GLOBAL ADVENTURES
With world cruises costing from just £131 a day per person, here’s everything you need to know about booking your trip of a lifetime
WORDS KAYE HOLLAND
World cruises don’t have to cost the earth.
An ocean-view cabin on P&O Cruises’ 106-night World Explorer is priced from £13,959
HOW MUCH DO WORLD CRUISES COST?
World cruises don’t have to cost the earth. Case in point? An ocean-view cabin on P&O Cruises’ 106-night Epic World Explorer cruise, departing on 6 January 2027, is priced from £13,959 per person. That works out at about £131 per night for a cabin, all food and entertainment – plus the bonus of saving on all the bills back home, while being waited on hand and foot.
Straddling the middle ground, there are lines like Azamara, whose 114-night Grand Voyage from Canada to New Zealand on the 702-passenger Azamara Pursuit, departs on 27 August 2026, priced from £ 35,799 per person for an ocean-view cabin. At the other end of the spectrum, Silversea’s ultra-luxurious 596-passenger Silver Shadow has classic veranda suites priced from £78,300 per person for its all-inclusive 131-night Miamito-Nice world cruise, setting sail on 5 January 2028. Regardless of whether you’re on a budget or have cash to splash, be quick: world cruises have a strong following, with many of the sailings selling out up to two years before departure.
16 cruisesmazing
THE WORLD’S BEST RIVERS
From Europe to exotic destinations, a river cruise is a relaxing way to see the world. Here’s our guide to eight of the top waterways and the lines that will take you there
WORDS JEANNINE WILLIAMSON
DUTCH & BELGIAN WATERWAYS
WHY GO? CHARMING CITIES & TULIPS e winding rivers and canals of Holland and Belgium lead to the cobbled streets of medieval Bruges, Antwerp and Ghent, galleries lled with Dutch and Flemish masterpieces and cosmopolitan Amsterdam. Special springtime cruises – when the tulips are in full bloom – visit Keukenhof, the world’s largest ower garden.
CROISIEUROPE: This line operates a fleet of lovely modern hotel barges, and the 22-passenger MS Raymonde has an all-new itinerary in Belgium. The sixnight Indulge in Art, Heritage, and Flavors on a Cruise along Belgian Canals voyage, departing 1 April 2026, is priced from £2,783 per person, excluding flights. croisieurope.co.uk
VIKING: The world’s largest river-cruise line offers special springtime voyages on its Longships, which all showcase Viking’s elegant Scandinavian design. The 10-night Tulip & Windmills cruise on Viking Sigrun, departing 20 April 2026, is priced from £3,795 per person, including flights. viking.com
This page: You’ll be enchanted by the chocolate-box charm of Bruges’ Old Town as you glide along its canals
SMALL SHIPS
Enjoy a memorable cruise adventure on these specialist small- and tall-ship
& SPECIALIST
lines with great service and knowledgeable crews WORDS JEANNINE WILLIAMSON
VIVA CRUISES
A BROAD CHOICE OF PREMIUM AND BOUTIQUE SHIPS
One of the newest names on the river cruise scene is unveiling an all-new boutique brand in 2026. e 112-passenger Viva Beyond will set sail on the Seine, with a choice of itineraries focusing on the culture and cuisine of Normandy, plus a range of extra perks. Like the line’s nine ships sailing in Europe, which carry 190 guests, the latest vessel will also feature three di erent restaurants and a laid-back vibe with exible dining times and optional shore tours. viva-cruises.com
