company, Jubilee House, 2 Jubilee Place, London SW3 3TQ. Tel: 020 7349 3700. Email: info@cruise-international.com. Website: www.cruise-international.com EDITORIAL Editor Liz Jarvis Art Director Andrea Lynch Assistant Editor Rebecca Bradbury Contributing Editors Sara Macefield, Julie Peasgood, Becky Wiggins DIGITAL Digital Product Manager Ben Iskander ADVERTISING Sales Manager Warren Wilkinson Sales Director Cameron Hay CHELSEA CREATE Managing Director Steve Ross Partnerships Director Lyndal Beeton PUBLISHING Publisher Lindsay Greatbatch Director of Media James Dobson Chief Financial Officer Vicki Gavin Chief Operating Officer Kevin Petley Chairman Paul Dobson NEWS DISTRIBUTION News Trade (UK and Rest of World): Seymour International Ltd., 2 East Poultry Avenue, London, EC1A 9PT CRUISE INTERNATIONAL (Print ISSN 1758-2326) (Online ISSN 2396-9237) (USPS 025-056) is published bi-monthly by The Chelsea Magazine Company
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Contents
DESTINATIONS 2020 86 Britain & Ireland 88 Northern Europe 90 The Mediterranean
96
92 Northern Lights &
Norwegian fjords
94 The Arctic 96 The Baltic 98 USA & Canada 102 The Caribbean 104 The Antarctic
114 62
110 The Pacific
COMPETITION
Seek out the sanctuary of Tokyo’s Chidori-ga-fuchi moat and its pretty sakura displays in the spring
82 Win a Cruise for Two To Belgium’s Christmas markets with Saga Cruises
CRUISE LINES 2020
REGULARS
16 Luxury
The ultimate in design and service
10 Cruise Style
28 Premium
12 Julie Peasgood
Fantastic entertainment and dining
Innovative designs on chic ships
48 Classic
106 The Persian Gulf
108 Asia
Hot Spot
37 Contemporary
& South America
107 Africa
UP FRONT 8
105 Panama, The Amazon
112 Cruise Line Directory
98
114 Celebrity Travels
With Marco Pierre White
Traditional and elegant voyages
53 Adventure & Specialist
Taking you off the beaten track
62 River
10
A leisurely way to explore the world
FEATURE 72 New Ships for 2020
The best of the latest new-build vessels coming your way
COVER IMAGE: PORTO VENERE, ITALY, @CAROLINESZPIRA
© The Chelsea Magazine Company Ltd 2020 All rights reserved. Text and pictures are copyright restricted and must not be reproduced without permission of the publishers. The information in CRUISE INTERNATIONAL has been published in good faith and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. However, where appropriate, you are strongly advised to check prices, opening times, dates etc, before making final arrangements. All liability for loss, disappointment, negligence or damage caused by reliance on the information contained within this publication is hereby excluded. The opinions expressed by contributors to CRUISE INTERNATIONAL are not necessarily those of the publisher. For up to date travel advice, always check fco.gov.uk before you go.
Printed in England by William Gibbons, West Midlands. Origination by All Points Media www.allpointsmedia.co.uk
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HOT SPOT
PHOTO: © ISTOCK
Tokyo, Japan
With its soaring skyscrapers, Buddhist shrines and ancient temples, the Japanese capital — setting for the 2020 Summer Olympics — is a city of infinite possibilities. Chaotic crowds and flashing neon give way to idyllic green spaces such as Chidori-ga-fuchi, a section of the Imperial Palace moat which transforms into a tunnel of trees covered with pastel pink sakura in the spring. One of the city’s top spots for hanami (cherry blossom viewing), the path is especially pretty when illuminated at night, as well as when the petals fall, creating the illusion of an ethereal pink river. >> Turn to page 108 to read about ocean and river cruises to Asia for the year ahead
CRUISE STYLE
CHILL OUT
Unwind after flying with the Tisserand Aromatherapy and National Geographic collection travel kits, comprising a bath oil, mood mist and roller ball in a reusable vegan cosmetic bag. (£20, available from selected Boot stores nationwide and tisserand.com).
SILVER SPARKLE All snowflakes are unique, and this handmade personalised necklace is particularly pretty (£65, annalouoflondon.com).
Wrap up
Going on a cold cruise? Stay warm and stylish when you’re admiring the scenery on deck with a deliciously bright knit combo (Holly scarf and jumper from anthropologie.com).
SHOPPING THE LATEST GORGEOUS THINGS AND GADGETS TO BUY FOR YOUR TRAVELS
FLOWER POWER You can call off the search for that glamorous but flattering one piece. The stunning Saskia swimsuit has slimming effect panels, shaping inner cups, and adjustable straps (£120, anita.com).
CLEAR VIEW Whether you’re sailing to Africa or Antarctica, binoculars are a must-have for wildlife spotting. Swarovski’s EL O-Range are definitely on our wish list (swarovskioptik.com).
SMOOTH OPERATOR VA VA VOOM
Benefit’s Holiday 2019 Gift Sets have four delectable beauty treats to help you look and feel your best over the festive season, and the tins shaped like campervans are super cute, too (from £34.50, benefitcosmetics.com). 10
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Built to last, the 19 Degree cabin case in textured silver aluminium is super durable (£995, uk.tumi.com).
CRUISE-INTERNATIONAL.COM
COLUMN
JULIE PEASGOOD Our celebrity columnist on the pleasant surprises in store for first-time cruisers
‘O
n board our first ever cruise our cabin was invaded by a giant swan. It was perching on the bed, surveying us with a beady eye, defying us to shift it aside should we desire anything as mundane as sleep. I did my research before embarking on Cunard's QE2 all those years ago (OK, twenty-two to be precise). I knew to save some cash for tips at the end of the cruise, I had remembered travel adaptors, a light waterproof jacket, binoculars (heck – I might even use them) but nobody had warned me a small towelling zoo was likely to greet us every evening. At first it seemed insulting to dismantle these works of art, but when we began rubbing shoulders with some of swan’s chums (namely an elephant, a monkey and a snake) and swan’s beady eye rolled across the floor, they had to be relegated to their former life as towels. Besides, I needed one for the bath. Eighty-one cruises later and towel art seems to be a dying tradition at sea. Numerous things have changed for the better though: wifi is more widely available on board; ship size, design and décor have become more innovative and inspiring year on year; many vessels have state-of-the-art facilities dedicated to fitness and pampering, and onboard entertainment constantly pushes the boat out (forgive the pun). Most importantly, the tea bags have improved beyond recognition. Those dusty little yellow bags (that produce dusty little yellow cuppas) are thankfully moving on to make way for
Yo u c a n t r y y o u r h a n d at activities that make you question whether you’re at sea or on land
more flavoursome brands of tea, and I pack my own bags far less now (though there’s no shame in doing so if you have a penchant for a particularly unusual blend). If you’re brand new to cruise, there are some lovely surprises in store. How ships manage to tackle the sheer scale of catering so effortlessly astounds me. The first-rate food and degree of choice is always awe-inspiring, plus I welcome the increased awareness of food intolerances and attention to alternative diets. And alongside gourmet dining and wines, you can try your hand at an impressive list of activities that make you actually question whether you’re at sea or on land: go-karting, fencing, archery, ice-skating, sky-diving, zip-lining, watersliding at speed from giddying heights, underwater cycling (excuse me?) or watching a 5D film with scents, squirting water, blowing air and vibrating seats. The mind boggles… A few of my top tips for first-time cruisers: have spa treatments on a port day as they’re cheaper then. Pack a fridge magnet – cabin walls are metal so you can display your excursion tickets/important documents/family photos on them. Turn off your mobile’s data roaming whilst at sea, otherwise you’ll be in for a nasty shock with charges if you’re connected to a maritime network. Pack a small foldaway shopping bag (very useful for unexpected retail opportunities on shore) and last but not least, take a picture of the ‘back on board by’ sign – if you’re late, the ship won’t wait.
Julie Peasgood is an actress, broadcaster and Contributing Editor for Cruise International 12
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B O O K YO U R 2 0 2 1
CU
A D HOLIDA
British Isles
Mediterranean Highlights
The Fjords
St Petersburg & Baltic Explorer
Queen Victoria (V112) 17 May 2021 - 13 Nights
Queen Victoria (V114) 6 Jun 2021 - 14 Nights
Queen Victoria (V115) 20 Jun 2021 - 7 Nights
Queen Victoria (V116) 27 Jun 2021 - 14 Nights
Southampton, St. Peter Port (Guernsey), Liverpool, Kirkwall, Invergordon (Inverness), Oban, Greenock (Glasgow), Belfast, Ringaskiddy (Cork), Southampton
Southampton, Leixoes (Porto), Barcelona, Cannes, Civitavecchia (Rome), Alghero, Malaga (Granada), Gibraltar, Southampton
Southampton, Haugesund, Skjolden, Olden, Stavanger, Southampton
Southampton, Hamburg, Aarhus, Bornholm, St. Petersburg (overnight in port), Helsinki, Keil, Gothenburg, Southampton
With
Cruise Club interior fares from
£
1,714
†
Per Person
$
150*
per stateroom to spend on board
With
Cruise Club interior fares from
£
1,959
†
Per Person
$
160*
per stateroom to spend on board
With
Cruise Club interior fares from
£
1,028
†
Per Person
$
110*
per stateroom to spend on board
With
Cruise Club interior fares from
£
1,861
†
Per Person
$
160*
per stateroom to spend on board
The Fjords
Barcelona & Monte Carlo
Transatlantic, New England & Canada
Venice & The Adriatic
Queen Mary 2 (M125) 8 Aug 2021 - 7 Nights
Queen Victoria (V123) 17 Sep 2021 - 14 Nights
Queen Mary 2 (M132C) 24 Sep 2021 - 28 Nights
Queen Victoria (V124) 1 Oct 2021 - 19 Nights
Southampton, Stavanger, Flaam, Olden, Bergen, Southampton
Southampton, Cadiz (Seville), Barcelona, Monte Carlo, La Spezia (Florence/Pisa), Ajaccio, Cartagena, Gibraltar, Southampton
Southampton, New York, Boston, Sydney (Nova Scotia), Quebec (2 full days), Saguenay, Sept-Iles, Halifax, New York, Southampton
Southampton, Cadiz (Seville), Dubrovnik, Zadar, Venice, Sibenik, Cagliari, Gibraltar, Southampton
With
Cruise Club interior fares from
£
TODA
1,126
†
Per Person
$
110*
per stateroom to spend on board
With
Cruise Club interior fares from
£
1,861
†
Per Person
0800 028 2177 Mon-Fri 9am-9pm, Sat 9am-7pm, Sun 10am-5pm
$
160*
per stateroom to spend on board
Cruise Club interior fares from
£
3,103
†
Per Person
With
300*
$
per stateroom to spend on board
Cruise Club interior fares from
£
2,449
THE CRUISE CENTRE 6 Lindrick Way, Barlborough, Chesterfield, S43 4XE
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QUOTE: BCC REF 8107. ISSUED 07.11.19. The process of production/distribution takes several days and could therefore limit the availability of prices and accommodation as advertised, or they could not be available at all. Please see our website www.bolsovercruiseclub.com for the most up to date offers and availability. This offer applies to new bookings only and may be withdrawn by Cunard Line without notice. It is not combinable with any other promotion and is subject to the booking conditions of Cunard Line. A copy of Bolsover Cruise Club’s Terms of Business is available on request or by visiting our website. This advert contains an outline description of the cruises featured, which are solely organised by Cunard Line. It should be read in conjunction with Cunard Lines current brochure which contains full information about the cruise itineraries, accommodation details, booking conditions that apply, passport and health requirements, what’s included in the fare and other general information. Prices shown are per person, based on twin occupancy in the lowest available grade within the category type, and already includes current fuel surcharges and Cruise Club Members Cashback at the time of going to print. †Cunard Fare stateroom may be allocated on a guarantee basis and the staterooms number/deck will be allocated at the operator’s discretion prior to departure. *Free on board spending money - applies to passengers occupying the first two standard beds in a stateroom. ‡5% Low deposit is applicable to new Cunard Fare bookings made by 30 ov 2019. Further terms and conditions apply, please call for details. Travel insurance, visa’s and vaccinations are at an additional cost. E&OE
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Seychelles Tourist Office - UK & Ireland Ground Floor, 130-132 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 9SA Tel: +44 (0) 207 730 0700 seychelles@uksto.co.uk www.seychelles.travel Image: © Torsten Dickmann
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Cruises for 2020
16 Luxury Exceptional service and a sophisticated onboard experience 28 Premium Exquisite speciality dining as well as state-of-the-art facilities 37 Contemporary Modern and chic with fantastic innovations 48 Classic A more traditional cruise holiday, offering elegance and first-class service 53 Adventure & Specialist Taking you off the beaten track 62 River
cruises A leisurely way to explore the world, with a chance to get close to the heart of the action
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LUXURY these lines offer the ultimate in impeccable service and stunning ships
SEABOURN Offering all-inclusive luxury on five mid-sized ships, Seabourn (named Best Boutique Cruise Line at the British Cruise Awards 2019) is returning to Istanbul in October. The company’s newest ship, the 300-suite Seabourn Ovation will sail four seven-day eastern Mediterranean cruises between the city and Athens. There are also a string of seven-day Alaska cruises between Vancouver and Juneau, as well as the regular longer voyages. Super-posh is new Seabourn Air, a private chartered jet service to and from the ship, as well as for mid-cruise jaunts. Also in 2020 there are more Ventures by Seabourn excursions, some complimentary, some not, including kayaking, catamaran rides and trekking. New ice-class expedition ship Seabourn Venture arrives in June 2021, with 132 luxurious oceanfront veranda suites and two six-passenger submarines (with custom leather upholstery, of course) which can reach depths of 300m. A yet-to-be-named sister ship is due in May 2022. 0344 338 8615; seabourn.com
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REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES Regent is splendidly all-inclusive, right down to the excursions and flights, with a pre-cruise night in some grades and two- or three-night land stays with some cruises. February sees the launch of Seven Seas Splendor, the company’s fifth ship (with another already lined up for 2023). Ships are elegantly decorated with included speciality dining. Splendor will sail in the Med for its first summer (with a round-UK itinerary from Southampton in August) but Regent goes off the beaten track, too, with new Grand Voyages including the 91-night Grand Arctic Discovery and 68-night Grand Cape Horn Adventure. New ports include everywhere from the pretty harbour town of Stornoway in the Hebrides to the Brazilian beach city of Cabo Frio. 0238 068 2153; rssc.com
OCEANIA CRUISES Six ships with an American country club style (some furnishings are by Ralph Lauren) make for entrancing voyages around the world. It’s all accompanied by excellent food (you can even get a porterhouse in the Polo Grill steakhouse, one of the speciality restaurants, at no extra charge), which won Oceania Cruises the Best Culinary Experience award at the British Cruise Awards 2019. And a $100 million revamp of the fleet finishes with a stylish upgrade of Nautica in June. The new Tropics & Exotics Collection visits spots away from the usual cruise destinations on 69 new itineraries, including Asia and Africa, South America, the South Pacific and Australia, and 30 to the Caribbean, the Panama Canal and Mexico. Sirena extends its 2020 European season with the new Sirena Exotic Collection, which offers in-depth explorations to the Holy Lands of Egypt, Israel, and Turkey, the Arabian Peninsula, India, Myanmar, and Indonesia, with regular overnight stops to offer guests more time to delve into the heart of a destination. 0345 505 1920; 8 oceaniacruises.com 8 CRUISE-INTERNATIONAL.COM
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LUXURIOUS escapes Wherever you wish to sail, Oceania Cruises invites you to explore the world in sophisticated style and discover its award-winning cuisine
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F E AT U R E D C R U I S E L I N E
E
legance, luxury and uncompromised quality are the hallmarks of the Oceania Cruises experience. Not only does the cruise line boast a fleet of six intimate and sumptuous ships, it also offers award-winning cuisine and sailings to an array of alluring destinations. And always evolving, there’s an array of new additions designed to enrich your time away.
in a local market in Buenos Aires before enjoying a homecooked Argentine meal, and spending a day at sea with a crew of Portofino fisherman, watching them haul in the day’s catch and sampling it over dinner.
THE NEXT CHAPTER
Joining Oceania Cruises’ re-inspired fleet in 2022 and 2025 respectively will be two next generation Allura Class ships. The new vessels will radiate all the warmth, popular design elements and signature amenities that guests of Oceania Cruises know and love while reaching new heights with their comfort, convenience and luxurious facilities.
ELEGANCE REIMAGINED
The cruise line’s OceaniaNEXT initiative is in the midst of elevating every element of the guest experience. From thoughtfully crafted dining to a fleet of better-than-new ships, the sweeping enhancements are inspirational. Following in the footsteps of Insignia, Sirena and Regatta, Riviera is the latest ship to be ‘re-inspired’. Every surface of every suite and stateroom is entirely new (the Owner’s Suites are adorned with new and exclusive Ralph Lauren furnishings) while the public spaces wow with their stylish updates. Most impressive of all is Baristas, Riviera’s coffee bar, serving premium coffees and hot drinks with sweeping ocean views. Riviera’s sister ship Marina will undergo a similar re-design in May 2020 and a month later Nautica will conclude the fleet revamp.
A LIFE OF LUXURY
An entirely new era of wellness will have entered the fleet by early 2020 with The ‘Aquamar Spa + Vitality Center’. As well as its collection of holistic onboard spa treatments, available on each ship, it also offers a series of wellbeing encounters on shore, such as reflexology in Thailand, yoga in Chile and beekeeping in the Andalusian countryside. Another original concept from Oceania Cruises is its new Dom Perignon Experience. Only available on board Riviera and Marina, the dinner pairs six palate piquing courses with a different Dom Perignon vintage. CRUISE-INTERNATIONAL.COM
ADVENTURE AWAITS
Oceania Cruises calls at 450 ports across the world, and with its array of no-fly cruises on Marina in 2020, you can sail straight from Southampton to some of the most desired culinary and cultural destinations across the Mediterranean and the British Isles, without even having to get on a plane. Further afield, Alaska is a must-cruise destination with its sublime scenery, Inuit culture and wonderful wildlife. Regatta will be completely immersing guests in the region, as well as spectacular stretches of Canadian coastline and cities such as Los Angeles and Seattle, throughout summer 2021. Meanwhile, Sirena’s Exotic Collection for 2020/21 enables you to explore some harder to reach places, from the Holy Lands of Egypt, Israel and Turkey to the Arabian Peninsula, India, Myanmar and Indonesia.
DESTINATION IMMERSION
PERSONALISED PERFECTION
It’s possible to tailor your cruise experience with OLife Choice. You can benefit from included airfare and Internet, plus either free shore excursions, free house beverages or onboard credit. Then there is OLife Ultimate, an offer which includes shore excursions, ship board credit and the house beverage package all included for free on select sailings. These generous packages add yet another reason to travel with the cruise line. Whether destination immersion, culinary exploration or wellness encounters inspire your passion for travel, Oceania Cruises will win you over.
