Dive into immersive cruising
WITH a Mediterranean cruise you can go to bed in Italy and wake up in France, Malta or Croatia. If you prefer to explore the Baltic, you could take in St Petersburg, Helsinki, Tallinn and Stockholm all in a week.
But if there is a downside to country-hopping, it is that you do not always have enough time to experience the culture and cuisine of each nation before moving on.
As lovers of river cruises will already know, learning more about one country’s history and trying its regional specialities can enrich your holiday.
You could discover the heart of France, for example, by sailing along the Rhone or Seine at a leisurely pace, or perhaps get to know Portugal by spending a week on the Douro.
Ocean cruise lines are now following suit, offering ‘immersive’ itineraries – concentrating on one country to satisfy our desire to explore in depth.
The Norwegian fjords have long been a favourite destination for British travellers, and this year Fred Olsen (fredolsencruises. com, 0800 035 5242) has timed its Scenic Norway And Celebrations cruise to be in historic Stavanger on Norway Day. On Wednesday, everyone will be putting on national dress, so why not cheer them on and wave the Norwegian flag.
Fred Olsen also offers an Icelandic Explorer, sailing for 11 nights from Newcastle on August 28 aboard Balmoral. After cruising past the Eyjafjallajokull volcano – which was responsible for the ash cloud in 2010 – the first call is Reykjavik. Balmoral heads all the way around the island, so you will get close to geysers and waterfalls, visit interesting towns and spot wildlife. Fares start at £1,399pp.
With just 19 cabins, MV Dalmatia is small enough to nip into harbours that big ships cannot reach. On a one-week Croatia Island Explorer with Saga (saga.co.uk, 0800 300500), you will visit beautiful Krk, Rab, Losinj and Cres – fares start at £939pp including flights.
Farther afield, Princess Cruises (princess.com, 0843 3742401) is devoting the 2,700-passenger Diamond Princess to Japan-only voyages in 2018.
This year an eight-night Circle Hokkaido cruise sails around the vast north island from Tokyo on July 13, from £1,914pp. Next year, the seven-night Japan Explorer cruise, departing Tokyo on August 15, 2018, will take in the spectacular floating firework display in the southern city of Kumano, a 300year-old summer tradition. Fares start at £978pp. All cruises have performances of Japanese music, dance and storytelling, origami classes, an indoor-outdoor Japanese bath and local cuisine. Cuba has started to appear on the Caribbean itineraries of big American cruise lines, but few ships get beyond Havana. In contrast, the fourmasted clipper Star Flyer (starclippers.co.uk, 0845 200 6145) sails all around Cuba’s coastline on nine to 11-night cruises departing in December 2017 and January 2018. Fares cost from £1,705pp. And Celestyal Crystal (yourcubacruise.com) sails on one-week cruises from Havana all year round, with the promise of Cuban music, cocktails and cuisine on board. The Holiday Place (020 7644 1770) offers a ten-day package, plus a three-night hotel stay in Havana and flights, from £2,099pp. Luxury all-inclusive Seven Seas Mariner (rssc.com, 02380 682280) will circumnavigate Australia on a 36-night round-trip from Sydney, starting on December 15, 2018. Fares start at £23,849pp, but the price includes flights, pre- or post-cruise land tours, drinks, excursions in every port, tips and unlimited wi-fi.