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Telegraph
15-04-2025
- Telegraph
The 25 best luxury cruises to book now
I'm lounging lazily on the deck of a plush mega-yacht when a charming waiter appears, asking to polish my sunglasses. Another pops up proffering a tray of tempting frozen fruit kebabs, followed by a third who offers to spray me with suntan lotion. In my languid state, I think I've gone to heaven, but then I remember I'm on a luxury cruise where personalised service promises first-rate pampering from start to finish. With pocket-size ships numbering guests in hundreds (or less), rather than thousands, it's not surprising more cruisers covet such effortless style. Not only do these enclaves bring a rarefied air of exclusivity while visiting smaller ports off-limits to larger monoliths, they promise the luxury of space where you can revel in swanky suites with your own butler, and indulge in gourmet dining and free-flowing champagne. Such lavish frills generally come as standard, and excursions may be thrown in too, proving that while guests pay more to get aboard in the first place, lower onboard bills ensure they pay less to get off. If you don't want to totally push the boat out, premium-plus lines have a similarly upscale flavour, but their ships tend to be a touch larger and with less included in the fare. Best mega-yachts Unspoilt Caribbean 'It's Yachting, not Cruising' is the mantra of SeaDream Yacht Club, which offers ultimate escapes on its two 112-guest classic mega-yachts that nose into the Caribbean's sleepy bays. Dining al fresco, sleeping on deck under the stars, and racing across the waves on jet-skis are treats guests can enjoy while sailing to the Grenadine isles of Mayreau and Bequia enroute to Martinique and St Lucia. SeaDream Yacht Club offers a one-week Glorious Grenadines round-trip voyage from Barbados, from £4,093pp; departs November 23 2025. Dreamy South Pacific Drift on trade winds among the shimmering peacock-blue lagoons of French Polynesia aboard the mega-yachts of premium-plus line Windstar Cruises. The 312 guests on Star Breeze can snorkel through the kaleidoscopic waters of Bora Bora which are filled with dazzling rainbows of tropical fish, trek through tropical rainforest on Moorea and be castaways for the day on a swish private island getaway. Windstar Cruises offers a seven-night Dreams of Tahiti round-trip voyage from Papeete, from £3,715pp; departs October 2 2025. French Riviera glamour Get one over on the jet-setters who pose and preen along the glitzy Cote d'Azur by sailing in on Luminara, the newest head-turner from the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection which debuts this July. It's all cool lines, sophisticated spaces with five gourmet restaurants and even a wine vault onboard this superyacht which guarantees a stylish entrance to Monte Carlo, Cannes and Portofino. Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection offers a one-week sailing from Civitavecchia (Rome) to Barcelona from £10,500pp; departs August 14 2025. Venetian class Sailing past the bell towers and piazzas of Venice is a rare treat now reserved only for the smallest ships, and sumptuous square rigger Sea Cloud Spirit is one of them. Holding 136 guests, this windjammer was built in 2021 but brings alive the golden age of sail. Let the wind speed you along the Croatian coast to enchanting Hvar and Korcula, crowned by the walled wonders of Dubrovnik. Sea Cloud Cruises offers a nine-night round-trip voyage from Venice from £5,823pp; departs August 11 2025. West Indies yachting Emerald Cruises may be known for river voyages, but with their sleek lines, its three luxury yachts certainly look the part. Carrying just 100 passengers, the ambience is reassuringly intimate and upscale. Lounge around Emerald Sakara's infinity pool or take out water toys from its marina as you meander to the Caribbean's atmospheric isles of Anguilla, St Barts, and Nevis. Emerald Cruises offers a one-week Eastern Caribbean voyage from Barbados to St Martin from £4,608pp, including air credit; departs November 22 2025. Best luxury lines Baltic exploration Since relaunching in 2023 under the ownership of the A&K Travel Group, Crystal's newly-refurbished ships Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony have made a triumphant return. Experience the former for yourself on this Baltic voyage to sample Stockholm's varied flavours on a foodie