Marella Cruises, TUI UK’s ocean cruise line, has announced the return of its hugely popular music-themed cruise, setting sail in April 2027. The adults-only sailing promises the ultimate retro music showdown at sea and is on sale now
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The new Marella sailings have been announced(Image: PR HANDOUT)
It’s time to leave the kids behind and relive two iconic decades in music aboard the ‘Electric Sunsets 80s vs 90s’ themed voyage.
Marella Cruises, TUI UK’s ocean cruise line, has announced the return of its hugely popular music-themed cruise, setting sail in April 2027. The adults-only sailing promises the ultimate retro music showdown at sea and is on sale now.
Now in its sixth year, the Electric Sunsets concept celebrates two of the most influential decades in pop culture, bringing guests an immersive experience packed with nostalgia, entertainment, and star-studded performances. The headline acts for the 2027 voyage will be announced early next year, with organisers promising a line-up of top artists from both eras.
While this year’s acts will be different, last year the star-studded lineup featured Irish pop group B*Witched, UK R&B pop group The Honeyz, the iconic DJ SASH! and Ibiza in Symphony – a 10-piece orchestra.
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The three-night sailing aboard Marella Discovery will depart Palma on Wednesday, 28 April 2027, calling at Valencia and Ibiza before returning to Palma on Saturday, 1 May 2027. Guests can expect themed parties, live performances, and 80s vs 90s-inspired events across the ship.
Chris Hackney, CEO of Marella Cruises, said: “We’re thrilled to announce the return of our 2027 themed cruise. The battle of 80s vs 90s music remains one of our most anticipated experiences, appealing to both loyal guests and newcomers. Customer feedback shows these eras bring back real nostalgia — and the chance to see top stars perform onboard makes it even more special.”
For those looking to extend their getaway, a limited number of cruise-and-stay packages will be available, featuring hotels in Majorca such as Alua Soul Mallorca Resort, Astoria Playa Hotel, and Hotel Son Matias Beach.
As with all Marella Cruises sailings, the trip is all-inclusive, covering flights, transfers, tips, and service charges. Prices for Electric Sunsets 80s vs 90s start from £799 per person, available to book from Thursday, 30 October 2025.
If you’re a cruise fanatic, then it’s not just the cruise ship and destinations that will likely peak your interest. The real cruise nerds enjoy ticking off different ports across the world.
Recent research from the travel experts at AllClear Travel Insurance has highlighted the world’s top 10 most beautiful cruise ports, examining factors such as how quickly they capture passengers’ attention with their incredible views.
Hedda Felin, boss of the Norwegian firm, has raised concerns about the rapid growth of the cruise industry and has issued a warning of what could happen if changes aren’t made
The Hurtigruten boss has issued a warnign about the future of the industry(Image: 3440932)
The cruise industry has to change or it faces being banned out of existence, the CEO of Hurtigruten has warned.
Hedda Felin, boss of the Norwegian firm, has raised concerns about the rapid growth of the cruise industry in an interview with the Mirror. She says more must be demanded of passengers visiting ports, while calling for dirty fuels to be scrapped to ease the significant environmental impact of the industry.
Hedda is particularly worried about the size of cruise ships and the burden their vast numbers of passengers are placing on coastal towns. If restrictions are not put in, anti-cruise ship protests such as those that have broken out in Barcelona and Venice will spread, she predicts.
“I am very concerned about the future. Local communities will react (if we don’t act). We will see more ‘cruise ships go home’ mentality. There will be no future if you don’t leave behind more than you take,” Hedda said.
Milo Boyd
Milo Boyd
Hedda spoke to the Mirror at a moment of unprecedented growth in the cruise industry. This year, the world’s largest cruise ship set sail after the industry brought in just shy of $80 billion in a year. That figure will hit $171 billion by 2035, according to one study.
Norway, where Hurtigruten is based, has seen a 70% increase in cruise traffic since 2019 – growth that Hedda calls “kind of overwhelming”.
“I am concerned, I am worried for Norway. It is a long coast, but it has small communities. The communities are overwhelmed by the size of the cruise and the number of visits every day. Local communities are more and more skeptical. 5,000 passengers are trying to fit into villages of 300 people.”
A major gripe among those living and working in busy cruise ship ports is how little passengers spend. Often they visit for a short period of time, see the public sights and then return to their all-inclusive ship.
“We (Norwegians) as a nation demand too little of the visitors and how much they leave behind. There are so many things you could do easily. We could ban heavy oil fuel along the coast. (Hurtigruten) banned it 15 years ago. There could be more restrictions on NOx emissions.
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“Hurtigruten has chosen to only use local suppliers. We get the local expertise, as well as quality food and drink. It is possible to impose requirements that, for example, 30% of the supplies must come from the nation you’re visiting.
“We have our own seaweed farm, which we use to make protein for food, soup and socks. It is a huge contrast to all-inclusive, vacuum-packed food.”
Hedda argues that the issue isn’t about growth generally but the wrong kind. Hurtigruten’s fleet has grown from seven to 10 ships over the last two years. In the future, the CEO hopes it can become less environmentally damaging. She also backs size limits on future ships.
“We want to create the world’s most energy-efficient product, as close to zero as possible. We want energy-efficient sails, solar panels powered by the midnight sun. My dream is that it will be ready by 2030,” Hedda said.
