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The latest news for your next cruise
Free drinks in the Med
THE most-talked about new cruise ship of 2019, Celebrity Edge, makes her European debut next month, sailing from Southampton into the Med. Receive a free drinks package worth £55 pp per day when booking the tennight Iberian Peninsula cruise, which departs May 15. From £2,949 pp including a return flight from Rome, prepaid gratuities and an extra £150 on board credit per stateroom ( celebritycruises.co.uk, 0800 441 4054).
Break the ice with Ray Mears
BUSHCRAFT and survival expert Ray Mears joins Saga’s Wild About Iceland cruise from Dover to share adventures and stories with passengers on Saga Sapphire as she sails into the land of ice and fire on July 22.
Sixteen night all-inclusive from £2,939 pp includes chauffeur service to and from the port ( saga.co.uk/ocean-cruises, 0800 50 50 30).
Many rivers to cross with Tui
TUI’S Marella ocean ships buzz with full-on entertainment, so expect lively sailings when Tui enters the European river cruise market next year. Three revamped 155-passenger river ships will debut on the Rhine, Main and Moselle (pictured), featuring chic decor and a selection of private balcony suites. Seven-night cruises to start from £1,099 pp ( tui.co.uk).
Queen Elizabeth heads for Alaska THIS month sees Cunard’s modern fleet sail into Alaska for the first time; and next year, due to passenger demand to see the 49th State, the youngest ship, Queen Elizabeth, will spend a full season cruising into Glacier Bay from Vancouver. A 17-night Alaska cruise departing June 22, 2020, starts from £3,999pp including flights ( cunard.co.uk, 0344 3388 650). Kayak through a fjord
A 12-NIGHT sailing to Iceland starts from £499 pp on Cruise & Maritime Voyages’ ship Marco Polo. Cruise from Cardiff on May 3 with calls to Seyðisfjörður, for Skálanes Nature Reserve, to see colonies of Arctic terns, puffins and eider ducks; Akureyri for a whalewatching tour; and go fjord kayaking in Ísafjörður before exploring the cool capital Reykjavik ( cruiseandmaritime.com, 0333 043 0598).
Enjoy Mozart along the Danube
MUSIC to your ears! Put down £99 by June 28 to secure a holiday on Titan’s river cruise ship MS Bellejour this summer. The ten-day Danube Highlights With The City of Mozart cruise on August 21 starts from £ 1,699 with a two-night hotel stay in Salzburg ( titan.co.uk, 0808 250 6704).
Whale watching from your hot tub
SOAK in a hot tub and watch for whales on 32-passenger MV Evolution on the Exodus Travels’ ten- day Galapagos Island voyages. Over-16s only travel to the Central and Northern Islands to see giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, seals and iguanas. Prices from £5,375 (excluding flights), departing June 28 or August 9 ( exodus.co.uk, 020 3553 1643).