Innholdsfortegnelse for Summer 2022 i Cruise & Travel

WINDSTAR SWAPS ASIA FOR TAHITI Windstar Cruises has dropped its planned sailings in Asia this autumn and replaced them with an extended Alaska season and a host of departures in Tahiti (right). The small-ship cruise line said the decision was prompted by uncertainty around ports reopening in Asia, as it cancelled sailings in Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia and Australia. All-suite ship Star Breeze will instead add an extra Alaskan Splendors departure, followed by five sailings in French Polynesia, during which the line will mark 35 years of operating in Tahiti with a series of onboard events (windstarcruises.com). FIRST STEP ON MARS A countess from the real-life Downton Abbey has named Viking’s newest ocean cruise ship at a ceremony in the Maltese capital of Valletta. Lady Fiona Carnarvon, the Countess…

NEW SHIPS As we drive into the port for Barcelona, it’s easy to spot Wonder of the Seas moored up in pole position – such is its size, this vast behemoth dwarfs all other ships around it. It isn’t surprising when you consider that the newest addition to Royal Caribbean International’s fleet, which made its European debut in May, is the world’s largest ship and boasts a jaw-dropping array of onboard attractions. More resort than cruise ship, the world’s newest wonder – as it’s billed – is like a floating slice of Las Vegas. Big, bold and some might say brash, this pumping powerhouse is the fifth of RCI’s giant Oasis-class ships, carrying up to 6,988 guests (though the more regular double-occupancy total is 5,734) and 2,300 crew. Despite having…

NEW SHIPS It doesn’t take long to realise how Avalon Waterways’ new ship, Avalon View, got its name. I’ve just entered my suite and am greeted with what has to be the ultimate room with a view on Europe’s rivers. I’m in a Panorama Suite, a large room (200sq ft, for those into figures) with wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling glass doors that face the river – literally a window on the world. Better still, the doors open two-thirds of the width of the room, creating an inside balcony. I’m not the only one in a room with a vista. Most of Avalon View’s 166 passengers get the same treatment as there are an extraordinary two decks of these suites, which Avalon designed to cater for the growing number of cruisers migrating…

The Haven by Norwegian NCL introduced The Haven on Norwegian Breakaway and has now rolled it out across nine ships in the fleet, with more to come on new vessels Prima and Viva. Expect a concierge and 24-hour butler; private sun deck, lounge and restaurant; in-room extras and more, with some inclusions varying by ship. The Retreat by Celebrity Cruises As part of Celebrity’s move to create a ‘new luxury’ vibe, enjoy private restaurant Luminae with dishes created by Daniel Boulud, complimentary in-suite dining, a sun deck with hot tub and loungers (on selected ships), plus a private lounge, premium drinks, pre-paid tips and onboard credit. Grill Suites by Cunard Elevate Cunard’s classy cruises even further with its most luxurious cabins, which are not clustered together in a private enclave…

DUTCH WATERWAYS Stepping through the entrance of Holland’s legendary Keukenhof park, I have the strange sensation of walking inside a rainbow. Bands of multi-coloured tulips snake off into the trees; vivid crocuses fringe a blue ‘river’ of tiny grape hyacinths; and swathes of daffodils bob brightly in the breeze. Everywhere I look, manicured beds and packed planters offer startling new colour combinations and dramatic design ideas, while distant glass pavilions promise yet more delights. I’m no expert gardener, but you don’t need to be green-fingered to appreciate the colour that splashes the flat countryside of the Netherlands as the days lengthen, and a trip to Keukenhof – ‘the most beautiful spring garden in the world’ – is a bucket-list trip for many a garden lover. Embark on a river cruise…

HOT SPOT It would be easy for beach lovers to overlook Croatia. Despite miles of glorious Adriatic coastline fringed by clear turquoise seas, its beaches are more often pebble or shingle than golden sand, prompting many to steer south towards the Greek isles instead. But they miss out on beauties like Zlatni Rat (pictured), aka the Golden Horn, a long spit of smooth-pebbled beach that shifts its shape with the wind and tide. It’s a highlight of any island-hopping cruise along the Croatian coast, and smaller yacht-style vessels often anchor offshore so guests can swim across. It’s set on the island of Brac (pronounced Bratch), and from the beach it’s a pleasant half-hour stroll along the waterfront to the town of Bol, where you can rub shoulders with the yachting…

NCL’s first for spas at sea Norwegian Cruise Line has given us a glimpse of the Mandara Spa on new ships Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva, set to launch this summer and next, respectively. The sister vessels will feature the first charcoal sauna on a ship, along with a two-storey indoor waterfall, thermal suite and hot-stone loungers. The charcoal sauna is said to help boost circulation and metabolism, as well as easing muscle stiffness, backache and arthritis. You can also indulge yourself in a salt and steam room, ice room, flotation salt pool and infrared sauna. Other firsts for the line include adding Gharieni beds that offer whole-body massage and acoustic vibration to promote relaxation. Fitness facilities have also been upgraded, with a front-facing location offering 270-degree ocean views during…