“We, clearly, need to restrict and reduce the building and size of new ships. We do not need more of the big cruise ships. They need to be a completely different environmental standard. If we managed that, it can be a good way of travelling. It has to be local value creation. If growth continues, it will be some years and then it will be completely banned. It will meet huge resistance.”
Not everyone is so pessimistic about the future of the cruise industry, however. Jonny Peat, head of cruise for Advantage Travel Partnership, is enthusiastic about the growth predicted for the coming years.
“The most striking number is that less than 3% of the leisure travel market is made up of cruise passengers. We’ve not even scratched the surface.”
Right now, 37 million passengers set sail on cruise ships worldwide each year. By 2028, that will hit 42 million. “Despite the fact that some people think there are too many ships, leisure cruise liners make up 1% of the overall maritime industry. Cruise isn’t going anywhere,” Jonny said.
Both cruise ship size and total number have rocketed in recent years. According to a Transport & Environment report, the number of cruise ships has increased more than twentyfold, from only 21 in 1970 to 515 vessels today.
Mamma Mia’s scene-stealer island is a top stop on a tall ship trip for Dave Monk, who visited the spot where Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan captured Abba movie magic in 2008
Dave hopped onboard the Star Clipper(Image: PR HANDOUT)
My singing abilities certainly aren’t up to Meryl Streep’s – or even Pierce Brosnan’s. But when I stood at the spot where the pair performed The Winner Takes It All in the 2008 Abba movie Mamma Mia!, I couldn’t help but hum the tune under my breath.
The chapel of St John, on the Greek island of Skopelos, perched 200 steps up on top of an outcrop, made the stunning backdrop when Streep, as Donna, sang the emotive melody to Brosnan – the Sam she thought had abandoned her 20 years earlier.
While the scenery is just as impressive, filmmakers created a new exterior for the church and filmed the interior shots elsewhere. Handrails have been put on the steepest half of the ascent to help the thousands of fans who visit every week.
The beach elsewhere on the island that was also used in the box office hit is a lot more crowded now – and missing the jetty that was built just for the set.
The island is visited by a lot of Mamma Mia fans(Image: Getty Images)
Even so, the visit was a highlight of a week’s voyage on the tall ship Star Clipper that combined ancient with modern. It began in Athens where, under a full moon, the sails on the four towering masts started to unfurl to the stirring music of Vangelis.
This was no ordinary cruise. As we ventured out on to the silvery sea in search of small islands, it was also a sail of the centuries back to the time when square riggers, barques and schooners ruled the seas.
There are no water slides or dodgem cars on these ships, only two small pools, a library, a couple of bars and a restaurant. The 126 passengers on our cruise – the ship can take 166 – spent their days learning how to read charts, tie knots or follow the stars. Or simply relaxing.
There’s a chance to climb the rigging, clamber out on to the bowsprit at the front of the ship, or even take a turn at the helm under the watchful eye of the captain. Even the 20 children on board – part of a large Belgian group – had fun swimming, playing board games andexploring.
On a choppy first night, with 10ft swells and 57mph winds, my wife Mandy and I rolled around on the cosy beds in our compact cabin. Getting to the en-suite bathroom felt like climbing a hill. The timbers were certainly shivering.
But with the throbbing heartbeat of the engine and the splashing of the waves, we were soon rocked back to sleep. By the time we had crossed the Aegean to reach Dikili in Turkey after a day at sea, the ocean had calmed.
Docked near the town centre, I took a coach to the ancient town of Pergamon, first its ruined hospital then the acropolis towering over the landscape.
Dave found out why so many passengers come back to the cruise(Image: DAILY MIRROR)
If you think psychotherapy is new, think again. The second-century doctors used to whisper at patients as they walked along a tunnel to encourage them to get better. The nearby Acropolis, which has an impressive amphitheatre, invented a new way of making paper, so Pergamon gave the world the word “parchment”.
The following morning we headed back to Greek waters but were unable to land at Lemnos as the waves were too high for our tender boats.
After another relaxing sea day we arrived at Skiathos, where I swam on a nearby islet that The Beatles once tried to buy. At night, back on the ship, I joined passengers to watch the Mamma Mia! movie on deck ahead of our visit to Skopelos the next day.
Our final stop was in Poros – and a trip to a nearby beach for watersports – before heading back to Athens. Of course, food is an important factor on any cruise and you don’t go short on Star Clipper, from buffet breakfasts and lunches to afternoon treats, ala carte dinner and even a midnightsnack.
One afternoon I had a massage – not in a swanky ship spa but in a metal cabin on the top deck. It was every bit as good. For the more active, the ship carried kayaks, paddleboards and snorkels– as well as Zodiac boats to make beach landings.
But even the main pool on board offered underwater views – windows in the sides and bottom looked into the Piano Bar above the dining room. The main meeting point was the al fresco Tropical Bar on the main deck opposite the library – the shaded deck space in between was used for meetings andyoga.
Much of the time we were able to sail totally under wind, giving a sense of how the ancient Greeks felt as they ventured out on odysseys.
While many cruise ships have lots of distractions, noise and lights, Star Clippers – which also owns a twin ship, Star Flyer, and a bigger sister, Royal Clipper – brings you back to the sea, sunsets and the stars. And each other.