exploration, step out on a walking tour of Helsinki or take to two wheels for a coastal cycling adventure in Tallinn. Crystal offers an eight-night Baltics & Northern Europe cruise from Stockholm to Copenhagen from £5,050pp; departs July 29 2025. Ultimate Japan Regent Seven Seas Cruises lays claim to being the most all-inclusive line with extras such as flights, unlimited excursions and overnight hotel stays covered by the fare. All very useful on this voyage to the Land of the Rising Sun where temples, street markets, and delicate gardens complement the extravagant surroundings of Seven Seas Explorer, trumpeted as the world's most luxurious ship when it launched in 2016. RSSC offers an 11-night round-trip voyage from Tokyo from £6,630pp; departs October 17 2025. Going Greek A new kid on the luxury block is Explora Journeys, an upscale off-shoot of cruising giant MSC Cruises, winning plaudits for its elegant ships. This line is all about slipping beneath the surface of the places it visits. Join Explora I to discover a restored Grecian village in the mountains of Thessaloniki, hike the centaur paths of Pelion in Volos and discover the monastic life of nuns in Patmos. Explora Journeys offers a one-week voyage from Athens to Istanbul from £3,710pp; departing May 24 2025. A natural choice for the Azores If you're a luxury lover who isn't acquainted with German line Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, you should be. Its flagship Europa 2 has long been cited as the world's best, epitomising cool, contemporary chic with exquisite gourmet restaurants and a vast spa. While aimed at German speakers, English is spoken on international departures, such as this one that combines Madeira's floral bounty with the untamed spirit of the Azores. Hapag-Lloyd Cruises offers an 11-night Perfect Portugal round-trip voyage from Lisbon from £4,995pp; departing October 22 2025. A swig of Scottish spirit This heritage-themed voyage aboard 48-guest Hebridean Princess shadows the spirit of Bonnie Prince Charlie as it weaves through the Scottish Isles to Eriskay and the Jacobite Trail, marking his arrival on Scottish soil. No doubt there will be a wee dram or two of Scotland's amber nectar during a week of walks, seal-spotting boat trips, museum visits and a tweed-weaving demonstration on the isle of Harris. Hebridean Island Cruises offers a seven-night round-trip Highland and Island Heritage cruise from Oban from £6,290pp; departing July 15 2025. Upscale adventures in Alaska The vast wilderness of Alaska, famously known as America's Last Frontier, is best explored by sea. Silversea's ground-breaking Silver Nova, which set a new standard in ship design with its asymmetrical layout, adds its own slice of luxury to a host of adventures with floatplanes soaring across the fjords, off-road buggy rides charging along old logging tracks and ziplines whisking daredevils across the rainforest canopy. Silversea offers a 14-night round-trip voyage from Vancouver to Alaska from £8,600; departing June 5 2025. Best luxury expeditions Helicopters in Antarctica Scenic's two Discovery Yachts marry the hi-tech thrills of two onboard helicopters and a submersible with butler service, a swathe of dining experiences and a spa and wellness suite. Just the ticket for warming up after meeting penguins among the icebergs of Antarctica's Ross Sea – one of the few sailings departing Australia for the White Continent's eastern side. Scenic offers a 24-day Antarctica sailing from Hobart, Tasmania, to Dunedin, New Zealand, from £24,644pp; departing January 6 2026. Manta rays in Raja Ampat Relish the thrill of sharing crystalline waters around the remote Indonesian hideaways of Raja Ampat with turtles, giant manta rays and, if you're lucky, whale sharks. All-suite Aqua Blu carries just 30 guests and has 30 crew, so attentive service is guaranteed as you potter through the dramatic karst outcrops and atolls, enjoying haute cuisine dining and cocktails while luxuriating in the hot tub. Aqua Expeditions offers a one-week round-trip voyage from Sorong in West Papua, from £8,270pp; departing January 3 2026. Snorkel with sealions in the Galapagos Nothing else compares to this natural wonderland where sea lions become your snorkelling playmates, penguins zip past and hammerhead sharks skulk in the depths. Cruises accentuate the unique flavours of the islands in this Ecuadorian archipelago where creatures famously have no fear