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The latest news for your next cruise
Voyage du Vin with Oz Clarke
Beat the experts at their own game by earning a Wine and Spirits education trust Level 1 certificate on Queen Victoria’s Voyage Du Vin.
Visit vineyards in France, Spain and Italy and learn from tV wine buff Oz Clarke, broadcaster Will Lyons and critic Charles Metcalfe at talks, wine tastings and pairings. Fourteen nights from £1,999 pp departing Southampton on September 6 (0344 3388 650, cunard.co.uk).
Smashing — that’s the spirit
WhO needs champagne? Seven Viking river cruise ships were christened across europe this week using aquavit, a potato-based alcohol, with a nod to the company’s Norwegian heritage. Similarly, Saga Cruises has revealed a new blend of english sparkling wine, Spirit of Discovery, from hush heath estate in Kent, will be smashed against the bow of new ocean ship Spirit of Discovery during the naming ceremony in Dover on July 5.
Save £1,000 down the Danube
BOOK by March 31 to save £1,000 on 2020 Viking river cruises with tips and shore excursions included. the eight- night Danube Waltz sailing starts from £1,395 pp departing in July 2020, featuring Budapest and Passau plus six included tours (0800 319 66 60, vikingcruises.co.uk).
Strictly fans can go P&O
DaNCe the night away on P&O Cruises’ new ship Iona when guests from BBC tV’s Strictly Come Dancing join a Limelight Club evening of dinner and dance. Choose from four Norwegian Fjords’ cruises on June 27, July 4 and august 12 and 22, 2020, with prices from £799 pp for the seven-night sailings (0345 355 5111, pocruises.com).
Tee off on Canada’s east coast
PLay golf on some of Canada’s top courses, including the 18-hole highland Links, during expedition ship Resolute’s Canada’s east Coast Golf sailing on July 3. Cruise from Louisbourg with calls at Prince edward Island for Crowbush Golf Course as well as Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs in Cape Breton. Seven nights from £ 3,322 pp cruise only ( 020 3126 4039, oneocean expeditions.com).
Children sail (almost) free
LOOKING for summer holiday bargains? youngsters aged 17 and under travel free (bar port taxes) on three Med sailings aboard Crystal Serenity.
Choose from august 12, Lisbon to Monte Carlo; august 23, Monte Carlo to Rome and august 31, Rome round-trip.
Lead-in price £2,365 pp plus £242 port taxes for the child when sharing a third berth stateroom with two adults (020 7399 7601, crystalcruises.co.uk).