Stowaway October 2023

November 2023
STOWAWAY
Day out in
Porto
FIRST GLIMPSE OF
EXPLORA I
StowawayMedia.com

CONTENTS
3
Cruise is the most innovative sector of the travel industry, with something new
always around the corner. No wonder dedicated cruisers keep coming back.
We have lots for you to discover in this issue, including reports from Marella
Voyager and a Nicko cruise on the Douro River. Plus what's new on Princess Cruises'
superb Sun Princess and Star Princess. We also investigate what to see and do
during a pre or post-cruise stay in Piraeus.
Enjoy!
Keith Ellis Publisher
kmellis@btinternet.com
31
Offers page
REGULARS
4 IN FOCUS
Port and cruise news in pictures
18 A DAY OUT IN PORTO
There’s plenty to enjoy in
Portugal’s second city
26
FEATURES
20 QUEEN OF THE DOURO
Jane Archer discovers the joys of
sailing Portugal’s Douro River with
Nicko Cruises
28 NEW KID IN TOWN
Luxury clients are even more
spoiled for choice with the launch
26 PRESS PAUSE IN… PIRAEUS
The port town has cool hotels,
20
of Explora Journeys
beautiful marinas, restaurants,
beaches, shopping and the Greek
capital on the doorstep
31 PLAYING A BLINDER
Discover the secrets (or some of
them at least) of Marella Cruises’
Marella Voyager
34 PORT PROFILE
Memories of the Titanic and great
explosion of 1917 in Halifax
SPONSORED
36 PORT PROFILE
Discover a slice of France
in Québec
16
16 COME FEEL THE LOVE
With two spectacular new ships on
the horizon, there are even more
reasons for guests to fall in love with
Princess Cruises
Published by
Stowaway Publications
10 Tadorne Road, Tadworth
KT20 5TD Surrey
+44 (0)7802 256275
24 FOR YOUR DINING PLEASURE
Oceania Cruises’ new ship Vista hits
all the right notes when it comes to
décor, design and dining
Written and Edited by:
Jane Archer
Janearc@aol.com
Creative
Oddsock Design
Andrew@oddsockdesign.com
Front cover image:
The Douro River in Porto. Photo: Jane Archer
24
STOWAWAY

4 IN FOCUS
IN FOCUS
5
Discover
A river ship to Enjoy
River cruise specialist Viva Cruises has joined Clia to help raise agents’ awareness of the
brand. It has also announced it is launching a new ship, Viva Enjoy, in September 2024 to
expand its presence on the Danube.
The vessel, a sister to recent new builds Viva One and Viva Two (pictured), will be based
in Vienna and sail four, five and seven-night cruises that visit towns and cities including
Esztergom and Budapest in Hungary, Bratislava in Slovakia and Linz and Melk in Austria.
Viva Cruises launched in 2018, is based in Dusseldorf, Germany, and has a fleet of eight
river ships that cater for both German and English-speaking passengers. Fares include
unlimited drinks, Wi-Fi and tips.
The Gateway to Alaska
Save time to explore Washington State
www.portseattle.org | www.seattlecruisealaska.co.uk
SEPTEMBER 2023 | STOWAWAY MEDIA
STOWAWAY

IN FOCUS
7
Design of the times
Looks like a hip hotel rooftop in the South of France doesn’t it? Actually this is the sundeck on Silver
Nova, the new Silversea ship that launched on the cruise scene in August with the world’s first
asymmetrical design. In a nutshell, it means they have opened up one side of the ship, resulting, as seen
here, with the pool being positioned to the side of the vessel instead of in the middle, as is traditional.
Game-changing is an overused word in this industry, but in this instance it is spot on.
STOWAWAY

8 IN FOCUS
IN FOCUS
9
Cruise and stay
with Riviera
Riviera Travel has launched a selection of 10-night
Athens and Greek Islands cruise-and-stay holidays
that pair three nights in the Greek capital with seven
nights island-hopping around the Aegean Sea on
Celestyal Journey, the former Holland America Line
ship joining Celestyal Cruises’ fleet in September
2023. Five departures are on offer between April and
September 2024. Optional tours to the Acropolis and
Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion (pictured) are
on offer during the Athens stay.
Down by the Riverside
Fledgling river cruise line Riverside Luxury Cruises has brought its style of ultra-luxury sailing
to the RhÔne and SaÔne Rivers in France with the launch of Riverside Ravel. The vessel holds
110 passengers and has butlers for all. There are four places to eat, including a day-time bistro
and roof-top barbecue, and an indoor swimming pool. Riverside Ravel is sailing three to 14-night
cruises. Premium all-inclusive prices cover drinks, tips, excursions and room service.
The Eagle
has landed
American Eagle, the first of a new
class of coastal cats being built
by American Cruise Lines, has
entered service in New England.
The 100-passenger vessel has been
designed specially to be able to get
into smaller ports and harbours
along the US coast. It is currently
sailing eight-day cruises along the
coast of Maine round-trip from
Portland. Three more coastal cats
under construction are due to launch
in the next 12 months.
NOVEMBER 2023 | STOWAWAY MEDIA
STOWAWAY

10 IN FOCUS
MSC Euribia is
Southampton
bound
Kids of all ages are promised a
splash-tastic time in the aquapark
on MSC Cruises’ new flagship MSC
Euribia. The vessel made history when
it launched in June by sailing from
France to Copenhagen on cow dung.
The ship has a new Helios wine bar, grill
restaurant and exclusive Yacht Club. It
will be sailing mainly seven-night no-fly
cruises for the British market from
Southampton to Holland, Germany,
Belgium and France this winter.
Best of Jamaica. On Repeat.
Best of Jamaica. On Repeat.
Montego Bay | Falmouth | Ocho Rios | Port Antonio | Port Royal
Montego Bay | Falmouth | Ocho Rios | Port Antonio | Port Royal
@cruisejamaica
@cruisejamaica
Cruise Jamaica
Cruise Jamaica
Zadar sights and sounds
The old town of Zadar, in Northern Croatia, pictured here from the cruise port, sits on a narrow peninsula, packs in Roman and Byzantine
remains, a beautiful cathedral, museums of archaeology, illusions and religious art, and restaurants and cafés galore. It is also the only
place in the world with a sea organ that’s played by the movement of the ocean. Next to it, the Greeting to the Sun is charged by 300 solar
panels by day and lights up after dark. If cruise lines need an excuse to stay in port overnight, that is surely it.
@portauthorityja
NOVEMBER 2023 | STOWAWAY MEDIA