The fact that our cruise was nearly 90% repeat guests shows they must be doing something right. When it comes to bragging rights to the most authentic holiday at sea– to paraphrase Abba – the clipper takes it all…
Book the holiday
Star Clippers offers a seven-night 2026 Sporades Highlights round trip cruise on Star Flyer from £1,893pp, departing from Piraeus (Athens) and calling at Dikili, Lemnos, Skiathos, Skopelos and Poros. Available on July 25, August 15, September 5 or 26. Flights extra. starclippers.co.uk
The world’s first cruise ship for solo travellers is set to sail in 2027 with a series of glamorous European sailings – and bookings have already opened
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The MS George Eliot will host the sailings
Solo travellers who want to book cruise holidays often have to face the likes of single supplements as cruise ships often have cabins that are designed for at least two people.
However, a new offering from Riviera Travel could be the answer to their problem, as the brand is launching the world’s first river cruise ship aimed exclusively at solo travellers.
MS George Eliot will set sail in 2027 on a series of European itineraries along the likes of the Rhine and Danube, with eight-day itineraries from £2,449pp, as well as two brand new 15-day itineraries.
The move comes after Riviera Travel saw a 66% year-on-year increase in solo river cruise bookings. In fact, solo travellers now make up nearly 13% of all bookings, with half of guests being repeat travellers.
The ship will sail in 2027 on itineraries exclusively for solo travellers
Research from the travel firm also found that 64% of solo travellers preferring a solo-exclusive trip, as they embrace the freedom of exploring alone while also having the option to travel with like-minded adventurers.
To celebrate the new launch, the company is offering holidaymakers a free upgrade from middle to upper deck on European river cruises departing in 2027 (excluding long-haul). You’ll need to book by the 31st October 2025, and travellers will need to use the code ‘Upgrade 27’. You can find out more on rivieratravel.co.uk.
It’s not the only new launch for the brand. Riviera Alba will also sail in 2027, and will be the first-ever ship outside Europe for the cruise brand, with itineraries along the Mekong River in Southeast Asia.
In the meantime, there are plenty more cruise ships to get excited about. Disney Cruise Line, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line and MSC Cruises have all revealed plans for new ships in 2027, although you’ll need to watch this space for updates on the names and exactly what passengers will get to enjoy onboard.
Legend of the Seas will be the third of the cruise line’s Icon Class ships, with the world’s biggest cruise ships Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas being the other two. It will be the first of this ship class to offer sailings around Europe on itineraries from the likes of Barcelona and Rome. Meanwhile with a passenger capacity of up to 5,628, this huge ship will boast the largest waterpark at sea, a 40ft-long FlowRider surf simulator, dazzling theatre shows, epic dining venues and plenty more for passengers to enjoy.
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British cruise line Ambassador Cruises are so confident of the value of their sailings, and the packed schedule of events and delicious variety of food onboard, they challenged me to have as much fun during a day out in London as I would onboard
We had breakfast at The Delaunay(Image: DAILY MIRROR)
What would you do if you had £338 to spend on a day out?
That’s the question Ambassador Cruises asked me, and the one I answered last month. The British cruise line’s people are so confident of the value of their sailings, and the packed schedule of events and delicious variety of food onboard, they challenged me to have as much fun during a day out in London as I would onboard.
Armed with £338 (the price of a night’s bed and board for two on an Ambassador ship), I began plotting a big day out in the English capital for my partner and myself, to put their value claims to the test, and to find out if going away on holiday is all a big waste of time and effort.
My philosophy was simple and borrowed classic present-giving wisdom: we’d plump for things we’d never normally do.
First up was breakfast in The Delaunay. If you’re looking to treat yourself to one of the best breakfasts of your life, then the Covent Garden-based all-day brasserie is the place to go. The grapefruits come sliced into segments and arranged into a bursting flower shape; the fried eggs are perfectly round; and the company, well-heeled lone men, seemingly from another century, reading broadsheets. £71 well spent on delicious food and a novel experience.
Next, we wandered up to London Zoo in Regent’s Park, where entry costs £38 per adult in peak season; which, on that particularly scorching August Saturday, it certainly was. Presumably, the Dudley Dursley imitators are out in lesser force on most days, as the banging on snake vivarium glass and screaming inches from a hanging sloth was relentless.
Beyond the beautiful gorilla babies Venus and Juno, and the excellently creepy bug house complete with a golden orb spider walk-through, there was little at the zoo I can recommend unless you like feeling a bit sad about nature.
Harbouring mixed feelings, we hopped on a bus to Soho and made for Tamarind Kitchen. The small plates restaurant specialises in seriously fancy curries and silver service. It’s a whole different kettle of fish than the poppadom-stacking, waistband-stretchingly plentiful curry houses you find on most UK high streets. We’re talking more tasting bowls of delicate vegetarian curries and £5 sparkling water than a chicken coop’s worth of tikka and a Tiger beer for £10. The damage: £106.
The mighty Ambience cruise ship(Image: PR HANDOUT)
The highlight of the day was next on the schedule and had us slapping down our cash in a hurry and heading to the South Bank for a performance of Nye at the National Theatre. Booked a week in advance, we’d managed to bag two tickets for £38 each. Every seat in the Olivier section of the theatre is excellent, meaning we had a wonderful view of Michael Sheen as he brought the story of the NHS founder to life.
From the lofty peak, things could only go downhill, and so they did. Our night ended with a rejection metres from the front door of Ronnie Scott’s, where our hour of queuing for the non-ticketed 11 p.m. jazz live show proved in vain. Four Negronis in Bar Termini down the road provided good solace for £44.
