Cruise planner 2014

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n i w CH A FREN ISE

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planner2014 YOUR

U LT I M AT E

H O LI DAY

GUIDE £3.95

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South Africa Normandy The Yangtze Alaska Russia

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WITH

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There is simply no better way to experience the great waterways of the world than by gliding serenely from city to city aboard one of Uniworld’s exquisitely appointed vessels.

From the Zagat-recommended river-view staterooms and fine dining to the choice of included excursions and door-to-door transfers wherever you live in the UK‡, these river cruises truly deserve to be called ‘the world’s best’.

Call FREE on 0808 115 9427 to request your brochure quoting CI4 5DN or visit www.titantravel.co.uk/uniworld Opening times: Mon & Tue 8.30am – 7pm, Wed – Fri 8.30am – 6pm, Sat 9am – 5pm T’s & C’s apply. Calls free from BT landlines, mobiles may vary. *Excludes Russia. †Savings available until 31 December 2013, are subject to availability and may be subject to change. ‡ Excludes Scottish islands and Sark

2014

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CONTENTS

CRUISE PLANNER 2014

83

EDITOR’S LETTER Welcome to the Cruise Planner 2014: your next holiday starts here. As more and more of us discover just how fabulous cruises can be, the Cruise Planner is designed to make it as simple as possible to choose and book your ocean or river cruise – and get the best possible deal.

Whether you’re a seasoned cruiser or planning your first ever cruise holiday, you’ll find plenty of ideas to inspire you.

Begin your adventure by looking at all the incredible destinations waiting to be explored by cruise ship (page 73), and then turn to page 13 to see the cruise lines that go to the places you want to see; or start off with the ships, and then decide on an itinerary.

We also have an interview with that well-known star of stage and cruise fan Michael Ball (page 98), expert advice and tips (page 97) and some of the hottest buys around for your holiday (page 11).

And I’m delighted that Cruise International is an official partner for the Telegraph Cruise Show, taking place at London’s Excel from 10-12 January 2014.

See page 49 for details.

Meanwhile, to help you chase any winter blues away we’re giving you the opportunity to win a fabulous French river cruise with CroisiEurope (page 95).

The next issue of Cruise International magazine will be on sale 24 January, packed with cruise reviews and the very latest news – you won’t want to miss it.

UP FRONT 8

HOT SPOT

As it prepares to host the FIFA World Cup, Rio de Janeiro takes centre stage

CRUISES LINES FOR 2014 13 YOUR GUIDE STARTS HERE 15 LUXURY

The ultimate in impeccable service and stunning ships

23 PREMIUM

Exquisite speciality dining and state-ofthe-art facilities

92

31 CONTEMPORARY

These cruise lines are modern and chic with fantastic innovations

40 CLASSIC

For those looking for a more traditional cruise holiday experience

45 ADVENTURE & SPECIALIST

Discover historical, cultural and natural wonders off the beaten track

53 RIVER

A leisurely way to discover some of the world’s most fascinating destinations

NEW SHIPS FOR 2014 67 SHIP LAUNCHES

From big ocean liners with fabulous innovations to sleek river vessels, look out for these new ships in 2014

31

DESTINATION GUIDE 73 TAKE A WORLD TOUR OF THE HOTTEST CRUISE DESTINATIONS 74-75 BRITAIN & IRELAND & NORTHERN EUROPE Explore the fascinating diversity of shores closer to home, plus European waterways

76 THE MEDITERRANEAN For extraordinary cultural experiences

78-79 SCANDINAVIA, THE BALTIC, BLACK SEA, ICELAND & THE ARCTIC From Scandinavian capitals to Russian palaces and voyages to the Arctic Circle

Liz Jarvis, Editor liz.jarvis@cruise-international.com CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM

80-81 THE RED SEA & PERSIAN GULF Guaranteed sunshine, ancient ruins and fabulous beaches

Cruise Planner 2014

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planner2014 Jubilee House, 2 Jubilee Place London SW3 3TQ Tel: 020 7349 3700 info@cruise-international.com www.cruise-international.com

Iceland (p78) Canada (p88) China (p83)

EDITORIAL EDITOR Liz Jarvis ASSISTANT EDITOR Natalie Milner ART EDITOR Rhian Colley DESIGNER Alicia Fernandes EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Josephine Price CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Julie Peasgood, Deborah Stone

Barcelona (p76)

Kenya (p82)

Peru (p93)

ONLINE DIGITAL PRODUCT MANAGER Oliver Morley-Norris

Australia (p84)

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 EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD AVALON WATERWAYS Alan MacLean, THE CAPTAIN’S CHOICE TOUR Gary Bartelings, CARNIVAL Lynn Narraway, EWATERWAYS Daniela Wagner, FRED. OLSEN Nathan Philpot, HEBRIDEAN Ken Charleson, ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL Jo Rzymowska, TITAN TRAVEL Richard Tarrant, VIKING RIVER CRUISES Wendy Atkin Smith, THE LUXURY CRUISE COMPANY Scott Anderson

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CONTENTS 82-83 AFRICA & ASIA Combine a cruise with a safari in Africa and discover Asia by ocean and river

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. © The Chelsea Magazine Company Ltd 2013.

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 Wyndeham Heron Origination by All Points Media allpointsmedia.co.uk Cover image © Robert Harding World Imagery/Alamy

Follow us @Cruisemag Like us facebook.com/cruiseinternational Visit us cruise-international.com

84-85 THE PACIFIC Cruises round Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific

88 USA & CANADA East Coast and West Coast cruises, plus Alaska and the Mississippi River

90-91 THE CARIBBEAN The low-down on these colourful islands

11

92-93 SOUTH AMERICA & THE ANTARCTIC

88

A diverse selection of destinations, from the lush Amazon to Antarctic expeditions

COMPETITION 95 WIN A FRENCH RIVER CRUISE

You and a guest could enjoy an eight-day holiday on CroisiEurope’s newest ship

REGULARS 11 CRUISE STYLE

Gorgeous fashion, accessories and the best beauty buys for your holiday

97 ASK THE EXPERTS

Dress codes; how to prevent seasickness; advice on choosing your cruise

98 CELEBRITY TRAVELS Entertainer Michael Ball

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Cruise Planner 2014

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Hot sp t o

rio de Janeiro, brazil Founded in 1565 by the Portugese and known for its beaches (including Copacabana and Ipanema) and carnival which takes place before Lent every year, Rio is set to take centre stage for a different reason in 2014 as Brazil welcomes the FIFA World Cup. Two years later Rio will play host to the Olympics, another reason to visit. But the city’s two most iconic sights are probably Sugarloaf Mountain and the statue of Christ the Redeemer, which sits on top of the Corcovado Mountain in the Tijuca Forest National Park, overlooking the city.

Made from reinforced concrete and soapstone, the impressive art deco statue weighs 635 tonnes, and is 98ft tall – not including its pedestal. >> Wish you were here? Turn to page 93 to read about cruises to Brazil

photo: Š Brazilphotos.com/alamy

InspIratIon

Fifty Shades of Blue Cape Town to St Helena

“the most extraordinary place on earth”

Cruise

Style

SHOPPING

Our pick of the hottest travel buys for your next trip

scene STEALER

Get ready for your close-up with Bobbi Brown’s Old Hollywood Eye Palette (RRP £50.15, available from Travel Retail locations worldwide)

festive FRAGRANCES

PHOTOS: © ISTOCK/TATAR/LISEGAGNE/GAURIEL JECAN/CORBIS

The fabulous Jo Malone Cologne Collection gift set would make a great Christmas present (£64, available from worlddutyfree.com)

Time PIECE picture PERFECT

Keen photographers will be thrilled with the Pentax K-50 (RRP £529.99, available from ricoh-imaging.co.uk)

c i h c Beach

PHOTO: ©

SWEET SENSATION You’ll be a big hit if you bring home a bottle of Baileys Chocolat Luxe from your travels (£15, available from select duty free outlets worldwide) CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM

Add some effortless glamour to your Caribbean cruise wardrobe with this stunning Opera beach dress (£149, available in sizes 12-20, peterhahn.co.uk)

Go online: For more shopping ideas go to cruiseinternational.com/category/cruise-style-blog

He’ll love this sophisticated Swiss Military Hanowa Men’s Navalus Chrono watch (£359, available from watchshop.com)

Ever since the discovery that the world was round, travellers have been fascinated by the idea of circumnavigating it. Now, Captain’s Choice offer you the opportunity to make this once-in-a-lifetime journey in the comfort and luxury of our private jet.

Freed from the constraints of scheduled transport, this 21 day itinerary lets you explore the world’s most iconic and exotic places in a style which would simply not be possible otherwise. You will travel aboard our spacious jet, stay at the finest hotels and enjoy gourmet dining, with your every need taken care of by an experienced escort team which includes a tour doctor. Taking off from London, you will head west across the Atlantic to Merida, in Mexico, gateway to the ancient Mayan city of Chichen Itza. Your second stop is vibrant Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, alive with the rhythms of the Samba. Then it’s a short flight to one of the world’s most spectacular waterfalls, Iguassu Falls. Heading out over the Pacific, you’ll touch down on remote Easter Island, dotted with its almost 800 mysterious Moai statues. Tahiti, the spectacularly beautiful island nation is your next

CRUISE AROUND THE WORLD AT 30,000FT destination, before your flight across the international dateline to Australia. Here, you’ll land in Sydney, often described as one of the world’s favourite cities. Climb the harbour bridge, or simply marvel at the iconic Opera House from your hotel window. After a three night stay you’ll head north aboard your private jet to Cambodia where you will visit the astonishing temple site of Angkor Wat. Then it’s onward to India, and a stay in Agra, with a view of one of the world’s most iconic buildings, the Taj Mahal, from your bedroom window. The final leg of this incredible journey takes you to Africa, for a stay in the Serengeti National Park, with its breathtaking scenery and fascinating wildlife. Then, boarding your private jet for the last time, you’ll fly back to London with memories of your trip that will last a lifetime. Captain’s Choice Circumnavigation of the Globe tour departs 5th March 2015, and prices start from £34,850 per person. Begin your journey today by calling us for a free copy of our brochure or by visiting www.captainschoice.co.uk

MEXICO

RIO DE JANEIRO

IGUASSU FALLS

EASTER ISLAND

TAHITI

SYDNEY

ANGKOR WAT

TAJ MAHAL

DELHI

SERENGETI

SIMPLY THE FINEST WAY TO SEE THE WORLD CALL 0845 304 1668 WWW.CAPTAINSCHOICE.CO.UK/AROUNDTHEWORLD

Cruises FOr 2014

photos: Š uniworld boutique river cruise collection

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53 15 Luxury Exceptional service and a sophisticated onboard experience 23 Premium Exquisite speciality dining and state-of-the-art facilities 31 ContemPorary Modern and chic with fantastic innovations 40 CLassiC A more traditional cruise holiday experience 45 adventure & sPeCiaList Taking you off the beaten track 53 river Cruises A leisurely way to explore the world

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Luxury

photo: Š oceania cruises

These lines offer the ultimate in impeccable service and stunning ships

cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

Cruise Planner 2014

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Oceania cruises Winner of the coveted Best onboard restaurant award at the cruise international awards 2013 for red Ginger, this is an all-inclusive luxury line with four mid-size ships and an american east coast style. the two newest ships, Marina and Riviera, boast lalique staircases, carefully selected fine art (plus an artist-in-residence in the art loft) and stunning owner’s suites furnished in ralph lauren Home. there are 44 new itineraries and 19 new World Voyages in the 2014/15 winter collection while summer includes cruises to the med, scandinavia and alaska.

0845 505 1920; oceaniacruises.com

cunard at this year’s cruise international awards cunard won Best luxury cruise line and its White star service with gloved waiters and formal nights reflect its glamour. michelin-starred chef Jean-marie Zimmermann has inspired many of the menus on board, and has introduced a new Verandah restaurant on Queen Victoria. cunard’s three cruise ships the Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria all sail the traditional transatlantic route to new York, and there are indulgent World Cruises, but also shorter med offerings and four-night getaways for 2014.

0843 374 2224; cunard.co.uk 16

Cruise Planner 2014

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luxury

seadream knows how to pamper its guests, with water sports and five-star cuisine

seadream YaCHt Club For a private-yacht experience take a cruise on one of seaDream’s two intimate vessels. From the champagne and caviar splash party in the caribbean, to the glass-bottomed kayaks in the ship’s water sports marina and five-star cuisine on board, seaDream knows how to pamper its guests. Dine al fresco, enjoy daily yoga classes and relax on deck in a Balinese Dream bed for elevated views of the sea. With a crew of 95 and just 112 guests, the laid-back, all-inclusive ships provide an extraordinarily personal experience. cruises vary from the classic mediterranean routes to asian escapes.

0800 783 1373; seadream.com

Hebridean island Cruises

Clockwise from top left: red Ginger, Oceania Cruises; imagine you’re on a private yacht with seadream; Hebridean navigates the Highlands; glamour on Cunard

the Queen’s favourite ship, Hebridean Princess, celebrated its 25th anniversary this year. the country-house style vessel glides into scottish lochs and explores little-visited corners of the Highlands and islands while you’re wined and dined with regional dishes on Villeroy & Boch china. the ship carries just 50 guests, offering an exceptionally personal onboard experience. the all-inclusive line also includes bicycle hire and all shore tours. Hebridean Princess visits romantic castles, hills and mountains, and returns to norway for the first time in five years in 2014.

01756 704 700; hebridean.co.uk

photos: © oceania cruises/cunard/regent seven seas/seadream yacht club/hebridean island cruises

reGent seven seas this all-inclusive cruise line offers all-suite accommodation with private balconies and marble bathrooms. on board the three mid-size ships there are up to four gourmet restaurants, the acclaimed canyon ranch spa and a nine-piece regent signature orchestra.

Seven Seas Voyager received a multimillion pound makeover in 2013 and Seven Seas Explorer, with spacious rooms and a high staff-to-guest ratio, will set sail in 2016. Voyager and Mariner both sail the med mid-year, while Voyager also heads to northern europe and Navigator starts the year in the caribbean, sailing alaska in summer.

02380 682 280; rssc.com8 cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

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luxury

seabourn a casual but sophisticated cruise line offering all-inclusive ships with marinas for watersports and suites with five foot picture windows, balconies or verandahs. special touches include the caviar in the surf beach party, complimentary massages on deck, food and wine tastings and pre-dinner cocktails and canapés. trips range from adriatic cruises to the magical Wonders of Arabia voyage and atlantic crossings for those who love time at sea. look out for a new luxury ship in 2016.

0843 373 2000; seabourn.com

stylish MS Europa 2 is focusing on arabian Peninsula and asia cruises in spring, while MS Europa includes new Zealand and the caribbean. expedition ships MS Columbus 2 and Hanseatic include antarctica and the amazon. +49 40 3070 3270; hl-cruises.com

Compagnie du ponant Le Soléal is this chic French cruise line’s latest expedition ship with a boutique hotel-style ambience while the threemasted, 64-passenger Le Ponant goes to glamorous locations like the amalfi coast. there are plenty of med, arctic, asia, south america and West africa cruises. 0800 980 4027; en.ponant.com 18

Cruise Planner 2014

siLversea this is the first year that silversea has all seven ships sailing all seven continents. there are special 20th anniversary cruises in 2014 and new 100-passenger expedition ship Silver Galápagos, while silversea’s classic fleet has butler service for all suites and its 12 new ports include Koror in the remote Palau. 0844 251 0837; silversea.com

CrystaL Cruises the ships, Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony, have a sleek contemporary style.

Zip-lining through a costa rican rainforest and snorkelling in thailand are just two of the 2,000 crystal adventures shore excursions and cruises range from asia to the Baltic. 0207 399 7601; crystalcruises.co.uk8 cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

photos: © hapag-lloyd cruises/compagnie du ponant/seabourn/silversea cruises/crystal cruises

Hapag-LLoyd Cruises

Magical Winter Winter Escapes Escapes Free Airfare* Magical WITH

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POIN TS OF DIS TINC TION ■

Prices from £6,499 per guest

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22 DEC 2014 onboard NAUTICA

Cape Town, South Africa | Mossel Bay, South Africa Maputo, Mozambique | Richards Bay, South Africa | Durban, South Africa East London, South Africa | Port Elizabeth, South Africa Walvis Bay, Namibia | Cape Town, South Africa

Prices from £4,809 per guest

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SAFARIS, TEMPLES & JEWELS CAPE TOWN

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6 JAN 2015 onboard NAUTICA

Cape Town, South Africa | Port Elizabeth, South Africa East London, South Africa | Durban, South Africa Richards Bay, South Africa | Maputo, Mozambique Nosy Be, Madagascar | Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | Zanzibar, Tanzania Mombasa, Kenya | Mahé, Seychelles | Malé, Maldives Colombo, Sri Lanka | Phuket, Thailand | Penang, Malaysia Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang), Malaysia | Singapore, Singapore

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Prices from £6,839 per guest Dates refers to the cruise departure dates.

Overnight stay in port.

