Get set for a corker in Beaujolais country
WHEN the first bottles of Beaujolais Nouveau are cracked open at a festival in the tiny city of Beaujeu, there will be a feast, cabaret, torch-lit walk and fireworks. You can be there on a special four-day celebratory cruise on the Soane and Rhone rivers, departing from Lyons on November 14. The cruiseonly fare aboard MS Carmargue is from £836pp. croisieurope.co.uk
The colourful Canaries
Grab a blast of late winter sun on a seven-night Colourful Coasts cruise. The all-inclusive ship Marella Explorer departs from Tenerife on March 6 and calls at the Canary Islands of Gran Canaria, La Palma and Lanzarote, plus Madeira and Morocco. The trip costs from £626pp and includes flights from Gatwick. tui.co.uk/cruise
Bright side of the Moon
New luxury ship Silver Moon launches in August with lunar-themed entertainments on board. To The Moon And Beyond is a spectacular show inspired by space exploration. Mid-cruise, the Lunafest music festival will take over the top deck, and surprise entertainments will pop up all over the ship. Seven-night Mediterranean cruises in August start from £4,140pp, including flights, drinks, butler service and gratuities. silversea.com
Solos make savings
Solo travellers must act fast to snap up one of the cabins without a single supplement offered on six European river cruises by Emerald this year. For example, enjoy sociable excursions and free-flowing wine with meals at shared tables on an eight-day
Holland And Belgium In Bloom cruise, departing on April 17. Fares start at £2,895pp and include travel to Amsterdam. emeraldwaterways.co.uk
A whale of a time
Fred. Olsen has just announced nine whale-watching cruises sailing from UK ports between March and November this year, with experts on board from the marine conservation charity ORCA to help you look out for dolphins and whales. For example, on an 11-night no-fly Wintertime Norway cruise aboard Balmoral, sailing from Newcastle on March 18, you’ll have very good chances of seeing humpback, pilot and killer whales, as well as the Northern Lights. Fares start at £1,499pp. fredolsencruises.com