Thunder Bay... and a lightning tour of the Great Lakes
WHETHER you’re aiming to tick places off your wish list or simply spend more time in the sun, a new year brings great new opportunities. Here’s my pick of brilliant cruise deals and destinations for 2022.
JET off to Barbados for winter sun at an unbeatable price. Holiday Pirates (holidaypirates.com) is offering oneweek Caribbean cruises on MSC Seaview from £699pp, including flights from Gatwick and gratuities. A cabin with balcony is £150pp extra. The family-friendly ship has pools, bars, a large spa and countless entertainment options for two days at sea between visits to palm-fringed islands. Choose from eight departures between January 4 and March 8.
A luxury, all-inclusive cruise is more affordable in a Time To Sail, Time To Save offer now on with Regent Seven Seas (rssc.com). A two-week Historic Mediterranean Shores cruise on Seven Seas Explorer, sailing from Rome to Athens on August 6, has a special fare of £8,388pp for a
balcony suite (down from £13,149pp). Gorgeous Greek islands, the picturesque walled cities of
Dubrovnik and Kotor and an overnight stay in Venice all feature on the itinerary. The cost includes flights, unlimited excursions, speciality dining, wi-fi, drinks and gratuities.
Swish new Octantis, the first expedition ship from Viking (viking. com), makes its debut in Antarctica this month, but for a shorter, warmer adventure you can join the 189-cabin ship (with balconies for all) on a
Great Lakes Explorer cruise, sailing for eight days between Milwaukee and Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Highlights include kayaking among the 63 islands and islets of Georgian Bay, cycling on car-free Mackinac Island, forest and beach walks, and abundant birdlife. The cost for the departure on June 18 is from £6,395pp including flights, excursions, wi-fi, drinks with meals and gratuities.
Solo travellers can snap up a cabin with no single supplement on a spring cruise on the Danube with Riviera Travel (rivieratravel.co.uk).
Seven guided tours are included in the fare on eight-day cruises from Budapest aboard MS Thomas Hardy, visiting Vienna, Bratislava, Melk
Abbey and Salzburg. The cost, including flights, starts at £1,519 for departure on April 7.