The Cruise This seven-night itinerary, return from Southampton, England, visits southern Norway for a look at the urban Nordic lifestyle and ever-grand Norwegian coastline.
Highlights Fjords are best seen from the deck of a ship. At Innvikfjorden, calm waters reflect surrounding farmland and mountains, while Nordfjord combines snow peaks with turquoise waters that seem almost tropical. Oslofjord, though more modest in scale, is dotted with islands sporting summer cottages and chapels.
Ashore Take a hike through the lovely village of Olden, surrounded by fjord landscapes gushing with waterfalls. Alesund sits across seven islands and is notable for art deco architecture, while cultured city Stavanger has old-town charm and good museums.
On Board Cunard’s 2691-guest Queen Mary 2 hearkens back to cruising’s golden age, thanks to its art deco-inspired decor, dancing in the Queens Room, afternoon teas, and the lingering formality mostly abandoned on other ships: dressing up for dinner is required except at the buffet. The ship has multiple restaurants and bars, sport facilities, a spa, cinema and expansive library.
Sail Away From $1799 per person, departs July 14, 2024.
UNIWORLD’S “VENICE & JEWELS OF THE VENETO” CRUISE
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The Cruise Venice is best from the sea, and this eight-day cruise return from the floating city showcases its fabulous architecture and the tranquil islands of the Venetian Lagoon.
Highlights Apart from Venice itself, this is an opportunity to discover Burano with its colourful houses, agricultural island Mazzorbo, and Torcello for its ancient basilica. Fisherman’s port Chioggia has a lively local market.
Ashore Don’t miss Uniworld’s private, after-hours visit to St Mark’s Basilica to see its fabulous Byzantine-style mosaics in uncrowded peace. You can attend a glass-blowing demonstration at Murano, a centre of the art for eight centuries, and see how gondolas are made in Venetian district Dorsoduro.
On Board Uniworld’s elegant 126-guest S.S. La Venezia has a fine sense of place, thanks to its Venetian-inspired decor, Murano glass, carnival masks and handmade Fortuny fabrics. It’s over-the-top, but why not enjoy your Bellini on a chair that resembles a gilded throne? Meanwhile, Uniworld provides outstanding food, with a pleasing emphasis on regional dishes.
Sail Away From $4159 per person, multiple departures March-October 2024.
CARNIVAL’S “EUROPE FROM CIVITAVECCHIA” CRUISE
The Cruise A 10-day itinerary return from Civitavecchia (Rome) to Italy, Greece and Turkey, plus two full days at sea to enjoy the ship’s extensive facilities and entertainment.
Highlights Hip, jet-setting Mykonos – low-lying but sprinkled with whitewashed villages – vies with cliff-ringed, dramatic Santorini as the most famous Greek island, but this cruise visits both. Get your classical culture in Athens and Olympia.
Ashore From Kusadasi in Turkey, make a shore excursion to Ephesus, one of the world’s best-preserved Greco-Roman towns. From Messina in Sicily you might head up always-rumbling Mount Etna. Naples provides a dither of options: the ruins of Pompeii, island of Capri or splendid Amalfi Coast.
On Board Carnival Cruise Line’s 2124-guest Carnival Legend is a family-oriented vessel with plenty of activities for kids, from waterslides to sports tournaments and both kids’ and teenagers’ clubs. Adults are well catered for, too: chill out in the adults-only pool or sundeck, attend art seminars and dance classes, and spend evenings at the comedy club or nightclub.
Sail Away From $976 per person, four departures September-October 2024.
VIKING’S “GRAND EUROPEAN TOUR” CRUISE
The Cruise This classic 15-day river cruise between Amsterdam and Budapest along the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers is packed with old towns, castles and culture-filled cities.
Highlights Vienna supplies culture, music, museums and a big-city vibe; pretty towns such as Miltenberg and Bamberg half-timbered medieval romance; and Würzburg and Passau ornate baroque remodelling. Lively Koblenz sits at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers, and is lined by scenic promenades.
Ashore The UNESCO-listed windmills at Kinderdijk showcase ingenious Dutch flour-milling and flood management in a classic, breeze-blown landscape. Take a World War II-oriented tour at Nuremberg or simply enjoy its impressive castle-topped old town. Don’t miss the whopping, bling-laden Benedictine monastery at Melk in Austria.
On Board Various Viking Cruises’ ships sail this itinerary, but all are near-identical, 190-guest Longships notable for their light-flooded, minimalist but elegant Nordic style and expansive Sun Deck from which to admire 360-degree views. The indoor-outdoor Aquavit Terrance is another great viewing spot on the ship’s bow for drinks and dining.
Sail Away From $5995 per person, multiple departures May-November 2024.
CELEBRITY’S “BEST OF SCANDINAVIA” CRUISE
The Cruise This 12-night Baltic cruise return from Southampton, England, concentrates on urban and cultural experiences in chic cities, but adds some small-port delights, too.
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Highlights What the Baltic lacks in scenic drama it makes up for in small-scale, sophisticated and highly appealing cities. Copenhagen, Helsinki and Stockholm are all capitals with their own distinctive looks and history, yet sharing a similar multi-island location and Nordic style. Estonia’s capital, Tallinn, though smaller, buzzes with confidence.
Ashore Fortified medieval town Visby on Gotland island deserves a lingering stroll, while small Danish port town Skagen has a setting that has inspired many artists. In Stockholm, don’t miss the fascinating Vasa Museum, which preserves an intact 17th-century ship and its contents.
On Board Celebrity Cruises’ 2910-guest Celebrity Apex is one of its latest Edge-class ships and occupies a niche between mega-ships and smaller luxury vessels. Expect sophisticated decor and artworks, a rooftop garden, spa, theatre with Broadway-style shows, and 29 restaurants, bars and lounges.