Please contact Oceania Cruises 0845 505 1920 or your Travel Agent Visit OceaniaCruises.com *Offers expire 31st March 2014. All advertised fares, offers and any applicable upgrades shown are per person based on double occupancy unless otherwise indicated, are subject to availability at time of booking, may not be combinable with other offers, or loyalty programme benefits, are capacity controlled and may be withdrawn without prior notice or remain in effect after the expiration date. Any applicable shipboard credits are per stateroom based on double occupancy. All fares listed are in Pounds Sterling, per person, based on double occupancy and include Non-Commissionable Fares. Cruise-related government fees and taxes are included. Single rates and rates for 3rd and 4th guests are available upon request; call for details. Cruise Ship Fuel Surcharge may apply for new bookings and, if applicable, is additional revenue to Oceania Cruises. International Intro Fares and Special Fares are based on published International Full Brochure Fares. International Full Brochure Fares may not have resulted in actual sales in all cabin categories, may not have been in effect during the last 90 days and do not include Personal Charges and Optional Facilities and Services Fees as defined in the Terms and Conditions of the Guest Ticket Contract which may be viewed at OceaniaCruises.com. International Full Brochure Fares are cruise only. “Free Airfare” promotion does not include ground transfers and applies to economy, round-trip flights only from London, or one way flights where cruise originates or ends in the UK. Regional connecting flights can be requested at additional cost from ABZ, BFS, BHX, EDI, GLA, LBA, MAN & NCL. Any advertised fares that include the “Free Airfare” promotion include airline fees, surcharges and all government taxes. Some airline-imposed personal charges, including but not limited to baggage, priority boarding and special seating, may apply. Oceania Cruises reserves the right to correct errors or omissions and to change any and all fares, fees and surcharges at any time. Suite and stateroom measurements are approximate, and those in same category may vary in size. Accommodations may also have different furniture placement than as depicted in the published photographs. Additional Terms and Conditions may apply. Complete Terms and Conditions may be found at OceaniaCruises.com or in the Guest Ticket Contract. Ships’ Registry: Marshall Islands. PRO40484 UK

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FREE AIRFARE on every voyage* Mid-size, elegant ships catering to just 684 or 1,250 guests Finest cuisine at sea, served in a variety of distinctive open-seating restaurants, at no additional charge Gourmet culinary programme created by world-renowned Master Chef Jacques Pépin Port-intensive itineraries featuring more overnight visits and extended evening port stays Country club-casual ambiance; tuxedos and gowns are never required Acclaimed Canyon Ranch SpaClub® Extraordinarily high staff-to-guest ratio ensures exemplary personalized service Youngest fleet in premium-class cruising with 85% of accommodations featuring private verandas

BEST VALUE IN UPSCALE CRUISING

xxx

It’not s yachting, cruising Winner of Best Specialist Cruise Line at the Cruise International Awards 2013, SeaDream Yacht Club offers ultra-luxury, fully inclusive small ship holidays Above: SeaDream has two luxury mega yachts

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or the seasoned cruiser who thrives on the hectic activity of giant ships, be aware that seaDream offers something very different. a holiday on one of its two yachts offers a haven of relaxation and you can, if you wish, simply while away the days lazing in the pool or Jacuzzi or taking it easy on the Balinese beds on deck. Friendly crew members will bring you cocktails or canapés and surreptitiously clean your sunglasses and plump your cushions.

You can fall into the slow pace of life on board surprisingly easily, and once you taste the outstanding food and the sommelier learns what you like to drink, it can be very hard to leave. the yachting lifestyle on board SeaDream I and II allows guests to feel instantly at home and the relaxing and lighthearted atmosphere seduces in

minutes. With just 56 couples on board and 95 staff looking after 112 guests, service is second to none. there’s open seating for all meals, allowing you to choose when, and with whom you enjoy dinner, and for an even more informal affair dine al fresco, enjoying five star cuisine with views of the ocean. itineraries are reflective of the vessels’ intimate size, with ships visiting ports that are inaccessible for larger liners. When you’re not exploring on land, the ships’ retractable marinas are home to a collection of water sports toys. Play with glass-bottomed kayaks, go water skiing and snorkelling, ride on a banana boat, try out the laser sailboat or chill on the floating island. Bliss. all staterooms have views of the ocean and feature flat screen televisions, iPod docking stations, luxurious multiple head showers and Bulgari bath products. cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

featured cruise line

photo: © seadream yacht club

You can fall into the slow pace of life on board surprisingly easily, and once you taste the outstanding food and the sommelier learns what you like to drink, it can be very hard to leave seadream’s cruises are fully all-inclusive, with an open bar featuring premium brands, fine wines to accompany lunch and dinner, complimentary mountain bikes for exploring on shore, a state-of-the-art golf simulator with 30 signature golf courses to test your game on – and you can even go behind the scenes on a shopping trip with the chef. for a bit more pampering, try out seadream’s award-winning thai spa. treatments include an asian Blend massage, traditional thai massage – with a combination of stretching therapies similar to yoga dating back more than 6,000 years – and a descomask scrub sea salt treatment, based on algae petals detoxifying and soothing your skin. shore excursions (or land adventures as seadream call them) are varied and smoothly run. it’s easy to explore on your own though, and the onboard concierge has extensive knowledge of every destination. or you can choose not to stray far from the ship and enjoy an afternoon on the beach.

You’ll be utterly pampered on a seadream holiday, from poolside sandwiches and evening hors d’oeuvres to the onboard sauna, not to mention the friendly crew who offer a warm welcome and will tend to your every cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

need – 24-hour room service anyone? it’s the attention to detail that makes sailing on board these mega yachts a holiday you’ll always remember. if you want a piece of seadream all to yourself, the ships are also available for private charter. each year the cruise line has up to 20 personal or corporate charters, hosting birthdays, anniversaries and family gatherings in the ultimate luxury. a seadream Yacht club holiday is a truly luxurious experience. it’s yachting, not cruising.

Clockwise from top left: Five star cuisine is served al fresco; complimentary snorkelling equipment on board; a Commodore Suite; the water sports marina is home to a host of toys

For more information on SeaDream Yacht Club and its 2014 cruises visit seadream.com or call 0800 783 1373

Cruise Planner 2014

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cruise insurance The UK’s only cruise insurance for luxury cruises.

No matter what you pay for a cruise (and we include flights, transfers, hotel accommodation and pre-booked excursions too in our cover), you need to protect yourself against the unforeseen risk of having to cancel or curtail your holiday – onestop4: cruise insurance is the only insurance policy in the UK able to offer you unlimited cover for your full financial exposure.

Quote ‘Cruise International’ and save

20% in 2014.

This very specialist Cruise Travel Insurance has been designed to comprehensively insure cruise travellers both before and during their cruise, irrespective of age, and includes cover for the numerous eventualities and mishaps that are unique to cruising anywhere in the world – even Antarctica.

This insurance will also cover pre–existing medical conditions (subject to acceptance following a medical screening). onestop4: cruise insurance is perfect for extended stays taken immediately pre or post a cruise. For no additional cost our Cruise Insurance covers long travel durations of up to 6 months at a time.

Cruise Insurance should be incepted when you book your cruise – even if you don’t travel for a couple of years. That’s something else you won’t find anywhere else! Total protection from Day 1.

Call us today free on: 0800 848 8448 or visit: www.onestop4.co.uk

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Premium

photo: Š photo: Š princess cruises

These lines offer exquisite speciality dining, exceptional entertainment and state-of-the-art facilities

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Cruise Planner 2014

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premium

msc cruises

photo: ©

photo: © msc cruises

With sophia loren as godmother, this glamorous italian cruise line offers a distinctive european style of cruising. the latest ship to join its Fantasia class in march 2013 was MSC Preziosa which, like its sister ships, has swarovski crystal staircases and murano glass mosaics plus the luxurious msc aurea spa. For those looking for a thrill, there’s the dizzying 120-metre waterslide, Vertigo, which won Best innovation at the cruise international awards 2013. the prestigious msc Yacht club, a tranquil ship-within-a-ship complex, has exclusive suites, private decks, its own restaurant and pool, plus butler service. and there’s italian cuisine on board too, with the first eataly restaurant at sea. Destinations include the mediterranean, the norwegian fjords, the Persian Gulf, south america and cruises round the caribbean.

0844 561 1955; msccruises.co.uk 8

new ship msc preziosa has swarovski crystal staircases and the luxurious msc aurea spa

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Cruise Planner 2014

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WINNER

AWARDS

2013 MSC CRUISES VERTIGO ON MSC PREZIOSA BEST INNOVATION

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the latest ship to join the Princess cruises fleet, Royal Princess, was named by the Duchess of cambridge in June 2013, and won Best new ship at the cruise international awards 2013 for its effortless elegance and exciting innovations – the glass-bottomed seaWalk offers views of the ocean 128ft below, plus the ship has the largest movies under the stars experience at sea as well as a music and light show. in may 2014 sister ship Regal Princess will make its debut, bringing the line’s total number of ships to 16 (plus two smaller ships). itineraries are a mix of european favourites and voyages further afield like asia, the Pacific, alaska, the california coastal voyages and canada; plus there are three- to five-day Getaway cruises.

0845 075 0031; princess.com

photos: © princess cruises/celebrity cruises

prinCess Cruises

celebrity has real manicured lawns on deck and unique interactive dining in qsine Celebrity Cruises

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Cruise Planner 2014

photo: ©

celebrity’s stylish ships have a boutique hotel ambience with quirky touches, such as real manicured lawns on deck and the unique interactive dining experience in speciality restaurant Qsine – with iPads as menus. onshore adventures are at the cruise line’s core and celebrity’s destination expert, Ben Fogle, is creating new and exciting experiences in each port. there’s a huge range of destinations on offer, including the mediterranean, asia, australia, new Zealand and Hawaii. Celebrity Reflection is the newest addition to the fleet, and for adventure cruises look to Celebrity Xpedition.

0844 493 2043; celebritycruises.co.uk8 cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

Escape with Princess…

You can be confident when booking your cruise with Princess as we are a Which?

Recommended Provider.

Imagine how it feels to escape completely. With Princess you can do just that. Our friendly crew will be the Consummate Host, dedicated to taking care of your every request. It’s the little personal touches that ensure every moment of your cruise is memorable. Explore the comfortably elegant surroundings of your relaxed, rejuvenating retreat at sea choosing from an endless array of dining and entertainment options. Princess Cruises is the destination expert…so if there’s an ocean, we can take you there.

Mediterranean & Scandinavia • Caribbean • Panama Canal • Alaska & Canadian Rockies • South America • Far East Hawaii • Tahiti • Australia & New Zealand • Canada & New England • Mexico • Africa • India • World Cruise

Request your Mediterranean & Scandinavia 2014, Caribbean & Hawaii 2014-2015 or Worldwide Cruises 2014-2015 brochure today.

Call 0844 579 0099, contact your travel agent or visit www.princess.com

premium

Disney Cruise line

HollanD ameriCa line Holland america celebrated its 140th anniversary in 2013 but it offers luxurious contemporary style on its 15 mid-size ships. early 2014 will see a spread of caribbean cruises plus some south america and asia voyages while ships head to alaska and europe in the summer, with some transatlantic sailings and round africa cruises in the autumn.

0843 374 2300; hollandamerica.com 8 28

Cruise Planner 2014

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photos: © disney cruise line/holland america line

Winner of Best for Families and Best for entertainment at this year’s cruise international awards, Disney is as much for big kids as for small. the four elegant ships recreate the golden age of cruising with art deco touches, and offer exceptional adults-only restaurants as well as fun rotational dining for all the family, where you can experience three themed dining venues one night after another. and as you’d expect, entertainment is excellent, with kids’ clubs themed around popular Disney films, enchanting Broadway-style live shows and the adults-only entertainment district. Disney Magic has just been “reimagineered” with even more kids’ attractions and the new aquaDunk three-story waterslide, shooting 200ft over the side of the ship. Destinations visited include north america, alaska and europe – and if you head for the Bahamas you can visit Disney’s own private island, castaway cay.

0800 028 3179; disneycruise.com

...your localcruise cruise experts experts Luxury The CruiseCompany Company specialises in the The Luxury Luxury Cruise specialises in the organisation oftailor-made tailor-madetravel travel itineraries aboard the world’s organisation of itineraries aboard the world’s finest liners, liners, cruise river vessels and private yachts.yachts. finest cruiseships, ships, river vessels and private Allow us us to your perfect cruise holiday by adding Allow totailor tailormake make your perfect cruise holiday by adding on our own chauffeurs, fl ights, pre-cruise stays and more... on our own chauffeurs, flights, pre-cruise stays and more...

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contemporary

photo: Š norwegian cruise line

Modern and chic with fantastic innovations, these lines offer something for everyone

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Cruise Planner 2014

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caribbean

dreams

Longing for idyllic sun-kissed beaches and the chance to really relax on your next holiday?

Carnival Cruise Lines offers fabulous itineraries sailing on their fun-filled ships

Clockwise from above: try out the onboard waterparks for fun in the sun; you can start your cruise with jazz in New Orleans; Carnival Dream; The Punchliner Comedy Club is new for the Fun Ship 2.0 programme; chill out in the adults-only Serenity retreat

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id you know that carnival cruise lines has 17 ships sailing the caribbean year round in 2014, departing from miami, new orleans, Port lauderdale and many more fantastic us ports? When it comes to exploring these wonderful islands, they’ve got it covered.

Whether you fancy taking a tour in a glass-bottomed boat in the Bahamas, going diving in the world-famous Palancar reef at mexico’s cozumel, mountain biking through the lush rainforest of Belize, visiting colonial fortresses in san Juan or chilling on a beach on the beautiful island of st Kitts, there are some unforgettable experiences waiting for you on a carnival caribbean cruise.

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Cruise Planner 2014

The shiPs and iTineraries

carnival’s ships depart from some of the most exciting cities in the us, meaning you can combine your eastern, Western or southern caribbean cruise holiday with a fabulous preor post-cruise stay.

Carnival Breeze sails from miami, with great nightlife on ocean Drive, beautiful art deco south Beach and of course those famous white sandy beaches. there are six and eightnight caribbean cruises on Carnival Breeze in 2014, with ports of call including st maarten, st Kitts, san Juan, cozumel, nassau, aruba, curaçao and Grand cayman. if you choose Carnival Dream you’ll depart from new orleans, where you can

enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of the historic French Quarter or visit one of the city’s incredible museums. in 2014 a seven-night Exotic Western Caribbean cruise features mahogany Bay, Belize and cozumel; a sevennight Eastern Caribbean trip takes you to the Bahamas, and a seven-night Western Caribbean cruise goes to Jamaica, Grand cayman and cozumel.

Fort lauderdale, home to Carnival Freedom, is a bustling seafront city known for its wonderful beaches, restaurants and shopping malls – plus the chance to see alligators in the everglades. cruises from here go all over the caribbean with a choice of six or eight-night itineraries. cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

photos: © carnival cruise lines

Featured cruise line

Carnival Sunshine departs from Port canaveral, on Florida’s space coast – just an hour away from orlando with its fabulous theme parks. the seven and eightnight itineraries include eastern islands like Grand turk with its aquamarine seas and protected coral reef – perfect for divers, Western stops such as isla roatán and the hidden coves of curaçao in the south.

Carnival Valor offers two seven-night Southern Caribbean cruises in 2014 with calls including st thomas, san Juan, Barbados, st lucia, st Kitts and st maarten. You can start your cruise from historic san Juan in Puerto rico, with its cobblestone streets and wide boulevards, spanish architecture and designer boutiques – this city of contrasts is well worth exploring. or choose to depart from Bridgetown in Barbados, and visit rum distilleries and sugar plantations as well as stunning pearly-pink sand beaches and underground pools.

NoN-stoP fuN

carnival won Best for activities at this year’s cruise international awards – so why not join them for some well-deserved fun? Here’s just a taste of what’s waiting for you on board… cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

the PuNChliNer Comedy Club

new for the Fun ship 2.0 programme, the Punchliner comedy club has live comedians, with a mix of family-friendly and late-night shows. Plus, on sea days you’re treated to a mid-morning Punchliner comedy Brunch.

the steakhouse

carnival’s most sophisticated spot offers juicy steaks and fine wines in a sumptuous setting modelled on a new York steakhouse. as well as juicy steaks you’ll find other delectable entrées on the menu including double-cut lamb chops, lobster tail and broiled rosemary-infused chicken.

alChemy bar

treatments include an energising thai herbal poultice massage, a soothing bamboo massage and a range of facials. on deck the serenity adults-only retreat has relaxing pods and beds, and you can take a dip in the whirlpool and enjoy drinks from the private bar – a true oasis of calm.

CarNival waterworks

Zip down the twister waterslide in the onboard waterpark – Carnival Sunshine has side-by-side racing slide speedway splash – and if you hang out under the Powerdrencher you’re in for a serious soaking. cruise the caribbean with carnival cruise lines in 2014 and you’ll have a fun-filled holiday to remember.

this is the perfect place for an apéritif or after-dinner drink with its cool and sophisticated vibe. take a seat at the vintage-themed cocktail “pharmacy” where mixologists will fix you a bespoke cocktail, or try one of the carefully crafted drinks on the backlit menus.

Cloud 9 sPa & sereNity

With its heated beds overlooking the sea, a thermal suite based on traditional turkish baths and a thalassotherapy pool, the cloud 9 spa is made for serious pampering.

Go online: Cruises start from just £249pp (not including flights). To book your holiday to the Caribbean go to carnival.co.uk, call 0845 351 0556 or call your travel agent

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contemporary

Royal CaRibbean inteRnational

thomson CRuises Thomson Dream and Celebration have joined the thomson Platinum collection and had multi-million pound makeovers, with cabins, bars and lounges gaining a clean-cut, contemporary edge and themed a la carte restaurants. Plus island escape now offers all-inclusive sailings. cruises range from the caribbean to eastern and Western med.

0871 230 2800; thomson.co.uk/cruise 34

Cruise Planner 2014

noRwegian CRuise line

P&o CRuises

Despite the name, norwegian is miami-based, and best known for its Freestyle cruising concept. the line has 12 ships (soon to become 13 when Norwegian Getaway launches in January 2014). new ship Breakaway has a new-York vibe and most of the line’s cruises leave from the eastern us.

0845 201 8900; ncl.co.uk

the next ship (launching in 2015) will be named Britannia. P&o has a modern British style while there’s indian cuisine from michelinstarred atul Kochhar and restaurants by marco Pierre White across the fleet. You can choose from large family-friendly vessels and smaller adults-only options.

