The days of bingo on cruise ships are over – here’s why

Curious shore excursions

The enrichment philosophy is also apparent in the complete range of shore excursions, with energetic biking and kayaking both on offer you, furthermore special, smaller-team alternatives and Pick out Excursions providing specific or one of a kind ordeals.

Curious about the latter, I joined a tour to the gothic German city of Lubeck – dwelling of the famed Lubeck marzipan – and enthusiastically absorbed historic trivia from our affable, useful and – for maximum entertainment price – costumed guide as we pottered about the city’s cobbled streets. 

But it was the marvellous 3-mile kayaking trip alongside the breathtakingly tranquil Minija River, around Klaipeda in Lithuania, that definitely still left me buzzing. Evenly damp and totally exhilarated, I was scheduling my upcoming outing on the water from the minute I stepped out of the kayak, enriched in thoughts, overall body and soul – and not the slightest bit like tough operate, right after all.

How to do it

A 12-night Baltic sailing on Marina with Oceania Cruises (oceaniacruises.com) expenditures from £4,169 per human being for a veranda stateroom. The rate involves return flight, WiFi and a choice of six shore excursions, a beverage offer or up to £495 on-board credit score. Departs July 11, 2023 from Southampton, together with calls at Stockholm, Helsinki, Copenhagen, Visby and Riga in Latvia.

Cruise your self intriguing

Six holidays to swell your skillset – from classical live shows in Vienna to wine tasting in Thessaloniki.

Musical interlude on the Danube

Waltz alongside the river that inspired Johann Strauss’s well known Blue Danube composition for the duration of this Celebration of Classical Music cruise, which includes a recital at Budapest’s Opera Residence, a classical live performance in Vienna and a stop by to Mozart’s birthplace in Salzburg. The one-7 days sailing from Budapest to Vienna with AmaWaterways costs from £2,383pp, including flights, on Mar 25 2023 (amawaterways.co.united kingdom)