Cruise Deals

Brand new £500 million cruise ship Celebrity Eclipse returned to the UK last night carrying more than 2,000 holidaymakers who had been stranded in Spain. By this morning, most of those passengers should have finally reached home and the ship has been scrubbed and polished for a very important date . . . her naming eremony. Just two weeks after prima ballerina Darcey Bussell named P&O's Azura in Southampton, round-the-world yachtswoman - and breast cancer survivor - Emma Pontin is godmother to the Eclipse, which will be sailing from the UK throughout the summer. Sister ship Celebrity Equinox was named [...]

It's almost that time of year when cruise ships start returning to Alaska, although there are fewer of them this year as operators have pulled out in protest at a $50-per-passenger tax first introduced in 2006. The state legislature is considering a plan to reduce the tax, and cruise numbers are likely to increase again if it is approved. Passenger numbers will be down by 142,000 this year, but there are still some bargains to be had - and the spectacular scenery and wildlife is well worth the journey. First, a holiday combining 10 nights on board the 2,000-passenger Coral [...]

Just two weeks from today, ballerina Darcey Bussell will be on Champagne-smashing duty at the launch of P&O's new super-liner, Azura, in Southampton. And this week, P&O announced details of the cruises planned for the first season of Adonia, the next ship to join their fleet, from May next year. The two ships are at opposite ends of the market. Azura will carry more than 3,000 passengers and the ship will feature a restaurant masterminded by Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochhar, and a wine bar with a list selected by TV's Olly Smith. Adonia, currently sailing as Royal Princess - and [...]

One of the best ways to see the glorious sights of the fjords is by sailing on one of the Norwegian Coastal Express ships of the Hurtigruten fleet. They are as comfortable as cruise ships, but they also perform an invaluable function carrying cars, cargo and mail to remote ports up and down the rugged coast. Here's a rare opportunity to sail one of these ships from the UK. MS Fram leaves Dover on April 9 and sails to Stavanger and on to 12 fjords - including the spectacular Hardangerfjord and Geirangerfjord. There are visits to the charming art nouveau [...]

Take a 14-night cruise to the Mediterranean on board P&O's Ventura - and as an added bonus, you'll get a glimpse of sister ship Azura in port at Southampton for her naming ceremony. Ventura's cruise leaves the port on April 10 and sails to Lisbon, Palma, Barcelona, Cannes, Livorno, Rome and Gibraltar. Fares, which start at £1,025 per person based on two sharing a balcony stateroom, include £100 per adult on-board credit. Prefer to sail on the fleet's newest ship? Then cruise on Azura from Southampton to Malaga, Katakolon, Corfu, Dubrovnik, Venice, Korcula and Gibraltar. The 16-night voyage departs on [...]

Costa Serena is currently starring on TV in the behind-the-scenes documentary series Cruise Ship Diaries, showing on the National Geographic channel, and you could be on board next month. An 11-night cruise departs from Savona, in north-west Italy, on March 25, and calls at Barcelona, and Casablanca, before heading to the Canary Islands to visit Arrecife on Lanzarote, Santa Cruz on Tenerife, and Funchal, Madeira. Then it's on to Malaga and back to Savona. Fares from £549 per person for an inside cabin (flights extra). Go to www.costacruises.co.uk or call 0845 351 0552. Sailing from the UK, with no flights [...]