The golden age of cruising
DO YOU want to zip-wire across a swimming pool and listen to DJs all day? No, neither do I. Some of us prefer a more relaxed and sophisticated style of cruising.
Today’s older generation of cruisers are more likely to appreciate intelligent on-board programmes, formal dining, attractive cabins and more imaginative itineraries.
Most cruise ships offer modern facilities such as lifts and medical facilities so there’s really no upper age limit for enjoying a holiday at sea. Here are five of the best voyages to suit elderly travellers…
UNDISCOVERED CANARIES
YOU have to be over 50 to book with Saga, so expect a ship full of like-minded passengers and staff used to dealing with the needs of older clients. Its smaller ships make a cruise of the Canary Islands more interesting because they can reach places giant ships cannot.
The Canary Island Medley on December 8 offers winter sun on a 12-night holiday. You’ll sail from Southampton for Tenerife, Gran Canaria, La Palma and Lanzarote, with stops in Madeira and Spain, too. Prices are from £2,584pp allinclusive. Visit saga.co.uk/cruises.
A RUSSIAN PRINCESS
BALTIC and Scandinavian cruises tend to attract a more refined crowd because it’s less about sun and sea, and more about sights and history. Princess’s relaxed, traditional ships bristling with modern comforts and dining make an excellent choice for a trip to St Petersburg. Pacific Princess’s 14-day cruise from Dover offers a superb itinerary including Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Riga, Stockholm, Tallinn, Kiel, St Petersburg and Helsinki.
It runs in September this year, and twice in 2018. Prices are from £2,688pp. Visit princess.com.
FALLING FOR NEW ENGLAND
ONE of the most traditional cruise lines, Holland America, offers impressive lectures and courses on board and high-quality dining options to cater to its generally older passengers.
A ten-night cruise to see New England in autumn would be a great way to sample its elegant style. The October 14 sailing from Montreal calls at ports in Nova Scotia and New England before heading south to Fort Lauderdale’s sunshine. Prices are from £1,399pp. See hollandamerica.com.
LET THERE BE LIGHTS
CRUISE through the fabulous Norwegian fjords, islands and mountains in the charming Hurtigruten small working freight and passenger ships. You’ll also see the Northern Lights on the 12-day Classic Round Voyage from Bergen into the Arctic Circle. If the Lights don’t appear, you can claim another free cruise. Prices are from £947pp (no flights included) and the ships run all year, every day. See hurtigruten.co.uk.
FRED KNOWS BEST
FRED Olsen is always a favourite with pensioners because of its smaller ships, traditional dining and quality guest speakers, and the ships reach ports the giant cruisers can’t. Fred Olsen’s Authentic Andalusia on October 20 offers you a 14-night round-trip from Southampton with visits to ports such as Cadiz, Malaga and Almeria. It’s an adults-only trip, with no noisy children to disturb your afternoon naps. There’s even an overnight stay in Seville, the home of flamenco. Trips cost from £1,499pp. Visit fred olsencruises.com.