So how does all of this compare to a cruise?
The major difference is the one-destination nature of our jaunt. The joy of a cruise is most obvious when you wake in the morning and look outside to see a new city or country there, ready to explore. Another big tick in the cruise column is the value of accommodation.
Had my partner and I swapped our flat for one of London’s cheapest hotel rooms, it would’ve cost us at least £100. More likely, £150. As my colleague Sophie Harris discovered on a recent Ambassador sailing on Ambience from London Tilbury to the Netherlands, the junior suites are “gorgeous” and replete with a large dressing area and a balcony.
“The space was super comfortable and cosy, and the outdoor area was perfect for relaxing, breathing in the fresh sea air and watching the waves. We were also treated to fresh canapés every day, fresh fruit and a stocked mini fridge,” Sophie wrote.
Which brings us on to the consumables. Even with £338 bolstering your wallet, drinks in London do not feel cheap. Or certainly not as cheap as they do when ordered on an all-inclusive cruise package, whatever the total is once all is said and done. Food-wise, Ambience ’s Buckingham Restaurant and its 80s-themed night complete with prawn cocktail, chicken Kiev and baked Alaska won major praise from Sophie.
But it’s hard to imagine that the variety and quality of any cruise kitchen could match that on offer in the UK’s major towns and cities. Similarly, London theatres such as the National, Young Vic and Almeida are much more tempting than anything I’ve watched on a cruise ship.
That said, if you’re a Bucks Fizz or Fleetwood Mac fan, Ambassador’s cover shows will likely win your heart. “The live music and shows onboard Ambience were a highlight of my stay, and due to it being an 80s cruise, the themed evening entertainment was incredible,” Sarah concluded.
At the end of it all, I’d say honours are pretty even. But, if you’ve recently had your fill of cruising or a package break, why not try a “holiday at home”? It’s a great way to unearth new local delights and see a new side of where you live.
Cruise ships have plenty of entertainment for passengers but there’s one clever ‘blue mind effect’ that can be key to whether they feel calm while they’re on the ship
Cruises use a clever trick to help passengers feel happy and relaxed(Image: Getty Images)
Cruise holidays offer up plenty of opportunities for rest and relaxation whether that’s sitting poolside on the top deck, unwinding in the spa or tucking into some delicious food. Then of course there are all of the thrilling destinations to be explored whether you’re sailing along the Mediterranean coast or going in search of winter sun in the Caribbean.
Most people tend to feel happier or more relaxed on a holiday, but according to industry insiders, cruise ships use a clever tactic to try and maximise that feeling of joy for passengers.
It all comes down to the ‘blue mind effect’. This theory suggests that if you’re close to water or immersed in water, it can encourage a meditative and relaxed state of mind, and therefore play a key role in your wellbeing. Of course cruise ships are surrounded by water, and according to experts, cruise lines use this to their advantage.
The ‘blue mind effect’ is all about the effect of being near water(Image: Getty Images)
The insiders at Iglu Cruise explained: “Taking this into consideration, cruise ships are designed with as many positions to view the sea as possible. There are floor-to-ceiling windows in public areas offering uninterrupted views of the ocean, open decks to view the horizon and private balconies allowing passengers to have their own private “blue mind” sanctuary, and there’s nothing quite like falling asleep to the sound of the sea.”
The ‘blue mind effect’ isn’t the only way a cruise can offer up useful ways to boost your mental wellbeing. Another perk of being at sea is that in the middle of the ocean, you’re unlikely to get good signal. While most lines do offer up Wi-Fi packages for those who want to stay connected, if you’re after a digital detox then a cruise can be the ideal opportunity to take one.
In fact, according to Iglu Cruise, “it’s been found that a “digital detox” can reduce stress and anxiety, improve focus, improve sleep, decrease FOMO (fear of missing out) and deepen relationship”. Their experts added: “This newfound freedom whilst onboard, encourages disconnection from devices and instead, engaging with the surroundings, embracing the present moment and enjoying precious time with loved ones. It’s also the perfect justification for not feeling obliged to respond to people right away.”
Of course while it’s lovely to have some R&R, some holidaymakers also like a bit of adventure on their holidays, so the fact that you can visit multiple destinations on one holiday can appeal. Then there’s the upping of the ante when it comes to onboard entertainment from rollercoasters at sea to West End-worthy shows, and epic waterparks. With an increasing demand for entertainment at sea, new ships are bigger than ever before – and experts predict that they could soon be the size of small cities.
Sand’s End – Scandinavia’s seas and sights are an easy win for a no-fly cruise, says Nigel Thompson, who boarded Ambassador’s 1,400-passenger cruise ship Ambience
The ship is a “genuine showstopper”
My left foot is in the Baltic Sea, my right foot is in the North Sea and waves are dancing towards me from opposite directions. It’s wild, wonderful and a little weird as I step off what feels like the edge of the known world into the chilly water.
This is Grenen, in Denmark, at the tip of the Jutland peninsula where a 20-mile long sand spit narrows to nothing as it is swallowed up by the famously treacherous seas of the Skagerrak (North) and Kattegat (Baltic), which meet but do not mix due to differences in salinity, density and temperature (or possibly they are just neighbours who fell out over a boundary dispute). Not so much Land’s End, as Sand’s End.
My wife Debbie and I were on a tour from Ambassador’s 1,400-passenger cruise ship Ambience, which is docked in nearby Skagen, Denmark’s most northerly town.
