Innholdsfortegnelse for April/May 2019 i Cruise & Travel

In these uncertain times one thing we all need is the prospect of a fabulous stress-free holiday to look forward to. So in this issue we are showcasing some of the incredible itineraries you can sail on from the UK – turn to page 73 to see the best no-fly cruises for the year ahead. One of the best things about cruising is that it’s a chance to escape from your everyday life, and for a week or 10 days (maybe longer if you’re lucky enough to be going on a world cruise), you can travel to amazing destinations while everything is taken care of for you. On page 45 you’ll find the Top 20 Luxury Cruises for ocean and river, and on page 68 you’ll find top expert tips…

EASY PACKING An ultra-lightweight shell and an elegant tapered design make travelling a breeze with this stylish carry-on Radley suitcase (£139, caseluggage.com). TOUGH SHOT The Panasonic Lumix DC-FT7, featuring 20.4 megapixels and a 4.6 optical zoom, is built for shooting in challenging outdoor environments and underwater (£199, johnlewis.com). COOL BLUE Made from two tone mesh laminated polycarbonate, Samsonite’s MixMesh suitcase boasts stand-out colour details and effortless mobility (£188, samsonite.co.uk). HANDS-FREE FREEDOM Take calls and messages on the go while tracking your heart rate, workouts and sleep, with the new Samsung Galaxy smart watch (£279, samsung.com/uk). RAZOR SHARP See and be seen with these binoculars from Swarovski’s EL O-Range, mixing long-range optics with ergonomic flair (£2,530, uk.swarovskioptik.com). GOOD LOOKS The Padfield cosmetic pouch is ideal as a compact makeup bag or…

This isn’t my first time on a cruise ship. I went on one years ago when I was about 17, and I think it was probably one of our last family holidays, really. Mum and Dad were going, and me and my sister just suddenly had a week off work, and they were like ‘come with us’. And I’d never been on a cruise before, but we went to the Caribbean and sailed round the islands and I loved it because you could stop off and see everywhere. My favourite thing about it was the eating; food on tap the whole time, so that really appeals to me, and calories don’t count at sea, so I hear, so it was fine. You can’t miss MSC Bellissima ,…

OCEAN SILVERSEA Silversea’s collection of nine luxury cruise and expedition ships are renowned for their elegant service: you’re welcomed on board by white-gloved staff and handed a flute of Champagne as you’re escorted to your suite. You can even pre-arrange a Bon Voyage Party to say goodbye to family or friends before you embark; and if you want to play golf anywhere on your voyage you just have to let the concierge know before your departure. Suites all have ocean views, there are no inside cabins, and the fleet’s culinary excellence is highly regarded. Silver Muse, Silversea’s newest ship, takes just 596 guests and pushes the bar even higher with its main restaurant, Atlantide – where else can you eat blue lobster in the general dining room? It also has…

It cost £750million to build and create, and from the moment you step onto the shiny, sparkly new ship MSC Bellissima it feels as though you’ve entered an ultra-glamorous world of possibility. With the tagline “beauty at sea”, it’s a dazzling success. Size isn’t everything but at 1,036ft long, this is the biggest ship in the Italian family-owned MSC Cruises’ fleet, with capacity for 5,686 guests; a lot of thought has been put into how best to accommodate everyone without ever making it feel crowded. The centrepiece of the ship is the indoor promenade, the Galleria Bellissima, with its splendid 262ft-long LED sky ceiling projecting enchanting art, vistas, sunrises and sunsets galore. As the name suggests, the Galleria is lined with chic boutiques, cafés and bars (and a delectable Chocolaterie…

White sandy beaches, water that seems to turn bluer the longer you look at it and food that satisfies as much as it challenges – that’s Okinawa. Surrounded by pristine sea and blessed with unspoilt scenery, these extraordinary exotic islands are the perfect blend of nature and culture. Located in the southernmost part of Japan in the East China Sea and the Pacific Ocean, Okinawa’s 160 islands have a history of independence and are known for martial arts, mountain hikes, rainforests and reef. Among the indigenous rainforests, the waterfalls and the secrets of ancient ruins such as UNESCO-listed Shurijo Castle, it’s here that you find Okinawa… and yourself. The Okinawan way not only guides one through the path to spiritual fulfilment but it is also expressed through the ebb and…

DOVER Britain’s best-known port has bold plans to transform its waterfront with new shops, bars and cafés to welcome even more ships to its historic cruise terminal. It may not be as busy as Southampton, but it’s important to British-market cruise lines such as Kent-based Saga Cruises, which will launch new ship Spirit of Discovery there in July. Other major cruise lines with itineraries departing from Dover include Holland America Line and Disney Cruise Line, which sails from the South Coast port to the Norwegian Fjords, inspiration for the hit film Frozen. Saga’s Spirit of Discovery is kicking off with a tour around Britain for its inaugural cruise in July, but it will be going all the way to St Petersburg in its Myths & Legends of the Baltic cruise,…

A seven-night Greek Getaway itinerary departing 22 May 2019, sailing round trip from Naples (for Pompeii and Capri), on new adults-only ship Marella Explorer 2, starts from £1041pp, based on two people sharing an inside cabin. Onboard highlights include a range of restaurants, Champneys Spa and chic bar and club Indigo. Price includes return flights from the UK, overseas transfers, all meals, drinks, gratuities and entertainment on board. Ports of call include Chania, Crete; Mykonos Town, Mykonos; Piraeus (for Athens); Zakynthos Town, Zante; and Catania, Sicily.…

