Chase the sun or tick off your bucket list
AS THE nights draw in, thoughts turn to warmer climes. Here are some sunshine cruises to book now for next year, and a world cruise to look forward to in 2023.
A BLAST of Caribbean sun couldn’t be more welcome in the dark, dank New Year period, and there aren’t many better ways to get it than on a two-week round trip from Barbados.
Stroll ashore on the Dutch Islands of Aruba and Curacao for shopping and to sample the orange liqueur. There are four relaxing days at sea aboard P&O’s proudly British ship Britannia, which also calls at St Vincent, Grenada, St Lucia, St Kitts and Antigua. Departing on January 28, 2022, the price, now from £1,329pp (saving £70pp), includes flights and tips (cruise.co.uk).
Greek Islands specialist Celestyal Cruises is offering three, four and seven-night cruises in spring. Its oneweek Idyllic Aegean itinerary aboard Celestyal Crystal includes a mix of popular islands – Santorini, Mykonos, Crete and Rhodes – and the lessvisited destinations of Milos and Thessalonika. The cruise-only fare for departure from Athens on May 28 is from £759pp, and includes excursions, drinks and gratuities (celestyal.com).
If you have ever been tempted to run away to sea, here’s your chance. Passenger-cargo ship Aranui 5 – also known as the ‘Freighter to Paradise’ – is heading to the beyond-remote Austral Islands, 300 miles south of Tahiti. One port of call will be Tubuai, with a huge turquoise lagoon, which was the first choice of new home for the mutineers from the Bounty – until the locals soon chased them off. The 13-day cruise sailing from Tahiti on March 5, 2022, costs from about £4,300pp, which includes full-board with wine and excursions but not flights (aranui.com).
Pull out your bucket list and sharpen your pencil – you could be about to tick off everywhere on it.
MSC has just announced that MSC Magnifica will embark on a world cruise from Rome on January 4,
2023. The 117-day voyage to 43 ports in 24 countries on five continents includes Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Sydney and Mumbai. Fares start at £24,578pp, which includes drinks and 15 excursions (msccruises.com).