Where in the world to cruise? As the brochures get fatter, the destinations
more daring and the boats more bootylicious, it can be a tricky call. But if
you can’t decide, there’s one simple, if indulgent, expedient. Do the whole
planet in one go.
Early in the new year, a dozen or so liners will cast off from their home
ports to circumnavigate the world. The trips are hugely popular, and most
operators are already selling sailings for 2008 — when the hottest ticket
will be the maiden world cruise of Cunard’s new Queen Victoria. But it’s not
too late to enlist for this year, and not as bank-breaking as you might have
feared.
Yes, this is trip-of-a-lifetime territory, but round-the-world cruising isn’t
just for lottery winners, golden-handshake squanderers and City-bonus
wallahs. The cost can average out at just £60 per day. You can also save
money by cherry-picking — signing up for a single sector of the voyage
rather than the global works. Then again, if you happen to be a Premiership
footballer or a Russian oligarch, you could blow £250,000 on a top suite on
the most luxurious ship.
All the boats featured here still have berths for 2007. Let’s start with
cruise royalty — but you’ll have to be quick, because there are just a few
cabins left on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, which sails from Fort Lauderdale on
January 10. She will be doing a full circle of South America on the way to
stopoffs in California, New Zealand, Australia, the Far East, India, Dubai
and the Med — but it’s Mary’s Latin leanings that make this round-the-world
itinerary leap out. Prices start at £9,899 for 74 nights, including flights
to Fort Lauderdale; call 0845 071 0300 or visit www.cunard.co.uk.
Three of the more luxurious vessels afloat, all sailing from the USA, offer
world cruises. Silversea’s Silver Shadow casts off from Fort Lauderdale on
January 15 for a four-month odyssey, visiting a postcard-pulping 61 ports of
call.
Her route takes in the Caribbean, Mexico, the Panama Canal and Peru, with a
spot of island-hopping in the South Pacific. From New Zealand and Australia,
she sails to Bali and Thailand, then on to India and the Middle East, and
potters through the Med before crossing the Atlantic to Bermuda and New
York.
You can pay anything from £35,498 to £98,336 for the full 126 days, including
flights, all drinks, tips, a number of shore excursions and on-board
“spending credit” worth $2,000 per suite. Call 0870 333 7030 or visit www.silversea.com.
Also catering for high rollers is Regent’s Seven Seas Voyager (023 8068 2280, www.rssc.co.uk),
which sails from Fort Lauderdale on January 9. Prices start at £37,528 for
111 nights, (for a grade-C cabin, the only category left), including drinks
and gratuities, but not flights, which add £570 return.
Then there’s Crystal’s Serenity (020 7734 4404, www.mundycruising.co.uk),
but there is no availability for its Round the Horn passage, so only shorter
jaunts are available, including the homecoming from Rome to Southampton,
departing on April 19; 12 nights from £3,973.
These days, cruise lines like to trade exaggerated claims that their
passengers are getting younger by the day. Saga (0800 505030, www.sagacruising.co.uk),
though, is glad to be grey.
Its twin vessels — the Ruby and the Rose — are exclusively for those aged 50
and over, and both cast off from Southampton on January 7, one heading west,
the other east. They meet mid-cruise in Sydney — where, if you really liked
the first half, you can opt to jump ship and return on the sister ship.
Prices start at £11,586, for 109 nights on Ruby.
Time-rich but cash-poor cruisers should consider stepping aboard one of the
four working freighters of the British-owned Bank Line (020 7575 6484, www.aws.co.uk),
which each carry a dozen passengers and sail roughly once a month throughout
the year. Prices start at £6,300 for 105-110 days, and are the same for
single travellers as for those sharing a cabin. Bear in mind, though, that
despite all those days at sea, freighters don’t offer much in the way of
entertainment — you’d better hope that those 11 other passengers are fun.
- For more details on round-the-world cruising, visit
www.discover-cruises.co.uk.
