STOWAWAY GOOD CRUISE GUIDE 2024 Your complete guide to who goes where and who offers what
The 2024 edition of the Good Cruise Guide is now out and full of at-a-glance information to help you find the perfect cruise. Whether you want a trip to Antarctica or a river cruise away from the well-trod Rhine and Danube, you’ll find it listed in here. Just use the colour-coding below to locate the section you need and start searching. Call Gareth Harding at Travelosophers on At SeaDream, we believe the most pleasurable travel experiences lie in beauty, intimacy, and detail. That’s why we are committed to delivering an unsurpassed boutique luxury experience for discerning travelers — on board elegant, newly renovated twin yachts carrying guests to breathtaking destinations that larger ships cannot reach, hidden gems off the world’s pristine coastlines. 01323 923955 42 4 New ocean and river ships 2024 8 Dining at sea 10 Take the family 14 No kids please 15 Expedition cruising 22 Days out in Doha 25 Luxury cruising 29 No-fly cruising 32 Experiences on board and ashore 36 The Great Lakes 40 River cruising 48 World cruising 50 Small ships 52 Sailing solo 54 Health and wellness at sea Published by seadream.com / info@seadream.com • UP TO 56 COUPLES • 95 CREW • 5-STAR CUISINE • CASUAL ELEGANCE 23 32 44 Stowaway Publications 10 Tadorne Road, Tadworth KT20 5TD Surrey +44 (0)7802 256275 Written and Edited by: Creative AWARD-WINNING SERVICE 14 • INCLUSIVE PRICING Jane Archer, Janearc@aol.com Oddsock Design, Andrew@oddso ckdesign.com Front cover image: Scenic Eclipse in Antarctica. STOWAWAY - GOOD CRUISE GUIDE | 3
BRILLIANT LADY VIRGIN VOYAGES Style/passengers: Adult-only resort/2,512 Launches: To be confirmed. Virgin’s fourth Lady Ship. Brilliant Lady, is made in the image of the line’s other ships, which means lively entertainment, drag queens, Rockstar suites and plenty of complimentary eateries. Find it: The website says Caribbean, but like the launch date, itineraries are to be confirmed. virginvoyages.com 2024 OCEAN CRUISE SHIPS ICON OF THE SEAS ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL Style/passengers: Family resort/7,600 Launches: January Royal already has the world’s largest cruise ship, but is going even larger with Icon. It’s got the biggest aquapark and tallest waterslide at sea, a waterfall, dare-devil divers, and so many bars and places to eat passengers need to be on for at least a fortnight to try them all. Find it: Sailing seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises round-trip from Miami that include a call into Perfect Day private island. royalcaribbean.co.uk 4 | FEBRUARY 2024 SUN PRINCESS PRINCESS CRUISES Style/passengers: Family resort/4,300 Launches: February Princess has gone overboard (pun intended) with firsts on this ship, which has new cabana cabins, more restaurants, magic, mystery and mixology behind a secret door and an action-packed family zone. Find it: Sailing seven to 23-day Mediterranean and Greek Islands cruises from Barcelona, Civitavecchia (Rome) and Piraeus (Athens). In October the ship relocates to the US for a season of Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale. princess.com QUEEN ANNE CARNIVAL FIRENZE SILVER RAY UTOPIA OF THE SEAS EXPLORA II DISNEY TREASURE CUNARD Style/passengers: Premium/2,996 Launches: May The ship curates more than 4,300 works of art, radiates health and well-being from its Mareel spa and has a feast of Cunard dining firsts including Japanese fare in Aji Wa, Indian in Aranya and surf and turf in Sir Samuels. Find it: Sailing no-fly cruises from Southampton to the Canary Islands, Mediterranean, Norwegian fjords, Iceland, Scandinavia and around the UK. cunard.com CELESTYAL DISCOVERY CELESTYAL CRUISES Style/passengers: Family resort/1,266 Launches: March This ship, the former AIDAAura, is a replacement for Celestyal Olympia. It will have a Greek deli, Grillseekers speciality restaurant and, after a full refurbishment at the end of 2024, a Rays deck exclusively for suite passengers. Find it: Sailing three and four-night islandhopping cruises around the Greek Isles round-trip from Piraeus (Athens). celestyal.com ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL Style/passengers: Family resort/5,668 Launches: July Not content with launching the world’s biggest ship, Royal returns with a slightly smaller behemoth with lots of pools, waterslides, bars and restaurants, a new train car dining experience and the longest (295ft) dry slide at sea. Find it: Sailing three and four-night Caribbean cruises round-trip