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Discovering
ANTARCTICA
Sailing round the frozen continent
COOL BRITANNIA: On board Britain's biggest ship
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CONTENTS
APRIL/MAY 2015
EDITOR’S LETTER It’s not every day you see Her Majesty The Queen naming a ship – but then, P&O’s Britannia is no ordinary cruise ship; turn to page 12 to see photos from the big day in Southampton, while on page 30 there’s a closer look at what the new ship has to offer. We’re also giving one lucky reader and their guest the chance to win a cruise on Britannia around the spectacular Norwegian fjords (page 68). A Mediterranean cruise is probably the most stress-free way to see Europe’s most iconic destinations, all on one trip – plus, you can relax in the sunshine as you sail. On page 35 we reveal some of the hottest itineraries for the year ahead, and on page 46, there are 25 fantastic summer deals for you to book right now. We also have a review of one of the world’s most luxurious ships (page 62). Also in this issue, broadcaster Sue Cook follows in Ernest Shackleton’s footsteps with a trip round Antarctica (page 56); best-selling novelist (and godmother to Scenic Jasper) Kathy Lette shares her favourite holiday memories (page 98), and we have mouthwatering chocolate recipes from the equally delicious celebrity chef Jean-Christophe Novelli, perfect for Easter (page 28). And don’t forget to nominate your favourite cruise lines, destinations and agents for the Cruise Awards 2015 – you’ll find the details on page 14. Enjoy,
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UP FRONT 8
HOT SPOT
The wild waters around Queen’s Bath, Kauai, Hawaii, are a surfer’s paradise
FEATURES 26
CELEBS AT SEA NEWS
28
JEAN-CHRISTOPHE NOVELLI
As Saga announces its crime-themed cruise to the Baltic featuring Stephen Tompkinson, Phil Davis and Neil Stuke, we speak to Neil about what he’s looking forward to The celebrity chef is on board Saga Cruises’ Saga Pearl II this year – here he shares with us his delicious chocolate dessert recipes
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51
56
62
35
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COOL BRITANNIA
Liz Jarvis reviews P&O’s Britannia, the biggest cruise ship ever built for the British market, named by HM The Queen
THE GOOD LIFE
Thomson’s Ancient Wonders itinerary in Turkey and Greece is a gateway to hidden treasures old and new
FROZEN
Broadcaster Sue Cook follows explorer Ernest Shackleton’s journey through Antarctica on board a polar research ship
RELAXED GLAMOUR
A review of of the world’s most luxurious cruise ships, Europa 2
VIENNA CITY GUIDE The Austrian capital is a symphony of glorious architecture, cutting-edge design and refined cafés
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92
RIVER CRUISE AND STAY
With more river cruise companies offering the chance to extend your cruise we look at six of the best options for 2015
SMOOTH OPERATOR
A cruise from Basel to Amsterdam on board Viking Var is perfect for first-timers
COMPETITION
Liz Jarvis, Editor liz.jarvis@cruise-international.com CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM
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WIN A CRUISE ON BRITANNIA One winner plus their guest could be sailing on P&O Cruises’ new ship to the stunning Norwegian fjords
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APRIL/MAY 2015
Jubilee House, 2 Jubilee Place London SW3 3TQ Tel: 020 7349 3700 info@cruise-international.com www.cruise-international.com EDITORIAL EDITOR Liz Jarvis SENIOR ART EDITOR Rhian Colley DESIGNER Maria Sagun SUB EDITOR Ben Grafton EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Flora Hughes-Onslow CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Julie Peasgood, Deborah Stone
Switzerland (p92) Barcelona(p37) New Orleans (p78)
India (p83)
ONLINE DIGITAL PRODUCT MANAGER Oliver Morley-Norris ADVERTISING GROUP ADVERTISEMENT MANAGER Lyndal Beeton PUBLISHING PUBLISHER Simon Temlett MARKETING MANAGER William Delmont COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR Vicki Gavin DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR Steve Ross MANAGING DIRECTOR Paul Dobson SUBSCRIPTIONS CRUISE INTERNATIONAL Subscriptions Department, 800 Guillat Avenue, Kent Science Park, Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 8GU, UK Tel: +44 (0) 1795419841 Email: cruise@servicehelpline.co.uk http://cruise.subscribeonline.co.uk SUBSCRIPTION RATES UK £33 (6 issues) ROW £40 (6 issues) NEWS DISTRIBUTION News Trade (UK and Rest of World): Seymour International Ltd, 2 East Poultry Avenue, London, EC1A 9PT CRUISE INTERNATIONAL (ISSN 1758-2326) (USPS 025-056) is published bi-monthly by The Chelsea Magazine Company, Jubilee House, 2 Jubilee Place, London SW3 3TQ UK.
