Main Sails
Curious about a cruise, but don't know if it's for you? Allow Gary Buchanan to guide you to your perfect cabin, based on the experience you want and where
ICY ADVENTURES: BEST FOR EXPLORERS Greenland
The stark beauty of the birthplace of icebergs is revealed during a cruise around the southwestern shores of Greenland. There’s a good chance of spotting whales, and you can also learn about Inuit customs. This ice-certified ship comes complete with fine-dining and a butler service. The Owner’s Suite is the pick of everything on offer but for a good- value option, the light-filled Veranda Suites are more than hospitable.
Travel Details
Silver Explorer, nine nights departing August 2016, Reykjavik to Kangerlussuaq. From £4,650pp, silversea.com
ICY ADVENTURES: BEST FOR WILDLIFE Alaska
The pioneer spirit is brought to life as you navigate the watery maze of Alaska’s Inside Passage. It’s an awesome sight to watch towering ice sculptures calve into the ocean at Tracy Arm fjord and the Sawyer Glacier. Nature is out in force, as Humpback whales breach and bald eagles glide overhead. This ultra all-inclusive cruise line offers superb complimentary excursions as well as gourmet dining – make sure to reserve at Prime 7 for some of the best steaks on the ocean.
Travel Details
Seven Seas Mariner, seven nights departing June 2016, from Vancouver to Anchorage. From £4,899pp (includes flights), rssc.com
ICY ADVENTURES: BEST FOR SCENERY Antarctica
Nowhere else on the ocean is so full of serendipity. Steep-sided icebergs parade past the open decks, each one illuminated with the glow of the sun. The narrow Lemaire Channel is known as ‘Kodak Gap’ because of its delphinium- blue glaciers. This all-suite ship is a paragon and offers the ultimate in indulgence in this frozen continent known historically as Terra Australis. Enjoy dinner served course-by-course on your own private veranda as this icy world glides by.
Travel Details
Seabourn Quest, 21 nights departing January 2016, Buenos Aires to Valparaiso. From £10,699pp, seabourn.co.uk
MEDITERRANEAN RELAXATION: BEST FOR SCENERY Italy, Balkans, Greece and Turkey
This cruise is worthy of a trillion pixels. Istanbul includes a visit to the Hagia Sophia, while Athens has the Parthenon. Follow Dubrovnik’s honey-coloured stone buildings with a visit to Kotor, whose old town labyrinth conceals cobbled alleyways and ancient churches. Santorini is an island without compare. Witness its whitewashed dwellings perched precariously above a dramatic caldera – best viewed from the ship’s elegant two-deck Explorers’ Lounge.
Travel Details
Viking Sea, nine nights departing October 2016, Venice to Istanbul. From £3,165pp (includes flights), vikingcruises.co.uk
MEDITERRANEAN RELAXATION: BEST FOR SCENERY Sicily and Malta
Sorrento is the gateway to Pompeii and Herculaneum; while in Taormina the well-preserved Teatro Greco enjoys sweeping views across to Mount Etna. The strategic island of Malta and its capital, Valletta, has a familiar yet Arabic flavour. History continues in Sicily at Porto Empedocle – a springboard for Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples. Enjoy the indulgence of one of the ship’s Club Continent Suites then book a table at Aqualina for the freshest seabass at sea.
Travel Details
Azamara Journey, seven nights, September 2016, Civitavecchia (Rome) round-trip. From £1,922pp, azamaraclubcruises.co.uk
MEDITERRANEAN RELAXATION: BEST FOR SCENERY Southern Cyclades
Nothing can quite prepare you for the experience of visiting such an enchanted pattern of islands under sail – 16 of them, in fact. This four-masted replica of a tea clipper is as authentic as it is sublime. The beach at Lindos, Rhodes, has a steady supply of street food; while along Turkey’s Dalyan River tours visit the ruins of the Lycian city of Kaunos. Hydra and Santorini are also on the line-up. Cabins 532 and 533 have a swimming pool right outside – ideal for early morning dips.
Travel Details
Star Clipper, seven nights departing July 2016, round-trip from Piraeus (Athens). From £1,385pp, starclippers.co.uk
RIVER ROUTES: BEST FOR DESIGN European Jewels
his remarkable voyage, through some of Europe’s most scenic and beautiful destinations navigates three great rivers – the Danube, Main and Rhine. There are calls at Wachau Valley; Melk; Regensburg; Nuremberg; Würzburg; Miltenberg; Heidelberg; Rüdesheim; and Cologne. However, it is the exuberant design of the S.S. Maria Theresa, redolent inside of an 18th-century Habsburg castle, which takes centre stage. A bonus is the VIP Home Departure Service.
Travel Details
S.S. Maria Theresa, 14 nights, November 2016, Budapest to Amsterdam. From £3,699pp (includes flights), titantravel.co.uk
RIVER ROUTES: BEST FOR FOODIES Cruising in Champagne
Sleeping 12 guests, Panache is one of several boutique barges operated by European Waterways. This voyage includes navigation of the impossibly pretty Canal Latéral à la Marne and the sequestered Marne river. Tours visit Epernay, epicentre of the Champagne trade; Hautvillers, the ‘cradle of champagne’; and Reims, with its imposing Gothic cathedral. There are three champagne tastings in renowned cellars, and excellent cuisine served onboard throughout the trip.
