Several cruise ships feature calls at the Azores during their repositioning cruises between the Caribbean and Europe in the spring and in the other direction in the autumn. This remote archipelago west of Portugal is a legendary staging post for sailing ships attempting to cross the Atlantic. White-washed houses plus 17th and 18th century convents... Several cruise ships feature calls at the Azores during their repositioning cruises between the Caribbean and Europe in the spring and in the other direction in the autumn. This remote archipelago west of Portugal is a legendary staging post for sailing ships attempting to cross the Atlantic. White-washed houses plus 17th and 18th century convents...
Fresh out of the shipyard following a £34m refit in spring 2017, Cunard’s Queen Victoria is looking stunning, sporting redesigned staterooms and suites, a beautiful new restaurant, new bars and a vast expanse of enlarged teak deck. Yet the ship retains a real traditional elegance with a plush Victoriana theme throughout – glittering chandeliers, a...
Like its legendary godmother Sophia Loren, MSC Meraviglia is full of show-stopping style that gives more than a nod to her Italian heritage. Christened in a firework-filled celebration in May at the Channel port of Le Havre, which was celebrating its 500th anniversary, MSC’s new flagship is no shrinking violet. I loved the bold, blingy designs...
Although it is best known for its year-round service up and down the Norwegian coast, Hurtigruten is also a growing force in the world of expedition cruises. MS Finnmarken in Geirangerfjord The company has been in business since 1893, operating ships between Bergen and Kirkenes, carrying passengers, cars and freight and stopping at every tiny...
Disney Dream is more floating wonderland than cruise ship; a sea-going version of Disney’s famous theme parks filled to the funnels with enchanting touches. But while pixie dust has been liberally sprinkled throughout, Disney must be applauded for not going overboard. The nautical decor is surprisingly tasteful, and while this is the ultimate family-friendly cruise...
Volcanic rock The Azores are often referred to as the ‘Hawaii of the Atlantic’ - and it is easy to see why as this archipelago of nine volcanic islands appears to rise up from the sea like mountaintops of a drowned continent. Lying 812 miles west of Portugal, the Azores are the farthest flung outpost...
Celebrity Cruises acquired petite Celebrity Xperience in 2016. She joined its biggest Galapagos cruise ship, Celebrity Xpedition, which takes 98 passengers, and an even smaller sister, Celebrity Xploration, carrying just 16 guests. With a capacity of 48, Xperience is the perfect size for the Galapagos, with just the right number of guests to encourage a...
Disney Cruise Line doesn’t just tick all the right boxes when it comes to family cruises, it sprinkles them with fairy dust and adds a treasure chest of magical touches too. And while several cruise lines claim to be child-friendly, Disney stands out as the one that is truly family-centric, where youngsters and their parents...
Update 5th May 2019: Independence of the Seas will sail out of Southampton until the end of the Summer 2019 season. After this she will relocate to the Caribbean where she will remain for the foreseeable future. Cruisers looking to sail from the UK in 2020 onwards should instead look to book on-board Anthem of...
The remote, volcanic Galapagos has to be the ultimate bucket list destination. Scattered across the equator, two hours’ flight from Quito, this is a place like nowhere else on earth, teeming with birds, reptiles and mammals that have absolutely no fear of humans, all somehow coexisting on a string of stark volcanoes and jagged shorelines....