The Village Post - Cruise & Travel Magazine

thevillagepost Lap of luxury Taking in the deep blue Mediterranean while on board Oceania Cruises

Fjord have mercy We travel to the land of the vikings with CMV on an ex-UK cruise

Issue one

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WELCOME

Welcome to the first edition of The Village Post by The Travel Village Group. This magazine is packed full of great ideas to help you choose your next holiday

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appy New Year from everyone at The Travel Village Group; and welcome to the first edition of our new magazine! We’re very excited about what’s in store for the travel industry in 2016, and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support over the last year.

We are now a fourth generation family business since my daughter Jessica joined as our social media guru; I’m very proud to say that she achieved a 1st in Business & Marketing, after studying at UCLAN. We have a team full of fantastic people working at The Travel Village Group, from those you’ll speak to on the phone right through to those working behind the scenes making it all happen.

More than ever before, people value their holidays. With the ever-increasing choice of destinations, airlines, hotels, holiday styles and more available, it’s even more important to know that you can trust your travel agent to help you choose a holiday that’s worthy of your hard-earned savings. So we need to know our trade, we have to get it, and we must inspire you. We have an appetite to share our own experiences and offer you new travel opportunities. It’s a big world, but we need to be able to deliver you that boutique hotel with charm and character. We have to enthuse you about little known destinations.

We must take you on the journey along the river Rhone to visit the Unesco World Heritage site of the Papal Palace in Avignon, wine tasting in Chateauneuf du Pape then cruising under the world famous Pont du Gard Roman aqueduct.

We aim to do all this and more, while ensuring you enjoy honest value and financial security when you book with us.

Our award-winning team of agents is comprised of passionate and talented travel people who are specialists in family holidays, USA, the Far East, weddings & honeymoons and even river cruising. In fact, we are now the UK’s leading river cruise experts with our dedicated website rivercruising.co.uk.

We’re confident that we have the knowledge and experience to help you make the right decision when you book.

These are exciting times, and we want to share them with you. Enjoy the magazine and I hope my passion for my business and you, my customers, shines through.

I wish you a prosperous and peaceful 2016.

Phil Nuttall Managing Director of The Travel Village Group

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Our Flagship Brand The Award-Winning Cruise Village offers you unrivalled customer service, the best cruise deals and impartial advice.

Speak to our friendly UK-based team of cruise specialists today.

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River Cruise Experts Our agents are all experienced river cruisers, so ask our advice and we’ll help you find the itinerary and ship that’s right for you

WE DO IT ALL, SO YOU CAN DO IT ALL Did you know...?

Destination Specialists We offer a massive range of escorted China holidays from leading China specialist Wendy Wu Tours; and a fantastic collection of luxury Mauritius hotels from leading hotel group Beachcomber.

There is something for everyone at The Travel Village from city breaks & beach escapes to top sporting events & railway journeys.

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We can tailor-make holidays.

If you’ve seen tours, cruises or hotels that really appeal, but individually don’t tick all the right travel boxes for you; allow us to package them with flights, excursions and more.

We’re ABTA and ATOL bonded so when you book with us you’re covered financially 100% of the way.

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PREDICTIONS

What’s on our radar for 2016? Our MD looks at the hottest trends around

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s a travel agency, that sells holidays the world over, we are constantly looking at the shifting trends in holiday bookings to make sure we have got the goods and are able to anticipate your travel needs and requirements.

There is no doubt that some global events have had a negative impact on the popular destinations of Tunisia, Egypt and Turkey and our thoughts are with them all, especially as the economy in those areas relies heavily on tourism.

So, it is looking more and more likely that 2016 will be the year of Spanish Islands and Costa resorts with many hoteliers reporting record advance bookings. It could therefore be fair to assume Spanish prices will be higher in

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2016 and availability for those looking for a last minute bargain will be at a premium in the popular destinations. This year it is probably wise to book early and my team at the Travel Village will be more than happy to help.

We’re seeing three definitive splits in the offerings from the cruise lines: larger resort-style ships, personal experience cruising and, increasing in popularity, river cruising.

For the first time, the media, the cruise industry and the consumers are all on the same page and cruising is no longer seen as niche or new in terms of a holiday. Gone are the old-fashioned views that a cruise is stuffy, overly formal or even over-priced.

With the choice of ships and cruising styles on offer

now, there really is a cruise and a budget for anyone who wants a great holiday with outstanding service and accommodation.

Advance bookings for ocean cruise lines remain steady overall, and there’s a good indication that top suites on the larger ships and the smaller all suite cruise lines are more popular than ever.

Larger cruise ships are now considered to be a mainstream holiday option for the first time; and we’re taking calls from customers who have never cruised before, but already view the new, larger and more innovative cruise ships as a resort in themselves.

They’re not wrong. During the school breaks, these ships are a perfect holiday choice for the whole family; and, if advised

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PREDICTIONS

correctly, they will not be disappointed. Their children certainly will not be...

But what is there for those that don’t want all the rock climbing walls, zip wires and dodgem cars?

Well there’s still a massive range of small to large ships that focus on providing a higher ratio of crew per guest, incredible culinary experiences, unique ports of call and even learning opportunities at sea.

These lines offer a more intimate atmosphere and deliver personal experiences rather than Broadway shows and Vegas style casinos.

Cruising shows no signs of slowing down, with nearly 24 million passengers expected to take a cruise in 2016, a dramatic increase from 15 million just 10 years ago.

Asia is a great example of how cruise holidays have evolved. Five years ago, cruise travel was almost unheard of in Asia. Today, the region is the fastest growing

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in the cruise industry.

Between 2012 and 2014, passenger volume grew from 775,000 to nearly 1.4 million passengers, a 34 per cent annual growth rate. There are now more ships dedicated to the area and this means that The Cruise Village can offer you even more exciting travel opportunities. Did you know that we can tailormake your holiday with exotic hotels and tours, both pre and post cruise, in destinations such as China and Japan?

However, the fastest growing sector of the UK cruise industry is river cruising with an astonishing choice of more than 200 river cruise boats to choose from in Europe alone.

If you’re thinking about dipping your toe in new waters, get in touch - we’re proud to say we’re the UK’s leading river cruise agent – take a look what’s on offer at rivercruising.co.uk and talk to us about choosing the river and cruise line that’s right for you.

This year is going to be a year where, more than ever, some destinations will have to be booked early, especially families looking for the best deals and free child places. It is also going to offer some very good deals to those who are flexible and are keen to try new brands, and step out of their comfort zone.

Wherever you plan to travel, in whatever style, my team are travel veterans and, individually, they are experts in specific destinations or cruise lines, so please do not be scared of asking to speak to someone who has firsthand experience. You may find out there is a hotel or cruise ship, that you haven’t considered, which could provide you with the most amazing holiday experience you have ever had.

And, just in case you don’t believe I exist – please email the MD because I value your feedback and I will reply! Email me at phil@thecruisevillage.com.

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––––– THE CLASS OF 2016 A HUGE NUMBER OF OCEAN AND RIVER SHIPS WILL ARRIVE THIS YEAR

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NEW SHIPS A remarkable number of cruise ships are coming into service in 2016 — from intimate river yachts to the new largest passenger vessel in the world. Here, we look at some of the new builds and ships transferring over from one line to another, beginning with ocean-going vessels.

Carnival Cruise Lines Carnival Vista May: Built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, the 133,500 tonne, 3,936-passenger Carnival Vista will be the largest in the lines’ considerable fleet (this will be its 25th ship) and first in the Vista Class. It will feature a mini golf course.

2016. The 826-passenger ship will sail from Miami.

Holland America Koningsdam April: Koningsdam will become the biggest ship in Holland America’s fleet and the first in its Pinnacle Class when it launches in April 2016. Following its maiden season, the 2,650-passenger ship will homeport in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Hurtigruten

Fathom

MS Spitsbergen May: The environmentally friendly 320-passenger vessel, first built in 2009, will initially sail on the company’s Norwegian coastal route. It will replace MS Midnatsol, which will be redeployed in Antarctica.

Adonia April: P&O Cruises Adonia will be reassigned to Fathom, Carnival Corporation’s ‘social impact’ brand, from April

Sirena April: Currently sailing as Ocean Princess for Princess Cruises, Sirena

Oceania Cruises

will undergo a 35-day, £26 million refurbishment in Marseille before joining Oceania. The 826-passenger ship was built in 1999, first sailing under Renaissance Cruises.

Regent Seven Seas Regent Seven Seas Explorer July: The largest in Regent Seven Seas’ fleet, Explorer will feature all-balcony suite accommodation, including the Regent Suite, which is a staggering 3,875 sq ft (including the balcony). There will also be a two-storey theatre.