Travel Details
Panache, six nights, June 2016, La Ferté- sous-Jouarre to Châlons-en-Champagne. From £3,290pp, gobarging.com
RIVER ROUTES: BEST FOR SCENERY Heart of Bordeaux
This leisurely sojourn on the Garonne estuary, as well as the Gironde and Dordogne rivers, offers an intriguing weave of history, culture and natural beauty – plus more than a soupçon of joie de vivre. Calls are made at Cadillac to sample Sauternes; Libourne to see its picturesque main square; and Blaye, Bourg and Pauillac. Sample some fine Margaux wines and appreciate the placid views from the ship’s bow on the Aquavit Terrace.
Travel Details
Viking Longship Forseti, seven nights, departing September 2016, round-trip from Bordeaux. From £2,345pp (includes flights), vikingrivercruises.co.uk
ADVENTURE OFF THE BEATEN TRACK: BEST FOR ANIMAL LOVERS Amazon and Orinoco
This expedition- style cruise visits two of South America’s most legendary rivers. The Amazon is edged out by the Nile as the world’s longest, but by any other measure it has no equal; for most of its length the Orinoco flows through impenetrable rainforest. Zodiac boats navigate the aquatic labyrinths, opening up their verdant ecosystems – home to toucans, iguanas and Howler Monkeys. Book a Privilege Suite and after such up-close-and-personal encounters, repair to your balcony for a grandstand view of the unspoiled landscape.
Travel Details
Le Lyrial, 17 nights, March 2016, Recife (Brazil) to Fort de France (Martinique). From £3,998pp, en.ponant.com
ADVENTURE OFF THE BEATEN TRACK: BEST FOR WALKERS Hebrides
Called Footloose in the Outer Isles, this cruise combines walks through stunning, remote scenery with visits to ancient monuments, imposing castles and deserted beaches. In the company of like-minded passengers, you can take part in organised forays on foot in Vatersay; Prince’s Bay on Eriskay; Lochboisdale; Stornoway; Tarbert; and Muck. Afterwards, the floating luxury country house that is the Hebridean Princess provides guests with a cosy welcome – especially in the Tiree Lounge where you can delve into its inviting array of single malts.
Travel Details
Hebridean Princess, seven nights departing June 2016, round-trip from Oban. From £6,620pp, hebridean.co.uk
ADVENTURE OFF THE BEATEN TRACK: BEST FOR EXPLORERS Galápagos Islands
Sat on the Equator almost 1,000km off Ecuador’s Pacific coast, the Galápagos is a fascinating ecological time warp spread across 13 main islands and several smaller outcrops. It was this natural kaleidoscope that captured the imagination of Charles Darwin when he arrived here aboard HMS Beagle in 1835. This cruise allows for plenty of discoveries, plus the two nights spent in the Spanish colonial city of Quito are a real bonus too.
Travel Details
Silver Galapagos, seven nights departing April 2016, round-trip from Baltra island (Galápagos). From £4,550pp (includes flights from Ecuador), silversea.com
CARIBBEAN CRUISING: BEST FOR FOODIES Panama Canal
The wonder of the modern world that is the multi-lock waterway of the Panama Canal runs for 77km north- west to south-east across the mountainous terrain of the Isthmus of Panama and joins the world’s two greatest oceans. Another wonder is the mercurial quality of Crystal Cruises’ cuisine, allowing guests to indulge in a cutting-edge culinary exploration – nowhere more so than the Silk Road and Sushi Bar by Nobu Matsuhisa. Be sure to sample the wines in the Vintage Room too.
Travel Details
Crystal Symphony, 16 nights, departing October 2016, from Miami to San Diego. From £4,128pp, crystalcruises.co.uk
CARIBBEAN CRUISING: BEST FOR FAMILIES Mexico, Honduras and Belize
Lying off Mexico’s Caribbean coast, Cozumel gained notoriety in 1961 when Jacques Cousteau explored the spectacular coral reef. In Belize, discover the world-famous Blue Hole Natural Monument; while kids will love the ATV Jungle Adventure in Trujillo, Honduras. Once back on board make a reservation to dine at Jacques – one of the finest French bistros on any boat. Families can also visit the Seaquarium and Zoo when ashore in Miami.
Travel Details
Oceania Riviera, seven nights departing March 2016, round-trip from Miami. From £1,138pp, oceaniacruises.com
CARIBBEAN CRUISING: BEST FOR SUN AND SAND Bermuda
This British Overseas Territory is a little dose of England in the tropics. A pastiche of pastel cottages dozing beside quaint harbours; narrow lanes leading to sun-drenched pink sand beaches beside a picture-postcard blue sea. Sail past the Statue of Liberty on your way out, before docking for afternoon tea and maybe a cricket match. Book in an AquaClass stateroom and enjoy unlimited access to the Persian Garden steam room, with panoramic views from its hot-stone beds.
Travel Details
Celebrity Summit, seven nights, June 2016, round-trip from Cape Liberty (New York). From £699pp, celebritycruises.co.uk
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