0843 374 0011; pocruises.com 8 cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

photos: © royal caribbean international/thomson cruises/ norwegian cruise line/ p&o cruises

Winner of Best cruise line at the cruise international awards 2013, royal caribbean has some of the largest ships at sea and offers an extraordinary range of things to do on board, from the DreamWorks experience to the Flowrider surf simulator, zip wires and ice skating. there’s also a huge emphasis on amazing destinations and the line has its own caribbean islands, labadee and cococay. new ship for 2014 (launching in november) Quantum of the Seas will have a ripcord by iFly skydiving cage, bumper cars and a north star pod inspired by the london eye. You can cruise from southampton or Harwich in the uK, or from the us.

0844 493 4005; royalcaribbean.co.uk

Exotic escapes

FeatureD cruise line

*All offers Are subject to AvAilAbility And Are dependent on dAte of depArture And time of booking. for full terms And conditions pleAse visit thomson.co.uk/cruise photo: © thomson cruises

With a range of exciting Caribbean and Central American destinations, upgraded ships and fantastic excursions on offer in 2014, there’s never been a better time to book a Thomson Cruises holiday Clockwise from left: you could be relaxing on an idyllic Caribbean beach; Puerta Limon in Costa Rica; and spectacular Chichén Itzá, Mexico

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cruise is one of the best ways to discover the extraordinary diversity of the caribbean – and thomson cruises offer great value for money holidays and enticing itineraries to help you make the most of this beautiful region. their exciting ports of call for the 2014/15 winter season include Havana, the cuban city that never sleeps, famous for its fabulous architecture and cultural vibrancy; Playa del carmen, known for having mexico’s best beaches and home to chichén itzá, one of the most spectacular mayan historical sites in the world; roatán in Honduras, a top spot for divers with its coral reef, hidden shipwrecks and a variety of exotic sea creatures; Belize, with its breathtaking barrier reef; the Panama canal, widely regarded as one of the world’s must-see sights; san Blas in Panama, where you meet the vibrant Kuna tribe; and costa rica, with its magnificent rainforests, wildlife and sun-baked sands.

ONBOARD fuN

thomson cruises, part of tui uK & ireland, is the third largest cruise line in the uK, with four ships offering superb entertainment and delicious food.

Thomson Celebration and Thomson Dream have been given a makeover (with new balconies on Celebration) to create modern ships with minimalist bars and lounges, offering great value and fun, lazy days at sea. entertainment on board includes West end style shows, games and quizzes, and there’s a wide choice of dining options – and tea and coffee available in your cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

cabin. tips are included too, giving you total peace of mind when you’re budgeting for your cruise holiday.

DReAmliNeR flights

Thomson Dream will have a new home port in montego Bay in 2014, while Thomson Celebration will operate from Bridgetown, Barbados. as part of your cruise package you can fly to Barbados and Jamaica on the revolutionary thomson 787 Dreamliner from a number of regional airports. Fancy a cruise-and-stay holiday? You can combine your cruise with a range of hotels from thomson couples to a la carte properties – or stay at the luxurious sensatori Jamaica hotel. there are some fantastic early booking deals, too. upgrade to an all-inclusive drinks package from just £10pp per night on all thomson winter 2014/15 cruises sailing from Barbados. and guests sailing on Thomson Dream from montego Bay will get £100 per couple to spend on board.* With so much on offer, you’re guaranteed to have a memorable time on a thomson cruises holiday.

To find out more about Thomson Cruises visit thomson.co.uk/cruise or call 0871 230 2800

Cruise Planner 2014

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contemporary

Carnival Cruise lines

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Cruise Planner 2014

photos: © carnival cruise lines

carnival’s “fun ships” have been getting the 2.0 factor this year, with a whole new range of dining venues and entertainment at sea, including the Punchliner comedy club, alchemy Bar for bespoke cocktails and Hasbro, the Game show. the cruise line has a strong family focus, with camp carnival kids’ club providing a wide range of activities for three age groups, and there’s circle “c” for teens aged 12-14 and club o2 for kids aged 15-17 – or they can hang out in the WaterWorks and race their friends down the speedway splash water slides, or try out the skycourse ropes course. there’s plenty of fun for adults, too, and the cloud 9 spa is one of the largest spas at sea, plus the ships have excellent speciality and fine dining restaurants. Destinations include the caribbean. mexico, the Bahamas, canada, new england and alaska.

0845 351 0556; carnival.co.uk cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

TM

£3 HOL 79 ID pp AYS CR FR UIS O EO M NLY *

*C arn iva l Su nsh ine ,1 3th Sep tem ber 20 14 ,7 nts , Ex oti cW est ern

Car ibb ean

Whether you want a holiday for just you and your partner, or for your whole family, you won’t find more to do or see than on a Carnival cruise. With some of the largest cruise ships in the world, we carry a bigger cargo of fun.

Delights for couples…

A Carnival cruise can be whatever you want it to be: a romantic city escape, a relaxing beach break, an adventure/sports holiday or a mixture of all of those.

…and families We can promise you more fun for your money. We’ve all sorts of activities to keep everyone happy, plus kids’ clubs for different age groups, and exciting excursions too.

While Carnival transports your client to a different city or country almost every day, they will have plenty of time to enjoy all of the FUN-TASTIC amenities on board like our delicious dining choices, relaxing spa treatments, exciting entertainment options, and much, much more! With ships sailing a variety of exciting itineraries, booking a holiday with Carnival Cruise Lines is affordable and convenient.

So what are you waiting for…..

CALL RESERVATIONS ON: 0845 351 0556 GO ONLINE: WWW.GOCCL.CO.UK WINNER

AWARDS

2013 For further offers and full T&C’s visit www.GOCCL.co.uk

We can’ t wait “ When Royal Caribbean announced their search for two Royal Families to act as ambassadors, they were inundated with entries. Cruise International met the lucky winners…

“A family cruise is something we’d been talking about for a while, because we’d reached that stage where the kids wanted more freedom”

THE

FARMERS NEW TO CRUISE FAMILY THE FARMERS AND THEIR CHILDREN AGED 17, 14 AND NINE ARE FROM SURREY “We’ve never won anything before, and we don’t usually enter competitions at all. So we couldn’t believe it when we were told we’d made it to the final of the Royal Family competition. We were invited to Southampton for the day to go on Independence of the Seas and we all thought it was amazing. There’s just so much to do on board, we really didn’t want to get off; and then when we heard we’d won, we just kept saying 38

Cruise Planner 2014

‘wow’. A family cruise is something we’d been talking about for a while, because we’d reached that stage where the kids wanted more freedom and didn’t want to hang around with us all the time; and our last hotel holiday just didn’t seem to offer enough for the kids to do. Our eldest son loves the idea of climbing on the Rock Wall and surfing on the FlowRider; our youngest can’t wait to explore; and our daughter is looking forward to making new friends, so a cruise holiday is absolutely perfect.

We still can’t believe we’re going on a cruise around the Caribbean islands in February, and going on Quantum of the Seas in October. We were also invited to attend a special event in London for Anthem of the Seas, hosted by Lauren Laverne, which was very exciting. We feel incredibly lucky.”

CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM

to get on board”

featured cruise line

Family cruises with royal caribbean

royal caribbean won Best cruise line at the 2013 cruise international awards. their cruises are hassle-free, convenient and great value for money. they sail to 240 destinations in 72 countries across six continents, and they also have three ships sailing from uk ports, so you can cruise to the med and northern europe and visit some extraordinary destinations, without having to keep unpacking. the kids’ clubs are included in the price of your cruise, run by highly-qualified staff, and are grouped according to age. and your children’s safety is always paramount on board their ships.

The

walkers SeaSoned cruiSerS the walkerS and their children aged 16, 14 and 10 are from weSt YorkShire “We’ve been on two royal caribbean cruises before, and the reason we love them is that we can all do our own thing during the day, but then we can meet up in the evening for dinner and to see a show. the children love going on the flowrider, rock Wall, H20 Zone and ice skating rink. they also really enjoy the kids’ clubs, and have made friends from all over the world. While they’re off at the kids’ clubs we get a chance to relax so it’s absolutely perfect. We went on a Baltic cruise last year and it was fantastic to be able to visit so many places on one holiday – particularly russia, which was extraordinary, and somewhere the kids learn about at school so it was educational too. We’re so excited to have been chosen to be a royal caribbean family for 2014. We’re really looking forward to sailing the caribbean in february, and we can’t wait to get on board Quantum of the Seas in october.” cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

“the reason we love royal caribbean cruises is because we can all do our own thing during the day, then we can meet up in the evening for dinner and to see a show”

Great Family Offers A family of four can enjoy a seven-night Norwegian cruise from the UK, departing on 23 May 2014, from just £2,599. Visit royalcaribean.co.uk or call 0844 493 3005

Cruise Planner 2014

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Classic

Traditional, elegant cruises that offer an informal holiday experience

Fred. Olsen Cruise line

40 Cruise Planner 2014

photo: ©

expect mid-size ships and a comfortable home-from-home experience. Fred. olsen is renowned for its excellent selection of home ports – a total of 10 uK departure ports – with its four ships Balmoral, Boudicca, Black Watch and Braemar sailing to over 85 different countries in the 2014/15 season. there’s a selection of city stays for 2014, merging the city break concept with cruising and offering overnights in several ports, plus indulgent longer itineraries from 20 days or more and then there’s Fred. olsen’s first ever Mystery Cruise for a true sense of adventure.

0800 0355 197; fredolsencruises.com cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

classic

AzAmArA Club Cruises the destination immersion concept is at the heart of the azamara experience, with a complimentary azamazing evening offered on every cruise (except transatlantic) providing an in-depth view of local culture, including bespoke dance, music and theatre events, plus cuisine in landmark settings. the two mid-size ships, Azamara Journey and Quest, can reach unusual, smaller ports, weaving down rivers and waterways to dock at prime locations. Destinations vary from thailand and Vietnam in spring, to christmas and new Year in rio and lots of med sailings, from the adriatic to the French riviera; and you’ll have more time to explore unesco World Heritage sites with longer stays in 2014.

0844 493 4016; azamaraclubcruises.co.uk

photos: © fred. olsen/azamara club cruises/cruise and maritime voyages/saga cruises

azamara’s two mid-size ships can reach unusual, smaller ports, weaving down rivers and waterways to dock at prime locations Cruise And mAritime VoyAges the three mid-size ships Marco Polo, Discovery and Astor leave from eight uK departure ports including london tilbury, newcastle and liverpool.

Astor takes you from australia to the uK on a 40-night voyage in april 2014 – and back again in november – and you can reach the amazon and the West indies from tilbury or discover the Far east from Fremantle.

0845 430 0274; cruiseandmaritime.com cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

sAgA Cruises Saga Sapphire and yacht-style Saga Pearl II offer a modern twist on traditional cruising, like Sapphire’s 40-seater specialty restaurant east to West, featuring a medley of asian cuisine. most cruises depart from southampton and Dover, there’s round-Britain, Baltic and med voyages and new shorter cruises, like the World War ii normandy beaches cruise and a Gallic Getaway.

0800 096 0079; travel.saga.co.uk 8 Cruise Planner 2014

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Jewels of the ocean Saga Cruises’ small ships offer a relaxing atmosphere and great value voyages sailing exclusively from the UK

Clockwise from top left: Saga Sapphire; dining on board; serene indoor pool; beautiful views on deck small ship; stateroom

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Cruise Planner 2014

T

he beauty of a cruise is that everything is taken care of for you. saga cruises offer exceptional value for money allowing you to sit back and enjoy your time on board.

Your holiday starts from the moment you leave your front door, a chauffeur-driven car will take you straight to the port up to 250 miles each way, travel insurance and additional cancellation cover come as standard, and even all onboard gratuities are included. then there’s saga’s early Bird Price Promise – if the price for your cruise is reduced or there is a new special offer later on, saga will work out the difference and pass the value of the saving back to you*.

Whether you sail on Saga Sapphire or Saga Pearl II you’ll enjoy chef-prepared breakfasts, lunches and dinners in the main restaurants while always having the option of a buffet or snack in the open-seating venues and there’s afternoon tea every day. and if you fancy a swim there are indoor and outdoor pools, plus a gym. there’s live music and performances in the evening, with some cruises offering musical themes, such as “classical” celebrating the First night of the Proms, and an eclectic mix of classical styles from start to finish. there’s a fabulous range of itineraries to choose between, from classic mediterranean cruises to exotic caribbean voyages and plenty of norwegian getaways. cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

FeatureD cruise line

the small size of saga’s elegant ships not only means that they can weave into smaller ports but there are two staff to every three passengers. the personal cabin stewards get to know each guest by name and bartenders even remember how you like your favourite drink – cruising with saga is a true home-from-home experience.

Join a saga cruise for superior service, fascinating itineraries and excellent value for money. Here’s just a taste of what saga cruises has to offer for 2014:

Magic of the NortherN Lights the 16-night Magic of the Northern Lights cruise sails up to the northern reaches of norway through fjords and snowcapped landscapes and crosses into the arctic circle where you’ll have the best chance of catching a glimpse of the awe-inspiring northern lights in the town of alta. Here you could go dog or reindeer sledding and have the option for an overnight stay in the alta igloo Hotel. the 11-year solar cycle is currently close to the solar maximum, so it’s more likely that you’ll receive a dramatic celestial display. the cruise departs from southampton on 11 march 2014 sailing on board Saga Sapphire, calling at Bergen, Åndalsnes, alta, tromsø, narvik, Ålesund and Flam.

BaLtic expLorer You can visit all of the Baltic sea’s key contenders in the Baltic Explorer cruise departing from Dover, journeying through the Kiel canal, calling first at stockholm, where an overnight stay will give you plenty of time to experience the beautiful city set on 14 islands linked by 57 bridges. admire the mix of romantic and neoclassical architecture of Helsinki and enjoy an overnight stay in st Petersburg for ornate palaces and the Hermitage state museum’s priceless art. calls also include estonia’s medieval tallinn and the island of saaremaa, riga (latvia), Klaipeda (lithuania) and sweden’s Gothenburg. the 15-night cruise on Saga Sapphire departs on 9 July 2014.

MediterraNeaN odyssey

photo: © saga cruises

take some time out on an extensive mediterranean voyage starting in spain, for the baroque palaces of la coruña and the ancient walled port of cartagena, Palma (majorca) and ascend mount etna in sicily. in Greece you can visit one of the great cities of antiquity, athens, and the gleaming white buildings of santorini, while later explore one of the oldest cities in the world, ashtod, from where you can take an excursion to Jerusalem for the Wailing Wall and the church of Holy sepulchre. there are also calls in turkey, cyprus, israel (for nazareth), egypt (for cairo and alexandria), libya, tunisia (for the ancient remains of carthage) and Gibraltar. the 31-night Mediterranean Odyssey round trip from southampton on Saga Pearl II departs on 11 march 2014.

For more information on Saga Cruises and its 2014 voyages, visit saga.co.uk/cruises or call 0800 051 3355 * this applies as long as the discounted holiday is the same package offered under the same terms of sale (which means the full terms that apply to your holiday contract, including whether your cabin is allocated at the time of booking or at embarkation). in calculating any possible saving due, we’ll take into consideration all offers and discounts that were applied at the time of booking and compare the overall price that you’ve been charged with the current price. we may pass on the value of the saving in the form of a higher grade cabin, onboard credit or other added value benefit.

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YACHT CRUISING AT ITS BEST Discovery Offer

GK cruises visits gulfs where larger ships cannot anchor offering a truly special experience.

20% off any cruise* *Book before 31 December 20 st 13.

GK cruises introduces the freestyle cruising which has revolutionized the industry by allowing guests more freedom and flexibility.

Sail to some of the finest islands in the Mediterranean sea.

THE KNIGHTS’ ARCHIPELAGO CRUISE

THE ESSENTIAL CYCLADES CRUISE

THE AEGEAN BLUE CRUISE

DAY 1 Malta, Valletta. Embarkation 15:00.

(Overnight) DAY 2 Valletta-Gozo (Overnight) DAY 3 Gozo- Syracuse (Overnight) DAY 4 Syracuse-Lipari (Overnight) DAY 5 Vulcano-Panarea-Messina (Overnight) DAY 6 Messina (Overnight) DAY 7 Taormina (Overnight) DAY 8 Catania (Overnight) DAY 9 Pozzallo (Overnight) DAY 10 Valletta Disembarkation 09:00

DAY 1 Mykonos (Embarkation 15:00)

DAY 1 Kos Embarkation 15:00. (Overnight)

DAY 2 Naxos (overnight)

DAY 2 Kos-Nisiros volcano (Overnight)

DAY 3 Thira (overnight)

DAY 3 Nisiros- Symi (Overnight)

DAY 4 Folegandros ( overnight)

DAY 4 Symi-Rhodos (Overnight)

DAY 5 Antiparos-Paros (overnight)

DAY 5 Rhodos- Thira (Overnight)

DAY 6 Tinos (overnight)

DAY 6 Thira –Patmos (Overnight)

DAY 7 Delos-Mykonos (overnight)

DAY 7 Patmos-Kos (Overnight)

DAY 8 Mykonos (disembarkation 09:00)

DAY 8 Kos Disembarkation 09:00

25th APRIL. 4th, 13th, 22nd, 31st MAY. 9th, 18th, 27th JUNE. 6th, 15th, 24th JULY. 2nd, 11th, 20th, 29th AUGUST. 7th, 16th, 25th SEPTEMBER. 4th, 13, 22nd 31st OCTOBER.

25th APRIL. 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th MAY. 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th JUNE. 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th JULY. 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th AUGUST. 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th SEPTEMBER.