of humans. While exploring them on all-suite mega-yacht Celebrity Flora, based here year-round, spend the night on deck with its overnight glamping experience. Celebrity Cruises offers a one-week cruise with three nights in Quito, from £7,708pp, departing August 8 2025. Cruise to the top of the world Acclaimed as the world's only luxury icebreaker, Le Commandant Charcot is a lean, mean ice-crunching machine. Be among the few to cruise through the Arctic ice floes to the geographic North Pole in the heart of polar bear country. Experience this harsh but beautiful environment on hiking expeditions, while snow-shoeing and, for those brave enough, by taking the Polar plunge into icy waters. Ponant Explorations offers a 15-night round-trip voyage from Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen, to the North Pole from £37,130pp; departing August 6 2025. Natural wonders of the Kimberley The remote Kimberley region offers a wild and rugged face of Australia; one of towering henna-hued cliffs, tiger-striped rock formations, Aboriginal art and the unrelenting power of some of the world's mightiest tides that create the extraordinary phenomenon of horizontal waterfalls. Seabourn Pursuit's 264 guests can explore on its fleet of Zodiac boats, kayaks and two submersibles, but helicopter rides and flight-seeing excursions heighten the sense of adventure. Seabourn offers an 11-night voyage from Darwin to Broome from £11,999pp; departing August 13 2025. River cruises Family fun on the Danube Thought river cruises were just for grown-ups? Think again. Uniworld's Generations sailings dial up the fun for all ages with family-friendly departures on palatial-style river ships. Take your little darlings on a magical history tour of Vienna, or give them a right royal dressing up at the Schonbrunn Palace where prince and princess outfits await. Hiking, biking and paddleboarding pump up the action. Uniworld offers one-week Generations Danube sailings between Budapest and Passau from from £3,199pp; departing July 20 & 27 2025. Going Dutch in style If you're quick, you can catch the spring blooms of the Netherlands where millions of flowers paint the landscape in a riot of colour that would make the Old Dutch Masters proud. Their masterpieces are displayed in Amsterdam's galleries, and while this Tauck cruise calls at the city, it is the famous floral displays of the Keukenhof Gardens that are the real showstoppers on this voyage. Tauck offers a nine-day Belgium and Holland cruise from Brussels to Amsterdam from £4,890pp; departing April 9 2025. Chobe River safari Go wild for this floating safari into the African wilderness aboard the Zambezi Queen to spot prowling lions and bathing elephants on boat trips and game drives. Romantic sundowners and a festive African-themed dinner add to the roll-call of memorable moments, helped by unforgettable cocktails and dinner aboard a vintage steam train at Victoria Falls. AmaWaterways offers a nine-night Africa package with a four-night cruise on the Chobe River plus stays in Cape Town and Victoria Falls, from £10,366pp; departing November 21 2025. Barging through Champagne Ease into life's slow lane with Les Bateaux Belmond's seven opulent barges that sail at snail's pace along French waterways on culinary adventures through the likes of Burgundy, Champagne and Provence. Haute cuisine, heightened service and stylish interiors are hallmarks of this fleet; some have heated pools and one even has a grand piano that's a surefire hit for singalongs and refined recitals. Belmond offers a six-night private charter of Coquelicot in Champagne from £62,390 for up to six guests; departing August 3 2025. Floating markets on the Mekong French colonial designs with Art Deco hints mark the ornate interiors of Heritage Line's riverboat Jayavarman, whose 27 cabins are individually themed. Outside, the sundeck and small pool are perfect vantage points for views of riverside villages and floating markets along this stretch of the Mekong in Cambodia. Unforgettable Travel offers a 10-night Saigon to Angkor Wat in Style private tour comprising the three-night Mekong cruise and stays in Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, from £3,795pp; departing January 15 2026. Romance of the Nile Live like a pharaoh on a timeless Nile voyage watching thousands of years of history ebb by from the comfort of your luxe day bed. It's a pampered life on the Art Deco-themed