YOUR GOOD CRUISE GUIDE
DAY 3: AWESOME ADVENTURES
WHEN it comes to trips of a lifetime, cruise companies really pull out all the stops. There is no better way to see some of the world’s most astounding sights than by ship. Whether you want to explore the Arctic or sail all the way to Central America . . .
THE LEGENDARY NORTHWEST PASSAGE
ALL ABOARD: Follow in the wake of intrepid mariners as you sail from Anchorage, Alaska, to New York through unparalleled landscapes of grand glaciers, dramatic fjords and exceptional wildlife. Along the way, you will learn about the Arctic culture and its fascinating people.
TOP BILLING: From Arctic safaris to helicopter rides, from kayaking to playing golf at the world’s northernmost nine-hole golf course, you will be kept happily busy in some truly astounding scenery.
DON’T MISS: The three-hour cruise within a cruise on a 48 ft yacht to explore the beauty of coastal Kodiak, Alaska. It’s a chance to spot whales at close quarters.
GOOD TO KNOW: A complimentary parka will be in your cabin for you. HERE’S HOW: Crystal Cruises ( crystal cruises.co.uk, 020 7399 7601) offers a 32day Northwest Passage cruise departing August 15, 2017, from £15,501pp, including all meals, drinks and gratuities, plus port taxes.
SOUTH AMERICA SPECIAL
ALL ABOARD: Experience an array of countries on this sensational voyage around South America.
Sail through ice fields in Chile’s Laguna San Rafael National Park, home to dramatic mountains, glaciers and fjords, before turning up the heat in Uruguay’s capital, Montevideo, famed for its charming colonial architecture and tango scene.
TOP BILLING: If you like penguins you will love the Falkland Islands, specifically the Bluff Cove Lagoon, home to more than 1,000 breeding pairs of Gentoo penguins.
DON’T MISS: Silver Muse has a Relais & Chateaux restaurant called La Dame. French finesse with all the trimmings.
GOOD TO KNOW: No need to take a lot of smellies; complimentary Bvlgari and Ferragamo products are provided.
HERE’S HOW: Silversea ( silversea.com, 0844 251 0837) offers 17 days on Silver Muse, departing from Valparaiso, Chile, to Buenos Aires, Argentina, on October 31, 2017, from £7,650pp based on double occupancy in a Classic Veranda Suite.
REVOLUTIONARY CUBA
ALL ABOARD: Known for its vintage cars, white beaches, colonial architecture, rum and cigars, Cuba is finally opening up to tourism after nearly 60 years of communist rule. Visit now is the mantra, but decent hotel accommodation is increasingly hard to find, so staying on board the tall ship
Star Flyer is the answer. There is plenty of time to tour Havana and the city of Cienfuegos on the island’s south coast. The people are friendly, the music uplifting and the history compelling.
TOP BILLING: Try to visit Ernest Hemingway’s villa, which is about 40 minutes outside Havana. It’s almost just as he left it.
DON’T MISS: Snorkelling in the shallow clear waters. It’s like swimming in a fish tank.
GOOD TO KNOW: If you like a sing-song, there is often one on-board after dinner.
HERE’S HOW: Star Clippers ( starclippers.co.uk, 0808 231 4798) offers a ten-night Cuba cruise from £2,025pp, departing on January 25, 2017, including all meals and port charges.
A 66-DAY EPIC
ALL ABOARD: Give yourself a real break with this 66-night grand voyage all the way from Southampton to Central America, via the Caribbean and even sailing through the Panama Canal twice.
Saga Sapphire carries 720 passengers, all adults. This is cruising where you are treated with respect and everything is at your fingertips. One real perk is that you are given a VIP car service to and from your home to Southampton. No flying means no hassles at airports. Pure pleasure.
TOP BILLING: You will not be bored. Try everything from unearthing Mayan ruins to seeking out exotic wildlife and exploring dramatic volcanic landscapes — and with no fewer than 18 ports of call.
