Innholdsfortegnelse for June/July 2024 i Cruise & Travel

AT PARTIES, I’M STARTING TO FEEL LIKE A TRAVEL AGENT. Not in a bad way, you understand, it’s just that when strangers discover what I do for a living, I’m showered with questions. What’s the best cruise line? When should I book? What should I wear? You get the picture… I’m always happy to answer their questions and of course, in this magazine and online, we aim to bring you the answers to all your pressing cruise questions, as well as great advice, itinerary suggestions and the very latest cruise news. Cruise industry body CLIA recently revealed that in 2023, the number of UK and Irish cruise holidaymakers jumped to 2.3m – a record rise of 37% compared to 2022. That’s a lot of happy cruisers and the good news…

In the swim This super-chic navy blue and white stripe swimsuit is the perfect choice for your next cruise. The Racerback one piece will show off your shoulders and neckline elegantly, while the chunky gold zip adds a touch of luxury. Add to that, a hidden shelf-bra for enhanced support, and you’ve got the ideal poolside one-piece. Now, just add water… Racerback swimsuit, £270, heidiklein.com Spa with a view This autumn, look out for an upgraded spa experience onboard RV Bassac Pandaw and RV Mekong Pandaw on the Lower Mekong. Guests will be able to enjoy a wide range of treatments, including hot-stone massages, facials and reflexology in teak treatment rooms with a view to the river. To complement the upgraded spa experience, the ships will also offer daily sundeck…

PANAMA CANAL Whoops and cheers ring out as the sky starts to darken around us. It’s the celestial bucket-list moment we’ve all been waiting for – and the reason why so many guests have booked this Princess Cruises sailing through the Pacific Ocean. All morning, there’s been an air of heightened excitement with everyone bagging their spots across the outside decks to guarantee the best vantage point to view the much-heralded Great North American Eclipse before it sweeps across the American continent. Our ship, Emerald Princess, is sailing 200 miles off the Mexican coast in the much-coveted path of totality, meaning we will be among the first to witness this natural phenomenon. Around an hour before the moon is due to completely obscure the sun, we notice the first shadow…

Venice is one of the most romantic places in the world. And sailing into the centre of the city on a Uniworld ship is incredible. Everything about the journey, from the moment you’re welcomed onboard to travelling to all the beautiful areas around Venice is truly astonishing. The city lends itself well to classical repertoire. I’m going to be singing at the Scuola Grande on this cruise. It reminds me of the time I sang for Pope John Paul II at the Vatican City. It’s a more intimate space, but has similar architecture – marble floors, beautifully painted ceilings, statues and a wonderful acoustic. I’ll be singing the classical arias, maybe a bit of musical theatre, some Neapolitan pieces, and some of the big bold arias such as Ave Maria,…

The easy bit is deciding to take the plunge and go on your first cruise. But if you’ve never been on a cruise holiday before, choosing the right trip can be daunting. The right ship, the best destination, all-inclusive or not? There’s a lot to decide before you book. But don’t worry, our essential guide will answer all of your questions. 1 CHOOSE YOUR DESTINATION You can travel worldwide on a cruise ship, but if you’ve never cruised before, starting small and close to home is the best way to go. Many first-time cruisers opt for a port-packed Med sailing, where you’ll get to see some of Europe’s best-loved destinations and enjoy all that’s onboard too. All the big cruise lines, including P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, NCL and…

There’s no doubt that wherever you decide to sail on your first-ever cruise, you’ll remember it forever. But imagine if your first trip was to the Galapagos or Antarctica – you’ll be making everlasting memories from the moment you step onboard. Adventure cruising is booming, with a wide choice of companies to choose from, all of which offer modern comfortable ships and experts onboard to educate you on the amazing destinations you’ll be visiting and hold your hand when you venture off the ship. From spotting polar bears and Arctic fox in Greenland and the Arctic to seeing penguins and iceberg-studded channels in Antarctica, these remote destinations – which span pole to pole and ocean to ocean – promise otherworldly scenery above and below the water. Add to that unique…

MICHELIN-STARRED MARVELS Legendary Michelin-starred chef Claude Le Tohic has partnered with luxury cruise line Explora Journeys this summer to offer guests onboard Explora I the chance to enjoy a memorable culinary experience at sea. This leading chef, famed for his modern French cuisine at his restaurant O’ by Claude Le Tohic in San Francisco, will bring his culinary talents to Anthology, one of 11 extraordinary dining experiences onboard the ship. Highlights on the special menu include cannelloni of scallop with an extravagance of black truffles, Parmesan foam and pastoral salad, or his signature A5 Japanese wagyu vegetables bouquet with a black garlic condiment. Guests travelling with Explora Journeys can enjoy his curated menu from now until the end of June – the Tasting Menu costs €190 per person, with a…

THE DOURO Maybe it will be third time lucky, but our stressed guide has already passed that milestone as she perseveres in trying to show us the traditional way to open a vintage bottle of port. “I don’t like to brag, but I could have done that in seconds with a corkscrew,” a wag behind me laughs as for the fourth time she heats up a medieval-looking instrument of torture, clamps it on the neck of the bottle, cools it with iced water and tries to wrench the top off. Imagine our cheers (and her relief ) when finally, we hear a snap. Like all the best things in life, the contents – a 2011 vintage from the Fonseca port wine cellars – prove worth the wait. I’m on a…

