With travel restrictions easing at last, there are some fantastic opportunities to enjoy cruises to international destinations this Autumn.
Over 100,000 people have successfully cruised coastal waters around the UK since May 2021 and research suggests that many older travellers are keen to sail overseas with lines that have worked incredibly hard to make cruising one of the safest holiday choices.
It has been well-documented how high standards of hygiene and safety were on cruise ships before the pandemic. Now, the cruise industry is again ahead of many land-based operations, so you can set sail in the holiday mood and relax, reassured that every possible measure is being taken on board and off to keep you safe.
Prices quoted are based on two sharing accommodation.
Azamara
Unparalleled itineraries, immersive cultures, authentic service – that’s the promise from Azamara’s small-ship fleet, sailing the Mediterranean and Caribbean this Autumn. Wi-Fi, gratuities, selected drinks, exclusive cultural events and more are included with each sailing booked by 31 October 2021.
Sample cruises include:
Azamara’s 7-night Cities of the Western Med voyage sails 28 October 2021 from Rome to Barcelona. From £1,062 pp including flights for an inside room.
Azamara’s 7-night Canary Islands Intensive Voyage sails 11 December 2021 round trip from Gran Canaria. From £999 pp including flights for an inside room.
Health requirements: Guests must be double-vaccinated at least 14 days prior to embarkation.
Call 0844 493 6035 or visit website.
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises’ award-winning ships are impeccably designed, serve exquisitely prepared culinary experiences, and offer unrivalled levels of service. Wi-Fi, drinks and service charges are now ‘Always Included’℠.
Sample cruises include:
10 or 11-night cruise to Spain and the Canary Islands in October 2021, sailing from and back to Southampton aboard the newly refurbished 2,886 passenger Celebrity Silhouette, with designs by Kelly Hoppen. Fares from £999 pp in an inside room.
Or head for the Caribbean sun in October and November 2021, sailing from Florida for 7-9 nights to your choice of palm-fringed islands. From £909 pp for an inside room (flights extra).
Health requirements: All guests aged 18 and over will need to be double vaccinated at least 14 days before departure and present a negative result from tests conducted no more than 2 days before sailing.
Call 01756 704704 or visit website.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines*
Noted for their friendly on-board atmosphere, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines offers a range of Autumn departures round-trip from Dover, Southampton or Liverpool to Spain, the Canary Islands, Madeira, the Netherlands and Norway. Sail aboard new-to-the-fleet 1,360 passenger Borealis or sister ship Bolette.
*Silver Travel Advisor members can enjoy up to 10% off sailings with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, on top of any offers being run by Fred. Olsen at the time of booking.
Sample cruises include:
Bolette’s 15-night Escape to the Canaries cruise, sailing from and back to Dover 18 October-2 November 2021. From £899 pp for an inside room. Solos from £1,349 pp.
Borealis’ Five Night Spanish Escape, 2-7 December 2021, sailing round-trip from Liverpool. Fares from £449 pp for an inside room. Solos from £829.
Health requirements: Guests must be double-vaccinated at least 14 days prior to embarkation.
Call 0845 314 2222 or visit website.
Hebridean Island Cruises
Elegant and stylish, like a luxury country house hotel, the 50-passenger Hebridean Princess is offering 4-7 nights sailings from October until December 2021 from Oban and Greenock (Glasgow) to the Scottish Western Isles and Hebrides, with fully-inclusive fares.
Sample cruises include:
7-night Flavours of the Hebrides cruise, 12-19 October 2021, from and back to Oban. From £5,520 pp including two Gala dinners, drinks, tours, Wi-Fi and tips.
4-night A Taste of the Lower Clyde sailing, 13-17 November 2021, from and back to Greenock From £2,530 pp including one Gala dinner, drinks, tours, Wi-Fi and tips.
Health requirements: All guests must test negative 72 hours prior to departure and immediately prior to embarkation. All guests should be fully vaccinated prior to boarding Hebridean Princess.
Call 01756 704704 or visit website.
Holland America Line
Holland America Line offers elegant cruises with fewer guests, more personal attention and a greater sense of space on board. Their mid-size ships aim to strike a balance: large enough to offer diverse amenities, dining choices and leisure options, yet small enough to preserve a sophisticated ambience. This Autumn the line offers Mediterranean and Caribbean fly-cruises with shore excursions, drinks package, speciality dining and Wi-Fi included.
Sample cruises include:
12-day Mediterranean Romance sailing from Venice to Barcelona aboard the 2,000-passenger Eurodam, 18-30 October 2021. Fares from £1,699 pp for an inside room (flights extra).
