The Globe Trotter: 7 December
This can be a cold, dark and, Christmas festivities aside, pretty miserable time of the year. But it’s also time to gather up a clutch of glossy brochures and plan next year’s holiday, giving yourself something to look forward to. So, will it be a cruise?
Many fans say that once you’ve been on a cruise you’re hooked for life. The big plus, of course, is that you get to see a large number of different places during the one holiday, but only need to unpack once, as your cabin becomes your home for the duration.
While cruises can seem expensive at first glance, they do generally include all your meals – breakfast, lunch and dinner, and even afternoon tea and midnight buffets, too. There is on-board entertainment, sports and activities, and some ships have a cinema and spa – although any treatments will cost extra, of course. You will also have to pay for certain excursions, drinks and tips.
The best news is that with many more cruise ships and companies now fighting for your business, there are plenty of extra attractions to lure you on board, from special dining and spas, to themed events and celebrity guests.
P&O Cruises 2013 programme, for example, includes cruises with a Strictly Come Dancing theme. Stars from the BBC series will join seven trips to the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean. New for 2013, Marco Pierre White, Atul Kochhar and Olly Smith will be hosting two Food And Wine cruises, which will include a range of shore excursions to vineyards, breweries, distilleries, restaurants and markets, as well as a variety of activities on board. Master pâtissier and Cake Boy legend, Eric Lanlard, will also be on board.
Choose from a 14-night Western Mediterranean cruise on the Azura (A310N), departing 27 April, with Atul Kochhar and Olly Smith, from £1,109 per person; or the 28-night Caribbean no-fly cruise on the Adonia (D318), departing 22 November, with Marco Pierre White on board, from £2,439 per person.
Meanwhile, P&O Cruises Music Festivals At Sea itineraries next year will be hosted exclusively by Classic FM radio presenters, with a repertoire of opera, operetta and recitals. Cruise options include a 14-night Iceland cruise on Aurora (R307), departing from Southampton on 4 June, and calling at Stavanger, Flam, Alesund, Akureyri, Isafjordur, Reykjavik and Torshavn, from £1,399 per person.
The 14-night North Cape cruise on Oriana (X316), departing Southampton on 5 August, is exclusively for adults, and calls at Stavanger, Flam, Alesund, Trondheim, Honningsvaag, North Cape, Tromso, Geiranger and Bergen, from £1,499 per person.
Finally, there is welcome news for those who will be travelling alone – single cabins with no single supplement are now available on three ships in the P&O Cruises fleet – the Azura, Oriana and Ventura.
For details: 0843-373 0111, www.pocruises.co.uk
Festive tea
The Park Lane Hotel Christmas Afternoon Tea in the 1920s Palm Court lounge includes: warm turkey, tarragon and leek quiche with Parmesan crumble, eggnog brûlée, cinnamon scones and a glass of Mumm Rosé Champagne. Available until 26 December, from £42 per person.
020-7290 7328, www.palmcourtlondon.co.uk
Shop ’n’ show
The Kingston upon Thames Christmas Shopping Package includes a night at the Chase Lodge Hotel with breakfast, two-course dinner with wine at Browns Bar & Brasserie and tickets to see Cinderella The Midnight Princess at The Rose Theatre. Until 23 December, from £155 for two.
020-8943 1862, www.chaselodgehotel.com
Early break
The Lake Country House Hotel, Builth Wells in Wales is offering a pre-Christmas break from just £50 per double room for two if you spend a total of £100 on dinner, including wine. You’ll also receive a complimentary upgrade to a suite. Until 21 December.
01591-620202, www.fihotels.com
Many fans say that once you’ve been on a cruise you’re hooked for life. The big plus, of course, is that you get to see a large number of different places during the one holiday, but only need to unpack once, as your cabin becomes your home for the duration.
While cruises can seem expensive at first glance, they do generally include all your meals – breakfast, lunch and dinner, and even afternoon tea and midnight buffets, too. There is on-board entertainment, sports and activities, and some ships have a cinema and spa – although any treatments will cost extra, of course. You will also have to pay for certain excursions, drinks and tips.
The best news is that with many more cruise ships and companies now fighting for your business, there are plenty of extra attractions to lure you on board, from special dining and spas, to themed events and celebrity guests.
P&O Cruises 2013 programme, for example, includes cruises with a Strictly Come Dancing theme. Stars from the BBC series will join seven trips to the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean. New for 2013, Marco Pierre White, Atul Kochhar and Olly Smith will be hosting two Food And Wine cruises, which will include a range of shore excursions to vineyards, breweries, distilleries, restaurants and markets, as well as a variety of activities on board. Master pâtissier and Cake Boy legend, Eric Lanlard, will also be on board.
Choose from a 14-night Western Mediterranean cruise on the Azura (A310N), departing 27 April, with Atul Kochhar and Olly Smith, from £1,109 per person; or the 28-night Caribbean no-fly cruise on the Adonia (D318), departing 22 November, with Marco Pierre White on board, from £2,439 per person.
Meanwhile, P&O Cruises Music Festivals At Sea itineraries next year will be hosted exclusively by Classic FM radio presenters, with a repertoire of opera, operetta and recitals. Cruise options include a 14-night Iceland cruise on Aurora (R307), departing from Southampton on 4 June, and calling at Stavanger, Flam, Alesund, Akureyri, Isafjordur, Reykjavik and Torshavn, from £1,399 per person.
The 14-night North Cape cruise on Oriana (X316), departing Southampton on 5 August, is exclusively for adults, and calls at Stavanger, Flam, Alesund, Trondheim, Honningsvaag, North Cape, Tromso, Geiranger and Bergen, from £1,499 per person.
Finally, there is welcome news for those who will be travelling alone – single cabins with no single supplement are now available on three ships in the P&O Cruises fleet – the Azura, Oriana and Ventura.
For details: 0843-373 0111, www.pocruises.co.uk
Festive tea
The Park Lane Hotel Christmas Afternoon Tea in the 1920s Palm Court lounge includes: warm turkey, tarragon and leek quiche with Parmesan crumble, eggnog brûlée, cinnamon scones and a glass of Mumm Rosé Champagne. Available until 26 December, from £42 per person.
020-7290 7328, www.palmcourtlondon.co.uk
Shop ’n’ show
The Kingston upon Thames Christmas Shopping Package includes a night at the Chase Lodge Hotel with breakfast, two-course dinner with wine at Browns Bar & Brasserie and tickets to see Cinderella The Midnight Princess at The Rose Theatre. Until 23 December, from £155 for two.
020-8943 1862, www.chaselodgehotel.com
Early break
The Lake Country House Hotel, Builth Wells in Wales is offering a pre-Christmas break from just £50 per double room for two if you spend a total of £100 on dinner, including wine. You’ll also receive a complimentary upgrade to a suite. Until 21 December.
01591-620202, www.fihotels.com