The Joys Of 'Sampler' Cruises

Our Managing Director has just returned from his very first cruise (he IS new to the business, after all) and is raving about the experience - as we expected!

His voyage was a 4-day short-break cruise with P&O Cruises to Gent (and Bruges), and helped to showcase the many attractions of cruising as well as the great value of this 'sampler' type cruise, when people can invest in just a few days to see if it really is for them.

Sailing from Southampton, P&O are a perfect option for this type of voyaging as they can pack a lot into the relatively short time involved and really showcase their highlights, notably with the many entertainment options.

And, with that in mind, here are a couple of similar short-break cruises you can still try with P&O in the coming months...

Singer Katherine Jenkins is performing on the Oriana's four-night November 27 sailing, departing from Southampton and calling at Bruges (from Zeebrugge) and overnight in Amsterdam. Prices start from just £349 per person for a Getaway Fare, to include a free upgrade to an outside cabin, full-board meals, daily afternoon tea and entertainment.

Exclusively for adults, Oriana’s facilities include three pools, the Oasis Spa, gym, theatre, cinema, sports court and traditional deck games, plus numerous restaurants and bars, including the Ocean Grill by celebrity chef Marco Pierre White.

To see more about this cruise, follow this link: http://www.pocruises.com/X326

Alternatively, there is a two-night short cruise break to Bruges (from Zeebrugge) on Oriana departing April 18, starting from just £229 per person. The price includes an inside cabin, full-board meals, daily afternoon tea and entertainment.

Link: http://www.pocruises.com/X408.

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That Marco Polo Style

Guest blogger Danielle Fear, aka Cruise Miss, reports back on her most recent voyage, a mini-cruise aboard the classic Marco Polo...

I recently returned from a 3-night sailing with Cruise & Maritime Voyages aboard their MS Marco Polo visiting Gent in Belgium and Amsterdam in Holland. This was by far the smallest ship I had cruised on, but boy does she have a big heart.

I was on Navigator Deck, cabin 821, and was pleasantly surprised by the overall size of the room. I had two single beds along with a large chest of drawers, chair, table and TV and a three-door wardrobe. The bathroom was generous, too. and the spacious accommodation made up for my obstructed window view.

In the evening, we dined in the Waldorf restaurant on a table for 10. There were quite a few

large tables, surprisingly, and the restaurant felt a lot bigger than it was. The speed of service was just right, too. I have cruised on ships with half-full dining rooms and we have waited an age between courses. But, every night, the dining room on Marco Polo was packed and not once did the system break down.

My absolute favourite part, though, had to be her aft pool deck. What an incredible space - and her tiered stern just added even more character. I love a tiered stern and I was pretty

much in my element there. Every day, it was alive with people sitting and enjoying the view or a few glasses of wine. I wish we had more ships that offered such a wonderful space.

Scott’s Bar was the “go to” place of an evening and the music and dancing lastws well into the early hours. Columbus Bar was nice if you wanted something a little quieter and, of course, you would visit the Marco Polo Lounge for the evening’s main entertainment. One space I especially liked was the Captain’s Club (below). It was modern, bright and airy and had a great relaxation vibe about it. I didn’t get to spend as much time here as I would have liked, but the brief “chill out” was very much appreciated after my five-hour journey to the port.

Marco Polo is an old ship, coming up to her 50th birthday in fact, yet she is still going strong. Yes, in some areas she is a little dated, but she still has a few years left in her and the overall atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming. I met several passengers who have cruised on her dozens of times and are still going back for more. The biggest appeal for

them was first of all her size, followed by the atmosphere and then, in the words of one passenger, the fact “they simply don’t make ships like this any more.” One lady had cruised more than 40 times and still wanted more!

I hope to cruise on Marco Polo again in the not-too-distant future. I am definitely starting to get a taste for small-ship cruising.

For more from Danielle, visit www.cruisemiss.com.

Have you subscribed to World of Cruising magazine yet? We have a fabulous offer for all new subscribers this year - 50 per cent OFF the regular rate AND the chance to win a cruise in our free prize draw offer. See this link!

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.