from Port Canaveral that include a call into Perfect Day private island. royalcaribbean.co.uk CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE Style/passengers: Family resort/4,126 Launches: May This is the second ship for the line’s new Carnival Fun Italian Style brand so expect Carnival favourites such as Guy’s Burger Joint, the adults-only Serenity hideaway and Punchliner Comedy Club against an Italian décor. Find it: Sailing three to seven-night cruises from Long Beach, California, to the Mexican Riviera. carnival.com EXPLORA JOURNEYS Style/passengers: Luxury/922 Launches: August Designed with the look and feel of a classy boutique hotel, the ship has an art deco-like atrium, a stylish spa and thermal suite with saunas and steam rooms, an infinity pool with views over the sea and a feast of free restaurants. Find it: Sailing the Mediterranean from Barcelona and Civitavecchia (Rome). The ship relocates to the Caribbean in November. explorajourneys.com SILVERSEA Style/passengers: Ultra-luxury/728 Launches: June The ship has a unique asymmetrical design that transforms the look of the sun deck and opens up views inside. In a nod to the environment, it is powered by a hybrid LNG/marine oil fuel system backed by battery power. Find it: Sailing the Mediterranean and Greek Isles. Between January and April 2025 the ship will be circumnavigating South America. silversea.com DISNEY CRUISE LINE Style/passengers: Family resort/2,512 Launches: December Disney is back spreading a little pixie dust, this time on a ship with an Aladdin-themed Grand Hall, a Haunted Mansion bar mixing ghostly cocktails and new family Cocothemed Mexican restaurant. Find it: Sailing seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral that include a call into Castaway Cay private island. disneycruise.com STOWAWAY - GOOD CRUISE GUIDE | 5
AMALILIA AMAWATERWAYS Style/passengers: Luxury/82 Launches: March This is ship number two on the Nile for AmaWaterways. It has balconies with inside and outdoor seating, a top-deck pool and decidedly Egyptian décor. Find it: Sailing seven-night cruises roundtrip from Luxor paired with pre and postcruise stays in Cairo. amawaterways.co.uk RIVER CRUISE SHIPS AVALON ALEGRIA AVALON WATERWAYS Style/passengers: Luxury/102 Launches: March Avalon makes its Douro debut with a ship that takes its design cues from the rest of its fleet. Suites have wall-to-wall panorama glass doors facing the river and beds that look out to the water so you wake to fabulous views. Find it: Sailing eight-night Vineyards and Villages voyages on the Douro round-trip from Porto. avalonwaterways.co.uk AMAWATERWAYS Style/passengers: Luxury/60 Launches: November AmaWaterways isn’t just launching a new ship, but also a new waterway - the Magdalena River in Columbia. The vessel has cabins with balconies offering indoor and outdoor seating and a sundeck pool. Find it: Sailing between Cartagena and Barranquilla or vice-versa, with nature, wildlife, music and UNESCO World Heritage Sites en route. amawaterways.co.uk AMADEUS NOVA AMADEUS RIVER CRUISES Style/passengers: Contemporary/158 Launches: April This ship has a hybrid diesel-electric engine and batteries to reduce emissions, while solar panels and excess heat captured from the engine feed back into the ship’s circuit and help keep the lights on. There is a topdeck heated pool. Find it: Sailing eight, 10 and 11-day cruises on the Danube between Passau and Budapest and Vienna and Bucharest. amadeus-rivercruises.co.uk Find out which river ships are changing owners and names in 2024. VICTORIA AMERICAN LIBERTY/ AMERICAN LEGEND AMERICAN CRUISE LINES Style/passengers: Contemporary/100 Launches: June and October These ‘go-anywhere’ catamarans are small enough to navigate rivers but built to sail coastlines around the US. All cabins have balconies and both vessels have an aft swimming platform. Find it: American Liberty is sailing New England Islands cruises round-trip from Providence, Rhode Island; Legend is sailing the Florida Gulf Coast and Keys round-trip from St Petersburg. americancruiselines.com PORTO MIRANTE RIVIERA TRAVEL Style/passengers: Premium/118 Launches: July Designed for the Brits, Porto Mirante has cabins equipped with tea and coffee-making facilities and upper deck accommodation with perks including a bottle of fizz. There’s a bar, lounge, restaurant and top-deck pool. Find it: Sailing eight-day Highlights of the Douro Valley and Salamanca cruises on the Douro round-trip from Porto. rivieratravel.co.uk VIVA ENJOY ESTRELA APT TRAVELMARVEL