Sunday, June 27, 2010

Cruises: cultural and specialist interest holidays

By Jane Archer Published: 11:23AM GMT 05 Mar 2010

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Previous of Images Next Cruises: informative and dilettante seductiveness holidays On-board historians can suggest insights in to the enlightenment of places on journey itineraries, together with Loutro in Crete Photo: GETTY Cruises: informative and dilettante seductiveness holidays The Queen Mary 2 sails from New York Photo: ALAMY Cruises: informative and dilettante seductiveness holidays Crystal Cruises offers culinary voyages with chefs such as Anton Mosimann

"Ciao. Mi chiamo Jane." It"s a great begin to a review in Italian. Unfortunately it would be a really short one as that is additionally usually about the sum total of my Italian.

Cruise homepage Deals of the day: cruises Where to journey in 2010 Winding down in Kerala"s backwaters Cruising the Panama Canal Oasis of the Seas: the world"s greatest journey vessel

It"s my own fault. I should have attended some-more lessons when I had the possibility on Crystal Cruises" vessel Crystal Serenity, but I was tempted afar by a speak about the story of the Balkans. You know how it is. Once you tumble at the behind of in class, you never utterly recover.

Italian lessons and story classes competence not receptive to recommendation similar to legal legal legal legal legal legal legal legal legal holiday activities, but when you are spending utterly a bit of time on a journey vessel you competence as well make use of a small of it to practice the small grey cells.

Lines such as Swan Hellenic and Spirit of Adventure have regularly had guest lecturers on board, who speak about the story and cultures of the places being visited. It tends to be complicated stuff, but I recollect once on Spirit of Adventure, cruising from Cape Town, we had a booze builder on house who brought along a brush and showed us how to shear it. He was really apologetic at the end, realising the disaster one of the organisation would have to purify up, but the assembly desired it. It was an engaging contrariety to the erotically appealing South African story speak we had had the day before.

Voyages to Antiquity (www.cruisestoantiquity.com), a new journey line, will be you do majority the same when the one ship, Aegean Odyssey, starts cruising in the Eastern Mediterranean in May 2010. The historian John Julius Norwich has thrown his name at the behind of the new try and will be concomitant a small of the cruises; alternative experts in the region"s story have not been reliable but topics are not for the faint-hearted: "Archimedes and scholarship in the exemplary world", "Mycenae, Delphi and the golden age of Athens" and "The story and archaeology of Syria".

Cunard has what it conditions an "enrichment" programme to assistance pass the prolonged days at sea on Queen Mary 2"s transatlantic crossings in in between New York and Southampton. The topics appear to be comparison at random, nonetheless on my journey we did have an art historian articulate about the story of the Statue of Liberty, so there was a New York link, and a movie historian who preoccupied us with stories of David Niven, Ingrid Bergman and Alfred Hitchcock, so there was a British integrate (with a bit of Sweden thrown in).

Increasingly, journey lines are going a step serve with themed cruises on topics such as cookery, wine, photography, gardens, song and antiques.

They are not being wholly altruistic, of course: the thought is to inspire bookings from people penetrating to aspire to their prime hobby or those usually eager by the thought of guidance something new whilst on legal legal legal legal legal legal legal legal legal holiday but who cares if it"s all free. Mostly, the activities are complimentary, nonetheless there competence be a assign for some-more hands-on workshops and themed excursions, as well as wine-tasting sessions.

CRUISE LINES THAT OFFER A CHANCE TO LEARN

Unless differently specified, prices are for journey only.

Crystal Cruises

Each year, Crystal announces the annual Wine and Food Festival, a rather grand name for a pick up of cruises that spans the creation from Australia to the Amazon. Each excursion has a tip cook on board. Anton Mosimann sealed up a integrate of years ago to share his culinary secrets and hope for a four-course signature dinner, but the cook comparison lend towards to be important usually in the United States. Meanwhile, experts from the universe of booze host talks and tastings to learn your mind and tease your ambience buds.