CARTAGENA
13
To arrive at Cartagena is to enter Spain fully... to enjoy
the best of an entire country, without ever leaving this
region where the sun -and time itself- have mellowed
each little corner into a unique treasure
Vestiges of a thousand-year-old culture, gastronomy
that prides itself on excellence in every dish, the best
beaches for enjoying water sports all year round, a
different form of leisure living, popular and religious
festivals... No place offers more Spain than this
unique port: the Port of Cartagena
Brought to you by the Mediterranean
Powered by Spain
Cartagena’s cruise port
offers more ashore.
Over the centuries many of the Spanish port of Cartagena’s buildings of earlier
years have been replaced or simply built over. The amphitheatre, built by the
Romans in the first century, was finally buried beneath the nineteenth century
bullring, although before that in the eighteenth century, what was called the
Autopsy Room was added to the amphitheatre by the adjacent former military
hospital for medical teaching and research. Reconstruction of a contemporary
Autopsy Room as part of the restored amphitheatre forms part of a city plan to
create the new Cartagena museum.
A somewhat contrasting memory of Roman
occupation is the liquer Licor 43, first created the
Romans and still made by the Zamora Group in Spain.
As part of Cartagena City’s ongoing programme to
develop the port area as an historic and cultural
centre for cruise passengers, Zamora Group are
adding a new port building with a shop, a cafeteria,
a show cooking area and a restaurant managed by
two Michelin star chef Gonzalez Conegero. It will be
possible also to take a guided tour to the Zamora
Group factory and take part in Experience 43,
including a visit the museum and to see how Licor 43
is still lovingly created.
Plug in power for cruise ships.
Future plans for Cartagena will include the supply of electric power to run ships’
engines while in port, to save fuel costs and more important, to result in cleaner air
for the city.
CRUISE CALENDAR
Cruise lines calling into Cartagena
in 2024 will include:
Azamara
Carnival Cruise Line
Celebrity Cruises
Crystal Cruises
Cunard
Disney
Explora
Fred Olsen
Holland America Line
Marella
Norwegian Cruise Line
P&O Cruises
Ponant
Princess Cruises
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Ritz-Carlton
Royal Caribbean International
Sea Cloud
Seabourn
Silversea
Windstar Cruises
STOWAWAY

14 BROUGHT TO YOU BY PRINCESS CRUISES
BROUGHT TO YOU BY PRINCESS CRUISES
15
love
Come feel the
What’s new on Sun
and Star Princess
With two spectacular new ships on the horizon, there are even more
reasons for guests to fall in love with Princess Cruises.
Clockwise from top: There’s a new exclusive
sun deck for guests in cabana staterooms;
the redesigned theatre has seating around
the stage; Cirque Éloize will be performing
in the dome.
It’s hard to imagine a more iconic cruise line
than Princess. Its ships are glamorous, the
food and service are exemplary, the itineraries
take guests to all seven continents on wellrehearsed
itineraries and there’s something
for everyone on board, whether aged seven or
seventy. No wonder the line has so many UK
cruise fans.
But don’t get the impression this is a line to
rest on its laurels. The company has always
been a leader when it comes to innovation
and right now it is innovating on speed. There
are two revolutionary new ships launching
with thrilling family activity zones, huge
domes and a fresh take on entertainment.
The line has also refreshed its dining options
and introduced cruise holidays that will get
every guest’s bucket-list bursting.
Phew. Just trying to keep up with it all is
a challenge.
February 2024 is the first date to note
in the diary. That’s when Sun Princess – the
largest ship built for Princess Cruises –
launches. And while you’re there, add August
2025, as that’s when sister ship Star Princess
makes its debut.
Both are game-changers for Princess
Cruises, holding 4,300 guests and with
amazing new public spaces, dining options
and new accommodation categories with
exclusive deck access and restaurant perks
(see box, right).
Park 19 is an action-packed new family
zone debuting on decks 19, 20 and 21 where
guests can climb between decks, stand on
an open-air lookout at the top of the ship, go
jogging, join fitness classes or kick back in a
hammock. Those with a head for heights can
harness up and take on a ropes course or the
first-ever roller-gliding ride at sea that ‘flies’
them around a track high above the ship at up
to 11mph.
In a new multi-level glass dome, guests can
relax by day and enjoy evening entertainment
staged by Montréal-based Cirque Éloize. Three
shows have been created for Sun Princess
– Blue, Come Fly Away and Artbeat – all
pairing breath-taking acrobatic and aerial
performances with music, dance, technology
and theatre. Take a seat (there’s no charge
but it’s first come, first served) and prepare
to be wowed.
Both ships will also feature O’Malley’s, an
Irish pub that debuted this year on Enchanted
Princess, and have new sushi and teppanyaki
restaurants. Enchanted was also the first
vessel to get The Catch, a seafood eatery
created by chef Rudi Sodamin, Princess’ head
of culinary arts. It has since been rolled out
to Majestic and Sky Princess, and opens on
Discovery Princess in the autumn.
Mediterranean anniversary
Getting on board Sun and Star Princess could
not be easier. Sun Princess will be based in
the Mediterranean in summer 2024, and both
ships will be there in summer 2025 – a very
special year for Princess Cruises as it marks
40 years since the line started sailing in the
region (to celebrate, another four Princess
ships will be in Europe that year - Majestic
Princess also in the Mediterranean and Sky,
Emerald and Regal Princess sailing from
Southampton).
For those who fancy venturing further
afield, exciting new Ultimate Alaska voyages
from San Francisco and Seattle in summer
2025 take their place alongside Princess
Cruises’ seven-night round-trip sailings from
Vancouver and Seattle, and signature Voyage
of the Glaciers sailings between Vancouver
and Whittier that pair nicely with land tours
deeper into the 49th state.
In South America, four new 17-day Antarctic
voyages round-trip from Buenos Aires take
guests penguin-spotting in the icy waters of
the White Continent (departures December
1 and 18 2024 and January 4 and 20 2025),
while a 51-day grand adventure departing
December 1 2024 circles South America and
includes overnight stays in Lima, Buenos Aires
and Rio de Janeiro.
✔ A top-of-the-ship glass dome
(above) for relaxation by day and
entertainment after dark.
✔ Park 19 family entertainment zone.
✔ Patio-style cabana staterooms
with exclusive access to a private
outside deck.
✔ An Irish bar and sushi and teppanyaki
restaurants.
✔ New-look theatre where the audience
sits around the stage.
✔ A redesigned piazza to create an
alternative entertainment venue.
✔ Signature suites with exclusive access
to a private restaurant, lounge and
deck space.
✔ An option for guests in mini-suites
and cabanas to upgrade to Reserve
Collection perks including access to
a private restaurant.
Love it, cruise it
Romance has been in the air at
Princess ever since it starred in the
US TV show Love Boat back in the
1960s. In a fresh take on the theme,
the line invites travellers to Come
Feel the Love, emphasising all that
makes it such a classic brand – the
service, the value, the choice of
destinations. “There’s so much on
offer with Princess, both onboard
and ashore, no matter what you love,
you’ll find it with us,” says Princess
Cruises vice-president UK and Europe
Eithne Williamson.
NOVEMBER 2023 | STOWAWAY MEDIA
STOWAWAY

