Fill your diary with Jane Archer’s guide to this year’s cruising highlights
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Batten down the hatches and get ready for the rush because another whirlwind year in the world of cruising looms. And what a year it is shaping up to be for the UK market.
In the ocean arena, P&O Cruises’ Britannia is gearing up to do battle with Royal Caribbean International’s Anthem of the Seas in Southampton, while Norwegian Cruise Line is lining up exciting new venues for its new Norwegian Escape.
And there’s no sign of a drought on the rivers either, with more than 30 new vessels launching this year, and Clia UK & Ireland planning its first river cruise weekend, with promotions, events and offers to get more Brits going with the flow.
We’ve picked some highlights from the coming 12 months to help you plan your sales campaigns. Prices are per person with flights unless otherwise noted.
February
What’s new: Saga Cruises’ Saga Pearl II sets off on a 15-night voyage from Southampton to Norway and into the Arctic Circle in search of the northern lights.
How much? From £3,113 cruise-only, departing February 17.
March
What’s new: P&O Cruises’ new ship, Britannia, arrives in Southampton on March 6 for a week-long orgy of trade and consumer events to show off its Cookery Club, atrium deli, Limelight Supper Club and other new venues. It departs on its maiden cruise on March 14.
How much? From £809 for a seven-night Norwegian fjords cruise round-trip from Southampton, departing May 16.
What’s new: Magellan, the former Ibero Cruises vessel joining Cruise & Maritime Voyages, sets sail in its new CMV livery. The vessel will have 150 inside and oceanview cabins reserved for single travellers at a 25% supplement.
How much? From £1,299 for a 12-night Solar Eclipse cruise, departing Tilbury March 15.
What’s new: Avalon Waterways has two more Suite Ships entering service: Avalon Tapestry II will sail on the Seine from Paris, while Avalon Tranquility II will be based on the Rhine.
How much? From £1,347 for seven nights on the Seine, departing March 28.
What’s new: American Cruise Lines is launching a 150-passenger paddlewheel vessel, American Eagle, on the Mississippi, sailing mainly between Memphis and New Orleans or round-trip from New Orleans.
How much? From £4,450 cruise-only, departing March 28.
What’s new: Uniworld River Cruises’ new vessel, Marie Theresa, enters service. It will sail 10-day tulip-themed cruises in Holland and Belgium in March and April, then switch to 15-day cruises between Amsterdam and Budapest.
How much? From £2,369 cruise-only for a Tulips and Windmills cruise departing March 28.
April
What’s new: European Waterways has four World War One-themed cruises – departures on April 5, 12, 19 and 26 – between Lille and Compiègne on the 12-passenger barge La Belle Epoque.
How much? From £3,150 cruise-only for any of these dates.
What’s new: Royal Caribbean International’s Anthem of the Seas arrives in Southampton for its maiden summer season. The ship will have a sky-diving simulator, North Star viewing pod that takes you 300 feet above the waves, dodgem cars, a FlowRider and Jamie’s Italian restaurant.
How much? From £1,998 cruise-only for an eight-night France and Spain cruise, departing April 22.
What’s new: The Loire in France becomes a player in the overnight river cruise market for the first time with the launch of CroisiEurope’s Loire Princesse, powered by a side-mounted paddlewheel.
How much? From £1,001 cruise-only for five nights, departing April 9.
What’s new: Scenic Tours is launching the 169-passenger Scenic Jasper on the Rhine, Main and Danube. It will be the first vessel in the Scenic fleet with a swimming pool. A sister river cruise vessel, Scenic Opal, enters service in May.
How much? From £2,145 for an eight-day Gems of the Danube cruise from Nuremburg to Budapest, departing July 13.
What’s new: Celebrity Cruises’ top-paying passengers will be fêted with the line’s new Suite Class. Benefits include a dedicated restaurant and VIP access to Michael’s Club, while those in the very best rooms (Royal, Penthouse and Reflection suites) will also have a private bar serving complimentary drinks.
How much? From £2,199 cruise only for a Sky Suite on a seven-night Norwegian Fjords cruise from Southampton on Celebrity Eclipse, departing May 9.
May
What’s new: Viking Star, the first ship for Viking River Cruises’ new ocean-going company, will be named in Bergen, on May 17 by godmother Trude Drevland, the city’s mayor.