26th APRIL. 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st MAY. 7th, 14th, 19th, 26th JUNE. 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th JULY. 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th AUGUST. 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th SEPTEMBER.

DOUBLE CABIN 1600.00€ pp* Plus port charges 120€ Cabins for single use – Supplement 30% *per person

DOUBLE CABIN 1100.00€ pp* Plus port charges 70€ Cabins for single use – Supplement 30% *per person

DOUBLE CABIN 1300.00€ pp* Plus port charges 90€ Cabins for single use – Supplement 30% *per person

The cruise rate includes: Cabin accommodation in the category booked. Free transfer from/to airport. Welcome drink. Breakfast. The cruise rate does not include: Shore excursions. Gratuities. Personal Expenses.

Call today or visit our website for more information

Tel: 00 356 3550 0442 • Email: info@gkcruises.com

www.gkcruises.com

GKcruises

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Adventure & SpeciAliSt These lines will take you off the beaten track to discover historical, cultural and natural wonders

Hurtigruten

photo: © hurtigruten

a mixture of passenger and freight ships conjure a nostalgia for the 120-year-old cruise line’s rich norwegian heritage. reach the arctic circle in search of the northern lights, experience the midnight sun or sail through majestic fjords. Hurtigruten’s classic voyages take you along the coastline between Bergen and Kirkenes in the far north, exploring little communities and awe-inspiring scenery – on some ships from the comfort of your Jacuzzi. there’s a new 12-day Heart of Norwegian Lapland cruise for the northern lights and an arctic winter wonderland and the Classic Round Voyage covers a total of 34 ports in 12 days.

0844 272 8961; hurtigruten.co.uk 8

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adventure & specialist

Boutique-style cruising on the cruise line’s Aegean Odyssey is coupled with top onboard lectures from experienced guest speakers and visits to ancient civilisations, from the Holy land to the Greek isles, istanbul to the ruins of Pompeii. the mid-size vessel has been newly configured to carry just 350 guests in order to create an intimate and personal cruise holiday. there are lots of mediterranean cruises to choose from between april and october; most are longer than a fortnight allowing you more time to immerse yourself in the historic and cultural destinations, including a month-long voyage to the Greek isles and along the coast of turkey. You can combine voyages to africa with a three-day Kenyan safari visiting the nairobi national Park and elephant orphanage in December 2014 as part of the line’s many cruise tours. Winter also sees a 37-day Grand Voyage from nairobi to singapore calling at the idyllic seychelles, the maldives and Burma.

0845 437 9737; voyagestoantiquity.com

photos: © voyages to antiquity/rms st helena

VoyageS to antiquity

you can combine a cruise to africa with a three-day kenyan safari l and tour

RMS St Helena

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photo: ©

this is a very different style of cruising. RMS St Helena, one of the last working royal mail ships, takes you from cape town to the remote, volcanic British overseas territory of st Helena. only accessible by cruise ship, the island offers a rich colonial history coupled with dramatic landscapes and an abundance of endemic plantlife. the unique cargopassenger ship has regular sailings between cape town, st Helena and ascension island.

0207 575 6480; rms-st-helena.com 8 cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

featureD cruise line

Clockwise from left: Monks by the Shwedagon Pagoda, Burma; cruise on Aegean Odyssey; wildlife in Nairobi National Park

World treasures Get to the heart of destinations in Asia, Africa and the Indian Ocean with Voyages to Antiquity’s boutique-style ship Aegean Odyssey and their enticing cruise and land tours

photo: © voyages to antiquity/istock/palenque

I

f you’re keen to discover the history, art and culture of the world’s most fascinating destinations then Voyages to antiquity’s southeast asia 2014/15 winter voyages are for you.

You can really immerse yourself in the history of a destination with a holiday that combines traditional cruising with land tours to include some of the world’s most breathtaking sites, from architectural wonders like the angkor temples and sparkling pagodas of Burma to india’s Golden triangle and the lush rainforests of Borneo. cruises range from the 16-day Burma and the Treasures of Malaysia voyage which offers the opportunity to see the imperial capital of mandalay and glittering temples of Bagan, to the 43-day Grand Voyage from singapore to athens taking you to malacca – the centre of the spice trade – and Kandy, once home to sri lanka’s ancient kings. cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

the From Africa to Asia 22-day christmas and new Year voyage includes visits to the nairobi national Park and elephant orphanage, followed by a three-day Kenyan safari land tour. explore game drives through amboseli national Park and tsavo national Park before joining Voyages to antiquity’s ship Aegean Odyssey in mombasa.

You’ll spend christmas eve in Zanzibar and calls include Galle for the best-preserved 17th century Dutch fort in sri lanka, the seychelles and the maldives, concluding with a two-night hotel stay in colombo.

Aegean Odyssey’s small size allows it to visit ports right in the heart of a destination – including Ho chi minh city, Bangkok and Yangon. With an average of 350 guests, the ship offers a personal cruising experience with included shore excursions and a programme of lectures and discussions by celebrated guest speakers designed to bring

each wonderful site alive. Plus, the wood panelled library on board has carefully selected volumes covering the architecture, philosophy and history of the places that you’ll visit on your cruise.

Discover some of the world’s most beautiful scenery alongside historic treasures with a Voyages to antiquity cruise.

For more information on Voyages to Antiquity and its South-East Asia cruises, visit voyagestoantiquity.com or call 0845 437 9737

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adventure & specialist

swaN HelleNic the 350-passenger ship MV Minerva takes guests to remote villages and iconic coastlines while providing guest speakers and inclusive shore excursions. in swan Hellenic style, a christmas caribbean cruise takes a historic twist by focusing on sites like the stepped pyramid of Kukulcan and the remains of chichén itzá – the ancient centre of the great maya civilisation in mexico. cruises visit the Baltic in spring, iceland, norway, the Black sea and the med in summer and asia and the orient in winter. 0844 488 0719; swanhellenic.com

see great cities and monuments from ancient and modern worlds on MV Voyager, including a 14-day National Treasures and the British Isles voyage in may and longer cruises to asia and india. the 540-passenger ship has a pool and there are a host of guest speakers. 0844 273 4807; voyagesofdiscovery.co.uk

Noble caleDoNia small ship cruises on the flagships Caledonian Sky and Island Sky include island hopping in the azores, iceland’s glaciers and journeys to russia’s isolated White sea. noble caledonia charter another 23 ships with holidays ranging from antarctica and Falkland islands expeditions to cruises around scotland’s coastline. 0207 752 0000; noble-caledonia.co.uk 48 Cruise Planner 2014

gk cruises For a different cruise experience and an informal Freestyle cruising atmosphere, try GK Cruises and its yachtstyle voyages. they offer eight and 10-day cruise holidays including sicily (for taormina), malta and idyllic Greek islands like Kos, mykonos, rhodes and santorini.

00 356 3550 0442; gkcruises.com

Quark expeDitioNs six expedition ships are divided between the two poles. 50 Years of Victory can crush ice up to three metres thick, taking you where other ships can’t, while Ocean Diamond is a super-yacht. new for 2014/15 is antarctica’s Scott Arc, following the sub-marine mountain range. 0808 120 2333; quarkexpeditions.com 8 cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

photos: © swan hellenic/voyages of discovery/noble caledonia/orion expeditions/quark expeditions

Voyages of DiscoVery

25% o

for Crui ff Internat se io readersnal The perfect day out for those planning their next adventure

Credit: Paul Gaughin/ Star Clippers/ AP

We have teamed up with the new Telegraph Cruise Show, 10-12 January 2014, to offer Cruise International readers £12 tickets (25% off). With world leading, adventure and specialist cruise lines; and some of the world’s most desirable cruise destinations – this is an event not to be missed!

Whether you’re looking for a traditional ocean cruise, river cruise, adventure or themed cruise there is something for you.

Meet the leading cruise lines to discuss your perfect itinerary including Royal Caribbean, Silversea Cruises, P&O Cruises, Viking River Cruises, Cunard and Star Clippers.

writers including Anthony Horowitz, Judith Chalmers, Jane Archer and Dale Templar.

Or visit the Food & Wine Theatre for live demonstrations by leading chefs and sommeliers, the entertainment stage to watch world-class acts from modern ships and the free family zone which includes a rock climbing wall for kids.

Your ticket also includes free entrY to the london Boat show

Attend one of the many free talks by celebrity presenters and travel

Book your tickets today quoting CRT at telegraph.co.uk/cruiseshow or call 01666 511 532 cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

december /ja n ua ry 2014 |

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Clockwise from top left: Sandy Bay from the peaks; the snaking Fisher’s Valley; walk up to Longwood Barn from Napoleon’s house; cruising into the bay; RMS St Helena

Island adventures For a far-flung holiday with a difference, the tiny island of St Helena offers an intriguing and unique experience – and until its first airport opens in 2016, the only way to get there is by ship

W

ith its spectacular landscape and fascinating history, a voyage to the volcanic island of st Helena will appeal to anyone looking for something different for their next holiday. located in the south atlantic ocean and currently only accessible by ship, the British overseas territory is 1,500 miles north west of cape town and just 47 square miles in size – but offers a wealth of memorable holiday experiences. the island’s isolation is part of its charm. Whether you’re a history buff, an adventurer or a keen walker, you will find plenty to do and see.

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First discovered by the Portuguese in 1502 and later fortified by the east india company in the reign of elizabeth i, the island is steeped in colonial history. it’s perhaps best known as the place of napoleon’s exile in 1815 following the French defeat at Waterloo.

You can explore the former French emperor’s residences, longwood House and Briars Pavilion. there are great views of longwood from the site of edmond Halley’s observatory – where the english astronomer mapped the stars of the southern hemisphere in the 17th century. in the heart of the island you’ll find Plantation House, official residence of the cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

featured destination

St Helena’s diverse landscape includes lush valleys, multi-coloured desert ridges and towering cliffs overlooking the sea – and for magnificent views you can climb Diana’s Peak

photo: © st helena tourism/ed thorpe/marc lavaud/marclavaud.com

island’s governor and the world’s oldest living animal, a giant tortoise now more than 175 years old. the island’s capital Jamestown retains the atmosphere of a small, British country village with brightly-painted houses and Georgian architecture. Here you can climb the staircase known as Jacob’s ladder. it was built in 1829 to connect Jamestown to the former fort on ladder Hill, and those who climb the 699 steps are rewarded with fabulous views.

You can also visit the oldest anglican church in the southern hemisphere; dating back to 1774 st James’ church was built near the site of the original Portuguese chapel. or take a trip to the st Helena distillery to see how tungi spirit, White lion spiced rum and midnight mist coffee liqueur are created. st Helena’s diverse landscape includes lush valleys, multi-coloured desert ridges and towering cliffs overlooking the sea. diana’s Peak is the highest point on st Helena, where you can find magnificient views and it’s here, in the national Park, that many of the island’s endemic plant species live. st Helena’s isolation and tropical climate has fostered 40 species of plants unique to the island, many of which are being preserved thanks to the st Helena national trust, while the Bourbon coffee plant grown here, originally imported from the Yemen, is popular around the world – and look out for the island’s only native bird, the Wirebird, on deadwood Plain. there are just 4,000 people living on st Helena, known as saints, and they always have a friendly welcome for visitors. and with regular sailings throughout the year on board the 155-berth RMS St Helena between

cape town, st Helena and ascension island, the journey to this extraordinary place is an integral part of the st Helena experience. this is a voyage with a difference. the RMS St Helena is one of the last working royal mail ships, but offers passengers superb levels of comfort. relax on deck with a cocktail and a book from the well-stocked library, swim in the outdoor pool, take part in traditional deck games (including the occasional cricket match) or indulge in afternoon tea. sixcourse dinners are served in the ship’s dining saloon and a traditional seafaring beef tea is available every day in the sun lounge.

You’ll meet saints on board, as well as other holidaymakers, creating an informal atmosphere where it’s easy to make friends during the five days at sea from cape town to st Helena. a cruise to the island of st Helena is a truly extraordinary holiday experience.

For more information on the island of St Helena visit sthelenatourism.com or email enquiries@tourism.co.sh. For a brochure, schedules, special offers and more on the RMS St Helena call 0207 575 6480 or see rms-st-helena.com

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Discover the WorlD in comfort anD style

Romantic Danube

imPeRiaL JeWeLS oF cHina

WateRWaYS oF tHe tSaRS

8 days, 6 guided tours Budapest to Nuremberg Prices from only £1,345pp

14 days, 11 guided tours Shanghai to Beijing Prices from only £2,745pp

13 days, 11 guided tours Moscow to St. Petersburg Prices from only £2,845pp

Call now on 020 8780 7900 to find out more or visit www.vikingrivercruises.co.uk to request a FREE brochure All prices and offers are subject to change and availability and include booking discounts. Terms and conditions apply.

xxx

River

A leisurely way to discover the world, with plenty of opportunities to disembark and explore

Uniworld

photo: © uniworld boutique river cruise collection

the all-inclusive uniworld Boutique river cruise collection offers a high-end luxury experience with sumptuous interiors designed by its sister company, the five-star red carnation Hotels group and you can pamper yourself in the serenity river spa. new river ship SS Catherine will take you along the rhône and the saône rivers in 2014. uniworld, in partnership with titan, offers a ViP Home Departure service for door-to-door transfers and complimentary choice is Yours alternative excursions. there are two new Bordeaux river cruises for 2014 and the line’s 18 ships cover europe, russia, china, Vietnam and cambodia. 0800 988 5867; uniworldrivercruises.co.uk8 cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

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river

Viking RiVeR CRuises

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photos: © viking river cruises

Viking river cruises broke a Guinness world record in 2013 by launching eight river ships in one naming ceremony; in 2014 a total of 14 new ships will join the fleet. the new longships epitomise the best of scandinavian design with sleek staircases, solar panels and organic herb gardens on the large sun decks. there are cruises along europe’s major rivers, russia and the ukraine and china’s Yangtze. in 2014 there’s a new 16-day Memories of Mandalay cruise exploring south-east asia along the mekong river. 0208 780 7900; vikingrivercruises.co.uk 8 cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

Deluxe

featured cruise line

river cruising Discover the world’s most fascinating regions, from European hot spots to far-flung destinations, on board Avalon Waterways’ luxurious collection of Suite Ships

A

pproaching a destination by river is a magical experience, made all the more fabulous on a deluxe river ship. avalon Waterways has three new sleek suite ships for 2014. Avalon Poetry II, Avalon Impression and Avalon Illumination will feature two full decks of suites with wall-to-wall panoramic windows that slide to create an open-air balcony. the state-of-the-art vessels will have, like their sister ships, enhanced soundproofing, designer lighting and elegant polished metal and glass throughout. there’s plenty of space to relax in an avalon Panorama suite or royal suite – 30% larger than the industry standard – with comfort collection beds and large bathrooms with l’occitane bath products.

Clockwise from top left: watch the Amazon River pass you by from your suite on Aria; enjoy breakfast in the sitting area by your open-air balcony; Avalon Artistry II

Sit baCk and relax

from start to finish avalon take care of all travel arrangements, with a private door-to-door pick-up service, return flights or eurostar travel and all airport transfers are included.

and golf in austria and Bavaria and a yoga and wellness cruise on the danube – all new for 2014. meanwhile the worldwide cruise selection features iconic sites like the angkor Wat temples on the mekong and the Great Wall of china on a Yangtze river cruise, plus the mighty mississippi river.

CruiSing the amazon

avalon will be sailing on the amazon river for the first time in 2014 on brand new ship Aria, featuring just 16 deluxe suites with en-suite sitting area, floorto-ceiling panoramic windows and iPod/mP3 docks. enjoy a selection of fine wines on the sun deck or in the boutique dining room with menus designed by renowned Peruvian chef Pedro miguel schiaffino. take in the history and culture of the world’s river banks from the luxury of an avalon ship.

FaSCinating deStinationS

there are a host of fabulous destinations to visit with avalon, complete with expert local guides. on the famous dutch waterways and the rhine, moselle, rhône, main, danube and seine rivers you can explore rich european history. combine your special interests with a range of themed cruises including beer tasting cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

The 12-day From the Inca Empire to the Peruvian Amazon cruise starts from £5,499pp with departures from February to December 2014. For more information on Avalon’s river cruises call 0808 115 4898 or see avaloncruises.co.uk

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river

AvAlon WAterWAys three new spacious suite ships join the fleet in 2014. Avalon Poetry II, Illumination and Impression will offer state-of-the-art design with two full decks of suites featuring wall-to-wall panoramic windows that slide to create open-air balconies. cruises include europe’s rivers plus exotic trips to china, cambodia and Vietnam and the mississippi river. avalon will sail the amazon for the first time from February to December 2014 on the luxurious 16-suite Aria and there’s a selection of new themed european cruises too.

0808 115 2927; avaloncruises.co.uk

avalon’s new ships have two full decks of suites with wall-to-wall windows that slide to create open-air balconies

Croisieurope

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photos: © avalon waterways/croisieurope

the French family-run river cruise line goes all-inclusive on all european cruises in 2014. the fleet consists of 30 elegant ships and barges. most vessels are less than five years old and carry 100 to 180 passengers. as well as the traditional european river cruise routes, MS La Belle de Cadix sails on the Guadiana on the Portuguesespanish border and the Guadalquivir passing through seville and córdoba, while you can visit the temples of ankor on a mekong river cruise on board MS Indochine.

0208 328 1281; croisieurope.travel 8 cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

2014

A deluxe, all-inclusive river cruise experience without equal* With door-to-door transfers from wherever you live in the UK†

The World’s Best River Cruises EUROPE | RU

S S I A | C H I NA | V I E T N A M & CA M B OD I A

With a reputation built on delivering the highest standards of river cruising excellence, Uniworld’s ‘six-star experience’ encompasses the six core values that lie at the heart of these remarkable holidays. Showcasing their unparalleled expertise, Uniworld handle all onboard operations with the utmost care and attention, while the motto ‘no request too large, no detail too small’ promises a level of personal service that goes beyond extraordinary.