But there is some-more to Crystal"s special-interest cruises than cooking, with alternative themes trimming from conform and movie to party and denunciation classes. Sign up for subsequent December"s 10-day transatlantic outing from Lisbon to Miami if you similar to big-band music, or for a 10-night Caribbean journey from Miami, additionally in December, if you similar to jazz. There"s a Science and Technology journey the same month, a Links and Lobsters excursion in New England in Oct 2010 that combines the joys of eating lobster with tee-ing off underneath the eye of a PGA professional, and Mind, Body and Spirit voyages, on that lecturers will guide you in the art of staying full of health by yoga, Pilates and Tai Chi.

Sample legal legal legal legal legal legal legal legal legal holiday A 12-day Taste of the Mediterranean journey from Venice to Barcelona on Crystal Serenity departs on May 25, together with stops at Dubrovnik, Taormina in Sicily, Sorrento in Italy and Cannes. It costs from �3,745 per chairman together with flights and transfers, all dishes and soft drinks, and US$1,000 per chairman on-board credit (020 7287 9040; www.crystalcruises.co.uk)

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines

Fred Olsen"s ArtsClub is conjunction a bar nor indispensably anything to do with art, but it does suggest lots of themed cruises, trimming from origin and antiques to booze and dance hall dancing. There is even one with a thesis formed on The Archers (to the North Cape in Norway on Jul 16, if you"re a fan). These cruises are accompanied by experts or a small of the expel in the box of The Archers who give talks and lectures, often free, nonetheless there will be a assign for booze tasting and probably for materials for the humanities and crafts sessions. Where possible, there are additionally themed excursions, may be a vineyard revisit on a booze journey or gardens on a grassed area cruise, that have to be paid for.

If you cite to be some-more active, Fred Olsen has a preference of on foot cruises in partnership with Ramblers Holidays (the rambles, with a guide, are free), and Flagship golf packages in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Canary Islands and the Baltic. These cost additional (�425 per chairman in the Caribbean, �375 per chairman elsewhere), but embody 4 rounds of golf on opposite courses and up to five lessons with a PGA professional.

Sample legal legal legal legal legal legal legal legal legal holiday An 11-night Nordic legends and wildlife-themed ArtsClub North Cape Navigator journey from Dover on Braemar on Jun 18, with stops together with Molde, Tromso, Narvik and Olden, all in Norway, costs from �1,429 per chairman (01473 742424; www.fredolsencruises.co.uk)

Hebridean Island Cruises

Walking and cruising competence not appear viewable bedfellows, but they have valid such a undiluted fit for Hebridean Island Cruises that it has combined some-more Footloose departures for 2010 in the Northern Isles, the Highlands and Islands and on the Clyde. All are in Scotland as the journey line has usually one ship, the 49-passenger Hebridean Princess, sailing especially from Oban or Fairlie in the Clyde. At each stop there is a prolonged travel or a resting wander for those who wish a some-more calm holiday; all are accompanied by guides full of report about the places you will be visiting.

This year, Hebridean has lined up guest speakers for a small of the cruises. The wildlife consultant Tim Earl will be on dual seven-night Hebridean Outposts cruises on Jun eleven and 25, and additionally a Hebridean Summer journey in August. On each, he will be hosting early-morning birdwatching sessions and small vessel tours in poke of whales and dolphins, as well as advising what to see out for the subsequent day during after-dinner talks. In April, the gardening consultant Nicholas Merchant will be concomitant a Castles and Gardens of the North cruise, that includes visits to Dunvegan Castle and Torosay Castle and Gardens.