1 MONET’S GARDEN, GIVERNY, FRANCE Such is their beauty, it’s no wonder Claude Monet painted his stunning gardens at Giverny, close to Paris and Rouen. The impressionist artist made his home here for more than 40 years, nurturing a flourishing garden and capturing the pastoral paradise of water-lily ponds, an iconic Japanese-style wooden bridge and flower gardens in his beautiful 19th century paintings. In spring and summer the gardens are in full bloom, with wildflowers intermingling with herbs, as succulents and cultivated flowers from all over the world burst into life. CROISIEUROPE: The seven-night Seine Valley river cruise on MS Botticelli, departing 24 April 2025, is priced from £1,651 per person, not including flights. croisieurope.co.uk 2 MADEIRA BOTANICAL GARDEN, FUNCHAL, MADEIRA Avenues lined with the pale purple hues of Jacaranda…

The first time I stepped on a cruise ship it blew my mind. I was lucky enough to sail around the Caribbean on Seabourn Encore, and every moment was a total thrill. If you’ve ever considered a cruise, I urge you to book your first trip – you’ll love your floating holiday. Our New To Cruise guide is the perfect companion for you - whether you’re considering a port-packed Med cruise on a big ocean ship or fancy sightseeing from a river ship, we’re here to hold your hand. We know how confusing booking that first cruise can be, so this guide is packed full of handy tips, from why cruising makes sense (p. 8) to choosing the right itinerary (p. 17) and how the industry prides itself on offering…

Just keep walking at a steady pace and the traffic will flow around you like water – that’s what the locals say about crossing the road in Hanoi. It’s pretty daunting for first-time visitors, but the noise and chaos are all part of the Vietnamese capital’s bustle and charm. This city of just over five-million people sprawls west from the Red River, with small neighbourhoods clustered around some 20 lakes. The biggest of these is West Lake, a beauty spot flanked by temples and pagodas and five-star resorts. Most first-time visitors will stay around Hoan Kiem Lake though, in the Old Quarter or nearby French Quarter, so that they’re in the heart of the action. The soul of Hanoi, the Old Quarter was first established during the 11th century Ly…

INSIDER'S GUIDE Whether you’ve cruised before or are an ocean newbie, one of the first things you’ll need to do during the booking process is choose a cabin or stateroom. This can be a bit of a minefield, so make sure you’re forearmed with everything you need to know to pick the right accommodation for your cruise holiday. WHICH CABIN CATEGORY? Broadly speaking, there are two types of accommodation: inside – cabins with no window or sea view; and outside – cabins with a view facing outwards. Depending on your budget and the ship, expect to find everything from bijou cabins with no windows, to top-end penthouse suites with wraparound balconies. Other accommodation types include cabins for solo passengers; accessible cabins; family cabins (see Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate Family Suite for…

Sprawling inland from Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne is the Australian state of Victoria’s largest city by population size. It’s also arguably its most exciting, with a packed calendar of major events, nature on its doorstep and some of the best restaurants in the country. The traditional custodians of the land, the Wurundjeri Woiwurrung and Bunurong peoples of the Kulin nation, call this part of the country Naarm. But its transformation into Melbourne is an unusually complicated story. The much-condensed version is that the first Europeans arrived in 1802 under separate expeditions led by Lieutenant John Murray and Captain Matthew Flinders. A permanent colony wasn’t established until 1835, when farmer John Batman and businessman John Fawkner both travelled from Tasmania to settle here. Briefly named Batmania, the settlement was renamed Melbourne…

GREAT VALUE FOR MONEY Stacked up against hotels, cruises can look expensive but while you might be lucky to get breakfast in your hotel, on a cruise holiday you’ll get that and so much more. All meals, afternoon tea and poolside snacks. And that’s just the food. Fun quizzes, lively talks, fitness classes, lavish productions... they’re all yours for free. Celestyal is hard to beat in the value stakes, with a week in Greece for less than £80 a day – and that includes some cash towards excursions. Choose family-friendly lines like MSC Cruises and Royal Caribbean Cruises and youngsters will have non-stop fun in kids’ and teens’ clubs, all at no extra cost. A CRUISE FOR ALL Fancy a break with the girls or some pampering? Looking for a…

RIVER CRUISES RHINE Stretching from the Swiss Alps to the Netherlands, the Rhine winds through the heart of Germany’s most famous wine-producing regions. Between Bingen and Koblenz, dramatic landscapes are topped with more than 40 castles and fortresses – meanwhile, the Lorelei rock is steeped in legend. In the German city of Cologne the landmark twin-spired cathedral took more than 600 years to build, while the pretty French city of Strasbourg has a unique lopsided cathedral, as money ran out before the second tower was built. Christmas markets are big news on the Rhine, meaning that festive sailings are a wonderful way to soak up the yuletide atmosphere. DOMINIC KEELY UK Brand and Marketing Manager, Scenic “Dotted with fairytale hilltop castles and timeless villages, the Rhine, one of Europe’s most…