Every vessel in Uniworld’s fleet is one of a kind - luxurious ships uniquely designed in partnership with sister company, Red Carnation Hotels, and the culinary experience on board provides a tempting array of gastronomic delights day after day. A full programme of included and alternative excursions offer a world of choice and, for complete peace of mind, there can be no substitute for Uniworld’s truly all-inclusive European cruises.

NEW BROCHURE OUT NOW

Call FREE on 0808 115 9427 to request your brochure quoting CI4 5DU or visit www.titantravel.co.uk/uniworld Opening times: Mon & Tue 8.30am – 7pm, Wed – Fri 8.30am – 6pm, Sat 9am – 5pm

T’s & C’s apply. Calls free from BT landlines, mobiles may vary. * All-inclusive applies to European itineraries only, excluding Russia. † Excludes Scottish islands and Sark

Riverboat queens Sail the Mississippi, Columbia and Snake rivers on American Queen Steamboat Company’s luxurious riverboats and uncover a wealth of history, culture and beautiful landscapes

T Clockwise from top left: enjoy the views in comfort; musical revue; fine dining; luxury coach; American Queen

he mighty rivers of the us once served as the great highways of early exploration and inspired dreams of discovery. today, the american queen steamboat company recreates the same sense of wonder, excitement and inspiration with the added comforts of modern luxury on board elegant riverboats, American Queen and American Empress. their spectacular river cruises take you through america’s Heartland and the Deep south on the mighty mississippi river; or follow the route of legendary explorers in the Pacific northwest, discovering unique perspectives on america’s history, culture and landscape that you can’t get anywhere else: up close, in-depth and unforgettable. longer than a football pitch and towering six decks in height, American Queen is the largest riverboat in the world and a marvel of modern engineering. laced with charming gingerbread trim, fluted stacks and a giant

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Resplendent in polished mahogany, rich fabrics and antebellum décor, American Queen embodies the southern charm and romance of Mark Twain’s prose cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

featured cruise line

Sample itinerary aMeriCa’s

southern Culture An American Queen 10-day cruise on the Lower Mississippi River departing in March 2014, visiting New Orleans, Louisiana; Oak Alley, Louisiana; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; St Francisville, Louisiana; Natchez, Mississippi; Vicksburg, Mississippi; Helena, Arkansas; Memphis, Tennessee starts at £1,888.06pp, based on double occupancy (not including airfare, port charges, taxes or gratuities).

Sample itinerary MagnifiCent

PaCifiC northwest

photos: © american queen steamboat company

A nine-day cruise on American Empress, departing in April 2014, journeys along the Columbia and Snake rivers, visiting Portland, Oregon; Astoria, Oregon; Stevenson, Washington; The Dalles, Oregon; Sacajawea State Park, Washington; and Clarkston, Washington, starts at £2,350.02pp, based on double occupancy (not including airfare, port charges, taxes or gratuities).

red paddlewheel, it’s a sight to behold. resplendent in polished mahogany, rich fabrics, tiffany glass and antebellum décor, the ship’s interiors are equally exceptional.

American Queen embodies the southern charm, hospitality and romance of mark twain’s prose.

American Empress is also stunning. it’s smaller than American Queen, which adds to the intimacy and allows for manoeuvring through the narrow gorges of the columbia and snake rivers, but the staterooms are all outside and large. itineraries celebrate the rich tradition of exploration in the Pacific northwest, retracing the footsteps of lewis and clark’s illustrious expedition, corps of discovery. travelling in the wake of legends, guests are transported to an era of leisurely and romantic travel. the welcoming appearance of both vessels is richly complemented by a hospitable culture of gracious service, rousing entertainment and refreshingly authentic experiences. night after night, top entertainers perform dazzling musical revues, new orleans jazz, memphis blues, cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

ragtime, country, rock and roll, and so much more. Guest historians often take the stage providing insights on the culture, traditions and stories of each picturesque port town. the onboard experience is divine, with the crew taking genuine delight in ensuring that every guest feels right at home. the boat is outstanding, but the included shore excursions in every port complete the experience. Whether it’s an included hop-on hop-off guided circuit of a town’s hot spots, or a complimentary southern plantation tour, the american Queen steamboat company’s signature luxury motor coaches and knowledgeable local guides deliver a consistently exceptional experience.

Purchased premium excursions provide more in-depth experiences tailored to your specific interests from civil War battlefields to elvis Presley’s Graceland mansion. the food on board is simply exquisite. from perfectly prepared traditional fare to inventive delicacies, each bite is an affair to remember. local ingredients showcase the varied cultural influences of ports of call. menu choices are abundant and include

everything from decadent Bananas foster french toast to succulent five-course dinners.

Whether it be gravadlax in dill and mustard sauce accompanied by Beef Wellington, or crawfish beignet followed by confit of duck with fig and lemon preserves, a sumptuous array of selections is presented every evening. regardless of which riverboat and region captures your imagination, a holiday with the american Queen steamboat company is unlike any other. nature’s beauty and a historical tapestry are on full display for your enlightenment and enjoyment. step aboard and get acquainted with the united states of america’s hidden treasures in peerless comfort and luxurious style.

For more information on cruising with American Queen, call 01223 568904 or visit lightbluetravel.co.uk

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river

scEnic tours

EmErald WatErWays this new river cruise line launches Emerald Sky in april and Emerald Star in June. aimed at a younger guest, the 182-passenger ships will have a swimming pool with retractable roof that converts into a cinema space. cruises will focus on the Danube, main, moselle and rhine rivers and Dutch waterways.

0800 270 7017; emeraldwaterways.co.uk 60 Cruise Planner 2014

amErican QuEEn stEamboat company For a nostalgic river cruise with a twist, paddle steamer American Queen combines modern-day luxury with authentic Victorian charm – there’s the engine room Bar, a Front Porch café and american-style cuisine. cruises take you along the mighty mississippi river, visiting key sites like the civil War battle fields in Vicksburg and elvis Presley’s Graceland home in memphis. American Empress also sails the Pacific northwest. 01223 568904; lightbluetravel.co.uk 8 cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

photos: © emerald waterways/american queen steamboat copany/scenic tours

in 2013 Scenic Jewel joined the all-inclusive scenic “space-ship” fleet, featuring outdoor balconies that convert into all-weather sun lounges, six onboard dining restaurants and a Port laurent marble bar. there’s butler service for all guests, scenic Freechoice excursions and scenic enrich events like a private Viennese concert in Palais liechtenstein. cruises sail in europe and russia, with the 19-day Treasures of Europe’s Waterways taking you all the way from Budapest to amsterdam.

0808 115 9434; scenictours.co.uk

2014 River Cruising

Fully-inclusive from door to door From delectable dining to tipping for land and cruise staff, an APT luxury river cruise really does include everything you need for the perfect holiday. And with included home-to-airport transfers by private car#, your adventure begins the moment you leave your front door.

Enriching sightseeing

Whether it’s discovering iconic treasures, enjoying private performances or sampling regional delights, a wide range of guided tours and sightseeing excursions await – all at no extra cost.

Delectable dining

All delicious meals onboard your cruise are included.

Enjoy fine dining from menus created by our master chefs that reflect regional flavours and use the finest fresh local ingredients.

Luxurious accommodation

Onboard drinks

Enjoy a fantastic onboard experience, with impeccable service, stylish surroundings, world-class amenities, and a choice of elegant, spacious balcony suites.

Wine, beer and soft drinks are included at lunch and dinner on every luxury cruise – and on Royal Collection and Mekong cruises, you’ll enjoy unlimited complimentary beverages† on board.

All the fine details

Door to door travel

All tipping, taxes, port charges, luggage porterage and overseas transfers are included, saving you as much as £1,157 per couple over a 15 day cruise.

Enjoy a smooth journey from start to finish with included private home-to-airport transfers# and return flights aboard quality airlines. Or if you prefer, travel by rail on a selection of Europe cruises‡.

EUROPE

VIETNAM & CAMBODIA

CHINA

Savour the spectacular scenery and iconic attractions of Europe’s heartland on a comprehensive range of luxury cruises along the spectacular Rhine, Main and Danube rivers, the Rhone in France, and the Douro in Portugal.

Experience the delights of Vietnam and Cambodia in unparalleled luxury. Centred around a captivating cruise along the Mekong, you'll explore bustling cities, floating markets and visit remote villages accessible only by water.

Combining a luxurious Yangtze River cruise with the finest guided touring, you’ll discover the ancient cities, distinctive culture and stunning scenery of one of the world’s oldest and most fascinating civilisations in unprecedented style.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, OR TO BOOK CALL ABTA No.V9080

0845 602 1137

visit www.aptouring.co.uk/cruising or see your travel agent

GUIDED TOURS & RIVER CRUISES

Reservations Hours: Monday to Friday 9.00 am – 5.30 pm, Saturday 10.00 am – 5.00 pm

#Complimentary home-to-airport transfers are included on Luxury river cruises. Available within a 75 driven mile radius of selected UK departure airports and must be requested at the time of booking. No cash alternative available. †Unlimited complimentary beverages available on board all Royal Collection cruises in Europe, and on board the RV AmaLotus in Vietnam & Cambodia. Excludes French Champagne, premium spirits and selected premium wines. ‡Rail Supplement may apply. UK0107

Luxury River Cruises Danube | Main | Rhine | Moselle | Seine | Rhône | Mississippi | Mekong | Yangtze | Galápagos | Amazon

NEW The most innovative fleet on Europe’s rivers

SHIPS

For 2014 we will continue to offer you the most innovative and modern fleet on Europe’s rivers, adding 3 more brand new Suite Ships; the Avalon Illumination, Avalon Impression and Avalon Poetry II, each offering state of the art design, generous sized staterooms and suites and floor to ceiling panoramic windows to bring the outside in.

Save up to £1000* per couple

All our European cruises include...

Experience the best of Holland and Belgium with guided sightseeing trips, and an Amsterdam canal cruise, all from your luxury Avalon ship.

Private home pick-up service in an executive car to and from chosen departure airport or station†.

Tulip Time

- 8 days - Holland and Belgium

✓ Included ✓ Included

Full board dining with free flowing regional wines and beer with dinner, plus complimentary soft drinks with lunch and all day beverage station.

Cruise Highlights: · Amsterdam · Keukenhof Gardens · Kinderdijk · Delta Works nr Veere · Middelburg · Ghent · Antwerp · Maastricht

✓ Included

From £1,375 pp - Save up to £1,000* per couple Departures Mar – Apr 2014

✓ Included

Sightseeing with expert local guides to must see stunning locations and individual audio systems for all guided shore excursions.

✓ Included

Gratuities for Cruise Director and crew so there are no hidden costs or expenses.

✓ Included Fully packaged holiday with scheduled flights, transfers and port charges so everything is taken care of for you.

Service of a professional Cruise Director to help and support you plus on board lec tures, local entertainers and ac tivities.

Look online or call us FREE for savings and for all our worldwide cruises

Call us FREE on 0808 115 3062 • Visit www.avaloncruises.co.uk We are a member of ABTA and all our flight inclusive holidays are protected by ATOL. *£1000 per couple saving based on new bookings made before 31st January 2013 on selected departures. †This service is available if you live within 75 miles of your chosen departure airport or Eurostar station, if you live further than 75 miles away you can still take advantage of this offer by paying the excess mileage at £1.70 per mile. All offers are subject to availability for new bookings only and can be withdrawn at any time. For further details please see your brochure or our website.

All details are correct to time of supply (November 2013).

ABTA No.V3031 COSMOS COACH

COSMOS COACH

river

Göta kanal

photo: ©© RedeRi AB GötA KAnAl/AmAwAteRwAys/Apt/pAuKAn cRuises photos:

the swedish company’s ships include Juno, a steamship launched in 1874, and the world’s oldest registered ship with overnight accommodation. slightly newer are Wilhelm Tham built in 1912 and the listed Diana. all sail the 120-mile, 58-lock Göta canal through countryside from Gothenburg to stockholm. +46 031 80 63 15; götacanal.se

Paukan Cruises operated by the ayravata cruise company, based in myanmar (Burma), Paukan’s cruises are on the 1947-built luxury steamer RV Paukan, or two teak-built modern ships. on the Golden Myanmar cruise you can sail along the irrawaddy, from the city of Prome where the roots of the Bamar civilization can be found, through Bagan with its 3,000 temples and pagodas to the royal capitals of mandalay, amarapura and ava (or inwa). a 10-day Grand Voyage sails along the less-travelled chindwin river. +95 1 380877; ayravatacruises.com

amaWaterWays

aPt

AmaSonata (for the Danube and rhine) and AmaReina (dedicated to the Enchanting Rhine itinerary) will launch in 2014, both featuring a heated swimming pool with swim-up bar, massage and beauty salon and bicycles for exploring on shore. the new 76-passenger AmaPura will launch in the autumn to sail the irrawaddy and explore Burma, while there’s a new 12-night Rivers and Rails of Africa itinerary including two nights on board the rovos rail luxury train.

0808 223 5009; amawaterways.co.uk

this all-inclusive cruise line uses amaWaterways’ ships; there are the signature experiences to complement your sightseeing and butler service on all royal collection and mekong voyages. cruise along the moselle, seine, Douro, rhône, rhine, main and Danube rivers, plus there are Vietnam and cambodia voyages. russian cruises include the svir river – linking europe’s two largest lakes – and the Volga that runs through many of russia’s famous Golden ring cities. 0845 603 6738; aptouring.co.uk

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boutique If you want to see the world in style, Uniworld, winner of Best Luxury River Cruise Line at the Cruise International Awards 2013, offers an exceptionally elegant river cruise experience

L

ove the finer things in life? titan, in exclusive association with uniworld Boutique river cruise collection, offers all-inclusive six-star river cruising, a truly luxurious way to see the world.

Six-Star exPerienCe StyliSh ShipS

once on board uniworld’s river cruise ships, designed by sister company red carnation Hotels, you’ll feel like you’re in a floating luxury boutique hotel.

SophiSticated cruiSing

You can relax with a massage in the serenity river spa or sip cocktails with fellow guests as you sail through some of the world’s most iconic destinations.

home away from home

no request is too small on board your uniworld ship. With a high staff-to-guest ratio, building strong relationships with all guests is at uniworld’s core.

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gourmet food

From brunch, to a glamorous afternoon tea as soon as you board, uniworld provides an exquisite dining experience and has earned the coveted top Dining award from Zagat cruise lines survey.

amazing itinerarieS

explore a fabulous selection of destinations with uniworld whether in europe, the vast network of rivers, lakes and canals in russia, or exotic asia. there’s a wealth of innovative shore excursions and tours and you can personalise your cruise with the choice is Yours alternative excursions. or choose uniworld Go active shore activities, including cycle rides along the river on their complimentary bikes.

truly all-incluSive

uniworld’s cruises are all-inclusive on every european itinerary (excluding russia), meaning that once you’re on board everything is taken care of, from unlimited beverages on board, including an extensive selection cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

Promotion

Clockwise from left: Take the new Bordeaux, Vineyards and Châteaux cruise on River Royale; relax in comfort; enjoy the al fresco dining terrace; complimentary door-to-door transfers

You can explore a fabulous selection of destinations with uniworld, from the vast network of rivers in cultural europe to exotic asia of wines and regional beers, to a full programme of shore excursions, flights, airport and port taxes and fine dining with freshly sourced local ingredients.

VIP Home DeParture SerVICe titan make your holiday a relaxing experience from start to finish with their complimentary ViP Home Departure service, winner of Best cruise Product or service at the cruise international awards 2013, offering door-to-door transfers.

photo: © uniworld boutique river cruise collection

New SHIP for 2014 ss catherine will start sailing the rhône and saône rivers in 2014. this new ship will be one of uniworld’s largest vessels and there are some whimsical touches, such as the leopard lounge with its unique print furnishings, as well as classic features like the al fresco dining terrace, bistro restaurant and clever use of mirrors throughout. the eight-day Burgundy and Provence cruise on SS Catherine costs from £2,149pp based on the 9 november 2014 departure (saving £250 if booked before 31 December 2013).

BorDeaux, VINeyarDS aND CHateaux CruISe uniworld’s River Royale will be sailing a new eight-day Bordeaux, Vineyards and Châteaux cruise travelling cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

along the Garonne, Gironde and Dordogne rivers.

You’ll visit beautiful châteaux, including the 16thcentury château de monbazillac with fabulous views over the Dordogne river, explore the farmers’ market in Bergerac, sail through vine-clad hillsides and have the opportunity to sample wines from each region, such as the sweet sauternes wine enjoyed in one of cadillac’s finest estates. this cruise costs from £2,099pp based on the 9 november 2014 departure (saving £500 if booked before 31 December 2013). uniworld offers a cruise holiday bursting with culture, while allowing you to appreciate the everchanging scenery of the river from the comfort of an elegant, luxurious river ship.

For more information on Titan/Uniworld visit titantravel.co.uk/uniworld

Cruise Planner 2014

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new ships

New ships for 2014

There are some incredible ocean and river cruise ships launching in the year ahead – Nick Dalton has the lowdown

Norwegian Getaway Launches: February 2014 The 4,000-passenger family ship Norwegian Getaway, from Norwegian Cruise Line, is an entertainment hothouse, with the chance to see award-winners perform at the Grammy Experience. There’s also a three-story sports complex with water park and fireworks on every sailing. Add to that 27 dining options and accommodation for everyone from singles to families, and you have quite a ship.

A nine-night Eastern Caribbean fly-cruise from Miami on board Norwegian Getaway with return flights from London Heathrow to Miami, departing 21 February 2014, costs from £1,524pp, based on two people sharing an inside stateroom.

