The Hot List Grand Designs Islands in the Sea Into the Wild Discover travel's best-kept Meet the designer behind Reggae & rum in the Embark on an adventure secrets for 2017 P&O Cruises' brand new ship Caribbean sun to the Last Frontier January/February 2017 Edition 17 | £4.95 January/February 2017 Edition 17 | £4.95 PART TWO TOTALLY TROPICAL Our complete guide to the Caribbean Cover image: Happy Caribbean hummingbird feeding New Year! from the Bird of Paradise flower n behalf of everyone here at Bolsover Cruise Club and The Cruise Holiday Shop, I’d like to wish our Cruise Club Members Oall the best for the year ahead. We begin 2017 with a brand new website and Cruise Club Forum, both of which I hope you are finding far more user-friendly than previous versions. In addition to a brand new section dedicated to our extensive cruise guides, you will also find the newly-responsive website much simpler to use on mobile phones and tablet devices. The first Into The Blue of the year sees a continuation of our ‘Totally Tropical’ guide to the Caribbean, one of my favourite winter sun destinations. There is nothing quite like sinking your toes into warm sands – piña colada in hand – knowing that everyone at home is battling wind and rain on the daily commute. There are still some great last minute Caribbean cruise deals to be had for 2017, so give us a call if we have whet your appetite with the thought of a little island time. This edition also features a look at the hottest destinations for the year ahead, from a charming rustic village off the French coast, to the vast and awe-inspiring Yukon Territory, a destination often combined with a cruise to the ever-popular Alaska. Wherever cruising takes you in 2017, I hope it is a year of holidays to remember. Yours sincerely Royal Caribbean Michael Wilson Managing Director Harmony of the Seas Solarium 25 27 CONTENTS News 32 06. Cruise News Features 18. Totally Tropical Part two of our complete guide to the Caribbean 38. Industry Insider: Alison Clixby We get the inside scoop on the most ambitious ship in P&O Cruises’ history 46. The Hot List 49 The emerging destinations set to have you reaching for your passport in 2017 60. Into The Wild Find out why Alaska is on the radar of every true adventurer 74. Islands in the Sea Our writer shares her diary of a week of winter sun in the Caribbean 86. Read All About It The books keeping us glued to our loungers this month 96. 36 Hours in Amsterdam Get your kicks in Europe’s mini-cruise capital Regulars 88 04. Destination Inspiration Tulip time in Keukenhof 16. Case Contenders Formal night favourites for the whole family 88. Favourite Four Island hopping in Ionian and Aegean Seas www.bolsovercruiseclub.com|Into The Blue 3 DESTINATION INSPIRATION TULIP TIME ome the months of March, April and May, the world-famous gardens of Keukenhof are blanketed in a kaleidoscopic Ccarpet of blooms. No fewer than 7 million bulbs fill the park’s 70 acres, each one contributing to a sea of colour that stretches as far as the eye can see. Tulip farm in Keukenhof Garden 4 Into The Blue|Call us on: 01246 819 819 P&O Cruises Ventura 4 nights sailing from Southampton 26 April 2017 Includes an overnight stay in Amsterdam From £499pp CALL: 01246 819 819 |Into The Blue 5 www.bolsovercruiseclub.com CRUISE NEWS CELEBRITY CRUISES REVEALS SHIPS FOR UK HOMEPORTS Celebrity Eclipse is to become the first ship from a major cruise line to homeport in Dublin in 2018, the cruise line has revealed. The relocation of the Solstice- class vessel from Southampton, where it has spent the last eight years, comes as part of the Celebrity Cruises’ most significant deployment ever in the UK and Ireland. Celebrity Silhouette will replace Eclipse in Southampton, with itineraries to Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, the Norwegian Fjords, Scandinavia and Russia, and the Canaries and Azores. A highlight of the ship’s ex-UK cruise calendar is an opportunity to MSC CRUISES TO BASE MAGNIFICA IN THE UK IN 2018 attend the 2018 FIFA World Cup in MSC Cruises recently announced Moscow, as part of a Russia sailing MSC Magnifica will be embarking on from Southampton in July 2018. the line’s first-ever World Cruise in Before relocating to Dublin, 2019, but the ship is to operate far closer to home in the year before it Celebrity Eclipse will sail a farewell heads off around the globe. season from Southampton in 2017, including a special ‘Modern Luxury’ MSC Magnifica will operate a full two-night sailing to Le Havre and season of UK departures in 2018, a President’s Cruise attended by the first time the cruise line has ever Celebrity Cruises’ president and done so. The 2,500 passenger ship chief executive, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo. will be based in Southampton from April until November, building upon Two further Solstice-class ships the six cruises previously offered will join Celebrity Silhouette and from the port in 2016. Celebrity Eclipse in Europe in 2018, with Celebrity Constellation set The vessel will sail five new itineraries to sail out of Venice, Rome and from Southampton, including a 14-day Barcelona, while Celebrity Reflection Mediterranean itinerary, North Sea - the cruise line’s newest ship - will sailings to Norwegian ports and a sail out of Rome. British Isles sailing. 