YOUR PHOTOS Follow us @Cruisemag Like us facebook.com/cruiseinternational Follow us @Cruisemag The Panorama Restaurant on Srð hill is a must-visit when in Dubrovnik; we dined there on our Costa Venezia cruise. Anna Litus On our first-ever cruise we visted Half Moon Cay, Holland America’s private island in the Bahamas. It was blissful. Jena Alford The Pitons in St Lucia taken on a AIDAperla cruise. The island is the perfect mix of nature, beaches and snorkelling spots. Kim Markmann We saw the sun rise over the horizon on our Royal Caribbean cruise – the colours were stunning. Paul Cheong I caught the sky changing colour over this giant chess set on board MS Queen Elizabeth when sailing in Australia. Vassilia Hairis We honeymooned on board Independence of the Seas, and took…

I’ve done a few guest spots on Strictly cruises and I really admire the dedication of cruise ship dancers; they are incredibly hard-working. For many of them it’s their first job, they’re straight out of college and it’s a baptism of fire because they’re doing so many shows a week. My mum’s Spanish and my father was Hungarian, so I have spent a lot of time in Spain and Hungary. Foreign holidays were fairly normal for us when I was growing up; one year we’d visit my mum’s family in Galicia, and the next year we’d stay with my dad’s. When I go to Budapest it reminds me of being at my grandmother’s house: goulash and a visit to Lake Balaton. I don’t speak the lingo,…

ALL-INCLUSIVE SAILINGS for Saga Cruises A number of all-inclusive features are available on board Saga Cruises’ new ship, Spirit of Discovery, during its last three winter sailings of 2019. Drinks, tips, entertainment and fine dining are all included in the cruise price, alongside a chauffeur-driven transfer to and from the port, if guests live within a 250-mile radius of Southampton. And in towns and cities where the ship’s mooring is more than 500 yards from the port, a complimentary shuttle bus is provided, too. The three sailings offering these all-inclusive savings range from 14 to 35 nights and are a great choice for guests who want to book a cruise without the worry of budgeting for extras. Spanish Islands of the Atlantic is the first of the trio to depart.…

CHIC TOTE We love this Prada straw bag with its red and white striped trim (£990, net-a-porter.com). BOHO CHIC These statement earrings will add a splash of colour to any summer outfit with their on-trend mustard yellow crochet frames and delicate beading (£24, oliverbonas.com). HIGH IMPACT For the perfect pout, try Estée Lauder’s Pure Color Desire in Rouge Excess. Just one stroke of the formula gives long-lasting coverage (available at major international airports). PRETTY IN PINK Look stylish by the pool in this flattering Rosie for Autograph bikini (top £25, high-waisted bottoms, £16). Available from marksandspencer.com. RIGHT NOTE Inspired by Amy Winehouse and Camden Town, Siren and Sailors eau de parfum by Jusbox has a melody of warm, sensual notes (£140 for 78ml, selfridges.com). GET SET GLOW Elemis’ bestselling deep…

APPLE AND LEMON SANDWICH CAKE SERVES 6–8 The ultimate cream sponge cake – the apple makes the cake really moist and the lemon-flavoured cream keeps it fresh-tasting. Delicious. INGREDIENTS For the sponge 225g baking spread, straight from the fridge, plus extra for greasing 225g caster sugar 225g self-raising flour 1 tsp baking powder 4 large eggs, beaten 2 eating apples, peeled, cored and grated icing sugar, for dusting For the lemon filling 150ml double cream 3 tbsp lemon curd METHOD • You will need two 20cm (8in) round, loose-bottomed sandwich tins. Preheat the oven to 180°C/Fan 160°/Gas 4, then grease each tin and line the base with a disc of baking paper. • Measure all the sponge ingredients except the apple and icing sugar into a large bowl and beat…

THE KINGDOM OF DORNE Seville, Spain The castle of Sunspear is the jewel in the crown of Dorne, the southernmost part of the Kingdom of Westeros, and the ancestral seat of Clan Martell. The ornate courtyard gardens are where Prince Oberyn Martell and his inner circle plot the downfall of the Lannisters. The setting for the castle is the real-life royal palace, Real Alcázar de Sevilla, in the centre of this seductive city, whose port, Cádiz, was once the gateway to the New World. The lavishly decorated palace is one of the must-sees in this modern city that boasts cycle ways and pretty winding streets next to imposing Gothic structures and Baroque churches. Discover the ancient Mediterranean on board Viking’s Viking Sky. Starting in the once all-powerful empire city of…

Our regular column from Andy Harmer, senior vice-president membership and director CLIA UK & Ireland No other industry within the travel sector invests in innovation as much as the cruise industry. Cruise lines continue to change and evolve the cruise-holiday experience to meet their guests’ desires, which is why we chose the theme for this year’s flagship CLIA Conference to be ‘Next Generation’. The theme explores what cruise lines are doing now that will shape the ‘next generation’ of cruise holidays, from river and ocean to luxury and expedition, looking at how guests’ experiences will change as we know it, due to the significant investments being made. Onboard and shore-side experiences evolve year by year as cruise lines invest in revolutionary technology, partner with well-known brands and designers, and expand…