Five great summer cruises in 2014

If you’re looking for something different to do this summer, maybe setting sail on board one of Fred. Olsen's Summer Cruises is just what you’re looking for. Wake up each morning somewhere different with plenty of entertainment on board, exquisite cuisine, the chance to meet new people and of course best of all, no flying and nauseating jet lag. Just blue oceans and good times. So where should you go? Spain? France? The Canaries? There’s definitely a lot of choice out there, but we thought we would outline some of our favourites…

Discover France Spain & Guernsey

Pack your sunnies and take a tour of La Rochelle, known as La Ville Blanche, the White City in Western France with arcaded walkways and a bustling fishing harbour. Soak up Bilbao, the Spanish city with an eclectic mix of art and culture with its Guggenheim Bilbao Museum, then venture down to St Peter Port in Guernsey to visit its quaint cafes and antique shops.

Explore Norwegian Rivers & Railways   

Go on a Norwegian adventure and explore the city of Bergen, surrounded by seven fjords and hills with its beautiful Vagen Harbour. Experience the Flam railway, a spectacular journey from Myrdal station to Flam Station, in the heart of Aurslandfjord, Sognafjord to see waterfalls and deep valleys.

Search for Polar Bears & Reindeers

Take an arctic journey in search of polar bears in the Norwegian wonders of Ny Ålesund or Longyearbyen. Visit Kristiansund, the gateway to the Atlantic road, passing through incredible coastline and travel deep within the Arctic Circle to Tromso to see reindeers on the North Cape Plateau in Honningsvåg.

French & Flanders River Cruising 

Enjoy the modern urban flair of Amsterdam and the Van Goch Museum in Belgium’s capital of cool, Antwerp. For café-filled cobbled lanes and the enchanting Rouen, visit Paris, home of the Notre Dame and Eiffel Tower. For the more sentimental, take a romantic river cruise on the River Seine and soak up the delights of Claude Monet’s Garden.

Meteor Showers & Sunbathing

Enjoy a Canaries cruise and see the skies light up at the magical Perseid meteor showers, but don’t forget to make a wish! Stop off at Funchal, Europe’s most picturesque and cleanest capital on Madeira island, then travel down to the bustling port city of Santa Cruze de Tenerife to see Mount Teide, before basking in the Lisbon sunshine at Cais do Sodre, the city’s coolest hub.

These are just a few ideas, and we know it might be hard to choose between them! There are so many amazing places to see so you had better get started! Find a summer cruise tailored to your needs and enjoy the holiday you’ve always dreamed of.

by Ben Williams