To book, call 0345 505 1920 or find out more at oceaniacruises.com
Oceania Cruises’ new Go Local tours take travellers into the homes and businesses of local people so you can experience a new way of life beyond the usual tourist spots. Tours include learning the intricacies of sheep farming in Mahon, Spain, shopping Cruise Planner 2 02 0
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VIKING Viking, overall winner as Best Cruise Line at the British Cruise Awards 2019, is noted for its regular addition of super-chic Scandi-inspired ships. Everything’s quiet in 2020, although the following spring sees the launch of Viking Venus, the cruise line’s seventh ocean vessel, which will spend a maiden season sailing northern Europe. In 2021 there will also be cruises from Athens to Istanbul, with overnights in both cities giving more time to explore. Meanwhile for 2020 there are a couple of new itineraries – the 26-day Caribbean & Mediterranean Odyssey, from Puerto Rico to Venice, and South Pacific and the Land Down Under, a 38-day trip from Los Angeles to Sydney, taking in Polynesia, New Zealand and more. 020 8780 8700; vikingcruises.co.uk
HEBRIDEAN ISLAND CRUISES Hebridean Princess has been carrying 50 guests on warm, inviting and all-inclusive cruises off the west coast of Scotland, mostly from Oban, since 1989. It’s a world of polished teak decks, shining brass – and decent whisky. For 2020 – after a 2017 run – the ship will be spending July and August in Norway, its petite size perfect for exploring the fjords, including little, hard-to-navigate Lysefjord. Footloose voyages – cruises with guided walks at each port of call – continue, starting in May with the Inner Sound, combining the Small Isles and Skye with the mainland joys of Gairloch and Shieldaig. The cruise line also offers all-inclusive cruises in Europe (on the Danube and Belgian and Dutch waterways) on board Royal Crown, a ship with a similarly old school atmosphere and charm. 01756 704704; hebridean.co.uk
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HAPAG-LLOYD CRUISES Hapag-Lloyd Cruises bridges the divide between luxury cruises and exploration with its two small expedition ships. Hanseatic Inspiration sailed its first voyage in October. For 2020 there are Arctic cruises during the European summer and Antarctic in winter, with visits to the Amazon, Chilean fjords, the Azores and Cape Verde in between. After many years, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises will even return to the Great Lakes in North America. In 2020, superyacht Europa 2 visits Australia’s west coast for the first time as well as the Medi, Caribbean, Asia and Africa. Themed cruises include fashion, art and music – with singer-songwriters Simon Webbe (once of boy band Blue) and Heather Nova. 0800 0513 829; hl-cruises.com 8
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SILVERSEA Silver Moon, arriving in August, is the cruise line’s seventh swish small ship that visits exotic spots around the world. It is an even more refined version of current flagship Silver Muse. New is S.A.L.T. (Sea and Land Taste), a playful food and drink concept putting cuisine at the heart of the cruise. There will be regional cooking lessons, lectures of culinary customs and forays on shore to experience it all first-hand. The continuing innovation is why Silversea won Best Luxury Cruise Line in the British Cruise Awards 2019. There’s a string of Grand Voyages, up to 70 days, from late 2020, including the 51-day Grand Australia which all but circles the country alongside spending a week in New Zealand. Nearer home there are 2020 cruises from London (both Tower Bridge and Greenwich) around the UK and to the Norwegian fjords. Silver Moon’s sister, Silver Dawn, is set for 2021. There are also new expedition ships on the horizon, including Silver Origin, sailing the Galápagos Islands from July. 0207 340 0700; silversea.com
SEADREAM YACHT CLUB It’s a season in the sun for twin megayachts Sea Dream I and Sea Dream II, with a wealth of trips around both the Caribbean and Med. The luxury ships carry only 112 guests each, as well as a crew of nearly this number to help with the all-inclusive lifestyle, down to the Yachting Land Adventures – complimentary activities such as walking tours, shopping with the chef and mountain biking. The ships pride themselves on getting into small, unusual ports and new calls include Ikaria in Greece, Vis in Croatia, Santa Maria di Leuca in Italy and Koper in Slovenia. In the Caribbean there are exclusive harbours and less-frequented spots such as pretty Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands, as well as calls in Cuba with plenty of overnight stays. A third ship, Sea Dream Innovation, is due in September 2021. 0800 783 1373; seadream.com 8
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THE BEST WAY TO SEE
THE MEDITERRANEAN IS WITH THE BEST AT SEA
WITH INCLUDED BUSINESS CLASS AIR AND MORE ON SELECTED 2020 CRUISES Seabourn is a world of all-inclusive, all-suite ultra-luxury, where space is generous and crowds are few; where names and wine orders are remembered, preferences noted, and wishes granted before they are spoken. A concept designed around an intimate boutique hotel, which combines visits to marquee cities with hidden gems.
THE SEABOURN ALL-INCLUSIVE DIFFERENCE SIGNATURE SAVINGS EVENT Limited time. Limitless possibilities.
Book by 28/02/2020 and you may receive:
Included Business Class Air
Up to 600 minute internet package Up to 15% savings on Combination Cruises Book a Penthouse or Premium Suite and you may receive up to $2,000 per suite onboard spend & unlimited internet.
Special Europe Air Offer includes:
Round trip Business Class Air Complimentary transfers between airport and ship 22 Apr 2020 S EA BOURN ODYSSE Y Oceanfront Suite from £3,299pp INCLUDED BUSINESS AIR
Barcelona, Palamas, Sete; Monte Carlo, Toulon, Ajaccio (Corsica), Livorno (Florence/Pisa); Civitavecchia
7-NIGHT MALTESE & ROMAN SUNSETS 2 May 2020 | SEABOURN O VATIO N Veranda Suite from £3,299pp INCLUDED BUSINESS AIR
Valletta, Naples, Civitavecchia (Rome), Bastia (Corsica), Toulon, Palamos, Barcelona
Intuitive, personalised service provided by staff passionate about exceeding guests expectations All ocean-front suites, luxuriously appointed
Complimentary Suite Upgrades
7-NIGHT RIVIERAS & ROME
Intimate ships with a private club atmosphere
Complimentary premium spirits and fine wines available on board at all times Welcome Champagne and complimentary in-suite bar stocked with your preferences Tipping is neither required, nor expected World-class dining, further enhanced through a culinary partnership with Chef Thomas Keller All dining venues are complimentary, dine where, when and with whom you wish
7-NIGHT YACHTSMAN’S RIVIERA
7-NIGHT ALLURING ITALY & RIVIERA
7-NIGHT ADRIATIC & GREEK GLORIES
Rome (Civitavecchia), Livorno (Florence/Pisa), Portofino, Bandol, Sete, Palamos, Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona
Venice, Vodice (Sibenik), Kotor; Corfu, Sami, Pylos, Milos, Piraeus (Athens)
9 May 2020 | S E A BO UR N O VAT I O N Veranda Suite from £3,299pp INCLUDED BUSINESS AIR
11 June 2020 | SE AB O UR N E N C O R E Veranda Suite from £3,299pp INCLUDED BUSINESS AIR
8-NIGHT RIVIERA & ITALIAN IDYLL
7-NIGHT ROMANCE OF THE RIVIERAS
Barcelona, Palamos, San Tropez, Portofino, Portovenere, Le Lavandou, Sete, Valencia, Barcelona
30 May 2020 | S E A B O UR N E N C O R E Veranda Suite from £3,499pp INCLUDED BUSINESS AIR Valletta, Trapani, Golfo Aranci (Sardinia), Bastia (Corsica), La Ciotat, St Tropez, Monte Carlo, Viareggio, Civitavecchia (Rome)
18 Jul 2020 | SE AB O UR N E N C O R E Veranda Suite from £3,499pp INCLUDED BUSINESS AIR Barcelona, Ciutadella de Menorca, Le Lavandou, Monte Carlo, St Tropez, Bastia (Corsica), Portovenere (Cinque Terre), Civitavecchia (Rome)
25 Jul 2020 | SEABOURN ODYSSEY Oceanfront Suite from £3,499pp INCLUDED BUSINESS AIR
11-NIGHT SPANISH MAGIC & MOROCCO
1 Aug 2020 | SEABOURN ENCORE Veranda Suite from £4,999pp INCLUDED BUSINESS AIR
Barcelona, Valencia, Cadiz (Seville), Portimao, Tangier, Motril (Granada), Melilla (Spanish Morocco), Cartagena (Murcia), Cavalaire-sur-Mer, Monte Carlo
CONTACT YOUR SEABOURN TRAVEL ADVISOR OR SEABOURN RESERVATIONS ON 0344 338 8615 WWW.SEABOURN.COM Terms & Conditions *All fares are GBP, per guest, based on two guests travelling with the same itinerary and standard suite double-occupancy. Suite upgrades are subject to availability at the time of booking Promotional air offers are subject to availability and valid only for guests residing in the UK. In the event that promotional Business Class air is not available (at the sole discretion of Seabourn) or for guests not wishing to utilise the promotional air offer, a cruise reduction in the amount of £500 will be applied to the booking amount. Promotional Business Class air offer is based on promo code JB. Offer applies to new bookings only made between 4/12/19 & 28/2/20. Offer is capacity controlled, and may be modified or withdrawn without prior notice. Other restrictions may apply, subject to the Passage Contract and Terms and Conditions available at www.seabourn.com. All savings amounts are included in fares shown. Seabourn reserves the right to correct errors. Ships' registry: Bahamas. ©2019 Seabourn.
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CRYSTAL CRUISES Two ocean ships, five sleek river ships and the Crystal Esprit motor yacht (90 staff for 62 guests) are at the heart of Crystal Cruises. And joining the fleet in August is Crystal Endeavour, an expedition ship for those who want luxury whether they’re in the Med or at one of the poles. Also for 2020 is a big push for overnights at each end of a cruise (as so often you don’t get to see those places), and European voyages linked to major occasions: a night in Edinburgh for the Military Tattoo, in Monaco for the Grand Prix, and Baltic and North Cape summer solstice sailings in the land of the midnight sun. Expect fine cuisine, all your drinks and even some excursions. 020 7399 7601; crystalcruises.co.uk
RITZ-CARLTON YACHT COLLECTION 2020 marks the inaugural season for the sleek superyacht offshoot of the posh hotel brand. The 298-passenger ship is all-inclusive, from 24-hour in-suite dining to watersports from the fold-down platform. All staterooms have a private terrace. Cruises, from June, kick off with the Mediterranean then move on to northern waters and the fjords with the east coast of Canada and the US rounding up the summer. There’s even a cruise from Greenwich to Amsterdam, calling at the yachtie haven of Cowes on the Isle of Wight. 0800 048 8667; ritzcarltonyachtcollection.com
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F E AT U R E D C R U I S E L I N E
DREAM getaways
Whether you’re seeking a luxurious ocean voyage or an enriching river cruise, Titan will make it a trip to remember
A
fter 40 years in the business, Titan knows one ship doesn’t fit all. That’s why the award-winning tour operator works with so many varied cruise partners, alongside chartering two of its own river ships. But with so many different kinds of ships on offer, sailing to all seven continents, it can be hard to know which one is right for you. Here are some of Titan’s suggestions.
SUMPTUOUS SAILINGS
You can slip serenely into relax mode on one of Titan’s luxury cruises with either Regent Seven Sea Cruises or Azamara. These cruise
lines also emphasise the experiential, whether visiting cultural sites in the Mediterranean or sailing along South Africa’s rugged coast.
INTREPID EXPLORATIONS
Sometimes an adventure is called for and, on these occasions, Titan recommends one of their Hurtigruten cruises. Built on generations of explorer heritage, Hurtigruten has been transporting travellers up and down the stunning Norwegian coast for 125 years and, today, can take you all around the world, from the Arctic Circle to Antarctica.
CLASSIC OCEAN CRUISING
Ease and comfort are two reasons why people love cruising, and this is where Titan’s Fred. Olsen sailings excel. From the moment you step on board, you’ll feel at ease, with attentive service and comfortable cabins. And with a huge choice of European cruises and no-fly departures, you can have your ideal holiday without stepping foot in an airport.
WONDROUS WATERWAYS
SPECIAL INTEREST CRUISES
For a cruise with a difference, Titan can offer an ocean getaway on board a vessel that has the intimate feel of a river ship with small cruise ship company Katarina Line. Or for a traditional sailing experience around the Caribbean or South East Asia on board a magnificent tall ship, there’s Star Clippers.
ADDED VALUE
With a host of awards, a 98% customer recommendation rating and more than four decades of experience, you’re in safe hands when you travel with Titan. The company will be with you from the moment you leave your front door (thanks to their VIP doorto-door travel service), while a Titan cruise director or tour manager on the majority of cruises ensures everything runs smoothly and you get the most out of your time away making memories that last a lifetime. For more details, call 0808 223 2912 or visit titantravel.co.uk
There’s no better way to experience a region than by slowly meandering along a peaceful river and cruising right into the heart of a destination. Titan’s river ships, MS Bellejour and MS Serenade 1, sail to some of the best destinations in Europe. Exclusively tailored to the British holiday maker, these superb cruises feature onboard cuisine you’ll love and their range of exciting excursions are all in English. 26
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this is your moment Set sail in 2020 Cruise along Europe’s most iconic rivers aboard our exclusively chartered ships, and let your esteemed tour managers and cruise directors help you make the most of your holiday. And whether you’re sailing on the Rhine, the Danube, the Dutch Waterways, or any of our other holidays, it all begins and ends at your own front door, thanks to our award-winning VIP door-to-door travel service.
Early Bird Price Promise Award-winning escorted holidays VIP door-to-door travel service†
Titan River Cruises Exclusive charters on MS Bellejour and MS Serenade 1 What’s included on a Titan river cruise? • Titan’s VIP door-to-door
• Unlimited wine, beer and soft
• Spacious 15m2 or 16m2 river view
• Bottled water in your cabin,
• Welcome buffet and farewell Gala dinner
• Tea and coffee at all times • Wi-Fi on board
travel service†
cabins with en-suite bathroom
• Excursions and visits
Call 0808 239 7248 or visit www.titantravel.co.uk/rivers Mainland UK only. Good Housekeeping Reader Recommended Survey of Titan Travel Escorted Tours Customer Service, 154 Good Housekeeping readers, 2019. Prices are per person, correct at time of print and subject to availability.
†
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drinks with lunch and dinner replenished daily
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PREMIUM these lines offer exquisite speciality dining, exceptional entertainment and state-of-the-art facilities
CELEBRITY CRUISES Celebrity Apex arrives in April and launches into five sailings from Southampton. Apex, sister ship to 2019’s Celebrity Edge (named Best New Ship in the British Cruise Awards 2019), features twin-level villas with plunge pools, rooms with a glass ‘Infinite’ balcony and the Magic Carpet, a restaurant and bar which rises up and down the outside of the ship. Celebrity Silhouette, transformed as part of the £400m Celebrity Revolution to unify and modernise the fleet, sails from Southampton from May, heading both north and to the Mediterranean. With Apex, the line will have 11 mainstream vessels along with three Galápagos ships including Celebrity Flora which debuted in summer 2019. Noted for its stylishly understated ships, Celebrity was voted Best for Onboard Accommodation in the British Cruise Awards 2019. 0800 441 4057; celebritycruises.co.uk 8
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PRINCESS CRUISES It’s a busy time for Princess. Sky Princess joined the fleet in October and sister ship Enchanted Princess arrives in June. This is followed by Discovery Princess launching in late 2021. Enchanted Princess, for 3,660 guests, launches in Southampton and then heads for the Mediterranean (although the ship will be back in the UK for several cruises during the summer). All the Princess favourites are on board, including Movies Under The Stars – plus a mega Sky Suite from which you can watch the films without even leaving your balcony. Crown Princess, Regal Princess and Island Princess will also be sailing from Southampton throughout the season. And yet things get even better: 2021 will be Princess’s longest UK season with nearly 500 days cruising from Southampton, March to November, on board three ships (Grand Princess, Island Princess and Crown Princess), a jump of nine per cent on 2020). Grand Princess will be here from April to November. Princess’s innovative Ocean Medallion technology was voted Best Cruise Enhancement in the British Cruise Awards 2019. 0344 338 8665; princess.com
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AZAMARA Three mid-size ships, each hosting around 700 passengers, aim to provide immersive experiences in smaller ports across the globe, with plenty of overnight stays available too. Not only that but from 2020 Azamara is offering more than 1,700 Venture Beyond The Sea cruise extensions, ranging from simple city stays to adventures such as glamping in the Bolivian salt flats and hiking Chile’s Atacama Desert. For 2020/21 there’s an increase to 24 golf voyages, playing more than 70 leading courses in 23 countries. There are plenty of exotic destinations to pick from – Tahiti, South Africa, Rio – as well as places closer to home like Spain and Greece. 0344 493 4016; azamara.co.uk
HOLLAND AMERICA LINE Offering stylish cruising that combines all the elegance of the past with contemporary cutting edge technology and design flourishes, Holland America Line has a fine fleet of 17 ships, with the next, Ryndam, due to arrive in May 2021. In 2020 three ships – Amsterdam, Zaandam and Zuiderdam – will cruise the coast and historic cities of Canada and New England on more than 40 cruises, including several fall foliage sailings. Maasdam, which features Zodiac inflatables and specialist attractions on voyages around the world, has a series of cruises around the South Pacific, Mexico and Australia. The cruise line won the Best for Onboard Spa & Wellbeing accolade at the British Cruise Awards 2019. 0344 338 8605; hollandamerica.com 8
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SAGA CRUISES It’s a new world for Saga. The company’s first new ship, Spirit of Discovery, arrived to a fanfare back in the summer and sister ship Spirit of Adventure arrives in summer 2020. Both have Jools Holland as their cheery face – he and his band are playing on various cruises throughout the year, while he even has the Club By Jools steakhouse. Both ships are all-inclusive down to the 24-hour room service and the speciality restaurants – on Discovery, Jools’s steakhouse, the Coast To Coast seafood eatery and East To West oriental restaurant, and on Adventure, Khukuri House, the first Nepalese restaurant at sea, posh Italian Amalfi, and the Supper Club steakhouse. 0800 068 5053; saga.co.uk/cruise-int
DISNEY CRUISE LINE Disney does it well, the characters we know and love from down the decades, yet with a classic cruise ship style that harks back to the era when Mickey emerged. There are four ships (with another, Disney Wish, set for 2022) revelling in the Caribbean (where there’s a private island theme park) and Alaska, although the Med gets a good shout and for 2020 there are a handful of cruises on Disney Magic from Dover – including a five-night break, great for getting a feel of what’s on offer. Kids get plenty – shows, clubs, fireworks, character breakfasts – but, like Disney resorts, adults aren’t forgotten, with sophisticated bars and restaurants. 0800 028 3179; disneycruise.disney.go.com
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OUR BEST VALUE EUROPE STATEROOM UPGRADES, FREE AIR & MORE!
NIGHT FLY/CRUISE FROM
ÂŁ1,049pp
Take in Renaissance piazzas and gorgeous Greek Islands. Savour the finest Croatian cuisine at a bistro in Split’s old town. Feast your eyes on Gaudi’s fantastical architecture in Barcelona. Or head to the Fjords for stunning scenery and fascinating cities.
EXCEPTIONAL OFFERS. MAKE THIS YOUR YEAR TO SAIL.
FREE AIR AND MORE!
Tasteful appointments, timeless style and refreshingly uncrowded spaces are the hallmarks of Holland America Line’s fleet of perfectly sized premium ships, each large enough to offer all the activities and amenities you expect while retaining a sense of intimacy and elegance.
-NIGHT VIKING SAGAS Departs: May 3, 31*; Jun 28; Jul 26; Aug 23 2020 Nieuw Statendam
AMSTERDAM
PLUS, book a suite to receive prepaid gratuities! Book by / / , and also receive a US Beverage Card per guest.