Royal Caribbean International Ovation of the Seas April: Royal Caribbean’s third Quantum Class vessel will follow the bells-andwhistles style of Quantum and Anthem of the Seas with SeaPlex and the North Star pod. It will depart on an inaugural 52-night

Viking Ocean Cruises’ Viking Sea, will join sister ship Viking Star, below, this year

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Holland America Line’s forthcoming Koningsdam

cruise from Southampton to Tianjin in China, where it will homeport.

Harmony of the Seas June: The third in the Oasis Class, Harmony of the Seas will surpass Oasis and Allure of the Seas by 2,000 tonnes to become the largest ship in the world.

It boasts the Bionic Bar (usually on Quantum-class ships) and will begin Royal Caribbean’s new love affair with waterslides, previously not seen on its ships.

Empress of the Seas February: The 1,840-passenger ship was first built in 1990 for RCI. It will return to the line after eight years with Pullmantur.

be the ultra luxury line’s fourth and largest ship. All of the vessel’s rooms will be suites with balconies.

Celebrated designer Adam D Tihany has taken charge of the ship’s interiors

Thomson Cruises Thomson Discovery June: Splendour of the Seas, a Vision-class cruise ship, operated

by Royal Caribbean International will transfer to Thomson Cruises in the summer, taking the name Thomson Discovery. The 2,076-passenger vessel, built in 1995, will sail from Palma following some modernisation work.

Seabourn Encore December: The first of a new class, the Fincantieribuilt Seabourn Encore will

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River cruise continues its remarkabe growth with a series of new ships.

AmaWaterways April: The 158-passenger AmaStella will debut in spring, followed shortly after by the AmaViola.

Both are sister ships to the AmaSerena.

Avalon Waterways Viking Ocean Cruises

Seabourn

will debut in spring 2016.

The 930-passenger ship will have a sports deck, theatre and on-deck dining venue By 2020, it will be one of a fleet of six.

See p12 for Viking River Cruises’ new ships.

Viking Sea April: Following Viking Star, the second Viking Ocean Cruises ship, its sister ship Viking Sea,

April: The 128-passenger Avalon Imagery II will launch in 2016 and sail on the Rhine. It will have 52, 200 sq ft suites and 12 staterooms

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NEW SHIPS

April: The 166-passenger Avalon Passion will sail the Upper and Lower Danube River.

CroisiEurope April: Celebrating its 40th anniversary, CroisiEurope will debut the Princesse Elbe in spring 2016.

Accommodating 80 passengers in 40 cabins, it will sail on the Elbe and Moldau April and July: MS Daniele, a hotel barge, will accommodate 24 passengers in 12 cabins and travel on the Briare Canal between Burgundy and the Loire Valley.

The 24-passenger Deborah Barge will sail France’s Garonne Canal, making stops in Toulouse, Serignac-Sur-Garonne and Damazan.

Crystal River Cruises July: Ultra luxury line

Crystal will enter the river cruise market a year earlier than planned after it bought the MS Mozart.

The 160-passenger ship will be known as the Crystal Mozart.

Emerald Waterways June: The 182-passenger Emerald Belle will follow the 2015 launches of the Emerald Dawn and Emerald Sun, becoming the fifth ship in the threeyear-old river line’s fleet

Scenic January: Sailing on the Mekong, the 68-passenger Scenic Spirit is the first of three new ships launching for the luxury river line in 2016.

April: The 96-passenger Scenic Azure will have a staff-to-guest ratio of almost 1:2. It is purpose built for Portugal’s Douro September: The 44-passenger, all balcony-

suite Scenic Aura will launch on the Irrawaddy river in 2016

Tauck River Cruises April: The American company, which celebrated its 90th birthday in 2015, will launch the 130-passenger Ms Grace and MS Joy in 2016.

Uniworld February: The luxury cruise line will launch its Ganges Voyager early in the year.

The 185 ft, 56-passenger ship will sail exclusively on the India river it is named after.

Viking River Cruises On top of launching another ocean-going ship (see p11), Viking will launch five new longships in 2016: the Alruna, Egil, Kadlin, Rolf and Tialfi. Each will carry 180 passengers.

Interested in any of these new ships? Call 0800 810 8222

Emerald Waterways’ Emerald Belle, will join sister ship Emerald Sky, below

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FATHOM

––––– MAKE A DIFFERENCE FATHOM IS A NEW ‘SOCIAL IMPACT’ BRAND. BUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN IN PRACTICE? TARA RUSSELL, ITS PRESIDENT, EXPLAINS

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athom is a cruise line unlike any other.

Positioning itself as a ‘social impact’ brand, the company promises immersive and ethical travel to customers who want to have a “positive impact on people’s lives, and aren’t always sure where to begin”. It will also only serve two destinations: Cuba and the Dominican Republic, with its guests helping locals out on various welfare projects. We sat with down Tara Russell, the company’s president, to discuss the ideas and objectives behind Fathom and what customers can expect.

Firstly, what is social impact travel?

Social impact travel is a category we’re defining.

It’s creating an opportunity and experience for people who love to travel, but who also want to make a difference. We believe it’s a holistic solution. You’re probably familiar with the term ‘voluntourism’ — and while there are elements of that [in what Fathom

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––––– does], we go deeper into one destination. A lot of people have asked, ‘Why wouldn’t you go to Haiti and Honduras and Jamaica with the first Fathom ship?’ and while we absolutely considered the opportunities that might exist, it’s very important to us that we make a genuine impact and authentic impact in one place, versus this speed-dating thing!

Is Fathom aimed at a younger audience?

It’s built for an audience

Can you give us any that we see as eight to 80 specific examples of any [years old]. In terms of Fathom activities? those who are booked in, The before, during and after experiences are uniquely designed around the social impact experience.

We’ll have Cuban and Dominican food, film, music, art, entertainment, and conversational Spanish workshops. Then when you get to the location, it depends on the traveller.

Part of your trip purchase includes three social impact activities on the ground.

We’ve focused our energies around education, the environment and economic development.

that’s fairly accurate so far.

Will Fathom make cruise popular with the young?

There is only room to grow, in terms of bringing in a very different and new customer. The market is quite small compared to the international travel market. We want to be that tip of the spear in terms of pioneering social impact and spurring innovation.

We want to help companies think outside the box in terms of social impact and business development.

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ON THE HORIZON

The innovations and new additions to look out for over the next year and beyond

Regent’s suite dreams

P Crystal Cruises shatters expectations

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hen Genting Hong Kong acquired Crystal Cruises last year, the ultra-luxury line promised to usher in a new era of decadent cruising – but no one was quite expecting its July announcement. Revealing plans to add three oceangoing ships to its current fleet of two, Crystal also announced a dramatic expansion into river, yacht and air.

Coming first is Crystal Esprit, a 62-guest luxury yacht, which launched in December 2015, complete with a twoperson submarine, four 10-passenger zodiacs and its own 32-ft yacht capable of holding 12 passengers.

Crystal River Cruises will launch in summer 2016, the year before Crystal Luxury Air – the company’s own all business-class Dreamliner. The latter will offer non-stop flights to destinations currently

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not available from major carriers on around-theworld itineraries of around 28-days.

In 2018, the company will launch the first of three Crystal Exclusive Class vessels, which will be built by Meyer Werft.

The vessels will all be polar ice class with a capacity of 1,000-passengers.

There will be 48 Crystal Residences on each new ship offering permanent accommodation.

Edie Rodriguez, Crystal Cruises’ CEO and president, said: “We continue to think bigger, aiming to create unparalleled luxury experiences and adventures for our loyal and new guests, who – like Crystal – continue to seek broader horizons and new perspectives on the world.

“Crystal’s newly expanded fleet will truly be travellers’ passport to virtually the entire world.”

romising “the most luxurious cruise ship in the era of modern cruising”, Regent Seven Seas Cruises is launching its fourth ship in mid 2016.

The 738-passenger Seven Seas Explorer has the largest, and reportedly most expensive, suite on the seas. Measuring 3,875 sq ft (including balcony), the Regent Suite will cost £27,379 per person on a typical 10-night cruise.

It will also provide guests with a driver and private car in each port of call.

Seabourn again

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eabourn Encore, due to enter service in December 2016, will be the line’s largest ship.

Built by Fincantieri, the 40,350 gross tonne, 604 passenger-ship, will be named in Singapore on January 7, 2017, and will then depart on its official maiden voyage, a 10-day cruise to Bali, Indonesia.

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NORWEGIANS SURF, SPEND, DRINK OR DINE IN STYLE ENHANCE YOUR CRUISE HOLIDAY WITH A FREE EXTRA! BOOK BY 10TH APRIL 2016 & CHOOSE TO GO ALL INCLUSIVE WITH A PREMIUM DRINKS PACKAGE, TREAT YOUR TASTE BUDS WITH SPECIALITY DINING, SELECT TIME ONLINE TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH HOME OR ENJOY ON BOARD SPENDING MONEY WITH WHICH YOU’RE FREE TO DO... WHATEVER

East Mediterranean from Venice

Norwegian Jade May to Oct 2016 Choose the glorious Greek Isles or the splendours of the Adriatic, Greece and Turkey.

