Innholdsfortegnelse for Planner 2017 i Cruise & Travel

Q My husband and I are completely new to cruising. How do we choose a stateroom or cabin? A It might look as though there are a confusing number of cabin categories when you book a cruise, but there are generally only four types of stateroom on any ship. These are inside or outside, balcony and suites, and the choice is dependent on your budget and personal priorities. Do you envisage private time spent reading and relaxing on your balcony – or is there so much to do on board that you don’t see yourselves requiring much time in your cabin? If it’s the latter, inside staterooms are usually the smallest and most reasonably priced. They have no outside window, although there’s now a trend for ‘virtual views’, with varying…

As trailblazers in luxury small-ship sailings, Silversea are set to redefine ocean cruising with the arrival of their new vessel Silver Muse in April, bringing the total of their splendid fleet to nine. The new 596-guest flagship will feature itineraries showcasing 52 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, while offering spacious all-suite accommodation – virtually all with private verandas – with the same intimate ambience on board that Silversea guests expect and love. Meticulous attention to detail is one of the cruise line’s hallmarks and on board Silver Muse this will come in the form of attentive butlers assigned to each suite, while the high staff-to-guest ratio means service will be at an impeccable standard. Boasting the highest number of large suites in the fleet with enhanced connecting accommodation across all categories,…

CELESTYAL CRUISES A Greek cruise operator that is attracting many Brits with its relaxed cruises around the islands and Greek and Turkish mainland. There are three mid-size ships, Celestyal Crystal, Celestyal Olympia and Celestyal Nefeli). But Celestyal Crystal, which has spent the last couple of winters in Cuba, in November 2016 left the Med to sail there year-round, so successful has spin-off brand Cuba Cruises been. The seven-night cruises feature local Cuban food and entertainment in similar fashion to the Greek sailings from Piraeus. The latter, often including two ports in a day, involve regular sailings devoted to gastronomy and culture, and for 2017 there’s a new seven-night Euphoric Aegean itinerary, combining much-loved islands Mykonos, Rhodes and Santorini with port cities such as Nafplio. 00 30 210 458 3400;…

Truly inspiring river cruises that capture the imagination and offer unforgettable memories can be found with Titan Travel. They are well known for crafting a range of expertly planned sailings for all types of cruisers, and in March the choice on offer becomes even greater with the arrival of MS Serenade 1. You can expect modern comforts on the exclusively chartered vessel, which will ply the idyllic rivers of the Rhine and the Danube. A brand new venture for Titan, the 136-guest ship has undergone refurbishment this winter to further enhance the wonderful ambience on board. Much like the tranquility of the rivers it sails on, the four-star vessel offers a relaxed atmosphere where you can take your time to enjoy the beautiful river scenery as it passes by. Some…

Guaranteed summer sunshine and some of the world’s cultural treasure trove cities make the Mediterranean the best destination for classic holiday cruises in Europe, and a great option for those new to cruise. You can take the no-stress option of sailing from Britain, usually with a 10-day or two-week return voyage from the south coast, or on a fly-cruise if you have only a week, or want to sail as far east as two weeks will allow. Most Western Med fly-cruises begin from Barcelona, Monaco, Naples or Civitavecchia, with Eastern Med fly-cruises starting from Venice, Dubrovnik or Athens. With the Black Sea and Turkish ports, such as Istanbul, becoming less frequently visited by mainstream cruise lines, the Adriatic countries of Croatia, Montenegro and even Albania are being opened up to…

We call it the land of Fire and Ice thanks to its volcanoes and glaciers, and this is the focus of Voyages to Antiquity’s inaugural no-fly cruise to Iceland, which will also call at the Faroes and Shetland Islands from the UK in 2017. Iceland’s tiny volcanic island of Heimaey is fast becoming a popular cruise stop for the smaller ships, and it’s on the itinerary for Antiquity’s Aegean Odyssey. Here you can easily climb to the top of Eldfell – the volcano that exploded in 1973 and left a lava field trail almost down to the harbour – so when you jump off the tender that takes you to town the volcano is just a 10- to 15-minute walk away. Summer visits to the island and other parts of…