-NIGHT ANCIENT TREASURES
Fly/cruise from
ÂŁ1,049
Fly/cruise from
Departs: 17 Apr 2020
ÂŁ1,399
Nieuw Amsterdam
per person
DEPART:
• Stateroom upgrades • Onboard Spending Money • Reduced fares for kids • ŒŽ off select shore excursions • •ŒŽ reduced deposit
ARRIVE:
AMSTERDAM
VISITS: Cruising Oslofjord, Oslo, Kristiansand, Eidfjord; Flam; Cruising Sognefjord
*Lead in fare based on 31/5/20 departure. Ports of call may be visited in different order Fly/cruise fares from: Inside stateroom ÂŁ1,049 Ocean View stateroom ÂŁ1,499 Verandah stateroom ÂŁ1,499 Vista suite ÂŁ1,749 Signature Suite ÂŁ2,349 Neptune Suite ÂŁ2,849
-NIGHT ADRIATIC DREAM Departs 10 May; 15 Jun*; 14 Aug; 19 Sep 2020
Fly/cruise from
Nieuw Amsterdam
per person
DEPART:
BARCELONA
ARRIVE:
BARCELONA
ÂŁ1,699 per person
DEPART: VENICE
ARRIVE:
CIVITAVECCHIA ROME
VISITS: Sete, Monte Carlo; Livorno (Florence/Pisa); Civitavecchia (Rome); Naples; La Goulette (Tunis/Carthage); Valletta (overnight); Mgarr (Victoria)
VISITS: Split; Cephalonia; Crete; Rhodes; Kusadasi (Ephesus); Valletta (overnight); Mgarr (Victoria); Palermo; Naples
Fly/cruise fares from: Inside stateroom ÂŁ1,399 Ocean View stateroom ÂŁ1,599 Verandah stateroom ÂŁ1,599 Signature Suite ÂŁ2,349 Neptune Suite ÂŁ2,849
Fly/cruise fares from: Inside stateroom ÂŁ1,699 Ocean View stateroom ÂŁ2,299 Verandah stateroom ÂŁ2,299 Signature Suite ÂŁ3,299 Neptune Suite ÂŁ4,099
• Overnight stay in Valletta
• Overnight stay in Valletta
*Lead in fare based on 15 Jun departure.
Call , contact your travel professional or visit www.hollandamerica.com Terms & Conditions *ALL PRICES STATED ARE PP DOUBLE OCCUPANCY IN GBP FLY/CRUISE FROM LONDON AIRPORTS. Please ask for regional airfares. Free Air offer: Air credit in the amount of 350 GBP is available for round-trip flights from London airports booked through HAL’s Flight EaseŽ programme. Available to guests 1 & 2 sharing a Suite, is non-transferable, and is not combinable with any other fares. Certain restrictions may apply. All fares are based on Promo(s) NV/VV/ZV. Offers are per stateroom based on double occupancy, for 1st and 2nd guests sharing a stateroom and exclude 3rd/4th guests, except as provided herein. Offers are available for new bookings only, are not combinable with any other discounts and are not transferable or refundable. Offers are applicable on select 2020 & 2021 departures. Stateroom Upgrades are available in select stateroom categories and are subject to availability of the staterooms in the higher category. Onboard Spending Money (OBC) is in U.S. dollars and is non-refundable, non-transferable, not for cash value, expires at the end of that cruise, and may not be used in the casino. OBC is offered in the following amounts: cruises 7-9 days: Inside and ocean-view staterooms receive US$50 per person, lanai and verandah staterooms receive US$100 per person, suites receive US$150 per person; cruises 10-14 days: Inside and ocean-view staterooms receive US$75 per person, lanai and verandah staterooms receive US$150 per person, suites receive US$200 per person. Kids or 3rd/4th Offer is based on sharing a stateroom with 1st and 2nd guests, valid on select sailings, and based on Promo NV. Shore Excursion Offer applies only to select shore excursions on select sailings, purchased in advance of embarkation, prior to 14/3/20. If a shore excursion is cancelled on board, refund will be the amount paid. Reduced Deposit is valid for new bookings only. Bookings made on voyages requiring immediate final payment are not eligible for a reduced deposit. Suite Offer: Prepaid gratuities (hotel service charges): Holland America Line pre-pays room gratuities on behalf of guests. Gratuities for bar, dining room wine accounts, or spa/salon services are not included. Beverage Card Offer expires 17/1/20 and is valued at US$50 pp and is applicable to all guests. Card is non-transferable, refundable, nor redeemable for cash. Participants may order beverages one at a time and must be 21 years or older for alcoholic beverages. No sharing permitted. Beverage management reserves the right to revoke the card if misused and to refuse service for any reason, including service of alcoholic beverages to intoxicated guests. Offers have limited space 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. Why Not Now offers end 28/2/20. Ships’ Registry: The Netherlands.
EXQUISITE elegance With its British charm and contemporary style, Saga’s newest ship, Spirit of Discovery, is redefining boutique cruising
Clockwise, from this image: A grand entry; contemporary chic styling; Spirit of Discovery at sea; every cabin has its very own balcony 34
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F E AT U R E D C R U I S E L I N E
T
he wait is over. Spirit of Discovery, Britain’s newest cruise ship, is now here and embarking on its debut season. Accommodating just 999 passengers, the small ship is proving a big hit as it introduces boutique cruising to guests sailing to exciting places across the planet. Taking pride of place in Saga’s fleet, the flagship features design cues on par with the world’s best boutique hotels. But there’s more to the ship than its elegant décor – it similarly excels with exceptional levels of service, great dining options and excellent value for money.
SUPERB DETAIL
As soon as you arrive on board, you’ll be won over by the ship’s sumptuous styling. From the light-filled Living Room to the art deco-inspired South Cape Bar to the signature Britannia Lounge, the interiors are a masterclass in boutique class and comfort. Of course, a cruise ship of this calibre comes complete with a wealth of luxurious facilities. There’s a cutting-edge Fitness Centre with 270-degree views, a serene Spa and The Playhouse – Saga’s first-ever theatre showing West End-style productions and live music. It’s not just the world-class interiors that impress. Spirit of Discovery also has inviting outdoor areas, such as The Terrace – an elegant garden area – and the Lido which, with its pool, sun loungers and self-serve ice cream, offers the best of the British seaside.
PHOTOS: © FRANKLIN & FRANKLIN
DELECTABLE DINING
One of Spirit of Discovery’s top attractions is its fine dining. A range of restaurants serve world-class cuisine, and it’s free to dine in them all – even the three speciality venues. Main restaurant The Grand Dining Room presents an ever-changing menu of British and international dishes, as well as open seating and exemplary service. To sample the same dinner menu in a more relaxed setting opt for The Grill, which is also where to go for a tempting breakfast or bespoke lunch. Make reservations in East to West for an evening of impeccably presented Eastern fare, such as tiger prawn massaman curry CRUISE-INTERNATIONAL.COM
and Chinese dim-sums. Meanwhile, feast on modern seafood in Coast to Coast – an intimate eatery making its Saga debut.
THE CLUB BY JULES HOLLAND
In another first for Saga, Spirit of Discovery has its own steakhouse and music club. Better still, its patron is music legend Jools Holland. The Club recalls the famous music lounges of the 1950s, with its wood panelling, velvet upholstery and a grand piano, and the menu offers classic steaks from fillet to sirloin to more unusual cuts like tomahawk steaks. It’s also the place to enjoy live music and cocktails in the evenings, with resident and guest musicians entertaining until late.
STYLISH CABINS
As luxurious as London’s finest hotels, the cabins on Spirit of Discovery showcase the best in contemporary yet classic British style. What’s more, every cabin has its own balcony, giving you your own space outside too. This means, whether you’re retreating to a deluxe cabin, an aft suite with butler service or one of the individually styled forward suites, you can expect the highest standards of boutique luxury. Plus, the ship heralds the arrival of 109 single cabins for solo guests.
MORE FOR YOUR MONEY
It’s not just the ship that’s new. There’s a new service called Explore Ashore, where a team of onboard travel experts can help personalise your time on shore by organising excursions and private guides on your behalf. Explore Ashore comes at no extra cost and the same can be said of a host of other services. All meals, including snacks and afternoon tea, tips, entertainment, talks, gym entry, exercise classes, Wi-Fi and room service are included in the price of your cruise. A Saga cruise starts when you leave your house thanks to its free 250-mile chauffeur service. When you reach the ship, porters will carry your bags on board while you head to a sailaway party – the perfect welcome to your boutique getaway. By the end of the week you won’t want to cruise any other way.
Saga Cruises offers a four-night Rendezvous in Rouen cruise on board Spirit of Discovery, departing on 12 February 2020, from £946pp.* * The above is based on two sharing a Standard Balcony Guarantee, where you will not receive your cabin number until embarkation, and including all applicable savings.
For more information, call 0800 068 5053 quoting MG636 or visit saga.co.uk/cruise-int
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Cruise Collection 2021 -2022
Eastern Mediterranean EXCLUSIVELY
Western Mediterranean EXCLUSIVELY
Baltic
Central Mediterranean EXCLUSIVELY
FOR ADULTS AURORA (R106) 1 MAY 2021 - 19 NIGHTS
FOR ADULTS ARCADIA (J105) 20 MAY 2021 - 18 NIGHTS
VENTURA (N112) 13 JUN 2021 - 14 NIGHTS
FOR ADULTS AURORA (R109) 17 JUN 2021 - 19 NIGHTS
Southampton, Cartagena, Santorini, Piraeus (Athens), Zakynthos, Corfu, Messina, Gibraltar, Southampton
Southampton, La Coruna, Gibraltar, Propriano, Civitavecchia (Rome), Sorrento, Palermo, Valletta, Alicante, Lisbon, Southampton
Southampton, Copenhagen, Warnemunde (Berlin), Helsinki, St. Petersburg (overnight in port), Tallinn, Stockholm, Southampton
Southampton, Cartagena, Cagliari, Dubrovnik, Zadar, Venice, Messina, Gibraltar, Southampton
Cruise Club Fares From
1,795
£
†
Per Person
With
120
*
£
per cabin to spend on board
Cruise Club Fares From
1,675
£
†
Per Person
With
110
*
£
per cabin to spend on board
With
Cruise Club Fares From
1,209
£
†
Per Person
90
*
£
per cabin to spend on board
Cruise Club Fares From
1,898
£
†
Per Person
With
120
*
£
per cabin to spend on board
Western Mediterranean
Western Mediterranean
Western Mediterranean
Central Mediterranean
VENTURA (N113) 27 JUN 2021 - 14 NIGHTS
BRITANNIA (B118) 31 JUL 2021 - 14 NIGHTS
BRITANNIA (B119) 14 AUG 2021 - 14 NIGHTS
FOR ADULTS ARCADIA (J113) 27 AUG 2021 - 19 NIGHTS
Southampton, Cadiz (Seville), Barcelona (overnight in port), Naples, Cagliari, Gibraltar, Southampton
Southampton, Cadiz (Seville), Malaga, Alicante, Villefranche (Nice), Barcelona, Ibiza, Lisbon, Southampton
Southampton, Cadiz (Seville), Malaga, Ajaccio, Villefranche (Nice), Barcelona, Ibiza, Gibraltar, Southampton
Southampton, Gibraltar, Venice, Rijeka, Split, Dubrovnik, Mallorca, Cadiz (Seville), Southampton
Cruise Club Fares From
1,162
£
†
Per Person
With
90
£
*
per cabin to spend on board
Cruise Club Fares From
1,572
£
†
Per Person
0800 028 2177
Mon-Fri 9am-9pm, Sat 9am-7pm, Sun 10am-5pm
With
90
£
*
per cabin to spend on board
With
Cruise Club Fares From
1,582
£
EXCLUSIVELY
†
Per Person
90
£
*
per cabin to spend on board
Cruise Club Fares From
1,600
£
THE CRUISE CENTRE 6 Lindrick Way, Barlborough, Chesterfield, S43 4XE
THE CRUISE HOLIDAY SHOP U78 High Street, Meadowhall, Sheffield, S9 1EP
VISIT US Mon-Sat 10am-4pm
VISIT US Mon-Fri 10am-9pm, Sat 9am-8pm, Sun 11am-5pm
QUOTE: BCC REF 8106. ISSUED 07.11.19. The process of production/distribution takes several days and could therefore limit the availability of prices and accommodation as advertised, or they could not be available at all. Please see our website www.bolsovercruiseclub.com for the most up to date offers and availability. This offer applies to new bookings only and may be withdrawn by P&O Cruises without notice. It is not combinable with any other promotion and is subject to the booking conditions of P&O Cruises. A copy of Bolsover Cruise Club’s Terms of Business is available on request or by visiting our website. This advert contains an outline description of the cruises featured, which are solely organised by P&O Cruises. It should be read in conjunction with P&O Cruises current brochure which contains full information about the cruise itineraries, accommodation details, booking conditions that apply, passport and health requirements, what’s included in the fare and other general information. Prices shown are per person, based on twin occupancy in the lowest available grade within the category type, and already includes current fuel surcharges and Cruise Club Members Cashback at the time of going to print. †Select Price cabins may be allocated on a guarantee basis and the cabin number/deck will be allocated at P&O Cruises discretion prior to departure. *P&O Cruises Free on board spending money offer amounts are per cabin and vary by cabin type. This offer is subject to availability, expires on 2 Dec 2019 and can be combined with Select Price benefits. Select Price benefits are applicable to sailings of 7 nights or more. Free on board spending money - applies to passengers occupying the first two standard beds in a cabin. (On-board spend amounts shown include Select Price benefit). ‡5% Low deposit is applicable to new Select Price booking made by 2 Dec 2019. Alternatively choose Free Car Parking or Free Coach Transfers. Further terms and conditions apply, please call for details. Travel insurance, visa’s and vaccinations are at an additional cost. E&OE.
†
Per Person
With
120
£
*
per cabin to spend on board
FREE
Bi-Monthly Cruise Magazine
worth £29.70 per year when you join the Cruise Club www.bolsovercruiseclub.com/join
CONTEMPORARY Cool and modern ships with fantastic innovations, these cruise lines offer something for everyone
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE A growing collection of ships packed with entertainment such as waterslides and go-karts – not for nothing did Norwegian win Best Family Cruise Line and Best for Innovation in the British Cruise Awards 2019. Norwegian Star will be based in Southampton for the summer, mostly for trips to the fjords as well as cruises around the British Isles. From September, Norwegian Jade will be in the Med for cruises from Barcelona, Athens and Venice. Norwegian Encore arrived on the scene in November and will spend the year sailing the Caribbean along with short cruises to Bermuda from New York. Norwegian Sun returns to Alaska in May, joining Norwegian Bliss, Joy and Jewel for some of Norwegian Cruise Line’s most extensive itineraries in the area (up to 12 days from Seattle). 0333 336 1472; ncl.co.uk 8
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MSC CRUISES MSC Virtuosa arrives in November and will be a biggie carrying 6,334 guests. The sister ship of MSC Grandiosa, which started sailing last October, on board you’ll find a 110m indoor promenade of bars, restaurants and shops with a digital ‘sky’ showing the stars, panoramas and events 24 hours a day. There are also exclusive shows from Cirque du Soleil, an art gallery, a water park and a double-deck amusement park. MSC’s very own Bahamian island, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, opened for business in November (2019) and is now a private retreat (with even more private beaches available for differing tiers of passengers) for many Caribbean cruises. Also happening in 2020, MSC Magnifica is getting the chop… so a 23m section can be added, creating 215 more cabins and a water park. Based in Southampton, there will be 24 sailings in summer 2021, from two nights to two weeks, everywhere from the Canaries to the Baltic. 020 3426 3010; msccruises.co.uk 8
CONTEMPORARY contemporary
MARELLA CRUISES Two shiny new ships – Marella Explorer, which arrived in 2018, and Marella Explorer 2, which joined last summer – feature all-inclusive fun and the latter is for adults only. There are four other ships, too, and plenty of cruises within Europe, particularly around Spain and the Canaries, but further afield as well, with Caribbean cruises that can be linked to a week’s beach holiday in Jamaica. For summer there are six new cruises from the UK and three new ports of call, in Sweden, Norway and Albania. For next winter Marella Celebration will be based in Dubai, there will be two ships in the Caribbean and there are two new Asia itineraries. Cruises are all-inclusive and the prices are good, too – Marella was voted Best Value for Money Cruise Line in the British Cruise Awards 2019. 0871 230 2800; tui.co.uk
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CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE Theme parks at sea, ships geared towards fun in the sun and lots of getting wet sums up Carnival Cruise Line. Ship No 26, Carnival Panorama, joined in December (2019), with a water park, high ropes, indoor trampoline court and family rooms, for year-round Mexican Riviera trips. New ship Mardi Gras arrives in August, starting with a maiden voyage from Copenhagen to Southampton then heading for the US east coast. The high point, literally, is Bolt, the first roller-coaster on a cruise ship, a 40mph ride nearly 200ft above the sea, with a twirl around the funnel. Carnival Miracle sails an increased number of cruises from San Francisco, both south to Mexico and north to Alaska. 0845 351 0556; carnival.co.uk 8
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P&O CRUISES Iona, for 5,200 passengers, is the biggest ship yet built for the UK market and debuts in May with a summer of Norwegian fjord cruises. There’s a half-mile covered promenade of restaurants and bars, plus the giant glass SkyDome – a world first at sea that is a space for both relaxing and providing entertainment from aerial performers and live acts. The cruise company that proudly flies the red, white and blue livery also relaunches Britannia following its multi-million-pound refit – it spends winter sailing the Caribbean then comes to Southampton for the summer. P&O Cruises has half a dozen ships sailing from Southampton for much of the year, heading both to the fjords and the Baltic, and south to the sun of the Mediterranean and the Canaries. A continuing hit are Strictly Come Dancing cruises with the show’s stars. On four sailings this summer Iona will feature a new Strictly evening in the Limelight Club with a special Strictly guest and pro dance couple. Food Heroes cruises continue with Marco Pierre White and other popular chefs and experts. 0800 028 2177; pocruises.com 8
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VIRGIN VOYAGES Scarlet Lady, the very first ship from Virgin Voyages, an adults-only fun factory of bars and spas with a clutch of included speciality restaurants, arrives in April. Cruising from Miami, this will be a wild world of style, from curious crew uniforms to gym-side bars – and a tattoo parlour. The four- and five-night party cruises (DJ Mark Ronson will appear on one) will weave through the Caribbean with calls at spots such as Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico. The party itself takes place poolside at Virgin’s own private beach club on Bimini in the Bahamas. And it’s all done in that cheery Virgin style – all the passengers are ‘sailors’. 020 3003 4919; virginvoyages.com
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This summer will be Royal Caribbean’s biggest European season yet, with two revamped ships. From May Explorer of the Seas will sail out of Civitavecchia after a £100m ‘amplification’ that brings in Perfect Storm racer waterslides, a resort-style poolscape and glow in the dark laser tag. The reimagined Allure of the Seas will cruise the Western Med from Barcelona. Anthem of the Seas will be sailing out of Southampton right through to October, mostly offering Med cruises. Odyssey of the Seas arrives in autumn, similar to Quantum Ultra Class sister Quantum of the Seas with dodgems, a RipCord by iFLY skydiving simulator and North Star, a pod that waves high above the ship. Inside cabins have virtual balconies – ceiling-high TV screens showing live footage of the view. Sailings are from Fort Lauderdale in Florida. 0844 493 4005; royalcaribbean.co.uk
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ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL
Cruise & STAY USA From the bright lights of New York to the sizzling jazz of New Orleans, you can discover some of America’s most enticing cities with Marella Cruises
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ith a wealth of superb sailings from Asia to North Africa, Marella Cruises, winner of the Best Value for Money award at the British Cruise Awards, is renowned for the excellent service and fantastic onboard offering on its contemporary fleet of six ships. And now, for the first time ever, Marella is offering cruises to the USA. From summer 2021, Marella Discovery will sail from Port Canaveral on Florida’s Space Coast, home to the Kennedy Space Center. There are four new itineraries to pick from, featuring 11 ports of call – plus, as you’ll stay on the ship overnight in New York, Tampa and New Orleans, you’ll be able to explore these cities by day and night too. Plus on Marella Cruises’ Cruise & Stay itineraries, you can combine any of these sailings with a stay in one of over 30 hotels in Florida. So, you can relax at the Hard Rock Hotel in Orlando, or enjoy the splendour of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. What’s more you can choose how you want to cruise – from adults only to flexible durations, the choice is yours. Here are four of our favourite itineraries:
PHOTOS: © ISTOCK
FLORIDIAN FAVOURITES
Everyone loves Florida for the theme parks and Everglades, but the Sunshine State has so much more to offer. Your first port of call on this itinerary will be Tampa, with its Cuban and Spanish influences – you can even visit an original cigar factory. Your visit here includes an overnight stay, so you’ll be free to experience the bars and clubs of Ybor City Then there’s Fort Lauderdale, famous for
its miles of glorious beaches and shoppers’ paradise Las Olas Boulevard. You’ll also visit Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, where you can see some impressive colonial architecture – but it’s also renowned for the snorkelling and scuba diving opportunities around its spectacular coral reefs, which are some of the longest on the planet.