Style/passengers: Contemporary/158 Launches: August The largest swimming pool on the Douro awaits as APT Travelmarvel makes its debut on the Portuguese river. Expect cabins with French balconies and a choice of indoor and al-fresco dining. Find it: Sailing seven-night Douro Discovery cruises round-trip from Porto with an included excursion to Salamanca and dinner at a local quinta. aptouring.co.uk VIVA CRUISES Style/passengers: Contemporary/190 Launches: September Enjoy is Viva’s third new river ship in as many years. Passengers have a choice of three restaurants, can work up a sweat in a steam room and sauna, and borrow bikes carried on board for free. Find it: Sailing seven-night Charming Danube cruises round-trip from Vienna. viva-cruises.com 6 | FEBRUARY 2024 UNIWORLD RIVER CRUISES Style/passengers: Luxury/110 Launches: March Previously the Crystal Bach, Victoria has a conservatory-like lounge, stylish suites, an indoor pool and pop-up top-deck bar. Find it: Sailing tulip-themed cruises in Holland and Belgium in spring, and on the Rhine and Moselle Rivers in summer. uniworld.com A-ROSA ALEA/A-ROSA CLEA RIVERSIDE DEBUSSY RIVERSIDE LUXURY CRUISES Style/passengers: Luxury/110 Launches: March Formerly the Crystal Debussy, this vessel has a conservatory-like lounge, two-room suites, an indoor pool, a bistro for snacks and top deck bar and BBQ. Find it: Sailing three to 21-night cruises on the Rhine, Moselle, Main and Danube. riverside-cruises.com A-ROSA CRUISES Style/passengers: Contemporary/138 & 140 Launches: April These sisters previously sailed for Avalon Waterways, have cabins with French balconies and a hybrid set up for dinner whereby passengers help themselves to starters and desserts and are served their main courses. Find it: Sailing five and seven-night cruises on the Rhine and Moselle round-trip from Cologne. arosa-cruises.co.uk SPIRIT OF THE DOURO SAGA Style/passengers: Premium/126 Launches: March This ship is joining Saga from Nicko Cruises, where it has sailed as Douro Serenity. Most cabins have panorama windows that open, there is a lounge bar, one restaurant and top-deck pool. Find it: Sailing seven-night cruises on the Douro round-trip from Porto. saga.co.uk TUI AL HOREYA TUI RIVER CRUISES Style/passengers: Adult-only/145 Launches: November The line is making its Nile debut with the launch of TUI Al Horeya (Arabic for ‘freedom’). It has restaurants inside and out and Egyptologists to take guests on tours of the temples and tombs along the river. Find it: Sailing seven-night Legends of the Nile voyages from Luxor to Aswan and back. tui.co.uk STOWAWAY - GOOD CRUISE GUIDE | 7
Leading chefs from around the world are helping cruise lines raise the culinary bar on board Food has always been an important part of the cruise experience but when it comes to quality and choice diners on the high seas have never had it so good. Cruise lines still have main dining rooms and buffets where passengers can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner for free, and fill any hunger pangs through the day at poolside grills and afternoon tea, but many have upped the ante by adding a variety of speciality restaurants to their ships. Italian, French, Asian, Indian, Japanese teppanyaki. You can find food from around the world on the high seas these days, along with steakhouses, Chef’s Tables serving multi-course meals and restaurants that are heavy on veggie and vegan options. Speciality restaurants are usually complimentary on the ultra-luxury lines, and Oceania Cruises and Virgin Voyages also include them, but elsewhere there is invariably a fee to pay – anything from $25 per person to $300 or more, which buys more intimate spaces, more personal service and à la minute cuisine that is superior to the mass catering. Several lines have gone further and affiliated themselves with leading chefs from around the world who then train ships’ crew how to prepare and present dishes served in their name. Nobuyaki ‘Nobu’ Matsuhisa’s Peruvian-Japanese cuisine is served in Umi Uma on Crystal’s ships Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony and Jamie Oliver has branches of Jamie’s Italian on six Royal Caribbean International vessels (Anthem, Harmony, Mariner, Navigator, Ovation and Quantum of the Seas). P&O Cruises has celebration menus featuring dishes created by Marco Pierre White, who also hosts classes and dinners in the Cookery Club on selected sailings on Britannia. Celebrity Cruises has restaurants by Chef Daniel Boulud on Celebrity Beyond and Ascent; his cuisine is also served in