Cruise International

WELCOME TO A NEW-LOOK CRUISE INTERNATIONAL, where we’re getting a head-start on this year’s holiday planning with a host of new features designed to inspire your next escape. Thank you to the many thousands who kindly answered our reader survey last autumn, where we asked what you love about the magazine and which topics you’d like to see more of. We combed through every single one of your comments, and now we’re delighted to share the results! The pages that follow are even more packed with stories from your favourite cruise destinations including France, Spain, the Netherlands and Norwegian fjords, and even as far afield as the US, Caribbean and Australia. Plus there’s expert advice to help you book the best deals, the latest travel news from around the world, and…

Every winter, cruise ships make frequent calls into the Caribbean island of St Lucia so passengers can admire its natural splendour, especially its famous twin volcanic peaks, the Pitons, along with lush rainforest and classic beaches with their warm, turquoise waters. Come summer there is another spectacular attraction, this time man-made, that also gets visitors reaching for their cameras. A traditional celebration that’s been shaking up the streets for more than 75 years, the St Lucia Carnival (July 1-19) is an eye-popping frenzy of beauty pageants, costumed parades, thunderous steel pan orchestras and hotly contested soca and calypso competitions. With performers sporting witty names like Q-Pid and Ezra DaFunMachine, flamboyance rules in a dazzling explosion of sequins and feathers that boils down to one life-affirming question: is there anything more…

Visitors have been flocking to Japan since it reopened its borders, and there are numerous exciting Japan cruise itineraries launching in 2023. Unsurprisingly, many provide brilliant opportunities to admire its famous springtime cherry blossom (sakura) displays. Sailing out of Tokyo? Ueno Park and Yoyogi Park are two of the capital’s most popular cherry blossom-spotting destinations. In Osaka, try heading to Osaka Castle – its grounds have more than 3,000 cherry trees. Fukuoka is another great destination, and features on the new voyages offered by Ponant (which now has expedition sailings to Japan’s southern islands, including Okinawa), Scenic and Celebrity Cruises. But it’s Ponant’s new Osaka to Fukuoka sailings we’re most excited about – Osaka is famous for its food scene as well as its cherry blossoms, and Fukuoka is a…

VARIETY CRUISES TAKES TO TAHITI Small-ship line Variety Cruises has kicked off its debut season in Tahiti with a series of eight and 11-day sailings on the two-masted motorsailer Panorama II, which holds just 49 guests. Moor up at tiny ports of call where huge forested peaks overlook pristine white sands, with remote spots like Makatea, Taha’a, Moorea and Raiatea on the agenda, from €1,890 (varietycruises.com). RIVERSIDE REVIVES FORMER CRYSTAL SHIPS Riverside Luxury Cruises, the new line that launched late last year, has expanded its fleet with four more ships sailing on Europe’s rivers from this April. They are all former Crystal Cruises river vessels, acquired when the line collapsed last year (although the brand name and ocean ships live on under the new ownership of the A&K Travel Group). The fleet began with…

FITNESS X-PERIENCE Don’t let your fitness regime fall away on holiday. Keep it going or start a fresh activity thanks to Princess Cruises’ new partnership with Xponential Fitness. From February 20, guests upgrading to Princess Plus (£50 per day, including drinks, tips, Wi-Fi and other extras) get two classes per cruise, while those on Princess Premier (£65) have unlimited access. And if you find an activity you enjoy, you can continue back on land with a discounted XPass subscription (princess.com). Style on board Sharpen up your style this spring with our tips on must-pack items for your next cruise adventure RINGANA FRESH TRAVEL SET Keep your skincare fresh with these travel-sized toiletries for face and body, small enough to go in hand luggage (€66.90, ringana.com). FLORIS NEROLI VOYAGE EAU DE PARFUM Notes of bitter orange neroli, lemon…

FINE DINING ON EXPLORA New luxury line Explora Journeys has developed signature dishes to debut on its first ship, Explora I, when it departs from Southampton on its maiden voyage on July 17. The ship will feature six restaurants among 18 food and beverage venues, plus curated wine and cocktail menus. Highlights include grilled octopus and Taggiasca olives at the Med Yacht Club (above), Wagyu beef tataki at Japanese restaurant Sakura and grilled 30-day-aged prime rib at Marble & Co Grill, which is best accompanied by the sommelier’s recommendation from its well-stocked wine cellar (explorajourneys.com). 2.3 MILLION Visitors have passed through Bordeaux's Cite du Vin – a museum celebrating the heritage of wine – since it opened in 2016 DUTCH COURAGE Holland America Line has created an exclusive gin label to be served on board…