If the biggest ship in the world, Oasis of the Seas, sounds a tad daunting at 5,400 passengers, why not knock off a nought and try Silver Spirit?
Launched last month the new ship for just 540 passengers has started her maiden season in the Americas before sailing to the Med in the spring. New for Silversea on Spirit are a butler for every cabin and Seishin, 24-seat Japanese-with-a-French-twist restaurant.
As on all Silversea ships, drinks and tips are included. For example a ten-night cruise from Acapulco to Los Angeles on March 22 is from £2,283pp. Details: 0844 770 9030, www.silversea.com.
And in the enormous wake of Oasis of the Seas, comes another giant, 4,200-passenger Norwegian Epic (www.epic.ncl.co.uk), setting sail in July. You can find refuge from the madding crowd by booking one of The Villas, a ship-within-ship complex of 46 “villas” sleeping up to six on two private decks around a courtyard with its own pool, gym and restaurant.
You’ll share Cirque Dreams, a big top supper club with swooping trapeze artists delivering your wine, shows by The Blue Man Group, and the first ice bar at sea with everyone else on board - but Villa people get priority booking. Virgin Cruise Holidays (0871 7819893, www.virginholidayscruises.co.uk) offers one week Caribbean cruises including flights in an inside cabin from £979pp; in a Villa plus three nights pre-cruise in the snazzy Fontainebleau Miami hotel it is from £2,599pp.
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Elegant Resorts, the luxury holiday company, has produced its first cruise brochure. Focussing on five-star-plus lines and mostly small to mid-size ships it showcases a selection of cruises, concentrating on voyages of three weeks or longer - Alaska to Beijing on Seven Seas Navigator in September, Santiago to Florida on Seabourn Odyssey in January 2011 and other enticing itineraries. Tailormade pre and post cruise stays and private shore excursions are part of the service. Details 01244 897200, www.elegantresorts.co.uk.
Fans of Marco Pierre White, the chef turned TV personality, can educate their children in his culinary style on a Caribbean cruise. Marco, who has his own restaurant, The White Room on ultra-family friendly P&O ship Ventura, will be running his first Kids’ Kitchen (without any losers, and no tears either we hope) on a two-week Caribbean fly-cruise leaving on February 12.
Classes have no age restriction and are £20pp and include learning about ingredients and how to cook dishes such as ministrone soup and spaghetti with meatballs. Two adults and two children under 16 sharing a superior deluxue balcony stateroom pay from £8,658 including flights. Details: 0845 3555333, www.pocruises.co.uk.
Close to home, a new river cruise on the Thames focuses on the life of Winston Churchill. ACE Study Tours (01223 835055, www.acestudytours.co.uk) has engaged expert lecturers for the six-night cruises between Weybridge and Rochester (four departures this summer).
Spirit of Chartwell is a newly refurbished boat with teak decks and 20 comfortable cabins. Highlights include visits to Cliveden, Blenheim, the Churchill Museum and War Cabinet Rooms in London and a reception aboard Havengore the vessel that bore Churchill’s coffin at his state funeral. From £1,190pp including all excursions (single supplement £390).
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If you are a bridge player - or the non-playing partner of one - Fred Olsen has the cruise for you. The quintessentially British line is holding its first bridge tournament in partnership with the English Bridge Union, hosted by leading British player, Paul Hackett. The cruise, aboard Balmoral departs Dover on May 3 for 12 nights round trip to the Canary Islands.
For players of all levels there will be talks and comments on the day’s play from Mr Hackett, and players will earn EBU points from their participation in the tournament. The cruise calls at La Palma, Tenerife and Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands, Madeira and Lisbon, with some late sailings giving extra time in port to explore ashore. From £1,004pp, bridge £100 per player (must be pre-booked). Details: 01473 742424, www.fredolsencruises.co.uk.