Innholdsfortegnelse for Winter 2022 i Cruise & Travel

ON OUR RADAR Step back in time on Lake Huron’s Mackinac Island. Vehicles are banned and the only transport is horse-drawn carriages, rental bikes or walking. Part of Michigan State, this unique destination is an enchanting port on a growing number of Great Lakes cruises sailing on the world’s largest body of fresh water. The 500-strong population is outnumbered by 600 heavy horses, and a gentle clip-clop through old-world Victorian streets and the State Park’s lush forests is a lovely way to sightsee. Tours visit 18th-century Fort Mackinac, built by the British and holding the title of Michigan’s oldest structure. Another highlight is the aptly named Grand Hotel, with the world’s longest porch. It’s also easy to get around under your own steam as Mackinac covers only 4.35 square miles,…

Gwyneth Paltrow leads goop cruise Hollywood A-lister Gwyneth Paltrow has hosted an exclusive wellness voyage on board Celebrity Beyond. The ‘goop at sea’ departure, a result of the partnership between Celebrity Cruises and Paltrow’s lifestyle brand goop, featured a number of wellness activities around the ship on a nine-night cruise from Barcelona to Rome in late September. Paltrow hosted an on-stage interview with psychiatrist Dr Ellen Vora and answered audience questions, while fellow goop experts led a series of Mind, Body and Soul sessions focusing on fitness, wellness and meditation. There were also pop-up goop areas around the ship offering product samples and tastings, surprise gifts and massages (celebritycruises.com). BOTANICAL BOOST Take this travel-sized botanical mist with you to relieve the stresses of travel and help keep bugs at bay.…

WE ALL SPEND FAR TOO LONG STARING AT SCREENS, BUT ON THIS OCCASION VIRTUAL AND REALITY ENHANCED THE EXPERIENCE To any other eyes, it’s just a pile of rocks – a few hefty bases of weathered granite, worn down by time and smoothed over by the brisk wind rolling in from the sea. Yet looking down at my tablet screen, I can see how the once-grand Portico of Philip, a highlight of the ancient ruins on Greek island Delos, might have looked in its heyday. Turning to face the coast, I hold the tablet up to see images of a bustling agora full of people engaged in mid-morning conversation, and turning the other way reveals the towering columns of another portico and an impressive facade of the Temple of Apollo,…

SEYCHELLES There are no cars, no stress – it’s an easy life,” says Roddy as he bends slightly to feed the Aldabra giant tortoise a succulent leaf. “The only real danger is if coconuts fall on them.” The tortoise is in no hurry to leave as it chews slowly while our guide scratches its leathery head. Unlike us, one of the world’s longest-living land creatures has 100 years or more to enjoy a lazy life on Curieuse. The uninhabited island in the Seychelles – one of 115 isles making up the Indian Ocean archipelago – is home to hundreds of the supersized reptiles, introduced between 1978 and 1982 as part of a conservation programme. Afterwards, we coo over the tortoise nursery where babies are nurtured until the age of five…

By the time I reach the Dom Luis I Bridge spanning the Douro River – the ultimate viewpoint in Portugal’s northern city of Porto – my legs are screaming after having climbed a maze of precipitous streets that weave their way up the city’s gravity-defying hills. It’s a typical no pain, no gain scenario, but the astounding sight is more than a fitting reward for such exertions as I step onto the rail bridge of this city landmark – only just remembering to dodge the metro trains that blast their horns at absent-minded tourists who stray onto the tracks while soaking up the vista. And what a vista it is. This vantage point from a vertigo-inducing 150ft up unlocks the sweeping panorama of Portugal’s second city in all its glory,…

My husband loves being first to sail on a ship in its maiden season, and we’ve managed to get on four brand-new ships in the past 18 months. Are there going to be as many new ones next year? He’ll hate missing out, but I’m not sure that our bank balance can take it! Andy Harmer, managing director of Clia (Cruise Lines International Association), UK & Ireland Sailing on four new ships is an impressive achievement – congratulations! We’re anticipating that more than 20 ships will launch next year, so you have plenty to choose from. Many people like to take more than one cruise a year, and to make that possible some will vary the cabin grade, so it’s certainly worth looking at how you can save by adopting…

