Innholdsfortegnelse for Planner 2024 i Cruise & Travel

THERE’S NOTHING BETTER THAN THE FRESH BURST OF ENERGY that comes at the start of a new year – a chance to ring the changes and reignite your sense of adventure to see where the trade winds might take you over the coming months. If you’re dreaming up that next escape, look no further than our ultimate guide to the year ahead in cruise (page 32). From midsummer sailings in the Med to far-flung voyages in the Far East, classic ocean liners to trendsetting contemporary ships, we’ve got all the inspiration you need to decide which is the right line for you. There are even more ideas in our A-Z of the hottest destinations for 2024 (page 94), as we preview the most-popular ports of call. And if you simply…

MSC CRUISES BIG, GLITZY SHIPS WITH EUROPEAN AMBIENCE Having made history with the world’s first cruise powered by manure when MSC Euribia came into service in 2023, and after a series of rapid-fire launches, MSC is taking a year off adding new ships – the next is MSC World America, debuting in spring 2025 – but that doesn’t mean it’s stepping back. The line has expanded its teen entertainment and become the only line to sail in Japan year-round. In 2024, there are more summer cruises in the Med, autumn sees MSC Meraviglia in Canada and New England and winter brings new Middle East cruises from Dubai on MSC Euribia and MSC Preziosa ticking off Holland, Belgium, France and the UK on voyages from Hamburg. msccruises.co.uk P&O CRUISES GREAT-VALUE BRITISH…

AE EXPEDITIONS PIONEERING EXPERIENTIAL TRAVEL TO THE EXTREMES OF THE EARTH Looking for adventure, immersion, and exploration? AE Expeditions’ new itineraries for 2024 include the introduction of Ultimate Adventures, a collection of extended journeys in the Arctic wilderness, with a 30-day voyage from Longyearbyen to Toronto. There’s also a sailing to explore the Weddell Sea, following in the footsteps of Shackleton’s great rival, Otto Nordenskjöld, the Swedish polar explorer. aexpeditions.co.uk QUARK EXPEDITIONS LEADING POLAR ADVENTURES FOR THREE DECADES If you’re looking for the expedition of a lifetime, look no further, as Quark Expeditions ensure you set foot where few ever will. An interactive brochure for the 2024-25 season gives you a taste of Antarctica through videos, imagery and recorded guest testimonials. There are 30 departures to choose from, including the…

My brother’s wife is from Hungary so we go to Budapest quite a lot, but this is going to be my first time going through the Lower Danube. I’ve seen so many photographs and it’s incredible. I love that wildlife is such a part of life there, similar to when I go to Africa, where people will be farming right next to cattle egrets and skylarks. Here in the UK, we have to go out of our way to look for wildlife, but in Europe, you’ll be going to work or going down the Danube River and see incredible stuff right there – especially as we’ll be on the river in the early morning and late evening, which is the best time to see wildlife. There will be golden eagles,…

1 ADVENTURES AWAIT Expedition cruising offers the chance to visit some of the most amazing places on Earth – from the Arctic and Antarctic to the Galapagos Islands and the Amazon – and with travellers looking for ever-more adventurous escapes, it’s set for further growth in 2024. “The reason for these trends is quite clear: the experience of expedition cruising is unique,” says Akvile Marozaite, chief executive of the Expedition Cruise Network. “There is no other holiday quite like it, with travellers getting to experience some of the most remote places on the planet with the most extraordinary landscapes, nature and wildlife. “Antarctica remains the top destination for expedition cruise travellers and this looks likely to extend into the 2024-25 season. Meanwhile, Svalbard, at the other end of the Earth,…