Ports of call include Phillipsburg (St Maarten), St Thomas (US Virgin Islands) and Nassau (Bahamas) (01612 362 444; ncl.co.uk).

PHoTo: © NoRwEGIAN CRUISE LINE/VIkING RIVER CRUISES

Viking Longships Launches: March, August & September 2014 There are 14 – yes 14 – new Viking Longships joining the fleet in 2014, bringing the total number of vessels an astonishing 30, all built within the past three years.

Two – Viking Hemming and Viking Torgvil – are being built exclusively to sail on the River Douro in Portugal and have an outdoor pool. The remainder will be sailing on the rivers of central Europe. The revolutionary Longships carry 190 passengers and feature everything from solar panels to an organic herb garden. At the bow is the Aquavit Terrace, an open-air drinking and dining area that sweeps into the lounge when the full-width glass walls are folded back. Many rooms have balconies, French balconies, or both, and there’s a large sun deck with putting green.

A 10-day River of Gold cruise, with Lisbon tour and port and wine tastings, costs from £1,645pp (November), from Porto including flights, tours and wine with dinner (0800 319 6660; vikingrivercruises.co.uk). 8 cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

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AmaReina and AmaSonata Launches: March & April 2014 The luxury ships AmaReina (March) and AmaSonata (April), both carrying 164 passengers will take to the Rhine and the Danube. Both feature suites and staterooms with private balconies as well as French balconies, an outdoor heated, pool with swim-up bar and a fleet of bicycles for free use, plus complimentary wine with dinner – the perfect way to relax after your ride.

AmaReina’s first sailing, on 6 April, starts at £2,290pp, including flights, excursions, wine with dinner and sparkling wine with breakfast (0845 603 6738; aptouring.co.uk).

Avalon’s Suite Ships Launches: March & May 2014 Three launches take Avalon’s fleet of Suite Ships to eight. Avalon Poetry II and Avalon Impression in March and Avalon Illumination, in May, take to the Danube, Rhine and other central European rivers.

The ships’ all-suite accommodation – with floor-to-ceiling windows that slide back to turn rooms into balconies – is combined with great views from the main restaurant.

An 11-day Legendary Danube cruise on Avalon Poetry II, departing regularly from March to November, sailing between Nuremberg and Budapest including visits to Vienna, Passau and Prague, starts at £2,725pp including flights, excursions, wine with dinner and home pick-up service (0808 115 2757; avaloncruises.co.uk).

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new ships

SS Catherine Launches: April 2014

photo: © amawaterways/avalon waterways/uniworld boutique river cruise collection/emerald waterways

uniworld’s ss antoinette was the height of river cruise luxury – French châteauinspired décor, indoor pool – but it will soon have sister ship ss catherine to contend with. the new arrival will also feature interior design by sister company boutique red carnation hotels and will also have glass balconies that convert into conservatories at the touch of a button. there will be an outdoor dining area, perfect for the rhône and saône in burgundy. despite being one of the biggest ships on europe’s rivers it will carry only 159 passengers. titan, in partnership with uniworld, has an eight-day burgundy and provence cruise sailing from lyon to avignon on 6 april from £2,399pp including a £200 saving if booked before 31 december (0800 988 5867; titantravel.co.uk/uniworld).

Emerald Waterways Launches: April 2014 europe’s new river cruise company is aiming for a younger crowd with its two contemporary ships: emerald star and emerald sky. there’s a heated swimming pool with retractable roof – and the space turns into a cinema later on – a poolside bar and you can dine al fresco or in the horizon bar with views out of the floor-to-ceiling windows. an eight-day danube delights river cruise sailing from nuremberg to budapest, departing 1 november, starts at £1,395pp including flights, excursions and wine with dinner (0800 756 2090; emeraldwaterways.co.uk). 8

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new ships Scenic Gem and Scenic Jade Launches: April & May 2014 two more hi-tech space-ships join the fleet in 2014. scenic Gem, carrying 126 passengers, becomes the biggest river ship on the seine in april and the only one built for the pretty stretch from honfleur to rouen. cruises depart and return to paris, so you see the entire length of the river. scenic Jade, for 169 passengers, will stick to the rhine, Main and Danube, and has a new itinerary along the Danube Delta. the ships offer allinclusive trips with drinks, excursions and a butler for every guest. an 11-night Gems of the seine cruise starts at £4,490pp (16 october), including flights or eurostar (0800 270 7186; scenictours.co.uk).

Regal Princess Launches: May 2014 regal princess is the sister ship to royal princess, launched by the Duchess of cambridge last summer. carrying 3,560 passengers, regal princess will also have a seaWalk glass-bottomed walkway curving out from the ship 128ft above the ocean as well as an even bigger atrium, with new bellini’s cocktail bar, princess’s biggest top-deck pool and improved Movies under the stars outdoor screen. there will be the usual princess delights – sanctuary spa, crown Grill steakhouse, alfredo’s pizzeria – and every outside room has a balcony. but will pippa be godmother? cruising the Med, its second sailing – a six-night cruise departing 27 May – takes the ship from athens back to Venice, calling at Katakolon (Greece), the island of santorini, Kusadasi (turkey) and Dubrovnik (croatia). prices start at £913pp cruise only and £1,097pp including flights (0843 373 0333; princess.com).

you’ll be able to look down on the top deck of royal caribbean’s Quantum of the seas from north star – a pod on a crane-like arm that swings 300ft above the sea. there’ll be the first bumper cars at sea in seaplex and a skydiving simulator. indoor rooms, for 4,180 passengers, have a virtual window showing a real-time film of the sea. Quantum will be sailing from the us; an eight-night bahamas cruise departs cape liberty on 12 December 2014 and costs from £1,531pp including flights (0844 493 2061; royalcaribbean.co.uk).

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photo: © scenic tours/princess cruises/royal caribbean international

Quantum of the Seas Launches: November 2014

TUUKK A ERVA STI/ IM AG

The world´s easiest job?

Postcard photographer in Stockholm.

EBAN K SWED EN

N EDE

K SW BAN AGE

/ IM SON ERIC OLA

ORK CRUISE NETW

RS BO ARD

VISITO

STOCKHOLM

KHOLM

STOC

AMSSON/ PER-ERIK AD

Most places in the world have their charms and their beauty but sometimes you have to squint a little. And then there is Stockholm. Built on 14 islands with sparkling blue water in every direction, you get history, culture and stunning scenery everywhere you look.

Come and see for yourself. More inspiration on www.visitstockholm.com

small-ship cruises to

ancient civilisations SPRING/SUMMER

2014

classical Mediterranean From the ruins of Pompeii to monumental Sicily and the classical elegance of Greece, Voyages to Antiquity brings to life the history, art and cultures of Western civilisation aboard our ship, Aegean Odyssey.

13 TO 28-DAY CRUISE-TOURS

WINTER

CALL NOW FOR A BROCHURE

2014 /15

Africa, india & southeast asia

From an included 3-day safari in Kenya and the serene splendour of Angkor Wat in Cambodia to the grandeur of the Taj Mahal and the floating markets of Bangkok, each of the itineraries in our winter programme will take you on a voyage you will never forget.

16 TO 24-DAY CRUISE-TOURS

Our philosophy is simple: to enhance your understanding

of the history and culture of the places you will visit whilst enjoying the comfort of our elegant small ship,Aegean Odyssey.

Thanks to the destination-rich itineraries, included shore excursions and award-winning lecture programme, you're bound to return home brimming with knowledge. And with so much included – our cruises offer unparalleled value – you'll wish you'd discovered us sooner.

Proud recipients of the 2012/13 awards.

Thank you for voting for us!

V OYAGES A NTIQUITY TO

10093

0845 437 9737 www.voyagestoantiquity.com ABTA No.Y2206

photos: Š uniworld boutique river cruise collection

Destinations 2014

From Hawaii to Ho Chi Minh City, St Petersburg to Sydney, and Belfast to Buenos Aires, cruise holidays offer unparalleled opportunities to discover incredible countries, cities and islands. Here Deborah Stone takes you on a world tour of the hottest destinations for the year ahead

cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

october / nov ember 2013 |

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photos: Š istock/richard watson/simple scilly/peter kiss/shaiith

Clockwise, from left: Edinburgh; the Giant’s Causeway, County Antrim; Amsterdam; the beaches in Normandy

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DESTINATION GUIDE BRITAIN & IRELAND NORTHERN EUROPE

BRITAIN & IRELAND

Round Britain and Ireland cruises are becoming increasingly popular with holidaymakers keen to explore our fascinating regional diversity.

One of the most popular ports of call in 2014 will be Belfast, which is set to open its new cruise terminal in April. It’s within walking distance of the booming Titanic Quarter, with its award-winning museum, and a coach ride away from the stunning Giant’s Causeway in County Antrim.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Line will have Belfast departures in August and September, another boost to the growing appetite for cruising from Ireland.

Viking and Celtic heritage are popular themes, inspiring a number of cruises. Swan Hellenic has a new 12-day Celtic Coast cruise in May that calls at unusual ports such as Lundy Island, off Devon, and Holy Loch, in Argyll and Bute.

and the Baltic, and Independence of the Seas and Adventure of the Seas will be sailing out from Southampton.

Meanwhile, Voyages of Discovery is teaming up with The National Trust for a 14-day National Treasures of the British Isles cruise and Hebridean Island Cruises offers walking holidays such as its sevennight Footloose to the Lochs and Isles cruise calling at Oban, Mull, Ockle, Inverie, Kyle of Lochalsh, Raasay and Eigg.

NORTHERN EUROPE

The 100th anniversary of the start of the World War I and 70th anniversary of World War II’s D-Day Landings will be dominating new itineraries for northern Europe in 2014.

Both ocean and river cruises will have voyages taking in the Normandy beaches where British, Canadian and American troops landed in 1944.

all the way to Honfleur so that it is within striking distance of the Normandy Landings beaches and Somme battlefields, as well as offering a chance to explore Paris properly.

Many of northern Europe’s major cities will also have tours linked with the wars.

Thomson has an Experience Amsterdam cruise in August departing from Newcastle that offers an “Anne Frank House and City Tour”. This gives an insight into the Nazi occupation of Holland, and you can see Achterhuis, the back room where Anne’s family hid for two years.

Germany and Austria are important river cruise destinations thanks to the mighty River Rhine and beautiful Blue Danube, both of which have fascinating riverside towns and historic cities to explore including Cologne, Budapest and Vienna.

However, river cruise lines are increasingly introducing themed cruises, such as Avalon Waterways’ two new themes for its nine-day

PHOTOS: © JOHN KELLERMAN/ALAMY/GETTY IMAGES/SIMON GREENWOOD/PATRICK BATCHELDER/ALAMY

ANNIVERSARIES FOR THE TWO WORLD WARS WILL DOMINATE ITINERARIES FOR BOTH OCEAN AND RIVER CRUISES IN NORTHERN EUROPE IN 2014 Meanwhile Thomson Cruises has a new seven-night Celtic Connection round-trip for 2014 from its new base at Liverpool, over to Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man. Liverpool’s cruise terminal will be transferring to the Cunard Building at Pier Head on the River Mersey in 2014, with cruises starting and finishing at the UNESCOlisted waterfront near the new Museum of Liverpool and the Mersey Ferries Terminal which now houses The Beatles Story.

Other companies using the new terminal for turnaround cruises include Fred. Olsen and Cruise and Maritime Voyages, which will both also use Bristol Avonmouth cruise terminal in 2014.

Another regional cruise terminal success is Harwich International Port, which has its own railway station and is used for departures by Fred. Olsen, Thomson Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Voyages of Discovery.

Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas will sail from Harwich to Norway, Iceland CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM

Avalon Waterways has a Paris to Normandy’s Landing Beaches along the River Seine, a return trip that focuses on the D-Day Landings but also takes in other popular River Seine destinations such as the artist village of Auvers-sur-Oise and Monet’s gardens at Giverny as well as the cathedral city of Rouen.

Swan Hellenic’s D-Day 70th Anniversary cruise in June visits World War I sites such as Ypres, a medieval Flanders city that was rebuilt after the Great War, and calls at Dunkirk, where thousands of British troops were rescued during World War II, as well as sailing to Normandy for the anniversary.

This, and other cruises to France, will visit Le Havre, which was flattened during World War II and later rebuilt in a Modernist style and has now been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Scenic Tours will have a new ship sailing the River Seine from Paris in 2014, Scenic Gem, which has been specially designed to sail past Rouen into the tidal area of the river

Austrian Highlights and Bavaria cruises. As well as visiting the Imperial city of Vienna and picturesque riverside towns of Dürnstein – in the wine-growing region of the Wachau Valley – Melk, Grein, Linz and Passau, golf enthusiasts will love the July cruise, which offers golf courses as well as cultural highlights, and beer connoisseurs will jump at the October beer-tasting cruise with visits to historic breweries, onboard tastings, and dinners paired with selected beers. 

CRUISE LINES THAT GO HERE INCLUDE: Azamara, Celebrity, Cunard, Fred.

Olsen, MSC, Norwegian, Oceania, P&O, Princess, Regent Seven Seas, Royal Caribbean, SeaDream, Thomson, Uniworld, Voyages to Antiquity, Voyages of Discovery Cruise Planner 2014

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DESTINATION GUIDE THE MEDITERRANEAN

A

THERE ARE A HOST OF WORLD-CLASS CULTURAL EXPERIENCES AVAILABLE ON A MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE HOLIDAY

lways a favourite because of the sheer number of world-class cultural experiences on offer, a Mediterranean cruise is best in spring, early summer and autumn to avoid crowds and temperatures hovering around 100F or 40°C. Italy, Spain and the south of France are highlights, but Portugal – and river cruises down the Douro for vineyards and Port distributors – are growing in popularity.

The classic western Mediterranean cruise will call at Barcelona to see Gaudi’s extraordinary architecture, Livorno for excursions to Florence or Pisa, Civitavecchia for tours of Rome, and Naples to visit Pompeii or take a boat ride to Capri.

Clever cruise lines are always on the look out for new ports to add to the list.

For instance Thomson Cruises is going to Crotone in Italy for the first time in April for its Taste of Italy itinerary, to visit vineyards where Ciro wine is made, as well as the Baroque cathedral and 16th-century castle.

Similarly, it’s worth considering a river cruise to get more time to explore a small area, for instance Uniworld’s Venice and The Po River cruise from April until November, which spends two days moored within easy walking distance of St Mark’s Square in Venice before heading off to more Italian Renaissance treasure troves. The line is also launching a new ship, SS Catherine, which will offer river cruising in Burgundy and Provence in the south of France.

Viking is going to Bordeaux for the first time in 2014, with eight-day cruises down the Gironde River to the UNESCO-listed SaintEmilion and Pauillac, home of Rothschild wines, with trips to Cognac and Sauternes.

Princess Cruises new ship Regal Princess makes its debut in the Med with a seven-day maiden voyage from Venice to Athens in May. This includes an overnight call in one of the most exciting European ports – Istanbul.

Eastern Med cruises often depart from Venice, many including Croatia’s Dubrovnik and other former Yugoslav ports like Kotor in Montenegro, plus Greece and Turkey. 

CRUISE LINES THAT GO THERE INCLUDE: Azamara, Celebrity, Cruise & Maritime, Crystal, Cunard, Disney Cruise Line, Fred. Olsen, Holland America, MSC, Norwegian, Oceania, P&O, Princess, Regent Seven Seas, Royal Caribbean, Saga, SeaDream, Thomson, Voyages to Antiquity, Voyages of Discovery 76

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PHOTO: © VIEWINGMALTA.COM/CLIVE VELLA

Left: Blue Lagoon off the west coast of Malta

Britain is ideally placed for cruises to the Baltic with full days in a string of fairytale Scandinavian capitals such as Denmark’s Copenhagen, Sweden’s Stockholm, Finland’s Helsinki and Estonia’s Tallinn.

All are exceptional destinations with wonderful architecture, very creative shops and remarkable museums – although perhaps the most exciting port of call on a Baltic cruise is Russia’s St Petersburg, where most ships stay for two days to give passengers a chance to see even a fraction of what is on offer, including the Hermitage Museum, The Catherine Palace, and Peter and Paul Cathedral, the final resting place of the Romanov royal family.

Despite this, new ports are added to Baltic cruises all the time just to ring the changes.

For instance Swan Hellenic will be calling at Gothenburg, in Sweden, for the first time, in April. Hapag-Lloyd’s Europa 2 will offer four-night cruises to the Baltic, ideal for first-time cruisers or those with only a few days to spare. Four of these cruises sail from Hamburg and Kiel to Oslo and Copenhagen or to Wismar and Usedom in Germany and Bornholm, in Denmark.

PHOTOS: © S BORISOV/SHUTTERSTOCK/CORBIS/VISITHELSINKI.FI/LAURI ROTKO/ENTERPRISE ESTONIA

THE BLACK SEA

Cultural cruise fans who have seen everything the Mediterranean has to offer are increasingly looking to the Black Sea for new sights and experiences, and 2014 is likely to be a big year for this stretch of water that includes the Russian resort of Sochi.

The entrance to the Black Sea is via the Bosphorus that cuts through Istanbul, leaving one side in Europe and the other in Asia, and it laps the southern shores of Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Russia and Georgia as well as Turkey’s northern coast.

With Sochi hosting the 2014 Winter Olympics and the 2018 FIFA World Cup, as well as staging the Russian Grand Prix for the next six years, it’s no surprise that it’s been added to several new itineraries.

Thomson’s Best of the Black Sea cruise in October includes a day in Sochi. Other exceptional ports include Yalta, the Ukraine summer resort visited by the Tsars and Russian writers Leo Tolstoy and Anton Chekhov, and the UNESCO-listed city of Nessebar in Bulgaria, which has been compared with Croatia’s Dubrovnik.