BIG APPLE ADVENTURE
Wake up in the city that never sleeps, stroll along Fifth Avenue, climb to the top of the Empire State Building, catch a show on Broadway, and explore Central Park – New York is simply one of the best cities in the world, and with an overnight stay you’ll be able to make the most of everything the Big Apple has to offer. This itinerary also calls at Norfolk, Virginia, and Freeport in the Bahamas, before returning to Port Canaveral.
AMERICAN DREAM
For a taste of the Deep South this itinerary includes a port of call in the charming city of Charleston, South Carolina, where you can explore the city’s historic district and the stunning plantation houses. Other ports of call on this immersive sailing include New York City and Freeport in the Bahamas.
sample freshly made beignets and gumbo. Other ports of call on this itinerary include Tampa, Key West, Miami and Port Canaveral in Florida, plus George Town on the idyllic Caribbean island of Grand Cayman.
MARELLA DISCOVERY
With a climbing wall, outdoor cinema, mini-golf course, Broadway-quality shows and dedicated kids’ clubs and teen zones, plus fantastic dining options and bars, you can relax in total comfort as you sail around the States – plus, all your food and drinks on board are included, even Prosecco, making your cruise excellent value for money.
5 Reasons to sail with Marella Cruises Friendly and professional crew TUI reps and a 24/7 HolidayLine All-inclusive cruises — flights, onboard dining and drinks are included Fewer sea days — so you can experience more destinations Total flexibility
SUNSHINE AND JAZZ
Some like it hot – and this incredible 12-night repositioning cruise sets sail from Montego Bay in Jamaica in April 2021 and gives you the chance to enjoy three nights in New Orleans during the Big Easy’s acclaimed Jazz Festival. You can also soak up the laid-back atmosphere in the French Quarter, and TUI Holiday | Store tui.co.uk/cruise | 0871 2302800* *calls cost 10p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge
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CUNARD Cunard, celebrating 100 years of sailing in timeless style from Southampton, continues with its iconic transatlantic crossings. It is also blossoming in the wider world – the line will have its longest Australian season with Queen Elizabeth spending four months there in 2020/21. And it has doubled its Alaska programme with a whole summer of cruises. Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Kenton Cool (14-time Everest climber) will lecture as Queen Elizabeth sails through the wilderness. There are also more of the popular two-night breaks sailing from Southampton to Hamburg, while a fourth Queen, which is still to be named, will make its debut in 2021. 0800 028 2177; cunard.co.uk 8
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CRUISE & MARITIME VOYAGES This British company offers great value cruises – often with a ‘second person goes free’ offer – from a wide range of UK ports, particularly Tilbury, on the Thames near London. Ships are modest in size and relaxed in atmosphere. There are overnight onboard events, short cruises across the Channel and plenty of other voyages. The 2020 programme focuses on Northern Europe with Norway’s fjords, Baltic cities, Iceland, Greenland, the Canary Islands and the Northern Lights. There are cruises around the UK – and others that head up the Seine, visiting Honfleur and Rouen. And there’s always a Grand Round the World Cruise. Running in winter 2020, it’s a 120-nighter from Tilbury on flagship Columbus. The entertainment stands out too… a Supercraft cruise with TV’s Julie Peasgood, an Easter cruise with veteran comedian Jimmy Cricket and Daytime Legends with Homes Under The Hammer’s Martin Roberts and others from Loose Women, Catchphrase and more. 0844 998 9521; cruiseandmaritime.com
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FRED. OLSEN CRUISE LINES ‘Scenic cruising’ is the order of the day with sailing as important as the ports of call. There are plenty of Norwegian fjords experiences as its fleet of four cosy ships, Braemar, Boudicca, Balmoral and Black Watch, sail from the UK, but new regions are open for exploration too, not least the Cape Cod Canal, Hudson River and Chesapeake & Delaware Canal on the American Waterways in the Fall with New York voyage. There will be more five-night cruises – one to Devon and Cornwall, another to the fjords from Edinburgh. In April, all four ships unite in Madeira for ‘Four Fred.s in Funchal’, and there’s also a mystery cruise, from Liverpool, where guests have no idea of each day’s destination until the very last moment. 0800 035 5197; fredolsencruises.com
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BY APPOINTMENT TO HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II SWAROVSKI OPTIK SUPPLIER OF BINOCULARS
CL COMPANION THE FREEDOM TO EXPERIENCE MORE SEE THE UNSEEN
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ADVENTURE & SPECIALIST these lines will take you off the beaten track to discover historical, cultural and natural wonders
SILVERSEA There's not one but two new ships in 2020 for the upmarket company whose small vessels offer expeditions around the globe and which won Best Expedition Cruise Line in the British Cruise Awards 2019. Currently there are nine ships, five offering a regular cruise experience, four more providing specialist adventure trips, from the pole-to-pole Silver Cloud to 100-passenger Silver Galapagos. Silver Origin, arriving in July, will sail alongside the latter around the islands. With rooms that open up to become huge balconies, Silver Moon (arriving August 2020) is an even more refined version of current flagship Silver Muse. 0207 340 0700; silversea.com 8
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CORAL EXPEDITIONS This Australian company celebrates its 35th birthday in 2020. Coral Adventurer, sleek and for 120 guests, arrived in April and sister ship Coral Geographer joins late 2020, bringing the fleet to four alongside 76-guest Coral Discoverer and 42-guest Coral Expeditions II (designed to explore the shallow waters of the Great Barrier Reef, the signature cruise). The anniversary is celebrated with a 60-night Circumnavigation of Australia (35 sites of maritime history that shaped the nation, linked to the 250th anniversary of Captain Cook’s arrival). There’s also a New Guinea Circumnavigation while Geographer starts with a three-leg cruise from Singapore circling the Indian Ocean, followed by a southern crossing taking in the sub-Antarctic islands before arriving in Fremantle. Other destinations include New Zealand and Tasmania. Prices include excursions, kayaking, guides and boutique Australian beers and wines. 0203 934 7170; coralexpeditions.com
THE MAJESTIC LINE The Majestic Line offers cruises around the west coast of Scotland on four traditional ships for no more than 12 people. New in 2019 was Glen Shiel which achieved a first for the company when it reached Cape Wrath, Scotland’s dramatic most north westerly point, in the autumn. The cruise was part of the new 10-night North West Wilderness sailing that runs through 2020. Around 15 itineraries take in Mull, Skye, the Hebrides and Caledonian Canal. In 2020 Glen Shiel will also be on the new The Outer Hebrides – The Islands on the Edge of Europe and taking cruises to far-flung St Kilda, its twin engines cutting sailing time compared to the other ships. 01369 707 951; themajesticline.co.uk
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PONANT And then there were six… Le Bellot and Le Jacques-Cartier, super-posh exploration vessels, join the upmarket French company in 2020 following sisters Le Bougainville and Le Dumont-d’Urville in 2019 and two in 2018. The ships circle the planet, from pole to sun-drenched beach. They do things in style – the underwater Blue Eye lounge with windows onto the deep, a foldaway dock for swimming and Zodiac boat trips, and fabulous French food (there's a new team-up with Relais & Châteaux for meals and cookery classes on three 2020 cruises). Le Commandant-Charcot, a polar exploration vessel, arrives in 2021 for trips such as Discover the Northeast Greenland National Park, one of Ponant’s collaborations with National Geographic. There are five other ships including masted yacht Le Ponant. In 2020 the Quintessential Collection is a series of cruises dedicated to English-speaking passengers with speakers such as former Supreme Allied Commander of Nato Admiral James Stavridis on A World Affairs Cruise in the Baltic. Ponant has just taken over Paul Gauguin, the South Seas operator. The mid-size luxury ship is known for its cruises from Tahiti to Bora Bora and, in 2020, it also visits Fiji, Tonga and Bali. 0808 234 3802; en.ponant.com 8
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NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPEDITIONS The adventure travel brand runs both ocean and river cruises. The former are in conjunction with French luxury operator Ponant, with National Geographic experts, photographers and researchers accompanying cruises to far-flung places, particularly the Antarctic, although 2020 also features Africa, Polynesia, the Caribbean and the Amazon. Lots of Zodiac boat tours and guided excursions can be expected. River cruises are run with Scenic. Trips include the Nile, Rhine, Danube, Rhone and Douro. Each cruise is accompanied by two National Geographic experts, offering lectures and photography workshops as well as leading explorations along the way. 020 3105 0644; nationalgeographicexpeditions.co.uk
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CELESTYAL CRUISES You can experience year-round cruises in Greece and Turkey on Celestyal Crystal and Celestyal Olympia, ships with the casual feel of an island beach bar. Lots of local folk enjoy the excellent value – all-inclusive with excursions as well as food and drinks – so it’s a colourful getaway. Ports include Kuşadasi (for Ephesus) and hotspots such as Santorini and Mykonos. The feel is rather like island hopping by ferry – except that you get back on board the ship to a drink and nice meal. In 2020 Celestyal Cruises heads farther afield with, from December, a seven-night Romantic Adriatic itinerary including Venice, Corfu, Kotor, Dubrovnik and Split. There are also 14-night sailings reaching Cyprus, Egypt and Israel. 0800 411 8038; celestyalcruises.com
SCENIC Having arrived in the summer, Scenic Eclipse is still making waves. The ‘world’s first discovery yacht’, from Scenic, formerly only involved in river cruises, is sheer luxury on the oceans. Carrying 228 guests, this is the ultimate expedition ship, right down to the two helicopters, six-passenger submarine and fold-down marina for a fleet of Zodiac inflatables. Every suite has a balcony, and there are nine restaurants and a bevy of bars for the all-inclusive service. The Antarctic is a prime destination (the ship is top of the range when it comes to beating the ice) but its sails to warmer destinations too. There was a long wait for perfection – but now Scenic Eclipse II is on its way for 2021. 0808 120 7713; scenic.co.uk 8
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STAR CLIPPERS A world away from a regular cruise, three tall ships (a fourth is under construction and the biggest is 227-guest Royal Clipper) carry passengers on spirited ocean voyages. Marvel at the musical pomp as the expert crew unfurl the sails, lounge in the rope nets overhanging the sea at the bow and climb the mast to the crow’s nest. Cruises cover the world, with spots like the Caribbean and Greek islands made for a sailing ship. The height of posh next summer is a trip combining Venice Simplon Orient Express travel from London, a stay at the Belmond Cipriani hotel and a five-night cruise around Croatia. Two new ports for 2020 are Spanish Town, on Virgin Gorda, and Long Bay, on Beef Island, both in the British Virgin Islands, with a pass through Sir Francis Drake Channel, near Tortola. 0808 231 4798; starclippers.co.uk 8
THE KIMBERLEY
For true explorers
The Kimberley is a vast and rugged coastline shaped by the powerful forces of nature. Steeped in ancient cultures, it is one of the world’s most beautiful and remote wilderness areas. Explore the best of the Kimberley with the Australian pioneers. Experience diverse wildlife, striking landscapes, rich history and ancient Indigenous culture. Our expert guides and crew will share their unsurpassed knowledge and passion for this region forged from 24 years of expedition experience in the Kimberley. Come back after your adventures to your Australian-flagged ship and enjoy expansive public spaces, comfortable staterooms and regionally-inspired cuisine with Australian wines. If you are curious about the world around you, and freedom from the crowds is your idea of luxury, Coral Expeditions is your cruise line. For 34 years, we have taken like-minded guests closer to remote cultures and nature, with personal service and warm Australian hospitality.
10 Night Ancient Lands of the Kimberley Between Darwin and Broome, Australia > Departs April to September 2020 and 2021 > From ÂŁ6,174pp*
REQUEST YOUR COMPLIMENTARY BROCHURE call +44 (0) 203 934 7170 visit www.coralexpeditions.com email cruise@coralexpeditions.com *Price is based on $10,290AUD per person twin share and subject to currency fluctuations.
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G ADVENTURES The small group tour operator offers exciting adventures around the world, with plenty of small ship cruises – or ‘marine tours’ as G Adventures calls them – from the Indian Ocean to the Antarctic. G Expedition, for 134 guests, heads for the Arctic, Norway and the Antarctic, six vessels, including a catamaran, mostly for 16 passengers, take in the Galápagos, the Amatista Amazon Riverboat Adventure explores the Peruvian Amazon, there’s a Mekong ship, and a barge on the rivers and canals of Burgundy. There’s a young-at-heart feel to the cruises, with excursions on local transport and partying. For 2020 there are three cruises that either start or finish in Edinburgh, with Tromsø or Longyearbyen in Norway's Svalbard archipelago at the other end. There are optional Scottish add-ons to each, involving two days in Edinburgh and one in the Highlands. 0207 313 6944; gadventures.co.uk
FALKLAND ISLANDS
@FITB Tourism @FITB Tourism ilovethefalklands info@falklandislands.com +500 22215 falklandislands.com
Escape on a holiday like no other.
RIVER a leisurely way to discover the world, with plenty of opportunity to disembark and explore
SANCTUARY RETREATS An impressive fleet of luxurious boutique ships sail on some of the world’s most intriguing rivers, including the Yangtze, Irrawaddy and the Nile, where there are four elegant ships in operation and guests can choose from between three- to seven-night itineraries. Jewels in the fleet include Sanctuary Nile Adventurer, widely regarded as one of the best ships sailing on the iconic river, with just 32 cabins and five-star luxury style; and 124-passenger Yangzi Explorer, which offers outstanding service (there's a crew to passenger ratio of 1:1), a spa offering an array of treatments and said to be the most spacious and indulgent on the river, a two-floor theatre and all balcony-suites and cabins for cruising the Yangtze in exceptional comfort. +44 (0)207 190 7741; sanctuaryretreats.com
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SCENIC 2019 saw the launch of the acclaimed cruise line’s long-awaited luxury ocean expedition ship, Scenic Eclipse, and it also has river cruises across Europe, Asia, Russia and Egypt on 15 contemporary Space-Ships, a programme that helped the company win the Best Luxury River Cruise Line title in the British Cruise Awards 2019. Itineraries include the 11-day South of France, a round-trip from Lyon that includes Avignon, Tournon and the chance to follow in the footsteps of Van Gogh in Arles. There are also new city extensions in Monte Carlo, the Basque Country, Transylvania, Switzerland and Turkey. Cruises are all-inclusive, with flights, excursions, return airport transfers, butler service and use of ebikes. 0808 115 1995; scenic.co.uk
AVALON WATERWAYS Avalon from this spring will have a fleet of 14 luxury Suite-Ships sailing the rivers of Europe, the latest addition to the roster – in which all the rooms are suites – being Avalon View. It’s the sister ship of Avalon Envision which took to the Danube in 2019. Floor-to-ceiling windows retract to turn the whole room into a balcony, and beds face the windows so you always have a view. There are also cruises and tours on the Mekong in Vietnam, on the Amazon in Peru, the Ganges in India and around the Galápagos Islands. For 2020 there are some shorter European cruises for those who want to taste river cruising, such as the four-day A Taste of the Danube taking in Budapest, Bratislava, Melk, Dürnstein and Vienna. 0330 808 7451; avaloncruises.co.uk
AMERICAN QUEEN Offering paddlewheel cruises through the heart of America, American Queen Steamboat Company gives new life to classic ships and has a new one from April, American Countess, joining flagship American Queen (the world’s biggest paddlewheeler) and American Duchess on the Mississippi taking in Memphis, New Orleans and St Louis, plus (on the Ohio and Cumberland) Nashville and Louisville. There are regular themed cruises (bourbon, barbecue, music) all with panache. Countess has modern décor and a grand bar running along one side. Empress continues to sail the Columbia between Washington State and Oregon. The company in 2019 bought Victory Cruise Lines. Two all-inclusive 200-passenger ships travel the Great Lakes and St Lawrence River. A new winter programme visits the Deep South (taking in Savannah and Charleston), plus Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, Costa Rica and the Panama Canal. Futuristic Ocean Victory arrives in 2021 for exciting Alaska expeditions. 0800 988 5823; titantravel.co.uk 8 CRUISE-INTERNATIONAL.COM
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AROSA RIVER CRUISES With 12 ships, seven of which are dedicated to the international market, the German company cruises, all-inclusive, on the Danube, Rhine, Main, Moselle, Seine, Rhône, Saône and Douro. Arosa celebrates its relaxed outlook (including flexible dining times) by being one of the few river companies that accepts children – and even allows those 15 and under to go free (on every sailing except the Douro where there’s a 25 per cent discount). There are children’s clubs on some sailings. A new Rhine ship coming in early 2021 is aimed toward multi-generational groups with large cabins sleeping up to five, a children’s pool and a dedicated children’s club area. It is also environmentally groundbreaking, with battery propulsion allowing the ship to sail emission-free in and out of cities. 01942 417832; shearings.com
BELMOND Upmarket travel company Belmond has a fleet of seven barges traveling the canals of Burgundy and Provence. These boutique vessels offer sublime comfort and extravagant food alongside splendid experiences on shore, such as truffle hunting, visits to the finest wine and Champagne estates and market tours. One of the newest additions to the Belmond fleet, four-cabin Pivoine sails the Champagne region, and is a cool contemporary vessel with a heated pool. In Myanmar the 43-cabin Belmond Road to Mandalay sails the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) in colonial fashion with a pool, open-air dining, daily yoga and spacious suites with authentic Burmese style interiors. 0845 077 2222; belmond.com
CROISIEUROPE A company with French flair, CroisiEurope has almost 60 ships, carrying anything from 22 to 200 passengers, on the rivers of Europe and in the past couple of years expanding into exotic destinations such as the Mekong and Africa’s Lake Kariba. In fact, in 2020, a second ship arrives on the lake, which stretches for 22km between Zambia and Zimbabwe. In Europe cruises can be out of the ordinary too. For example, there's one in Spain that sails the Guadiana and Guadalquivir rivers from Seville and along the Atlantic coast to Cádiz. There are also canal boats and one ship that sails the Croatian coast. In 2020 there will be the new additions of cruises on the Nile and Ganges. 020 8328 1281; croisieurope.co.uk 8
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SEE THE WORLD THROUGH AWARD-WINNING VIEWS “Choose Avalon if you care more about cabin views than private butlers” – Which? River Cruises Report, February 2019
READER RECOMMENDED UK 2019
Avalon Waterways
Best in European River
DAN UBE | R HINE | RH ÔNE | SE I NE | M AIN | MOS ELLE | MEKONG | GANGES | G A LÁ PAGOS IS LA N D S
THE BEST SUITES ON THE RIVER
GREAT VALUE RELAXED LUXURY
THE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE
80% of our staterooms offer wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling windows, beds facing the views and 30% more space than the industry standard.
Gratuities, full-board dining with quality wine and beer, return flights, transfers and excursions are all included in the fully packaged price.
Eat when and where you like with FlexDining, choose from included excursions or head out alone and tailor your trip with extra nights – the choice is yours.
0330 808 7451 |
www.avalonwaterways.co.uk | contact your travel agent
All the package holidays we sell are covered by a scheme of financial protection; all our flight-inclusive holidays are fully protected by the CAA’s ATOL scheme and our non-flight holidays are fully protected by ABTA’s scheme of financial protection. Good Housekeeping Reader Recommended survey of Avalon panoramic views, 112 Good Housekeeping readers, 2018. Correct at time of print (27 Nov 2019).