It’s a smart, likeable place of yellow-hued, red-roofed homes, shops, hotels and restaurants, which draws two million visitors a year to see the Grenen spit, a church half-swallowed by the omnipresent sand, a fishing and lifeboat museum and memorial to the many lost sailors – and to paint in what is regarded as glorious light for artists.
The fishing port is one of Europe’s largest, it’s the chief local employer and we were amazed by the vast size of some of the trawlers. We’d joined the ship, built in 1991 and given a major refurbishment in 2022, for a voyage to Scandinavia (or should that be Sandinavia?) from the London International Cruise Terminal in Tilbury, Essex. The Art Deco building dates from 1930 and is Grade II listed.
Handily, it’s just a half-hour drive from home for us – Ambassador also offers many convenient regional sailings from ports such as Bristol, Newcastle, Liverpool and Dundee – and it was an absolute doddle with the car park and luggage drop, then a short stroll to the terminal.
It’s worth taking the time to check the displays on the Empire Windrush immigration ship from 1948 and mail and cargo manifests from more than a century ago when Tilbury served the empire by sea.
So, speedily processed in the terminal and cruise cards picked up, we had gone from car park to cabin in a very impressive 41 minutes. Beat that.
The cabin is the fanciest Nigel has stayed in
And when I say cabin I more mean Manhattan penthouse! I have lived in flats considerably smaller than this and with none of the luxuries such as Occidental amenities, two TVs, a bath and shower, lounge/diner, dressing room, minibar, a vast amount of storage space and a large balcony.
A genuine showstopper and easily the poshest cabin we’ve ever had in a cruise ship. And we’ve had a few. We were still taking it all in (and taking many photos) when the bags arrived, again super-speedy work, and our friendly steward Mario introduced himself and gave us the cabin tour.
Helpfully, all the plugs are three-pin British with USB ports and the tea is Tetley, with a coffee pod machine and daily refilled bottles of filtered water. With a sailaway at 5pm, we had time to explore the 70,285 gross tonnage ship to get our bearings and do musters then watch the journey down the Thames Estuary with a glass of Prosecco on the open deck. Later, we’d be back on deck to look at the vast, mesmerising North Sea wind farms.
After a leisurely sea day (admittedly we’d overslept with the clocks changing and entirely missed breakfast!), day two had us docking in Gothenburg, Sweden’s second-largest city. We’d booked an excursion to Marstrand island, former royal summer retreat of King Oscar II (an Oscar wild for women, apparently) around an hour up the coast from the port.
Ambience holds 1,600 passengers
The island is reached by just a 200-yard ferry journey to the pretty harbour with cobbled streets, upscale shops, cafes, taverns and restaurants. However, just past the (allegedly) randy king’s summer house is one of the most forbidding castles you’ll ever see.
Carlsten fortress dates from the mid-17th century, looks like it escaped from Game Of Thrones and we were not too surprised to learn it was also a prison. Our guide showed us the cells, the display of torture and execution instruments and the separate cells used for five years in solitary.
These are bleak beyond belief and one features a painting of horse and rider on a wall. What did the prisoner use for paint, you ask? His blood. What was his crime, you ask? He had publicly denounced Holy Communion. Harsh, those 17th-century Swedes.
We cheered ourselves up with a visit to the gallows in the keep then took in the view of the coast from the battlements.
Back on board, the avuncular and chatty Captain Egil, from Norway, was on the Tannoy that evening to tell us that the second stop in Sweden, Helsingborg, was now off-limits for cruise ships of a certain size (not that Ambience is particularly large by modern standards) so we would be staying in the Danish capital Copenhagen overnight and an extra day. Not the worst news we’d ever had.
The ship docks in the southern part of Copenhagen port and means a 30-minute stroll to the city centre, via the ‘‘The Most Photographed Woman in Denmark’’. Yes, of course the Little Mermaid statue, which is slightly underwhelming but draws huge crowds of tourists for that essential Copenhagen photo opp.
It’s a grand-looking city of canals, redbrick older buildings, some modern development around the port mostly, but overall such a handsome, clean place and a pleasure to walk around – not least as the numerous local cyclists actually stop at red lights and pedestrian crossings.
We’d been a couple of times before, but not to the world-renowned Tivoli Gardens, a jolly city centre oasis of ponds, gardens, bars and restaurants and 30-plus theme park rides.
That was first on the list and we sauntered around, whizzed on roller coasters, flying carpets and swings and wound down in the serene aquarium. Next day, another must-see beckoned – pretty Nyhavn, a canal flanked by colourful buildings which are home to numerous bars and restaurants. Here, you can join a canals and harbour boat tour and we enjoyed the hour pootling around with a guide telling us about the historic and modern architecture and those fascinating snippets you only get from alocal.
He recommended the Broens street food market across the harbour (there is a pedestrian/cycle bridge from Nyhavn) where we narrowed down an overwhelming choice to fish and chips, as that seemed to be what the locals were mostly having!
Our Copenhagen sailaway that night took us past Helsingborg and, across the strait in Denmark, Kronborg Castle, which was the setting (as Elsinore) for Hamlet.
Skagen and Sand’s End seen (we noted how the captain gave it a very wide berth), a sea day with a spa treatment and another night took us back to the Thames Estuary, where we docked at Tilbury at 8am, were off the ship to the car park via bag collection at 8.30am and home by 9.15am.
