Oct/Nov 2023

Cruise International

The independent magazine for cruise holidaymakers.

Cruise International1 min read
Editor’s Letter
WHAT’S ON YOUR TRAVEL WISH LIST? If seeing the northern lights, spotting penguins in Antarctica or meeting a geisha are on there, you’re in luck, as all three feature in this issue. But while that standout moment might be what we post on Instagram, t
Cruise International1 min read
Tivua Island, Fiji
If you’re looking for a spot of winter sun to brighten up the bleak British winter, it would be hard to beat the paradise islands of Fiji, where white-sugar sand shores, turquoise seas and guaranteed good weather await. Yet the folk from Fiji special
Cruise International1 min read
Bar Harbor, Maine
Autumn is a special time to sail along the Eastern Seaboard of the US, when its sweeping coastal views go from awe-inspiring to out-of-this-world thanks to a kaleidoscope of colour from the region’s fall foliage. You can almost see autumn approaching
Cruise International4 min read
News
A group of committed environmentalists has been busy cleaning up sites around the Svalbard archipelago – a frequent highlight of Arctic expedition cruises – as part of a united effort by the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO) to
Cruise International4 min read
LIFE & STYLE
Introduce little ones to life on the water with a new range of family sailings from barge operator European Waterways, which has seen an increase in demand for multigenerational holidays, where grandparents, parents and kids go away together. Swap gr
Cruise International1 min read
Postcards
PICTURES: GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCK PHOTO/ONLY_FABRIZIO/FLAVIO VALLENARI/TZIDO/FREEARTIST; JACK BRADLEY; THE DJANGO; ALBERT VECERKA ■
Cruise International2 min read
Best Of Trieste
Perched on the brink of the Adriatic, the Castle of Miramare is the ultimate in waterfront boltholes, designed for a naval officer with an imperial pedigree. The whitewashed castle on the outskirts of Trieste reflects the interests and travels of its
Cruise International3 min read
FOOD & DRINK
Made-to-order sushi in The Club, fresh oysters and Dover sole in The Restaurant, and a revamped in-suite menu – including the option to have dinner served course-by-course on your private veranda – are among the dining options on new ship Seabourn Pu
Cruise International4 min read
Romance Of The Rhine
The river nobly foams and flows, the charm of this enchanted ground, and all its thousand turns disclose some fresher beauty varying round.” So wrote English poet Lord Byron about the view from the “castled crag of Drachenfels”, a hill that towers hi
Cruise International2 min read
All That Jazz
Finding a reason to visit New York City is never going to be difficult, although its latest attraction is even more of a draw than most. The Louis Armstrong Center opened in July and is the new permanent home for the 60,000-item Louis Armstrong archi
Cruise International5 min read
Call Of Nature
I’m swimming through a real-life kaleidoscope. Iridescent angelfish in electric blue and gold, elegant ‘rock beauties’ in jet black and lemon yellow, and vibrant parrotfish in fuchsia and lime are my companions as I snorkel above bright pink corals.
Cruise International5 min read
Get The Green Light
By husky. By snowshoe. By snowmobile. Those were just three of the ways I explored the pristine Norwegian countryside on a recent adventure to the Arctic Circle. But here’s the surprising part: I crossed the snowy landscapes in each of these exciting
Cruise International5 min read
Rising Sun
As we pull into the Japanese city of Beppu and I gaze across the skyline, my first panic-stricken thought is that the streets are ablaze with raging fires spewing angry white plumes into the air. But then I remember this is Japan’s spa capital, sprin
Cruise International4 min read
Bird Watching Expeditions
Remote South Georgia is home to the biggest colonies of majestic king penguins in the world. You’ll see several thousand together in Fortuna Bay, surrounded by jagged peaks and glaciers, and another extensive colony on the beach at Gold Harbour. Coop
Cruise International4 min read
Unlock The Keys
Standing atop the 65ft-tall, historic wooden tower of Key West’s Shipwreck Museum, the wind whips my hair into a haystack. The sun’s shining and the sea stretches out to an ostensibly calm horizon – but I’ve learned enough here to know that these wat
Cruise International3 min read
Dressing For Dinner
There was a time when cruises were all about dressing up and breaking out your ball gown or best bib and tucker. All that’s changed, and nowadays dress codes run the full gamut from ultra-casual to high-octane glamour. In the same way you choose a cr
Cruise International3 min read
Win! AN ICELANDIC ESCAPE
Iceland is the land of fire and ice, home to fiery lava-filled volcanoes and bubbling geysers, thundering waterfalls and fairy-tale-like landscapes – and now, one lucky reader will get the chance to explore this magical island in depth on an incredib
Cruise International4 min read
Valencia
Named Europe’s Green Capital for 2024, Valencia seems to have been collecting esteemed titles and accolades in recent years, from most liveable city for expats to World Design Capital. Once overshadowed by its bigger, brasher sisters, Madrid and Barc
Cruise International4 min read
Sustainable Ships
HAVILA VOYAGES has four ships sailing the Norwegian coast between Bergen and Kirkenes. Each is fitted with massive batteries that can power the vessels in port and for up to four hours’ sailing, allowing them to cruise silently and emission-free. The
Cruise International1 min read
Reviews
PICTURES: IVAN SARFATTI; VRX STUDIOS ■
Cruise International2 min read
Explora I
Explora I has finally set sail, and this new entrant to the luxury cruise world is living up to its (admittedly, high) expectations. With design cues taken from the world’s finest boutique hotels, the experience is luxurious without being pretentious
Cruise International2 min read
Vista
It’s not often bathrooms are the talk of a ship, especially not among guests sailing with Oceania Cruises. The line claims the finest cuisine at sea, so conversation is usually focused on dinner delights or the delicious treats to come. But on Vista,
Cruise International2 min read
Ask The Experts
We’ve always been wary of booking a cruise with more than one sea day in case we get bored – but our next cruise has four of them! Any tips on what to do? Sarah Wikevand, managing director, ROL Cruise Make the most of your cruise’s multiple sea da
Cruise International2 min read
Msc Euribia
No MSC Cruises ship is complete without plenty of glitz, glamour and sparkling staircases awash with Swarovski jewels, so I’m delighted to report that its new flagship, MSC Euribia, ticks all the boxes. Launched in June, it’s something of a behemoth,
Cruise International2 min read
Nick Hewer
Cruising has absolutely been part of my life – every year for the last 30 years, I’ve gone on Lord Sugar’s boat in the Mediterranean, and I’ve done a little bit of cruising on bigger ships, which I loved. There’s a sense of community on board a cruis

Cruise International

More Issues From Cruise International