Voyages to Antiquity’s Black Sea cruises sell out, so for 2014 it has four itineraries including the Black Sea and Greek Islands.

ICELAND

The land of ice and fire is renowned not just for its volcanoes but also for its waterfalls, wildlife and geothermal springs – in particular the Blue Lagoon outside Reykjavik.

In 2014 Royal Caribbean makes it easy to 78

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visit this extraordinary island when Brilliance of the Seas sails from Harwich on 12-night Norwegian Fjords and Iceland cruises.

NORWEGIAN FJORDS

Most people cruise to Norway in the summer to admire the magnificent glaciercarved fjords and pretty coastal towns such as UNESCO-listed Bergen with its historic clapboard buildings, or Stavanger’s impressive museums.

Go in May or June and the days are never ending because of the Midnight Sun. However, increasingly cruise companies are venturing north in autumn and winter to offer Northern Lights cruises and winter sports excursions.

The British Museum’s exhibition Vikings: Life and Legend is expected to increase interest in Norway in 2014, which is why Hurtigruten has Gareth Williams, the exhibition’s lead curator lecturing and accompanying tours for its 12-day Voyage of the Vikings cruise in September, a round trip from Bergen to Kirkenes.

For the first time Hurtigruten will include year-round UK flights in its brochure prices.

Hurtigruten also has another first for 2014: its Heart of Norwegian Lapland cruise in March combines a Hurtigruten voyage with a tour into the interior of Finnmark, the northernmost province of Norway and home to the Norwegian Sami, plus a visit to an igloo hotel and Northern Lights tour.

Fjords cruises very rarely include Oslo, but Regent Seven Seas will have new departures from Norway’s capital in 2014.

THE ARCTIC The Arctic Circle begins at latitude 66.33N and takes in northern Norway, Greenland, parts of Russia, Finland, Alaska and, of course, the North Pole.

In the winter it’s under ice and snow and impossible to visit by cruise ship but in the brief summer and autumn period – July to September – it’s ideal expedition territory.

Most people go to the Arctic to see polar bears, although sightings of walrus, Arctic fox, Arctic rabbit and musk oxen are equally prized. Hurtigruten’s Polar Bears, Islets and Fjords voyage from Longyearbyen in Spitsbergen to Bergen in Norway makes a return in 2014 after several years out of the programme, on its newest ship MS Fram. 

CRUISE LINES THAT GO HERE INCLUDE: Azamara, Celebrity, Cunard, Fred.

Olsen, Holland America, MSC, Norwegian, Oceania, P&O, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Thomson, Uniworld, Voyages of discovery, Voyages to Antiquity

PHOTO: ©

THE BALTIC

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DESTINATION GUIDE scandinavia, the baltic & the arctic

photo: Š

Right: The East Chapel, Peterhof, St Petersburg Left from top: Christmas market in Tallinn; Helsinki harbour; the rare arctic fox

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typical cruises will allow at least a day in dubai to go shopping, hit the beach or explore the historic quarter

Above: Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, in the capital of Oman, Muscat; the Dead Sea Right: The ancient city of Petra 80 Cruise Planner 2014

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DESTINATION GUIDE THE RED SEA & THE PERSIAN GULF

THE RED SEA

The Red Sea is a wonderful winter cruise holiday choice thanks to guaranteed sunshine and the cultural tours available from ports such as Jordan’s Aqaba, which is only a few hours from the astonishing lost city of Petra and Lawrence of Arabia’s desert hangouts at Wadi Rum. Both are exceptional experiences, and Jordan also has many Biblical sites, crusader castles and half of the Dead Sea to explore.

The other half is in Israel, a country that is increasingly on the cruising compass as more companies seek alternatives to Egypt because of political problems there.

Fred. Olsen has added Israel’s Ashdod to its Red Sea itinerary, with excursions to Bethlehem, the Wailing Wall, the Church of the Nativity, Nazareth and the Dead Sea. It’s going to Haifa for the first time, with excursions to the Sea of Galilee and Nazareth or the option to simply stay in Haifa to see the Bahai Gardens and gold-domed shrine to the Bahai faith, which includes walls dedicated to the nine major religions of the world – all set in spectacular gardens.

Voyages of Discovery has a November cruise that calls at Sharm el-Sheikh before heading to Fujairah and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

Seven-day, round-trip cruises from Dubai to other United Arab Emirates destinations remain popular with several cruise lines. MSC Cruises is keeping at least one ship in the Gulf for sun-drenched winter sailings.

Typical cruises, such as the ones offered

by MSC Lirica, will allow at least a day in Dubai to go shopping, rubberneck at all the space-age skyscrapers, hit the beach or visit the historic quarter – where there are still souks for shopping rather than the modern air-conditioned malls.

Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, also has a few historic quarters left – despite its phenomenal modernisation over the last decade, and there are quieter ports of call such as the seaside town of Khor al Fakkan and the fishing village of Khasab where you can see a more traditional way of life. 

CRUISE LINES THAT GO HERE INCLUDE:

PHOTO: ©

Azamara, Cunard, Fred. Olsen, Holland America, MSC, Noble Caledonia, Oceania, P&O, Quark Expeditions, Seabourn, Silversea, Thomson, Voyages of Discovery

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PHOTOS: © CORBIS/ ROBERT HARDING WORLD IMAGERY/ALAMY/ISTOCK

THE PERSIAN GULF

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photo: ©

When you think of africa, safaris always spring to mind, which is why one of the newest trends for 2014 is for cruise lines to offer add-on land programmes that give guests the chance to see at least a few of the Big Five: lions, elephants, cape buffalo, leopards and rhinoceros.

Voyages to antiquity has a completely new set of winter cruise tours for 2014 that feature africa as part of four long cruises – 17 to 35 days – starting in november, and regent seven seas will be sailing to south africa for the first time in four years with one of 10 new expanded cruises.

Known for its cultural cruises, Voyages to antiquity will include three-day Kenya safari tours, staying near nairobi national Park where there’s an elephant orphanage. similarly, free three-night land programmes before or after a cruise are included for regent seven seas’ higher cabin grades, with one-night stays in cape town or Johannesburg and two-night safaris.

Seven Seas Voyager will also offer a 30-night Dubai to cape town cruise that includes guided safari tours.

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DESTINATION GUIDE AFRICA & ASIA

PHOTOS: © ISTOCK/PPAMPICTUR/ALAN TOBEY/GETTY IMAGES/SAM LEE

ASIA The buzz continues about Burma, with its intriguing temples and history. Voyages to Antiquity has a big Southeast Asia programme for winter 2014/15 featuring architectural treasures such as Angkor Wat in Cambodia and the Taj Mahal in India.

Small ship cruise lines, such as Voyages to Antiquity, have the advantage of being able to moor in the centre of some cities, in the Aegean Odyssey’s case this will include Yangon, Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City, some of Asia’s most in-demand cities.

Add-on hotel stays and land tours are also becoming more popular, particularly in Asia, where some of the must-see attractions are inland – for instance in India – or so big that they take a few days to explore properly, like Cambodia’s Angkor temples.

Cosmos Tours and Cruises has a new Golden Triangle and Brahmaputra tour and cruise for 2014. This combines an escorted tour of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur with a sevennight safari cruise through Assam in the foothills of the Himalayas, a lesser known area of India.

And Voyages of Discovery is hosting an RHS Garden Holiday Colours of the Indian Ocean cruise with specialist garden shore excursions and garden expert lectures.

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Above, top to bottom: A young monk looking out across the Bagan Temples, Burma; a cruise to Sichuan, China, offers the opportunity to see pandas in their natural habitat Hong Kong remains popular, too, and China continues to grow in importance in the cruise world, as a destination and because of the increasing numbers of Chinese tourists who want to see the world.

Avalon Waterways has a new ship on the Yangtze River for 2014, offering 12-day and 16-day cruises combined with escorted tours, while the luxury line Oceania Cruises, renowned for its five-star cuisine, has three new Asian exploration sea cruises that showcase ports in Japan, Vietnam and Korea, with a maiden call at Dalian in China. 

CRUISE LINES THAT GO HERE INCLUDE: Azamara, Celebrity, Cruise & Maritime, Crystal, Cunard, Fred. Olsen, Holland America, MSC Cruises, Oceania, P&O, Princess, Regent Seven Seas, Royal Caribbean, Saga, Seabourn, SeaDream, Silversea, Uniworld, Viking, Voyages to Antiquity

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photo: Š

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DESTINATION GUIDE THE PACIFIC

Above: Milford Sound, New Zealand Below, left to right: Sail into the harbour next to Sydney Opera House; a koala

CRUISE LINES THAT GO THERE INCLUDE:

PHOTO: ©

Azamara, Celebrity, Cunard, Fred. Olsen, Oceania, Princess, Regent Seven Seas, Royal Caribbean, Seabourn, SeaDream, Silversea, Voyages of Discovery

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PHOTOS: © MICHAEL WEBER/IMAGEBROKER/CORBIS/DEEJPILOT/ISTOCK/COLIN MONTEATH/HEDGEHOG HOUSE/MINDEN PICTURES

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ustralasia is the new cruise capital of the world. They are mad for it, with round New Zealand and Australia cruise holidays gaining as much in popularity as forays into the South Pacific.

There is no better way to see Sydney Opera House than by sailing into the harbour next to it, and the city itself is just wonderful with exciting new museums and art galleries near the waterfront as well as historic districts such as The Rocks, which are within walking distance of the sea.

Australian ports include Brisbane, on the beautiful Gold Coast; Cairns, on the Barrier Reef; Perth and Freemantle, on the west coast; and Darwin in the north.

Round New Zealand cruises are also gaining in popularity and take in the cosmpolitan city of Auckland, Wellington, the capital, and areas of extraordinary natural interest such as the deep waters of Milford Sound with its mountainous backdrops.

So it’s no surprise that Oceania Cruises has nine new voyages in the South Pacific, Australia and New Zealand, including overnight stays at Easter Island, Bora Bora, Tahiti and Nuku Hiva.

All UK guests will get free flights on Oceania Cruises, including its South Pacific itineraries to Tahiti, Australia and New Zealand. The 14-day Tahitian Pearls itinerary in April visits Aitutaki in the Cook Islands, which is a new port of call for Oceania.

Similarly, Regent Seven Seas visit the South Pacific and Asia with stops in Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Bali, Vietnam, China, Japan and India, offering a variety of itineraries ranging from 10 to 136 nights. 

2014

Cruise Seattle

Start your Alaska Cruise here!

www.portseattle.org

featureD Destination xxx

Clockwise from left: The stunning Seattle skyline; Bell Harbor Marina; Chihuly and the Space Needle

Discover Seattle

If you’re thinking of taking an Alaska cruise, there’s no better place to begin your adventure than the Port of Seattle. It offers convenience in a spectacular setting

photo: ©© viSitSeattle.org photoS:

S

eattle offers the best of both urban and outdoor experiences. recently named as one of the top 10 cities in the us, it’s the perfect point of departure for your next cruise. this compact city makes exploring easy. many of the top visitor attractions are within blocks of the waterfront including the iconic space needle; historic Pike Place market; seattle art museum and olympic sculpture Park; chihuly Garden and Glass; the experience music Project museum; and seattle aquarium, with its amazing underwater dome. seattle’s theatre scene and professional sports stadiums are also nearby. or indulge in seattle’s famed northwest wines, lively cuisine, award-winning chocolate and of course, seattle’s famous coffee. if it’s the outdoors you crave, consider a day trip. three national parks – mount rainier, north cascades and olympic – are just two hours away. along the way, discover the region’s volcanoes or north america’s only temperate rainforest. the Port of seattle offers two downtown cruise terminals at Pier 66 and Pier 91, convenient air travel connections at seattle-tacoma international airport, and 10 premium cruise ships to choose from, making seattle the ideal choice for alaska cruises. the Bell street Pier cruise terminal at Pier 66 is conveniently located along seattle’s bustling waterfront and serves norwegian cruise line and oceania cruises. the smith cove cruise terminal at Pier 91 serves carnival cruise line, celebrity cruises, Holland

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america line, Princess cruises and royal caribbean. located just minutes from the city’s main shopping area, it’s one of the world’s only facilities with two electrical plug-ins that eliminate all ship air emissions. or if you fancy exploring this fascinating region by train, rocky mountaineer has a new coastal tour presenting an extra incentive to extend your pre- or post-cruise stay in seattle. this unique rail experience connects the cosmopolitan cities of seattle, Washington and Vancouver, B.c. to the canadian rockies. Guests will experience a three-day, all-daylight journey on board the rocky mountaineer through the beautiful landscapes of these regions. seattle is easy to reach, too. Delta airlines is starting daily flights between london Heathrow and seattletacoma international airport from march 2014, adding a second airline to the london/seattle route.

With so much on offer, there’s never been a better time to discover seattle.

This compact city makes exploring easy – many of the top visitor attractions are within blocks of the waterfront

Go online: For more information on cruises from Seattle see visitseattle.org

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DESTINATION GUIDE USA & CANADA

CRUISE LINES THAT GO HERE INCLUDE: American Queen, Azamara, Carnival, Celebrity, Cunard, Fred. Olsen, Norwegian, Oceania, Princess, Regent Seven Seas, Royal Caribbean

Top to bottom: Lumahai Beach, Kauai, Hawaii; sail from New Orleans on a luxury paddle steamer; spot humpback whales in Alaska 88 Cruise Planner 2014

PHOTO: ©

PHOTOS: © DENNIS HALLINAN/ALAMY/CORBIS/W. CODY/JOHN HYDE/DESIGN PICS

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mazingly, America and Canada do not have the huge variety of cruise itineraries that are available in other parts of the world.

The East Coast is mainly seasonal – autumn leaf peeping in New England and Canada – while the West Coast, including Seattle, is the gateway to Alaska cruises. From LA and San Francisco you can also cruise to the tropical islands of Hawaii.

It’s worth noting that the Jones Act, which is designed to protect American citizens and commerce, and affects cruises to Hawaii, Alaska and Canada, means that most cruise lines must include at least one non-US port in every cruise, which can lengthen the cruise.

Cruises to Alaska have been the big story over the last few years, with summer cruises to explore awe-inspiring glaciers and icebergs being far more accessible than those in the Arctic or Antarctic.

But from the end of September until the beginning of June, Alaska is mostly out of bounds, which is why Mississippi river cruises have emerged as America’s must-do for 2014, with American Queen offering cruises on a luxury paddle steamer from New Orleans to Memphis and beyond.

Alaska continues to be popular, and some cruise lines such as Princess Cruises has add-on land-based trips with rail travel over the Rocky Mountains and luxurious lodgestyle accommodation. 

CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM

Call to request dedicate a copy of our 2014 d Alas ka brochu re

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• Fly on a Saturday from Heathrow to Seattle.

• Transfer by private car from Seattle airport to Seattle Hotel

• 11 Night Full Board Alaska cruise on Star Princess: San Francisco – Ketchikan – Juneau – Skagway – Glacier Bay National Park Or Tracy Arm Fjord – Inside Passage – Victoria (British Columbia) - San Francisco.

(Itinerary varies)

• 7 Night Full Board Alaska cruise on the Grand Princess: Seattle – Ketchikan – Tracy Arm Fjord – Juneau – Skagway – Inside Passage – Victoria (Canada) – Seattle.

• Disembark in San Francisco for overnight flight to Heathrow.

• Private transfer from Port for night stay at the 3 Hotel Max, Seattle (room only)

Available from May to September 2014 from £1799pp*

• 1 Night Hotel stay in Kamloops (Room only).

• Embark the Amtrak Coast Starlight train for an overnight journey from Seattle to Sacramento following the Pacific coast past the Cascade Mountain range in a private en-suite bedroom onboard (Full Board)

• Rocky Mountaineer RedLeaf service from Kamloops to Banff (Breakfast & Lunch on board)

• Disembark train collect hire car and enjoy 3.5 hour scenic drive to Yosemite National Park

• 2 Night Hotel Stay in Banff (room only)

• 3 Night stay at the 3 Hotel (room only)

• 7 Night Full Board Alaska cruise on Celebrity Century: Vancouver – Inside Passage – Icy Straight Point – Hubbard Glacier- Juneau –Ketchikan – Inside Passage – Vancouver.

• 1 Night 4

hotel stay In Vancouver (room only).

• FREE entrance to The Lookout in Vancouver • Rocky Mountaineer RedLeaf service from Vancouver to Kamloops (Breakfast & Lunch on board)

*Based on an interior stateroom departing 21 May 2014

• FREE entrance to Banff National Park

Hotel Max, Seattle (room only)

Yosemite Lodge at the Falls

• Self drive from Yosemite through Fresno & Santa Clarita to Los Angeles for direct overnight flight back to Heathrow.

• DIRECT flight from Calgary to Gatwick.

Available from May to August 2014 from £2099pp*

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Open 7 days a week 9am - 9pm Talk to one of our specialists today

0800 082 2176 www.jetlinecruise.com

All offers are correct at the time of going to press and are subject to availability. Prices are per person based on 2 adults sharing and are subject to availability. All prices are from. Tips transfers (unless stated) drinks excursions and selected personal activities on board are extra. ABTA J1693 agent for ATOL 6153. Credit card charges of 2.5% will be charged on all credit card payments (4% for American Express) and 0% for debit cards. Terms & conditions apply.

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EASTERN CARIBBEAN Although traditionally a winter cruise destination, at least for the British market, the Caribbean is increasingly attracting cruise ships all year round.

This is mostly because of the islands’ proximity to the United States. North Americans regard the Caribbean as their tropical bolt hole, a place to get away from it all any time of the year.

Eastern Caribbean cruises often leave from New York, such as Carnival’s new eight-night trip from the Big Apple to the US Virgin Islands and over to San Juan in Puerto Rico.

