11 minute read
Summer Hot List
HERE COMESthe sun
Dust off your passport, sort out your suitcase and treat yourself to a new swimsuit – summer holidays are back on and it’s not too late to grab a last-minute break
The Greek isles have always been a perennial favourite for British holidaymakers, both on land and on water, but why choose just one resort when you could wake up to a new view of the Aegean Sea glinting in the sun every single day?
“We’re witnessing an upswing in demand for cruises to the Greek islands this summer,” says Bolsover Cruise Club’s Emma Furze. “Customers are keen to return to some of their favourite destinations and explore those that are easily accessible as fly-cruises from the UK.”
Whether you want to swoon over sunsets in Santorini, walk the whitewashed, bougainvillea-draped streets of Mykonos or seek out smaller spots like Milos – a favourite for Greek specialist Celestyal Cruises – where Kleftiko Beach was voted one of the best in Europe by TripAdvisor, Greece has got you covered. Norwegian Cruise Line’s nine-day Greek Isles: Santorini, Mykonos & Croatia from Venice starts at £1,578 for an Oceanview cabin departing July 15 (not including flights). Fly-cruise discounts are available along with a Free at Sea upgrade that covers open bar, excursion credit, speciality dining and Wi-Fi (ncl.com).
It could be the array of flight-free options, the easy pace of life along the rivers, or simply the allure of all that fine French cuisine and Provencal rosé, but France is sailing ahead of other destinations this summer.
Bordeaux, Burgundy and Provence are the breakout stars, with one cruise company after another – Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, AmaWaterways and Amadeus to name but a few – seeing huge spikes in bookings for scenic summer journeys. But even though it’s in high demand, there are still great-value holidays to be found, according to James Cole, founder and managing director of Panache Cruises.
He says: “There are some absolutely amazing deals available for summer – mainly due to American and Australian travellers being slow to restart cruising in Europe, as well as the pandemic – so a lot of cruise lines have leaned on the UK market to provide additional passengers on some voyages.” One of Panache Cruises’ fastest-selling cruises this summer is a seven-night Burgundy & Provence holiday on Avalon Poetry II, from just £999 per person cruise-only (reduced from £3,035) in an Avalon Deluxe stateroom, including shore excursions, select drinks and tips. Flights and transfers can be added (panachecruises.com).
PICTURE: SHUTTERSTOCK/PROSLGN
Saint Benezet Bridge across the Rhone, Avignon, France
This page: Geirangerfjord, Norway Opposite: On board Celebrity Apex
Norwegian Fjords
There is no bad time to be in the Norwegian fjords, but go in the height of summer – when the sun lights the steep-sided inlets in a lush carpet of green and the water seems to sparkle in varying shades of cyan – and you can experience the coast at its dazzling best. And you won’t only get great views from the ship. Stop at Molde where the hike up to the Varden Viewpoint reveals a panorama of snow-topped mountains, take the famous Flam Railway – the world’s steepest train journey – to see verdant hillsides and sweeping valleys unfold, or book a trip from Stavanger to the precariously placed Pulpit Rock for a god-like perspective on the Lysefjord below. Celebrity Cruises has six ships based in Europe this summer including Celebrity Apex, which launched last year. It sails out of Amsterdam on a seven-night Norwegian Fjords cruise on August 13, with prices from £1,967 per person for an Ocean View stateroom including Wi-Fi, drinks and tips (celebritycruises.com).
The Baltic
“An ideal summer destination, the Baltic has always been hugely popular for cruising,” says Alex Loizou, sales and marketing director at luxury travel agency Mundy Cruising. “With a convenient flight from the UK, you can visit captivating northern capitals such as Stockholm, Copenhagen, Tallinn and Helsinki, each of which has a di erent atmosphere and appeal. You can choose between cultural treasures in museums and galleries or venturing out into the countryside. This summer, the removal of St Petersburg from itineraries means there’s availability and bargains to be had.”
Among those are Silversea’s northern Europe cruises on Silver Moon, which launched last summer. It marked the debut of the Sea and Land Taste (Salt) programme, which brings to life the flavours of the region through a dedicated onboard restaurant and bar showcasing traditional dishes and drinks, onboard cooking classes and specially designed shore excursions where you can immerse yourself in local life. Try a cycling tour of Tallinn, including hipster district Telliskivi, a food-focused visit to the ‘Garden of Sweden’ in Blekinge or a half-day kayaking trip from Helsinki to get up close to the islands of the Finnish archipelago and the birdlife and other species that can be seen here. Mundy Cruising o ers a seven-night all-inclusive sailing on ultra-luxury ship Silver Moon departing on August 8, 15 or 22, from £2,700 per person including business-class flights from the UK, private transfers, butler service and all food and beverages (mundycruising.co.uk).
Top: Traditional open sandwiches at a food market in Copenhagen Bottom: The Old Town, Stockholm
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The Blue Lagoon hot pool, Iceland
The land of fire and ice has long been a hit for its lively volcanoes, spewing geysers and other-worldly landscapes, not to mention its fabulous folklore and compact, likeable capital. Yet the best cruises are those that go well beyond Reykjavik to take in the tiny fishing villages in the north or spend time exploring the less-visited landmarks around this island nation.
