IT’S YOUR HEART THAT TAKES YOU PLACES

VIENNA, AUSTRIA

The Austrian capital has long been a popular stop on Danube River cruises, and it’s not hard to see why passengers love to spend a day or two admiring an elegant city that’s jam-packed with rich cultural sights and experiences. Home to famed composers, imperial palaces, grand opera buildings and opulent coffee houses, Vienna’s alluring tourist attractions are endless. This year is particularly poignant for the city as it celebrates the 150th anniversary of the 1873 Vienna World’s Fair, which showcased its technology, arts and crafts. Vienna grew with construction and transportation links, and transformed itself into the cosmopolitan destination it is today. Throughout 2023, there will be numerous exhibitions across the city’s museums, as well as special anniversaries and new openings to celebrate the past, present, and future. The start of this year also saw the impressive Austrian Parliament building reopen on Vienna’s Ringstrasse after a five-year makeover. If you’re heading here with a long must-do list, you certainly won’t be disappointed, but be sure to stop for a moment and take in its grand beauty over a coffee and an apple strudel.

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Madagascar

Step ashore on the world’s fourth-largest island and discover a treasure trove of biodiversity. From curious wide-eyed lemurs to emerald chameleons, Madagascar is a wildlife photographer’s paradise, but until recently has been a difficult destination for cruise ships to visit. A new generation of small sonar-equipped expedition ships pioneered by Ponant allows zodiac landings on rarely-visited tropical islands. Spot tropical birds nesting in undergrowth on Nosy Ve and swim with green turtles along Nosy Tanikely’s pristine coral reefs. On the mainland, ancient baobab forests and natural wonders such as La Cirque Rouge, an amphitheatre of rainbow-coloured sandstone, are easily reached by 4WD. In Toliara, a lively port town, hop onto a bicycle rickshaw and explore bustling markets filled with local produce and balsa wood handicrafts. On the coast, the seafaring Vezo people follow the proud traditions of their ancestors in brightly-painted outrigger canoes.

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• Return scheduled ights from London and selected regional airports at no extra cost

• Stateroom with a private veranda

• An included excursion in almost every port

• All onboard meals, including regional specialities

• Alternative restaurant dining at no extra cost

• Wine, beer & soft drinks with onboard lunch and dinner

• Free tea, coffee and snacks any time on board

• Free 24-hour room service

• Free Wi-Fi on board*

• Access to top-rated spa & tness centre

• All port charges, government taxes and overseas transfers

• Onboard gratuities

On Bear Patrol

It’s not your typical job onboard a cruise ship, but the newly-launched Scenic Eclipse II has its very own ‘bear guard’ for excursions in the Arctic. Plymouth-born Jack Williams is part of the luxury ship’s discovery team and his job is to oversee guest safety in the High Arctic, watching out for polar bears. He’s also tasked with scouting for drop sites and looking out for potential food sources that might attract bears. e former British Marine explained: “Planning and preparation is the biggest part of the role. On excursion days I’m up early on the bridge looking out for anything that might lure a bear – things like a whale carcass that has been washed up, or seals. Polar bears have an acute sense of smell that reaches up to 40 miles. We don’t want to o oad guests into areas of potential danger.” Sister ship Scenic Eclipse meanwhile, is showcased in a new documentary series, Maritime Masters: Expedition Antarctica, produced by Warner Bros. Discovery. e series o ers an access-allareas look at life onboard the Discovery Yacht for both passengers and crew. scenic.co.uk