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PANDAW Pandaw is known for its small, traditionally-built ships with a taste of luxury that get deep inside Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar. RV Kanee Pandaw, with only 14 cabins, which arrived on the Irrawaddy in late November (2019), brings the regular fleet up to 17. Three cruises in India, launched in 2019, continue – the Lower Ganges (the Hooghly), the Upper Ganges as far as Varanasi, India’s spiritual capital, and the Brahmaputra. Cruises on three small ships on the Upper Mekong continue to China, calling in Myanmar, Thailand and Laos. There are also Vietnam cruises all the way from Halong Bay up the Red River. 0800 988 5823; titantravel.co.uk
AMA WATERWAYS Ama’s 24th ship, 156-passenger AmaSiena, arrives on the Rhine in July. The elegant sister ship to AmaKristina, also features twin-balcony staterooms, a choice of dining venues, a sun deck walking track, a pool complete with a swim-up bar and a gym. Other ships in the fleet cover Europe – including AmaMagma, new on the Danube last summer and almost twice the width of a regular river ship. The ship in 2020 will sail both upper and lower Danube itineraries including the 14-night Grand Danube, which goes all the way to Bucharest. Other ships explore the Mekong and Africa’s Chobe River. There are three new cruise add-ons, in Istanbul, Nice and Bangkok. 0800 320 2336; amawaterways.co.uk
TITAN Titan continues with its own European river cruises on MS Bellejour (which arrived in April) and MS Serenade 1 which, for its 2020 season, offers a special sailing on the Danube with a visit to the Oberammergau Passion Play in Bavaria. The company's tie-ups include new trips on the Loire and Elbe, both with CroisiEurope. But no matter whether on its own ships or with others, Titan's trips include its VIP door-to-door travel service, a tour manager and flights – all reasons why it was named Best Escorted Tour Operator at the British Cruise Awards 2019. 0800 988 5823; titantravel.co.uk 8
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THE SCENIC DIFFERENCE IS CLEAR
Danube | Main | Rhine | Bordeaux | Rhône | Douro | Mekong | Irrawaddy | Seine | Volga
DISCOVER WHAT ALL-INCLUSIVE TRULY MEANS At Scenic, we pride ourselves on being the most inclusive cruise line sailing Europe and Southeast Asia’s waterways. With over 30 years’ experience handcrafting unforgettable holidays for the most discerning travellers, it’s no wonder we’re experts in our field. Our fleet of award-winning five-star Space-Ships boast some of the largest and most luxurious suites on the rivers, and our all-inclusive offering means you could even leave your wallet at home. From fine dining to premium branded beverages, and all flights transfers and tips, to culturally immersive shore excursions and experiences that you can only dream of, it’s all in the one price you pay. Anything is possible on a Scenic river cruise. We promise you a five-star journey that’s all-encompassing, all-inclusive and quite simply unforgettable.
Scenic Space-Ships
Dining & Beverages
Each one of our Scenic Space-Ships has been meticulously designed to provide the perfect balance of space and intimacy. Lavish furnishings and exceptional finishing touches come as standard.
With up to five dining options on board, enjoy authentic, locallysourced meals from fine dining to casual. Experience fine degustation dining, your favourite cocktail served just how you like it, or dinner served by your butler to your suite.
Luxury Suites
Scenic Enrich
Designed with comfort and style in mind, your Scenic Suite becomes your own private sanctuary. We offer some of the largest suites on the waterways, fully-equipped with our innovative Scenic Sun-Lounge, your private all-weather conservatory-style space.
Handpicked by our experts, these moments are created to surpass those accessible to the ordinary traveller. We grant you access to some of the world’s most spectacular locations, think a private concert at Palais Lichtenstein, or a magical dinner at Angkor Temple.
Scenic Freechoice
Tailored Travelling
At Scenic, we give you the freedom to tailor your days to suit you. We provide a choice of daily excursions for you to choose from, ranging from energetic hikes, cycling on our e-bikes to gentle walking city tours.
We’ve made getting to and from your destination a stress-free experience. We fly from up to 16 UK airports, or if you prefer not to fly, you can travel via Eurostar on select itineraries.
ORDER A FREE BROCHURE ON 0808 296 3123 OR VISIT SCENIC.CO.UK/2020
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TUI RIVER CRUISES Three ships – Isla, Maya and Skyla – launch this brand in March and, as with sister ocean company Marella Cruises, offer reasonably priced, good value cruises (from a little over £1,000) with flights, meals and drinks with dinner. Trips are on the Danube, Rhine, Main, Moselle and the Dutch and Belgian waterways. Each 155-passenger ship has two restaurants and a top deck with sunbathing and barbecue meals alongside the herb garden. The Club Lounge bar (there’s an option of a full drinks package) features a cosy-ish digital fireplace while the Observatory bar and entertainment hub has an outdoor area with sofas and heaters. There’s an included £120 towards shore excursions, which gives at least a walking tour each day or the chance to book fewer, bigger outings. 020 3451 2688; tui.co.uk; river-cruises
UNIWORLD Three new Super Ships in 2020 will expand the Uniworld universe of boutique extravagance. In March S.S. São Gabriel becomes the newest ship on Portugal’s Douro. On the Mekong, Mekong Jewel is a lavish affair, 10m longer than the ship it is replacing, Mekong Navigator, but for the same number of guests. Operating from January, it looks traditional but is a masterpiece of environmentally friendly design. On the Nile, S.S. Sphinx, also arriving in January, will be filled with Egyptian artwork, hand-carved furniture and fabrics. Meanwhile in March River Countess emerges after a major overhaul as S.S. La Venezia in Venice, sailing into the Po. Uniworld’s U Cruise brand continues to cater for partying adults. It’s ship The B re-emerges in April to visit happening spots such as Vienna, Brussels, Düsseldorf, Salzburg and Bratislava with new attractions: more overnight stays, nightly free happy hour and more active excursions. The A has new cruises such as Vienna Vibe – including trendy evening shopping with drinks. 0808 168 9231; uniworld.com/uk
EMERALD WATERWAYS A river cruise company that is heading out into deeper waters, Emerald Waterways has eight sleek and contemporary Star-Ships, including the petit Emerald Harmony that arrived on the Mekong (and can sail all the way from the heart of Ho Chi Minh City) which arrived in summer 2019. Little wonder that Emerald was named Best for Destination Immersion in the British Cruise Awards 2019. New for 2020 are two motor yachts, MS Swallow and MS Lastavica, for increasingly popular cruises hugging the Croatian coast and its islands. Cruises in Russia and on the Nile, new in 2019, are continuing and there are new itineraries on varied European rivers including the Rhone and Douro. Its Danube Delights & Classic Prague was voted Best River Cruise Itinerary at the cruise awards. 0808 296 2758; emeraldwaterways.co.uk 8
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Exceptional EmeraldVALUE Enjoy all these inclusions Return flights from a choice of up to 15 UK airports. Stylish accommodation on board our innovative Star-Ships. All on board meals in Reflections Restaurant. Complimentary wine, beer & soft drinks with lunch & dinner. Enjoy an included EmeraldEXCURSION almost every day. Extra-special EmeraldPLUS and EmeraldACTIVE experiences. Complimentary Wi-Fi on board.
Boutique river cruising through the heart of Europe Uncover architectural charms and iconic landmarks on an award-winning river cruise with Emerald Waterways. Take in the beauty of Germany’s mystical Black Forest, experience the majestic Rhine Gorge, stroll through the vineyards of southern France or explore the charming townships that line Portugal’s Douro River.
Complimentary bicycles† on board. All port charges, taxes and transfer costs. Complimentary River Cruise Cover.
PLUS ALL TIPS ARE INCLUDED
Arrive in the heart of each destination in style on board our chic, innovative Star-Ships where you can enjoy impressive features on board, such as our indoor heated pool and cinema†, panoramic Sun Deck and lovingly appointed suites and staterooms. For more information on our collection of insightful 2020 European itineraries, our generous inclusions and our latest special offers, call our cruise experts today on 0808 296 2758 or visit emeraldwaterways.co.uk and take the first step towards your journey of a lifetime. Danube Delights
Jewels of the Rhine
8-Day Nuremberg to Budapest
8-Day Amsterdam to Basel
Sensations of Lyon & Provence 8-Day Lyon to Arles
Secrets of the Douro 8-Day Porto to Porto
Visit 7 cities, towns and villages
Visit 8 cities, towns and villages
Visit 7 cities, towns and villages
Visit 5 cities, towns and villages
Guided city tours of Regensburg, Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest
EmeraldEXCURSION canal boat
EmeraldEXCURSION city tour
EmeraldACTIVE bike tour along the Danube from Melk to Dürnstein EmeraldPLUS home-hosted coffee and cake with a Slovakian family
tour through Amsterdam
of Lyon
EmeraldACTIVE guided canoeing experience in Pocinho
EmeraldACTIVE hike through the
EmeraldPLUS Provençal dinner on board hosted by chef Fabien Morreale
EmeraldEXCURSION guided tour of Spains city of Salamanca
EmeraldPLUS a regional wine
6 EmeraldPLUS experiences
Black Forest
Discover UNESCO World Heritagelisted sites including Cologne’s Gothic Cathedral
lecture on board
Call FREE on 0808 296 2758 | Visit emeraldwaterways.co.uk Terms and conditions: All of our holidays are subject to availability. Our prices are per person, based on two people sharing. Supplements apply for single travellers. We reserve the right to withdraw our offers at any time and our offers are not combinable. †The Emerald Radiance on the river Douro does not have bicycles or an indoor pool/cinema, instead there is a spa style Serenity Pool on the Sun Deck. For full terms and conditions visit emeraldwaterways.co.uk or refer to our 2020 European river cruise brochure. E&OE.
Emerald Waterways
Best River Cruise Line for Value
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VIKING Viking, named Best River Cruise Line in the British Cruise Awards 2019, rarely takes a breather. For 2020 there are two more sleek, contemporary Longships for the Rhine, Main and Danube and another four on the Seine. That’s on top of six new Longships sailing on the Rhine, Danube and Main and one on the Douro in 2019. The new ships add to a river fleet of 69 (mostly Longships, plus half a dozen on the Douro and Elbe, and others in Russia, Ukraine, Egypt, China and Vietnam). A fascinating new itinerary is the Kiev, Black Sea & Bucharest cruise which sails the Dnieper from the city of Kiev across Ukraine to the beach city of Odessa then skirts the Black Sea coast until it reaches the Danube. From here there’s a river journey to little Tulcea before getting a coach to Bucharest for a two-night stay. There’s also an Oberammergau With Salzburg special on the Danube, visiting the Bavarian town for its Passion Play, with a night in Salzburg and a boat ride on Chiemsee before cruising to Budapest. 020 8780 8700; vikingrivercruises.co.uk
FRED.\ RIVER CRUISES This company offers river cruise voyages around the world packaged by the offshoot of Fred. Olsen Travel in bespoke form. There are very often pre- and post-cruise stays, and smaller cruise companies such as Amadeus in Europe, American Cruise Lines, Volga Dream in Russia and now Asian specialist Pandaw feature strongly. There are also trips on Fred. Olsen’s own 156-passenger Brabant, with classic British service on the Danube, Main, Rhine and Moselle. 0800 0213 172; fredrivercruises.co.uk
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new ships 2020
From the very glam to cutting edge cool, the year ahead will see some thrilling arrivals
FEBRUARY
REGENT SEVEN SEAS SPLENDOR
The fifth in the Regent Seven Seas fleet, Splendor will offer a stylish travel experience on one of the most elegant ships ever to sail the globe. Adorned with over 46,000ft of Italian marble and 500 crystal chandeliers, plus a specially curated art collection, Splendor will live up to its name, offering huge balcony space in every one of its 375 suites. Billed as the largest suite on a luxury cruise ship, and perched high on the 14th deck, The Regent Suite has unobstructed 270-degree views over the ship’s bow from the 1,300 square-foot wraparound veranda, and a spacious glass-enclosed solarium seating area on top of the bridge, as well as an in-suite spa offering unlimited treatments. For food lovers, Splendor boasts a range of innovative culinary experiences, including Culinary Arts Kitchen
classes and Gourmet Explorer Tours, plus seven dining venues, ranging from French restaurant Chartreuse to spectacular Pan-Asian restaurant Pacific Rim. La Veranda offers authentic Italian specialities which guests will be able to enjoy from stunning new over-water alcove seating. Splendor will sail the Western Mediterranean and Adriatic to the Greek Islands as well as sailing on a round-Britain cruise in August 2020 before heading back to the Mediterranean and then to Miami in November. A seven-day round trip on board Regent Seven Seas Splendor, departing Miami on 7 December 2020 costs from ÂŁ3699pp in a Veranda Suite on an all-inclusive basis including return flights, transfers and gratuities (02380 682 280; rssc.com). 8
APRIL
S. S. SÃO GABRIEL
The brand new S.S. São Gabriel will join S.S. Sphinx, Mekong Jewel and S.S. La Venezia, all new to Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection’s fleet next year. With an opulent design inspired by the landscapes of Portugal, the luxuriously appointed new river cruise ship will be the newest ship to sail the Douro River Valley, offering the very best of delectable Spanish and Portuguese wines and cuisine, with carefully curated excursions bringing the destination to life for its guests. The lavish top Azores deck will offer luxurious suites, including four Grand Suites, all with butler service and flexible dining, with the Cap Verde deck below offering all French balcony accommodation, and the third, Madeira deck housing deluxe and classic cabins An 11-day Portugal, Spain & The Douro River Valley cruise on board S.S. São Gabriel costs from £3,959 per person, departing 19 November 2020, including an eight-day voyage and three nights in a luxury hotel in Lisbon, including all meals and drinks, all on-trip transfers and return flights from the UK (0808 273 6942; uniworld.com/uk).
NEW SHIPS
APRIL
CELEBRITY APEX
The second Edge-class ship from Celebrity Cruises, Celebrity Apex,, will showcase many of the ground-breaking design features debuted by its sister ship, Celebrity Edge,, including dining space, Eden, with its three deck-high windows and 270-degree views, and the innovative cantilevered Magic Carpet, gliding between decks suspended from the side of the ship. With 29 dining venues, seven of which are new speciality restaurants, there’s something to suit every palate, and the staterooms (once again designed by interiors guru Kelly Hoppen) continue the high-end boutique feel. Edge Staterooms offer Infinite Verandas, blending the balcony seamlessly into the interior cabin space, and two-story Edge Villas offer private outdoor plunge pools with direct access to The Retreat sundeck, part of the suites-only Retreat area. The modern spa, also designed by Hoppen, includes a Crystalarium and a SEA Thermal Suite, plus 23 luxurious treatment rooms. After Celebrity Apex’s ’s Northern European mini season, it will spend the rest of its inaugural summer sailing the Western Mediterranean. A seven-night round-trip on Celebrity Apex departing Fort Lauderdale on 28 November 2020 costs from £1,079pp sharing an inside cabin (0844 493 2092; celebritycruises.com).
APRIL
SCARLET LADY
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Virgin Voyages is set to rip up the rule book with its first ship, Scarlet Lady. Promising a mix of high-energy moments coupled with relaxation, Virgin’s first foray into cruising offers alluring entertainment and 20 plus world-class eateries. With no main dining rooms and no set dining times, Virgin Voyages promises city-like eating at sea with all dining, from Korean BBQ to Mexican Street food, included in the cruise fare. Situated at the aft of the ship, with uninterrupted views, Wake will be a hub of steak and seafood with a theatrical twist while the Test Kitchen offers innovative cuisine in a laboratory-like environment, as well as cooking and mixology classes, and even late-night lock-ins, where guests can raid the chef’s fridge for a midnight feast. Over 90% of the 1,330 sleek cabins will offer an ocean view and there will be 78 supremely modern RockStar Suites inspired by super-yachts. Scarlet Lady will sail in the Caribbean, calling at a private club in the Bahamas on all voyages. A five-night Riviera Maya round-trip cruise departing Miami on 3 May 2020 costs £2,340pp for two sharing an Insider cabin, including all food, non-alcoholic drinks and tips, excluding flights (020 300 34919; virginvoyages.com). 8
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NEW SHIPS
may
IONA
P&O Cruises’ newest ship, Iona, will be the largest ship ever built for the UK market, accommodating 5,000 guests in seven different cabin types across 17 decks. Inspired by its maiden season sailing the Norwegian Fjords, Iona has a chic, Scandi feel, with natural colours and textures designed to ‘bring the outside in’. Public spaces will have an open feel, with the opulent Grand Atrium offering three decks of uninterrupted sea views. The new SkyDome, designed by award-winning engineers Eckersley O’Callaghan and spanning decks 16 and 17, will transform from a place to relax during the day into a dazzling entertainment venue by night, with the pool morphing into a stage. There’s also the exclusive new 710 Club, billed as Iona’s ‘secret spot’ designed for live music, and the very first distillery at sea will be on board too. Innovations also abound inside the ship’s modern, nautical-themed cabins, including the revolutionary new conservatory mini suites. Between October 2020 and March 2021 Iona will leave the fjords and sail south to Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands for winter sun. A seven-night Norwegian Fjords round trip (G020) on board Iona, departing Southampton on 12 September 2020, costs from £729pp full board (03453 555 111; pocruises.com).
june
ENCHANTED PRINCESS
This new ship will be the latest in the Princess Cruises fleet to showcase the innovative Ocean Medallion experience, featuring a wearable device, the same size as a 10p piece, but capable of creating a whole new level of service when teamed with the MedallionClass app. Benefits such as expedited arrival, on-demand food and drink orders, and a family and friends locator make the best use of the ship’s excellent wifi. Along with Sky Princess, Enchanted Princess also introduces the innovative, digitally enhanced ‘Phantom Bridge’ escape room. Guests will be able to enjoy over 25 dining venues and bars, including the French bistro La Mer, plus new entertainment in the enhanced Princess Theatre, the redesigned Vista Lounge and new jazz lounge Take Five. Two ‘Sky Suites’ boast the largest balconies at sea, while the luxe adults-only Sanctuary has twice as many private cabanas as its sister ships, ideal for the ship’s debut season in the Med. A seven-day Mediterranean and Aegean voyage on Enchanted Princess, departing on 12 September 2020 costs from £1,009pp based on two sharing an inside stateroom (0344 338 8663; princess.com).
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august
SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE
After sister ship Spirit of Discovery set a new benchmark in luxury boutique cruising, Saga Cruises’ Spirit of Adventure will continue the trend for offering a distinctly British cruise experience, but with a ‘bold and adventurous’ style. Echoing many of Discovery’s elegant dining experiences, Spirit of Adventure will offer the cruise line’s largest selection of restaurants at sea, introducing two new speciality eateries: Khukuri House, offering a modern take on traditional Nepalese cuisine; and The Amalfi, a high-end Italian restaurant with brass-trimmed wine cabinets, a colourful tiled floor and bold splashes of colour. The cabins will feature three main styles: one calming, light and inspired by the British countryside, with pale wood touches, pastel green hues and beautifully embroidered fabrics. The second style of cabin will incorporate a sophisticated colour palette of greys, with dark timbers and accents of pink and orange. The third will be sunset-inspired, with calming neutral tones highlighted with warm, burnt oranges. Spirit of Adventure will sail from Dover in August 2020 with itineraries to the Norwegian Fjords, the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. A 12-night Taste of France and Spain cruise on Spirit of Adventure, hosted by VIP Chef Daniel Galmiche, departing on 28 September 2020 costs from £3,473pp, two sharing, including all meals, selected drinks, chauffeur transfers and gratuities (0808 068 5053; saga.co.uk/cruiseint). 8
NEW SHIPS
august
CARNIVAL MARDI GRAS
The newest ship from Carnival Cruise Line will offer six themed zones across its 20 decks. Grand Central will have a spectacular atrium area with floor-to-ceiling windows, restaurants, bars and a comedy club. The French Quarter will offer a jazz club, as well as more dining and entertainment. Mediterranean themed La Piazza will have a new Italian seafood restaurant; and chilled out Summer Landing will boast Guy Fieri’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse Brewhouse, pools and plenty of space for lounging. The expanded Lido will see the return of Guy’s Burger Joint and the Seafood Shack while the BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster, the first roller coaster at sea, and the fleet’s most elaborate aquapark will be in the Ultimate Playground. The accommodation options span over 20 different stateroom categories, with multiple new levels of spacious and luxurious suites. After its maiden voyage from Copenhagen to Southampton, Mardi Gras will set sail for New York on a two-week transatlantic voyage before home-porting in Port Canaveral, Florida, where it will offer a range of Caribbean cruises. A seven-day eastern Caribbean cruise departing Port Canaveral on 24 October 2020 costs from £521pp, based on two sharing, cruise only (0808 234 0680; carnival.com).
august
SILVER MOON
Billed as the epitome of 21st-century luxury travel, Silversea’s new Silver Moon echoes the design excellence of current flagship Silver Muse while adding innovative new touches and subtle changes to elevate the guest experience and accommodate Silversea’s immersive new culinary programme, S.A.L.T. There’s the new S.A.L.T. Kitchen, a regional drinks focus in the central S.A.L.T. Bar and S.A.L.T Lab, designed for lectures, cookery classes and tastings. Silver Moon will also feature a larger central bar area with a more homely feel, the children’s area will be replaced by Connoisseur’s Corner and a new Wintergarden area for enjoying cigars, there’s a newer version of French restaurant, La Dame, and Sushi venue Kaiseki returns with a redesign. Zagara Beauty Spa has also been reimagined and the luxurious suites offer one of the highest space to guest ratios of any luxury cruise ship. After completing its inaugural voyage in August next year, Silver Moon will stay in the Mediterranean until November 2020. Silver Moon’s inaugural 11-day voyage from Trieste to Civitavecchia (Rome) departing on 6 August 2020 costs from £5940pp, including flights (0207 340 0700; silversea.com).