RIVER CRUISING
17
Douro
Focus on the
Shining debut
for Sun Princess and Star Princess
Our sensational Sphere Class ships, Sun Princess and Star Princess make their debuts
in the Mediterranean in February 2024 and August 2025, respectively. Powered by
LNG technology and carrying 4,300 guests, these sisters will feel familiar, yet unique.
They feature the new Dome, out-of-the-world views in the Piazza, Signature Collection
Suites and exceptional new experiences including new food and beverage concepts,
an expanded casino, and a two-storey Lotus Spa.
The countdown is on to fi nd your next dream cruise!
SCAN TO FIND OUT
MORE ABOUT OUR
LATEST OFFERS
P18 - Day out in Porto
P20 - Cruising the Douro
Picturesque: The Douro River at Pinhão
STOWAWAY

18 DAY OUT IN… PORTO
DAY OUT IN… PORTO
19
Day out in…
Porto
Take the kids
If the interactive World of Discoveries museum with its stories of daring-do and boat ride
through the history of Portuguese exploration doesn’t do it for the youngsters, a day out
enjoying the miles of beach on Porto’s Atlantic coast surely will.
Spend some time in Portugal's second largest city.
PORTO
•
Don't miss
•
VILA NOVA
DE GAIA
DOURO RIVER
Vila Nova de Gaia is home to five
companies that between them own 40
brands of the famous fortified wine that
took its name from the city of Porto. A tour
and tasting in one of the port wine cellars
is a must.
Where is it?
Stay for lunch
Porto, in the north of Portugal, is doubly
blessed when it comes to cruising. First it
is the start and end city for river cruises
on the Douro. Second, ocean-going ships
tie up just six miles out of town, at Leixões.
Passengers can take the 500 bus straight
into the city. River ship dock in Vila Nova
de Gaia and usually spend at least a day in
the city. River cruisers can walk into Porto
over the Dom Luis I bridge, crossing on
either the lower or higher level (they need
to take the cable car to get to the higher
level). The city is built on hills but walkable;
hop-on, hop-off buses are an easier way to
get around.
Rua das Flores has some fine street
cafés selling pastéis de nata custard tarts
and other Portuguese pastries. Porto’s
historical Ribeira district has wall-to-wall
restaurants with great views of the river
but is rather touristy. Try Enche O Banduho
in Rua de Vera Cruz for authentic tapas,
friendly service and reasonable prices.
GO WITH
River cruise lines*
AmaWaterways | APT
Spend the morning
Go back for
Avalon Waterways (new in 2024)
CroisiEurope | Emerald Cruises
Nicko Cruises | Riviera Travel
Saga Cruises | Scenic | Tauck
Uniworld River Cruises
CLIA members on sale in the UK only
For a list of ocean cruise lines visiting Porto,
see pxxx
It’s not often a railway station is on the
must-see list, but then you don’t usually
find one as beautifully decorated as São
Bento. Some 22,000 blue-and-white tiles
(called azulejos) tell the city’s history.
Climb 225 steps up the 75-metre-high
Torre dos Ciérigos for views over the city. It
starts with an easy route through Ciérigos
Church before the final 147 winding steps
to the top.
Hop on a traditional rabelo boat for a
scenic cruise on the Douro under the Six
Bridges – including the iconic Dom Luis
I crossing - that link Porto and Vila Nova
de Gaia.
Buy a ticket and join the queue of JK
Rowlings fans waiting to enter the world
of Hogwarts at the Livraria Lello & Irmão
bookshop that’s said to have inspired the
Harry Potter books.
Get active
Swop sightseeing on foot for a guided
bike tour of the city. Given the steep
hills, an e-bike is highly recommended.
Alternatively, prepare to get wet, wet, wet
on a jetboat ride along the Douro. Handbrake
stops that shower passengers with
water are de rigueur.
NOVEMBER 2023 | STOWAWAY MEDIA
STOWAWAY

