Innholdsfortegnelse for August/September 2025 i Cruise & Travel

If you’re going to surrender to the sizzling intensity of the tango, make sure it happens in the sultry streets of Buenos Aires. The Argentine capital is inextricably linked to this most passionate of dances, which originated here in the late 1800s and continues today at clubs scattered across the city where couples strut and sway to its seductive rhythms. The lure of tango dinner shows is irresistible for their intoxicating take on the city’s past, and there’s nothing like experiencing them amid the atmospheric surroundings of Café de Los Angelitos, its grand sculpted entrance leading to the ornate theatre tucked within. We took our seats at long trestle tables and as dinner came to a close, the lights dimmed, the curtains rose and we were transported back to the…

Going solo? You’re not alone. According to the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), the number of British people holidaying solo rose from 6% in 2011 to 16% in 2023. Having long been a fan of solo travel, I can’t say I’m surprised. Many of my favourite travel moments, such as being invited to an asado steakhouse in Argentina and celebrating Chinese New Year with a local family in Beijing, simply wouldn’t have happened had I been with a companion. However, if you’re feeling apprehensive about going it alone, may I suggest a cruise? All the hassle will be taken out of your holiday planning, plus you’ll have the best of both worlds: time alone with a stateroom to yourself and company on tap when you want it. Thinking about…

GREAT FOR... NO-FLY JOURNEYS Scandinavia is renowned for its dramatic countryside but also its high prices, which is why cruises to these countries are such good value. Next year, Princess Cruises’ newly refurbished Majestic Princess has a season based in Southampton for northern Europe trips. including a two-week Iceland and Norway epic. The ship will visit less well-known Norwegian ports such as Skjolden-Sognefjord, surrounded by the mountains of Jotunheimen National Park, and Olden, where there are excursions to Briksdal Glacier, then sails from Ålesund, known for its art nouveau buildings, to Iceland’s capital, ReykjavÍk. The fishing village of Ísafjörður and northern town of Akureyri are also on the itinerary. The 13-night Iceland & Norway round-trip cruise from Southampton on Majestic Princess, departing 15 June 2026, is priced from £2,099 per…

LAKE TEKAPO, NEW ZEALAND Lake Tekapo is a place of pure enchantment. Visit between late spring and early summer (November to January) and you’ll find its shores awash with vivid lupin blooms in striking shades of purple, pink and blue. As local legend tells it, a farmer’s wife once scattered the seeds across the Mackenzie Region, hoping to brighten up the rugged landscape. Today, it’s one of New Zealand’s most photographed nature displays. Just as iconic is the Church of the Good Shepherd, a small stone chapel built in 1935 using materials gathered within five miles of the site. Nestled among native tussocks on the lake’s edge, it blends effortlessly into the surroundings, standing amid the landscape as a quiet tribute to the early Pakeha settlers of the Mackenzie Basin.…

¡HOLA ROJO! Tapas lovers will be in for a treat onboard Virgin Voyages’ new ship Brilliant Lady when it makes its debut in September. Look out for new restaurant, Rojo by Razzle Dazzle, which will be offering guests the chance to enjoy a dazzling choice of Spanish small plates that are perfect for sharing. Popular dishes like jamon croquettes, paella and Basque cheesecake will be on the menu, as well as classics such as patatas bravas and churros. The Spanish theme will continue with a wine menu boasting bold Rioja and Ribera del Duero reds, as well as refreshing Albariños and Rías Baixas whites. At brunch, bar staff will pour dry vermouths, vibrant sangrias, sherries and sparkling Provocativo cava spritzes. Rojo looks set to be an instant classic – so…

Most visitors to Montenegro, especially those who’ve stepped off a cruise ship, stick to its coastal regions. And why wouldn’t they? Stretching just over 180 miles on the west side of the country and lapped by the seductive azure water of the Adriatic Sea, tourists are drawn in by the pretty, fortified towns of Kotor and Budva, with their terracotta-roofed medieval buildings, sun-drenched squares and attractive waterfront locations. Journey little more than an hour further inland, though, and you’ll realise there’s plenty more to see in this fascinating region. Blurring the border between Montenegro and Albania is Lake Skadar (also known as Lake Shkodra), an ancient karst lake and one of the most spectacular bodies of water you’ll ever lay your eyes on. A vast expanse of freshwater framed by…

When the world’s biggest ship, Icon of the Seas, made its debut in 2022, it set the cruise world alight. Three years later, Royal Caribbean is launching a similar-sized sister ship, Star of the Seas, due to set sail in August. Carrying 5,610 passengers, the ship will offer seven-night Caribbean cruises for families of all ages, including a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay – the line’s private island in the Bahamas. ESSENTIALS Like its sister ship, Icon, Star of the Seas encompasses eight distinct neighbourhoods that are home to more than 40 restaurants, 28 cabin types, the thrilling Category 6 waterpark, and the adults-only Hideaway area, with its suspended infinity pool. Star of the Seas also has some fun new attractions onboard. Look out for the Lincoln Park Supper…

Lyon’s Old Town, with its intriguing traboules (hidden passages) and cute cobblestone streets, shows off this buzzing metropolis in its best light Like Ant and Dec, France and food go together: an always reliable double act. But the country’s culinary reputation has surpassed itself with the éclair in front of me. A symphony of fresh pink rose buds, light-as-a-feather choux pastry and pistachio crème pat, it’s a sophisticated, moreish work of art. River cruises have always lived in the shadow of their bigger ocean rivals, but those in the know will tell you that the best cuisine and wine is often found on river ships. And as I sit in the Bistro sipping my Earl Grey tea and taking the first bite of my éclair, looking out at the Rhône,…

At 25, I’ll admit cruising wasn’t exactly my first thought of a dream escape. When I imagined my next getaway, it certainly didn’t involve a ship, a set itinerary, or sharing a cabin with my mum. But the world works in mysterious ways and a seven-night trip around the Mediterranean on Sun Princess turned out to be the perfect first-time cruise – and a brilliant setting to make some priceless mother-daughter memories. FIRST IMPRESSIONS COUNT Our week-long Mediterranean cruise took us from Barcelona to Civitavecchia with three days at sea, which gave us plenty of time to explore and enjoy this 4,300-passenger ship, which had made its debut in 2024. Since moving to London after university, my visits back home to Devon to see my mum have become more and…

Flowers cascade down from the decks as our ship pulls away from the isle of Ua Huka, blanketing the ocean with blooms, which float into the distance on the sea foam. The sail-away ceremony on Aranui 5 brings guests and crew on deck to say “Māuruuru” – thank you and au revoir to the Marquesas Islands: one of the world’s most remote archipelagos, which lies 930 miles north-east of Tahiti in French Polynesia. My journey from the UK to reach this faraway land has been long, but the natural beauty of the islands and engaging cultural experience they offer are protected by this distance, and the gifts they yield to those who make the pilgrimage are worthy of the journey. French artist Paul Gauguin famously came to Polynesia in search…