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In-depth Knowledge
For those who prefer more of a city experience,
there are a few short cruises to some of the Nordic
capitals such as Oslo and Copenhagen. Taking a
cruise to these attractive but pricey cities is also a
very cost-effective way of visiting them.
MSC Cruises runs a four-night trip from Kiel in
northern Germany, calling at Gothenburg, Oslo
and Copenhagen. Celebrity Cruises also offers a
Scandinavian Short Break from Amsterdam, with
five nights onboard, and calls at Copenhagen and
Oslo. Both are offered as fly-cruises from the UK.
MEDITERRANEAN
The Med has been awash with cruise ships during
the past few summers, and while most are sailing
seven and 14-day itineraries, there are a few short
break options.
For those who want to
experience a big American
ship, NCL offers a two-night
cruise from Barcelona that
visits the French Riviera port
of Nice. Royal Caribbean also
Life in the Channel Islands is a little more sedate has four and five-night
– the most popular stop is St Peter Port in Western Mediterranean
Guernsey, which is the oldest settlement in the cruises on Navigator of the
islands with tourists flocking to its cobbled streets, Seas from Barcelona, calling
scenic harbour and medieval castle; tours around at the Balearic islands of
the island’s rugged coastline and many pretty bays Majorca and Ibiza (four-night
are also popular with cruise passengers. cruise) or Marseille, Sardinia
For those who want to appreciate some of the and Sicily (five nights).
OURISM
UK’s best and most isolated scenery, there are
T
T
A Costa Cruises also runs a
several short breaks around the Scottish islands MAL few three and five-night itin-
offered by upmarket operator Hebridean eraries from its home port of
International Cruises. These four and five-night Top: some of Europe’s Savona (Genoa) in northern Italy. These cruises
cruises are round-trips from the Scottish port of most dramatic scenery are ideal for those who want to experience the
Oban and give passengers the chance to see features in cruises along huge diversity of countries and cultures in the
pristine islands such as Skye, Jura, Islay and Mull, the Norwegian fjords Med. For example, one five-day trip calls at the
as well as the Highlands. French island of Corsica, the Tunisian capital
These trips are not cheap, starting at around Tunis, the historic Maltese city Valletta and Naples
£900 for four nights. But customers will be staying Above: The historic in Italy. Another Costa five-nighter calls at some of
on the very cosy and classy Hebridean Princess, Maltese city of Valletta Europe’s most beautiful cities such as Valletta,
which only carries a maximum of 49 passengers can be visited on short Dubrovnik and Venice. This is an ideal trip for the
and was chartered by the Queen for her 80th Mediterranean cruises cultural tourist and would be a logistical night-
birthday celebrations in 2006. mare to organise using other modes of transport
in such a short space of time.
NORTHERN EUROPE
For a no-frills cruise experience, try sailing
If your customers don’t mind a short flight from around the Greek Islands with EasyCruise on its
the UK before starting their cruise, then there are EasyCruiseOne. The company runs regular four-
several options, including seeing the Northern night Aegean Escape weekend breaks from Athens
Lights, themed journeys and visiting lively between May and September. The round-trip com-
Scandinavian cities. Hurtigruten features a range bines the party island of Mykonos with lesser-
of trips of less than one week to see the spectacu- known destinations such as Sifnos and Paros,
lar natural phenomenon of the Northern Lights which give visitors the taste of authentic Greek
from November to March every winter. Whale- food and architecture.
watching is also included on many trips between
October and December.
CARIBBEAN & NORTH AMERICA
Itineraries range from simple cruises along the Flying nine or 10 hours just to pick up a three or
fjords to those combining land elements such as four-night cruise will probably not appeal to many
staying in an ice hotel, snowmobiling, dog sled- holidaymakers. But combining a short voyage with
ding and ice fishing. The line also runs themed a land-based holiday makes for a very varied
short cruises focusing on subjects as diverse as cruise-and-stay holiday.
photography, art and even the card game bridge. The short break market to the Caribbean
Clients can experience fabulous isolated scenery
For all contact details go to www.ttglive.com TTG Knowledge CRUISE January 2008 21
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