Top cruise deals of the week

As I wrote earlier in the week, cruising continues to grow in popularity as a holiday choice – 1.65 million Brits will be sailing the oceans this year according to figures released this week by the Passenger Shipping Association.
People are finally beginning to get the message about the great value offered on board, with fine dining and all entertainment included in the fare on most ships.
Sometimes, you even get a chance to rub shoulders with a celeb or three.
DJ and king of the jungle Tony Blackburn will be on board Ocean Village for one last time before the ship leaves Europe to become part of P&O Australia’s fleet. He is sailing on the seven-night Myths and Mosaics cruise which leaves Crete on June 3 and visits Istanbul, Lesbos, Ephesus, Athens and Santorini. Fares from £685 including flights from Gatwick or Glasgow.
Saturday Kitchen chef James Martin will be cooking in his bistro on the ship during the seven-night Tapas and Togas cruise sailing from Palma, Majorca, on July 20, and visiting Tunis, Rome, Genoa, St Raphael and Barcelona. Fares from £685 including flights from Gatwick or Glasgow.
Both deals include £150 per cabin on-board spending money. There is a £15 pp supplement for dining in James Martin’s bistro. Book online at www.oceanvillageholidays.co.uk.
Members of the cast of Radio 4’s The Archers will be on board Fred Olsen’s Black Watch for a 14-night cruise to Norway’s North Cape, leaving Southampton on July 16. Ports of call in the fjords include Molde, Tromso, Honningsvåg, Alta, Narvik, Olden and Bergen and fares start at £1,041 pp for an inside cabin. Go to www.fredolsencruises.co.uk ot call 01473 742424.
There are no hidden extras in the £2,554 fare for a 14-night cruise around the British Isles on Spirit of Adventure. Departing from Dover on June 9, the ship will visit Guernsey, Dartmouth, the Scillies, Dublin, Holyhead, Belfast, Oban, Portree, Stornoway, Scrabster, Kirkwall and Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The cost includes an excursion at each port of call, insurance, and gratuities. Go to www.spiritofadventure.co.uk or call 0800 015 6984.
Sail for £97 per night on P&O’s family-friendly Ventura from Southampton to Lisbon, Palma, Barcelona, Cannes, Livorno, Rome and Gibraltar. Fares for the July 31 departure from £1,358 per person. Go to www.pocruises.co.uk or call 0845 355 5333.
Luxury boutique ship Insignia sails on a 12-night Mediterranean Grandeur cruise from Monaco to Venice, calling at Cannes, La Spezia, Livorno, Rome, Sorrento, Taormina, Corfu, Kotor, Dubrovnik and Koper. Fares for the October 29 departure (not including flights) from £999 per person. Go to www.oceaniacruises.co.uk or call 0845 505 1920.
Or you could catch the last of the autumn sun on board Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas on an 11-night cruise sailing from Southampton on November 18 and visiting Vigo, Lisbon, Tenerife, Las Palmas, Madeira and La Coruna. Fares from £870.00 per person. Go to www.royalcaribbean.co.uk or call 0844 493 2061.
New to cruising? Visit www.discover-cruises.co.uk for advice on choosing ships and destinations.