Take off on a fabulous high seas adventure
A CRUISE is a wonderful way to see the world. There is no continent out of reach. But most of us don’t have the time to get to Africa, South America or even the Med by sea, so flying to join the ship makes sense.
Here are the most interesting and relaxing fly-cruises available to book now. All the prices include flights and transfers to the ship.
ENJOY Venice, Rome and Florence aboard P&O Cruises’ Oceana, sailing round-trip from Venice on October 7, from £949pp. The mid-size ship also calls at Corfu, Genoa, Naples and Dubrovnik. Or jet off for winter sun in the Caribbean on December 11 and return in time for Christmas. The 12-night cruise on family-friendly big ship Azura, sailing from Barbados, costs from £1,699pp. pocruises.com, 0843 374 0111
VIKING Cruises, best known for river cruises, launched its first ocean ship, Viking Star, this year with perks usually only found on river vessels – free wi-fi, wine with meals and shore excursions are all included in the fare. Spend Christmas Day at sea being waited on hand and foot on an eight-night cruise from Barcelona to Rome, departing on December 22. The luxury, all-balcony-cabin ship stays overnight in Barcelona and calls at Toulon, Monte Carlo and Ajaccio in Corsica, too. Prices start at £2,699pp. vikingcruises.co.uk, 0800 319 6660
SAIL across the Atlantic and Mediterranean to the fabulous sound of big band music aboard the Crystal Symphony. The 16-night cruise, which starts in Miami, has many relaxing days at sea for concerts and lectures. It has just four ports of call – Bermuda, the Azores, Barcelona and Bandol on the Cote d’Azur – before arriving in Monte Carlo. The cost, from £3,640pp, includes a three-night stay in Miami Beach starting on March 22, 2016, and a night in Monte Carlo at the end of the cruise. mundycruising.co.uk, 020 7399 7670
EXPLORE West Africa on a 24-night voyage from Lisbon to Cape Town with luxury allinclusive line Regent, departing on October 31. Seven Seas Voyager calls at the Canary Islands, Senegal, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Namibia and ends with a three-night post-cruise safari in South Africa. The cost, from £5,999pp, includes unlimited excursions ashore, drinks on board and gratuities. rssc.com, 02380 682280
JOURNEY up the Amazon and trek in the jungle on a Ramblers Cruise and Walk holiday aboard Fred. Olsen ship Braemar. After four days at sea from Barbados, the ship makes four calls in Brazil, including Manaus, the rubber-boom city 1,000 miles from the ocean, where the ship stays overnight. On the return you’ll go ashore at notorious former French prison colony Devil’s Island. The 16-night cruise, departing on February 3, 2016, costs from £2,475pp. cruiseandwalk.co.uk, 01707 386767