Cruising: from opera to gardens, the best themed cruises
Themed cruises attract fans of everything from art to yoga. Jump aboard to meet like-minded guests and learn from the experts, says Sally Macmillan.
Whether you’ve taken 10 cruises or are contemplating your first, a themed cruise is a great way to combine your passion with dream destinations. What mad-keen gardener could resist a cruise that takes in Monet’s gardens at Giverny, private tours of French and English estates and a day at the Chelsea Flower Show?
Gardening, golf, music and wineappreciation are among the most popular themed cruises but you can also find itineraries specialising in cinema, quilting and even the stock market. There are experts on board hosting workshops and giving lectures, tailored shore excursions and fellow passengers to bond with over your shared interest. Here are a few to inspire your holiday plans …
Fitness and wellbeing
RIVER: Cycling around cities or alongside Europe’s waterways is all the rage on river cruises and some lines now offer canoeing, hiking, Segway and jogging tours as well. APT’s new cycling cruises on its Bordeaux itineraries are designed for novices to the super-fit. Distances vary from 18 to 100 kilometres and guides take you off through villages, vineyards and small, unspoilt towns.
All bike tours are graded by length, intensity and duration and support vehicles follow “just in case”. There are four on APT’s eight-day Bordeaux cruises in 2017. See aptouring.com.au.
OCEAN: Wellness is the buzzword of the moment. Silversea Expeditions runs “Wellness Expedition” voyages dedicated to improving your health while you explore South-East Asia and the South Pacific. Off-ship activities with the expedition crew can include hiking, scuba diving and kayaking; on board, you can take classes in yoga, Pilates, stretch and aquarobics with nutritionists and lifestyle consultants. See silversea.com.
Gardens
RIVER: As its name suggests, Botanica World Discoveries specialises in cruises and tours focusing on gardens, led by expert botanical guides. Art and architecture are part and parcel of Botanica’s itineraries, which are designed by the company’s director, Judy Vanrenen, a very well-travelled garden enthusiast and author.
In 2018, the 12-day cruise-land package that visits Monet’s garden at Giverny and London’s Chelsea Flower Show starts in Paris on May 17. The seven-night Seine cruise on APT’s AmaLyra includes tours of exquisite gardens in Normandy and Napoleon Bonaparte’s Château Malmaison, famed for the roses planted by Josephine. In England, you will spend five days exploring some of the country’s outstanding historic homes and gardens.
OCEAN: Botanica runs gardenthemed cruises on APT’s small ships in Asia, Northern Europe and the Mediterranean. As on the river cruises, you’re accompanied by a botanical guide and cruise director, who host excursions and present lectures on board. Perennial favourites include cherry blossom cruises to Japan and South Korea; castles, gardens and wildflowers in Scotland and Norway; and romantic palaces and gardens in Italy and Croatia. Visit botanica.travel.
“Favourites include cherry blossom cruises to Japan; castles, gardens and wildflowers in Scotland.”