SILVERSEA AN ESTABLISHED GIANT IN THE ULTRA-LUXURY CRUISE SECTOR With half its 12 ships offering classic luxury in the Mediterranean, Asia and Caribbean, and the other half – no less luxurious – designed for expeditions in the polar regions, Galapagos, Australia’s Kimberley region and other remote spots, Silversea has cruises for all, with the added allure of fares that take care of almost everything you could want, from home transfers to flights and tips. New ship Silver Nova launched last August with a unique asymmetrical design and an environmentally-friendly, hybrid fuel and battery system – features that will be repeated when sister ship Silver Ray launches in June this year. silversea.com SEADREAM YACHT CLUB SMALL SHIPS WITH A CASUAL VIBE This line has two yachts, which hold just 112 passengers…

SANCTUARY RETREATS BOUTIQUE NILE SPECIALIST Cruise the Nile in style with this ultra-luxurious boutique line. Sanctuary has four very different ships to choose from and sailings, which are led by expert Egyptologists, range from four to eight nights. There’s the modern Sanctuary Nile Adventurer and art deco-influenced Sanctuary Sunboat III and Sanctuary Sunboat IV. For a one-of-a-kind experience, the 12-passenger Sanctuary Zein Nile Chateau is available for private charter and offers individual tailor-made itineraries. sanctuaryretreats.com AMAWATERWAYS EXOTIC AND PIONEERING ITINERARIES In 2024, AmaWaterways becomes the first river line sailing on Colombia’s Magdalena River. Week-long itineraries between Cartagena and Barranquilla on the 60-passenger AmaMagdalena will focus on the country’s rich birdlife and vibrant cultural heritage, with an exclusive ‘carnaval’ performance for passengers. Elsewhere, AmaWaterways sails in Africa, Vietnam and Cambodia, Egypt…

NEW SHIPS OCEAN SHIPS ICON OF THE SEAS ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL Hop on mega-ship Icon of the Seas for a lesson in superlatives at sea. You’ll be on the largest cruise ship in the world (at 7,600 passengers); get wet, wet, wet in the most expansive aquapark; dip in the biggest onboard pool; and scream your way down Frightening Bolt, the tallest waterslide on the ocean. In all, Icon has six slides, seven pools, a park with real shrubs, a waterfall, daredevil divers, and so many bars and places to eat that you’ll need to be on board for at least a fortnight to try them all. * Icon of the Seas is sailing the Caribbean from Miami in January; prices from £1,403 per person. royalcaribbean.co.uk SUN PRINCESS PRINCESS CRUISES…

CELEBRITY CRUISES RELAXED RESORT LIVING AT SEA Starting in May, Celebrity is raising the bar in the UK as Celebrity Apex makes its debut in Southampton. One of four so-called Edge-series ships, it has designer cabins, Michelin-starred cuisine and a gated residence with palatial suites, two-storey villas and butlers, and will be cruising to the Med, Norwegian fjords, Iceland and more. Next year also sees an Edge-class ship sailing to Alaska for the first time, new Japan cruises from Yokohama and a debut Caribbean season from Port Canaveral. A fourth Edge ship, Celebrity Ascent, launched in November 2023; a fifth, Celebrity Xcel, is slated for November 2025. celebritycruises.co.uk AZAMARA DESTINATION EXPERT AND SLOW CRUISING PIONEER Not content with slowing down itineraries to feature late stays or overnight calls in A-list…

APT RELAXED CROATIA CRUISES Touring company and river line APT joined the world of ocean cruises with Lady Eleganza and Princess Eleganza. With no more than 32 or 34 fellow passengers respectively, it’s like being on your own private yacht. Designed to explore the Croatian coastline, relaxed sailings dock overnight at charming small coastal towns and islands, allowing time to go out and visit local bars and restaurants. Back onboard, menus feature fresh local ingredients, and passengers can jump into the crystal-clear Adriatic from the swimming deck. aptouring.co.uk ARANUI CRUISES PIONEERING VOYAGES ON A UNIQUE SHIP Aranui Cruises is the longest-serving cruise line in exotic French Polynesia. This year it celebrates the 40th anniversary of taking passengers to the far-flung Marquesas Islands on the dual-purpose passenger and cargo vessel, Aranui…