Innholdsfortegnelse for June/July 2023 i Cruise & Travel

POSTCARDS As darkness falls I stand on the banks of the Rhine and stare with great concentration at the various lights on the city’s famed Rheinturm Tower. The telecommunications tower is not only the city’s most recognisable landmark that commands a prime spot on Düsseldorf ’s waterfront, but it also takes the crown as the world’s largest digital clock with the various neon light spots denoting the time. As a tourist it took me some brain power to understand, but it’s definitely a talking point to see if you can work out the correct time. Be sure to tick off a stop at the city’s ‘most instagrammable’ spot, the Gehry Buildings, with their different and distinctive looking facades of brick, stainess steel and white plaster The German city is popular…

BALTIC PORTS For years, the grandiose Russian city of St Petersburg ruled supreme over Baltic Sea cruises, thanks to its unparalleled line-up of majestic imperial palaces and stately museums. But with Russia off-limits due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, cruise companies have been forced to drop the so-called Venice of the North, replacing it with little-known, homespun Scandinavian outposts that have brought a different, and altogether more authentic, flavour to Baltic sailings. VISBY Renowned as Sweden’s answer to the Hamptons (the affluent Long Island enclave for wealthy New Yorkers), this enchanting settlement of cobbled streets and stone ramparts is renowned as Scandinavia’s best-preserved medieval town. Located on the island of Gotland, such are the historic charms of this former Viking stronghold that it has been granted UNESCO World Heritage…

‘Less is more’ is Ponant’s new mantra, and with just 88 staterooms and four suites, Le Bougainville may be diminutive in size but it packs a mighty punch in terms of both style and innovation. With an elegant crescent-shaped profile and curvaceous decks, the second of the line’s six new Explorer ships cuts a dashing profile. Employing an impressive array of environmental and energy-saving technologies, Le Bougainville proudly wears its Bureau Veritas Cleanship Super accreditation on its sleeve. ESSENTIALS Le Bougainville slips effortlessly between being a luxury megayacht and intrepid expedition ship. Forward-mapping sonar technology enables it to navigate safely in poorly-charted coastal waters, allowing zodiac landings in some of the remotest corners of the world. A high-tech hydraulic marina at the rear of the vessel facilitates seamless zodiac embarkations…

I keep hearing about wellness cruises, and I’m tempted to book one with a friend. Can you recommend any that I should look into and advise on what they include? Graham Carter, co-founder and commercial director for Cruise Croatia Cruises are tailor-made for wellness retreats, which is why so many different lines now specifically provide these types of escapes at sea. There are increasing numbers of dedicated departures offering the likes of bespoke cuisine, fitness excursions and mindfulness practices that have wellness at the heart of their itinerary. With wonderful onboard dining options, endless eye-catching destinations and a host of facilities onboard – such as spas, gyms and beauty salons – you’ll be spoilt for choice. For example, we offer a Mind, Body & Sea departure on Cruise Croatia, which…

TRENDING / HOT SPOT The Austrian capital has long been a popular stop on Danube River cruises, and it’s not hard to see why passengers love to spend a day or two admiring an elegant city that’s jam-packed with rich cultural sights and experiences. Home to famed composers, imperial palaces, grand opera buildings and opulent coffee houses, Vienna’s alluring tourist attractions are endless. This year is particularly poignant for the city as it celebrates the 150th anniversary of the 1873 Vienna World’s Fair, which showcased its technology, arts and crafts. Vienna grew with construction and transportation links, and transformed itself into the cosmopolitan destination it is today. Throughout 2023, there will be numerous exhibitions across the city’s museums, as well as special anniversaries and new openings to celebrate the past,…