Luminae, a restaurant exclusively for those in the suite-only Retreat on Beyond and Ascent, and also Celebrity Edge and Apex. Explora I, the first of six luxury ships built for new line Explora Journeys, has Anthology, a restaurant where renowned chefs from around the world are invited to showcase one-of-a-kind menus. The restaurant will also feature on the company’s second ship, Explora II, which launches in August 2024. Foodie news Oceania Cruises Aquamar Kitchen, a restaurant serving healthy-style cuisine that debuted on Oceania’s Vista in summer 2023, will open on Marina after a refit in May 2024. The ship is also getting a new al-fresco Italian trattoria. Cunard New ship Queen Anne is launching in May with a feast of new dining options. There’s Japanese cuisine in Aji Wa, Indian in Aranya, and surf and turf in Sir Samuels. Tramonto serves Mediterranean dishes, while the Golden Lion will serve pub favourites by Michelin-starred chef Michel Roux. Holland America Line Chef Masaharu Morimoto, Holland America’s fresh fish ambassador (pictured left), has opened his first restaurant at sea. Morimoto by Sea is on Nieuw Amsterdam and serves Asian cuisine that’s heavy on seafood. Princess Cruises Food, entertainment and technology come together in 360: An Extraordinary Experience – a exclusive dinner show (pictured below) for suite passengers on Discovery Princess and, from January, Enchanted Princess, that uses film, music, images and scent to recreate the cultures, tastes and flavours of the Mediterranean. Silversea By day, the SALT Lab on Silver Nova has hands-on cookery classes that don’t just show passengers how to prepare dishes from the places they are visiting, but also delve into their history. Come evening, the room transforms into a new 11-course Chef’s Table food and wine extravaganza for 18 diners. Celestyal Cruises The flavours and tastes of Greece come alive on Celestyal Journey, which started sailing for Celestyal in September 2023. Passengers can go casual in the Taverna or indulge in a six-course dining experience created by Greek chef and broadcaster Diane Kochilas in Grill Seekers. Mediterranean inspiration A new Mediterranean-style restaurant is opening on Seabourn’s ultra-luxury ships in early 2024. The venue, Solis, replaces the Thomas Keller Grills that have been a feature of Seabourn ships for the past eight years. The first opens on Seabourn Quest in January 2024, with Seabourn Encore, Ovation and Sojourn to follow by spring 2024. Developed in tandem with Master Chef and culinary partner Anton Egger and senior corporate chef Franck Salein, they will serve dishes inspired by places in the Mediterranean that Seabourn ships visit. Examples include Tuscan-style steaks, Greek village salads and Piquillos De La Mama, which pairs Basque piquillo peppers with fresh Murcia goat milk cheese. 8 | FEBRUARY 2024 STOWAWAY - GOOD CRUISE GUIDE | 9
Style: Resort With art work that comes alive, kids and teen clubs, nurseries, restaurants themed around Disney heroes, Princess dress-up events and deck parties hosted by Mickey and Minnie, this line has everything families could want and more. Kids of all ages can get wet, wet, wet on waterslides and watercoasters that spin you around the top of the ships, there are mini water parks and slides for toddlers, and pools, bars and swanky restaurants just for adults. Come evening the curtain rises on shows featuring favourite Disney characters. disneycruise.com Families at sea With amazing activities, kids’ clubs and all meals included in the price, a family holiday at sea is great fun and unbeatable value. CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE Style: Resort Kids of all ages are promised a ball on Carnival’s self-styled Fun Ships. They have huge aquaparks, waterslides, ropes courses and bikes that hang from a track that circles around the top of the ship, some 150 foot above the ocean. The line’s three newest ships, Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee also have Bolt, a roller coaster that shoots along an 800ft track at up to 40 miles an hour, dropping, twisting and turning as it goes. There are clubs for kids (2-11) and teens (12-17), adult-only Serenity hang-outs for mums and dads, and restaurants galore serving everything from burgers to Japanese teppanyaki. carnival.com 10 | FEBRUARY 2024 CELEBRITY CRUISES Style: Premium resort Camp at Sea is the place to be if you happen to be aged three to 12 and cruising with Celebrity. There are games, movie nights, sing-alongs, scavenger hunts and lessons in the