SAILING INTO THE EXTRAORDINARY
From Canada’s Arctic to Europe’s rivers to ancient Viking seas, there’s no doubt that exploring the world from the water offers a wholly unique view. Here are four far-from-ordinary cruises guaranteed to give travellers of all ages an experience like no other. By Emma Yardley
Baltic Sea: Visit historical Viking towns What: Viking Homelands Length: 15 days When: April to September Departs from: Stockholm or Bergen, Norway Ship: Viking Sea, Viking Star or Viking Sky With: Viking Cruises Canada Price: Starting at $6,749
More info: vikingcruisescanada.com From Bergen to St. Petersburg, Russia (and so many other spectacular places in between), this 15-day cruise sails the North and Baltic Seas, stopping at 11 culturally rich ports along the way. With in-depth onboard lectures and included shore excursions, you’ll be getting a dose of Viking history and hospitality on and off the boat. Danube River: Glide through Europe What: Enchanting Danube Length: Eight days When: May to September Departs from: Budapest Ship: S.S. Maria Theresa With: Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection Price: Starting at $3,614 More info: uniworld.com Named after Archduchess Maria Theresa, who ruled over the Habsburg Empire for 40 years in the 1700s, Uniworld’s luxury riverboat S.S. Maria Theresa will be exploring the very lands she used to oversee during this exclusive journey from Hungary to Germany. Celebrations in 2017, to mark the 300-year anniversary of her birth, will be lavish. Labrador: Explore Canada’s East Coast What: Labrador and Torngat Mountains Explore Voyage Length: 11 days When: July 15-28 Departs from: Louisbourg, N.S. Ship: One Ocean Navigator With: One Ocean Expeditions Price: Starting at $3,495 (U.S.) More info: oneoceanexpeditions.com Even though the Finnish-built One Ocean Voyager (also called Akademik Ioffe) had been designed for polar research, your creature comforts will also be taken care of on this ice-strengthened ship. After an onshore excursion led by an expert from the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, slip into the onboard sauna and sweat out the cold. Iberian Peninsula: New journey, old world What: Secrets of the Douro Length: Eight days When: April to October Departs from: Porto, Portugal Ship: Emerald Radiance With: Emerald Waterways Price: Starting at $2,695 More info: emeraldwaterways.ca Experience a brand new boat and a fresh itinerary while exploring Portugal and Spain on the ancient Douro River, part of which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sail through the port-producing Douro Valley while sipping white-port cocktails, savour Salamanca’s medieval architecture, and take a dip in the sundeck pool with its ever-changing view.