Come - let’s escape the riff-raff ”. Our amusing tour guide and former archaeologist, Leilo, picked us up half an hour ago from our ship in Naples. Now, he steers our family away from the teeming crowds to wander the vast site of Pompeii. The Roman city and around 2,000 inhabitants were buried in flaming ash after the spectacular eruption of nearby volcano, Mount Vesuvius, in AD79. Rediscovered in 1748, Pompeii is still being excavated. We gaze in wonder at this empire frozen in time. Leilo shows us cells where gladiators lived and an amphitheatre where they fought grisly battles. At the Forum, city folk once listened to politicians preach and shopped for dinner. We visit the public thermal baths, where all but the wealthiest came to wash. A family…

When it comes to French waterways, whichever route or river ship you choose there’s fabulous French food, great wine and la vie Française to fall in love with on trips to picturesque villages and medieval towns where kings, emperors and struggling (but soon-to-be-famous) artists once trod. Everyone knows of the Seine, the river that heads north from Paris, and the Rhône/Saône, which together flow from Switzerland into the Mediterranean. Scratch a little deeper though, and you’ll find chateaux galore on a CroisiEurope cruise along the Loire on a custom-designed paddlewheel boat, and endless wine tasting on voyages river cruise lines will call Bordeaux, but actually combine a three-way sailing on the Garonne, Gironde and Dordogne Rivers in Aquitaine. Find out which fleuve is best for you, with this handy guide.…

It’s nearly midnight. The sky is almost as light as a typical UK winter’s day and there’s not a sound to be heard – alien to my London-polluted ears. The air is icy, and the white-out vista eerily beautiful. I feel something in the pit of my stomach: a solo cruise to Antarctica is already the best therapy I could’ve wished for having emerged from the breakup of a long-term relationship – my mind feels cleansed and my soul stirred. I spot a cluster of gentoo penguins porpoising out of the lake-like water which is instantly uplifting, and it’s then I realise that a voyage to the seventh continent could be more mentally transformative than any wellness retreat on land. Journeying to Antarctica is only for the committed traveller, however,…

ADAM SACHS DIRECTOR, S.A.L.T (SEA & LAND TASTE), SILVERSEA S.A.L.T Kitchen is a restaurant that changes its menu constantly based on where the ship is in the world – a concept unique to Silversea. It’s a key part of our Sea & Land Taste programme. This ecosystem of culinary discovery also includes custom-designed food- and drink-focused shore experiences; cooking classes centred on culture and context; talks from visiting cookbook authors and chefs; and S.A.L.T Bar, which features regionally-inspired cocktails, local wines, spirits and beers. Guests can engage every day with the ingredients, traditions and dishes – sometimes iconic, sometimes obscure, always delicious – of the places we’re sailing through. Alongside the Voyage menu, which takes inspiration from the overall route of the cruise and the broader region, is the Terrain…

Phoenix-like, Riverside Mozart has risen from the ashes of the now defunct Crystal Cruises (not to be confused with the new cruise line launching this year with the same name) to become the flagship of upscale company, Riverside Luxury Cruises. ESSENTIALS The vessel is twice the width of other river ships and although almost 40 years old, looks amazing thanks to a no-expense-spared makeover by Crystal in recent years, so Riverside has left the ship as is. As its boss says, why change things when the furniture and fittings are the best money can buy? EXPERIENCE Everyone resides in generous-sized suites with butler service and either French balconies or fixed windows. Higher-grade rooms have walk-in wardrobes and large bathrooms with double sinks, and separate showers and baths. EXTRAS Mozart holds…

Step ashore on the world’s fourth-largest island and discover a treasure trove of biodiversity. From curious wide-eyed lemurs to emerald chameleons, Madagascar is a wildlife photographer’s paradise, but until recently has been a difficult destination for cruise ships to visit. A new generation of small sonar-equipped expedition ships pioneered by Ponant allows zodiac landings on rarely-visited tropical islands. Spot tropical birds nesting in undergrowth on Nosy Ve and swim with green turtles along Nosy Tanikely’s pristine coral reefs. On the mainland, ancient baobab forests and natural wonders such as La Cirque Rouge, an amphitheatre of rainbow-coloured sandstone, are easily reached by 4WD. In Toliara, a lively port town, hop onto a bicycle rickshaw and explore bustling markets filled with local produce and balsa wood handicrafts. On the coast, the seafaring…