11-day Southern Caribbean Wayfarer sailing round-trip from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to six Caribbean islands aboard the 2,660 passenger Rotterdam, 10-21 November 2021, from £1,579 pp for an inside room (flights extra).
Health requirements: All guests need to be double vaccinated at least 14 days before departure and to test negative at the terminal prior to boarding (Mediterranean sailings) or present proof of a negative text taken 48 hours before boarding (Caribbean sailings).
Call 0344 338 8605 or visit website.
Hurtigruten
Expedition cruise specialist Hurtigruten offers small-ship sailings with active and interesting excursions from Dover to Norway and the Northern Lights aboard the bio-fuelled new ship MS Maud in the Autumn of 2021.
Sample cruises include:
MS Maud’s 15-day Northern Lights and Fjords Expedition, sailing from and back to Dove, with fares from £2,999 pp including drinks, Wi-Fi and activities ashore. Departures October-December 2021. Features the Northern Lights Promise and no single supplement on selected departures.
Alternatively, join one of Hurtigruten’s 12-day Norwegian Coastal Express voyages between October and December 2021 from Bergen to Kirkenes deep within the Arctic Circle on a Classic Round Northern Lights Voyage with direct flights from 8 UK regional airports. Fares from £1,599 pp, with the Northern Lights Promise.
Health requirements: Although not a requirement, Hurtigruten recommend that all guests have a negative Covid-19 test taken less than 72 hours before departure or have a vaccination certificate.
Call 020 8003 9582 or visit website.
Noble Caledonia
Noble Caledonia‘s expedition-style cruises on small, informal ships sailing from the UK or fly-cruising. Superb for nature and wildlife.
Sample cruises include:
The 100-passenger Island Sky’s 8-night Autumn in the Scottish Islands & Highlands sailing, going round-trip from Troon in Scotland, 13-20 October2021 has all-inclusive fares from £3,695 pp including drinks with meals, excursions, Wi-Fi and tips.
With just over 100 passengers, Hebridean Sky’s 10-night Andaulcian Odyssey cruise sails between Seville and Malaga on four November and December 2021 dates, with fares from £3,995 pp, including drinks with meals, excursions, Wi-Fi and tips.
Health requirements: Guests must be double-vaccinated at least 14 days prior to embarkation.
Call 020 7752 0000 or visit website.
Princess Cruises
Take the opportunity to enjoy the fabulous on-board lifestyle, entertainment and dining amenities offered by big-ship balcony-room cruising. Sail with Princess Cruises from and back to Southampton on 4 to 11-night cruises to Spain, France, the Netherlands, the Canaries and the Med, aboard Medallion-class ships. Princess Plus, covering premium drinks, wi-fi and crew incentive, costs £30 pp per day extra.
Sample cruises include:
5-day Belgian & Netherlands Sampler sailing round-trip from Southampton aboard 3,600-passenger Regal Princess, 7-11 October 2021. Balcony fares from £349 pp.
14-day Mediterranean Adventurer sailing round-trip from Southampton aboard 4,600-passenger Sky Princess, 22 October-4 November 2021. Balcony fares from £1,179 pp.
Health requirements: All guests will need to be twice vaccinated against COVID-19 at least 14 days before departure and to test negative at the terminal prior to boarding.
Call 0344 338 8660 or visit website.
Royal Caribbean International Cruises
Royal Caribbean offers the most innovative and imaginative of big-ship experiences, sailing aboard vessels which are architectural marvels in their own right with a wealth of exciting on-board facilities to enjoy, enhanced by the latest technologies. For Autumn 2021, Royal Caribbean offers a choice of coastal UK sailings from Southampton and fly-cruises in the Med.
Sample cruises include:
The 2,500-passenger Jewel of the Seas’ 7-night Greek Isles Cruise, sailing from Limassol in Cyprus to Athens and favourite Greek islands on four October 2021 dates. Fares from £649 pp for an inside room (flights extra).
The 5,479-passenger Harmony of the Seas’ 7-night Mediterranean cruises in October 2021 sail either round trip from Barcelona or round-trip from Rome. Fares from £407 pp for an inside room (flights extra).
Health requirements: Guests over the age of 18 must be double-vaccinated at least 14 days prior to embarkation. Under 18s must provide a negative test result.
Call 0800 215 5981 or visit website.
Saga Cruises
Saga offers all-balcony, all-inclusive mid-size ship cruising aboard Spirit of Adventure and sister-ship Spirit of Discovery, combining excellent on board amenities with an intimate atmosphere. 6 to 15-night sailings from Tilbury, Dover and Southampton to the Canaries and the Med are offered this Autumn.