Sample legal legal legal legal legal legal legal legal legal holiday A seven-night Footloose in the Northern Isles journey round-trip from Scrabster on Hebridean Princess, vacating Jul 15, with walks in Orkney, Fair Isle, Shetland and Westray, costs from �3,656 per chairman together with all meals, drinks, on foot tours and gratuities (01756 704704; www.hebridean.co.uk)

Hurtigruten

Hurtigruten, the journey line that sails every day along the Norwegian seashore in in between Bergen and Kirkenes, takes tip esteem for charity the majority surprising and heterogeneous preference of themed cruises, but they patently sell well as some-more have been combined for this summer. Want to sense about Norway"s coastal bird life? There"s a seven-day journey in May with special vessel trips and birdwatching safaris to get up close to seabirds together with sea eagles, puffins and peregrine falcons. More meddlesome in Viking history? There are dual seven-night Lord of the Fjords cruises, on Apr 7 and 14, with lectures exploring the story and parable of the Norsemen. There are additionally dual Ice Breakers cruises, on Oct eleven and 18, focusing on the story of frigid explorers and scrutiny and Norway"s Big Day Out, in April, to happen at the same time with the special celebrations to symbol the country"s inhabitant day. There will be lectures about the story of the day, Norway"s stately family and the inhabitant costumes, and folk song for entertainment. Come Dec 27, you could be cruising to the tip of the universe to acquire in the New Year at the North Cape.

Sample legal legal legal legal legal legal legal legal legal holiday A seven-day In the Wake of the Great Polar Explorers journey from Bergen to Kirkenes on Oct eleven and 18, with lectures by experts together with Arne Kertelhein about frigid heros such as Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen and their voyages, as well as the enlightenment and inhabitants of the frigid region, costs from �1,042 per chairman full board. There are no singular supplements solely on suites (020 8846 2666; www.hurtigruten.co.uk)

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

If you similar to chocolate you will love Regent, that has a chocoholics journey in the Caribbean after this month on Seven Seas Navigator. There will be cookery demonstrations, booze experts giving recommendation on what you should splash with chocolate and even talks on the history. Oh, and with luck, you will be since the event to ambience thriving amounts of chocolate too.

Regent additionally offers food and booze cruises; one for penetrating golfers who get the possibility to fool around a small of the world"s tip courses; an additional dedicated to history; and 3 find voyages, when the oceanographer and environmentalist Jean-Michel Cousteau will lecture, show videos of his work and even attend with dives from the ship.

There are additionally hands-on Le Cordon Bleu workshops Regent"s Signatures grill serves dishes combined by chefs from Le Cordon Bleu propagandize in Paris comprising 3 two-hour sessions at that you sense the art of French cooking. The seminar costs additional $499 (�323) per chairman but for that you will have cooking with the Cordon Bleu cook and go afar with a chef"s hat, apron, tea towel and cookbook.

Sample legal legal legal legal legal legal legal legal legal holiday A 15-night round-trip Cordon Bleu-themed journey to the Norwegian fjords from Copenhagen on Seven Seas Voyager departs on Jun 19, with stops together with Bergen, Geiranger, Honningsvag and Stavanger. It costs from �5,712 per chairman together with all meals, drinks, excursions and gratuities (02380 682280; www.rssc.co.uk)

Saga

Saga"s investigate cruises are so popular, even though you have to compensate additional for the investigate package, that the association has increasing the series on suggest for 2010. The topics embody booze high regard on a 16-night Mediterranean cruise, gardens on an eight-night journey to Ireland, wildlife on a 14-night journey to Iceland, and exemplary song on a seven-night journey to the Norwegian fjords. Each package, for around thirty people, includes lectures (or booze tastings) and associated excursions to Candie Gardens in St Peter Port and Trelissick in Cornwall for the gardens cruise; birdwatching and whale-watching for the wildlife cruise; vineyards and wineries on the booze cruise. Prices begin at �120 per chairman for the exemplary song package, that additionally includes 3 on-board recitals.

Saga, that is usually for those elderly at slightest 50 (although a messenger can be elderly 40 and above), additionally has a Remembering Dunkirk journey in May, to symbol the 70th anniversary of Operation Dynamo. There is no investigate package, but there will be lectures and excursions to First and Second World War battlefields, together with the Somme, Ypres and Arnhem, and the D-Day alighting beaches. Prices from �1,000 per person.

