ALL ABOARD
The latest news for your next cruise
Sandboarding in Oz
Go sandboardinG in the desert during Ms Europa 2’s debut cruise to Western australia, on which you will see giant red tingle trees in the Valley of the Giants and have encounters with dolphins, emus and koalas. The 16-day cruise from Melbourne to bali includes calls to adelaide, Kangaroo island, busselton in the Margaret river wine region and Perth. Price from £7,797 pp cruise only, departing January 6, 2021 ( hl-cruises.com, 0800 0513 829).
Sip, swim, sail
siP complimentary champagne on the sun deck or make a splash in the infinity pool on the newly unveiled ss bon Voyage as she sails through the French countryside (pictured) this summer. Choose from three itineraries on the Garonne, dordogne and Gironde rivers with the eight-day brilliant bordeaux sailing on May 5, starting from £2,999 pp ( uniworld.com, 0808 273 1648).
Sir Ranulph on board
MEET sir ranulph Fiennes on aegean odyssey’s The norwegian Fjords cruise during a talk about his life of adventure, which includes leading a three- year circumpolar expedition around the globe. The 15-night sailing from Copenhagen to Tilbury starts from £2,995 pp and includes 12 shore tours, outward flight and tips ( voyagestoantiquity.com, 01865 951333).
Ireland’s longest river
sail the river shannon on ten-passenger shannon Princess with three crew, including a master chef. Meander along ireland’s longest river, moor beneath the ruins of Clonmacnoise, explore Galway and take a trip from the village of Killaloe to adare Manor on the banks of the river Maigue. six nights departing Glasson on May 5 from £3,490 pp, including dublin transfers ( hotel
barges.co.uk, 01756 706512).
Swap penguins for pumas
sPEnd five days cruising in antarctica on the new hybrid-powered ship roald amundsen, before sailing into Puerto natales for Chilean Patagonia’s Torres del Paine national Park, a Unesco World Heritage biosphere, to track pumas and watch andean condors soar above mountains and glaciers. The 19- day cruise costs from £7,064 pp, departing santiago de Chile on March 15, 2020 ( 020 38 115 280).
hurtigruten.com, New chapter for Hugo’s House
FrEnCH author Victor Hugo’s former home, Hauteville House in Guernsey, has reopened after a ¤4.5 million refurbishment. Passengers on britannia can visit the property, which was designed and furnished by Hugo during his 15-year exile on the island. The seven-night Guernsey, belgium and The netherlands cruise starts from £ 629, including tips, and departs southampton on May 25 ( pocruises.com, 03453 555 111).