Located on Puget Sound in the Pacific Northwest, close to national parks including Mount Rainier and the verdant forests of Washington State, a visit to the ‘Emerald City’ will make you feel as though you’re experiencing several different holidays in one. There is something for everyone here, whether you want to try the local seafood, explore the rich heritage in the museums, go shopping or play golf. It’s little wonder it has been the setting for countless movies and TV shows including Sleepless in Seattle, Frasier and Grey’s Anatomy. Although it was founded in 1851 by American pioneers, it is thought that Indian tribes settled here from around 4,000 years ago. Today Seattle is the gateway for Alaska cruises and a hotbed for start-ups and tech innovation, with a glittering…

MSC CRUISES Italian-style family cruising on a growing fleet of large ships. MSC›Meraviglia for 5,700 guests joins in June, spending the summer in the Med. There will be an indoor promenade linking shops, restaurants and entertainment, shows from Cirque du Soleil, an aqua park, the chance to link three rooms for a 10-person group and an expanded version of the exclusive Yacht Club. MSC Seaside arrives in December 2017, sailing from Miami to the Caribbean. Sister ship MSC Seaview will have its inaugural season in the Med in June 2018, sailing from Genoa, Marseille and Barcelona. Both claim the highest ratio of outdoor space per guest at sea, with lots of outdoor eating, plus an all-round prom with views opened up by glass balustrades. A 1.5-mile stretch of beach on…

For the ideal winter escape, head for the Canary Islands – and sailings to the Spanish archipelago with award-winning Saga Cruises offers a one-of-a-kind holiday experience. You will find more than pristine beaches, the sultry climate and appetising Mediterranean cuisine to enjoy. With a variety of itineraries that take you off the beaten track and on the trail of some of the island’s most awe-inspiring sceneries, Saga guests will be spoilt for choice when it comes to uncovering the treasures of the Canaries. Comprising seven main islands, there are plenty of opportunities to explore this idyllic archipelago on board Saga’s contemporary and cosy fleet. Saga Pearl II carries only 449 passengers while Saga Sapphire offers a 720-guest capacity, contributing to a friendly ambience on board. On shore, Saga offers an…

VIKING RIVER CRUISES The multi-award-winning luxury river cruise line continues to expand with two more Longships (Viking Herja and Viking Hild) in 2017. This means there will have been 33 new ships in three years, including seven in 2016 (six Longships and one smaller ship for the Douro). The vessels all have sleek Scandi décor, including a glass wall that folds back to open the lounge to the Aquavit Terrace at the front. Viking complements Europe’s main rivers with Russia, China, Myanmar (Burma) and Vietnam. Cruises include imaginative itineraries and excursions. 020 8780 8700; vikingrivercruises.co.uk AMAWATERWAYS AmaKristina joins the fleet on the Rhine in April, sister ship of 2016’s AmaViola. There will be the usual fleet of free bicycles along with pools and a swim up…

The phenomenal popularity of round-Britain cruises continues to grow and with it the opening of smaller ports, such as Falmouth for excursions to Cornwall’s Poldark country – all pretty coastal villages and semi-tropical gardens – and Portland in Dorset so that visitors can see the legendary Stonehenge monument (Disney Cruise Line regards it as a new destination). Brits welcome the opportunity to go on cruises and sail to places in the UK that would otherwise prove to be too daunting a drive from home – for example, Scotland’s Tobermory on the Isle of Mull with its whisky distillery, or Orkney and its UNESCO-listed Neolithic monuments. Voyages to Antiquity has its first dedicated ex-UK programme in 2017 with maiden calls to Orkney and the Shetland Islands. Crossing the Irish Sea to…