Sample legal legal legal legal legal legal legal legal legal holiday A 14-night Iceland"s Natural Wonders journey from Dover on Saga Pearl II, vacating on Jun twenty-eight with stops together with Heimaey, Reykjavik, Grundarfjordur, Isafjordur, Akureyri and Seydisfjordur, all in Iceland, costs from �2,204 per person. The wildlife investigate package costs an additional �400 and includes eight excursions and 4 lectures (0800 505030; www.sagacruise.com)

Silversea

With twelve special-interest golf cruises in destinations such as Mexico, the Caribbean and Australia in 2010, this is a great journey line for penetrating players wanting to urge their swing. Each Silver Links journey is accompanied by a PGA golf veteran who will take you to the courses (you have to compensate for these, as for any ship"s excursion) and who is additionally accessible for in isolation lessons (which cost extra) or organisation golf clinics, that are free.

Prefer to work on your cookery skills? Silversea has Culinary Arts voyages, with demonstrations by tip chefs from around the world, and Wine Series sailings, with on-board tastings and seaside visits to vineyards and booze cellars. Join one of the Viking Cooking School cruises and there will be a possibility to representation and plead a specifically rebuilt dish during a lunch-and-learn category and go on a marketplace debate with a cook to see how he chooses mixture and transforms them in to a culinary magnum opus at the behind of on board.

The ultra-luxury line additionally has special cruises for lovers of art, history, inlet and culture, each with guest lecturers. On the scrutiny vessel Prince Albert II, there will be cruises in Antarctica and the Arctic, with ecologists, environmentalists and naturalists on house to learn you some-more about these impassioned destinations.

Sample legal legal legal legal legal legal legal legal legal holiday A 12-day journey from Monte Carlo to Southampton on Silver Whisper on May 31, with discretionary excursions to the Club de Golf Llavaneras in Barcelona, Club de Golf de Malaga, Penha Longa Golf Club in Lisbon and St Malo"s Dinard Golf Club, costs from �3,862 per person, together with all meals, drinks and gratuities, but incompatible flights (0844 770 9030; www.silversea.com)

ONE-OFF CRUISES

Some journey lines usually have a one-off themed excursion right away and then.

Orchestral manoeuvres

Germany"s TUI Cruises has the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra on house this year, personification 3 celebration performances and every day cover concerts, to symbol the 200th anniversary of th3 bieing born of the founder, Otto Nicolai.

Holiday sum The 10-night journey departs from Kiel on Jul 7, and costs from �2,679 per chairman together with flights, transfers, dishes and drinks with dishes (020 7290 1104; www.dertour.co.uk)

Wogan on the waves

For something some-more light-hearted, Terry Wogan is personification host on a journey for his TOGs that"s Terry"s Old Geezers or Gals for those who don"t balance in to Radio 2 on Cunard"s Queen Victoria to assistance lift income for Children in Need.

Holiday sum The 12-night journey departs from Southampton on May fourteen and costs from �1,299 per chairman (0845 678 0013; www.cunard.co.uk)

TRAVEL AGENTS" TRIPS

Travel agents additionally organize special events on comparison cruises.

Springtime in Norway

Cruise.co.uk (www.cruise.co.uk), the online journey agent, has sealed up Alan Titchmarsh for a seven-night Springtime in Norway journey from Dover on Fred Olsen"s Balmoral, vacating on May 15. He will be signing books and pity gardening tips during talks to one side for passengers who have requisitioned though Cruise.co.uk.

Prices are from �599 per person, journey only.

Murder poser cruise

Whodunit Productions (www.whodunitcruises.com) offers murder-mystery cruises on a small Royal Caribbean sailings for would-be Hercule Poirots. There is additionally a Beatles Tribute journey on a Royal Caribbean vessel (www.beatlestributecruise.com) featuring performances by the American reverence rope BritBeat.

The six-night Caribbean journey departs from Fort Lauderdale on Mar twenty-eight and costs from $639 per person, journey only, with a $347 per chairman price to take piece in the Beatles events.

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