How much? From £3,049 for a 10-day Empires of the Mediterranean cruise from Istanbul to Venice, departing November 8.
What’s new: Ponant’s 122-passenger Le Lyrial sets off on its maiden cruise on May 9 – a seven-night voyage round-trip from Venice along the coast of Croatia to Kotor in Montenegro.
How much? From €3,330 cruise-only for the seven-night inaugural cruise, departing May 9.
What’s new: The world’s biggest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean International’s Allure of the Seas, arrives in Barcelona for a debut summer season of one-week cruises in the Mediterranean.
How much? From £1,866 cruise-only, sailing October 18.
What’s new: Clia UK & Ireland’s Selling Cruise Convention takes place in Southampton on May 21-23. As well as a conference and trade fair, delegates will be able to visit P&O’s Britannia, Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas and Princess Cruises’ Royal Princess.
How much? £50 plus VAT, rising to £60 plus VAT on February 1.
What’s new: Cunard’s Three Queens (Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth) will meet on the Mersey in Liverpool for the first time on May 25 as part of the company’s 175th anniversary celebrations.
How much? From £959 cruise-only for a six-day Liverpool Salute round-trip from Southampton on Queen Victoria, departing May 22.
June
What’s new: Emerald Waterways’ new Emerald Dawn enters service on the Rhine, sailing between Amsterdam and Basel. It’s the company’s second new vessel this year. Emerald Sun launched in April, cruising between Amsterdam and Budapest.
How much? From £1,895 for an eight-day Jewel of the Rhine cruise from Amsterdam to Basel, departing May 9.
July
What’s new: Nobu Matsuhisa, the chef behind the Silk Road restaurant and sushi bar on Crystal Cruises’ two ships, will be laying on cooking demonstrations and signing books during a 25th anniversary cruise from Lisbon to Dover on Crystal Serenity. The cruise will be hosted by Crystal president and chief operating officer Edie Rodriguez.
How much? From £3,882 cruise-only, departing July 12.
What’s new: Riviera Travel’s new 140-passenger river cruise vessel Charles Dickens enters service on the Rhine, Main and Danube. Passengers can expect wood and brass decor, thick pile carpets, deep armchairs and sofas.
How much? From £1,599 for an eight-day Blue Danube cruise, departing August 6.
August
What’s new: AmaWaterways’ 124-passenger AmaDara enters service on the Mekong. The vessel will sail between Siem Reap in Cambodia and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.
How much? From £1,393 cruise only, departing August 11.
What’s new: MSC Lirica becomes the fourth and last of MSC Cruises’ Lirica-class ships to be ‘stretched’ to increase capacity and facilities. The work takes place in Sicily from August 31 to November 4.
How much? From £1,179 cruise only for a 20-night voyage from Genoa to Rio, departing November 4.
September
What’s new: Clia UK & Ireland is taking its River Cruise Expo to a venue in northern Britain so agents outside London get a chance to engage with river cruise members and learn more about their products and vessels. Clia Cruise Week will also be held in September but the date has yet to be confirmed.
How much? The date, venue and price for this year’s River Cruise Expo are yet to be confirmed.
October
What’s new: Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Escape visits Southampton on October 28 on its way from the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany to its homeport of Miami. Consumers and agents will be able to trial the ship with a try-before-you-buy overnight stay.
How much? From £529 cruise-only for a seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruise round-trip from Miami departing November 14.
What’s new: The Cavern Club, based on the famous Liverpool venue, opens on Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Epic on its October 11 sailing from Rome, while the musical, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, kicks off on October 18. Starting April 2015, the ship is based year-round in the Mediterranean.
How much? From £609 cruise only for a seven-night Western Mediterranean voyage from Barcelona, departing October 11.
November
What’s new: It’s all change for Voyages of Discovery, starting with this month’s West Indies and South America winter programme, which will introduce fewer categories of cabin, butlers for top suites and drinks packages from £12 per day.
How much? From £2,839 for a 13-day cruise to Suriname, French Guiana and Guyana round-trip from Barbados, departing November 24.
December
What’s new: Swan Hellenic’s Minerva leaves Europe for a winter season in South America. The ship will sail through the Panama Canal, down the west coast of South America, around Cape Horn and up to Buenos Aires, where it will turn around and retrace its steps.
How much? From £2,260 for a 19-night Tenerife-Barbados cruise, departing December 3.
