Today, you will never travel like before. This could be a post-Covid-19 pandemic advertising slogan. The French have regained their taste for traveling but are looking to escape differently. No more trips that are too far away and too classic, make way for less frequented and rarer destinations.
A strong trend in current tourism: the craze for cruises. From the Mediterranean to the Baltic, they are another way to discover Europe, far from the beaten track. Ready to get fitted?
On board of Queen Anne with the Cunard
The name of the company already sounds like a promise of an exceptional journey… Launched in 1840 by the Canadian Samuel Cunard, it was the first to operate the transatlantic line to provide mail service between Great Britain and the United States. -United. Its fleet of three splendid liners was recently enriched with Queen Anne, released from the Fincantieri Marghera shipyard in Venice in 2023. You will be able to board this luxurious 373 meter vessel at the end of May for an maiden voyage to the islands surrounding Scotland, Great Britain and Ireland. A unique program alternating wild coasts, steep cliffs and typical towns. After departing from Southampton, the ship will call at Queensferry, Scotland, then sail around the astonishing island of Bass Rock, inhabited only by a colony of gannets, before reaching the Isle of May. Next comes Kirkwall, where you must visit the surprising Highland Park whiskey distillery, a cruise around the mythical Isle of Skye and a stop at Invergordon, a pretty Highland port. Stopovers in Greenock, Belfast and Liverpool allow you to savor the unique atmosphere of these historic cities. Finally, after a day at sea, the penultimate stopover will take place in Ireland, in the small port of Cobh, whose colorful houses are particularly photogenic.
On board of Queen Anne, passengers will discover the Cunard art of living through its 14 decks offering gourmet restaurants, swimming pools, a casino and extremely refined cabins. Guests of the suites, from 45 to 134 square meters, even benefit from 24-hour service and a butler for a seamless stay. Among the unmissable breaks, note the elegant Churchill’s Cigar Lounge bar for a drink (deck 9), the Royal Court Theater (deck 2) for musicals imagined by the Cunard troupe or the library and its large leather armchairs for a quiet reading (deck 8). A unique wellness area offers a gym, sauna, thermal pool and treatment cabins for marine-inspired treatments (deck 7). Throughout the cruise, the company has also planned an exclusive entertainment program, gala evenings and expert speakers celebrating the heritage of the British Isles.
Departure on May 24 for 14 nights. From €2,990 in interior cabin.
More details on Cunard website.
Treasures of the British Isles
A new player in the cruise sector, CFC was launched in 2023 with the desire to reconnect with the spirit of long-distance travel by offering new itineraries and French ships. The company, certified Green Marine Europe (sustainable transport) and whose offer is designed for French-speaking customers and lovers of sea travel, has adapted to the demands of travelers who want shorter trips to go with family during the School vacation. Departing from Marseille and Le Havre, the Renaissance, the company’s first boat, can accommodate 1,100 passengers, served by 560 crew members for a service of excellence. Accommodated in sober and elegant cabins and pampered by a French-speaking crew, you will discover the cities of Liverpool and Belfast. Then this cruise will stop in the islands of Lewis, Skye, Mull, Man and Cobh, before returning to Le Havre. On board, in addition to evenings at the Belle Epoque theater, the days are punctuated by numerous activities: sports classes, conferences, creative workshops, visits to the spa and swimming pool…
Departure August 17 for 10 nights. From €1,631 per person in a sea view cabin.
More details on the CFC website.