20 RIVER CRUISING
RIVER CRUISING
21
Queen of the Douro
The Douro Queen in Pinhão.
Below: View over the rooftops of Salamanca
from the cathedral tower.
Below left: Salamanca market.
Caption
Spectacular cities, hill-top villages and plenty of wine. Jane Archer discovers
the ups and ups of cruising the Douro River in Portugal.
Luis Barros, the owner of Quinta da
Avessada, is telling us in his own
inimitable Mr Bean way how the vineyards
in the Douro Valley were wiped out in the
late 1800s by a flying beasty called grape
phylloxera. Livelihoods were ruined and it
could have been the end of the grapegrowing
industry in Northern Portugal.
The Mateus Palace features on the label
of Mateus Rosé
Cue tears. But not for long because the
story has a happy ending. Vine root stocks
brought from the US and resistant to the
bug were transplanted into the Douro
Valley and once again the rolling hills
were alive with green gold mines.
I’m lunching at the quinta, a Portuguese
winery high above the Douro Valley, on day
three of a voyage along the Douro River
with Nicko Cruises. We’re sailing from the
city of Porto to Barca d’Alva, a small town
on the border between Portugal and Spain
that is as far as river ships can navigate
so after an overnight and day trip to the
beautiful Spanish city of Salamanca, we’ll
turn round and cruise back to Porto.
It’s a relaxing journey that over the
course of a week delves into the region’s
history, culture and wine (a tasting in a
port wine cellar? Oh OK, if you insist) on a
variety of complimentary tours, delivers
on spectacular scenery as we sail past
lush green vineyards, rolling hills and
sheer cliffs, and spends time in Porto at
both the start and end of the cruise so
we can ride the old trams, visit the beach,
check out the museums or grab a table in
a riverside restaurant and try some local
dishes (A day out in Porto, p20).
We’re sailing on the Douro Queen, a
river ship small enough to squeeze into
the five deep locks that allow vessels to
pass dams built last century to calm the
Douro’s wild rapids and make life easier
for the wine-growers, who risked life and
limb transporting their grapes by boat to
Porto. Thing is, along with the locks came
roads and railways so they didn’t need to
ship goods on the river anymore. It could
have been an unholy waste of money but
for a smart entrepreneur with an eye for
an opportunity. And thus river cruising on
the Douro was born.
First stop after leaving Porto is Pinhão,
a useful jumping off point for Quinta da
Avessada, where the Barros family has
been growing grapes for more than 100
years, and, once suitably wined, dined and
entertained by Luis, an excursion to the
Mateus Palace.
You’ll recognise it as the place on the
label of Portugal’s Mateus Rosé wine. Not
that Mateus wine is grown here. Selling
rights to use the image was a shrewd
commercial deal the palace’s owner
struck with the wine company, making
both Mateus and the mansion famous in
the process.
The Portuguese say weather in the
Douro Valley is three months of winter
and nine months of hell. I’ve come in hell,
which is my idea of heaven, with hot,
sunny days, warm nights and blue skies
all the way. Just perfect for our morning
of cruising next day as we head upstream
to Barca d’Alva and for an afternoon tour
to Castelo Rodrigo, a tiny medieval village
perched high on a hill with a ruined castle
and just 40 inhabitants.
“Most people moved to newer towns
down below for an easier life,” our guide
Joana tells us. As everywhere you want
to go in the village is either a steep up or
steep down, I get their logic.
Joana is one of two guides sailing with
us on the Douro Queen and is in charge
of the dual language bus, explaining
everything in German and English (there
are two Brits, two Americans and two
Poles on this cruise), which does make the
explanations rather long.
Next day we’re up early for the twohour
drive to Salamanca, known as
the Golden City because its sandstone
buildings glint in the sun. We’ve got
a free couple of hours – just time to
climb the cathedral tower – before a
tapas lunch, flamenco show and a quick
guided tour taking in the baroque Plaza
Mayor and a peek inside the old and new
cathedrals (actually climbing the tower
that morning gave us the best views
inside). The two buildings are connected
inside and although the new one is bigger
and more impressive, the locals decamp
to the old cathedral in winter because it
is small and cosy.
Once everyone is back on board,
Douro Queen heads back towards Porto,
renegotiating the locks and stopping at
Regua for a tour to Lamego and a pilgrim
church perched high on top of a long
staircase leading out of town. It’s more
than 686 steps to the top. Strangely no
one takes up Joana’s offer of doing as the
pilgrims and walking up but we opt for a
stroll down.
The Douro Queen
Built in 2005 and refurbished in 2022,
the Douro Queen is operated by Nicko
Cruises, a German river cruise line sold
in the UK by Cambridge-based Light
Blue Travel (01223 568907; nickocruises.co.uk).
It accommodates 130
passengers over two decks. Rooms
are small but comfortable. Cabins on
the top accommodation deck have
balconies; those below have picture
windows. The vessel has a top-deck
pool, lounge bar and one restaurant.
Menus are heavy on German favourites
with a sprinkling of Portuguese
specialties most days.
✔ An eight-day Iberian Experience cruise
round-trip from Porto costs from £1,695
per person departing March 31-April 4 and
October 31-November 14. Price includes
flights, transfers, unlimited drinks, tips,
Wi-Fi and most excursions in the price
(Salamanca is an extra).
NOVEMBER 2023 | STOWAWAY MEDIA
STOWAWAY

Allura.
Allura.
YOUR
WORLD YOUR is
CALLING. WORLD is
CALLING.
Embrace the continued
evolution of Oceania Cruises.
Embrace the continued
COMING evolution 2025 of Oceania Cruises.
COMING 2025
FREE Airfare
FREE Airport Transfers
FREE Airfare
FREE Shore Excursions
FREE Airport Transfers
FREE Champagne, Wine & More
FREE Shore Excursions
FREE Gourmet Speciality Dining
FREE Champagne, Wine & More
FREE Unlimited WiFi
FREE Gourmet Speciality Dining
FREE Unlimited WiFi
Experience MORE with the best
value in luxury cruising.
Experience MORE with the best
value in luxury cruising.
Reservations Now Open
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FOR MORE INFORMATION ON
ALLURA’S INAUGURAL SEASON
FOR CALL MORE 0345 INFORMATION 505 1920 ON
OR ALLURA’S VISIT OCEANIACRUISES.COM
INAUGURAL SEASON
CALL 0345 505 1920
OR VISIT OCEANIACRUISES.COM
Offer inclusions are subject to Terms & Conditions.
Visit OceaniaCruises.com/terms for details.
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EXQUISITELY CRAFTED CUISINE. CURATED TRAVEL EXPERIENCES. SMALL SHIP LUXURY.
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C Allura_Advert_DPS_230821_v02.indd 1 23/08/2023 09:26:30

