Here are two different ways to spend 12 days cruising from the UK to the Baltic. Similar itineraries, with fascinating ports of call in some of northern Europe’s most exciting cities, but contrasting ships – and there’s £400 difference in price.
Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas sails from Harwich on July 6 and visits Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, St Petersburg, Tallinn and Gothenburg. Balcony cabin fares from £1,299.
The 2,100-passenger ship was built in 2004, before RCI introduced Royal promenades and ice rinks to their vessels, but there’s an 870-seat theatre, a two-deck main restaurant (with fixed seating arrangements for dinner), the reliable Windjammer cafe, and the trademark Viking Crown bar around the base of the funnel.
NCL’s Norwegian Sun sails from Dover on July 10, and calls at Copenhagen, Warnemunde, Tallinn, St Petersburg, Helsinki and Stockholm. Inside cabins from £899.
The ship, built in 2001, carries 2,000 passengers and has been adapted to accommodate Freestyle dining (turn up when you want) and five alternative restaurants which carry an additional cover charge. There’s a 1,000-seat theatre
Both deals on offer from www.gillscruise.com, or call 08456 58 23 23.
Sail on Crown Princess from Southampton on July 29, and you could get to see a volcanic eruption. The 12-night cruise visits Reykjavik and Akureyri in Iceland, as well as Aalesund, Olden, Bergen and Geiranger in Norway. Balcony cabins from £1,079. Go to www.iglucruise.com or call 020 8544 6447.
Planning further ahead?
Join P&O’s Ventura on September 11 for a 14 night voyage from Southampton to Lisbon, Palma, Barcelona, Cannes, Livorno, Civitavecchia and Gibraltar. Fares from £1,159 per person for two sharing an inside cabin. Go to www.virginholidayscruises.co.uk or call 0871 781 9893.
Or fly from Heathrow or Gatwick for a seven-night Mediterranean cruise on MSC Fantasia; itinerary includes Genoa, Naples, Palermo, Tunis, Palma, Barcelona and Marseille. The £699 fare – available until June 25 – includes complimentary wine and canapes. Go to www.readeroffers.travel or call 0845 604 7479.
New to cruising? Visit www.discover-cruises.co.uk for advice on ships and destinations.
About the Author: John Honeywell
John Honeywell is a travel writer specialising in cruise ships and cruise travel. Winner of CLIA UK's Contribution to Cruise award 2017.
Hi there. I have to say i would never book a cruise with Princess. I have just done so for my parents for a wedding anniversary. I told them the destination i wanted and the dates, but the dates didnt match the cruise. Instead of telling me this, they allowed me to book a totally different cruise!! When the mistake was realised, they said it is my fault for getting the date wrong and would do nothing to help. My parents are no longer celebrating their Ruby Wedding anniversary on a cruise and have lost the dream!!!!!