We had such an easy, enjoyable week away and did not have to go to the ends of the Earth to find it. Well, actually…
We visited the top-notch, main included, Buckingham restaurant on five nights and were superbly looked after by servers Adie and Noor with standout dishes including a roast beet tartare with goat’s cheese, walnuts and rocket, a beef Wellington and a roast pork belly.
Our only quibbles were a couple of the grilled fish dishes we had contained some small bones and we sometimes felt a bit rushed. The drinks package allowed us to have the premium Spanish wines, with the zingy rosé proving perilously good. Also included is the Borough Market buffet, which can be very busy at breakfast and lunch but we always found a seat and something we liked.
Ambience has two extra-charge speciality restaurants and our seven-course tasting menu at Sea & Grass was fabulous. As the name suggests, it showcases seafood and meat and the smoked salmon, mushroom soup and pulled lamb were especially memorable with superb presentation and service.
Curry house Saffron also impressed, with excellent kebab starters and Thali veggie dishes and tamarind prawn mains. Our cleared plates said it all. The Coffee House is the go-to for that caffeine fix (extra charge), while The Grill by the pool rustles up included hotdogs, burgers and pizzas.
Our favourite bar was the swish and popular Botanical, perfect for anaperitif accompanied by the delightful sounds of classical violin and piano pair Mystic Duo.Version:1.0 StartHTML:000000096 EndHTML:000003119 StartFragment:000000186
We had plenty of variety, including a shocking performance in the interactive pop quiz (at least the winner was on our table!) in the Purple Turtle pub, but better efforts in the natural world and decades quizzes.
In the main theatre, we loved a wryly amusing stage play based on infidelity and a video doorbell and a murder-mystery matinee set in 1963 Cold War Berlin with more smiles via witty audience participation.
Late-night action saw us at the Observatory lounge’s lively Abba night and the brilliant mash-up of all four house bands, which filled the dance floor.
Disney Cruise Line marked another milestone for their new cruise ship Disney Destiny set to sail in November with tributes to Hercules, the Lion King and Marvel
Julie standing in front of the shipyard before Disney Destiny was floated out
Disney Cruise Line marked another milestone its the expansion of its fleet as the latest of its cruise ships, Disney Destiny, was floated out earlier this week.
I was lucky enough to be invited to the Meyer Weft shipyard in Germany for the highly-anticipated event, which gave fans a first look at the 1,122ft-long ship, which is estimated to have cost up to $1.1billion (approx £743million) to build.
While a float out is a big deal for cruise lines, I wasn’t prepared for how much of an event it would turn out to be. My first clue was when we turned up to find that hundreds of locals had already been camping in the parking lot for days beforehand, and were already lining up near the shipyard’s riverbanks to get some of the best views of the ship.
Meyer Weft and Disney Cruise Line pulled out all the stops too; there were food and drink stalls, iconic Disney songs playing in the background, and of course those all-important fireworks when the ship made its grand appearance. Minnie Mouse herself made an appearance, dressed in a new superhero outfit in a nod to the artwork that features on the bow of the Destiny.
There was a general buzz of anticipation, and considering a float out takes a couple of hours, the atmosphere was impressive.
Disney Destiny will sail to the Bahamas in November
Although it was all a very smooth process, it was nail-biting to watch all the same. For a start, although the ship’s engines have been built and are powerful enough for the ship to move forward, these don’t actually get used because there’s such a small margin of error in terms of navigating the riverbank and space.
Instead, a tiny (well, tiny compared to the cruise ship) tug boat sailed out and was hooked up to the ship with ropes; and that turned out to be the way they would be dragging out the huge ship which boasts a 144,000 gross tonnage. The smaller boat slowly zig zagged as it pulled the Disney Destiny out of the construction hall. There were only a few metres either side with room for error, so precision was key, and I felt nervous for the captain whose responsibility it was to ensure that the ship stayed well away from the sides!
The huge cruise ship gets pulled by a small tug boat
There were around four or five shipyard workers who also walked along the edge of the riverbank, reportedly to keep an eye out in case the ship got too close, and to help assist the smaller boat with ropes.
Luckily, they knew what they were doing and the ship was floated out seamlessly, with fireworks and pyrotechnics going off once it had officially left the hall, as well as a new upbeat song being unveiled that will be the ship’s anthem.
As for the Disney Destiny itself, there’s going to be plenty for Mickey Mouse fans to get excited about. A sister ship to the Disney Wish and Disney Treasure, this new addition to the fleet boasts a ‘heroes and villains’ them complete with a Cruella De Vil themed bar, a Marvel lounge inspired by the Sanctum from Doctor Strange, and a Pirates of the Caribbean themed pub.
Disney Destiny will sail on her maiden voyage on November 20, 2025 from Fort Lauderdale, with itineraries to The Bahamas and Western Caribbean. You can get more details about the ship and book sailings at disneycruise.disney.go.com. You can also find out more about the shipyard at meyerwerft.de.
The Villa Vie Odyssey will spend that time going round and round the world, stopping off at glamorous ports across the globe. Among those onboard in Californian resident Sharon Lane
11:36, 01 Jul 2025Updated 11:38, 01 Jul 2025
Sharon Lane is currently cruising around the world (Image: Sharon Lane)
A woman plans to spend the rest of her life on a cruise ship.
