CRUISE NEWS
What’s the word from the high seas?
Sailing in Scotland restarts
MAJESTIC Line will be the first cruise company to restart sailing in the UK on August 29. The four-ship Scottish fleet, including two new vessels Glen Shiel and Glen Etive, will each carry ten rather than 12 guests now the Scottish Government has given the line clearance for sailing. The ships will run ‘Mull and Her Inlets and Islands’ and ‘Skye and the Inner Hebrides’, as well as one-off cruises including ‘Captain’s Choice’ and ‘Isles of Clyde and the Southern Hebrides’ itineraries. Prices from £2,260pp
(themajesticline.co.uk, 01369 707 951).
Government-funded cruising
NEW cruise line Havila Voyages has opened for bookings in 2021. The Norwegian company’s four environmentally friendly, 179-cabin ships will sail from Bergen to Kirkenes, operating as part of a ten-year government-funded contract. Each will be fitted with the world’s largest battery packs to sail through fjords quietly and emissionfree. A two-day trip costs from £241pp on a cabin-only basis, six days from £497pp, or 12-day full-board round-trips from £829pp, excluding flights (havilavoyages.com).
A night in Havana
CUBAN authorities showed great compassion in allowing passengers to disembark Braemar during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic. With a special relationship built, Havana (above) will be the 2021/22 turnaround port for Braemar’s Caribbean season, with many cruises including an overnight stay in Cuba. The 14-night ‘Cultural Caribbean Discovery’ cruise on January 20, 2022 includes Cozumel, Mexico; Belize City, Belize; Puerto Limon, Costa Rica; Cartagena de Indias, Colombia; and Port Royal, Jamaica. Price from £2,499 pp including flights from London or Manchester
(fredolsencruises.com, 0800 787 0733).
Grand Prix weekend
AZAMARA’S six-night ‘A Luxurious Grand Prix weekend in Monaco’ cruise gives guests access to the qualifying race and full Grand Prix. Depart Barcelona on May 20, 2021 and sail into St Tropez, followed by Monte Carlo. With an overnight on-board stay in Monaco, guests will be a stone’s throw from the track. Price from £1,149pp including flights and transfers, free drinks, tips and butler service
(iglucruise.com, 0203 3733 5305).
Uncharted World Tour
SILVERSEA has revised its sailing programme and Silver Cloud’s first expedition world cruise, ‘The Uncharted World Tour’, will now set sail on January 25, 2022. The 167-day pioneering voyage will take adventurous travellers across 21 oceans and seas, calling at 107 destinations in 30 countries and costs from £77,000pp. To enrich the experience for guests, 70 destination experts and 20 guest speakers will join the voyage to share their insights into some of the most remote locations on Earth (silversea.com, 0844 251 0837).