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Game CHANGERS Launching two trailblazing ships in 2020, award-winning cruise line Silversea continues to push the boundaries of luxury travel
O
ne of the finest ocean cruise lines in the world, Silversea will hit a new milestone in July when it debuts Silver Origin, its first-ever destination-specific ship primed to unlock immersive travel experiences in the Galápagos Islands. And the cruise line has even more in store for 2020 when Silver Moon, another brand new ship, arrives in August, enabling authentic onboard and onshore experiences owing to the new culinary concept S.A.L.T.
As Silversea is committed to making a positive impact on the environment, Silver Origin is also one of the most eco-friendy cruise ships ever built, with technology that prevents the anchor damaging the sea floor, and freshwater purification systems, which reduce the need for single-use plastic water bottles. Silversea has also launched a fund to support grassroots conservation efforts in the region and safeguard its future wellbeing.
DESTINATION KNOW-HOW
No detail has been left to chance, and this includes Silver Origin’s interior design. The décor blends understated Italian elegance with motifs and materials from the region to strengthen the connection with the surrounds. The ship’s public spaces are primed for exploration. Basecamp, an elegant lounge, provides a place to socialise before or after an excursion. And not only does it connect to the ship’s Zodiac embarkation area, but it also hosts an array of educational activities. Daily lectures take place in the Explorer Lounge, and with its full-length windows, bar and piano, the space also serves as a relaxing place to enjoy a drink and socialise.
Designed exclusively for the Galápagos, Silver Origin offers a new way to explore this precious region by combining Silversea’s trademark levels of luxury with its local destination expertise. Unique shore excursions led by Silversea’s expert Expedition Team and the archipelago’s highest Zodiac-to-guest ratio, ensure there are lots of exciting opportunities for exploration, but Silver Origin delivers more than just this. Ecuadorian culture can be experienced on board the 100-guest ship, too, through daily briefings and lectures, as well as delicious local cuisine prepared by Ecuadorian chefs. 80 Cruise Planner 2 02 0
AT ONE WITH NATURE
Meanwhile, the Observation Lounge is a stylish hideaway which, located at the front of the ship, benefits from wonderful views. You can even stay connected to the scenery when in your suite. Each one has a private balcony and butler service, but some come with a Horizon Balcony, which converts into an indoor living space, while others have luxurious ocean-view bathtubs and showers.
TRAVEL FURTHER
Silver Origin will offer two seven-night itineraries between Baltra and San Cristobal, so guests will be able to seek out native wildlife species, such as giant tortoises and blue-footed boobies, as well as otherworldly geographical features. But to spend more time here, there are two longer voyages (11 and 12 days) over the holiday season in 2020.
JEWEL IN THE CROWN
Hot on the heels of Origin, 596-guest Silver Moon will debut in early August. Built on the success of current flagship Silver Muse, the new ship will elevate the guest experience to even higher heights while maintaining the small-ship intimacy the line is renowned for. CRUISE-INTERNATIONAL.COM
F E AT U R E D C R U I S E L I N E
Clockwise, from right: Silver Moon’s spa; a fire pit in Silver Origin’s Explorer Lounge; spot seals in the Galápagos Islands; Silver Origin debuts in July 2020
When compared to its sister ship Silver Muse, many of the social areas on board Silver Moon have been enhanced, including the Dolce Vita lounge, and the re-imagined Connoisseur’s Corner, with its Wintergarden. Also wowing after a re-design are the pool deck, the Fitness Centre and the Zagara Beauty Spa, which offers indoor and outdoor spaces, a thermal area and a relaxation zone. The suites are palatial havens in which to retreat with elegant décor, butler service and one of the highest guest-to-space ratios of any luxury cruise accommodation around. All these wonderful facilities can be enjoyed on Silver Moon’s maiden voyage around Italy, and the ship will remain in the Mediterranean for the rest of its inaugural season before crossing to America in the autumn and then completing an incredible circumnavigation of South America in 2021, visiting 37 destinations in 20 countries.
CULINARY IMMERSION
At the core of Silver Moon is the new S.A.L.T. programme, an immersive culinary concept that allows guests to travel deeper through destination-based gastronomic experiences. CRUISE-INTERNATIONAL.COM
This has called for a line-up of new areas on board – restaurant S.A.L.T Kitchen, drinks hub S.A.L.T Bar and workshop S.A.L.T Lab. Travellers will also be able to venture on shore under the guidance of culinary experts to experience authentic tastes. The other restaurants on Silver Moon also shine – Japanese restaurant Kaiseki has a new look and French eatery La Dame is even more stunning with bespoke Lalique crystal panels. Whether the Galápagos is on your travel wish list or you want to experience some of the world’s finest destinations in sublime luxury, a voyage with Silversea guarantees stellar service and the trip of a lifetime.
For more information or to book, call 0207 340 0700 or visit silversea.com.
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WIN
A Christmas markets cruise for two with Saga Cruises You and a guest could be sailing to Belgium on stylish new ship Spirit of Discovery
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COMPETITION
TERMS AND CONDITIONS The prize offered is the five-night Festive Continent cruise for two guests on board Spirit of Discovery, departing on 16 December 2020. To enter the competition, you must be a UK resident, 50 years old or over at the time of entry and hold a valid passport at the time of travel with six months remaining. The competition is not open to employees (or members of their immediate families) of Saga plc or any subsidiary of Saga plc. The winner must be available from 16 December 2020 to 21 December 2020 to sail on board Spirit of Discovery round trip from the port of Southampton. The prize does not include travel insurance, the winner and their guest must have valid travel insurance for the cruise. The prize does not include travel to or from the port, the chauffeur service or car parking at the port, shore excursions and selected drinks on board will be at an additional cost. By entering the competition, the winner agrees to participate in such promotional activity and material as Saga plc and The Chelsea Magazine Company may require. The prize is non-transferable, and no part of the prize is exchangeable for cash or any other prize. The competition closes at 11.59pm on 24 January 2020. Full terms and conditions at chelseamagazines.com/termsand-conditions.
stretch between historic Groenplaats square and medieval fortress Steenplein. Other activities include ice skating on the large rink near Groenplaats, taking in panoramic views from the city’s giant Ferris wheel and sampling smoutebollen (Belgian doughnuts) and Glühwein (mulled wine) from the market stalls. The next stop is Zeebrugge on the north coast of Belgium. Not only is the seaside resort renowned for its long sandy coastline, but it’s also famed for its historic fish market – it’s nicknamed the ‘capital of fish’ after all. There’s an old fishing port, too, lined with old fishermen’s pubs and trendy brasseries. But vying for your attention is the nearby medieval city of Bruges reached
from Zeebrugge via an included transfer. Even more merrymaking awaits in this pocket-sized UNESCO-listed gem, where Christmas trees, festive foliage and fairy lights transform the romantic canals and picturesque cobbled streets into a winter wonderland. At the heart of the old city, in Grote Markt, you can browse quaint wooden chalets laden with hand-made decorations, before warming up with an authentic Belgian hot chocolate. After sailing overnight, you’ll wake up back in Southampton. Enjoy a final breakfast on board the ship, then return home full of the joys of Christmas. For more details on cruising with Saga Cruises, call 0800 068 5053 or visit saga.co.uk/cruise-int.
WIN A TRIP WITH SAGA Competition entry form How to enter: For your chance to win a cruise on board Spirit of Discovery with
Saga Cruises, answer the question below and return this form to the address below by 24 January 2020. Which Belgian destination is also known as the capital of fish? A Antwerp
B Zeebrugge
C Bruges
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Send your coupon to: Saga Cruises competition, Cruise International, The Chelsea Magazine Company, Jubilee House, 2 Jubilee Place, London SW3 3TQ, UK By entering the competition, you agree and acknowledge that The Chelsea Magazine Company and Saga Plc are permitted to receive your registration data. Please tick if you wish to subscribe to CRUISE INTERNATIONAL magazine Full terms and conditions apply (see box and online at chelseamagazines.com/terms-and-conditions).
Or enter online: cruise-international.com/win-a-Saga-Christmas-markets-cruise
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trolling around a Christmas market among stalls brimming with stocking fillers, twinkling fairy lights and the warming aroma of mulled wine is one of the best ways to get into the festive spirit. With this in mind, we’ve teamed up with Saga Cruises to offer you the chance to win a cruise to the traditional Christmas markets of Belgium. And that’s not all – the five-night round-trip from Southampton will be on board the line’s newest ship, Spirit of Discovery. The Festive Continent cruise departs Southampton on 16 December 2020 and you’ll get to spend the next day at sea discovering the delights of Spirit of Discovery. The ship takes its design cues and outstanding levels of service from the world’s best boutique hotels, and features Saga Cruises’ widest ever choice of restaurants. Pick from the likes of the Grand Dining Room, where you can feast on fine British and international cuisine, laid-back eatery The Grill and the eastern-inspired East to West. You can also unleash your creative side, as well as get to know your fellow guests, at a series of Christmas crafts workshops. And as every cabin has a balcony, you’ll have your own spacious retreat complete with ocean views. Wake up on day three in Antwerp. A two-night stay in this culture-packed city gives ample time to explore its impressive architecture and magnificent museums. But the biggest draws at this time of year are the charming medieval alleyways adorned with Christmas decorations and the traditional market selling authentic wares and handmade gifts. Over 100 stalls line the 550-yard
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Destinations
FROM asia to south america, an ocean or river cruise is the best way to see and experience all the world has to offer. deborah stone reveals the hottest destinations for the year ahead
Britain & Ireland The popularity of round-Britain and Ireland cruises increases every year but there’s also a growing interest in boutique cruises to remote, out-of-the-way places, particularly along Scotland’s extraordinarily beautiful west coast. These small ship cruises have an expedition flavour to them, with locals guiding walks around the intricate coastline and sea lochs looking for wildlife such as dolphins, seals, otters, basking sharks and even minke whales. Inland there’s even more wildlife, from ospreys and golden eagles to the more common but still spectacular red deer that roam the heather-lined hills. Then there are the castles, Culzean on the Ayrshire coast, baronial mansions such as Glamis and romantic ruins like Urquhart on Loch Ness. The Majestic Line is a specialist small ship company based in Oban on the west coast of Scotland and in 2020 it will be sailing to the edge of the Western Isles in its new Outer Hebrides itinerary to islands including Barra, Lewis and Harris. It also has another new itinerary to the islands of St Kilda, west of
the Outer Hebrides, which are entirely owned by the National Trust for Scotland. Larger ships, such as Princess Cruises’ new look Crown Princess, will call at the bigger ports on round-UK cruises, usually from Southampton to places like Liverpool, Dublin, Belfast, Greenock for Glasgow and South Queensferry for Edinburgh. Some of the more interesting little ports include Guernsey, in the Channel Islands, with its magnificent castle in St Peter Port’s harbour. And more cruise ships are going to Portland in Dorset, where there’s a quirky D-Day museum just yards from where ships dock, as well as the beautiful Chesil Beach and surreal art in Tout Quarry Sculptures Park, including work by Sir Antony Gormley. Silversea is going to Fowey, on Cornwall’s Polperro Heritage Coast, not far from the Eden Project, and its round-Britain cruises will, for the first time, include Fishguard in West Wales, where you can walk Britain’s most spectacular coastal path through Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. 8
CRUISE LINES THAT SAIL HERE INCLUDE
Azamara, Celebrity, Cunard, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Hebridean Island Cruises, Holland America Line, MSC Cruises, NCL, Oceania, P&O Cruises, Ponant, Princess, Regent Seven Seas, Saga, Seabourn, Silversea, Titan, The Majestic Line, Viking
PHOTO: Š ISTOCK
Destinations
Seek out the ancient Calanais Standing Stones on a cruise to the Outer Hebrides
Left to right: Budapest wows along the Danube; the pretty town of Bruges with its medieval houses
Destinations
Northern Europe
PHOTOS: © ISTOCK
A short hop across the Channel to northern France and the low countries is a classic introduction to ocean cruises from Britain. You can set sail from Southampton in the late afternoon and be in Amsterdam by morning, ready to explore. Zeebrugge in Belgium is the gateway to Renaissance architectural gem Bruges as well as the wartime cemeteries at Ypres, while the pretty harbour at Honfleur in northern France is an exquisite contrast to the modernism of Le Havre. And there are all those Normandy beaches to see as well as coach tours to Paris. While these sailings give a taste of what ocean cruising can offer, river cruises in the region have never been so popular. The Danube remains at number one, flowing from the Black Forest through Austria, Hungary and its east European neighbours to Ukraine and the Black Sea. It’s like a storybook of European history, revealing medieval towns and villages such as Dürnstein, where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned, and magnificent capital cities including imperial Vienna, tiny Bratislava, pretty Budapest and Serbia’s more sombre Belgrade. Viking launched seven new ships in 2019 for cruises on the Rhine, Main, Danube and Douro, and in 2020 it has a Danube itinerary from Germany through Austria and Hungary which includes tickets for The Passion Play in Oberammergau. This near 400-year-old performance of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ involves 2,000 actors and is only seen every 10 years.
The Rhine is another very popular river and offers cruises from the Netherlands to Switzerland, with Dutch waterways particularly enjoyable in spring thanks to the annual Keukenhof Gardens displays. Wine country cruises between Cologne and Basel are a favourite, too. Avalon has even made its Christmas cruise along the Main River and Main-Danube Canal into a year-round Heart of Germany cruise for 2020, taking in Bavarian towns and villages such as Würzburg, Bamberg and Nuremberg while enjoying Bavarian wines in Itzengen. But more rivers are slowly being opened to ships, for instance the Loire in France where Titan is partnering with CroisiEurope to offer authentic paddle-ship cruises in 2020. Highlights include the Châteaux of the Loire Valley and touring the Muscadet Wine Route. Then there’s the River Elbe in Germany, still relatively new on the scene. Viking goes south from Wittenberg to Dresden and into the Czech Republic while Saga takes you north with trips to Potsdam, Brandenburg and Hamburg. The Russian waterways are also high on the must-see list. Ocean cruises through the Baltic and its capital cities (Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki and sometimes Oslo) are popular due to overnight stays in St Petersburg, but Russian river cruises include stays in Moscow too, plus a tours of towns such as Uglich and Yaroslavl. Uniworld’s new Imperial Waterways of Russia cruise in partnership with Titan takes in this Golden Ring of Russia. 8
CRUISE LINES THAT SAIL HERE INCLUDE
Avalon, Azamara, Celebrity, Cunard, G Adventures, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Hebridean Island Cruises, Holland America Line, Marella Cruises, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania, P&O Cruises, Ponant, Princess, Regent Seven Seas, Saga, Scenic, Seabourn, Silversea, Titan, Uniworld, Viking
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The Mediterranean A crowd pleaser in every way, we Brits love to cruise the Mediterranean. It has sunshine from early spring to late autumn, endless historic and cultural sites, ever-changing food, wonderful vineyards and beautiful beaches. You can sail from Southampton and a few other UK ports for a fortnight’s break or fly to a European cruise hub for a week-long trip that cuts out the sea days for an even more destination-rich and immersive holiday. And once you’ve seen those big, glittering Mediterranean jewels – Barcelona’s Gaudí buildings, Rome’s ancient monuments or Venice’s canals – there are smaller cities where quieter streets still offer up cultural treasures. Take Sicily’s capital, Palermo, where you can pick up a bag of fresh sundried tomatoes for a couple of euros then stand in awe inside the city’s stunning Norman Palace with its gold, mosaics and marble. Regent Seven Seas, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises and Saga will all sail to the city in 2020 but MSC Cruises probably has the most itineraries that call there. Spain’s Cartagena has a huge Roman amphitheatre which was only rediscovered in 1988 and there’s a Roman forum that is still being uncovered. Most mainstream cruise lines call here now but look for Iberian cruises such as Celebrity’s UK, Spain & Portugal cruise in October 2020 that also goes to rarely visited Bilbao, home of the magnificent Guggenheim Museum, La Coruña, another northern Spain town with a lovely old quarter, and Portugal’s fascinating capital Lisbon. Marseilles is the gateway to Provence, with its fields of sunflowers and lavenders, but the old port is a lovely destination in itself where fishermen sell their catch of the day near the harbour and there’s a sandy beach where the locals go further around the promenade. But the stand-out attraction is MuCEM (Musée des Civilisations de l’Europe et de la Méditerranée) a world-class museum dedicated to Mediterranean culture. The number of Eastern Mediterranean ports opening to cruise ships continues to grow and while Dubrovnik will always be ‘the pearl of the Adriatic’ thanks to Lord Byron’s poetic description, Croatia’s other jewels, such as Split with its Roman palace and Zadar with its Roman forum, offer fantastic Croatian culture in much less crowded streets. Regent Seven Seas has summer 2020 itineraries that include Zadar and Koper in
Slovenia. Koper has cobbled streets with 18th-century Venetian palaces and churches among the boutiques, bars and cafés. In October 2020, Azamara’s three sister ships will get together in Koper to host a grand AzAmazing Evening in port for all its passengers. The three ships will then sail together to Venice, one of the most evocative cities in the world thanks to the plazas, palaces and churches that line its canals. Emerald Waterways has a new itinerary on its two new 18-cabin yachts that includes visiting Zadar’s Roman ruins and TelaŠćica Nature Park on Croatian island Rab before cruising to the uninhabited Kornati Islands. Meanwhile Greece’s re-emergence as a tourist destination continues to grow, and not just because of the Mama Mia! films. Island hopping in comfort is a big attraction and it’s possible to get a taste of in-demand islands such as volcanic Santorini and glamorous Mykonos as well as see some Ancient Greek culture on the mainland. For instance at Thessaloniki where there are museums, ruins and a Jewish heritage quarter – which you can visit on Viking’s Greek Odyssey cruise. Norwegian Cruise Line will homeport at Piraeus, outside Athens, for the first time ever, with Norwegian Jade offering 10- to 11-day Greek Isles, Italy and Mediterranean cruises. There will be calls at Katakolon for excursions to Olympia and Kușadasi in Turkey for trip to the Greek ruins at Ephesus. Seabourn is returning to Istanbul in October 2020, where guests will embark or disembark as part of four new week-long itineraries around the Greek Isles and Turkey’s stunning Turquoise Coast. Among the less well-known destinations will be Myrna on Lemnos, the home of the Amazons in Greek mythology, and the serene island of Spetse, where cars are banned from the main town. Israel’s Mediterranean coastline means visits to the Holy Land are among the sailings for some eastern Mediterranean cruises too. In 2020 Oceania Cruises has three voyages that include calls at Jerusalem, where the Old City has revered buildings such as Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock. The cruise line’s ships also call at Haifa, where the top attractions include the gardens and shrines at Ba’aim Gardens and Baha’I World Centre, plus Ashdod – 20 miles from Tel Aviv and known for its beach resorts. 8
CRUISE LINES THAT SAIL HERE INCLUDE
Azamara, Celebrity Cruises, Celestyal Cruises, Cunard, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Marella Cruises, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, P&O Cruises, Ponant, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Saga Cruises, Seabourn, SeaDream Yacht Club, Silversea, Titan, Viking
Destinations
Northern Lights & Norway Cruises to see the Northern Lights have never been so popular among us British. Seeing the otherworldly Aurora Borealis regularly makes it into the top 10 of our travel wish lists, which is good news for cruise lines that need to fill ships during the darker months. From winter until March or April, Norway will be under snow so there’s the chance to go dog sledding, take sleigh rides pulled by reindeer and even stay the night in an ice hotel. Saga caters for this home-grown demand each year with its Searching For The Northern Lights cruises which include expert lectures and a free excursion to wilderness camps set up at sites where the lights are regularly seen. Hot drinks and open fires keep guests warm during the late-night vigils, and there’s also a chance to shelter in Sami tents. Late winter and early spring cruises into the Arctic Circle (mid-winter is usually avoided) give you the best chance to see the Northern Lights. The glistening snow also presents a different view of northern towns such as Tromsø, at the edge of the Arctic Circle, where you’ll find the Polar Museum and Polaria, an Arctic aquarium and gallery showing panoramic films of the Northern Lights. Further north is Alta, which has the Cathedral of The Northern Lights with its superb titanium-clad, sculpture-like exterior.
