FAMILY MATTERS

Food director Cassie Best shares advice and tips for going vegan and staying active as a family

Advice on vegan eating and rainy day projects

If 2020 was the year for making plans, then this is the one for living them. Naturally, you’ve missed travelling, but if you also feel you have some serious celebrating with your loved ones to make up for, Oktoberfest is the perfect time to combine the two. And, with Princess Cruises, you can make a real occasion of it.

So, pull on your lederhosen, grab a stein of beer and hop onto the Island Princess for an Oktoberfest to remember. Not only will you get to experience Europe’s biggest party in its German motherland, this 10-day tour gives you a taste of the action in five other port cities.

After departing from Southampton, you’ll head to Hamburg, before calling at a number of vibrant European cities renowned for their thriving food and drink scenes, including Gothenburg, Copenhagen, Oslo and Rotterdam. Your final stop is Bruges, a city famed for its extensive selection of local beers, each one as tempting as the last. And the Oktoberfest-themed fun certainly doesn’t end when you’re back onboard the Island Princess, where you can enjoy watching dancers performing in Bavarian garb, or let your ‘kinder’ try their hand at pretzel making. For a change of pace after all that excitement, why not spend the evening at Sabatini’s, Princess’s Italian speciality restaurant, where you’ll discover acclaimed chef Angelo Auriana’s signature pastas and delectable desserts together. If you like your meals accompanied by breathtaking views, then the Ultimate Balcony Dining experience will be perfect for you. Imagine tucking into a delicious multi-course meal, on your own private balcony, served by dedicated waitstaff. Of course, if all you want to do is unwind and switch off, then the soothing Lotus Spa® and its relaxing treatments are never far away.

Here’s just a taste of what this unforgettable Oktoberfest trip from Princess Cruises can offer.

Hamburg, Germany

It wouldn’t be right to kick off an Oktoberfest tour anywhere other than Germany, and it doesn’t get much better than Hamburg. Boasting a rich culinary scene, you can take your pick from upscale Michelin-starred restaurants, cosy waterfront eateries and laid-back locales. Chocolate enthusiasts will love Princess’s Chocoversum excursion. Not only will you get an education in chocolate making, but you’ll even get to create your own bar! For an electric Oktoberfest experience, visit Berlin’s Alexanderplatz. Along with kegs of quality beer, you can sample an array of Bavarian specialties, including pork knuckles, Brez’n (pretzels) and succulent roast pork, all to a soundtrack of roaring live music.

Gothenburg, Sweden

Laced with a network of graceful canals and elegant buildings, there’s no denying this city is easy on the eye – but it’s very much a treat for the taste buds, too. As you explore this cultural hub, you may find yourself lured by the sweet smell to one of the many food trucks selling cinnamon buns. Or perhaps you’d rather tuck into something savoury, like aromatic lemon sole fresh off the boats at the city’s fish market? For the best herring, don’t miss Princess’s West Coast Islands excursion, where you’ll sample this Swedish delicacy on the quaint island of Tjörn. When dinner is done, head on over to the city’s very own Oktoberfest tent to carry on the fun.

Copenhagen, Denmark

From the fabled Little Mermaid statue to the ornamental beauty of its Rococo palaces, Copenhagen is ripe for exploration – so it’s a good job many of its delicacies can be savoured on-the-go. For the unmistakeable taste of Denmark, try a smørrebrød: a thin, buttered rye bread laden with tasty toppings, such as smoked salmon or pork liver. If you want something sweeter, wienerbrød; a flaky, buttery pastry that’s packed with sweet, creamy fillings, is hard to beat. Finding a good pint is easy too, with talented brewers popping up all over the city – and it’s the home of Carlsberg!

Oslo, Norway

This city buzzes with energy – and its food and drink scene is no exception.

While you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to dishes to sample, Norway is renowned for its smoked salmon, which boasts a distinct, deep flavour owing to slower maturation times. As well as boasting a burgeoning beer scene, the city has also received international praise for its cocktail and coffee cultures.

Bruges, Belgium

No beer-centric trip would be complete without a visit to Bruges. A nirvana for beer lovers, its cobblestoned streets are lined with congenial bars that often serve no less than 200 weird and wonderful varieties. The city is also renowned for its chocolate making and Princess offers plenty of chocolate themed excursions, including a half-day tour that lets you try heavenly, handmade varieties in the pretty Flemish city of Ghent.