Beauty and the boat... and other themed cruises
It’s set to be one of this year’s biggest family blockbuster films, and now Disney is offering special Beauty And The Beast cruises for a chance to visit the sights that inspired the famous story.
The River Rhine cruise will take in France, Holland, Germany and Switzerland, with excursions to medieval villages full of cobbled lanes and half-timbered houses that look just like the backdrops to the film.
Disney’s all-inclusive eight- day river cruises use the upmarket boats normally operated by AmaWaterways.
One of the main attractions will be a tour of Riquewihr in northeastern France, the historic village that inspired novelist Gabrielle- Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve’s original 1740 tale.
There will be six Beauty sailings in 2018. Expect onboard film screenings and themed dinners, too. Adult fare starts at about €4,130. For details, go to tinyurl.com/l8vty32.
If you can’t wait that long for a floating Beauty And The Beast experience, Disney’s own Disney Dream cruise ship will be staging the first ocean-going live musical stage show of the story from November 6 this year on its itineraries in the Caribbean. Visit disneycruise.disney.go.com.
Disney’s announcement followed news that this year’s Star Trek cruise on the NCL Norwegian Pearl was a complete sellout. The Star Trek cruise organisers quickly arranged two repeat cruises for January 2018.
Captain James Kirk, or actor William Shatner, was the star figure on this year’s trip. Next year’s six- day cruises from Miami on the 2,400-passenger Norwegian Jade will feature Mr Sulu, actor George Takei. Single cabins are from €2,050pp. Go to startrekthecruise.com.
If your heroes are of a more sporting nature, Princess Cruises has just announced big-name speakers on Crown Princess sailing from Southampton, England, between April and September this summer.
Speakers include soccer boss Harry Redknapp, excricketers Graham Gooch and Mike Gatting, snooker legend John Virgo and goalkeeping hero Peter Shilton.
Prices start at £799pp (€942pp) for seven nights. Visit princess.com/ holiday.
The ultimate luxury sports holiday is offered by Azamara – a World Cup cruise to Russia in June next year. The 12- day trip on a boutique ship sails from London, through the Baltic Sea to Scandinavia and Russia. You’ll visit St Petersburg’s Zenit Stadium to watch a World Cup game. Cruises cost from £6,998 (€8,253) for a two-berth cabin. See azamaraclubcruises.co.uk.