Oceania Cruises will be sailing further north than ever in 2020, visiting Norway’s off-the-beaten-tracks ports such as Bodø, above the Arctic Circle, and Haugesund, the homeland of the Viking kings. But most Norwegian cruises focus on ports further south in this very long, thin, country with a coastline punctured by deep-cut fjords. This is where P&O Cruises’ highly anticipated new ship Iona will sail during summer 2020 after being launched in May, visiting popular ports such as Stavanger, Olden, Geiranger and Bergen. An old quarter full of whitewashed wooden houses is found in Stavanger, and fabulous Viking runes are on show in the city’s Museum of Archaeology. Meanwhile Olden is a picture-perfect town at the southern shore of Nordfjorden and Geiranger is similarly idyllic and on what is proclaimed to be Norway’s most magnificent fjord – Geirangerfjord – while Bergen is most widely known for its colourful harbourfront of 11th-century wooden buildings. Oslo, Norway’s lovely capital, sometimes features in southern fjords cruises but also in Scandinavian trips that stop short of the Baltic. It’s full of exceptional attractions, notably the Viking Ship Museum. The new Munch Museum, dedicated to the life of the artist Edvard Munch, opens in spring. 8
CRUISE LINES THAT SAIL HERE INCLUDE
Azamara, Celebrity, Cunard, G Adventures, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Holland America Line, Marella, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania, P&O Cruises, Ponant, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Saga Cruises, Silversea, Titan, Viking
The Northern Lights cast their ethereal glow over Norway’s remote Lofoten Islands
PHOTOS: © ISTOCK
Destinations
Destinations
The Arctic Arctic tourism is on the rise with more cruise ships expected in Greenland, a record number calling at Iceland in 2019, and Svalbard – the high Arctic archipelago off the far north of Norway – earning more from tourism every year. Strictly speaking Iceland is just south of the Arctic Circle, although one of its small islands – Grimsey – is inside the line so it’s regarded as an Arctic country. And an extraordinary one at that. The land of ice and fire has live volcanoes, lava fields, hot springs, geysers and glaciers as well as snow-topped mountains and powerful waterfalls. From September to March you can catch the Northern Lights here and, during the summer, the Midnight Sun means for some days in June there’s 24 hours of daylight. Reykjavík is the most visited port and Oceania Cruises’ Insignia has two new voyages featuring Iceland in 2020: New York to Reykjavík and Reykjavík to Southampton. Top attractions include the Blue Lagoon geothermal pools and spa just outside Reykjavík and the inland Golden Circle trip to see waterfalls that inspired Viking warriors. Gullfoss is regarded as the best. In summer you can take boat trips for whale watching from Reykjavík harbour. Meanwhile Viking has a cruise to Iceland’s Majestic Landscapes, which has two days in Reykjavík. Other ports of call include Seydisfjördur, with its colourful wooden homes; Akureyri, scenically set at the end of the Eyjafjördur; and stunningly beautiful Isafjördur. Svalbard has snow-capped mountains all year round and is known as the land of the polar bears. It’s also home to Svalbard reindeer, Svalbard rock ptarmigan and Arctic foxes, while walruses, narwhals and whales live in its seas. But during the summer you’ll also see migrating birds such as northern fulmars, ivory gulls, pink-footed geese and Arctic terns. If you’re lucky you’ll catch a glimpse of a blue whale, humpback, minke and northern bottlenose whales. Spitsbergen is the only inhabited island in Svalbard and summer cruises to the far north of Norway sometimes circle the island, calling at its only town, Longyearbyen. Some expedition cruises go even further into the Arctic wilderness. New from Scenic in 2020 is its Into The White Sea, Russia itinerary – a round trip from Tromsø past the North Cape to Murmansk in Russia and the White Sea port of Archangelsk. Until recently these outposts were out of bounds to westerners and are still somewhat of a mystery. Most cruises to Greenland aim for the more populated west coast where the towns are like settlements; the brightly coloured wooden houses clinging to the hilly coastline with views of icebergs even in summer. Some of these towns have small museums and churches that they eagerly opened for cruise ship visitors but Greenland’s biggest asset is nature. For an iconic Arctic experience you can also sail through the legendary Northwest Passage with Ponant and other expedition cruise lines, following the routes of early explorers and keeping a watch for polar bears and enourmous icebergs. 8
Spotting a polar bear is a highlight of any Arctic trip
PHOTO: © ISTOCK
CRUISE LINES THAT SAIL HERE INCLUDE
Azamara, Celebrity, Cunard, G Adventures, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Holland America Line, Marella Cruises, Oceania Cruises, P&O Cruises, Ponant, Princess Cruises, Saga Cruises, Seabourn, Silversea, Viking
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The Baltic Of all the northern Europe cruises, the Baltic offers the best chance to visit a different country virtually every day. Many are round trips, usually from Southampton or Dover, and typically offer the opportunity to spend two days in St Petersburg after visiting the Scandinavian capitals of Copenhagen, Stockholm and Helsinki. Highlights include Copenhagen’s lively 17th-century Nyhavn Harbour full of outdoor bars and inviting cafés, Stockholm’s unique museums – the Vasa Museum has a 17th-century galleon and ABBA The Museum is a must for fans – while Helsinki is like a breath of fresh air with a pretty harbour and lots of green spaces. For those who have already visited these cities but want to see more of Scandinavia some cruises also make a point of calling at less well-known destinations. Saga’s Spirit of Adventure, which launches in summer 2020, has a Baltic cruise for its inaugural voyage, calling at all of the above plus Klaipeda, in Lithuania, dating back .
to the Middle Ages but rebuilt in the 19th century Art Nouveau style after a massive fire. It also visits Visby, on the Swedish island of Gotland, which has a Viking history but medieval fortifications. There’s also a call at Aalborg, in Denmark, where there’s a thriving arts scene at the renovated waterfront, and a charming old town. However St Petersburg is the main attraction, and it’s worth signing up for the ship’s excursions just to have your visa organised for you and to bypass queues to world-class museums, galleries and palaces. Don’t miss the magnificent Hermitage Museum, former palace of the Russian tsars; majestic Catherine’s Palace with its astonishing Amber Room and Peterhof Palace with a gilded statue-lined cascade. Or simply take a city tour to see the onion-domed Church of the Saviour on the Spilled Blood and the Peter and Paul Fortress, which includes the cathedral where Peter the Great and most of the Russian tsars are buried. 8
CRUISE LINES THAT SAIL HERE INCLUDE
Azamara, Celebrity Cruises, Cunard, Disney Cruise Line, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Holland America Line, Marella Cruises, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, P&O Cruises, Ponant, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Saga Cruises, Silversea, Titan, Viking
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PHOTOS: © ISTOCK
Destinations
Left to right: The Catherine Palace is not to be missed when in St Petersburg; Stockholm’s pretty skyline
USA & Canada Alaska is easily the USA’s most awe-inspiring cruise destination thanks to its extraordinary scenery and the chance to sample a unique way of life. There are stunning fjords, massive glaciers and towns with Russian, native American and Norwegian heritage. Then there’s the wildlife – whales, brown bears and eagles – for those lucky enough to spot them. America’s most northern state was partly shaped by the 1896 Klondike Gold Rush. Prospectors used Alaska’s ports Dyea and Skagway on their way to the Yukon in north west Canada. Now Skagway is in the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park and you can visit restored period buildings, including the 1900-built railway office, an 1898 saloon, and shops and homes furnished in gold rush style. From Skagway you can also walk some of the White Pass Trail, a mountain pass used by prospectors. Although the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad will take you across dramatic bridges and around hair-raising cliff-top turns in a narrow gauge railroad climbing to 3,000ft for brilliant mountain views. Norwegian Cruise Line is sending a fourth ship to the region in 2020 when Norwegian Sun joins Bliss, Joy and Jewel to offer longer voyages – nine to 12 days – sailing from Seattle. Like other cruise lines its itineraries include a day at Icy Strait Point, where local guides offer whale watching excursions, wildlife and bear search treks, fishing for salmon and canoeing in a Tlingit dugout while learning about the Native American tribe’s history and culture. Oceania Cruises is also offering more and longer Alaskan voyages in what it calls ‘open jaw’ itineraries between Vancouver and Seward, with Wrangell one of the less well-known and less-visited destinations. Once a Tlingit stronghold it was taken by Russians then American settlers and has a preserved tribal house on Chief Shakes Island. Holland America Line is sending its first Pinnacle Class ship to Alaska in 2020. Koningsdam will offer land and sea packages enabling guests to spend three nights at Denali National Park with an included Tundra Wilderness Tour. Cruises along America’s West Coast from San Diego through California and up to Seattle in Washington State or on to Victoria and Vancouver in Canada are also becoming increasingly popular. Holland America Line’s new seven-day Pacific Coastal voyage calls at Santa Barbara, a former mission town known for its beaches, artists, film festival and wineries; seaside town Monterey; and San Francisco, a laid-back yet exciting city where you can hire bikes to cross the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, take a boat out to the island prison of Alcatraz or just enjoy the hustle and bustle along the two-mile waterfront. Some cruises from California will take you over to Hawaii but to avoid the 3,000-mile voyage to the islands, and up to nine days at sea, you’re better off flying to Honolulu, where Norwegian Cruise Line is the only company to homeport in Hawaii. Its refurbished Pride Of America sails to the islands of Maui, Hawaii, Kaua’i and back to Oahu and Honolulu. Beaches, live volcanoes and trekking to swim in waterfall-fed pools are among the activities,8
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Destinations
Alaska’s Glacier Bay National Park is packed full of natural wonders and epic wildlife
Destinations
as well as visiting Pearl Harbor in Honolulu and its Second World War memorials. Over on the east coast New England cruises from New York or Boston up to Maine, Massachusetts and Canada are an absolute delight. Boston is full of historic sites, as you’ll discover if you walk the Freedom Trail which takes you to city spots connected to the American Revolution. Bar Harbor, on Mount Desert Island in Maine, is an autumn leaf-peeping hotspot thanks to the dense canopy of Acadia National Park. And Newport, on Rhode Island, has ‘Gilded Age’ mansions, such as The Breakers built by the Vanderbilt family, or you can visit the church where John F. Kennedy married Jacqueline Bouvier. The Kennedy family also looms large in Martha’s Vineyard, the Massachusetts island that has pretty picket fenced clapboard homes and gardens filled with hydrangeas. It was also the setting for the film Jaws. Saga’s new ship Spirit of Discovery has a cruise to mark the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower leaving for America. The Pilgrimage to the New World sailing departs in September 2020 and calls at Plymouth before crossing to Boston, Martha’s Vineyard and New York City before returning to Southampton, which was also on the Pilgrim Fathers’ route. While some New England cruises will also take you to Canadian sea ports but to really see Canada, consider taking a cruise down the St Lawrence River. In September 2020 Viking Ocean Cruises has two Eastern Seaboard Explorations between Montreal, on the river, and down the Atlantic coast to New York City. Montreal’s French-Canadian heritage is seen in the cobbled streets of the old quarter, where the boutique shops and pretty restaurants have a French look and feel, although Quebec City, further down river, is said to be the most French city outside of France. Halifax, Nova Scotia, redresses the balance with its British fort and Georgian streets. You can also sail the Great Lakes from Toronto to Chicago on Victory Cruise Lines’ two ships, with the 2020 season running from April to October. The cruise company now belongs to part British-owned American Queen Steamboat Company, which sails restored paddle steamers on the Mississippi. Its new ship American Countess will debut in 2020 to sail the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers and its paddle ship American Empress will sail the Columbia and Snake Rivers in the Pacific Northwest. 8
American Queen Steamboat Company, Azamara, Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Cunard, Disney Cruise Line, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Holland America Line, National Geographic Expeditions, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Ponant, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Saga Cruises, Seabourn, Silversea, Titan, Victory Cruise Lines, Viking
The Empire State Building – New York’s iconic Art Deco skyscraper
PHOTO: © ISTOCK
CRUISE LINES THAT SAIL HERE INCLUDE
SEATTLE Your Gateway to Alaska!
The Caribbean Barbados is Britain’s favourite cruise destination and it’s the main focus of cruises that include islands such as St Lucia, St Kitts, St Vincent and the British Virgin Islands. Virtually every P&O Cruises’ Caribbean itinerary includes Barbados and most are seven-day fly-cruises from Bridgetown, the capital, which has gradually transformed itself into a year-round party town. There’s still the UNESCO-listed Garrison and colonial buildings, horse racing on the Garrison Savannah – as there has been since 1845 – and cricket at the Kennington Oval. You can get afternoon tea at the famous Sandy Lane hotel on the palm-fringed west coast but you’ll also want to check out the bars around the harbour and waterfront and enjoy the island’s natural attractions such as beautiful beaches, sea turtles and tropical fish at Barbados Marine Park or Harrison’s Cave’s underground wonderland. Silversea is launching three new itineraries involving
Bridgetown from November 2020 and the island features strongly in the debut season of new cruise line The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. SeaDream has introduced new Yachting Land Adventures in the Caribbean for 2020, including horse riding in Antigua and canyoning in Guadeloupe. These new excursions are available on the line’s voyages to Antigua, Anguilla, the Grenadines, Montserrat, Guadeloupe, St Martin, St Lucia, Tobago and Trinidad. Until recently Cuba has been the jewel in the crown of Caribbean cruises but following US government restrictions in April 2019 it’s become a no-go zone for American-registered ships. Virgin Voyages is among those to have abandoned plans to sail to Cuba from Miami. Instead it is focusing on the Dominican Republic, easily the most visited Caribbean destination by holidaymakers. Just 50 miles from Cuba, it shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti and has the same Spanish colonial
attractions and white sand beaches as Cuba. Virgin’s Scarlet Lady will be a regular visitor, with five-night Dominican Daze voyages to Puerto Plata, known for its beaches and an old quarter with a 16th-century fortress. The adults-only ship is also offering a five-night Mayan Sol cruise to Costa Maya in Mexico, a Caribbean region where the main attraction is Mayan ruined temples from the 4th and 5th century. One cruise line that will still be sailing to Cuba, though, is Marella, which will send Discovery 2 to sail from Jamaica’s reggae capital Montego Bay, spending two days in Havana to enjoy its Spanish colonial Old Town. The Mexican island resort of Cozumel is also on the itinerary and has Mayan temples and coral reefs for snorkelling. Finally, the Bahamas are open to tourists despite the damage caused by September’s Hurricane Dorian and cruise lines are largely expected to return to the islands in 2020. 8
CRUISE LINES THAT SAIL HERE INCLUDE
Azamara, Carnival, Celebrity Cruises, Cunard, Disney Cruise Line, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Holland America Line, Marella Cruises, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, P&O Cruises, Ponant, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Royal Caribbean International, Seabourn, SeaDream Yacht Club, Silversea, Titan, Viking, Virgin Voyages
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PHOTOS: Š ISTOCK
Destinations
Left to right: Green sea turtles nest all along the Mayan Riviera; just one of many dazzling beaches in the Caribbean
The Antarctic The White Continent is the final frontier for fans of expedition cruising. Environmental concerns have made it more difficult and more expensive to reach the Antarctic in recent years and there are very strict regulations in place, so it’s important to choose a cruise line that’s a member of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO). Most Antarctic voyages leave from Ushuaia in Argentina, the southern-most tip of South America, usually heading due south at Cape Horn to traverse the 480 miles across the notoriously choppy Drake Passage, past cathedral-sized icebergs to the stunning Antarctic Peninsula. Here gigantic blue-tinged glaciers signal the snow-covered frozen land that is home to penguins in their thousands as well as elephant and leopard seals, while orcas and humpback whales feed in the waters below and giant petrels fly overhead. Silversea is running a voyage to New Zealand’s remote sub-Antarctic islands in the Southern Ocean in December 2020. The round-trip from Dunedin goes to Enderby, Auckland and the Campbell Islands, among the least visited places on Earth and renowned for their bird colonies including 10 species of penguin. It is also possible to sail to the Antarctic Peninsula on non-expedition cruise ships, such as Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Eclipse, which has been totally refurbished for 2020. This leaves Buenos Aires in Argentina for Ushuaia, sailing round Chile’s Cape Horn for four days of cruising the wildly beautiful peninsula so passengers can see the landscape and wildlife, although they are not allowed off the ship.