7-night Fly-Cruise from

£932pp

Based on 17th September 2016

West Mediterranean from Barcelona

Norwegian Epic Apr to Oct 2016 Discover the iconic sights of Italian cities and the glamorous, sun-kissed shores of the French Riviera.

7-night Fly-Cruise from

£844pp

Based on 17th April 2016

Grand Mediterranean

Norwegian Spirit May to Nov 2016 Sail between Barcelona and Venice to the highlights of the Med, in France, Italy, Greece and Turkey.

12-night Fly-Cruise from

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All fares are per person based on two adults sharing an inside stateroom. All fares correct at time of print (10th Dec 2015). E&OE

TITLE

––––– JOURNEY TO THE NORWEGIAN FJORDS –––––

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NORWAY Departing from the historic port of Tilbury in Essex, cruise journalist Sam Ballard sails on Cruise & Maritime Voyages’ Marco Polo to West Norway, taking in the likes of Fjaerland, Balestrand and Bergen.

Here, he explains why the gentle journey north is as enchanting as the fjords themselves

I

n 2015, Cruise & Maritime Voyages’ flagship vessel, the Marco Polo, celebrated its 50th anniversary. There is something undeniably comforting about this. In an era when cruise lines boast of their younger fleets, it’s refreshing to highlight such vintage.

Given that the ship’s operator has since added another ship to its fleet in the form of Magellan, it’s a strategy that is paying off.

The ship, which holds a maximum of 800 passengers, sailed under the name Alexandr Pushkin in a previous life, servicing clientele from the USSR. It’s this connection with the so-called golden age of cruising that makes it so popular among cruise lovers today: you’ll often hear it said that the Marco Polo is a real ship.

For our cruise, we sail north from London Tilbury to the Norwegian fjords.

The voyage is heralded as an iconic sailing for a number of reasons, primarily because of the stunning scenery for which the fjords are renowned but also because passengers can do exactly what we’re doing and board the ship without leaving the UK. The lure of Norway – and northern Europe in general – has proved

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popular across the UK cruise market. According to statistics from CLIA UK and Ireland, cruises to the region will overtake the Mediterranean if the trend continues.

Considering the history of the Mediterranean, and the ports that lie on its waters,

everything in sight. Our ship looks like a toy in a giant bathtub. You can see why myths about trolls are prevalent in the area.

We tender from the ship and set foot on Norwegian soil for the first time, taking in the sights – the towering

“

It’s perhaps the key attraction of cruises: we have been delivered to these inaccessible towns having essentially checked into a hotel

that’s a startling statistic.

The voyage departs Tilbury in blazing sunshine and we toast the forthcoming journey with a cold beer out on deck.

If there is a better feeling than this then I am yet to experience it.

The eight-night itinerary will see the Marco Polo travel to distant sounding lands with names like Fjaerland and Balestrand. It sounds more like travelling back to the land of the Vikings than hopping across the North Sea. The feeling is helped by the day and night we spend on the ocean before arriving at our first destination.

When we wake up we are in a scene taken straight from a film.

Eidfjord is breathtaking.

The colossal green landscape dwarfs

”

hills, which provide a backdrop throughout West Norway, and the colourful, immaculately kept wooden houses that sit so prettily among the natural green.

While there we visit the Fossli hotel, which was built more than 100 years ago and is still run by the same family today. Sitting precariously on the edge of Hardangerfjord, the views from the window are stunning: crashing waterfalls, dramatic gorges and deep valleys. Until relatively recently, these areas were only accessible by ship. While there are now roads connecting the small settlements dotted along the side of the fjords, the water is still the lifeblood of West Norway.

The fjords are without crowded cities, stifling commutes and suffocating

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NORWAY

The beautiful and tranquil Olden, home to the Briksdal glacier

congestion: you can almost feel yourself growing healthier with every intake of Norwegian air. And it persists throughout our journey as the Marco Polo weaves delicately through the meandering fjords.

We are treated to a steep mountain train ride in Flåm, our second stop, which is capped off with a visit to Aegir brewery where we meet Chris, the manager. He serves us a selection of his awardwinning beers that are so good we decide to stay behind for more. The prices are almost as steep as the mountain we’ve just scaled. We had been warned about the prices, but had been sheltered by being on board the Marco Polo. It’s another plus of being on a Norwegian cruise – enjoy the beautiful country without paying £10 for a pint.

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he next day is a real treat: the Bøyabreen glacier at Fjaerland.

The area hosts one of only two glacier museums in the world. The frozen river of ice that looms over the mountain is a majestic sight, but the message is a stark one: if environmental concerns are not addressed, the glaciers will eventually melt completely.

In just a few days we’ve taken in some of the most dramatic landscapes in the world, travelling hundreds of miles. It’s perhaps the key attraction of cruises: we have been delivered to these inaccessible towns having essentially checked into a hotel.

Olden is another incredible location. The Briksdal glacier is often cited as one of the most reachable plains of ice in the world. We take a tour

of the surrounding national park in a golf buggy that whizzes past cascading waterfalls and dizzying drops. When we eventually reach a lagoon, the ice is just a few metres away.

Bergen, our final stop in Norway, is the visit that we’ve been most looking forward to. It’s the second biggest city in Norway, but is still small with a population of just 250,000.

It’s also the inspiration for the Disney’s Frozen.

A visit up the mountain is a must and takes just minutes with the funicular.

And, with that, it’s time to head home. No expensive transfers or airport check-in queues – just another gorgeous day at sea, a good book and a cold beer. Not a bad way to end a holiday.

For more information call 0800 810 8222.

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––––– FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD –––––

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DINING With celebrity chefs, themed cruises and a range of restaurants, the best options on the waves now rival the best on land. We look at dining in the ex-UK cruise market

T

he best holidays are not just about relaxing and unwinding but immersing yourself in different cultures. It’s why so many cruise lines are committed to serving food that is as innovative and exciting as it is diverse. For many passengers, the food served on ship is as alluring as the sights off it: the dining experience is as important as the itinerary.

Whether through bigname chefs, fusion cooking or secret ingredients, there are some superb options on the waves. Here we look at the best cruise lines for food-lovers.

The Brit pack P&O is not exaggerating

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when it says that its newest ship, Britannia, combines the excitement of cruising with the sophistication of a five-star hotel. And at the forefront of that is P&O’s commitment to food.

The line’s ‘Food Heroes’ are gods of the culinary world – James Martin, Marco Pierre White, Atul Kochhar, Eric Lanlard and wine expert Olly Smith – and are represented everywhere on Britannia: from restaurants to bars, cookery schools and the market café (which serves charcuterie, including smoked lamb and venison, from Britain’s best artisan producers, as well as delicate cakes and pastries).

As Christopher Edgington, P&O’s vice president of marketing,

puts it: “Traditionally people thought cruise ship food was all about quantity.

On Britannia and on the rest of our fleet it is all about quality.

“Our mantra at the moment is ‘think differently’ – particularly where it applies to the quality of food, variety, ingredients used and the expertise we have called upon to deliver this.”

Among the ship’s 13 bars and 13 restaurants is the Epicurean restaurant, dedicated to fine dining, which will offer a contemporary menu of molecular cooking, home smoking – and even flaming jellies – as well as the chefsponsored cookery clubs.

Which food legend

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DINING accompanies you to faraway lands depends on the cruise and the ship. Master pâtissier Eric Lanlard and chef James Martin regularly travel with Britannia while Lanlard, Pierre White, Kochhar and Smith are also on board throughout the year too.

Marco Pierre White, the three Michelinstar chef, will travel on Azura on August 13 (to the Mediterranean), on Britannia on July 30 (Mediterranean), and Ventura in October 16 (Canary Islands).

Atul Kochhar will be on four sailings in 2016: Azura on April 8 (Mediterranean), again on September 18, Britannia (Norwegian fjords) on August 27 and Ventura (Iberia) on October 30.

Celebrity fare Celebrity Cruises, which

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took home the coveted ‘Ocean Cruise Line of the Year’ award at the Food and Travel Reader Awards in 2014, is dedicated to serving superb food on its luxury ships.

On top of its association with the Great British Chefs website – which counts more than 100 chefs with 120 Michelin stars between them among its contributors – is its excellent onboard fare and food-themed cruises.

On offer is wine-tasting in Tuscany – where guests learn about the art of winemaking and tour a local vineyard – and gelato sampling in Naples.

Passengers on the latter will take a tour of Sorrento mapped out by Celebrity’s resident travel expert Ben Fogle.

The cruise line also offers a tour of Sicily, which takes in a Catania

fish market and includes a hands-on cooking lesson.

Class acts While Oceania Cruises does not offer as many ex-UK cruises as Royal Caribbean and P&O, their food is exemplary. The line says its restaurants rival the best ashore ­– and it would be difficult to argue (see p24): the cruise line’s trophy cabinet is bursting with best-food awards.