A string of Scandinavian capitals is at the heart of every Baltic cruise, so they don’t change that much from year to year except for the exchange of a less well-known port in Germany, Sweden or Poland for another off-the-beaten track destination. This can sometimes sway a passenger who has already enjoyed a Baltic cruise, because with Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki and – the jewel in the crown – an overnight in St Petersburg on offer you’ll want to sail this itinerary more than once. Sometimes Poland’s heroic port Gdansk, birthplace of the 1980s Solidarity movement will be the bonus destination, as in Azamara Club Cruises’ August Northern Europe Cruise by Azamara Journey. Sometimes it will be Riga, the Art Nouveau capital of Latvia, as in Royal Caribbean’s Northern Europe Cruise…

Dubai has dominated Middle East itineraries for the past decade, but its wealthy neighbour, Abu Dhabi, is overtaking it and there is more competition from the new cruise terminal at Doha, the capital of Qatar. The oil-rich peninsular state of Qatar backs onto Saudi Arabia, in the Persian Gulf, and is intent on attracting more tourists in the years running up to it hosting the 2020 Football World Cup. Crystal Cruises will be among the first luxury cruise lines to visit Doha cruise terminal when Crystal Symphony calls in November. The new terminal is close to Doha’s Islamic Museum of Art and traditional shops in the Souq Waqif, while the waterside promenade along Doha Corniche is within easy walking distance. There are also desert excursions, such as dune riding at…

Australia and New Zealand are always going to be the most popular Pacific destinations for UK cruise passengers, and in January and February Seabourn’s new luxury ship, Seabourn Encore, will sail a series of cruises around Australia and New Zealand before heading back through Malaysia and the Middle East to the Mediterranean. Darwin, Cairns and Sydney are three of the main ports thanks to Darwin’s proximity to Asia, access to the rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns, and the exciting atmosphere and sights of Sydney, particularly the iconic Opera House. However, the less familiar Townsville, in North Queensland, is becoming an increasingly popular cruise port, where you can visit the Billabong Sanctuary wildlife reserve or take a ferry to the UNESCO-listed unspoilt Magnetic Island. Another relative newcomer is…

VIKING OCEAN CRUISES The cool company with trendy Scandinavian-inspired ships doubles its fleet in 2017 to four. Viking Sky arrives in the Med in February and Viking Sun in November. The latter debuts with a new itinerary, Central American Shores & Cuba – a cruise from Miami, before heading off on Viking’s first world cruise, from Miami to London, which lasts 141 days. Viking Sea launched last spring, while debut ship Viking Star arrived the year before. All have the same sleek, pale, sexy style as Viking’s award-winning river Longships. Even the dining room has a similarly cosy feel. Almost everything’s included in the fare – speciality restaurants, wine with dinner, room service, wifi and excursions. 020 8780 8700; vikingcruises.co.uk CUNARD LINE Queen Mary 2, fresh…

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE This year Norwegian Jade is the first Norwegian Cruise Line ship to be based in Southampton since 2010, heading for the fjords, Iceland and northern European cities. Norwegian Getaway, the second newest ship in a sophisticated fleet, is also coming to Europe, sailing from Copenhagen. Norwegian Spirit heads to its new seasonal home port of Civitavecchia in May for a series of different 10- and 11-night cruises including smaller ports such as Cagliari in Sardinia and Koper in Slovenia, plus three new 11-night Holy Land itineraries with an overnight in Haifa, Israel. Norwegian Escape, NCL’s largest ship for 4,200 people, which launched in late 2015, continues with successful Caribbean itineraries. Harvest Caye, a private island destination in Belize, opened in November with a salt-water lagoon for water…

