Holidays ahoy!
It’s full steam ahead for UK cruises from May 17... but what about adventures farther afield? We have all the answers you need
WATCHING a whitetailed eagle soar above the glistening pewter waters of the Inner Hebrides from the deck of a cruise ship — freshlybrewed coffee in hand — is one of those moments only holidays on the sea can deliver.
Being out on the waves, feeling the gentle roll of the water, is like no other sensation. And the good news is that cruises could start up again very soon — if we stick to trips around the British Isles, that is.
After almost a year of government advice against cruise holidays, Maritime Minister Robert Courts this week put the industry on the same footing as domestic tourism, signalling a restart from English ports from May 17. And some are regarding the moment as a turning point for the beleaguered cruise industry, which has suffered a disastrous year ever since the Covid outbreak on the Diamond Princess ship outside Yokohama in Japan brought the world’s attention to the disease on ships.
The knock-on effect has been enormous. Last month, Royal Caribbean reported its fourth straight quarter of $1 billion (£720,000) losses. Meanwhile, Carnival is undertaking a $1 billion share issue to raise funds.
Extraordinary times. Yet UK cruise lines have been quietly using the past 12 months to invest millions in health and safety measures, and many are
now tweaking itineraries to sail in home waters. Last week, P&O and Princess Cruises rescheduled this summer’s sailings to include a programme of long weekends and short breaks from Southampton, while Saga and Fred Olsen Cruises will start up in June. Both companies are expected to test passengers for Covid before boarding and Saga will also require proof of vaccination.
And with the vaccination programme well under way there is growing confidence among industry leaders the Government will give the thumbs up to international cruises later in the year.
‘It’s a relief to have a definite date to sail,’ says Lynne Heathcote, 67, from Southbourne, Dorset, who is booked on the Spirit of Adventure cruise from Tilbury on July 27. It will be anti-clockwise round Britain sailing to Dover.
The decision to allow sailing in home waters follows policies in other countries. In Italy, MSC Cruises and Costa have been cruising in the Mediterranean since last summer. Hapag-Lloyd and Aida Cruises have been sailing from Germany to the Canaries, and Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas is due to sail in a loop from Israel in May.
Antonio Paradiso, MSC Cruises UK & Ireland managing director, said: ‘Since our European restart in August last year, we have carried more than 40,000 guests. We are delighted by the decision to enable UK passengers to cruise again.’
Hear, hear — and let’s hope international cruises are next to open up.
CRUISES around the British Isles from English ports are back — and there are discussions with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for a UK-wide restart (likely by June).
This does not prevent cruises from England travelling around British waters; they just cannot, as things stand, stop at ports in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. However, when these countries give the green light, as is expected next week, yet more Britishbased holidays are likely from Scotland on Hebridean Island Cruises (hebridean. co.uk) and the Majestic Line (themajesticline.co.uk).
The earliest cruises from England start in June, as it will take time for ships to be prepared. Here’s our pick:
SUNSHINE ISLES
SAIL from Plymouth for the sunshine Isles of Scilly before cruising north to Scottish islands of Iona and Oban on 100-passenger MS Hebridean Sky’s June 3 sailing. Price reduced by £200 to £3,595pp for the sevennight cruise which includes wine with meals (noble-caledonia.co.uk, 020 7752 0000).
IRISH CHARM
CORK, Connemara, Kilkenny Castle and Kylemore Abbey are all on MS Seaventure’s
Cruising the Emerald Isle itinerary on July 19. The eight-night round trip cruise from Greenock, Scotland, also features sightseeing tours of Dublin, Belfast and Kilkenny. Prices from £1,999pp (rivieratravel.co.uk, 01283 880170).
WILDLIFE WONDERS
CHOOSE from four departures on MS Maud from Dover this summer with 20 per cent off when booked by the end of this month. The 13-night British Isles cruise on August 15 features Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland’s largest seabird colony, and a landing at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of St Kilda. Prices from £3,329pp (hurtigruten.co.uk, 0203 9933 121).
LET’S DANCE
A GALA ball is the highlight on board Queen Elizabeth 2 when she sails from Southampton to Liverpool, Belfast and Glasgow on June 24. Seven nights from £1,149pp (cunard.com, 0344 3388641).
LOCHS AND LEGENDS
BOREALIS’S eight-night Lochs & Legends of Scotland cruise starts from £1,399pp. The Liverpool round trip on July 29 covers Loch Linnhe, Dutchman’s Cap and Fingal’s Cave (fredolsencruises.com, 0800 7870733).
BUTLER SERVICE
SILVER SPIRIT’S 12-day Southampton round-trip on September 3 includes an overnight call at ‘Auld Reekie’, Edinburgh. From £5,990pp with a 10 per cent early booking bonus and includes butler service, fine dining, drinks, wifi and gratuities (silversea.com, 0844 2510837).