As I coast into retirement we have started to look at cruises as we plan to travel more.
Friend went up to the arctic (dark skies) with Viking, with various speakers on board, giving lectures on for example astronomy (which I’ve always loved, but never got deeply into), which I really fancy.
Also interested in Fjords; southern Spain/North Africa; Caribbean and maybe Australia/NZ.
Any seasoned cruisers here.
Thinking about Regent, Silversea, Viking, Seabourn etc, i.e. adult only/expeditions rather than disco ships!
Ahem. Very seasoned cruiser here. You will hear mixed reviews on all providers. Some people will swear by x. Some people will have had the worst experience of their lifetime. Ultimately, choose the cruise which suits your needs the most and decide for yourself whether they’re a shambles, much -under-rated or serial killers.
The available Arctic cruises are a mixed bag but Viking were, for me, fine. As regards the Fjords, go with a smaller boat and a less glamorous company. You’ll sail further in and see much more. Exciting night life and fantastic comfort will not be available. Those ships which offer a nice icy jump into the are also fun.
I personally wouldn’t bother with southern Spain or the Caribbean. There are some good options but they are horrendously expensive for what they are and the rest are very “managed” and just not that interesting.
I wouldn’t be too quick to dismiss yer so called disco ships either. They have some excellent destinations and the more you sail on them the cheaper they get. It’s important to remember that whilst such ships will have a couple of pool decks and a games deck, they will also have a lower open deck. It’s not a deck anyone casually saunters through so they’re often wonderfully quiet. Fag smokers to one side. Rest of us to the other. Some of my happiest times at sea have been on an open deck with a book, a well made coffee, no piped music, plenty of shade, often wonderful views and my own company whilst the rest of the family have the holiday they want.
If you’re considering Fjord cruises, worth looking at are the cruises on offer from Hurtigruten, the Norwegian coastal postal service.
Currently, they offer their all inclusive Signature Voyages, and their Coastal Express cruises, established more than 130 years ago, which follow the original postal delivery routes.
The main advantage of Hurtigruten is that most of their ships are able to fully travel up the length of the various fjords, whilst some of the other operators, with their larger luxury liners can barely make it into the mouth of the fjord, which results in a somewhat disappointing 'Now to show you what you would have won scenario.
Also, they organise expeditions onto the icepack for those of a more adventurous type.
I worked up there for years, and our vessel often used to sail past the passengers on the big liners staring forlornly up the fjord.
Check out their UK website, there’s lots on offer.
I wasn’t going to name them because people have such amazingly different perspectives. We did it and loved it. Our friends did it and hated every second.
I appreciate all comments and recommendations - we’ve never been on a cruise before - they look more expensive than conventional (on land) holidays (obvs a generalisation) so we’d like to get it right
Don’t forget, if you’re planning a summer cruise to Norway, then the further North you go, it’s likely that you’ll experience the midnight sun, which is lovely, but sort of rules out that Oary Boary Alice experience.
TBH I’m not too worried about the aurora, what I really want to see (not sure if this cruise is the answer) is ‘the full granularity of space’ - the universe with the Milky Way like a rip through it.
Never seen it, never been in true dark skies territory. I guess out at sea or in a desert is best bet.
Top of my list of things to do or see in retirement!
Although not a cruise beginner myself, i can fully back @dave-marshall recommendation of Hurtigruten. In the past i have always been inclined to book cruises on ships that hold about 500 passengers. Two years ago i booked a cruise on the MS Roald Amundsen to the Antartic. The experience is something i will never forget and will treasure for ever. The scenery was 10 times better than i could ever imagine just from watching tv documentaries. The unexpected standout though was the staff and crew. Never ever have i witnessed such enthusiasm and depth of knowledge amongst a cruise ships staff. If stargazing is your thing, then the Antartic is about as far away from any man made light pollution as you can get.
Ships produce a fair bit of light pollution, though I wouldn’t imagine any cruise with a stargazing element would try to minimise this.
If it’s a true dark sky you’re after, try Dark Sky International: they certify certain places and have high standards: darksky.org. Might be cheaper to visit one of these!
In addition, two years ago I cruised in the Galapagos on a very small ship - only 18 passengers IIRC, but luxury accommodations. Also a great experience.
Unless I imagined it, there was briefly a response to this post, roundly condemning the industry on environmental grounds.
Whether you are for or against there was an interesting report on Saturday of Royal Carribean’s Ovation of the Seas arriving in Seaward Alaska with a 61’ Fin whale impaled upon its bow! Ooops.
