NEWS YOU CAN USE CRUISE


Cunard debuts The Constant Wife by RSC


Cunard has expanded its entertainment programme for transatlantic crossings in 2026 with the debut at sea of a Royal Shakespeare Company production of The Constant Wife on May 29. The line will also host a webinar for agents on April 21 about all enrichment experiences across the fleet. shinerewardsclub.com


Viking unveils India river voyages on two new-build vessels


Viking has opened sales for India river voyages from 2027 to 2029. Two new-build ships, Viking


Ganges and Viking Brahmaputra, will operate a 15-day Wonders of India itinerary which combines a seven-night river cruise with a guided land extension from Delhi. The itinerary includes flights


from selected UK airports, transfers, 13 guided tours and seven nights of hotel stays in Delhi, Agra and Jaipur either side of the sailing. Both vessels will offer


eastbound and westbound voyages between Guwahait and Nimati Ghat in Assam. Viking Ganges will launch in


late 2027, followed by Viking Brahmaputra in 2028, with capacity for 80 passengers. Prices start from £7,995 for a


departure on October 11, 2027. viking.com


Freedom of the Seas


Royal opens sales for ex-UK Freedom cruises next summer


Ella Sagar


Royal Caribbean has opened sales for Freedom of the Sea sailings from Southampton in summer 2027. The line recently announced the 3,926-passenger


Freedom Class ship would replace 3,322-passenger ship Mariner of the Seas, which had been due to make its debut in Southampton next year with a series of two and nine-night voyages. Freedom of the Seas will offer sailings to Spain,


France, Portugal, the Norwegian fjords and northern Europe, ranging in duration from two nights to 12 nights, with most operating as round trips. A two-night Weekend Getaway Cruise leads in from


£408, with a call in Le Havre for Paris. A three-night Bruges Getaway Cruise, costing from


£435, will visit the Belgium city as its only port of call. A five-night Hamburg & Rotterdam Cruise starts from £650 and will visit Hamburg and Rotterdam.


Star Clippers expands packages in second Rail & Sail programme


Viking Brahmaputra travelweekly.co.uk


Star Clippers has launched its second Rail & Sail brochure, with 55% more packages than last year’s debut. The 24-page publication features Mediterranean and Caribbean sailings combined with pre and post-rail and land packages “to suit all budgets”. The Puglia & Rome: A Trulli Unforgettable Journey itinerary, departing on September 10, 2027, leads in from £3,349. bit.ly/StarClippersRailSail


3,926Passenger capacity of UK-bound ship Freedom of the Seas


A 12-night Spain & Azores Transatlantic cruise will


sail from Southampton to Miami and is priced from £712. The itinerary features ports of call in La Coruña and


Vigo in Spain and Ponta Delgada in the Azores. Aaron Langford, senior sales director for the UK and


Ireland, said: “We are excited to announce that we’re upsizing our Southampton deployment in 2027 with Freedom of the Seas. “Freedom Class has consistently resonated strongly


with British and Irish guests and, following a recent amplification, Freedom of the Seas offers a fantastic mix of scale, innovation and guest-favourite features that deliver the ultimate family holiday.” royalcaribbean.com


Marella Cruises lines up West End stars for Musical Med-leys sailing


Marella Cruises has unveiled the headline acts for a Musical Med-leys cruise on Marella Voyager. West End musical stars Lee Mead, Jenna Lee James and Zoe Birkett will perform on the five-night sailing from Corfu on October 30 to Malaga, with ports of call in Palma and Cartagena. Prices start from £801. bit.ly/TuiMed-leys


9 APRIL 2026 19


PICTURE: Michel Verdure


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