Cruise control

You can find great value and unusual ports of call on cruise ships moving across the globe to new itineraries on so-called “repositioning voyages”

1 BARCELONA TO RIO

Swap the Catalan chutzpah of Barcelona for the samba spirit of Rio de Janeiro on this transatlantic voyage with Oceania Cruises. At Tenerife guests can immerse themselves in Canarian cuisine by lunching with locals in their own home, or take a tapas tasting tour to the historic capital Santa Cruz. At the Cape Verde isle of São Vicente, explore Portuguese and African influences in the main city of Mindelo at the markets before driving to Monte Verde, the island’s highest peak. After three sea days, the Brazilian city of Recife beckons with more Portuguese heritage. Party city Rio de Janeiro is the final stop and an overnight stay allows you to strut along famous Copacabana Beach, take a cable car up to Sugarloaf Mountain and admire the fantastic views from the top of Corcovado with its iconic Christ the Redeemer statue. Hosting 1,250 guests, Marina is one of Oceania’s larger ships with eight gourmet restaurants and a cookery school. THE DEAL 14 nights from £2,999pp (two sharing) full board. Price includes return flights from UK, eight shore excursions, beverage package or $800 shipboard credit, per stateroom. Leaves Barcelona on November 23, 2019. oceaniacruises. com, 0345 505 1920

2 DUBAI TO SINGAPORE

Sail from one cultural melting pot to another on a voyage from Arabia to Asia with Princess Cruises. Haggle for gold in Dubai souks and admire views from the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building. Ride the dunes in Muscat in Oman on a desert safari, and sail along the coast in an eye-catching dhow. In Sri Lanka, don’t miss the baby elephants as they bathe in the river and get fed at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. Taste tea at a plantation, or visit the highland

town of Kandy and the Temple of the Tooth, said to contain a tooth from Buddha. Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur offers a mix of old and new with distinctive colonial buildings and the Petronas Towers rising more than 1,400ft. As the final destination, Singapore mixes colonial icons like its Raffles Hotel with the modern vibe of the striking Marina Bay area. Regal Princess promises its 3,560 passengers a full house of attractions with a selection of speciality dining options, watching films on the deck’s giant Movies Under the Stars screen and being pampered in the Lotus Spa.

THE DEAL 11 nights from £939pp sharing, full board, cruise only. From £1,999pp with flights and transfers. Leaves Dubai on November 3, 2020. princess.com, 0344 338 8663

3 DURBAN TO LONDON

Sail out of South Africa on a voyage with Viking Cruises that follows Africa’s diverse coastline from Durban into the heart of London at Greenwich. Start with a hot air balloon ride above a game reserve near Durban, or go on a safari. In East London, follow in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela, then discover the scenic riches of Cape Town on a motorcycle tour, or from the top of Table Mountain. At Walvis Bay in Namibia, take a flight over the magnificent Namib Desert, and at Dakar in Senegal immerse yourself in local folklore. A call at Tenerife’s capital Santa Cruz brings the chance to visit Mount Teide or go whalewatching, while Moroccan gem Casablanca injects a heady mix of Gallic-infused Moorish majesty. Visit the pilgrimage site of Santiago de Compostela from the Spanish city of Vigo, or soak up the Galician culture. The 930-passenger Viking Sun is sleek with light wood interiors. Savour quality dining, along with afternoon tea in the refined Wintergarden. THE DEAL 29 days from £5,990pp sharing, full board, including flights from Heathrow. Cruise leaves Durban on April 13, 2019. vikingcruises.co.uk/oceans, 0800 298 9700

4 BARBADOS TO SOUTHAMPTON

Catch the trade winds as you sail home from the Caribbean on a transatlantic crossing from Barbados with Marella Cruises. In St Lucia, take a catamaran cruise to the Pitons or ride through the treetops in an aerial tram. Admire the views while being serenaded by a choir on the scenic railway on St Kitts. Swing through Antigua’s rainforest slopes on a canopy tour. Take to two wheels to explore the Dutch/French island of St Maarten/St Martin on a cycling excursion and relax on the beautiful beaches of the British Virgin Islands during a stop at Tortola. After five days at sea, the next stops are the Azores where whale and dolphin trips are among the highlights, while the charming city of Bruges is a short jaunt from the penultimate stop Zeebrugge, before the cruise ends in Southampton. Not only is Marella Explorer the largest in the fleet, taking 1,924 passengers, it also has the first Champneys Spa at sea, and 10 restaurants.

THE DEAL 19 nights from £1,635pp sharing on full board, including outbound flight from Birmingham.

Cruise leaves Barbados on April 28, 2019. tui.co.uk/cruise, 020 3451 2682

5 FORT LAUDERDALE TO ROME

Swap continents on this voyage with Holland America Line that sails from modern Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to ancient Rome. Following six days at sea, the first stop is São Miguel in the Azores where an off-road adventure uncovers its lush terrain. Andalucian city Malaga is an ideal jumping-off point for beautiful Granada and its stunning Alhambra Palace or swanky Marbella, the playground of the rich. The final stop, Cartagena, is bursting with history and home to the secondlargest Roman amphitheatre on the Iberian Peninsula. Go underground at the Agrupa Vicenta Mines on a trolley train – and watch a Flamenco dance in caverns noted for their excellent acoustics. The 2,650-passenger MS Koningsdam combines a mix of modern elegance and nautical traditions. THE DEAL 13 nights from £1,809pp sharing, full board, including flights from Heathrow on April 6 and overnight hotel stay pre-cruise. Cruise leavs on April 7. hollandamerica.com, 0344 338 8605