Put your hand flat…now bring it to your waist”. This wasn’t some kind of funky dance or martial art, I was just getting ready to cuddle some precious cargo in the form of a sleepy koala called Baron. He was perching on my palm as part of the 30 minutes a day he spends posing with tourists while he munches on eucalyptus leaves. Koalas typically spend 18-20 hours a day resting and the remainder of the time eating, so this was precious time for both of us. Baron and around 100 of his snoozy buddies live at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, the world’s largest and oldest sanctuary for mini marsupials, located just outside Brisbane in Queensland, Australia. Brisbane’s new $177m cruise terminal sits at the mouth of the Brisbane River,…

“It’s whale-breeding season so we’re restricted to cruising at no more than ten knots,” announces Captain Johannes Tysse one afternoon as our ship Azamara Quest heads towards Auckland. It’s a fair-weather day on the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island and I’ve spent the past few hours sitting on my balcony absorbed in a book. The captain’s announcement brings me out of my reverie as he goes on to explain that we’re ahead of schedule and are essentially ‘killing time in order to arrive in Auckland on schedule at 7.30pm.’ Despite being engrossed in the story of an endurance cyclist in Alaska, I found my attention constantly drawn to the sparkling cobalt sea beyond the pages. Now, I gaze out to sea with renewed anticipation. As I cast my…

CHOOSING AN ENRICHMENT CRUISE VS A THEMED CRUISE? They’re similar – and both are bestsellers – but enrichment cruises tend to be more informative and instructive. With a themed cruise, the daily programme will be augmented with activities revolving around the theme, which could be a hobby or interest: dancing, music, art history, bridge, cookery and wine tasting are all popular cruising pastimes. Enrichment cruises (sometimes known as ‘floating universities’) also cover these themes and many more, but as their nickname suggests, they’re more focused on ‘edutainment’ at sea. They provide a wide-ranging programme of events, though not necessarily focused on one subject. WHICH CRUISE LINE IS BEST FOR YOU? If you’re looking to improve your culinary capabilities, try Oceania, Viking, Regent and Silversea. They offer a diverse array of…

Launched this spring, VIVA TWO is proudly sailing as VIVA Cruises’ new flagship vessel. The 190-passenger ship is a step up from sister ship, VIVA ONE, with a newly-designed open lounge and restaurant space, as well as an extra speciality restaurant. ESSENTIALS Complete with Rituals toiletries, Nespresso machines, a 32-inch television and a freshly-stocked minibar as standard, the 190 cabins on VIVA TWO are contemporary and comfortable, with light décor featuring blue and neutral accents throughout. Cabins range in size, with the majority having French balconies. For a splurge, the eight suites are 24sqm and have additional seating and a dressing table. EXPERIENCE The ship offers plenty of space for relaxation and time to ‘enjoy the moment’ (which is VIVA’s strapline), be that in the whirlpool on the top deck,…

Recently introduced on sister ships Discovery and Enchanted, Princess Cruises’ 360: An Extraordinary Experience is a fine-dining event with a 21st-century twist – think 4K cinematography, interactive touches and atmospheric aromas, with seven indulgent, wine-paired courses accompanied by immersive storytelling. EXPERIENCE 360 kicks off with a bang – you’re given an ocean-coloured cocktail and led by violinists into a dark, cylindrical room to be welcomed by a lively host. Narrated stories and 4K visuals on the walls immerse you in countries across the Mediterranean as each dish is brought out – from the coastlines of Santorini to the lavender fields of Provence – with atmospheric scents and interactive touches on the table for an added dollop of fun. ESSENTIALS The food is just as impressive as the setting, and every…