Cruise your way through sterling’s stormy patch
FEELING the pinch after Christmas? The next big expense to look forward to is your annual holiday. And the low pound against the euro and other currencies makes it hard to budget spending aboard.
So taking a cruise might be a good idea because so much is included in the fare: travel, full board, and all the entertainments and activities. You can also pay for many excursions in advance.
But beware. It could still mean you’ll get a heftier credit card bill than seems fair at the end of your holiday, because so many cruise lines charge for onboard extras in dollars or euros.
The solution is to book on a cruise line that does everything in pounds and pence. Then, wherever in the world the likes of Marella, P&O, Cruise & Maritime, Saga or Fred. Olsen take you, you’ll have the reassurance that whatever new lows sterling plumbs, your holiday budget won’t be affected.
Here are some examples of cruises to book for the coming year where the only foreign currency you’ll need will be pocket money for postcards, ice creams and souvenirs ashore.
An Adriatic Explorer cruise on Marella Discovery 2 takes in five countries of the Eastern Med in a week. Sailing round-trip from Corfu, it calls at Venice, Koper in Slovenia, Split and Dubrovnik in Croatia, and Kotor, Montenegro. The ship has a climbing wall and outdoor cinema. Departures are from May to October. The cost for July 20 departure is from £1,256pp including Gatwick flights and drinks. tui.co.uk/cruise, 0871 230 2800.
Sail to Spain and stock up with duty-free shopping in Gibraltar on a no-fly 12-night cruise from Southampton aboard Ventura. There is an equal balance of ports of call and relaxing days at sea. Take a tram ride up and down the hills of Lisbon, see flamenco dancing in Seville from the port of Cadiz, discover the Roman theatre in Cartagena and explore Valencia. Departure is on April 9, the cost from £799pp. pocruises. co.uk, 0843 374 0111.
Set off from Liverpool on Magellan on a varied itinerary in the Eurozone this summer. First port of call is Dublin, before arriving in La Coruna on Spain’s north-western tip. You’ll also visit Cadiz, Gibraltar, Lisbon and Oporto in Portugal and La Rochelle in France. The July 29 departure costs from £1,439pp. Child fare £199. cruiseand maritime.com, 0844 998 3788.
Now’s the time to plan an autumn mini-break to the museums of Amsterdam and chocolate shops of Bruges. Saga Sapphire, for over-50s, sails for four nights from Southampton on November 9. The cost, from £499pp, includes almost everything – travel service between home and Southampton, drinks, 24-hour room service, travel insurance and gratuities. saga.co.uk, 0808 223 0914.
When you take a Baltic cruise on Boudicca, sailing round-trip from Dover on June 30, you’ll transit the Kiel Canal, visit the German resort of Travemunde, call in at the Danish island of Bornholm, stay overnight in St Petersburg, and be in Estonia’s capital Tallinn for its Medieval Festival with jousting in the main square. From £1,899pp for 13 nights. fredolsen cruises.com, 0800 035 5242.