Putting a cruise-related spin on a Christmas classic, we’ve put our heads together and come up with 12 great cruise itineraries for 2013
This week we wanted to do something slightly different and Christmas-themed. Rather than just blast through a bunch of great festive destinations or recommended Christmas cruises, we decided to put a cruise-related twist on an old Christmas favourite. We also found it’s a was pretty good way of showcasing some fantastic cruises departing throughout 2013 with a variety of different cruise lines. So without further ado, we’d like to present our very own ’12 Days of Christmas’!
(Be warned…some of these links are rather tenuous….)
12 Drummers drumming
Theme cruises are a great choice of holiday because they let you share your passions with likeminded cruisers as well as see some of the world’s top cruise destinations. If you’re of a musical persuasion then Crystal Cruises have just the cruise for you in 2013 with this special Big Band theme cruise:
Transatlantic : 9th December 2013 (25nts): Barcelona to Miami on Crystal Serenity Click here for more information
11 Pipers piping
Head to the land of the bag-pipes with Hebridean in 2013. They have a wide variety of itineraries that take in the extraordinary beauty of Scotland and the Hebrides and are the perfect choice if you’re looking for a more rural type of cruise holiday. You can view all their itineraries here.
10 Lords are leaping
This is a good one: Crystal Cruises is offering their guests the opportunity to explore the ‘Hobbiton’ set used in the Lord of the Rings films and the trilogies upcoming prequel, ‘The Hobbit’. Offered as an excursion when Crystal Serenity visits Tauranga in New Zealand, guests will be given a guided tour followed by dinner in the Green Dragon Inn. Click here for more details.
9 Ladies dancing
Next year P&O Cruises is hosting a number of Strictly Come Dancing theme cruises where guests will be joined by a number of judges and contestants from the hit TV show. These are sure to be something of a hot ticket, so make sure you reserve your place early.
Dates available:
Azura – 11th May 2013, 31st May 2013, 1st October 2013
Aurora – 18th June 2013
Ventura – 1st July 2013
Arcadia – 4th August 2013
Oceana – 1st September 2013
8 Maids are milking
With so many European cities home to incredible galleries and museums, river cruises really are a fantastic choice of holiday for art lovers. If you’re thinking of a river cruise in 2013 that stops in Amsterdam – such as the 2 we’ve selected below – then make sure you take a trip to the Rijksmuseum where you’ll be able to see Johannes Vermeer’s ‘The Milkmaid’ painting close-up. Painted around the mid 1600’s, ‘The Milkmaid’ is lauded as one of the Riijksmuseum’s “finest attractions”.
AmaWaterways: 2nd April 2013 (7nts) – Amsterdam roundtrip from £1436pp
APT River Cruises: 14th September 2013 (14nts): Amsterdam to Budapest – Call 0800 008 6677 for latest prices!
7 Swans-a-swimming
In 2013 Swan Hellenic will be giving their guests the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of ancient civilisations on their 15-day ‘By Sea to Petra’ cruise which departs on the 13th March 2013. Along the way you’ll enjoy inspiring shore excursions in Oman, Egypt and Jordan. Fares start from just £1995 per person. For more details on the full itinerary, please click here.
6 Geese are laying
Did you know that the UK’s wild geese population heads south in an effort to escape the cold during the winter months? Well, you do now – so why not join them by booking yourself on to a Caribbean cruise departing from Southampton in 2013 with these 2 great offers:
P&O Cruises: 2nd January 2013 (35nts) – Southampton Roundtrip from £2999pp
Cunard: 15th December 2013 (19nts) – Southampton to New York from £2389pp
5 Gold rings
London’s Olympic summer might seem a long time ago now winter is here but the sight of the iconic Olympic logo emblazoned across Tower Bridge will live long in the memory for many. Next year, the Olympic rings won’t be there but Silversea Cruises will be, offering 2 itineraries that start their journey by passing under the famous bridge:
17th July 2013 (18 days) – Silver Cloud – London Bridge roundtrip from £6050pp
4th August 2013 (9 days) – Silver Cloud – London Bridge to Reykjavik from £3450pp
4 Calling birds
If you’re an ornithology enthusiast or just a casual bird-watcher,then there’s few better places to catch a glimpse of some of the world’s most exotic species than Costa Rica. Explore this enchanting destination with Windstar Cruises in 2013:
Windstar Cruises: 9th February 2013 (7nts) – Puerto Caldera to Colon- Call 0800 008 6677 for our latest prices!
3 French Hens
French flag ship cruise line La Compagnie du Ponant offers a wide range of exciting itineraries and no shortage of excellent dining options. Here’s a sunny Mediterranean voyage to whet your appetite:
Mediterranean – 1st July 2013 (7nts): Nice roundtrip on Le Ponant from just £2222pp
2 Turtle Doves
If you’ve ever fancied a spot of snorkelling whilst being surrounded by some of the world’s most exotic marine life – including turtles – then make sure you check out Silversea’s Silver Galapagos itineraries. The expedition-style vessel is the latest addition to the luxury cruise line’s fleet and commences it’s service in winter 2013 with a collection of 7-night Galapagos Island cruises. You can view all the available cruises here.
(Ok, so we drew a blank with the dove bit)
And a partridge in a pear tree!
Situated off the coast of Antigua, Prickly Pear Island is a stunningly beautiful uninhabited island that selected cruise lines offer on their itineraries. For a touch of real paradise, take a look at these Seabourn cruise itineraries that visit Prickly Pear Island in 2013:
Caribbean Hideaways: 30th March 2013 (7nts) – Charlotte Amalie roundtrip on Seabourn Legend from £1615pp
Caribbean In Depth: 23rd November 2013 (14nts) – Philipsburg roundtrip on Seabourn Spirit from £3231pp
Caribbean Yacht Harbours: 14th December 2013 (7nts) – Bridgetown to Philipsburg on Seabourn Spirit from £1764pp