It’s not too late to grab a bargain cruise for half term, though you might have to pinch a day or two of school time at the beginning or end to make the most of these last-minute bargains. Tell the head teacher it’s educational to travel to New England in the fall, or to be one of the first passengers on board Cunard’s brand new Queen Elizabeth.
Learn how leaves change colour in the autumn on a nine-night cruise to Canada and New England on board Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas. Fly to Boston, then it’s on to Portland, Maine, Bar Harbor, St John, New Brunswick and Halifax, Nova Scotia then back to Boston. Fare for an inside cabin is £1,029 pp including flights from London and transfers; upgrade to a balcony for £270. Go to www.iglucruise.com or call 020 8544 6447.
Study ocean currents on P&O’s family-friendly Ventura as the ship leaves Europe behind to start a winter season in the Caribbean. Sail from Southampton on October 22 and make a quick visit to Tenerife before spending five days crossing the Atlantic. The ship then calls at Tortola, St Maarten, St Lucia and St Vincent before arriving in Barbados for the flight home. Fares for the 15-night voyage from £1,128 including flights and £100 on-board credit. The price for a family of four (two adults and two children, under 16) would be £3,094.
A similar 14-night voyage on Oceana leaves Southampton on October 25 and visits Madeira, Antigua, St Maarten, Dominica, St Lucia and Barbados. Fares from £1,168 pp, and price for a family of four is from £4,262. Go to www.pocruises.co.uk or call 0845 3555333.
Find out how the other half live on Queen Elizabeth’s maiden Mediterranean voyage also sails from Southampton on October 25 (the true maiden, to the Canaries, leaves on October 12). This 14-night spectacular visits Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Florence, Naples, Rome, Cartagena and Gibraltar – and you would be among the very first to have travelled on the ship, which will be named by The Queen on October 11. Fares from £1,599. Go to www.readerofferstravel or call 0845 6047479.
Discover the Northern Lights (if you’re lucky) on an exploration of Norway with Hurtigruten. Join one of their coastal express ships in the UNESCO World Heritage port of Bergen on October 16, 17, 21, 24, 26 and sail north to Kirkenes, far inside the Arctic Circle, calling at 34 different ports on the way. That takes six days, and then you can turn round for the five-day voyage back again, FREE. Prices start at £1,042 per person. Flights are extra, and can be booked through Hurtigruten. For non-half termers, or accompanying grannies, there are no single supplements. Go to www.hurtigruten.co.uk or call 0844 448 7601.
Need advice on cruising? Visit The CRUISE Show at Birmingham’s NEC on October 16 and 17, or go to www.discovercruises.co.uk
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.
When will the Queen Elizabeth be in Cartagena, which date?
Queen Elizabeth left Southampton on her maiden Mediterranean voyage on Monday October 25. Today she is in Barcelona, and will visit Monte Carlo, Livorno, Civitavecchia and Naples before arriving at Cartagena on November 4. There’s a call at Gibraltar before the ship returns to Southampton on November 8.