The moment that Sharon Lane stepped onto the Villa Vie Odyssey cruise ship in mid-June, she felt full of joy and relieved. The 77-year-old had been plotting to exchange her life on land for life at sea for a long time, and has now signed up to spend at least the next 15 years on the ship.
The Villa Vie Odyssey will spend that time going round and round the world, stopping off at glamorous ports across the globe. The ship is not like a typical cruise liner in that most passengers are long-term residents. Very few hop on for a quick jaunt around the Mediterranean, instead signing up for good, or at least the estimated 15-year lifetime of the vessel.
“I buy the cabin, I live in the cabin, and that’s it. And then there’s no end,” Sharon told CNN. She used her life savings to buy the cabin last year and, after a delay of several months, set sail on her new life at the end of September 2024 when the Odyssey cruised through her hometown of San Diego.
The Villa Vie had a tough start to its latest sailing(Image: Liam McBurney/PA Wire)
For Sharon, she was tempted by the chance to see the world, but also to meet intriguing people. Villa Vie Residences’ CEO Mikael Petterson explained: “We have a very diverse community including a Nobel Peace Prize winner, a White House chief of staff, an astronaut, and many scientists and doctors onboard who share their knowledge and experiences.”
If you’re interested in joining them, then the good news is that there are still cabins available. The bad news is that they don’t come cheap.
The lowest cost accommodation is an ‘inside’ cabin that is going for $129,000 (£93,000) for 15 years, with an extra $2,000 (£1,495) per person monthly fee for double occupancy, and $3,000 (£2,180) for single occupancy. If those prices stay the same, a single occupancy cruiser would fork out £392,400 in cabin fees alone across 15 years.
The figure is low in comparison to the World, however, which is the only other cruise ship currently at sea. Prices for that begin at $2.5 million.
Included in the deal are food and soft drinks, alcohol at dinner, Wi-Fi, medical visits, 24/7 room service, weekly housekeeping, and bi-weekly laundry service.
“I don’t have to do my laundry anymore. I don’t have to do grocery shopping. Living on the ship is much less expensive than living in Southern California,” Sharon said.
Villa Vie owners can rent their cabin out to others, which means short-term passengers can still come and go from the Odyssey.
The Odyssey usually stops in each port for a couple of days, where optional shore excursions are organized for an additional fee. The eight-deck Odyssey can accommodate 924 people, but it has been reconfigured and streamlined to a roomier 450.
The voyage did not get off to a smooth start, as the ship became stranded in Belfast for four and a half months last year. The Odyssey arrived in the Northern Ireland capital back in May 2024 to be outfitted before it was scheduled to sail off on the 30th of that month.
Unfortunately, due to issues with the rudders and gearbox, the vessel ended up staying put for four and a half long months. On September 30, by which point spring and summer had given way to early autumn, the Odyssey and its 125 passengers set sail. However, it didn’t get very far, docking just a few miles outside of Belfast while a few final pieces of paperwork were completed.
Finally, on October 3, the ship set sail, to the great relief and joy of passengers who will likely never forget the bumpy beginning of their once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Unfortunately, this was far from the end of their troubles…
The infamous ‘Poop Cruise’ – where passengers were left stranded without any power and had to poo in bags – made global headlines back in 2013 as the chaos unfolded
Kendall Jenkins kisses the ground after stepping off the Carnival ship Triumph at the Alabama Cruise terminal(Image: AFP/Getty Images)
Netflix documentary series Trainwreck explores some of the most bizarre, jaw-dropping, and at times downright revolting events in recent history. One particularly unforgettable episode focuses on a maritime disaster that made global headlines: the infamous “Poop Cruise”.
In February 2013, the Carnival Triumph cruise ship set sail from Galveston, Texas, with more than 4,000 passengers and crew onboard, bound for a leisurely four-day Caribbean getaway. But the holiday quickly unravelled into chaos.
On the third day, a fire erupted in the aft engine room. Though the blaze was quickly extinguished and no injuries were reported, it critically damaged the ship’s main power systems. The Triumph was left drifting in the Gulf of Mexico without propulsion, or basic functioning utilities.
Passengers laying on mattresses on the third deck of the ship (Image: AFP/Getty Images)
With the power out, vital systems failed, including air conditioning, refrigeration, and most importantly, the sewage and sanitation infrastructure. What followed was a nightmare.
Toilets stopped working. Raw sewage began leaking into hallways and cabins, filling the ship with a stench described by passengers as unbearable. Many were forced to relieve themselves in plastic bags and red biohazard bags, as bathrooms became unusable.
With the air conditioning offline, temperatures inside soared, making the interior suffocatingly hot and humid. Dozens of passengers chose to sleep on open decks just to escape the heat and foul odours.
Food quickly became scarce. Without refrigeration, the crew did what they could, serving cold sandwiches and sparse meals often consisting of little more than bread and vegetables. Water was rationed, and tensions steadily rose.
Although communication with the outside world was limited, word of the ship’s grim conditions quickly spread. Images of the stranded vessel and its desperate passengers went viral, drawing international media attention.
Images from the stranded vessel went viral(Image: SWNS)
After five gruelling days, the Carnival Triumph was finally towed to port in Mobile, Alabama, bringing an end to the ordeal, but not to the controversy.
In the aftermath, investigations uncovered troubling details. CNN obtained documents showing only four of the ship’s six generators were functioning before departure, and that Carnival had prior knowledge of both fire hazards and fuel line issues. Records revealed nine separate fuel line incidents in just two years, raising serious questions about the company’s maintenance practices and safety protocols.