SILVERSEA’S ANTARCTIC EXPLORER Explorer Felicity Aston (right), the only woman to ski across Antarctica solo, has been named godmother of Silversea Cruises’ new expedition ship, Silver Endeavour. She is due to name the ship in a small ceremony taking place in Antarctica in November, before it departs on a maiden season in the region. Endeavour will move to the Arctic for summer 2023, via the British Isles and Iceland, for a season exploring Greenland, Svalbard and the rarely visited Canadian High Arctic, before returning to Antarctica for winter 2023-24 (silversea.com). CRAFTY COCKTAILS ON OCEANIA Cocktail mixology is set to hit new heights with the debut of Oceania Cruises’ new ship Vista. The ship’s bar programme will feature the latest in cocktail craft, including flavoured smoke bubbles, wooden barrel-aged negronis, a…

NORWEGIAN PRIMA Get your first taste of NCL’s new class of ships, packed with daring activities and top-notch dining. Sara Macefield reports I am enveloped in what feels like an all-consuming cocoon and as the door of the launch pod slowly slides shut, I feel a rising tide of tense anticipation. Suddenly, a disembodied voice counts down a few excruciating seconds: three, two, one. The floor gives way and I feel myself plummeting like a stone into the inky blackness of one of Norwegian Prima’s headline attractions. This is The Drop, billed as the world’s first freefall dry slide, spiralling 10 decks on the side of Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship, and I am shrieking like a banshee all the way down. As I tumble out at the bottom and…

There’s a visceral thrill like no other in spotting your first polar bear. So the sight of a mother with two cubs scampering along behind her on the ice left most of us speechless. The bear, an alpha predator in this frozen landscape, was completely unfazed by our presence. This life-changing moment happened on an eight-night expedition that took me from the remote Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard up into the pack ice, just eight degrees of latitude from the North Pole. Not many ships can venture here, which is what makes Ponant’s new icebreaker, Le Commandant Charcot, named after the revered 19th-century French explorer Jean-Baptiste Charcot, so special. The ship, powered by giant batteries and liquefied natural gas, is built to cut through the ice. As such, it can head…

COMPETITION Variety Cruises was founded on a single, simple idea – to take a small boat and showcase the world through enriching adventures at sea. Though it has grown since 1949, including a brand-new vision to create a better world on the open ocean, its mission remains the same. With a new logo taking its inspiration from a compass – a symbol of Variety Cruises’ passion to go deeper into the destinations, the local culture, the cuisine and the communities it visits – and a new website, guests can find the perfect adventure for them. Whether you’re into wellness, activity or food, there’s an itinerary to suit, including a Limited Collection that’s ideal for repeat visitors. Greece remains the company’s heartland, mooring up at the tiny ports other cruise lines…

HOT SPOT Most people know of it, but few could say where it is – subtropical Madeira floats dreamily in the Atlantic Ocean and, despite being Portuguese, is closer to Africa. Closer still are the Canary Islands, and for this reason Madeira is tacked on to many a Canaries cruise itinerary, though it is deserving of its own spotlight. The capital, Funchal, is easily explored, with charming squares, mosaic pavements and plenty to see – such as the cathedral, harbourfront, buzzy food market and botanical gardens. Strike out, however, for some spine-tingling scenery. Jeeps can whisk you away to swim in inky lava pools and to gaze at mountains, vast canyons and laurel forests that survived the last ice age. You can also hike to lofty waterfalls alongside ancient levadas…

Prague SEE: Known as the golden city of 100 spires, Prague is particularly magical during the festive season. The main Christmas markets held at the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square are walkable from the river. Get to Old Town Square on the hour as that’s when the elaborate astronomical clock comes to life. An overnight stay allows time to watch a theatre show where performers create captivating illusions. SAVOUR: Unique to Prague, prazska sunka is ham smoked over beechwood and goes well with a glass or two of the country’s renowned beer. SAVE: The birthplace of composers such as Dvorak, classical concerts are performed daily here and tickets cost a fraction of UK prices. SAIL: A nine-night Christmas Along the Elbe itinerary from Berlin to Prague on Viking Beyla,…

RECIPES MOULES MARINIÈRE SERVES 2 The ultimate sharing dish. If any mussels are open before cooking, tap them. If they close, they are fine; if not, discard them. Also discard any still closed or broken after cooking. INGREDIENTS 2 tbsp olive oila knob of butter4 large bananashallots, thinly sliced4 garlic cloves, crushed1kg (2¼lb)ready-to cook freshmussels 150ml (¼ pint)white wine150ml (¼ pint)pouring doublecreamjuice of ½ lemonsmall bunch offlat-leaf parsley, chopped METHOD ■ Heat the oil and butter in a wide-based, deep saucepan over a high heat. Add the shallots and fry for 3-4 minutes to soften. Add the garlic and fry for 10 seconds. ■ Tip the clean mussels into the pan and stir over the heat. Pour in the wine and bring up to the boil. Cover with…