art of navigation. A tad older? No worries. The Teen Club has silent discos, video game tournaments and other activities for the 13-17s. Outside the organised activities, there are pools to splash around in and kid-friendly menus. Starting 2024, the line has cruises that call into Perfect Day at Coco Cay private island, where there are water parks, slides, pools, beaches and more. celebritycruises.co.uk MARELLA CRUISES Style: British/resort As the UK cruise arm of TUI, Marella knows only too well what makes a great family holiday. The on-board vibe is relaxed, there are kids’ clubs, pools, climbing walls, outdoor cinemas and minigolf, children’s menus and British dining favourites to cater for the fussiest of eaters. Shore excursions, including bike tours and trips to water parks, aquariums and beaches, are designed for families, and with drinks on board included, mum and dad can relax knowing they won’t be always putting their hands in their pockets to keep the kids refuelled. One ship, Marella Explorer 2, is designated adult-only (see p14). tui.co.uk MSC CRUISES Style: Resort Whether you fancy splashing down waterslides, balancing across tightropes and swaying beams or cooling off under jets of water, you can with MSC. Its ships have kids clubs with video games, teen hangouts with night clubs and games centres where you can speed around an F1 racetrack (a simulated one of course), zap aliens in an XD cinema or go bowling (extra cost). There are dedicated family cabins, restaurants to cater for all tastes and bike, beach and dolphin-watching tours. msccruises.co.uk STOWAWAY - GOOD CRUISE GUIDE | 11
Holland America Line Style: Resort If walking a plank over the side of the ship, more feet from the ocean than you really want to know, doesn’t do it for you, then racing around a twisting, turning go-kart track surely will. There’s never a dull moment on NCL ships, which between them have ziplines and ropes courses, water slides with trap doors, dual slides that pit racers against a friend, laser tag games, fun clubs for kids and teen hang-outs. And all against a Freestyle backdrop, which translates into a casual vibe with no dress codes and no organised dining. ncl.com P&O CRUISES Style: British/resort Family cruising doesn’t get much easier than with P&O, which has four ships sailing from Southampton in summer so instead of negotiating airports, parents only need to get everyone to the port and the holiday starts right away. Once on board, there’s plenty for kids and teens, with welcome aboard parties, clubs to join and pools to splash around in. For families who don’t mind flying, a fifth ship sails the Mediterranean round-trip from Valletta through the summer; come winter there are Caribbean flycruises from Barbados and Antigua. Two P&O ships are designated adult-only (see p14). pocruises.com 12 | FEBRUARY 2024 PRINCESS CRUISES Style: Resort Families have always been on the Princess radar with kids’ clubs, teen hangouts and themed pirate nights on the ships, and discovery and wildlife-themed excursions ashore, but the line has taken things up a gear with new ship Sun Princess. Launching in February 2024, the vessel has larger kids and teen clubs, a family centre for babies and toddlers and a first-time activity zone, Park19, where adventures can harness up and hang-glide at speeds of up to 11 miles an hour around a track circling the top deck, clamber across beams and nets on a ropes course or climb between decks 19 to 20 before sliding back down. princess.com Nicko Cruises Cunard Ships have kids and teen clubs for youngsters aged three to 17 with activities that range from arts and crafts and theme parties to treasure hunts, scavenger hunts and video game tournaments. Family cabins on Nieuw Statendam and Koningsdam hold up to five people. hollandamerica.com NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE Vasco da Gama has a supervised play area for children aged three or over that spans two decks and activities ranging from video games and table football to discos. Children under 16 travel for free when accompanied by two full-fare-paying adults. There are drinks packages for kids and teens. nicko-cruises.co.uk The line’s three ships (four from May) have Play Zones (2-7s), the Kids’ Zone (8-12s) and the Teen Zone (13-17s) that offer everything from arts and crafts to computer games and discos. A children’s tea is served in the Lido restaurants. cunard.co.uk ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL Style: Resort With their rock climbing walls, dodgem cars, surf