24 BROUGHT TO YOU BY OCEANIA CRUISES
Where to find Vista
in 2024
Vista will be cruising the Caribbean
round-trip from Miami between
January and March 2024, then
relocates to the Mediterranean for
the summer season. Point to point
voyages of from nine to 21 days
visit numerous countries including
Italy, Turkey, Israel, Greece, Croatia,
Montenegro, Spain, France and
Portugal. Vista returns to the US in
November and resumes its Caribbean
cruises round-trip from Miami.
The Yacht Cruise Experience
Home at Sea
An art deco design has made the Grand Dining Room more intimate.
For your dining pleasure
SEVEN DAY SMALL SHIP CRUISE ADVENTURES
Oceania Cruises’ new ship Vista hits all the right notes when it comes
to décor, design and dining.
What a difference a decade makes.
Oceania Cruises’ guests have been waiting
10 years for the line to launch a new ship
and finally it is here.
They won’t be disappointed. Vista was
christened at a gala ceremony in the
Maltese capital of Valletta in May, and
is a real beauty, with a new, softer look
than on the line’s earlier ships, upgraded
public areas and staterooms, and dining
that lives up to the ‘finest cuisine at sea’
mantra the line has stayed true to ever
since it launched 20 years ago.
The ship holds just 1,200 guests, which
is small by today’s standards, but has
so many places to eat they can try a
different one every day of a seven-night
cruise. Past guests will recognise the
Grand Dining Room, although this has
a new art deco look that has made the
space more intimate, the Terrace Café
buffet restaurant and Waves for burgers
and pizzas by the pool.
Speciality restaurants Red Ginger, Polo
Grill and Toscana, respectively for Asian,
steaks and Mediterranean cuisine, are
also back, and joined by two new venues
- Aquamar Kitchen, which is open in the
day for healthy salads, wraps and soups,
and Ember, an evening eatery heavy on
comfort foods such as burgers, steaks
and mac and cheese.
Dining is mostly free, even in the
speciality restaurants, on the grounds
that you can’t promise the finest cuisine
at sea and then charge guests for it, but
there are exceptions. A six-course Dom
Pérignon tasting experience in Privée, a
private dining room for eight people costs
$395 per person.
Food tends to rule the roost on Vista
– as well as eating, guests can also roll
up their sleeves and learn to cook dishes
local to the places they are visiting in a
Culinary Center – but there is plenty more
to love on this ship.
The sundeck has been given a resort-atsea
look and ‘lilypad’ loungers that appear
to ‘float’ in the pool, there are plenty of
quiet nooks and crannies to curl up with
a favourite book and huge Owners’ Suites
span the width of the ship and are styled
by Ralph Lauren Home.
Best of all, inside cabins have been
scrapped so everyone gets a room
with a view and most get a balcony (20
staterooms have floor-to-ceiling French
windows instead). Staterooms also have
larger bathrooms with big glass-enclosed
showers that would look right at home
in a suite. “Staterooms are a home away
from home for our guests but we wanted
them to be even better than home,” says
Greg Walton, a founding partner of Miamibased
design company Studio Dado. They
certainly achieved their aim.
simplyMORE
In June, the line announced a new
simplyMORE fare structure. Prices
now include flights, transfers, up
to $1,600 shore excursion credit
per stateroom and complimentary
wines, beers or champagne with
lunch and dinner. Soft drinks,
speciality restaurants, Wi-Fi and
fitness classes are also included in
the price.
GREECE • SEYCHELLES • TAHITI • RED SEA • COSTA RICA & PANAMA
WEST AFRICA • CAPE VERDE
varietycruises.co.uk
NEW BROCHURE OUT NOW
NOVEMBER 2023 | STOWAWAY MEDIA

26 CRUISE AND STAY
CRUISE AND STAY
27
Press pause in…
Photo: Joe Snowdon
Piraeus
Just 20 minutes outside Athens, Piraeus is one of the busiest ports in the Mediterranean, the jumping-off point for cruises to
Turkey, around the Greek Isles, into the Aegean and more. Most cruisers stay in the Greek capital and only ever see the area
around the port, but chic Piraeus (and Marina Zea, where Variety Cruises sails from) is just a stone’s throw away and ideal for a
two or three-night pre or post-cruise stay.
Don't miss
No one can stay this close to Athens and
skip visiting the Acropolis, the ancient
Greek citadel sitting on a rocky outcrop
above the city that houses the Parthenon,
a 5th-century temple dedicated to the
goddess Athena. Back at base, learn
about the port’s history and the life and
times of the ancient Greeks and Romans
in Piraeus’ archaeological museum.
Eat out
What to see and do during a pre or post-cruise
stay in the port for Athens.
Diners can go Greek or stick with
pizza, pasta and seafood favourites in
the many restaurants around Marina
Zea and Microlimano Harbour. Nest
is an upscale restaurant in The Alex
Hotel with indoor and outdoor seating,
views of the Athens Riviera, and sea
bass, Santorini salad and risotto on
the menu.
Venture out
Delve into the myths
and legends of classical
Greece on a tour to
Delphi, an ancient city on
the Peloponnese where,
hundreds of years
before Christ, generals
and politicians would
come to consult the
oracle – a Mystic Meg of
old, if you will - who they
believed had a direct line
to the gods. Tours depart
from Athens and Piraeus
cruise port.
Something for the kids
Votsalakia Beach is a good place for kids
to cool off, either in the sea or swimming
pool. Tram T7 goes out to the beaches
along the Athenian Riviera. Hop-on, hop-off
buses have a Riviera route that stops at
various beaches.
A day off
For a change of scene, take the Blue
Star ferry from Piraeus to the island
of Poros (about an hour). There are
beaches and restaurants. Walk to the
clock tower high above the town for
views over the island.
Top tours
Athens Sightseeing (red) and Open Tour
(yellow) hop-on, hop-off buses circle
around Piraeus, have audio commentary
and include stops at Marina Zea, the
archaeological museum, a planetarium
and Microlimano Harbour. Both buses have
a route around Athens, where alternatively
there are guided coach and walking tours
around the city.
GO THERE WITH *
Azamara
Celebrity Cruises
Celestyal Cruises
Crystal Cruises
Holland America Line
MSC Cruises
Norwegian Cruise Line
Oceania Cruises
Ponant
Shop in
Shoppers will find favourite brands in
Piraeus, including Zara, Mango, Bershka,
even a Marks & Spencer. For something
different, join the crowds in the narrow
streets of the Plaka in Athens shopping for
souvenirs, t-shirts, bags, belts and more.
Where to stay
Piraeus has hotels and
apartments to suit all
budgets. For modern
luxury, check out The Alex, a
stylish hotel on a hill above
Microlimano harbour. It has
34 rooms and suites, the
latter with balconies and sea
views. The Botanist café on
the ground floor is a great
hang-out by day; come
evening head to Nest rooftop
restaurant.
Getting around
Trains, buses and taxis
connect Athens Airport to
Piraeus. Get off at either
Neo Faliro (for the centre
of Piraeus) or Piraeus
station (for the port).
Piraeus is very walkable,
but the number 20 bus
circles around the marina
and harbour. Express bus
X80 connects Piraeus to
Athens Syntagma Square.
Princess Cruises
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Royal Caribbean International
Seabourn
SeaDream Yacht Club
Silversea
Variety Cruises (sails from Marina Zea)
Virgin Voyages
Windstar Cruises
* CLIA cruise lines on sale in the UK
only embarking and disembarking in
Piraeus in 2024
NOVEMBER 2023 | STOWAWAY MEDIA
STOWAWAY

