CRUISE NEWS
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Passengers will never forget two special P&O 14 night sailings on Iona from Southampton later this year.
Take That hitmaker Gary Barlow will shine on stage twice at Headliner’s Theatre on the Spain and Portugal cruise departing October 29, and also on the Spain, Portugal and Canary Islands itinerary on November 12. And not only will it be the greatest day for fans, all proceeds from ticket sales for the shows will be donated to Child Bereavement UK and Teenage Cancer Trust.
But spaces are limited, with raffle tickets to the exclusive shows costing £10 per person.
Gary is music director of The 710 Club on Iona, which showcases an eclectic range of late-night performances, curated to appeal to British tastes. Prices start at £699 per person and it only takes a minute to book at pocruises.com.
■■The countdown to MSC World Europa’s debut has started.
The ship, which will have 22 decks and more than 2,600 cabins, will launch on December 20 with an inaugural winter sun season in the Persian Gulf from Dubai.
The first outing will be a four-night sailing from Doha, the capital of Qatar, to the ship’s new UAE home port. msccruises.co.uk
Kids’ fun will reach new levels at Butlin’s in Skegness for Easter 2023 with the opening of a SKYPARK play zone of colour and light. It will feature six areas – Joy, Calm, Excitement, Happiness, Surprise and Curiosity – and is free to access and wheelchairfriendly. butlins.com
and, before you know it, you’re boarding the coaster and setting off into a high action battle to help the Guardians.
Without spoiling the fun, there’s one particular moment that had the whole audience gasping, and you end up wondering just how the Disney Imagineers pull off some of the effects so seamlessly.
The Guardians ride isn’t the only new exciting addition for holiday-starved Brits going to Disney’s four theme parks and two water parks after a couple of years of pandemic restrictions.
Star Wars fans only had two months to explore the new Galaxy’s Edge land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios before Covid firmly put a halt to those plans.
It offers up a fully immersive experience for Jedis-in-the-making.
Rey, Chewbacca and Stormtroopers can be found roaming planet Batuu and embarking on missions with visitors. Oga’s Cantina is also open for a themed cocktail or two, and you could even build your own droids and lightsabers.
However, the biggest highlights have to be the two main attractions – Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run,
and the Rise of the Resistance. The first gives you a chance to step on board Han Solo’s iconic ship and take on the role of pilot, engineer or gunner (meaning every ride can be a different experience), while the second takes you on an incredibly immersive experience as you try to escape a First Order ship, with Kylo Ren hot on your tail.
For those looking for a slightly calmer attraction, Mickey and Minnie’s
Runaway Railway is in stark contrast, but just as much fun.
The adorable ride takes you on a day out with Mickey, Minnie and Goofy with a few hiccups along the way, but it definitely is one of the sweeter rides, including fun moments from an underwater party to a colourful funfair.
The attraction offers up that glorious whimsical and wholesome feeling that runs throughout Walt Disney World – and even more so this year as the resort celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Mickey Mouse and friends have donned some special 50th outfits with an “EARidescent” shimmer, you can go in search of the Fab 50 golden statues of beloved characters throughout the parks. And there is, of course, heaps of
That’s the thing about Disney World – you get swept up in the giddiness
special merchandise for the occasion, including those iconic Mickey ears.
Four of the resort’s landmarks – Cinderella Castle, Spaceship Earth, Tower of Terror and the Tree of Life – also transform into Beacons of Light at night-time, instantly shifting the feel of the parks to something extra special as the sun goes down.
That’s the thing about Walt Disney World – it’s impossible not to get swept up in the communal giddiness, whether it’s a huge hug from Mickey Mouse, a wave from your favourite character from a parade float, or even just donning those ears and walking up Main Street USA to the castle.
Every park is completely different. Disney’s Hollywood Studios is where you’ll find a few of the major thrill rides such as Rock’n’Rollercoaster or Tower of Terror. Animal Kingdom has a laidback feel with plenty of safaris, themed attractions and fun shows, and Epcot became an unexpected favourite with its world theme and delicious snacks (the avocado margarita is a must-try in the
Mexico pavilion!). However, to really satisfy that Disney magic craving, Magic Kingdom has to be on your bucket list.
Walking up to the Cinderella Castle, you can’t help but feel you’re in a fairy tale, while classic rides such as Peter Pan’s Flight and It’s A Small World generate waves of nostalgia.
Make time for the parades – the music, the impressive floats and the plethora of characters that appeared was a real highlight of the day. In the evening, the new night-time show Enchantment projected on the castle had many people choked up.
The music, the lights, fireworks and the nods to beloved films from Moana to Beauty and the Beast – it’s difficult not to get a little bit caught up in the emotions of actually being in the Most Magical Place on Earth.