Caribbean is back for last blast of sun fun
THE US will be welcoming back Brits from next month, so now is the time to plan a Caribbean cruise from Florida for a last blast of sunshine before winter sets in. And there are some super cruises to book now in Europe, too, for this year and next.
A ONE-WEEK Eastern Caribbean cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas, departing on November 13 from Port Canaveral in Florida, is from only £1,149pp, including flights, with Iglu Cruise (iglucruise.com). Ports of call will give you time to visit Orlando’s theme parks, laze on private island CocoCay in the Bahamas and explore Puerto Rico’s capital San Juan.
Viking (vikingcruises.co.uk) has autumn breaks in the Mediterranean aboard its adults-only ships, Viking Sea, Viking Sky and Viking Jupiter. One-week cruises between Barcelona and Civitavecchia – the port for Rome – start on November 1, 7 and 22. Guests will stay overnight in Barcelona, dock at Sete for a visit to Montpellier, and visit Marseilles, Monte Carlo and Livorno, where a trip to Pisa is among five excursions included in the fare. The cost, from £2,590pp for a balcony cabin, includes flights, drinks with meals and gratuities.
Saga’s new river ship, Spirit of the Rhine (saga.co.uk), has just started its inaugural season. The chic ship has a library, gym, hot tub on deck, and two restaurants. Choose its one-week cruise, The Beautiful Rhine And Main, departing from Frankfurt on November 8, and you’ll sail to the historic Bavarian city of Aschaffenburg, Strasbourg in Alsace, Rhineland wine towns Rudesheim and Boppard, and end with an overnight stay in Amsterdam. The cost, from £1,049pp, includes door-to-door travel, flights, some excursions, drinks with meals, gratuities and travel insurance.
Book now for a Christmas markets and cricket-themed voyage aboard Ambience, the first ship for new cruise line Ambassador (ambassador cruiseline.com) launching in spring. Six top cricketers, including Graham Gooch, David Gower and Mike Gatting, will join a five-night no-fly cruise from Tilbury to Antwerp and Hamburg on December 11, 2022. You can hear the sportsmen reminisce about their playing days, and shop for Christmas goodies ashore. A 15 per cent earlysaver discount means fares are currently from £479pp.