DON’T MISS: You can enjoy a choice of open dining in Pole to Pole, the main restaurant decorated with artefacts from around the world. For lighter meals head to The Verandah & Grill, where you can dine alfresco. For something different, why not try the Indian, Sri Lankan and Thai cuisine of East to West.
GOOD TO KNOW: The captain, Philip Rentell, is due to retire later next year and says that he wants this trip to exceed expectations.
HERE’S HOW: Saga ( saga. co. uk/ cruises, 0800 50 50 30) offers its Central American Discovery cruise on Saga Sapphire from £9,352pp, departing Southampton on January 11, 2017, for 66 nights. This includes all meals on board, a choice of wines at lunch and dinner, all gratuities and VIP car service to and from Southampton.
SWISH NORDIC SAILING
ALL ABOARD: Set sail from Southampton on board the new Seven Seas Explorer, arguably one of the most luxurious ships ever built, costing $450 million, stopping in Dublin and then across the North Atlantic to Iceland and on to Greenland before returning to Iceland from where you fly back to the UK. Spot minke, fin, humpback and orca whales, seals, reindeer, Arctic foxes and hares. Throw in simmering volcanoes and boiling hot springs for an adventurous but resolutely sumptuous trip.
TOP BILLING: Nuuk is the largest city in Greenland and the cultural and economic capital. A visit to the National Museum is essential.
DON’T MISS: Look out for the origi- nal Picassos on-board and gaze up at the 500 crystal chandeliers.
GOOD TO KNOW: There are 552 crew catering to the needs of only 750 guests.
HERE’S HOW: Regent Seven Seas Cruises ( rssc.com, 02380 682 280) offers 15 nights on Seven Seas
Explorer, from Southampton to Reykjavik, Iceland, on July 25, 2017 from £8,669pp, based on double occupancy in a Deluxe Veranda Suite. This includes all meals and drinks, return flights and some excursions.
ASTONISHING ALASKA
ALL ABOARD: You will be on either the National Geographic Sea Bird or Sea Lion. Both leave from Seattle and will take you to Alaska’s mist- shrouded fjords, tidewater glaciers and islands teeming with wildlife. There will be only 62 passengers in total.
You should see orcas and humpback whales and you will spend a full day in Glacier Bay National Park, learning about Alaska’s native American culture.
EXCURSIONS: The long days of summer allow for wildlife viewing well into the evening and you will always have expert naturalists with you to answer the toughest of questions.
DON’T MISS: Kayaking around dramatic icebergs. GOOD TO KNOW: There is a chance to meet members of the Alaska Whale Foundation and get a first-hand perspective on the country’s indigenous people. HERE’S HOW: National Geographic ( nationalgeographicexpeditions.com, 001 888 966 8687) offers an eight-night round trip from Seattle from £6,490pp on its Alaska Inside Passage cruise. Flights not included.
NAVIGATE THE ANTARCTIC CIRCLE
ALL ABOARD: Go where no man has gone before — well, almost. Starting in Buenos Aires (the ‘Paris of South America’), this 16-day thriller sees you embarking on MS Fram in Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost town, and setting course for the Southern Ocean.
En route to Antarctica you sail through the notorious Drake Passage, where two oceans meet. Then head through open sea towards a continent of endless white wilderness. Hardly anyone sails this far south, let alone goes ashore.
TOP BILLING: You may never get closer to penguins, seals and whales, and you might even get a chance to spend a night ashore in a tent.
DON’T MISS: The excursion to the World War II British base Port Lockroy, complete with its Post Office.
GOOD TO KNOW: MS Fram, built in 2007, has spacious outside decks and even the restaurant has terrific views from every table.
HERE’S HOW: Hurtigruten ( hurtigruten, co.uk, 020 31306937) offers its 16-night Antarctic Circle Expedition from £5,565pp, including return flights from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia. Departure is on January 26, 2017.