With specialist restaurants onboard each of its five ships, the operator’s delicious dishes include prime rib of beef (dry aged for at least 28 days), seabass marinated in miso, as well as fine Asian-fusion dishes in the Red Ginger restaurants, while its Culinary Centre classes offer a chance to get hands-on with the cooking.

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FIRST CLASS SERVICE

For many cruise fans, the service on board is as important as the ports of call. Here, we explain just what it is that sets the luxury lines apart from the rest of the industry

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t doesn’t matter if you’re on the largest ship or the smallest, the most expensive line or the cheapest: the service on a cruise always feels like a grand event.

There’s forever a sense of occasion, regardless of whether it’s a formal night in the main restaurant or you are casually sitting by the pool. It’s something customers have bought into enthusiastically.

Indeed, of all the things cruise lines do well – and there are many – the theatre of the onboard experience is one of the most impressive. The operators know that this is something they must get right in order to keep guest returning. Within that bracket we would undoubtedly include food.

After all, with relatively few overnights on most itineraries, passengers will eat nearly every breakfast and dinner on board (and many lunches, too).

Luxury cruise lines have the difficult task of elevating this already high standard into something beyond. Like five-star hotels on land, a luxury ship cannot simply provide good or even excellent service: it must be exceptional.

It’s fair to say, however, that it’s something luxury lines succeed in doing: most of them put their

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service at the heart of their experience. Here’s what to expect on a luxury cruise.

Five-star service One thing first-timers often cheerily report back is their delight at the high standard of service on cruise ships.

While friendly, attentive staff is a common and much-appreciated theme across the industry, it’s something luxury lines take to a whole new level.

The crew-to-passenger ratio is one of the key signifiers when it comes to identifying luxury cruises. On some smaller ships, there are almost as many staff as passengers.

Remarkably, the pattern continues as the vessel get larger: mid-sized ships such as Seabourn Quest and (relatively) larger ships such as Oceania Riviera manage to keep the ratio on or below 1.5:1 (see box, p23).

It means, chances are, there’s a smiling, polite member of staff just waiting to offer you a cold glass of champagne; that meals arrive promptly and dirty dishes disappear quickly. It also means staff are likely to remember guests’ names – something that always goes down well when you’re on board.

And, if that wasn’t enough, this superb service extends beyond the restaurant: many lines offer 24-hour room service, with the likes of Uniworld extending its butler service across its entire fleet for 2016.

Heavenly food As you may expect, fine dining is a key component of luxury cruising, with each line offering its own unique take. Whether restaurants are serving up old classics or inventive fusion dishes, you can look forward

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to meals made from exceptional ingredients, and put together by awardwinning chefs.

While you’re never far from a cured rib-eye steak or butter boiled lobster on a luxury cruise, a key feature is innovation. A great example is Crystal Cruises’ Silk Road restaurant (on its Serenity and Symphony ships), where guests have the chance to experience the gastronomic coming together of Peru and Asia with food dreamt up by master chef Nobuyuki ‘Nobu’ Matsuhisa and made by his team of cooks.

If it’s pure opulence you’re after, Silversea’s Le Champagne – the

only Relais & Châteaux restaurant at sea – serves up a risotto containing the world’s most expensive ingredient: gold leaf.

But it’s not just about what’s on the evening’s menu: high-end cruise lines put food at the centre of everything they do. Oceania Cruises – whose exceptional dining we explore in full in our Lap of Luxury feature (p24) – is one of a number of lines that offer foodthemed activities in the form of its Culinary Discovery Tours as well as cookery schools, the Bon Appetit Culinary Centres, on the Marina and Riviera ships.

Staff-to-guest ratios on luxury cruise ships

Ship SeaDream Yacht Club's SeaDream II

Guests

Staff

112

95

Seabourn Quest

450

330

Oceania Riviera

1,250

800

Ponant Le Lyrial

244

139

Uniworld River Victoria

202

110

Regent Navigator

490

345

Celebrity Xpedition

92

64

Silversea Silver Explorer

132

117

Hapag Lloyd Europa 2

500

370

Hebridean Island Cruises Hebridean Princess

50

38

Star Clipper Royal Clipper

227

106

Crystal Symphony

922

545

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World-class wines It’s a given that luxury cruise-goers are connoisseurs of both food and wine. Among the many shore excursions offered by high-end lines, an increasing number are to vineyards. Often, entire itineraries are based around wine, particularly among river cruise lines.

Uniworld offers a fantastic Bordeaux, Vineyards & Châteaux cruise, a dream for oenophiles, while many Mediterranean ocean cruises, too, provide excursions to nearby vineyards. But, of course, there’s nothing quite like enjoying a glass of wine on the deck of a ship as the sun sets. Therefore, a great deal of effort is put into wine lists of cruise lines themselves.

Ponant struck an exclusive deal with Veuve Clicquot Champagne while Seabourn offers more than 200 wines from the world’s top wine growing regions and a superb range of whiskies. Celebrity Cruises prides itself on its vast collection, number of sommeliers (present on every ship) and its dedicated wine bar, called Cellar Masters.

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OCEANIA

Cruise journalist Anthony Pearce joins Oceania Cruises on the beautiful Riviera to sail from Rome to Venice and sample what is said to be the finest cuisine at sea

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t doesn’t take us long to settle into a rhythm on Oceania Cruises.

Having made our way across a sweltering Rome from the chaotic Fiumicino airport to the Civitavecchia cruise terminal, we are welcomed on board the elegant, air-conditioned Riviera by a small army of smiling, immaculately dressed staff, guiding us in the correct direction.

Any lingering stress is extinguished immediately and the question we came here to pose – how has luxury cruising become one of the travel industry’s recent success stories?

– is answered quickly.

Our home for the next eight nights, a beautiful stateroom, boasting a spacious veranda, marbled bathroom, queen-size bed, shower and generously sized bathtub, is positively palatial. It’s easy to see why customers, accustomed to the elegance of four and five-star hotels, have turned to cruise lines, allowing them to take in multiple exotic, exciting destinations without forgoing comfort and style. On this trip, the line’s Isles & Empires, we’ll take in seven incredible destinations – Sorrento, Sicily, Greece, Montenegro, Croatia and Slovenia, finishing in Venice – in the knowledge our beautiful hotel is docked near by.

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Having arrived in that awkward postlunch, pre-evening meal period, we immediately take advantage of the complimentary room service and our friendly waiter arrives promptly, delicious roast chicken and bacon sandwich in hand.

It’s our first taster of food on Oceania Cruises, a line that proudly proclaims to serve “the finest cuisine at sea”. Its trophy cabinet, bursting with ‘best food’ awards, certainly offers veracity to the statement, as do the many return guests who enthusiastically describe the ship’s multiple eateries, offering glowing reviews of each when we tell them it’s our first time.

On Riviera, which entered service in 2012, there are four reservation-only restaurants in addition to the ‘walk-in’ Grand Dining Room, Waves Bar and Terrace Café. On most cruise lines they would fall under the category of additional fee ‘speciality’ restaurants, but here they remain complimentary.

They are Polo Grill, a steakhouse; Red Ginger, which serves Asian fusion food; Toscana, an Italian; and Jacques, serving French dishes dreamt up by celebrated chef Jacques Pépin (and cooked by him, if you’re lucky enough to be on the right cruise). Then there’s Priveé, an exclusive

10-seater restaurant, and La Reservé, for wine lovers, where surcharges apply.

Unsurprisingly, each restaurant is heavily subscribed and guests are only allowed a table in each restaurant once. We’re yet to book so, that evening, we dine at the Grand Dining Room. The stirring sounds of a string quartet greet us as we make our way through the Grand Bar on the sixth deck, past the casino and its bar, and into Martinis, the ship’s suave, low-light cocktail bar. A pianist plays gently and we’re persuaded to stop and sample the bar’s signature drink, opting for its Hendricks gin, vermouth and cucumber variation.

At dinner, I have an inventive butternut squash and mango salad starter, exceptional sea bass with tomato ratatouille main and indulgent strawberry cheesecake for desert, as the ship pulls out of Rome.

The vessel’s outstanding staff-to-passenger ratio (800:1,200) means you’re never left waiting or staring at dirty plates, particularly here in the main dining room. Not only are waiters plentiful, they’re cheerful, helpful, know the menu inside out and are genuinely enthusiastic about it. It’s one of the many reasons we begin to look forward to the evening meal as much as we do the port visits.

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The next morning, having arrived in Sorrento, we tender across, having a quick explore of the city, with its pastel houses and imposing Hotel Excelsior Vittoria sitting precariously on dramatic cliffs edge, before taking a boat to Capri. There, we hop on the funicular and take in the panoramic views at the top (pictured above), Mount Vesuvius faintly visible in the distance, the neat gardens and houses below. We explore the old town, getting lost down narrow alleys, admiring the balconied windows with bright, neatly arranged flowers boxes above, and verdant gardens where lemons grow naturally.