Graham Sadler, senior vice-president and managing director EMEA for Regent Seven Seas Cruises, says: “For those who have waited such a long time before finally taking a holiday, their next trip has to be something extra special. Iceland is an extraordinary destination with majestic scenery, incredible culture and wonderful wildlife, o ering guests enough opportunities for memory building to make up for the past two years.” Regent Seven Seas Cruises has a 17-night Magic in Iceland sailing departing on June 21 on Seven Seas Splendor, starting from £10,679 per person based on two sharing a Veranda Suite, including flights, transfers, unlimited shore excursions, all dining, fine wines and spirits, pre-paid tips, speciality restaurants and Wi-Fi. Splendor will also have more cruises that visit Iceland in August 2022 and summer 2023 (rssc.com).
PICTURE: GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO/DIETER MEYRL
Viking Longship Odin on the Danube, Budapest
The Danube
The Danube delights at any time of year, linking many of Europe’s great capitals – Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest and Belgrade – with some of the fi nest sights you can see by river. Chief among those is the Unesco-listed Wachau Valley between Melk and Krems, where vineyards ripple along the riverbanks interrupted only by the occasional spire of a centuries-old village church. Even if you’ve sailed it before, such scenery never fails to show something new, and there’s an extra reason to visit this summer that has prompted a “surge in interest” according to Viking UK managing director Wendy Atkin-Smith.
She says: “Until early October this year, guests will have the chance to journey to the charming hamlet of Oberammergau to witness a performance of the passion play. This depiction of the trial, su ering and death of Christ is performed once every 10 years, keeping the terms of a promise the townspeople made to God after they were spared from the plague in 1633. Today, many of the residents still take part in this dramatic performance, featuring beautiful music and choral accompaniment. It is a special event to experience.” Viking’s Oberammergau, The Passion Play cruise along the Danube starts from £4,695 for an 11-day journey in a Standard stateroom with departures from June to September, including fl ights from the UK, nine guided tours, all meals on board with wine, beer and soft drinks at lunch and dinner, Wi-Fi and tips (vikingrivercruises.co.uk).
This page: Cable car journey, Mount Teide, Tenerife Opposite: Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao
Canary Islands
It’s easy to pigeon-hole the Canaries as a winter sun spot given that their location just o the west coast of Africa – boasting deserts and dunes more akin to the sands of the Sahara than the landscapes of mainland Spain – guarantees glorious weather year-round. Yet they are just as enticing come summer, too, and a cruise means you don’t have to spend hours deciding between Gran Canaria or Tenerife, when you can see both in one trip.
Better yet, many sailings depart from the UK and include a stop at Funchal in Madeira along the way, so you can compare life in the Canaries to other Atlantic islands without ever having to get on a plane. The Canaries are not just about beaches, either – in Gran Canaria, skip Playa del Ingles to sample local cheeses at Mercado del Puerto in Las Palmas, or hike the trails around the impressive Caldera de Bandama followed by lunch in the pretty town of Teror (much more charming than its name might sound). And in Tenerife, you mustn’t miss the cable car journey up to Mount Teide, the third-highest volcanic structure in the world, o ering up unbeatable views across the island. ROL Cruise has a 10-night all-inclusive No-Fly Canary Islands Discovery cruise on Enchanted Princess – one of four Princess ships based in Southampton this summer – departing from the UK port on August 16 and visiting Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Madeira and Vigo in Spain. Balcony cabins from £1,449 per person, including premium drinks, tips and Wi-Fi (rolcruise.co.uk).
Spain
Cruising from Southampton along the west coast of France to northern Spain and back again is a classic short-haul sailing, o ering a hassle-free week in the sun and a great taster for anyone who’s never tried cruise before. Specialist agency Iglu Cruise says last-minute bookings on the likes of MSC Cruises’ ex-Southampton sailings have been among its bestsellers for the summer, with reduced prices, free balcony upgrades and included drinks on select sailings adding up to even better value.
In Bilbao, visit the Guggenheim Museum, a marvel of curving steel. And if art is your thing, head to the Museum of Fine Arts, which showcases everything from medieval to modern paintings, sculptures, engravings and more, or check out the grand gold altarpiece at the Basilica de Begona. Farther west, La Coruña has the world’s oldest working lighthouse, the Tower of Hercules. Climb to the top, then stroll back along the waterfront to see the ‘galerías’ – glass-fronted balconies sheltered from the wind so they can be used year-round. Cruises also visit La Rochelle and Le Havre, the gateway to Paris. Iglu Cruise o ers a seven-night no-fly France & Spain cruise on MSC Virtuosa from £629 per person for a balcony cabin with meals, premium drinks, free cabin upgrade and tips, departing June 25. There are also 14-night sailings in July that include Portugal, from £1,127 per person (iglucruise.com).