A shimmering white peacock studded with exactly 28,854 Swarovski crystals, an ethereal darkened walkway strewn with golden sculptures, paintings signed by Picasso and a life-sized white elephant are not the type of things you would usually associate with a cruise ship. However, they’re just some of the many surprises that lie around every curve and corner on Celebrity Beyond. If ever there were a floating ambassador to challenge preconceptions about cruising, or change the minds of landlubbers who vow they would never set foot on a cruise ship, this is it. Launched in April, Celebrity Cruises’ third Edge-class vessel provides all the wow factor elements of its predecessors Edge and Apex, plus plenty more. SURPRISES LIE AROUND EVERY CORNER AND CURVE ON CELEBRITY BEYOND Continuing a partnership with designers and…

ITALY It’s 11am and I’m sipping a glass of chilled champagne and nibbling on a deliciously flaky little savoury pastry: a local delicacy with sweet caramelised onion, dotted with salty olives. A steep climb past the pretty painted tower houses of Portovenere, where fishermen mend their nets by the tiny harbour, had taken us up to the beautiful Gothic stripes of Chiesa di San Pietro, teetering on the cliff face, where an opera singer in a sweeping ruby gown sings arias next to an impossibly placed glossy grand piano. This is destination immersion, Azamara-style. Normally, I’d scoff at the travel cliché, but our ‘AzAmazing morning’ includes not just fizz and clifftop opera, but an incredible jazz trio, a taste of the most heavenly homemade pesto, a visit to Lord Byron’s…

SUMMER HOT LIST Greece The Greek isles have always been a perennial favourite for British holidaymakers, both on land and on water, but why choose just one resort when you could wake up to a new view of the Aegean Sea glinting in the sun every single day? “We’re witnessing an upswing in demand for cruises to the Greek islands this summer,” says Bolsover Cruise Club’s Emma Furze. “Customers are keen to return to some of their favourite destinations and explore those that are easily accessible as fly-cruises from the UK.” Whether you want to swoon over sunsets in Santorini, walk the whitewashed, bougainvillea-draped streets of Mykonos or seek out smaller spots like Milos – a favourite for Greek specialist Celestyal Cruises – where Kleftiko Beach was voted one of…

Soft sandy beaches, endless sunshine, spicy plates of jerk, plus rum, reggae and friendly locals – there’s a lot to love about the city affectionately known as Mo Bay. Add to this world-class championship golf courses, well-preserved plantation houses that tell the story of Jamaica’s troubled history of colonisation and slavery, and mesmerising waterfalls, and you have a Jamaican port city that rewards a pre or post-cruise stay. With the Caribbean island set to take centre stage this summer as it marks 60 years of independence on August 6 – with a host of fetes and festivals for its annual carnival to mark this milestone – here’s your expert guide to Montego Bay. Get ready to soak up the good vibes… What to see If it’s the three Ss –…

ON OUR RADAR The fact that Quebec is the only walled city north of Mexico might not seem very impressive on paper, interesting only insofar as it could come in handy for a pub quiz one day. But see it for yourself – all quaint cobbled streets and heavy-set stone ramparts topped with turrets that would be more at home in a medieval French castle than a modern Canadian metropolis – and it’s clear this is a city worth adding to your must-see list. Good news, then, that it just became a lot easier to get to following the launch of the UK’s first direct flight to Quebec City with Air Transat, flying from Gatwick on Thursdays and returning on Wednesdays until the end of September. Spend a few days…

NEW SHIPS Stepping on board the newly refurbished Ambience, cruisers will feel a sense of warmth, not only from the crew but also from the ship’s welcoming public areas, each bearing the name of a British icon. From the bustling hub of the three-deck atrium ‘Centre Court’ to the ‘SW19’ bar, through to the ‘Borough Market’ buffet restaurant and the 700-seat main dining venue ‘Buckingham’, there are plenty of nods to British heritage. As the first new British cruise line in a decade, Ambassador had a clear vision when it launched the 1,400-passenger Ambience in April: to offer premium-value cruises for over-50s sailing from Tilbury. Ambience is not a new ship, having first set sail in 1991, but it’s been lovingly revamped with a fine balance of classic and contemporary.…

YACHT CLUB A jovial group of lads, dressed to impress and each with a cocktail in hand, stumbles out of the mirrored lift as I pile in with a handful of other guests. There’s an air of buzzy exhaustion as we collectively lean back against the glass while the elevator makes its swift and smooth ascent. “Too much booze, and too much good food,” one guest quips as he rubs his stomach; we all chuckle knowingly. It’s true. After a whirlwind cruise on glitzy MSC Virtuosa – the 19-deck Meraviglia-Plus vessel with room for close to 6,000 guests – we’re a bit overwhelmed. It’s just as well I’m ending the night with a quiet drink in the Top Sail Lounge. An oasis of calm away from the party atmosphere of…

SWEETCORN, PEA AND COURGETTE FRITTERS WITH POACHED EGG SERVES 4 Fritters are a great way of using up leftover veg, supplemented with peas and sweetcorn from the freezer. Serve with a poached egg and you have a quick meal ready in less than 20 minutes. INGREDIENTS 6 eggs150ml semi-skimmedmilk150g self-raising flour1/2 tsp fine sea salt160g frozen sweetcorn160g frozen peas1 courgette, coarselygrated 4 spring onions,roughly chopped2 tsp vegetable oil1 tbsp white winevinegarfreshly ground blackpepper, to taste1 tbsp finely choppedchives, to serve METHOD • Crack two eggs into a large bowl, add the milk, flour, salt and some black pepper and whisk until smooth. Stir in the sweetcorn, peas, courgette and spring onions and mix well, then whisk once more. • Heat a non-stick frying pan until medium hot. Add a little…