CRUISE LINES THAT SAIL HERE INCLUDE
Celebrity Cruises, G Adventures, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Holland America Line, National Geographic, Ponant, Scenic, Seabourn, Silversea
Left to right : Get up close to amazing scenery in the Antarctic; majestic king penguins steal the show in the Falkland Islands
Destinations
Panama, the Amazon & South America The Panama Canal is a bucket list destination in its own right, as well as the man-made shortcut from the Pacific Ocean through Central America to the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. At 50 miles long it can take up to 10 hours to transit the canal, which divides the Central American countries of Colombia in the south from Panama and neighbouring Costa Rica. Large cruise ships can now get through the canal but it’s only if you’re on an expedition ship that you’ll see much more of Panama than Panama City, the country’s cosmopolitan capital. South America is a massive continent with cruises ranging from 14-night highlight tours which include overnight stops in Argentina’s hypnotic capital Buenos Aires, where you might like to tango, and Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro, where every night is a samba-fuelled festival. New for 2020 from Celebrity Cruises is its Peruvian Explorer experience that includes two nights in Lima to give guests the must-do opportunity to trek to Peru’s Machu Picchu ruins or take an overland excursion to the Amazon River. Celebrity will also be calling at Salvador de Bahia in Brazil for the first time in 2020. The Amazon River is often included in Caribbean itineraries with stops at Manaus in Brazil, which has ornate Portuguese colonial buildings, Alter de Chão, a fishing village on stilts, and Santarém, where the Tapajós River merges with the Amazon. The real attraction of the Amazon, though, is the wildlife: monkeys in the trees, parrots shrieking overhead, jungle as far as you can see and, with luck, pink dolphins in the river. There are also piranhas. More intrepid travellers may prefer
an expedition cruise, which will travel much deeper into the steamy jungle. Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ new ship, Hanseatic Inspiration, sails from Belém near the mouth of the river past Manaus and has Zodiac landings in less visited places such as Badajos and Leticia, finishing in Iquitos in Peru for a flight to Lima. Off the west coast of South America, 851 miles away from Ecuador, are the Galápagos Islands – the unique volcanic archipelago that influenced Charles Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection when he explored them on board HMS Beagle back in 1835. The islands’ continued isolation has made them a wildlife haven where you can still see giant tortoises and other endemic species such as the marine iguana, Galápagos penguin, flightless cormorant, waved albatross and many others. In 2019, Celebrity Cruises launched Celebrity Flora, the first-ever cruise ship designed specifically for the region, which offers seven-night cruises of the islands. South America’s other significant islands are the Falklands, with their bleakly beautiful beaches and colonies of king, Magellan and gentoo penguins as well as other birds and wildfowl. They are often included in mainstream cruises around Cape Horn from Buenos Aires to Chile on the west coast – for instance, Princess Cruises’ 14-day Cape Horn & Strait of Magellan cruise. In 2020 the cruise line has new excursions at Stanley, the windswept capital, including the Bertha’s Beach and Flatlands Wildlife tour. The beach is home to 800 Gentoo penguins while the flatlands have black-necked swans, Chiloe wigeons, teal and grebe. 8
CRUISE LINES THAT SAIL HERE INCLUDE
PHOTOS: © AWL IMAGES/ISTOCK
Celebrity, Cunard, G Adventures, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Holland America Line, Marella, NCL, Oceania, P&O Cruises, Ponant, Princess, Regent Seven Seas, Saga, Seabourn, Silversea, Titan, Viking
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The Persian Gulf Guaranteed winter sun is the main reason we love fly-cruise packages to Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the Persian Gulf, although there’s a lot more to do than just lie on a beach in these United Arab Emirates states. Dubai’s extraordinary skyscrapers first brought the city to our attention but a host of activities will keep you entertained, from visiting Burj Khalifa – the world’s tallest building – to taking a desert safari or just walking through the old quarter and Dubai Museum. You can even visit the QE2 ship and have afternoon tea on board. The former Cunard flagship is now a hotel in Dubai’s Mina Rashid port. Abu Dhabi has arguably even more to do and see, from the breathtaking Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque to Ferrari World theme park with the world’s fastest roller coaster. The Louvre Abu Dhabi is also outstanding or you could go to the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital to get an understanding of the connection between falcons and Emirati culture. MSC Cruises has new two-week cruises on the Gulf for winter 2019/20 on board MSC Bellissima, with Doha in Qatar a new embarkation port. Direct flights are available and as well as Dubai and Abu Dhabi the ship will call at private island of Sir Bani Yas, Muscat and Khasab in Oman and Bahrain. The ship will also offer seven-night Gulf cruises while MSC Lirica will have 11- and 14-night cruises from the Gulf to India. Oman features in Silversea’s cruise from Mumbai to the Gulf in March 2020, with an overnight at Muscat – a modern capital with tradition at its heart. There are whitewashed low-rise Arabic buildings, mosques adorned with domes and minarets and ancient forts hidden in the foothills of nearby mountains. Fujairah, another United Arab Emirates state, sometimes appears on longer itineraries in the region. It has its own Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, which opened in 2015 and was inspired by Istanbul’s Blue Mosque. You’ll also find Persian Gulf destinations on major cruises such as Holland America Line’s 79-day Grand Africa Voyage, which includes Salalah in Oman. Here you can walk among frankincense trees and follow in the footsteps of the Queen of Sheba at protected archaeological sites on the coast dating back to the time of the incense and spice trade.
CRUISE LINES THAT SAIL HERE INCLUDE
Celebrity Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, Marella Cruises, MSC Cruises, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, Silversea
Destinations
Left to right: Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque; the Avenue of Sphinxes in Luxor
Africa
PHOTOS: © ISTOCK
Think of Africa and you conjure a land of safari game reserves, Zulu warriors and colonial towns. Modern South Africa also offers lively cities plus world-class wine paired with great food. All these elements are available on a cruise with additional land tours like those that Azamara has added to its line-up of itineraries for 2020. Its South Africa Intensive Voyages in January and February are return trips from Cape Town, calling at Port Elizabeth, East London, Durban and Richards Bay – all ports which were until recently confined to world cruises. From Cape Town you can take a cable car up Table Mountain, see African penguins on Boulder Beach at Cape of Good Hope and go to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned. Port Elizabeth is a few hours away from game reserves; from Durban it’s a 30-minute drive to KwaZulu-Natal and a glimpse of Zulu culture, and there are more safari opportunities from Richards Bay. MSC Cruises will have two ships sailing from South Africa in its 2020/21 season, with
MSC Opera and MSC Musica based in Cape Town and Durban respectively. One highlight is a marine safari at Mozambique’s Pomene Bay, home to the line’s private beach club. Longer cruises from South Africa will take you to the Indian Ocean and islands such as La Digue and Mahé in the Seychelles. Tranquil La Digue has dramatic white sand beaches dotted with black granite boulders where the warm waters are home to pristine reefs for snorkeling; and both La Digue and Mahé are a bird watcher’s dream. Ponant has three new luxury expedition itineraries for the Seychelles in 2020. Standing out is a call at Curieuse Island’s marine national park to see the hundreds of Aldabra giant tortoises there. Meanwhile Egypt is firmly back on the river cruise map and as the country prepares to open its new Grand Egyptian Museum near the Pyramids at Giza, Viking Cruises has announced an expanded programme and second ship built specifically for the Nile. Most Nile cruises start or finish with a few days in Cairo, whatever cruise line you use, so
there is time to see the Pyramids and Sphinx on the city’s outskirts as well as its museums. But it’s the temples between Luxor and Aswan that stir the imagination and increasingly cruise companies are including out-of-hours access to the sights. Viking has Privileged Access to the tomb of Nefertari in the Valley of the Queens and visits to Nubian villages, while Emerald Waterways has a home-hosted dinner with a Cairo family as well as trips to the twin Nefertari and Ramesses II temples at Abu Simbel. New in 2020 is Emerald’s Cairo to Amman tour, which combines a Nile cruise with a flight to Jordan to stay in the capital Amman and near the lost city of Petra, with trips to the Dead Sea and the desert near Wadi Rum. The Canary Islands, off the north west coast of Morocco, are another favourite for winter sun holidays. The islands of Tenerife, Gran Canaria and La Gomera have beaches, volcanoes and extraordinary rock formations, while Morocco itself is a magical destination of mosques, medinas and mountains. 8
CRUISE LINES THAT SAIL HERE INCLUDE
Azamara, Cunard, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Marella Cruises, MSC Cruises, Oceania Cruises, P&O Cruises, Ponant, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Saga Cruises, Seabourn, Silversea, Titan, Uniworld, Viking
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PHOTO: © AWL IMAGES
Singapore’s oldest Chinese temple, Thian Hock Keng, is dedicated to Chinese sea goddess Mazu
Destinations
Asia As Japan prepares for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after recently hosting the Rugby World Cup, interest in the Far East is intense and excursions are ever-more imaginative. NCL will be sailing to four new Japanese ports: Beppu, Kumamoto, Niigata and Nagoya. Beppu has hot springs, mud baths and cherry trees; Kumamoto on the island of Kyushu is close to the active volcano Mount Aso-an and has a castle, temples and shrines; Niigata is known for its sea food, sake and hot springs, and Nagoya Castle has been declared a National Treasure. There has been a big increase in Chinese ports opening to cruise ships over the past few years, partly because more people go on cruises. The 2013-built cruise terminal at Shanghai means you can easily get to the city’s Huangpu River waterfront and its busy markets, while Beijing’s Forbidden City and the Great Wall are accessible from Tianjin cruise port, which opened in 2010. But the best way to see China is with a river cruiseand-stay package like Viking’s Imperial Jewels of China itinerary, which will take you to see the Terracotta Warriors at Xi’an and on a cruise down the Yangtze River past limestone stacks in the Three Gorges, as well as giving you several days in Shanghai and Beijing. Taking a river cruise is also the best way to see Vietnam, although ocean cruise ships are able to dock in several Vietnamese locations. During Seabourn’s 14-day Thailand & Vietnam cruise between Singapore and Hong Kong, Seabourn Ovation docks near Ho Chi Minh City, where you can take an excursion to see the Cu Chi Tunnels used during the Vietnam War or the city’s impressive War Remnants Museum. It also goes to Da Nang, not far from Hue, where the former imperial palace has been renovated, and it stops at Halong Bay where you can take a boat ride to see the towering limestone stacks that punctuate the emerald green bay. To really experience Cambodia, you’ll also need to take a river trip.
Scenic’s new 20-day Journey Along The Mekong cruise sails from the middle of Ho Chi Minh City and explores Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh, offering food market tours, cookery classes and a distillery visit. The highlight of any Mekong stay-and-cruise is visiting iconic Angkor Wat, particularly at sunrise, although visitors see just a fragment of the ruined temples in their jungle home. Emerald Waterways has a new ship built especially for the Mekong, Emerald Harmony, which sails from Ho Chi Minh into Cambodia. Princess Cruises also has a new itinerary: the seven-day Vietnam & Thailand round trip from Singapore, starting in December 2020. The cruise docks at Phu My for excursions to Ho Chi Minh City but also takes in two Thai ports: Ko Samui and Laem Chabang for Bangkok. Singapore is a melting pot of Asian, Arab and Western influences, which accounts for its excellent China Town, British colonial buildings, Buddhist temples and Arab bazaars. Probably its top sight, though, is the waterfront park Gardens by the Bay with its three huge greenhouses and surreal Supertree Grove that lights up using solar power. Celebrity Cruises has several Best of India & South East Asia itineraries on Celebrity Constellation in 2020 following the ancient Spice Route from Dubai to Singapore that calls at Mumbai as well as the laid-back Indian state of Goa, best-known for its idyllic beaches and an Indian cuisine that borrows from its Portuguese colonial past. In 2020, from November to March, MSC Cruises will have a ship calling at Goa during return cruises from the United Arab Emirates. By contrast, you can stimulate the senses on a cruise down India’s Ganges River from Kolkata. Uniworld has been a pioneer here, offering a combined cruise-and-land tour that includes excursions to the iconic Taj Mahal and Agra Fort plus Jaipur’s Amber Fort before joining the ship, Ganges Voyager II, in Kolkata. 8
CRUISE LINES THAT SAIL HERE INCLUDE
Azamara, Carnival, Celebrity Cruises, Cunard, G Adventures, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Holland America Line, Marella Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, P&O Cruises, Ponant, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Scenic, Seabourn, Silversea, Uniworld, Viking
Left to right: A kangaroo in the Australian bush; the geothermal Champagne Pool in Wai-O-Tapu, New Zealand
Destinations
The Pacific While Sydney is Australia’s iconic cruise port and the Great Barrier Reef the country’s best-known natural attraction, there’s a growing interest in the three cities of Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, and the Kimberley coastline in north Western Australia is a particularly alluring place to cruise. Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ Europa 2 will be heading to some of these hotspots for the first time in its 2020/21 season, providing guests with the chance to go sandboarding in the desert, see giant red tingle trees in the Valley of the Giants, meet emus and koalas, and go dolphin spotting. Melbourne is regarded as Australia’s most livable city, with a European style to its 19th-century buildings but a thoroughly modern and laid-back Australian appetite for life. It’s known for its cafés and beaches but excursions will take you to see kangaroos and koalas at the Serandip Open Range Sanctuary, kookaburras in Sherbrook Forest and wineries in the Yarra Valley. Fremantle, at the mouth of the River Swan, is the gateway to Perth, another historic city full of Victorian and Edwardian architecture, and near more wine country in the Swan Valley. Cosmopolitan and cultured Adelaide is linked to the Barossa Valley wineries. For more in-depth trips Coral Expeditions has Kimberley cruises between Darwin and Broome which get you up close to 80-metre waterfalls, reefs that are home to turtles and crocodiles, dolphins and dugongs, and low-lying islands where Green Turtles and Brown Boobies nest.
Silversea’s flagship Silver Muse will take guests around Australia and to New Zealand’s Fjordland National Park, home to snow-topped mountains cloaked in rainforest viewed during scenic cruising through Doubtful, Dusky and Milford Sound – fjords of almost heart-stopping beauty. You can see dolphins and seals here too while penguins and sea lions live on the coast near Dunedin, and Christchurch is surrounded by extinct volcanoes, the Southern Alps and hot pools. New Zealand’s North Island gets more exotic the further north you go, with Maori culture around Auckland and the beach-rich Bay of Plenty, hot mud pools and geysers in geothermal areas such as Whakarewarewa in Rotorua and the famous glow worm caves of Waitomo. The South Pacific continues to fascinate, with the Cook Islands part of the Commonwealth and loosely linked to New Zealand. Silversea sails to Rarotonga Island, Aitutaki and Palmerston Island – all perfect for snorkelling and diving, riding or trekking. Palmerston’s lagoon waters have turtles, rays and sea cucumbers with boobies, noddies and frigatebirds nesting nearby. And French Polynesia’s coral reef-fringed Bora Bora has snorkeling and sailing but also ruined temples and the remains of Second World War US military installations. Holland America Line is continuing its new Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific itineraries until April 2020 on Maasdam, which has Zodiac boats for expedition-style excursions plus expert lecturers.
CRUISE LINES THAT SAIL HERE INCLUDE
Coral Expeditions, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, P&O Cruises, Ponant, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Seabourn, Silversea, Viking
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DIRECTORY
OCEAN CRUISE LINES Azamara 31 Carnival Cruise Line 41 Celebrity Cruises 28 Celestyal Cruises 57 coral expeditions 54 Cruise & Maritime Voyages 50 Crystal cruises 24 Cunard 49 Disney Cruise Line 32 Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines 51 g adventures 60 Hapag-Lloyd Cruises 21 Hebridean Island Cruises 20 Holland America Line 31 Marella Cruises 40 MSC Cruises 38 National geographic expeditions 56 Norwegian Cruise Line 37 Oceania Cruises 17 P&O Cruises 42 Ponant 55 Princess Cruises 30 Regent Seven Seas Cruises 17 RITZ-CARLTON YACHT COLLECTION 24 Royal Caribbean International 45 Saga Cruises 32 Seabourn 16 SeaDream Yacht Club 22 Scenic 57 Silversea 22, 53 Star Clippers 58 the majestic line 54 Viking 20 Virgin Voyages 44
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RIVER CRUISE LINES AmaWaterways 66 American Queen 63 arosa river cruises 64 Avalon Waterways 63 Belmond 64 croisieurope 64 Emerald Waterways 68 Fred.\ River Cruises 70 Pandaw 66 Sanctuary retreats 62 scenic 63 Titan 66 tui river cruises 68 Uniworld 68 Viking 70
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CELEBRITY TRAVELS
Marco Pierre White The chef, restaurateur and P&O Cruises Food Hero shares his favourite destinations
I travel for work rather than for holidays. I’ve just had four weeks in Singapore, Jakarta, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. They were all spectacular countries. I love the Norwegian Fjords and I’m very excited and fortunate to have several trips there next summer on P&O Cruises’ Iona. The scenery is unlike anywhere else in the world and I feel very privileged to see it so often.
will step into The Cookery Club and we spend about three hours together cooking and eating. I want to show people my tips so they will achieve a perfect result every time, and really impress their friends and family. What could be more enjoyable than sitting down to enjoy the final dish whilst looking over the ocean on our way to the next port of call?
As I’ve just come back from a month in Asia and Australia, I’d like to be at home with my family for a while before I go on my next cruise – the Caribbean in January is always wonderful.
My taste in music is very eclectic, I love a mix of classical, pop and rock. I always have the radio on in the car.
My favourite cities include Lisbon, Sydney, Melbourne, Barcelona, Valencia and most Italian cities. I’m happy when surrounded by friends and great restaurants. By great I mean those which serve good, honest, authentic dishes using fresh, local food. They don’t need to be fancy and most of them are not. I love the concept of cruising – the ships really are just giant resorts at sea, with something for everyone. Essentially, they’re ‘fun palaces’, but they’re very romantic and provide a real sense of occasion. You can relax and chill on the deck or in the spa, or explore on shore. It is a fun, therapeutic, stress-free five-star hotel. The thing that impresses me the most is that with P&O Cruises nothing is too much trouble for the crew – I’d love for them to be working with me.
A friend and I recently spent a few days in Lisbon before we joined a Mediterranean cruise on board Britannia. We ate the simplest but best seafood at Ramiro and explored the stunning city.
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Clockwise, from above: Lisbon; Food Hero Marco Pierre White; the chef seeks out local paella dishes when in Valencia; he recently sailed on board Britannia
I run hands-on classes whilst I am on board with P&O Cruises, where I offer one-on-one guidance and answer questions. We often cook several pasta dishes as well as seafood and then serve them family style. Whether it’s a celebrity chef or resident chef taking the themed masterclass, the experience is informative, fun and useful for all levels of talent, from those who are more experienced in the kitchen to regular home cooks to complete beginners. It’s all about having fun.
When I’m in Spain, I love nothing better than visiting local restaurants serving regional dishes such as octopus in Vigo, gazpacho and iberico ham in Cadiz, and paella in Valencia. These dishes always feature fresh, local ingredients and are often prepared to a family recipe that’s been handed down the generations. My hosted dinners with P&O Cruises are also very special experiences. Guests
The most important part of any holiday is undoubtedly food and, more crucially, the specialities of the region. The world’s appetite for eating and buying has grown enormously and on a cruise, the shore excursions enable the traveller to get to the heart of each port of call and taste the dishes typical of each place, as well as see the local producers, markets and restaurants. For me it is one of the most special elements of cruising – eating the dishes that have been made the same way for hundreds of years, recipes which have been handed down through generations and which we are fortunate enough to be able to share.
I had probably one of the best fish meals of my life with a friend in the fish market in Vigo. We just asked for a selection of specialities and had the most wonderful baby octopus in fresh tomato sauce, Galician seafood stew, the best paella and the freshest gambas, simply roasted. Marco Pierre White will be sailing on board Iona to the Norwegian Fjords with P&O Cruises in July and August 2020. To book, visit pocruises.com. To read a P&O Cruises cruise review go to cruise-international.com/po-cruisesnorway-cruise-review/
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PHOTOS: © ISTOCK
I’m normally too busy to read when I travel as I’m working, but I like biographies for the insight they offer. I also collect vintage recipe books from the world’s great chefs.
DISCOVER Ancient history, style and sophistication on the Nile
Gliding down the world’s longest waterway there is an ancient past still alive in majestic monuments and relics, threaded along the river banks of the Nile. This captivating backdrop is mirrored in Sanctuary Retreats’ four ultra-luxurious river cruise boats, each elegantly designed to ensure a distinct sense of being in storied Egypt. Your river cruise adventure awaits.
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sanctuaryretreats.com
YO U R WO R L D AWA I T S Africa, Alaska, Asia, Australasia, Canada & New England, Caribbean & Panama Canal, Mediterranean, Northern Europe, South America, South Pacific, Transoceanic
For some, it’s sitting down to the first five-star dinner of the trip, and being transported by the rich, unexpected flavours awaiting you. For others, it’s sailing into an exotic, remote port without another ship in sight. And for you, it’s the little things. Discover your moment. ENJOY T H E FIN ES T CUISIN E AT SE A™ A BOA R D OUR IN TIM AT E A N D LUXURIOUS SHIP S.
includes:
Airfare & Internet plus choose one:
FREE - Shore Excursions
FREE - Beverage Package FREE - Shipboard Credit
Amenities are per stateroom *Visit OceaniaCruises.com/terms for details.
CALL OCEANIA CRUISES ON 0345 505 1920, VISIT OCEANIACRUISES.COM OR CONTACT YOUR TRAVEL AGENT