6 Into The Blue|Call us on: 01246 819 819 OCEANIA CRUISES TO SAIL FROM NEW YORK Oceania Cruises has announced it is “Combined with her elegance, to sail from New York City for the first sophistication and luxurious Canyon time in 2017. Ranch Spa Club, Oceania Cruises’ Insignia is the perfect match for New Insignia will homeport at Manhattan’s York and New York is the perfect match west-side cruise terminal on 48th for Oceania Cruises.” street, operating more than 20 cruises in 2017 and 2018. Voyages will visit New England, Canada, Bermuda, Greenland and Iceland, with overnight calls in Charleston, Reykjavik and Bermuda. In a statement released by the luxury cruise line, Oceania Cruises president and chief executive Bob Binder said: “Insignia offers an acclaimed culinary experience that rivals the best restaurants ashore, as well as an irresistible blend of culturally rich and fascinating destinations. CELEBRITY CRUISES BEGINS HARMONY OF THE SEAS IS CHRISTENED IN FLORIDA CONSTRUCTION OF NEW The largest cruise ship in the world has most technical ceremonial naming ever, EDGE-CLASS SHIP been christened in a naming ceremony in Affolter’s press of a button sent a signal Fort Lauderdale, Florida. to a robotic bartender, which in turn spun Work has begun on the first Edge-class and pressed a second button, triggering ship in the Celebrity Cruises fleet. The Royal Caribbean event was as much the release of a 3-foot tall custom-made of a spectacle as one would expect from sovereign of Veuve Clicquot whizzing The first steel for Celebrity Edge, one the most-technological ship on the seas, down the ship’s zipline and crashing into of four Edge-class ships, was cut at the with the famous robotic bartenders a name plate above the open-air atrium. STX shipyard in France, with delivery of of the Bionic Bar playing an important the final product expected in autumn role. Having won a contest attracting Harmony of the Seas launched in May 2018. The cruise line also took the applications from over 1,000 teachers, 2016, spending the summer in Europe, opportunity to announce the name Harmony of the Seas’ Godmother before relocating to Fort Lauderdale in of the second vessel in the series, Brittany Affolter joined Royal Caribbean November. The 5,497 passenger ship Celebrity Beyond, which is scheduled chairman Richard Fain on stage in the will sail seven-night Eastern and Western for delivery in spring 2020. Two further ship’s Aqua Theater. In perhaps the Caribbean itineraries from the port. Edge-class ships are planned for autumn 2021 and 2022, though both are as-yet unnamed. Celebrity Cruises’ president and chief executive Lisa Lutoff-Perlo said: “We set the bar high for the architects and designers on Edge-class, and we were rewarded with a stunning design. “Cutting the ship’s first piece of steel is the traditional first step in the shipbuilding process, and I’m excited to see our dreams turn into reality over the next 24 months.” She continued: “We are excited to reveal more details soon, and travellers, trade partners and enthusiasts alike will not be disappointed – this ship is going to be amazing.” www.bolsovercruiseclub.com|Into The Blue 7 PRINCESS CRUISES ANNOUNCES BIGGEST EVER SEASON OF UK DEPARTURES Princess Cruises has announced that it will increase its UK departures capacity by 15% in 2018, with Sapphire Princess, Pacific Princess and Royal Princess all homeporting in the UK for the season. The three ships will sail more than 40 itineraries between April and October 2018, sailing out of Southampton and Dover. Sapphire Princess will visit Europe for the first time in April, arriving into Southampton from Singapore following its 38-night ‘Indian Ocean & Europe Grand Adventures’ cruise. The ship will sail from Southampton to the Mediterranean and northern Europe, before returning to Singapore in October. Royal Princess will offer British Isles cruises from May 2018, while Pacific Princess will sail roundtrip itineraries from Dover to northern and southern Europe between June and September. Tony Roberts, vice president of Princess Cruises UK and Europe, said: “Having seen a significant increase in the popularity of Princess cruises from the UK, we are HARVEST CAYE WELCOMES FIRST GUESTS thrilled to announce that our 2018 Norwegian Cruise Lines’ brand new offer snorkelling on the Belize Barrier programme will be our biggest ever private island, Harvest Caye, is officially Reef; the second largest barrier reef in season” open for business after welcoming its the world.