Fancy sailing off into the sunset?
As life finally gets back to normal, we all deserve a little treat – and what better way to do that than to sail off on a fabulous cruise? Here are some of the best to book now.
Sail to Bruges, the pretty Belgian city that bulges with chocolate shops, on a mini-cruise aboard Virgin Voyages’ new ship Valiant Lady.
On board you can take your pick of 20 dining options, explore bars galore, dance till dawn, join free fitness classes and even mark your adventures – forever – with a tattoo in the Squid Ink tattoo parlour.
The three-night cruise, departing on March 18, costs from €560pp for a cabin with a balcony (cruise.co.uk).
Book a cruise on American Queen, the mighty Mississippi paddle-wheeler, by the end of this month to celebrate the wonder of being on holidays with a free tour of Elvis Presley’s home, Graceland, plus get a free two-night, post-cruise stay in Memphis or
New Orleans. Departures are in June and November and the cost for the 11-day holiday, including flights, drinks, excursions and tips, is from €4,070pp (lightbluetravel.co.uk).
What about a river cruise this spring to take you off the beaten track? After a two-night hotel stay in Budapest, you’ll board Spirit Of The Danube to sail through the dramatic Iron Gates, the longest gorge in Europe, before turning downstream to call at Bratislava and Belgrade en route to Vienna. The 13-night holiday, taking you to six countries and four capital cities, ends with a Mozart recital in a Viennese palace. Saga is offering fares with up to €600pp off, starting at €2,815pp, which includes door-to-door chauffeur service, insurance, flights, drinks, excursions and tips. Departure is on May 23 (travel.saga.co.uk).
Nature-lovers can have close encounters with the wildlife of the Galapagos Islands on a tour accompanied by film-maker and marine conservationist Jo Ruxton. You’ll get to snorkel among penguins, seahorses and turtles in small coves, and take guided walks on the volcanic islands to see giant tortoises and other endemic species.
The 10-day trip aboard Natural Paradise, with room for just 15, starts on March 27, with two nights in Ecuador and costs €8,380pp, not including international flights (newscientist.com/tours).