28 DISPATCHES
There’s no mistaking the Asian Sakura restaurant. Explora I made its debut in Portsmouth.
New
in
kid
town
PORT OF
#VISITGIBRALTAR
GIBRALTAR
Luxury clients are even more spoiled for choice
with the launch of Explora Journeys.
The lobby bar takes passengers back to the
art-deco style of 1920s and 30s US hotels.
The conservatory pool. Below: The Med
Yacht Club is one of six restaurants on the
ship. Below Right: Ocean Residences have
24-hour butler service.
“It’s even better than I expected.” Antonio
Paradiso, managing director UK & Ireland of
MSC Group’s new Explora Journeys luxury
brand, has just had his first glimpse of
Explora l, the line’s first ship, and it’s fair to
say he is impressed.
The vessel is on the larger side of small,
with room for 922 passengers, who have
the run of 11 bars and lounges and nine
places to eat covering the taste spectrum
from French and Asian to steaks and tapas.
The Emporium Market Place buffet has 18
cooking stations.
All dining is complimentary bar in
Anthology, an upmarket restaurant where
guest chefs are invited to showcase their
cuisine. “I want chefs who cook, not who
sign books,” was the instruction from MSC
Group cruise division executive chairman
Pierfrancesco Vago.
In looks, Explora echoes the clean art-deco
style popular in New York and Chicago hotels
from the 1920s and ‘30s. The colour palette
majors on calming browns and creams, with
snatches of colour here and there and eyecatching
lighting all around.
All suites face the ocean and have private
balconies or terraces. Passengers splashing
out on Ocean Residences enjoy 24-hour butler
service. In Explora speak, suites are Homes
at Sea, crew are hosts and the aim is to
encourage the inner and outer self-discovery
that comes with an ‘ocean state of mind’.
Paradiso, who also heads up MSC Cruises
in the UK, says some 800 agents will
have experienced Explora I by the time it
relocates to the US for winter and is already
talking about expanding the UK sales team.
“Advance bookings are very good, with the
US and UK driving demand,” he says.
“Agents should be selling this to their
luxury clients as an alternative to a hotel.
They will enjoy different views every day and
it’s all-inclusive.” As well as dining, drinks,
tips, fitness classes, the spa’s thermal suite
and Wi-Fi are included in the cruise price.
THE IDEAL
CRUISE SHIP
PORT OF
CALL
• Established, quality cruise facilities
• A wide choice of shore excursions
• Competitively priced bunkers delivered by quality operators
• Excellent international communications
• Broad spectrum of marine services
NOVEMBER 2023 | STOWAWAY MEDIA
Gibraltar Port Authority
North Mole, Gibraltar, Tel: +350 20046254, Fax: +350 20051513
gpaenquiries@port.gov.gi
www.gibraltarport.com

SHIP REVIEW
31
Playing a blinder
Dining favourites from around the world,
hammocks on the balcony and a secret hiding
behind two red telephone boxes. Welcome to the
latest best-of-British ship from Marella Cruises.
Photo: Jane Archer
“So where is the door?” I ask. It sounds a
daft question, I know, but I’m looking at the
entrance to the Exchange on Marella Voyager
and there are three possibles. I am genuinely
not sure. Ah, that’s a secret, was the reply. So
there you are. I can’t reveal how you get in or
indeed what goes on once inside. Well OK,
you’ve twisted my arm, but I had to wait to
find out and so will you.
Marella Voyager, Marella Cruises’ newest
ship, set sail in the company’s colours in June
after a 36-day makeover that spruced up all
areas and turned the vessel into a floating
shrine to all things British.
Continued on p34 ›
STOWAWAY