The Bahamas are one of Carnival’s most important destinations, usually week-long trips from New York with the focus on beaches, sports and family holidays.

CRUISE LINES THAT GO THERE INCLUDE:

PHOTO: ©

American Queen, Azamara, Carnival, Celebrity, Cunard, Fred.

Olsen, Norwegian, Oceania, Princess, Regent Seven Seas, Royal Caribbean, Thomson

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DESTINATION GUIDE

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THE CARIBBEAN

Azamara, Carnival, Celebrity, Cunard, Fred. Olsen, MSC, Noble Caledonia, Norwegian, Oceania, Princess, Regent Seven Seas, Royal Caribbean, SeaDream, Thomson

WESTERN AND SOUTHERN CARIBBEAN Southern Caribbean destinations include islands such as Barbados, St Kitts, Grenada, St Lucia and Antigua – all very popular with British cruise passengers, while the Western Caribbean comprises places such as Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico, Belize, Jamaica and Grand Cayman and Honduras.

Many of these southern Caribbean cruises start in Miami, although you can sail all the way from Southampton to Barbados, or fly to Barbados for a seven-night or more island cruise. Some of the big American cruise lines have their own private Caribbean islands – or cays – such as Disney Cruise Line’s Castaway Cay with its white sandy beaches and sporting facilities.

Oceania has a new seven-day Colourful Caribbean cruise calling at the Honduran city of Trujillo, a new port for the cruise line.

The company’s new 14-day Sunny Getaways cruise stops at three new ports: Santa Marta in Colombia, El Guamache on Isla Margarita in Venezuela and Pointe-àPitre in Guadeloupe.

For the first time MSC Cruises will be in the Caribbean all year round, with two ships sailing from Miami offering a variety of seven-night itineraries.  Top: A flavour of the colourful Caribbean Bottom: Horse ride in the surf in Jamaica Far left: Chill on a beach in the Bahamas

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PHOTOS: © ROMANA SETTLE/ALAMY/CORBIS/LEE FROST/ROBERT HARDING WORLD IMAGERY/JAMAICA TOURIST BOARD/JULIAN LOVE

CRUISE LINES THAT GO HERE INCLUDE:

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if you are keen to see antarctica’s penguins, rather than take scenic cruises choose an expedition ship of 100 passengers or less

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DESTINATION GUIDE south america & the antarctic

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photo: © Bluegreen pictures / AlAmy

razil is the hot south american destination for 2014 as it prepares to host the FiFa World cup and the 2016 olympics. of course rio de Janeiro is renowned for its carnival celebrating mardi Gras, but with 500 miles of coast and a large stretch of the amazon river it has more going for it than a good party once a year. avalon Waterways is going to the amazon for the first time in 2014 with a 12-day From The Inca Empire to the Peruvian Amazon when highlights will include one night at the sacred Valley to visit the temple of sacsayhuamán and ceremonial site of Kenko, one night at machu Picchu, in Peru and three nights on the amazon. celebrity cruises has very popular sailings round the Galápagos archipelago, the volcanic islands off the coast of ecuador and the region that inspired Darwin’s theory of evolution. it’s famous for its giant tortoise, leatherback turtles, sea lions and penguins. regent seven seas has a Circle South America Grand Voyage that not only sails the amazon but also cruises around the fabled cape Horn to visit the largest magellanic Penguin colony in the world and cuts through the Panama canal. the Grand Voyage can be booked as legs from 10 to 70 nights long. south america is the traditional jumping off point for the antarctic, although new Zealand is beginning to get in on the act. if you are keen to get off the ship to see antarctica’s penguins rather than take scenic cruises you should choose an expedition ship of 100 passengers or less – because that’s the maximum number of people that can get off a ship in one go on an antarctic cruise. and for something a bit different, RMS St Helena, a working mail ship, will take you from cape town to the Falkland islands.

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Cruise Lines that go here inCLude: azamara, carnival, celebrity, cunard, Fred. olsen, holland america, msc, oceania, P&o, Princess, royal caribbean, rms st helena, seaDream, thomson Cruise Planner 2014

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The launch this year of Coachella’s first festival at sea on board Celebrity Silhouette, headlined by Pulp and Hot Chip, marks a new age of cruising. From chocolate tours to personal shopping experiences, if you’re after a unique holiday there are some incredible options available, discovers Annabelle Bladon

Cool Cruıses

from £7.99

Samba your way to the Rio Carnival From the cosmopolitan city of Buenos Aires, birthplace of the tango, to the laid-back beaches of Rio de Janeiro, fiery Latin rhythms lie at the heart of this Azamara cruise, which culminates in three days at the largest carnival in the world. On your way you will pass through Punta del Este, summer playground of Latin America’s rich and famous, and the lush green island of Ilhabela, once a hideout of smugglers and pirates. With an emphasis on overnight and late stays, you will have plenty of time to explore, but as the ship enters

Rio’s spectacular harbour, make sure you savour the peace and quiet with a Caipirinha; you’re about to hit the frenzy of the street parties and the world-famous Sambadrome.

Azamara (azamaraclubcruises.com) Twelve nights on Azamara Quest, Quest, 31 January 2013, from £2,309 (approx.) based on double occupancy, cruise only, calling at Buenos Aires, Argentina; Montevideo, Uruguay; Punta del Este, Uruguay; Ilhabela, Brazil; Parati, Brazil; Buzios, Brazil; and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 

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I

magine cruising through the heart of France’s renowned wine-making region, soaking up the ambience and viewing stunning scenery from your en suite cabin. one lucky Cruise International reader and their guest will win a fantastic eight-night river cruise for two along the mighty Garonne and Dordogne rivers courtesy of europe’s largest river cruise operator, croisieurope. starting in Bordeaux, you’ll travel in comfort on board the newest ship in the fleet, the MS Cyrano de Bergerac, which offers 87 en-suite cabins, an attractive restaurant serving superb French cuisine and a stylish panoramic bar where you can sip an apéritif. there’s also a spacious lounge bar with dance floor where you’ll enjoy evening entertainment, a warm and convivial atmosphere and dancing into the early hours.

From Bordeaux, the ship will visit pauillac, the medieval cities of Blaye and saint-emilion, libourne and the historic town of cadillac, before returning to Bordeaux where you’ll have time to explore this unesco World Heritage site before disembarking. throughout the cruise, there are a number of optional excursions to choose from including tours of the world-famous châteaux lafite rothschild, latour and mouton rothschild; a tour of saintemilion including a visit to an exceptional troglodyte settlement – the cave of emilion; a wine tasting session; a visit to the 14th-century chateau de roquetaillade; and a trip to the centre of the arcachon Basin where you can enjoy oyster tasting and visit Bird island, famous for its “cabanes tchanquées” or houses on stilts and the Great Dune of pilat which, at 107 metres, is the highest sand dune in europe with awe-inspiring views. there will also be time to explore this fascinating region on your own.

Your prize includes eight nights in an en suite cabin with all meals and drinks on board (excluding champagne and wines on the wine list), onboard entertainment, Gala dinner, insurance and port taxes. there are eight departures to choose from between april and september 2014. to find out more about croisieurope, visit croisieurope.travel or call 0208 3281 281.

Clockwise from left: relax in the cool and contemporary lounge bar; watch the river pass you by as you dine in style; cabin on board MS Cyrano de Bergerac

Win a frenCh river Cruise Competition entry form How to enter: For your chance to win a fabulous

holiday with CroisiEurope, simply answer the following question, then complete and send this form to the address below. All entries must be received by 11.59pm on 10 January 2014.

Which wine region will MS Cyrano de Bergerac visit?

A: Brittany B: Bordeaux C: Biarritz

Address

Terms and condiTions 1. Entries close at 11.59pm on 10 January 2014. 2. All entrants must be resident in the UK and aged 18 or over. 3. The prize is an eight-night Garonne and Dordogne river cruise on board MS Cyrano de Bergerac departing between April and September 2014. 4. The cruise holiday prize does not include flights, pre-bookable cabin service, travel insurance, visas, personal expenses, spending money, or transportation to and from the airport. 5. Entrants must hold a valid passport and it’s the entrant’s responsibility to check visa and passport requirements. 6. Prior to departure, we advise the winner to purchase comprehensive travel insurance. 7. CroisiEurope reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value should circumstances make this necessary. 8. In addition to these rules and conditions of entry, the usual Cruise International competition rules apply, and these can be viewed at chelseamagazines. com/terms-and-conditions. 10. Entry constitutes acceptance of all these rules and conditions.

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Telephone:

Email:

Send your coupon to: CroisiEurope 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 Celebrity Cruises are permitted to receive your registration data. Please tick if you subscribe to cruise international magazine Please tick if you do NOT wish to receive information about products and services from The Chelsea Magazine Company or Celebrity Cruises by phone, post or email Terms & Conditions apply (see box left).

Or enter online at: cruise-international.com/croisieurope-competition

✁

PhoToS: © CroISEUroPE

Name:

Cruise Planner 2014 95

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Ask the

Experts The Insider

ASK THE EXPERTS

Got a question about cruise holidays? Get in touch with our experts at info@cruise-international.com

Q

What dress code can you expect on a cruise?

Our regular column from Andy Harmer, Director of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) UK & Ireland

A. Dress code can vary considerably – on cruise ships run by companies such as P&O, Celebrity, Fred. Olsen, Cruise & Maritime and Royal Caribbean there can be two to three formal nights in a fortnight’s cruise, and on other nights the code is informal or casual. Informal attire means a jacket and tie for men and a dress or smart separates for women. Casual means chinos and opennecked or polo shirts for men, with a frock or less dressy separates for women. On formal nights, men are expected to wear dinner jackets (e.g black tie). White tuxedos can be donned south of the Equator; kilts or dark suits and ties are also acceptable. Ladies can wear a full-length evening dress, but cocktail dresses or tailored trousers are fine too.

On other ships with a more relaxed dress code (like Viking, Azamara, Oceania) the most that’s required is a jacket and possibly a tie for men, and smart casual for women.

Julie Peasgood

This issue’s experts

PHOTO: © CELEBRITY CRUISES

Julie Peasgood is a TV presenter, travel expert and Contributing Editor for Cruise International

Deborah Stone is an award-winning writer and Contributing Editor for Cruise International

CRU ISE -I N T ER NAT IONA L .COM

Q

I’ve never been on a cruise before and I’m worried about seasickness. Any tips?

A. It’s highly unlikely that you’ll get seasick on a cruise ship, unless you’re going on a tiny expedition ship that takes less than 100 passengers and is too small for the state-ofthe-art stabilisers that are fitted to all modern cruise ships. And if you choose a river cruise you simply glide through the water – there’s no chance of any motion sickness unless you already have a medical problem.

However, if you’re prone to motion sickness make sure you choose a cruise on a mid-size or larger ship. If you’re worried about rough seas it’s easy to avoid the danger spots. For instance, book a fly-cruise instead of sailing through the Bay of Biscay and if you want to go to the Antarctic choose a cruise that does not include Drake’s Passage.

But you can also be prepared for unexpected bad weather by packing seasickness tablets or over-the-counter remedies for upset stomachs such as Bimuno Travelaid, which helps your body adjust to different time zones, water and food.

Deborah Stone

The way in which we buy has changed in so many ways over the years but, perhaps surprisingly, some aspects have remained very similar – the time of year we look for holidays and in particular, cruise holidays.

For those now thinking about dipping their toe into the world of cruising for the first time, it can be formidable as there is just so much choice – the size of ship, the style of cruise, not to mention the huge range of destinations.

Now is the perfect time to begin the journey which I personally think is part of the excitement of a cruise holiday.

Planning ahead means you have the pick of itineraries and choice of cabins, you can pre-book certain onboard services and of course you can start to plan what you are going to do in each port of call.

I would strongly advise using a CLIA-accredited travel agent as they have the most up-to-date advice and are experienced in selling cruise holidays.

These agents can be found across the whole country (discovercruises.co.uk).

Since destination is invariably the key focus, it’s often the easiest place to start. Consider the places and ports of particular interest and match these with cruise line itineraries for your preferred dates of travel. Then decide on your favourite type of experience. This can vary significantly – small, intimate ships or larger, resort-style ships; affordable cruising or ultimate luxury; ocean or river and everything in between.

Some people like to plan all aspects of their holiday in advance, including excursion and restaurant choices, while others prefer to take each day as it comes. That’s the joy of a cruise holiday – it can be whatever you want it to be but it always offers the opportunity of waking up every morning in a different place, with personal service and a wealth of memorable experiences.

Cruise Planner 2014

97

Celebrity travels

The entertainer is performing on P&O’s Aurora this December. Here he shares his favourite destinations around the world

I’ve travelled extensively and one holiday destination I will never tire of is the Cayman Islands. My idea of bliss is laid back, on the beach, barefoot, nice food, plenty to drink and lots to read. I am a total and utter sun worshipper rather than a sightseer. I like to spend my downtime with the family.

i’m off to shanghai again soon to do some concerts, and i am one of those stupid people who say to taxi drivers: “take me to the local-ist local restaurant” and i get there, look at the menu and think, “oh, bullfrog, must try that”. and it’s disgusting. But i love trying all the local delicacies. shanghai is such a fascinating place, it’s just teeming with people all the time.

New York is amazing. Every time I go there I have a fantastic time. It’s the antithesis of a beach existence, a real adrenaline boost and an injection of excitement. I’ve performed on Broadway three times, and I’ve visited countless times. As soon as the plane touches down I get a buzz, because I know it so well now, and exactly where I want to go to have quiet times, or where to go if I want to shop.

And I’ll drop in on people I work with, like composer Stephen Sondheim.

my favourite place in the uK has always been West Wittering on the south coast. it’s a fantastic bit of beach where i love walking the dogs. Being there by the sea, especially in the winter when the place is empty, just puts things into perspective, stimulates you creatively and removes you from the harshness of life.

“Waking up in a brand new place each day is extraordinary” 98 Cruise Planner 2014

cru ise -i n t er nat iona l .com

words: pam francis photos: © istock/instinia/andreykrav/jif2003/kodachrome25/jaminwell

Michael Ball

photo: ©

the first time i was ever at sea was when i was nine years old. in 1970 my father was posted to south africa for three years, and we sailed from southampton to cape town to start a new life. When we crossed the equator for the first time they performed an onboard ceremony. ever since then i’ve loved being at sea – with cruises it’s the idea of luxurious travel and waking up in a brand new place each day. it’s extraordinary.

ELEGANT USA RIVER CRUISING Valuable Inclusions, Scenery and History Await

A M E R I CA N E M P R E S S COLUMBIA & SNAKE RIVER VOYAGES – From Portland’s lovely International Rose Test Garden to the hallowed artifacts on the Nez Perce Native American Reservation, America’s pristine Pacific Northwest comes to life as you follow in the footsteps of Lewis & Clark and sample the fruits of fertile region’s orchards and vineyards.

A M E R I CA N Q U E E N American Empress

LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER VOYAGES – Travel from carefree New Orleans to vibrant Memphis on the river of legends. The sweet fragrance of magnolia blossoms envelops picturesque plantations and gardens of the Old South. Learn of this region’s early settlers and the traditions that have endured the test of time.

UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER VOYAGES – The upper reaches of the Mississippi River from St. Louis, the Gateway to the West, to the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul reveals the beauty of America’s Heartland and fuels your sense of discovery and adventure with captivating ports like Mark Twain’s hometown of Hannibal, Missouri.

American Queen

OHIO & TENNESSEE RIVER VOYAGES – Discover America’s cultural quilt in the cities and towns of the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers. Experience Pittsburgh, the City of Bridges, brimming with stories of early-American industry. Visit Native American sites, Civil War battlefields, quaint main streets and friendly smiles, this region will welcome you with open arms and enlighten you with its storied past.

2-FOR-1 ON 2014 RIVER CRUISES* call or email Light Blue Travel for this outstanding offer! mention offer code: cpl 2014 aeaq 2-FOR-1

Reservations: 01223 568904 Email: sales@lightbluetravel.co.uk Website: www.lightbluetravel.co.uk * Offer expires December 21, 2013 and is valid on new bookings only. Not valid on Group bookings and may not be combined with other offers. The 2-for-1 offer means first passenger in cabin pays full cruise fare and second passenger pays no cruise fare. Cruise fare does not include taxes, port charges, insurance, gratuities, or airfare. Only cabin categories of C, D, E, F, G, H, and I are available for this offer and only on American Queen February and March 2014 voyage dates. Only cabin categories of C, D, and E are available for this offer and only on American Empress April or May 2014 voyage dates. Additional terms and conditions may apply – call for details.

NORWEGIANS HAVE MORE CHOICE. NORWEGIANS CRUISE LIKE NO OTHER PEOPLE ON EARTH. WITH MORE CHOICE OF WHAT TO SEE AND DO, NORWEGIANS DO IT THEIR WAY. WE CALL IT FREESTYLE CRUISING®. YOU MIGHT JUST CALL IT YOUR BEST HOLIDAY EVER.

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE HIGHLIGHTS: • Brand new Norwegian Getaway sailing the Caribbean year round • Up to 29 dining choices • Up to 22 bars and lounges • World-class entertainment • Accommodation to suit all tastes • Luxurious spas & oceanview gyms • Youth & teen programmes • Exclusive family entertainment with NickelodeonTM*

THOUSANDS OF CHOICES, ALL OF

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MEDITERRANEAN • BALTIC • CARIBBEAN & BAHAMAS • HAWAI’I • ALASKA • PANAMA CANAL EXPLORE: www.ncl.co.uk CALL: 0845 201 8900

NCL_UK

*NickelodeonTM entertainment features on selected ships only. ©2013 NCL Corporation LTD Ship’s Registry: Bahamas and United States of America. 4939.11.13

Norwegian Cruise Line UK N