parks, zipwires, ice-rinks and rooms that hold up to eight people, Royal Caribbean ships are made for families. There are kids and teen clubs of course, and they’re a great place for youngsters to make friends, but who wants to be indoors when you can be out getting your thrills on water slides, plunging 10 storeys down the Ultimate Abyss, cooling off in a water park or suiting up to go skydiving. Step on board new ship Icon of the Seas, launching in January 2024, to take on the tallest water slide at sea and Crown’s Edge in the all-new family neighbourhood. royalcaribbean.co.uk Five of the best places to cruise with the kids Mediterranean With its choice of flycruise or ex-UK sailings, sunny summers and fun days out visiting beaches, waterparks, volcanoes and dolphinwatching, the Med is the top cruise choice for British families. Northern Europe Families with a sense of adventure can visit glaciers, kayak through fjords and go whalewatching and horse-back riding. Scandinavia Caribbean Alaska This region isn’t top of the list for families, but with cycle rides, visits to former nuclear missile sites, high-speed RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) rides and theme parks, it really should be. It’s the classic sun, sand and sea combo with the added attraction of a different island to explore every day. With husky dogs, kayaking, zipwiring, whale-watching and float plane trips among excursions, children and teenagers will have a ball. STOWAWAY - GOOD CRUISE GUIDE | 13
please Just as there are familyfriendly cruises, there are ships where children are most definitely not welcome. We all love kids, but that doesn’t mean you want them buzzing around you on your holiday, especially if they are someone else’s offspring. After all, even the best-behaved children want to be kids and run around, making a bit of noise, which is annoying for those who crave peace and quiet. So kudos to the lines that have banned children, allowing cruisers to escape to an adults-only world. Top of the list is Virgin Voyages which, much to everyone’s surprise, launched its first ship with a ban on anyone under 18 – a policy that remains in place on all its vessels (three now and a fourth to launch in 2024). With no kids’ clubs, there’s more room for restaurants and bars, and no young ears means entertainment can be a bit racy. Saga’s two ships, both sailing from the UK and both aimed at British cruisers, are not only no-kids’ zones, but also no-go areas for anyone under 50 (although someone aged 50 or more can take a companion aged 40 or over). British lines Marella Cruises and P&O Cruises split the difference and have some ships aimed at families and others designated adults-only. 14 | FEBRUARY 2024 Marella Cruises has four ships for families and one, Marella Explorer 2, for cruisers aged 18 and over. The vessel is spending this winter sailing the Caribbean from Montego Bay in Jamaica and will be exploring the Adriatic and Greek Isles from Dubrovnik in summer 2024. P&O Cruises has two ships, Arcadia and Aurora, for adults only. Both offer traditional British-style cruises with formal nights and fixed dining alongside open-seating options for those who prefer to eat when they want. Both ships sail from Southampton to the Mediterranean, Norwegian fjords, Iceland, even the US, Canada and West Indies. For the ultimate child-free blast, Arcadia has a 99-night voyage to Australia and back in January 2025. Take your chances Fred Olsen Cruise Lines allows children but its more formal style is favoured by Brits aged 60 and over so it’s pretty rare to see youngsters on board. Likewise luxury lines such as SeaDream Yacht Club and Regent Seven Seas Cruises are not top of the list with families as their cruises are not cheap and their ships are not childfriendly. Strict rules in the UK about taking kids out of school mean term time can be a good time for a child-free cruise no matter the cruise line. Bear in mind, though, there could be babies and toddlers on board, and also children from countries that have different school holiday dates to the UK. © Studio PONANT-Olivier Blaud No kids Giant icebergs, penguins, polar bears, crocodiles and places you never knew existed. Welcome to the wild side of cruising. ATLAS OCEAN VOYAGES Beat a retreat Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises are among several lines with familyfriendly ships that set aside special areas where adults can have some me-time away from children. Princess Cruises’ ships have the Sanctuary, which costs extra. Disney Cruise Line goes