Sir
Roy Strong lecture cruise | Med
cruise with a child | Champagne
and caviar luxury | Arctic
cruise adventure
HONG KONG
Orient express
Cruising from Hong Kong is a good way to get a flavour of several Far Eastern
destinations in a short time. Enjoy a more authentic oriental experience on
the Malaysia-based line Star Cruises, which offers Chinese, South-East Asian
and Indian cuisine; calories can be worked off in kickboxing and
“taekwondorobics” classes.
A five-night cruise aboard SuperStar Virgo includes the attractive harbour
city of Xiamen in China and the Unesco World Heritage site of Halong Bay in
Vietnam.
A fly-cruise, departing April to October, with a night before and after at the
Harbour Plaza Metropolis hotel in Hong Kong, is from £899 with Premier
Holidays (0844 4937444, www.premierholidays.co.uk).
CANARIES
Family frolics
P&O collects Ventura, the new ship designed for British families, from the
shipbuilders in Italy this month, and though she doesn't set sail until mid-
April, she is already almost fully booked for this year's school holidays.
But a number of features make a cruise on Ventura a great holiday for
younger families, too.
Toddlers will be enthralled by Mr Men characters, who will be table-hopping at
breakfast, and will host tea parties and film matinees. Under-2s have their
own play area, (2 to 4-year-olds have a kids' club). And there is a night
nursery for infants aged 6 months to 5 which is open from 6pm to 2am so
parents can enjoy dinner in The White Room, a Marco Pierre White restaurant.
The Canaries Discovery cruise leaves from Southampton for 14 nights on May 9,
and calls in at Lisbon, Cadiz and Vigo on the way back. From £1,314, some
free infant places and child discounts available with P&O Cruises (0845
3555333, www.pocruises.com).
NORWAY
Songs of the fjords
Hear Edvard Grieg's music performed by one of his descendants at his home in
Troldhaugen, near Bergen, on a Kirker music cruise to Norway's fjords. The
cultural tours specialist operator has taken cabins for up to 140 guests on
the 850-passenger Fred Olsen ship Black Watch, chosen for the excellent
acoustics in its theatre.
The concert programme during the 13-night cruise includes the Chilingirian
Quartet, soprano Dame Josephine Barstow, viola player Simon Rowland-Jones
and pianist Ian Brown. The music, including works by Haydn, Mozart,
Beethoven, Dvorak and Grieg, will be introduced by Radio 3's Susan Sharpe.
The round-trip cruise sails from Dover on June 11; the midnight sun will light
up the scenery as the ship heads towards the Arctic Circle. From £1,750 with
Kirker (020-7593 2284, www.kirkerholidays.com).
NORTH AFRICA
Glory of Rome
The Romans in Africa is the theme of one of three cruises offered in a new
departure this year by the art and history specialist operator Martin
Randall Travel. The company has chartered the German ship MS Columbus, which
has capacity for 420, for a maximum of 236 passengers. There is a high
crew-to-guest ratio, a larger proportion of cabins for single occupancy, and
no feeling of crowding in the large lounge.
The ten-night cruise departing on October 3 takes in the great ruined cities
on the coasts of Tunisia and Libya, Carthaginian, Greek, Roman and Byzantine
archaeology, and looks at the area's Berber and Arab heritage, with expert
lecturers. At Leptis Magna there is an exclusive performance of classical
works in the Roman theatre.
From £2,540 with Martin Randall Travel (020-8742 3355, www.martinrandall.com).
FRANCE, UK
Take a walk
You will need to pack your hiking gear as well as your glad rags for the
Ramblers holiday Kingdoms by the Sea. The group of up to 24 keen walkers and
their leader use the cruise ship Boudicca as their transport for far-flung
daily walks around the British Isles and France.
The coastal walks vary in terrain: the cliffs of Normandy, with striking
views; around the idyllic Howth Peninsula, near Dublin; along the shoreline
of Skye; the Neolithic site of Skara Brae on Orkney; and skirting the Tain
Hill, north of Invergordon. Back on board there are formal dinners, and bars
and lounges to relax in as the ship sails to the next walk's starting point
overnight. Departure is on June 15 from Southampton, disembarking in Leith
on June 22.
From £712, including all shore activities, with Ramblers Worldwide Holidays
(01707 331133, www.ramblersholidays.co.uk).
IRELAND
Gardens and castles
The great houses and gardens of the National Trust are the theme of the Celtic
Legends itinerary aboard Spirit of Adventure. The seven-night cruise,
departing Cardiff on June 11, sails around Ireland, calling at Dublin (with
a visit to Powerscourt House and gardens), Belfast (taking in Mount Stewart
House), and Foynes on the Shannon estuary, where there is a visit to
Bunratty Castle and Folk Park.
The Tresco Abbey Gardens, showcasing subtropical plants that are unique in the
British Isles, is also on the itinerary. Onboard lecturers include Rachel
Hunt, house and collections manager at Cotehele in Cornwall.
The cruise costs from £1,286, including several excursions, travel insurance
and onboard gratuities, with Spirit of Adventure (0800 0156984, www.spiritofadventure.co.uk
).
CANADA, ALASKA
Lure of the north
A cruise is a great way to appreciate Alaska's stunning scenery. Combine a
week's cruise with a land tour on Mundy Cruising's Magic of Alaska
tailor-made package. This offers five nights' pre-cruise in the west of
Canada before boarding Regent Seven Seas Mariner in Vancouver for seven
nights.
As the only luxury ship in Alaska, it gets priority for licences to go close
to the best glaciers. On a tour to the beautiful Mendenhall Glacier in the
Juneau Ice Field you can hike, mountain bike or go whitewater rafting.
From £5,480 for the 13-night trip, including drinks and gratuities on board,
private excursions, transfer from home to airport or airport parking, with
Mundy Cruising (020-7734 4404, www.mundycruising.co.uk).
All prices are per person, based on two sharing, and include flights from
the UK where needed.