Sanctuary Sun Boat IV whose plush surroundings are matched by the pampering crew as you drift from Aswan to Luxor in this ancient land of tombs and temples. Mundy Cruising offers a three-night stay in Cairo followed by a four-night cruise from Aswan to Luxor, from £5,495pp including flights; departing September 7 2025. Premium Plus Southern Africa's natural bounty Say farewell to winter chills as boutique ship Azamara Pursuit transports you into the warming embrace of South Africa and its rich profusion of wildlife and tribal culture. Stand tall with giraffes on walking tours, spy feathered friends at Penguin Island and track the Big 5 on safari drives. Look out for Madagascar's famous lemurs and soak up African arts and music showcased at Azamara's signature AzAmazing evening. Azamara Cruises offers a 15-night sailing from Cape Town to Mauritius from £3,769pp; departing December 20 2025. South America's Latin beat This sailing moves to the tango rhythms of Buenos Aires, where gauchos rule and Eva Peron's legacy reigns, along with Rio de Janeiro's salsa beat which sizzles with the spirit of Carnival. Hone your artistic skills on Oceania's 1,250 passenger ship Marina, with its artist's studio and cookery school in between cycling tours of Montevideo and schooner trips in Brazil's so-called St Tropez, Buzios. Oceania Cruises offers a 12-night Bounty of Brazil sailing from Buenos Aires to Rio from £2,889pp; departing January 10 2026. America's revolutionary spirit Turn leaf-peepers amid the autumnal colours of North America's Eastern Seaboard as 930-passenger Viking Mars follows a coastline filled with the heritage of the New World, from the Gallic culture of Quebec to the maritime history of Halifax. Relive Boston's revolutionary past along the city's Freedom Trail and trace the steps of the first settlers who arrived on the Mayflower at Plymouth. Viking's
National Geographic
28-01-2025
- National Geographic
What a family meal looks like in the Grenadines
A family meal on the Grenadine island of Bequia zings with Caribbean flavours, from the lime and cayenne-enhanced fried fish to the local cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and ginger that make meats, curries and rice sing of the sunshine. This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). All is quiet in the market this morning. It's 8am and apart from a couple of boys stick-and-line fishing off the dockside, there are few signs of life in Bequia's harbour.'Yeah, it can be a slow start on Saturdays,' says Ruth. Some much-needed R & R for me, perhaps. Yesterday evening, when the final ferry of the day deposited me into Port Elizabeth from the neighbouring island of St Vincent, things were lively. Stalls lining the boardwalk to Princess Margaret Beach were touting coconuts, souvenirs and soursop ice lollies. Spiced rum punch was being pumped out of waterfront bar Rendezvous Lounge, along with a reggae version of Neil Diamond's I am... I Said at a volume so loud it could be felt as much as heard — only to be bested by the arrival of a flatbed truck carrying a 10ft speaker stack blasting out pavement-shaking dub and soca. Princess Margaret Beach was named after the British royal who enjoyed swimming here in the 1950s. Photograph by Karolina Wiercigroch But, it seems, this morning it's all about lie-ins — or grocery shopping if you know where to go. My host, Ruth Hinkson, leads me to a cart tucked away by the portside 'Parliament', where people stand around waiting for arrivals and departures. It's so called, Ruth says with a smile, 'because it's where all the big stuff is discussed'. She buys small spring onions, passionfruit and coconut along with 'flavour peppers', mild capsicums that will bring a customary Caribbean warmth to the dishes I'm invited to share at her mother's house today. Alyssa DeShong, Ruth's niece, bags the goods before we duck under the shade of some almond trees, away from the already fierce morning sun. Passing a clutch of 19th-century clapboard houses, all wood-shingle roofs and gingerbread latticework trimmings, we reach T & C Fruits and Vegetables. Inside the small shack, owner Carlo Bracket selects the best of his plantain from ceiling-strung bunches, apologising that he's low on stock while he awaits the first ferry from St Vincent. As if on command, the big boat honks its arrival, bringing with it the ginger, dasheen, arrowroot and other produce that thrives in the fertile volcanic soils of Bequia's neighbouring island. It has also brought the butcher. 