The Mediterranean sun is punishing and we’re happy to get back on board, enjoy a swim and make use of the excellent gym.

That evening, we eat at Polo Grill, where our wine, unfinished from the night before is quickly fetched (our waiter explains that’s it had already been moved to a cellar closer to the restaurant in anticipation).

The lobster bisque starter,

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given a kick with a drop of brandy, is gorgeous, as too is the succulent rib-eye steak for main.

The next morning we wake to find the Sicilian coastline and the imposing view of Mount Etna outside our veranda. It’s the most active volcano in the world, and despite its summit standing some 11,000 feet high, smoke is clearly visible. We tender to the island early and take a coach to the ancient city of Taormina, perched on the side of a mountain, and built by the Greeks in the seventh century. The Greek influence remains, from the amphitheatre to the Trinacria, the symbol of Greek mythological origin, which appears on the Sicilian flag and in every tourist shop.

After a trip to Argostoli, on the island of Cephalonia, Greece, we proceed through the Bay of Kotor, known as the most southerly fjord in Europe, and a highlight of the trip so far. The towering mountains, cerulean waters, thick, vast forests and tiny, neat villages, with their

terra cotta roofs, are truly breathtaking. Seemingly half of the ship is on the top deck taking pictures. At Red Ginger that evening, I opt for a gorgeous garlic and chilli prawn starter, overshadowed by the superbly inventive crispy duck, watermelon and cashew nut salad that comes next; the main, a wasabi-flavoured rack of lamb, is my favourite dish of the cruise so far, which explains why the restaurant is one of the ship’s most talked about.

We spend the next day in Croatia, bathing below the waterfalls of the Krka national park, the temperature pushing 40c outside the water, before sailing to the pretty city of Koper, Slovenia. Tucked away in southeastern Europe, this tiny, mountainous country is often overlooked in favour of its more famous neighbours, but is blessed with natural and architectural beauty.

The Venetian influence – remaining from the days of Venice’s marauding republic and felt across

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OCEANIA TITLE the region – is clearest here, giving us a taster for tomorrow’s headline event.

Before that is a chance to enjoy the gallic Jacques, the ship’s most famous, and for my mind, best restaurant. After a delicate goats cheese soufflé and, then, baked onion soup, I opt for the superb Maine lobster, served in its shell with a creamy mushroom sauce. In a lovely gesture, an exceedingly generous guest invites us to join him for a glass of champagne, sending a bottle over to our table.

There’s palpable excitement as we arrive in Venice the next morning, even from passengers seeing the Italian city for the third or fourth time. It’s our first and we’ve made sure we have time to make the most of it, booking a late flight back, giving ourselves almost two full days, and head out early on a waterbus. Saint Mark’s Square, comprising marble facades, the sky-reaching Campanile brick tower, the beautiful Basilica di San Marco, and a stadium’s worth of tourists, glistens in the late-morning sun. The heat and crowd make it a 01. Jacques restaurant 02. Sorrento, Italy 03. St George Island, Montenegro 04. A Venetian canal 05. The Grand Dining Room 06. Taormina amphitheatre, Sicily (see next page) 07. The Grand Canal, Venice 08. Cephalonia, Greece 09. Kotor, Montenegro 10. The Bay of Kotor, Montenegro 11. A sea turtle in Greece

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bit much, so we duck under a selfie stick or two, and head for the quiet and shade, meandering up through Castello’s streets, past endless canals until byzantine and baroque masterpieces give way to more modest properties and Venetians going about their business.

It’s a fantastic city to get lost in – conveniently, given we’ve forgotten our map – and our first day is spent absorbing its beautiful buildings, narrow, winding passageways and cafés.

But the next day we attack with a plan, buying a day pass for the waterbus – costing 20 euros – and explore the city with ease (it may not be as romantic as a gondola but offers a far wider scope of the city). We visit the tranquil island of Murano, where the city’s famous glassblowers have practised their art since 1291, and the Isola dei Morti, the beautiful but eerie island cemetery, which offers proof that Venice can be seen away from other tourists.

After a final trip down the Grand Canal, taking in the famous Accedemia bridge, the sun beginning to set, we bid farewell to Venice and a holiday that had it all: luxury, comfort, adventure and some truly unbelievable food.

For more information call 0800 810 8222

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Free Airfare

Plus:

FREE Unlimited Internet

Choose one:

FREE Shore Excursions* FREE Beverage Package* FREE Shipboard Credit* *Limitations apply

IONIAN ICONS Rome  to Venice 

ADRIATIC AWAKENING Istanbul  to Valletta 

7-Day Voyage | Riviera - 24 Aug 2016

12-Day Voyage | Sirena - 25 Jun 2016

Civitavecchia (Rome) | Sorrento/Capri Taormina (Sicily) | Corfu | Kotor (Montenegro) Zadar (Croatia) | Koper (Slovenia) | Venice

Istanbul | Mytilene (Lesbos) | Ephesus (Kusadasi) Gythion | Corfu | Tirana (Durres) | Zadar (Croatia) Venice | Kotor (Montenegro) | Crotone (Italy) Taormina (Sicily) | Valletta

Fares from £1,129 per guest Includes: Free Unlimited Internet, plus a choice of 3 Free Shore Excursions, Free House Beverage Package or $300pp Shipboard Credit

Fares from £2,599 per guest Includes: Free Unlimited Internet, plus a choice of 4 Free Shore Excursions, Free House Beverage Package or $400pp Shipboard Credit

PORTRAITS OF THE PAST

RADIANT RHYTHMS

Rome  to Barcelona 

Buenos Aires  to Rio De Janeiro 

10-Day Voyage | Nautica - 10 May 2016

12-Day Voyage | Insignia - 07 Nov 2016

Rome (Civitavecchia) | Florence/Tuscany (Livorno) Porto Vecchio (Corsica) | Cinque Terre (La Spezia) Monte Carlo | Antibes | Provence (Marseille) Palamos | Palma de Mallorca | Valencia | Barcelona

Buenos Aires  | Montevideo (Uruguay) Punta Del Este (Uruguay) | Rio Grande (Brazil) Porto Belo (Brazil) | Sao Paulo (Santos) | Parati Ilha Grande | Buzios | Rio De Janeiro 

Fares from £1,459 per guest Includes: Free Unlimited Internet, plus a choice of 4 Free Shore Excursions, Free House Beverage Package or $400pp Shipboard Credit

Fares from £2,889 per guest Includes: Free Unlimited Internet, plus a choice of 4 Free Shore Excursions, Free House Beverage Package or $400pp Shipboard Credit

Olife Choice Plus promotion is applicable to new bookings created between 1st Jan 2016 and 31st Mar 2016 on selected Summer 2016 and Winter 2016/17 sailings. Number of FREE Shore Excursions and amount of SBC is determined by length of sailing and excludes Choice and Exclusive excursions: Up to 9 Days = 3 FREE Shore Excursions | $300 SBC Per Person • 10 to 13 Days = 4 FREE Shore Excursions | $400 SBC Per Person •14 + Days = 5 FREE Shore Excursions | $500 SBC Per Person. All offers are subject to availability, and can be changed/withdrawn at any time. Fares are ‘from’ based on 2 adults sharing the lead grade of stateroom. Tour Operator’s terms and conditions apply - please ask for full details.  Overnight stay in port. Prices correct at time of print (10 Dec 2015) E&OE

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EURO CITIES

Hang up the backpack and explore Europe’s most alluring cities from a cruise ship

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here are faster and cheaper ways to get around Europe, but few more scenic.

While roadtrips and train journeys are not without their charms, there’s an elegance to many of Europe’s waterways – and many of its most enchanting cities are divided by rivers.

Unsurprisingly, there is a wealth of itineraries available: trips that take in the historic cities of Budapest, Vienna and Prague, the vineyards of Provence and Burgundy, or the fairytale castles of the Rhine. Many cruises include an overnight stay at one of the ports of call – and there’s always the chance to stick around before or after the cruise, too. Here are three cities you can see by ship.

Amsterdam The Rhine is the second longest river in Europe and one of the most popular among cruisers. As the Amsterdam-Rhine canal connects the Dutch capital to the river, many cruises begin there and head south. The city, pictured above, is of course as pretty as it is cultural; as famous for its museums, bicycles and canals as its nightlife. The Van Gogh museum and Anne Frank’s house are perhaps the city’s best known attractions, while the idyllic

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With its historic Ribeira quarter specked with terracotta roofs, Porto is a magnificent sight from the Douro river

Vondelpark and 14th century Begijnhof courts suggest a city with much to offer. Viking River Cruises’ Rhine Discovery itinerary (from £1,845) takes in both Germany and the Netherlands over eight nights. The first night is in Amsterdam, before the Longship heads towards Basel (Switzerland), taking in Heidelberg and Cologne.