As lawsuits mounted and scrutiny of the cruise industry intensified, Carnival found itself in damage control.
Then-President and CEO Gerry Cahill issued a public apology, saying: “I want to again apologise to our guests and their friends and families. The situation on board was difficult and we are very sorry for what has happened. We pride ourselves on providing our guests with a great vacation experience and clearly we failed in this case.”
Kimberly Townsend, a 54-year-old mother of two and grandmother of three, was among 31 passengers who sued Carnival, holding the company accountable for what they describe as a disastrous voyage.
The cruise liner eventually docked in Alabama (Image: Getty Images)
In her testimony, Townsend gave a vivid and emotional account of the harrowing days spent aboard the disabled ship stranded in the Gulf of Mexico. She described terrified passengers crowding the decks, worried for their safety, while foul-smelling toilets overflowed into hallways. There was no power, near-total darkness, long waits for limited water, and a severe lack of food.
Townsend recalled finally managing to reach her mother by phone once the crippled ship was towed into Mobile, Alabama – arriving days late from what was meant to be a dream vacation. She told the court she had begged her mother to come get her right away. As she recounted the moment, her voice faltered, she looked down, and began to sob in the witness chair.
She was one of several passengers from the Carnival Triumph who took the stand, some breaking down in tears, as they spoke about the ordeal and the emotional toll that still lingers a year later.
Passengers slept outside to escape the smell (Image: SWNS)
“I did not get physically injured. I got mentally injured,” testified Jean Cripps, a 74-year-old grandmother who suffers from Parkinson’s disease. She went on the cruise with her husband, Alton, who has diabetes and a hurt leg that forced him to retire disabled. The elderly couple was on the cruise as a present from their son, David, and grandson, Easton, who went with them.
“It never ends, the whole experience never ends,” testified Cripps. “It’s over and over again. We had two good days,” she said, referring to the first days of the cruise.
“But that’s not what I think about. I think about the smell, the stench and the bad things. All the memories come flooding back, and I can’t stop them.”
Among the worst memories, Cripps testified, was the fear that the ship, which listed severely after the fire, would actually turn over and sink.
“It was a horrible experience,” testified Michelle Key, 48, who went on the cruise with her mother, Fleda Key, 68. “I walked through water and faeces and urine, no telling what else,” she testified. “We would slip and slide through greasy, gross, slippery muck,” she said, adding “it was very difficult” for her mother.
Fleda Key described having terrible diarrhoea on numerous occasions and having difficulty finding any toilets that were not overflowing.
“There was lots of urine and faeces all the way up to the rim of every one,” she said, explaining she “choked away the smell”. Like many of the witnesses, she testified that she lived for days in total fear that they might not finish the voyage alive. “I was fearful, downright afraid and scared,” said Fleda.
Fred Olsen cruise line has launched a huge summer sale and Brits can currently get free drinks packages on a host of sailings in 2025 including Northern Lights cruises
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The deal is valid on over 40 sailings
Brits planning cruise holidays this year may want to check out Fred. Olsen’s latest summer sale, as the cruise line is currently offering a tempting deal with drinks.
Cruises already include plenty such as your food, accommodation and travel, but if you want drinks, these usually come at an extra cost on the majority of cruise lines. A drinks package can be a great way of being able to indulge in a tipple or two without having to worry about the size of your bill at the end of the holiday, but these also come at an extra cost.
However, Fred. Olsen is currently offering free drinks packages on over 40 sailings in 2025. That will include a range of house beers, spirits, wines and soft drinks too.
Holidaymakers who book by June 25, 2025, will be able to enjoy the free drinks, worth £24.99 per person per night (or if you’re booking five-night cruises, worth £35.99 per person, per night).
The sale applies to over 40 sailings across its three ships
You can already book on the Fred Olsen website, and there’s an impressive array of itineraries included whether you’re hoping to make the most of the summer sun on a sailing to Spain, or have a bucket-list-worthy winter and go in search of the Northern Lights.
There’s more good news as the sailings are across all three of its ships – Bolette, Borealis and Balmoral – with a range of UK departure ports including Southampton, Dover, Portsmouth, Liverpool, Newcastle and Rosyth (Edinburgh).
Whatever cruise itinerary you’re eyeing up, according to one cruise insider there are six items you should always pack before heading to the ship. One top tip? Packing both a backpack for your onshore excursions, but also a smaller evening bag for around the ship so you can carry a few essentials whether heading to dinner, a show or even just enjoying a trip to the bar.
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A card holder is also another essential item, although if you book a package that includes your drinks, gratuities and service charges, then you may not need to think too much about additional costs throughout the holiday!
Meanwhile, sun-seeking Brits may want to keep an eye out for itineraries featuring Cartagena in Spain, after the beautiful city was named the sunniest in Europe. The historic port city, which is a popular stop for cruise ships, boasts a plethora of gorgeous architecture, as well as impressive museums and an eye-catching Roman amphitheatre. Unsurprisingly, it’s a firm favourite with history and culture fans as well the foodies who flock to the city to indulge in some of that mouthwatering Spanish food. (Tapas and wine, anyone?).
The cruise hotspot is underrated, with most tourists opting for the likes of Alicante or Murcia instead, so one of the benefits of visiting is that it doesn’t always have the huge crowds found in other spots in peak months (although on a shore day, you might find it a little busier because of the cruise crowds).