'He's here!' says Ruth, and we follow two men walking off the ferry shouldering a bath-sized ice box. The 32 islands and cays that make up St Vincent & the Grenadines, strung through the eastern Caribbean Sea between Grenada and St Lucia, are closely interlinked by trade, culture and an efficient network of ferries and cargo ships. St Vincent, the nation's largest and most populous island, is the hub, home to a market that feeds much of the Lesser Antilles, including Barbados. Having stocked up at the market in St Vincent, Bequian butcher Francis Davis sets up his block portside, where he cuts Ruth some pork chops and goat meat that her mum, Angela Hinkson, will cook for our lunch's centrepiece curry. 'Grandma's goat curry is legendary,' says Alyssa. Ruth nods, adding that some years ago, Angela was even asked to cook it at a function for the archipelago's long-standing prime minister, Ralph Gonsalves. Angela takes great care seasoning the fragrant goat curry with meat from the local market. Photograph by Karolina Wiercigroch Shopping complete, we hop in one of the pick-up trucks with benches that serve as taxis to ascend the hills away from the port. Views of Admiralty Bay's pincer-like promontory protecting the harbour and half-moons of white sand are perfectly framed in the truck's open back. As we round the hairpin bends up to the Hinkson family's house in the Spring district, the temperature cools and the air thickens with damp woody scents from the surrounding forest, laced with the heady sweet-floral perfume of cinnamon and ylang-ylang trees. The road tunnels through the vine-woven forest, emerging into a sunlit canyon where we ascend the steep driveway to Angela's house. The handsome hillside villa has a wraparound first-floor terrace, under which we meet family friend Chippy, who's cleaning some fish in a bucket of water. 'Jackfish — part of our national dish when they're served with breadfruit,' says the fisherman, otherwise known as Ricardo Richards. 'I caught them just off Balliceaux,' he says pointing towards the island's surf-battered windward coast, and the small Grenadine island beyond. I follow him upstairs to the kitchen, where he coats his catch in slices of fresh chilli and garlic, cayenne pepper and a local brand 'all-purpose fish seasoning' that's a combination of various spices including paprika, nutmeg, coriander, cumin and thyme. Lots of prep is already underway. Marinades and seasonings are stacked up on the island around which the roomy kitchen centres, including a hefty litre bottle that once held ketchup and now contains 'green sauce', the ubiquitous Caribbean marinade. 'It's all from my garden,' says Angela, appearing in the kitchen. 'Parsley, chives, thyme, sweet pepper, garlic. No vinegar. You only add vinegar when you're making hot sauce,' she says. Quincy Small and local fisherman friend Chippy are carving some coconuts for a refreshment with the meal. Photograph by Karolina Wiercigroch Jackfish is one part of the Bequian national dish served with breadfruit. Photograph by Karolina Wiercigroch Like the adjoining living room, the kitchen has soaring, pitched ceilings and is decked out in nautical blues and whites, with shelves displaying the model boats Bequia's craftsmen are known for. A long tradition of boat building — from scale models to full-size schooners and whalers — and ever-present sea breezes make the island a regional hub for sailing. From the ground floor of the house, Angela runs a craft shop that opens intermittently, selling model ships and silk-screen print fabric to cruise ship visitors. The kitchen opens on one side to the garden and on the other to the living room and terrace, where a group of boys now arrive, led by Ruth's 19-year-old son, Camillo. 'The minute that pot pops out, he pops in,' Angela says, laughing. Her house, it seems, is the social centre of the Spring neighbourhood. Another of her grandsons, 21-year-old Tyler, parks himself on a living room sofa while his friend, Happy Feet (aka Quency Small, but so called for his dance skills), heads to the terrace to open some coconuts for us to drink. Ciel, the youngest grandchild at six years old, charges out of a back room to pester Camillo for candy. Camillo is unmoved, gently leading her to watch Ruth prepare the tri tri cakes. Tiny juvenile whitebait are a delicacy in St Vincent & the Grenadines; they're battered and fried into tri tri cake patties. 