Avalon Waterways’ Tulip Time Cruise takes in Belgium and the

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Netherlands over eight days, spending its seventh and final night in Amsterdam.

Riviera’s Amsterdam, Volendam & the Dutch Bulbfields river cruise (from £799) begins in the city’s canals and takes in Keukenhof Park.

Budapest and Vienna As the Hungarian and Austrian capitals are just 150 miles apart and share a river, it’s no surprise many cruises take in both.

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Budapest and Vienna are brimming with life and culture. The former is relatively inexpensive and full of hidden gems (‘pop up’ night spots and simple but tasty restaurants), and the Thermal Spas are undoubtedly the finest in the world. Vienna, by contrast, is a parade of the country’s former imperial might, featuring endless statues and magnificent buildings (see the Hofburg palace), plus its fair share of fine restaurants and alternative bars.

Amadeus River Cruises offers itineraries from the charming Bavarian town of Passau, including a round-trip through Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest over eight nights. Emerald Waterways’ Enchantment of Eastern Europe begins in Budapest, above, and

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heads as far as Bucharest, taking in Croatia and Serbia (from £2,295). Then there’s AmaWaterways’ Magnificent Europe: beginning in Amsterdam and ending in Budapest, the trip takes in Miltenberg, Regensburg, Passau, Vienna and Bratislava (from £3,999).

Porto With its historic Ribeira quarter specked with terracotta roofs, Porto is a magnificent sight from the Douro, the 550-mile river that runs through it. The regenerated city, as the second largest in Portugal, rivals Paris for romance and Madrid for culture. It is bursting with architectural delights – from the neoclassical Palácio da Bolsa to the Ponte de Dom Luís. Vila Nova de Gaia,

across the river, is home to some of the world’s finest port-makers and is the city’s most famous quarter, despite being its own municipality. Viking’s Rivers of Gold trip (from £1,945) includes two nights at Lisbon’s Hotel Tivoli, and a cruise from Porto to Salamanca in Spain, which returns through the port-making area of Pinhão. Extend the cruise by two nights and take in Braga, and Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

AmaWaterways’ Enticing Douro (from £2,156) includes three nights on land in the beautiful city of Libson, a transfer to Porto and a seven-night cruise on the river, with wine-tasting in Pinhão and Régua.

For more information call 0800 810 8222

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Europe’s Finest River Cruises Rhine, Danube, Moselle, Main, Rhône, Seine or Douro • • • • • •

Rhine Cruise to Switzerland 8 days from £1,249pp The Blue Danube 8 days from £1,199pp Rhine & Moselle 8 days from £1,199pp Cruise the Heart of Europe 14 days from £1,699pp Amsterdam, Volendam & the Dutch Bulbfields 5 days from £799pp The Douro, Oporto & Salamanca 8 days from £1,299pp

Whats included? Return flight or Eurostar, transfers, full board on the ship, all guided excursions and the services of a Riviera Travel Cruise Team throughout!

Fully guided post river cruise extensions available on selected dates and itineraries!

Holidays organised by and subject to the booking conditions of Riviera Travel, ABTA V4744 and ATOL 3430 protected. Price based on two people sharing a twin cabin. Single cabins and optional insurance available at a supplement. Images used in conjunction with Riviera Travel. Additional entrance costs may apply. *Source: Independent research in Autumn 2014

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––––– ‘RIVER SHIPS ARE LIKE BOUTIQUE HOTELS’ –––––

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RIVER ANALYSIS

Neil Barclay, head of sales for Viking, talks us through river cruise’s renaissance, overnight stays and why the classic European waterways are still so popular

City breakers

Neil Barclay, head of sales, Viking River Cruises 36

sitting onboard and you’ve got a talk about these places you’re going to – or you’re sat on deck with a glass of wine watching this great scenery go by.

Ocean movers What we’re finding is that a lot of people are moving on from ocean cruising over to river. That’s down to one of two reasons: firstly, they’ve done basically every itinerary that’s out there and they want to do something a bit closer to home, and want to see a bit more of the country. The second thing is, people who get a reasonable price for an ocean cruise sometimes then find there are all these extras, which defeat the purpose of a low-price

cruise in the first place.

The main thing we are trying to get over is that with river cruises there’s so much included in the cost. The ‘tag price’ may be higher than what you pay for an ocean cruise, but when you think about the inclusions – which are daily excursions, your drinks, your lunch and dinner, your lectures onboard and your free wi-fi – they make a huge difference.

Stay another day At the start and end points of the majority of our itineraries, you’ve got an overnight stay.

For example, in Budapest you’ve got a day and a half there. The difference between ocean and river cruises is that you’re

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The bottom line is that river cruising is more destination focused. Not everyone who walks through a travel agent’s door will want a river cruise, but some people will want a series of city breaks. We find that a lot of people have already been to Europe by coach, years and years ago, or they went independently – they either camped or took a motorhome – and they’re just looking for something different. Sometimes people will be looking for a city break or asking for a lakes and mountains holiday. We can say, ‘Have you ever thought about a river cruise?’

We’re not trying to make money from people by having endless days at sea. The fact is, you’re in a different town or city every night and sometimes you have overnight stays – so you can experience it like a local. Other days, you’re

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docked right in heart of town. Within ten minutes of coming off the ship you’re right in the centre of Budapest. You’re not waiting on tenders – everyone is off the ship within five minutes.

Even where we don’t have overnight stays, you tend to find you have quite a long time at ports. You might find that you’re visiting one town in the morning, then doing a bit of scenic cruising, and then you arrive in another town late afternoon and you’re there until midnight or one in the morning. That means you can just step ashore and have a wander around.

Sometimes people think, ‘Well is it going to be up at 8 o’clock in the morning, on the tour, and back?’ – that it’s going to be quite functional – but there is a massive degree of flexibility.

If you want to be independent, and you’re

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in, say, Vienna, and just want to go off and wander on their own, you can do, because you know you can get back to the ship as you know there’s no hourand-a-half bus in and out of town.

Luxury travel We’re trying to get away from the misconception that river cruises, in general, are going to be on small, box-like ships.

Actually, they’re like boutique hotels.

The money that’s been spent on ships in terms of advancements makes a huge difference. When we’ve taken travel agents out they’re overwhelmed from the minute they get on board with the crew, especially on our ships, where there’s a lot of marble and understated Norwegian elegance, and it’s all very casual and relaxed. I think that’s what draws customers in.

Euro vision In terms of launching on new rivers, there’s more itineraries in Southeast Asia, but we find people want the mainstay rivers – the Danube, the Rhine – and that’s where we’re adding capacity to cope with demand.

We’ve also found the Douro in Portugal is very popular. Everyone talks about Vietnam and Myanmar, and we’ve got a presence there, but our bread-and-butter itineraries are where we need the capacity, which is over in Europe.

When we go in to ocean [sister company, Viking Ocean Cruises, which began sailing in May 2015] it’s following exactly the same format, in terms of inclusion and being in the centre of a city.

For more information call 0800 810 8222

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––––– THE GREAT ENTERTAINERS –––––

How cruise lines have taken family fun to the next level

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he best family holidays strike a balance between relaxation and adventure: they are where the children can run wild and the parents can kick back, safe in the knowledge they’re alright.

While all-inclusive resorts have their charms, many cruise lines have perfected the family getaway. Ever expanding, the sector is marked by considerable innovation: the entertainment on some ships now eclipses that of even the most sought-after hotels on land. It’s no exaggeration to say that these vessels increasingly resemble theme parks at sea.

Cruise works because the whole family is accounted for, from kids’ clubs to casinos. Over the next few pages we look in detail at these riches, considering the best on offer when it comes to Broadway productions, sky-reaching waterslides and Zen-making spa treatments.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Royal Caribbean International

Norwegian Cruise Line

Disney Cruise Line

Fleet: 14 ships Newest vessel: Norwegian Escape launched in October 2015 Did you know?

Norwegian is known for the Freestyle Cruising concept where there are no set times or seating arrangements at meals What’s special? The line pioneered the first Caribbean cruise back in 1966 and is proud of its tradition of innovation and sense of adventure. It doesn’t do things by half measures: Norwegian Epic has three waterslides, each multi-storey, as well as a trio of pools and five hot tubs – and finds room for a football pitch, basketball court and abseiling wall.

Fleet: Four ships Newest vessel: Disney Fantasy launched in 2012 Did you know? The line owns a private island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay, an exclusive port of call for its ships What’s special? Nostalgia is the key word when it comes to Disney. The line trades on the fact that everyone – from the very young to very old – grew up watching Walt Disney’s films and TV programmes. As the Disney characters meet-and-greets and the Aladdin and Toy Story live shows may suggest, the cruises are geared at kids – but parents will love this honest family fun (and nightlife), too.