Antarctica (p56)
37
CONTENTS MED SPECIAL 35 HOT MED DESTINATIONS
Discover stunning coastline, delicious food and enchanting fishing villages in the most inspiring new ports along the Mediterranean
46 25 OF THE HOTTEST CRUISES TO BOOK RIGHT NOW
© The Chelsea Magazine Company Ltd 2015. 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.
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Printed in England by Southern Print, Poole, Dorset Origination by All Points Media allpointsmedia.co.uk Cover image © Julien Capmeil
With ports of call including beautiful Santorini and ancient Istanbul, here are the best summer deals for 2015/16
REGULARS 11
18 24
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18
CRUISE NEWS
Coverage of the naming ceremony of P&O’s Britannia attended by HM The Queen, Royal Caribbean announces its new ship Harmony of the Seas, plus how to nominate your favourites for the Cruise Awards 2015
CRUISE STYLE
Best fashion, fragrances and beauty buys
CRUISE WELL The latest health and wellbeing news with tips from hair colour legend Jo Hansford and the best sun care products
96
ASK THE EXPERTS Expert advice on how to stay well when you’re away, plus Andy Harmer gives his favourite Med cruise memories
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YOUR CRUISE PHOTOS
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CELEBRITY TRAVELS
Scenic Jasper godmother Kathy Lette tells us about her favourite places CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM
o QUEEN’S BATH, KAUAI, HAWAII
PHOTO: © MICHELE FALZONE/AWL IMAGES
With the sun filtering through its crevices, the stunning tidal pool of Queen’s Bath is a hidden gem, tucked away on the surfer’s paradise island of Kauai, Hawaii. Waves crash over craggy inlets and coves but in calmer seas, you can actually swim in the pool’s sun-drenched waters. A former royal bathing place, Queen’s Bath and its coves are home to waterfalls which tumble 30 ft into the tide pools below. Small fish and tiny sea life, including Hawaiian sea urchins and Angelfish, swim at your feet while if you’re more into admiring the views from dry land, head to the nearby Kilauea Lighthouse for the best views of those 15-ft waves. >> Turn to page 35 to see some of this summer’s most enticing cruise itineraries
INSPIRATION
d e M t o H NS
O I T A N I T ES
PHOTOS: ©
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illages v g n i sh nting fi terranean a h c n i d and e w Med o e o n f ’ll find s g u u n i o o i c y i c , t i l 6 n 4 e de stline, n page ext e most a o h t o d c s t n g c a le in ahead; r and n Stunn one se r e t a S m e y h m e a u s th or – Deb ffer for for this o s l a n e o l d l e f ca s cruis u ports o o l u b 25 fa
ZADAR CROATIA Cruise ships are just discovering this picturesque and compact Croatian port. Like Dubrovnik along the coast it has white marble traffic-free streets, fortified harbour walls and elegant Venetian architecture as well as Roman ruins including the forum. One must-see is the world’s only Musical Sea Organ. It’s on the quayside so you can’t miss it, and the sound of the sea forcing air through 35 underwater organ pipes to make music is quite surreal. There are fruit and vegetable markets plus a fish market where the colourful fishing boats are moored, and if you want beaches you can catch a bus to Pag island, about 30 minutes away. Cunard has a 14-day Dubrovnik, Venice and Istanbul cruise on Queen Victoria on 11 July from Civitavecchia to Istanbul, with calls including Zadar as well as Kotor in Montenegro, Trieste in Italy and Izmir in Turkey from £2,649pp, based on two people sharing. Visit cunard.co.uk or call 0843 374 0000.
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