026 TRAVEL


THERE REALLY IS NOW A CRUISE FOR EVERY AGE, INTEREST AND BUDGET


notions of communal dining and group jollity because holidays on the high seas – or on the world’s great rivers – now represent a seriously broad mix of experiences from luxury to educational, culinary to cultural, and high art to pioneering adventures. Almost 26 million people around the world are expected to take a cruise holiday in 2017 and, as if to reinforce the appeal and success, demand has increased 62% in the last decade. October is Plan a Cruise Month (www.cruising.org) so we set sail in search of some advice as well as the most interesting journeys around.


I t’s time to banish any


www.indexdigital.co.uk


Ask the Expert


Trevor Ridler of Baldwins Travel in Tonbridge is a cruise holiday specialist. We asked him for some pointers.


Have you seen the cruise market change in recent years?


The last few years have seen amazing growth. Cruising has become more accessible with a better choice of departure points and an exceptional range of ideas and destinations.


What do you think is behind its appeal?


Without a doubt it’s the choice. It’s a holiday representing great value for money, which is really important with an under-pressure pound. But it’s also about the range of ships and experiences, from fi ne dining to world-class entertainment,


superb spas to comedy clubs, rock climbing and cinemas to ships for families, adults, adventurers and lounge lizards.


What advice would you give to someone who says: “You’ll never get me on a cruise”? There is a huge choice and there really is now a cruise for every age, interest and budget. Ask yourself a few questions. Do you like formal or informal dining? Do you want lots of facilities? Is on- board entertainment and fi ve-star service important?


I don’t want to be “stuck” dining with the same people every day?


On many cruises you have the option of a freedom style dining where you eat when it suits you


and with whom it suits you, even if you’re travelling alone.


Don’t you have to pay a fortune for a decent cabin? Generally these are priced extremely well and any upgrades would be no more, and on many occasions less, than you’d pay in an equivalent hotel.


• Baldwins Travel Group (www.


baldwinstravel.co.uk) has eight branches across Kent and Sussex, with highly experienced “cruise champions” in every store.


L-R © G Adventures Inc, Dominik Ketz


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