Celebrity Cruises

Princess Cruises

MSC Cruises

Fleet: 10 ships Newest vessel: Celebrity Reflection launched in 2012 Did you know? The signature ‘X’ displayed on line’s ships is the Greek letter chi, for ‘Chandris’, the company’s original name What’s special? Celebrity Cruises is one of the few luxury lines that also welcomes families with young children. The result is high-end entertainment, and exceptional food. It excels in shore excursions suitable for the whole family – including explorer Ben Fogle’s Great Adventures programme.

Fleet: 19 ships Newest vessel: Regal Princess launched in 2013 Did you know? The classic American TV series, ‘The Love Boat’ was filmed on a Princess Cruises’ vessel.

What’s special? Princess Cruises has introduced a couple of big partnerships that really stand out. They include the Discovery Channel, which airs its shows on board and hosts activities including Shark Week; and The Voice at Sea, which takes the hit talent show and brings it on board for some high level karaoke.

Fleet: 12 ships Newest vessel: MSC Preziosa launched in 2013.

MSC Meraviglia and MSC Seaside will launch in 2017 Did you know? With the retirement of MSC Melody, built in 1982, MSC Armonia is now the oldest (2001) What’s special? Italian line MSC Cruises’ motto – the Mediterranean way of life – tells you exactly how it established its brand.

But the line offers a range of itineraries to a diverse clientele in a wholesome and fun manner: expect cookery challenges, sports tournaments and live jazz.

Fleet: 25 ships (2016) Newest vessels: Ovation of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas will launch in 2016 Did you know? Oasis class ships Allure and Oasis of the Seas are the largest cruise ships ever constructed – but Harmony is even larger.

What’s special? RCI likes things to be big and bold – in both size and innovation. Its ships are huge while onboard facilities are gloriously over the top. Innovation abounds in the likes of the cocktail-making robotic bartenders, ‘sky diving’ simulator, surfing and space-age Two70 floor-toceiling projectors.

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ENTERTAINMENT 10 days on Carnival

Freedom

by John Howard Carnival Cruise Lines Fleet: 25 ships (2016) Newest vessel: Carnival Breeze launched in 2012.

Carnival Vista will launch in 2016 Did you know? Carnival is the only cruise line to offer Dr Seuss-themed kids’ clubs What’s special? The fact that Carnival has dubbed its vessels ‘Fun Ships’ should tell you everything you need to know: the line excels at feel-good family holidays.

Its famous dancing waiters are perhaps the best example of this light-hearted attitude and its Punchliner comedy is second to none thanks to its association with George Lopez, the talk show host and comedian.

P&O Cruises Fleet: Seven ships (2016) Newest vessel: Britannia launched in March 2015 Did you know? Before christening Britannia, the largest ship built for the UK market, the Queen named Oriana in 1995 What’s special? The cruise line’s focus is very much on the great and good of British culture. Britannia is said to epitomise the “spirit of modern Britain” and features some of our greatest chefs in its Food Heroes, while its Strictly Come Dancing cruises are already legendary.

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A teenage cruiser shares his experiences on Carnival’s Conquest-class ship

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hen I first got on board the Carnival Freedom, I was unsure of what to expect from the 10 days ahead.

I spent the first half of the cruise with my family because I was apprehensive about meeting new people. But then, one night, I was by the pool and another English family approached us wondering whether I wanted to go to the teenage club, which is called the Club O2.

I was unsure at first but when I finally went I wished I visited on the first day! Everybody was so friendly and I was surprised how keen they were to get to know me. Everyone was fascinated by my English accent.

Club O2 is perfect for all teen demographics and for gamers to meet new gamers. There are plenty of PS4s – and then you can play together after the cruise.

There are giant sofas where lots of stories are told and where friendships are made, and where I found myself most of the time, socialising with people from all around the world.

There are evenings dedicated to occasions such as elegant nights where everybody dresses up and has photographs looking dapper together. There are karaoke nights, football table competitions and plenty of things to do inside O2.

I also explored the ship with my new-found friends by going to restaurants to treat ourselves.

There’s a variety to chose from, from Guys burger joint to all-you-can-eat ice cream and freshly made pizzas. If you fancy having a taste of England, there are fish and chips too!

One night, we went to the front of the cruise ship where it felt magical. I couldn’t believe my eyes – all I could see was the stars and the faint light of another ship in the distance.

Before we finally went back to our cabins at about 1 am we all felt hungry so we grabbed an ice cream and pizza!

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From Legally Blonde to We Will Rock You! and beyond, you will find stunning, high-budget theatre productions on board these family cruise lines’ ships

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nce upon a time cruise ships had a reputation – rather unfairly – for providing slightly naff entertainment in the form of smallbudget productions and cringe-worthy stand-ups.

But in recent years, the trend towards securing fully licensed, worldfamous shows has yielded remarkable results, bringing the West End directly to the customer, while productions made specially for and by cruise lines have improved dramatically.

Many of the shows now available on cruise ships are truly household names.

For example, Norwegian Cruise Line has seven-time Tony Award-nominated musical Legally Blonde on Norwegian Getaway, Rock of Ages on Norwegian Breakaway, while Priscilla, Queen of the Desert will debut on Norwegian Epic in October 2015.

Beyond that, the supremely inventive Cirque Dreams and Dinner on Norwegian Epic stands up to any of the more famous shows on board.

The “entertainment extravaganza”, as its creators put it, is based around a sit-down meal, circus acrobatics and audience participation –

and is fully deserving of its lasting popularity.

Royal Caribbean International, not to be outdone, gives passengers on Anthem of the Seas, the chance to enjoy We Will Rock You!, the Ben Eltonpenned musical based on the songs of Queen.

Remarkably, there’s also Chicago on Allure of the Seas, Hairspray on Oasis of the Seas and Saturday Night Fever on Liberty of the Seas.

What’s impressive is that each line has its distinct style when it comes to entertainment. Disney, of course, is able to bring characters from its parent

Disney will celebrate ‘Star Wars Day at Sea’ in early 2016

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ENTERTAINMENT TITLE Sink your teeth company’s much-loved stories to life. This is both through the Golden Mickeys and Disney Dreams shows and meet and greets with the characters (which now includes Star Wars, too).

Elsewhere, Carnival’s George Lopez-curated Punchliner Club has set the bar for cruise comedy, while Destination: Unknown on Carnival Magic is a brilliantly ambitious illusions show.

Reinventing fun Entertainment has become more than just something to do while on a cruise – it’s a reason to cruise in the first place. What’s tantalisingly clear is that this is just the beginning: deals will continue to be struck and ever bigger and better shows will appear on board.

But where family cruise lines have excelled is in thinking outside the box.

Operators have brought fun to all aspects of the cruise experience through themed itineraries, appearances from kids’ TV favourites and even technology (as Anthem’s robotic bartenders prove).

P&O Cruises’ Strictly Come Dancing cruises – which sail four times a year – are unsurprisingly popular, and then there’s the likes of Princess, which offers week-long activities with Discovery (see right) and Celebrity, whose Ben Foglecurated excursions blur the lines between adventure and entertainment.

For more information call 0800 810 8222

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Princess Cruises’ Discovery adventures

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rincess Cruises has teamed up with Discovery to launch a series of week-long experiences for families, including its Stargazing at Sea experience and Shark Week, based on the channel’s popular show.

Here, Sally Harrigan, Entertainment Manager, explains the thoughts behind the cruises.

When do the Discovery at Sea cruises begin?

We’ve started rolling out some of the key components on our current Caribbean and California coast sailings and the activities were added to other sailings – such as Alaska and Europe – in summer.

Are they mainly aimed at children?

We have developed activities for all ages including many fun things for families to do together. Our stargazing at Sea programme has been receiving rave reviews from families on board our North American ships: everyone will take away something new from the programmes we have put together.

What sort of activities and games will be available in Shark Week?

All ages will enjoy a selection of Shark Week activities including a participative competition titled Fish Stories about Sharks, guessing games such as Guess the Number of Shark Teeth, a fast-paced competition titled Swim With The Sharks and a really fun green-screen experience. In addition to the interactive Shark Week programming, we will also feature Shark Week content on our stateroom TV system and shark-themed books will be offered in the ship’s libraries. All programmes will be featured fleetwide on all itineraries.

What are you hoping the children, in particular, will learn during Shark Week?

We’re putting together fun and engaging activities and stories that we hope will pique the curiosity of young minds about the beauty and adventure of the ocean and its creatures.

Ultimately, we hope that our entire Discovery at Sea programme encourages our guests to develop a lifelong passion for, well, discovery!

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ENTERTAINMENT

What’s a family holiday without dive-bombing children, sky-reaching waterslides and poolside loungers? This is where the cruise industry comes into its own

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hen it comes to the traditional family holiday in summer, a great deal of it is spent in and around the hotel swimming pool. And a cruise is no different: your swimming trunks will be among the first items you pack.