32 SHIP REVIEW
SHIP REVIEW
33
Where to find Marella Voyager
Previous page: Marella Voyager is cruising the Caribbean from Barbados this winter. Above: Marella Voyager will be calling into Calvi in Corsica
on its Mediterranean cruises from Palma in 2024. Below right from top: The mystery of The Exchange; new Mexican eatery Abuel’s serves tacos
and nachos; head to the Gravy Boat for roast beef and Yorkshire pud.
After an inaugural season in the Mediterranean, Marella
Voyager is relocating to the Caribbean for winter. It will be
based in Bridgetown, Barbados, and sail three seven-night
cruises in rotation – Paradise Islands, Taste of the Tropics
and Tropical Delights.
Between them they call into 12 islands including the
British Virgin Islands, St Kitts, Antigua, Dominica, Tobago,
Grenada, St Lucia, Aruba and Curaçao.
Passengers can explore ashore alone or choose from a
range of excursions that include hiking, biking, sailing and
snorkelling. They can ride the only train in the Caribbean
in St Kitts, zip through the tree canopies in Antigua, get
wet, wet, wet on a river tubing adventure in Dominica and
visit an ostrich farm in Curaçao.
Marella Voyages returns to the Mediterranean in May
2024 and will be sailing three seven-night itineraries
round-trip from Palma that call into ports in France, Italy,
Spain and Corsica.
Head to Kitchens, a food court with eight
eateries that has replaced the usual selfservice
buffet, and you can tuck into roast
beef and Yorkshire pud in the Gravy Boat
and Cornish pasties in Pastry Crust. In the
Squid & Anchor, an authentic British pub that
comes alive in the evenings with live music,
interactive game shows and quizzes, there are
beers and ales galore.
Out by the pool, colourful shacks echo
days gone by at the beach in Cornwall. And
check out the menu in Silver Fork, an upscale
British-style restaurant serving everything
from Scotch egg starters to a main course
of pork wrapped in Parma Ham with egg and
fries. A posh ham, eggs and chips!
A couple of venues new and exclusive to
Marella Voyager veer away from the British
motif – a French-style eatery called Platters
where you can nibble on cold meats, cheese
and olives and Mexican Abuela’s for tacos and
nachos – but plenty of fan favourites return
for another outing.
They include steak and seafood emporium
Surf and Turf, Kora La, which serves some of
the best curries on the high seas, and Nonna’s,
a casual Italian diner where you choose your
pasta, sauce and toppings (extra chilli please!)
and the food is cooked then and there. It’s hot,
tasty and wonderfully casual.
In all, Voyager has 17 places to eat (there
are also Greek, Japanese and Indian outlets in
Kitchens), which is almost twice as many as
most of its other ships, and 10 bars. The Art’s
House is a riot of colour, Aperitif is a cosy spot
NOVEMBER 2023 | STOWAWAY MEDIA
for pre-dinner drinks and Flutes, my favourite,
is a piano and Champagne bar tucked away
near the main restaurant.
Cabins and suites on Marella Voyager are
equipped with tea and coffee-making facilities
and come in various sizes to suit families,
couples and solo travellers. Passengers with
a balcony get a hammock, those in suites are
treated to Premier Service perks including free
pressing and breakfast in bed one morning.
For the best room in the house, be quick
and bag one of the two Voyager suites, one
themed around St Lucia in the Caribbean, the
other with a Greek Santorini vibe. They are
twice the size of a balcony cabin, hold up to
four people and look absolutely fabulous.
But back to that secret room. On the
penultimate day of my cruise, an envelope
appears under the cabin door inviting me to
enter the phone box at the entrance (so that
is the way in!) at 8pm, lift the receiver, give
the password Mr Giggle Juice and all would
be revealed. And readers, it was. But I am not
going to spoil the surprise. Let’s just say that
inside there are barmen in garb straight off
Peaky Blinders and you’ll either be gatecrashing
a birthday party for a Noel Coward
wannabee or part of an art heist. Have fun!
✔ Marella Cruises has a seven-night Paradise
Islands cruise round-trip from Bridgetown,
Barbados departing January 7 2024 from
£1,463 per person including flights from
Gatwick, tips and selected beers, wines,
cocktails and spirits.
Flutes piano and
Champagne bar is
tucked away near the
main restaurant.
STOWAWAY

34 PORT PROFILE
PORT PROFILE
35
CRUISE CALENDAR
Cruise lines calling into Halifax, 2024
(CLIA members on sale in the UK only)
Carnival Cruise Line
Celebrity Cruises
Crystal Cruises
Cunard
Explora Journeys
Fred Olsen Cruise Lines
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises
Holland America Line
MSC Cruises
Norwegian Cruise Line
Oceania Cruises
P&O Cruises
Ponant
Princess Cruises
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Royal Caribbean International
Halifax
Saga Cruises
Seabourn
Silversea
Windstar Cruises
WHY NOT?
Take the Alderney Ferry across the harbour to
downtown Dartmouth.
Head out of town to the Fairview Lawn Cemetery,
the final resting place of more than 100 of those
who died when the Titanic sank in April 1912.
Take a tour to pretty Peggy’s Cove, home of the
most photographed lighthouse in Canada.
Try a donair. It’s the official food of Halifax,
exceedingly messy and very popular.
Mention Halifax, a city on Canada’s Eastern Seaboard and most people
think of the Titanic. It was from here that boats were sent to rescue
passengers on the stricken liner and where the dead were buried.
But there is a lot more to enjoy in this city, which has history, culture,
fun attractions and beautiful natural surroundings.
A steady trickle of cruise ships arrives between April and August, but
the big numbers come in autumn, when vessels are on the Canada/
New England fall foliage trail. In 2022 the city clocked up 148 ships and
239,493 passengers.
Most ships dock at Piers 22 and 20, at one end of a harbour boardwalk
that is lined with restaurants, bars and museums, and within easy reach
of shops. Passengers are generally greeted with bagpipes played by the
78th Highlanders – a nod to the city’s Scottish heritage.
WHAT TO DO
Enjoy the sights, sounds, beer gardens, restaurants and
public art along the 2.5-mile waterfront boardwalk.
Call into the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic to visit the
Titanic Experience and learn of a devastating explosion that
rocked Halifax in 1917 and killed thousands.
See the city sights from land and sea on a Harbour
Hopper tour.
Climb up to the citadel to watch as they fire the
midday cannon.
NOVEMBER 2023 | STOWAWAY MEDIA
STOWAWAY

36 PORT PROFILE
PORT PROFILE
37
CRUISE CALENDAR
Cruise lines calling into Québec City, 2024
Québec City
(CLIA members on sale in the UK only)
Celebrity Cruises
Crystal Cruises *
Cunard *
Explora Journeys *
Fred Olsen Cruise Lines
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises
Holland America Line *
MSC Cruises
Norwegian Cruise Line *
Oceania Cruises
P&O Cruises
Ponant
Princess Cruises *
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Seabourn
Silversea *
Windstar Cruises
* Indicates cruise lines both visiting and offering
turnarounds in Québec City.
WHY NOT?
Take a tour to Montmorency Falls Park. The
waterfall is 30 metres higher than Niagara
Falls and just minutes from the city.
Join a food tour in the old city. You not
only taste local food but learn a bit of
history too.
Take a ride to the 31st floor of the Capital
Observatory for views over the old town.
Enjoy the views of the city and St Lawrence
River on a 2.8-mile walk around the fortified
walls of Old Québec.
You’ll know you have arrived in Québec City when out of the window,
high above the harbour, looms the fairytale-like Chateau Frontenac.
Opened in 1893 as a railway hotel, it is the undisputed landmark of the
Canadian city.
This city is fabulous - a slice of France in North America, with its
cobbled streets, French chic and Gallic restaurants serving onion soup
and moules frites (mussels and fries).
Vessels dock at the confluence of the St Lawrence and Charles
Rivers, from where it’s an easy walk to the old town. Basse Ville (lower
town) is the first stop, with Haut Ville (upper town) high above and
accessed either by a funicular or the colourfully-named escalier
casse-cou (breakneck steps).
The city is expecting to end 2023 with 124 cruise calls, of which 30
will be ships turning around in the port, and 168,000 passengers. The
season runs from April to the end of October, with most lines calling in
autumn on fall foliage cruises.
WHAT TO DO
Treat yourself to afternoon tea at the spectacular Chateau
Frontenac, said to be the world’s most photographed hotel.
Take the funicular to Haut Ville to enjoy the view from the
Plains of Abraham, where the British beat the French for
control of North America in 1759.
Get into the French vibe on a stroll around the cobblestone
streets of the Petit-Champlain district, one of the oldest
neighbourhoods in North America.
See the oldest stone church in North America in Place Royale,
where Samuel de Champlain founded Québec City in 1608.
NOVEMBER 2023 | STOWAWAY MEDIA
STOWAWAY

