CRUISE NEWS
What’s the word from the high seas?
Moving forward
MARITIME Minister Robert Courts yesterday welcomed ‘a vital first step’ in getting UK cruise l i nes sailing again through the UK Chamber of Shipping’s new Framework document, with guidelines for public health protection. While there is still no restart date, Mr Courts says the Framework is ‘an important step forward to allow cruise lines to prepare to set sail when safe to do so’.
Short and sweet
SAIL around the British Isles on Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth (pictured) when she restarts next year. Choose from three to 14-night itineraries from Southampton. Cunard president Simon Palethorpe said: ‘For Queen Elizabeth’s first sailings we are introducing shorter voyages along the UK’s most magnificent coastlines from the Isles of Scilly to the Inner Hebrides.’ Prices from £299 pp ( cunard. com, 0344 3388 641).
Special deliveries
IT’S been a busy week at European shipyards. At Meyer Werft, Germany, Spirit of Adventure was delivered to Saga Cruises while in Italy, Enchanted Princess became Princess Cruises’ 100th vessel in a live streaming ceremony at Fincantieri shipyard. Spirit of Adventure’s inaugural cruise to Norway will set sail in February 2021 ( travel. saga.co.uk, 0808 278 3157) and Enchanted Princess’s Caribbean season starts in December ( princess.com, 0344 338 8663).
Scandinavia for solos
PUT down £100 deposit to secure a solo cabin on 2,550-guest MSC Magnifica when she departs Southampton for the 12-night Scandinavia & St Petersburg cruise on May 31, 2021. Price from £1,399 includes tips ( passionforcruises.co.uk, 029 2061 9961).
100-day world adventure
TAKE your pick to start your world cruise from Liverpool or Southampton on Borealis, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ new ship. With departure dates on January 4 and 6, 2022, the ‘Around the World’ 100-day sailing features America, Hawaii, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Australia. Prices from £9,999 pp (Southampton) and £10,449 pp (Liverpool). Book by October 31 to receive up to £600pp on board spending ( fredolsencruises.com, 0800 0355 242).