WHAT’S your perfect holiday temperature?
For Brits on their summer break, it’s 27C, according to latest research.
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But with cruises, you’ve got the choice of different weathers year round, from frozen climes to sizzling sunshine.
The joy of a cruise is the chance to explore all sorts of destinations, safe in the knowledge you’ve got room for clothes of all seasons in your cabin and a comfortable ship to return to after a day’s adventures.
Here, Lisa Minot suggests some great cruises for all temperatures.
SIZZLING SAILINGS
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A MEDITERRANEAN cruise in August means guaranteed sizzling-hot temperatures but also some cool, soothing sea breezes as you sail.
Princess Cruises’ newest ship, the luxury Sun Princess, is sailing from Barcelona this summer.
1. A seven-day Mediterranean cruise taking in France and Italy will see you enjoying the sun-shine in Gibraltar, Marseille in Provence and a trio of Italian gems — Genoa, La Spezia for Florence and Pisa and Civitavecchia for Rome.
Prices are from £699pp full board for Princess Standard fares or £1,049 for Princess Plus including drinks package, wifi and tips. Based on August 3 sailing. Flights extra. See princess.com.
2. ALSO sailing the Med this summer is P&O Cruises’ newest ship, Arvia, directly from Southampton so no need to bother with the hassle of flying.
The brand-new luxury ship features four pools for sunbathing beside, an open-air cinema and lots of entertainment including shows, live music and comedy.
Departing August 18, the 14-night cruise is from £1,049pp for full board.
The ship calls at La Coruna and Valencia in Spain, Marseille in France plus Alicante and Cadiz in Spain before it returns to Southampton. See pocruises.com.
3. TRAVELLING on a smaller ship is a great way to explore the wonders of Croatia’s coastline.
Summers average 30C but with a sea breeze and on-board air conditioning, when temperatures start to sizzle the ship can simply moor up in a remote cove, allowing guests to cool down with a dip in the Adriatic.
Sail Croatia’s Explorer Cruise from Split to Dubrovnik spends seven days exploring the Dalmatian coast and the islands of Mljet, Korcula, Vis and Hvar taking in national parks, famous cities and quaint island towns.
Seven nights’ half-board is from £1,789pp, departing August 3 on the Salve Di Mare. Flights extra. See sail-croatia.com or call 020 4525 7534.
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4. OF course, the Caribbean is hot, hot, hot all year round, but there’s still some great deals on cruises out of New York with Carnival on board the Carnival Venezia — allowing you to combine summertime in the city with tropical delights.
The eight-day full-board cruise starts from £893pp, departing New York on August 5 and sailing to Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic, Grand Turk on the Turks & Caicos — and there’s even a stop at Half Moon Cay, Carnival’s private island in the Bahamas. Flights extra. For details, see carnival.com.
COOL CRUISES
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5. SAIL with your family around the Norwegian Fjords with Ambassador Cruise Line.
Its Summertime Multi-Generational Fjordland seven-night cruise leaves London Tilbury on July 14. Taking in picturesque towns Bergen, Haugesund and Flam there’s kids’ activities on board.
Departing August 3, currently the second guest sails for half price, with fares from £1,426 for the first person and £713 for the second. See ambassadorcruiseline.com.
6. AUTUMN is perfect for taking to Germany’s rivers, when it is cooler. Admire the changing colours on the Rhine and Moselle.
Departing Cologne on October 24, you call at Cochem, Trier, Bernkastel, Koblenz, Boppard, Rhine Gorge, right, and Rudesheim.
Prices from £1,899pp including return flights and transfers, free superior drinks package and seven visits and tours. See rivieratravel.co.uk or call 01283 893357.
This Celebrity Cruises ship features 20 dining and drinking options as well as the Magic Carpet — the world’s first cantilevered floating platform
7. SAVOUR Scandinavia by sailing from Southampton on the Celebrity Apex.
This Celebrity Cruises ship features 20 dining and drinking options as well as the Magic Carpet — the world’s first cantilevered floating platform.
The 11-night sailing departing August 27 calls at Skagen in Denmark and Stockholm in Sweden before heading on to Copenhagen and Oslo with an overnight stay. Prices from £1,126pp full board. See iglucruise.com.
FROZEN TREATS
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8. JOIN Havila Voyages for a winter cruise along the Norwegian coast, through fjords and up to the Arctic Circle. Remember your thermals — temperatures in Kirkenes average -14C in January.
Havila’s hybrid working/cruise ships sail from Bergen, past the North Cape plateau to Kirkenes on the Russian border. They stop at 34 ports, from cities to villages.
With little light pollution, the Northern Lights are almost a certainty. And Havila’s promise means if you book a 12-day cruise from October to March and don’t see them you get a free six or seven-night voyage.
Prices from £1,191pp full board dates this October, November and December. See havilavoyages.com.
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9. THE ultimate frozen adventure is to sail the Alaskan Inside Passage.
Holland America Line’s seven-day cruise onboard the Koningsdam starts in Vancouver with scenic sailing of The Inside Passage plus visits to the Tracy Arm Inlet, Skagway, Glacier Bay, and Ketchikan.
Seven night full-board sailings start from £499pp cruise only or from £1,576pp including flights from Heathrow and a one-night pre-cruise hotel stay. See hollandamerica.com.
