DESTINATIONS MATURE TRAVEL | CRUISE
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Rio de Janeiro; Cunard’s Queen Maray 2 in New York; Nagoya Castle, Japan; Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambience in the Cayman Islands
days getting to the Big Apple, a few hours in the city and another six sea days sailing back to Southampton. Cunard director of UK sales Tom Mahoney says the
round-trip cruises are hugely popular with empty-nester Brits who like the idea of multiple days at sea. “Most, around 75%, have sailed with Cunard
before and understand the luxury offering of Queen Mary 2, the world’s only ocean liner. This year we have seen a 24% increase in demand for round-trip transatlantic crossings versus 2024,” he adds. Queen Mary 2 has an Insights programme of illustrious speakers, theatre shows and the only planetarium at sea to keep passengers entertained.
WORLD CRUISES Thanks to Cunard, P&O Cruises and Fred Olsen, clients who don’t care to fly can see the world without once setting foot in an airport. Their ships depart the UK every January and spend three or so months chasing the sun, so passengers can escape the British winter and be back in time for spring. Cunard has three world cruises on sale – two in
2026 and one in 2027 – with prices from £11,499 for 110 nights on Queen Anne departing January 11, 2026. P&O Cruises has two sailings: a 100-night voyage in 2026 and a 106-night cruise in 2027, both on adult-only ship Arcadia. Prices, from £12,389 and £10,499 respectively, include tips. Itineraries vary but between them the cruises tick off the Caribbean, Panama Canal, the South
42 8 MAY 2025
Ships spend
three months chasing the sun, so passengers can escape the British winter and be back in time for spring
Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, Asia and South Africa, and often include overnights in cities such as Sydney, Singapore and Hong Kong. Fred Olsen is ringing the changes with its 2027 world cruise, which is skipping Australia and instead spending four days in Hawaii and more than a week in Japan. The round-trip voyage from Southampton
departs January 21, 2027, and is on adult-only ship Borealis. Prices, from £12,499 for 98 nights, include tips and selected drinks with lunch and dinner. “The 2027 world cruise offers something different while keeping the duration under 100 days, which helps to make travel insurance more accessible,” says Martin Lister, Fred Olsen’s head of product innovation.
TW BOOK IT
Saga Cruises offers a 30-night Caribbean Christmas cruise on Spirit of Adventure departing December 7, 2025, from £11,489, including speciality dining, drinks, tips, Wi-Fi, travel insurance and selected excursions.
travel.saga.co.uk Cunard offers a 14-night no-fly transatlantic crossing round-trip from Southampton on Queen Mary 2 departing October 24, 2025, from £1,419.
cunard.com P&O Cruises offers a 75-night Epic South America Journey on Aurora, round-trip from Southampton, departing January 3, 2026, from £6,699 including tips.
pocruises.com
travelweekly.co.uk
PICTURES: Shutterstock/Donatas Dabravolskas, Blanscape; Jonathan Atkin
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