Sample cruises include:
22-night Treasures of the Croatian Coast sailing aboard Spirit of Adventure from and back to Southampton, 24 October-15 November 2021. Balcony fares from £4,940 pp with door-to-door chauffeur service, drinks, Wi-Fi, tips, insurance and selected excursions included.
14-night Wonders of the Canary Islands sailing with Spirit of Discovery 21 November- 5 December 2021 from and back to Southampton. Balcony fares from £3,199 pp with door-to-door chauffeur service, drinks, Wi-Fi, tips, insurance and selected excursions included.
Health requirements: All guests should be aged over 50 and will need to be twice vaccinated against COVID-19 at least 14 days prior to travel.
Call 0800 092 9083 or visit website.
Silversea
Silversea’s 10 small ultra-luxury ships are designed for those who delight in the thrill of discovery while indulging mind and body in the most lavish surroundings imaginable. For Autumn 2021, Silversea’s intimate, boutique ships offer a range of luxury Mediterranean fly-cruises to re-awaken your travel appetite.
Sample cruises include:
10-day Lisbon to Barcelona sailing aboard the 680 passenger Silver Spirit, 20-29 October 2021. Fares from £4,800 pp for a balcony suite including Business Class flights, premium drinks throughout, wi-fi and gratuities.
9-days Athens to Athens sailing among the Greek Islands aboard the 596 passenger Silver Moon, 23–31 October 2021. Fares from £4,700 pp for a balcony suite including flights, premium drinks throughout, wi-fi and gratuities.
Health requirements: Guests must be double-vaccinated at least 14 days prior to embarkation.
Call 020 7340 0700 or visit website.
Swan Hellenic
Proudly continuing the spirit of cultural expedition cruising, the new Swan Hellenic builds on its British roots aboard innovative boutique ships, purpose-built to explore the most inspiring and inaccessible places on the planet, giving guests with the opportunity to see what others don’t. In December 2021 Swan Hellenic will be sailing in Antarctica.
Sample cruise includes:
Health requirements: Guests over the age of 18 must be double-vaccinated at least 14 days prior to embarkation and present a negative PCR test to their air carrier prior to flying. Saliva-based lateral flow tests are required prior to boarding the ship and are also conducted on board.
Call 0207 846 0271 or visit website.
Tradewind Voyages
Tradewind Voyages’ stunning tall ship Golden Horizon sails under canvas whenever possible, following the ocean’s currents. The ship offers Caribbean fly-cruises from Barbados from November 2021.
Sample cruise includes:
8-day Caribbean Hidden Gems sailing 18-25 November 2021, calling at four Caribbean island hideaways, from £1,799 pp for an outside room (flights extra).
Health requirements: All guests will be tested at the cruise terminal prior to embarkation.
Call 01473 932060 or visit website.
Variety Cruises/Seafarer Cruises
Variety Cruises is one of the largest Small Ship Cruise Companies in the world with a fleet of 11 vessels, mostly carrying an average of 50 passengers, to get you up close and personal to every destination. Autumn 2021 options include a selection of Mediterranean sailings.
Sample cruises include:
8-day Antiquity to Byzantium sailings from and back to Athens around the ‘hand’ of Greece aboard the 34-passenger motor-sailer Galileo departing 29 October, 5 and 12 November 2021. Fares from £2,162 pp for an outside room, including flights and pre-cruise hotel stay.
Health requirements: All passengers over 5 years of age must pass a free Rapid Antigen test prior to embarkation. Daily temperature and blood oxygen level tests will be conducted on board.
Call 020 8324 3114 or visit website.
Viking
Viking offers exceptional ocean journeys on award-winning 930 passenger ships, where the destination is the focus and you have more time to explore ashore. For the Autumn of 2021 they offer a selection of Mediterranean fly-cruises with flights, drinks at lunch and dinner, Wi-Fi, gratuities and a shore excursion at each port included.
Sample cruises include:
8-day Journey to Antiquities sailing from Rome to Athens aboard Viking Sky on 24-31 October 2021 from £2,190 pp for a balcony room.
8-day Iconic Western Mediterranean sailing from Barcelona to Rome aboard Viking Sky on 31 October-6 November 2021 from £2,590 pp for a balcony room.
Health requirements: Guests over the age of 18 must be double-vaccinated at least 14 days prior to embarkation and present a negative PCR test conducted within 72 hours of boarding. Daily saliva-based PCR tests are conducted on board ship.
Call 020 8780 7900 or visit website.