The latest news for your next cruise ALL ABOARD

Testing costs covered

RIVIERA Travel is covering the cost of all testing required under the uK Government’s trafficlight system for guests on European river and yacht cruises departing in July and August. Riviera has also confirmed a £200 price reduction on five Douro, Porto and Salamanca sailings, with prices from £1,939pp (rivieratravel.co.uk, 01283 523431).

A new Ambience

NOT only is cruising back but a new British cruise line has been launched. Ambassador Cruise Line’s 1,400-guest ship Ambience will have London Tilbury as its home port, offering no-fly cruises aimed at over-50s. Bookings open next month with a guide price of £850 pp for a seven-night European cruise (ambassadorcruiseline.com).

On Edge of a U.S. restart

CELEBRITY Edge is expected to be first ship to sail from u.S. waters on June 26, departing from Fort Lauderdale on a seven-night cruise of the Caribbean (celebritycruises. co.uk, 0330 057 3826).

Green light sailing

PORTuGAL is open for business and there are plenty of river cruise ships ready to sail. They include Spirit of Chartwell, a renovated 15-cabin ship offering seven-night cruises on the River Douro from £1,995 pp with departures starting on June 25 (vjv.com, 020 3553 3722).

All-inclusive Iceland

MOST of us find Iceland pricey so Marella Explorer 2’s allinclusive 12-night ‘Icelandic Adventure’ from Newcastle is tempting, starting at £1,399pp. The September 10 sailing features opportunities to hike, soak in geothermal pools and watch for whales and dolphins (iglucruise.com, 020 3553 3140).

Sleep under stars

BOuTIQuE 112-guest ship SeaDream II, complete with watersports platform and Balinese Dream Beds for sleeping under the stars, will sail from Athens later this summer with a starting price of £3,270 pp on September 14 (panachecruises. com, 0161 513 8200).