a step further and has pools, bars, lounges and even restaurants set aside for adults-only. Style: Premium This company made its debut in the US three years ago and has now set its sights on the UK. Its three identical Ice Class 1B expedition ships. World Navigator, World Traveller and World Voyager, launched 2021 and 2022 respectively, hold 196 passengers, carry an expedition team, and have lecture rooms and mudrooms. In polar regions, shore excursions, a parka and vest, boots and pre and post-cruise hotel nights are included. Kayaking, paddle-boarding and camping cost extra. Expedition cruises in: Antarctica, Arctic, South America, Iceland. atlasoceanvoyages.com AE EXPEDITIONS Style: Premium An Australian-based company, AE Expeditions (part of Aurora Expeditions) has two expedition ships, Greg Mortimer and Sylvia Earle, which launched 2019 and 2022 respectively. Both hold 132 passengers and feature a X-bow hull that cuts through waves, resulting in a smoother ride and saving on fuel. Onboard there are expedition teams, lecture theatres, science centres and mudrooms. A complimentary jacket is provided on polar expeditions. Antarctica cruises include a free pre-cruise hotel night. Activities, including camping, snorkelling and kayaking, are optional extras. Expedition cruises in: Antarctica, Arctic, Iceland, Norway, Costa Rica, Scotland. aexpeditions.co.uk STOWAWAY - GOOD CRUISE GUIDE | 15
PONANT QUARK EXPEDITIONS Style: Boutique Celebrity has three vessels in the Galapagos, an archipelago of islands some 1,000km west of Ecuador in South America. Celebrity Xploration is the baby with room for just 16 guests, then comes Celebrity Xpedition and Celebrity Flora, the first-ever ship ever purpose-built to cruise in the islands, holding 48 and 100 passengers respectively. Ten and 11-night itineraries pair one-week cruises round-trip from Baltra ‘airport’ island and included excursions, with pre and post-cruise hotel nights in Quito. Expedition cruises in: Galapagos Islands. celebritycruises.co.uk Style: Boutique French line Ponant has the world’s largest expedition fleet, with more ships than the other lines. Le Boréal, L’Austral, Le Soléal and Le Lyrial hold 244-264 passengers and are built to sail in polar waters. Le Lapérouse, Le Champlain, Le Bougainville, Le Dumontd’Urville, Le Bellot and Le Jacques Cartier hold 184 passengers and offer expedition cruises in warmer climes. The 245-passenger ice-breaker Le Commandant Charcot can reach deep into the polar regions, including as far as the North Pole. Ponant also owns Tahiti-based Paul Gauguin Cruises, which operates the eponymous 330-passenger ship Paul Gauguin. Expedition cruises in: Antarctica, Arctic, New Zealand, Kimberley, Tasmania, Indian Ocean, Micronesia, Central America, South Pacific. ponant.com 16 | FEBRUARY 2024 Style: Boutique Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has one internationally-designated expedition ship, Hanseatic Inspiration, which means the language on board is both German and English. The ship, classified PC6 ice class, holds 230 passengers (199 in Antarctica) and sails with an expedition team. It has a science centre, lecture theatre and mud room. Clients can borrow a parka and boots if cruising in very cold regions. Expedition cruises in: Antarctica, Arctic, US Great Lakes. hl-cruises.com Style: Premium Part of the Travelopia travel group, Quark Expeditions launched its first new-build ship, the 199-passenger Ultramarine, in 2021. The vessel carries an expedition team, two helicopters that land passengers in remote areas (extra cost) and has water-level Zodiac hangers and four embarkation points so the inflatables can get operational faster and be loaded quicker. There is a lecture theatre and two mudrooms. Quark also has cruises on the 128-passenger Ocean Adventurer in Antarctica (November to March) and Arctic (May to October) and on the 172-passenger World Explorer in Antarctica (November to March). Expedition cruises in: Antarctica, Arctic, Northwest Passage. quarkexpeditions.com Contact your travel agent or call 02 07 66 04 089. For more information, visit uk.ponant.com. Photo taken in compliance with AECO regulation and with local community. Non-contractual document. All rights reserved. ©PONANT - Julien Fabro. IM013120040. © Hapag-Lloyd Cruises CELEBRITY CRUISES BEYOND EXPLORATION Le Commandant Charcot - The World’s Only Luxury lcebreaker Inuit spring of Ammassalik in the Arctic 11 days/10 nights. Early rates for Summer 2025 available now.
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