It’s the reason why family cruise lines have continued at pace to build larger pools as they’ve built larger ships. In fact, waterparks and vertigoinducing waterslides have become a key battleground among competitors (and are among the first things cruise lines brag about).

But approaches differ widely. While some lines eschew the idea of waterslides altogether, others either find room for a couple per ship – or make one the centrepiece of the vessel.

Conscious that not every passenger wants dive-bombing children within earshot (and splashing distance), cruise lines have carefully arranged their swimming facilities, with many offering the sanctuary of adultsonly pools.

For example, with Princess Cruises parents can reserve a cabana by the adults-only Retreat Pool on Royal Princess (and, for a little extra, order an artisan picnic that comes with a bottle

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Norwegian Cruise Line’s Epic Plunge waterslide

of wine). Celebrity Cruises’ adults-only Solarium on its Solstice-class ships is as beautifully designed as it is peaceful, while another option is MSC’s adults-only infinity-style Garden Pool on MSC Divina.

This has increasingly led to cruise lines building multiple pools on their ships. In the end it means more fun for the kids and parents, too: MSC Fantasia, for example, has four swimming pools (not to mention 12 hydro-massage pools), while Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas has five.

Of course, what family cruise lines do so well is the big and the outrageous.

Norwegian Cruise Line, in particular, has taken its onboard swimmingpool offerings to brilliant new levels: Aqua Park, on Norwegian Epic, features

two main pools, five hot tubs and three waterslides.

Most impressive is the fourstorey high Epic Plunge – which cascades riders down a tube at average speeds of an impressive 26mph before they plunge into – and then out – of a huge bowl, above.

Elsewhere, on Norwegian Escape, is the Aqua Racer slide, the newest tandem waterslide at sea, where passengers can race sideby-side on tubes, and the Free Fall, first debuted on Norwegian Breakaway.

The latter – as the name suggests – offer guests the chance to actually free fall as the floor runs out from underneath them, propelling them into a loop.

Another line to adapt the two-lane method is Carnival, whose Speedway Splash was added to Carnival Sunshine when

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ENTERTAINMENT TITLE the line rolled out its Fun Ship 2.0 renovations.

The first racer to the checkered flags at the end is declared winner through an announcement on the big screen. The ship also features Twister on deck 10, which, at 334-ft long, is the longest in the fleet.

As waterslides are often found near the top deck of the ship – see our infographic below – they offer spectacular views of the sea and the rest of the ship, and often don’t require a steep ladder to reach.

MSC’s Vertigo, on board MSC Preziosa, is 13 metres high and 394 ft long, but located way up on deck 16.

It means when the slide’s tube loops over the edge of the ship the views down are quite spectacular – and a little terrifying.

If you’re looking for a longer ride, Disney Cruise Line has its inventively named AquaDuck waterslide on board deck 12 of Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy. Stretching out over a 765-ft course, it’s the only ‘water rollercoaster’ at sea.

Of course, it’s not all about white-knuckle adventure and, just as the adults are catered for with the quiet zones, so too are the little ones: each Disney ship, for example,

Epic Plunge on Norwegian Epic deck 16

has themed zones for kids eight and younger that still offer adventure: Nemo’s Reef and AquaLab boast mini-water slides.

Then there’s Royal Caribbean International, whose FlowRider surf simulator is a truly inventive addition. Having suddenly embraced the waterpark, the line’s Harmony of the Seas will launch in April 2016 with three multistorey waterslides on board. The trend once again is that everything is getting bigger, better and more exciting.

For more information call 0800 810 8222

Aqua Duck on Disney Dream and Fantasy deck 12

Twister on Carnival Sunshine deck 10

Vertigo on MSC Preziosa deck 16

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While every parent puts their children first, there’s nothing wrong with a little time apart. Fortunately, cruise lines haven’t neglected the adults when it comes to fun

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s all parents know, your kids’ wants and needs come first when booking a family holiday.

You will want to know if your kids will be entertained and if they will be safe. Of course, a cruise is one of the safest ways to travel and – as these past few pages have shown – there is enough onboard entertainment to keep even the most restless and stubborn kids occupied.

But what about you, the parents? Your kids’ happiness is paramount, of course, but you too will want to be spoilt. While much of the holiday will be spent happily together, even the most doting mums and dads will be hoping for a little relaxation away from hyperactive children at some point.

Importantly, cruise

ships kids’ clubs are as good, if not better, than anything you’ll find on land. This means, once you are convinced about the endless fun on offer for kids and the brilliantly attentive staff who can look after them, it’s time to think about the casino, spa treatments and evening entertainment and club nights. And believe us, there’s plenty to see.

Spas The onboard spa experience has become one of the key features of the cruise. Even the most diminutive ships offer places to relax, unwind and enjoy treatment.

Of course, the quality and size of these facilities differs hugely between lines and vessels, but onboard spas have improved beyond

recognition over the past few years. As you may expect, some of the best spas tend to appear on the most luxurious ships – but certainly aren’t limited to the high-end, adults-only cruises.

The classy Canyon Ranch SpaClub on Celebrity Cruises is a thing of wonder featuring AquaClass spa cabins and café, a relaxation room and ‘Persian Garden’ steamroom, as is the Solarium. Costa Cruises, which pioneered the concept of the ‘destination spa experience’ at sea, still offers one of the very best options available in its Samsara Spa. Included is a thermal suite, ‘Temple of Peace’ and Japanese Tea Room. On the Costa Diadema, the line’s newest ship, there is 25,000 sq ft worth of spa space.

Casinos If you like a flutter, you will be delighted to learn that many of the lines who have mastered family fun also offer some of the best casinos at sea.

Royal Caribbean’s Casino Royale, for example, accounts for 18,000 sq ft on Oasis and Allure of the Seas (and appears on Quantum-class ships too, pictured left), featuring the usual mix of poker tables, roulette and hundreds of slot machines.

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Celebrity Cruises’ Solarium Spa offers a great opportunity to unwind

Norwegian’s Breakaway and Getaway casinos exactly match Royal’s Oasis-class in sq ft and are similarly blessed in terms of facilities. The half-hearted can play video poker while sat at the bar, and serious players can join the line’s Annual Poker Challenge.

There are plenty more to choose from, but The Princess Casino on board the Regal Princess and Royal Princess is a particularly great spot to relax with a martini (shaken not stirred).

Nightlife and shows Family cruise lines specialise in providing entertainment suitable for

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all ages – whether that be waterslides or Broadway theatre. But, when the kids are safely tucked up in bed, there’s plenty for the adults to enjoy, too.

Some of the larger ships rival small cities with their nightlife: there is nearly always a ‘traditional’ pub, swanky cocktail bar and disco, often going on into the early hours.

There is also often entertainment geared specifically at adults. On Celebrity Silhouette and Reflection, for example, there’s the 18-plus Sin City comedy-meets-Burlesque late-night show, while the pick of the Carnival’s Punchliner shows are

undoubtedly the ones unsuitable for kids’ ears.

For those who enjoy their entertainment under the stars, Princess’s Night Sky Lounge at the Retreat Pool on Regal is particularly lovely (as too are the cruise line’s famous Movies Under the Stars). Even Disney, a line very much geared at kids’ fun, is blessed when it comes to nightlife, offering a surprisingly European flavour: see the Londoninspired Tube on Disney Fantasy and O’Gills Irish pub, which shows ESPN so there’s no need to miss the match.

For more information call 0800 810 8222

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ALL IN BUY ONE ALL INCLUSIVE CRUISE FARE, GET ONE HALF PRICE + All Inclusive with selected drinks + 25% per person off cruise fare on 3rd and 4th guests + Reduced deposit, only £50pp

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Terms & Conditions: Pricing is based on cruise only fares per person based on two people sharing an interior stateroom. This promotion is applicable to new bookings made between 23.12.15 & 29.02.16 on selected 2016, 6+ sailings departing between 01.02.16 & 31.12.16. The Buy One Get One Half Price promotion is a saving of 50% from the cruise fare of the 2nd guest only. Third and fourth guests in your stateroom will receive a 25% pp saving. All Inclusive includes the Royal Select Beverage Package (beer and wine by the glass up to $8 value) for adults or the Royal Refreshment Soda Package for persons under the applicable drinking age. Plus, sailings booked 57 days or more before you sail will obtain a reduced deposit of £50pp (not available on group bookings). Full terms and conditions apply. For general booking conditions, applicable sailings and full promotion terms please refer to royalcaribbean.co.uk. This promotion is sponsored by RCL Cruises Ltd t/a Royal Caribbean International (company number 07366612) with registered office at Building 3, The Heights, Brooklands, Weybridge, Surrey KT13 0NY. Prices correct at time of print (10th Dec 2015). E&OE.

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e hope you’ve enjoyed reading our new magazine. If you’re interested in any of the features, and would like more information then please get in touch. We’re independent, impartial and here to help you cruise holiday that’s right for you.

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