71
70
WINTER 2022
Expect the wonderful
FASHION & SHOPPING
siness.
savvy.
PLACE VENDÔME
The new home of luxury shopping in Qatar,
Place Vendôme (pictured left and above), is
vast in size and big on Parisian style. Over four
floors, discover more than 580 high-end and
mid-range stores, from Gucci and Valentino to
Zara and H&M. There’s also the largest Louis
Vuitton and Sephora stores in the Middle East.
Outside every night from 19:00-23:00 on the
hour, enjoy the whimsical Dancing Fountains
show in the courtyard.
GALERIES LAFAYETTE
Luxury lovers from across the globe are
captivated by the array of designer goods at
21 High Street in Katara – home to prestigious
Parisian department store, Galeries Lafayette.
There’s also a curated collection of worldrenowned
fashion, watches and jewellery
boutiques, from Cartier to Joseph. Expect a
first-of-its-kind outdoor shopping experience
in a cool, regulated environment, then head to
Katara Hills for sunset.
THE PEARL-QATAR
This man-made island just a 15-minute drive
from the city centre, is a mix of luxurious
residential villas overlooking the Arabian
Gulf, with prestigious shops and supercar
dealerships. A fun precinct where super yachts
are moored in view of boutiques such as
Alexander McQueen, you’ll see homegrown
designers thriving alongside global brands,
and the young Qatari style set hanging out.
Find chic sneakers at Loft, delicate threads
from Elie Saab or a luxury car from Ferrari.
AL HAZM
Step back in time to the grandeur of
Europe with the added bonus of outdoor
air-conditioning. This mall is a feast for the
Breathtaking new hotels, art galleries, museums, sports arenas, world
senses with gleaming marble walkways,
lush 600-year-old olive trees imported from
class restaurants Italy and Spain, and along glamorous with heat-absorbing boutiques, coupled with timeless
floors and a state-of-the-art ventilation
system to keep shoppers cool. There’s a
souks, inspiring mosques and countless, centuries old traditions.
sophisticated line-up of retail outlets – Glam
District, Kashperia, Arabian Notes, De Beers
And now a cruise port and community setting new standards in the
and Palazzo Nero selling stunning abayas.
Shop until you drop, then get a mani at Aldo
5OF THE BEST...
THEME PARKS &
PLAY CENTRES
1. DESERT FALLS WATER
& ADVENTURE PARK
Make a splash at one of the
largest theme parks in the
Middle East. With sprawling
cave-like structures housing
more than 56 attractions, it’s
made for aquatic adventures.
+974 4423 6416
4. LUSAIL WINTER
WONDERLAND
London’s favourite Christmasthemed
amusement park
comes to Doha with festive
attractions, activities, music,
entertainment and delicacies
at Al Maha Island in Lusail.
Al Maha Island, Lusail City
104
world of travel Coppola by before sea coffee and at Rosemary by Café. land for you, your friends and family.
FOOD & DINING
2. SNOW DUNES
Skiing in the desert? Yes!
Nestled inside the Doha
Festival City entertainment
precinct is the first snow
experience in Qatar, with
snowy slopes that wrap
around an imaginary city.
+974 4042 0444
5. DOHA QUEST
One of Doha’s newest theme
parks, Quest takes you on a
journey through time and is
divided into three dimensions
– past, present and future.
The best bit? It’s indoors and
fully air-conditioned.
+974 4410 3444
FINE DINING
3. ANGRY BIRDS WORLD
This adventure park themed
around the iconic gaming
sensation of Angry Birds is
a fun fantasy land brimming
with 35 rides and colourful
play zones inside Doha
Festival City.
+974 4042 0444
Cool off at Desert
Falls, one of the
largest theme parks
in the Middle East.
Right:
Desert Falls Water & Adventure Park.
Qatar’s most coveted dining destinations
take global flavours to new heights.
Qatar’s food culture is steeped in humble dishes and generous hospitality, and now
contemporary fine-dining adds to the rich tapestry of flavour. You’ll find global
outposts of world-renowned fine-dining restaurants serving everything from modern
Japanese to Peruvian, Cantonese, Mediterranean and beyond.
NOBU, DOHA
LOBITO DE MAR, DOHA
Dani Garcia’s breezy
new seafood restaurant
and tapas bar at The
Pearl-Qatar is inspired by
Spain’s chiringuitos (casual
beachfront seafood eateries).
Be transported to the
Mediterranean as you dine
on tuna carpaccio, squid ink
croquettes, perfectly grilled
fish and seafood paella in the
lush gardens at the elegant
Marsa Malaz Kempinski.
+974 3100 0373
ALBA BY ENRICO
CRIPPA, DOHA
Michelin-starred Italian chef
Enrico Crippa has opened his
first restaurant outside of Italy
and it’s here in Doha. Head
to Raffles Doha at the iconic
Katara Towers in Lusail to
dine on typical Italian dishes
with a contemporary twist.
The menu will feature all the
flavours of Italy, including
truffles from Alba in the
northern Piedmont region.
raffles.com
NOBU, DOHA
The Doha outpost of the
world’s most exclusive dining
destination is a curved oystershaped
restaurant that sits
on its own private beach.
The design is a celebration
of Qatar’s pearl diving past
and the menu pays homage
to Japanese-Peruvian cuisine.
Must-try dish: miso marinated
black cod. Nobu’s Friday
brunch is also one of the
hottest in town.
+974 4494 8500
FAMILIES & CHILDREN
105
135
Explore Qatar for the first time and we know you will return.
FIFA WORLD CUP QATAR 2022 SPECIAL
www.visitqatar.qa