SWAN HELLENIC Swan Hellenic’s Minerva, the leader in small-ship discovery cruising, continues to offer new experiences, with maiden calls at Mina Salman in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi’s nature reserve on the island of Sir Bani Yas. The 2017 season begins with a 17-day no-fly cruise from Portsmouth in search of the Northern Lights. Cruises around Britain include an RHS-partnered itinerary to gardens in Ireland, Britain and France. Next winter’s exotic destinations include Dubai, Sri Lanka, Oman, India, Vietnam, Philippines and Borneo. On board there is an exclusive country house feel with eminent speakers and local guides. 0800 567 7399; swanhellenic.com VOYAGES TO ANTIQUITY There’s a dedicated European programme for 2017 featuring 17 itineraries. Aegean Odyssey’s first no-fly cruise (to Iceland) is one of four from the…

Uncovering the heart of a destination from a unique vantage point on the water is one of the many magical aspects of river cruising. With Avalon Waterways, you can experience the incredible vistas of the world’s rivers from the comfort of your own stateroom as panoramic windows afford fantastic views. Their itineraries feature the most scenic rivers in Europe – including the Danube, Rhine, Main, Rhône and Seine – as well as the world’s iconic waterways such as the Amazon and Irrawaddy. LET THE OUTSIDE IN Avalon Waterways’ Suite Ship design across their award-winning fleet offers an unrivalled stateroom layout, with beds angled to face wall-to-wall windows. It’s easy to become mesmerised by spectacular views of the passing landscape, whether you are gliding along the Moselle or Dutch Waterways in…

Interest in the Arctic and Antarctic are at an all-time high, fuelled in part no doubt by Planet Earth II, with Crystal Cruises successfully sailing through the fabled Northwest Passage in summer 2016. The usually ice-locked route through the Arctic Sea has been the holy grail of expedition cruises and, after Crystal Serenity’s 32-day and 7,297-nautical-mile voyage, Crystal has announced that there will be a second attempt in 2017. You’ll need deep pockets to join that particular cruise, although Antarctic expedition cruises can also be eye-wateringly expensive. That’s the price you pay for seeing penguins – thousands of them – humpback and orca whales, elephant and fur seals and, of course, lots of icebergs and glaciers. To keep prices down, and to avoid the seasickness associated with Drake’s Passage en-route…

America’s final frontier has been a cruise destination for nearly 30 years, but it is now cleverly repackaging itself as an adventure-cruise hot-spot rather than purely a scenic sailing favourite. That’s thanks to the increase in add-on land-based tours at the start or finish of a cruise to Alaska. Although Princess Cruises and Holland America Line in particular have been offering stays in lodges at Denali National Park and glass-domed train rides through the Rocky Mountains for some time, in 2017 Royal Caribbean International is presenting these experiences as cruisetours and adventure cruises. Hiking on Exit Glacier, kayaking on Eklutna Lake and tourist flights to watch brown bears hunting or whale-watching trips are all on offer for adventurous cruisers. Disney Cruise Line is clocking up another first with a trip…

Cuba will be another major destination for 2017 thanks to the end of America’s 50-year ban on travel to the Caribbean island. So far, there has been only a trickle of cruise lines travelling there, mainly those owned outside America, such as Celestyal Cruises, which is Greek-owned, Star Clippers and Thomson Cruises – but prepare for a deluge from bigger brands. Carnival Corporation’s voluntourism brand, Fathom, led the way in 2016, taking tourists on cultural exchanges, which is due to continue. But most people want to visit the capital, Havana, before its shabby-chic colonial buildings become a theme park for the masses. MSC Cruises has had a ship based in Havana since 2015, and in 2017 it will offer year-round itineraries that include two- or three-night stopovers in the city,…

An incredible blend of ancient Chinese culture, foreign influence and modern development, Shanghai is the crown jewel of China’s economic surge. Bordering the estuary of the Yangtze River, it’s also the most heavily populated city in the world – 25 million people live here, and the sheer number of high-rise apartments as you arrive can be a bit of a culture shock. But it is possible to find areas of tranquillity among the hustle and bustle. Shanghai’s rise to prominence began in 1554 and, under the Qing dynasty, it expanded to become the most important trade centre of the region thanks to its strategic location by the Yangtze delta. Following Britain’s victory over China in the First Opium War in 1842, it took concessions and set up ports within the…