'We rinse them with water, lemon and lime, which removes the strongest fishy flavour,' says Camillo. 'I learnt to make them when I was about 15, by watching Granny.' Ruth adds a small amount of finely diced garlic, onions and green pepper to the bowl of tri tri, combining this with fish seasoning, curry powder, baking powder and flour. 'The citrussy water from the fish makes a thick batter,' she says, mixing it together. Meanwhile, Chippy is cutting pork off the bone to make a stew, adding green sauce, cayenne, minced garlic and white onion, plus black, green and flavour pepper, along with thyme from the garden. He sets this aside and turns back to the jackfish, coating them lightly in flour seasoned with cayenne and black pepper, chilli and salt, before frying them on a high flame. 'You want crisp skin.' he says. 'Ten minutes each side, but rotate constantly.' It's all go now, everyone jostling around the kitchen island and six-ring hob. Chippy browns the pork, adding sugar, which melts and smokes, plus cloves 'for a little flair'. Camillo chops spring onions, garlic and flavour pepper, which Angela adds to the goat that's marinating in green sauce and Guyana curry powder — a blend of Indian and Caribbean spices. Camillo then dashes outside to get some 'cinnamon bush' (allspice) leaves, which he crushes and adds to the pot, releasing a mosaic of smells with top notes of lime, clove and nutmeg. 'It's like all the island spices in one plant,' says Ruth. 'We add it to many things like porridge and tea.' Camillo says he likes it in coffee. 'That's just weird,' laughs Ruth. Angela stirs water into the curry pot. 'You need to wait for it to boil off, but don't let it dry out,' she says. 'Before, we didn't have this.' She prods her spoon at the green pepper in the pot, a recent ingredient addition to island cuisine. 'We used to use bird peppers; they grow by the house.' She rolls her eyes to indicate the chillies' heat. Lunch on Bequia is a family affair and wouldn't be complete without a colourful arrangement of dishes ranging from jackfish to tri-tri cake fritters. Photograph by Karolina Wiercigroch The kitchen is now heady with spices and steam, pots bubbling, pans smoking. 'When I'm alone, I eat simple,' Angela tells me. 'Maybe some boiled fish and vegetables. Fruit from the garden. But when the boys come, I make more of a spread.' And a spread it certainly is, soon laid out on the kitchen island, people serving themselves. The noise drops to the sound of cutlery clacking, the concentrated work of making yourself the best plate. The food is a rainbow of Caribbean colours: reds and yellows, earthy browns and deep vegetal greens. Lacking a glass, I grab an empty jam jar and pour myself some fresh passionfruit and lime juice, gaining a nod of approval from Angela. 'Local style,' she smiles Filing out to the balcony, we sit wherever we find a spot and dig in, the roof overhead cracking in the sun. The tri tri cakes — soft inside, golden-crisp outside — are salty with a hint of spice. The jackfish are crisp, zesty with lime and served with salty fried plantain. I marvel at the pork, hot and richly spiced with a molasses-like coating of sauce that has a Christmassy timbre. The showstopper, though, is the goat; silky and tender, with a curry sauce that's almost sweet, eliciting mutters of appreciation and a 'thank you, sister' from Chippy. The eating is done in minutes, but the postprandial chat — of old recipes and the abundance of cashew, breadfruit, mango and coconut in the garden — goes on, literally, until the cows come home. A trio from the family's 20-strong herd hoof up the hillside, caramel coats gleaming in the setting sun. And with that, I hear the last ferry of the day honking its approach, calling me back to St Vincent. I leave with a vociferous round of goodbyes, intermingled with some washing-up debate over who owns the good meat knife and Ciel once again clamouring for candy. How To Do It: has doubles from US$120 (£95), B&B. Virgin Atlantic flies to St Vincent (via Barbados), from which frequent ferries and flights go to nearby Bequia. Spring Hotel has doubles from US$120 (£95), B&B. Food by National Geographic Traveller (UK) To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click Published in Issue 26 (winter 2024) of(UK)To subscribe to(UK) magazine click here . (Available in select countries only).
