Tour Central ameriCa, Panama Canal & mexiCo aboard luxury exPedition vessel orion ii

Orion II UniqueSailing toTheCaptain’sChoiceTour

ExClUSIvE

PANAMA

COSTA RICA

NICARAgUA

HONDURAS

gUATEMALA

MEXICO

Join The Captain’s Choice Tour on an exclusive expedition to Central America, through the Panama Canal to Mexico. Our expedition begins with the magnificent feat of engineering that is the Panama Canal, spanning the continental divide and forever changing the world’s trade. After our transit of the Panama Canal we sail north along the spectacular Pacific Coast to Costa Rica, exploring the incredible flora and fauna contained within its natural wonderlands. In Nicaragua and Honduras we are treated to charming colonial towns and extinct volcanos.

Visit the delightful city of Antigua or explore the ancient Mayan city of Tikal in Guatemala before delving in to three of Mexico’s most interesting coastal towns – Mazunte, Acapulco and Puerto Vallarta. Regional lecturers and expedition leaders will accompany the tour to add insights into the destinations we explore. Onboard dining is a delight and evening meals are accompanied by wine, beer and soft drink. Join The Captain’s Choice Tour on an exclusive charter aboard luxury expedition vessel ‘Orion II’ and see Central America in comfort and with ease.

Your 17-day, fully escorted tour departing 28th April includes: H Economy flights from UK to Panama City and from Puerto Vallarta to London H Luxury expeditions with Orion Cruises H Complimentary shore excursions aboard

Zodiacs and tenders H Personalised attention from Tour Manager,

Tour Doctor and ship’s crew H Regional expert lecturers and expedition leaders H All tipping and taxes H Fine dining with cuisine created by top chefs utilising fresh local ingredients H Wine, beer & soft drink included with dinner From £8,895 per person based on twin share

Call 0845 603 6714 www.captainschoice.co.uk

For more information about this tour, or our other inspiring journeys, please call us

For more information about this tour, or our other inspiring journeys, please call us or visit: www.captainschoice.co.uk

THE LEADER IN LUXURY TRAVEL TO REMOTE & EXOTIC DESTINATIONS Introduction

The Spectator is delighted to introduce the first of our Insider’s Guides to Travel. They are designed to be collectible handbooks with the most up-to-date, reliable and well-written information on travel, compiled by our discerning writers with honesty and wit.

We are starting with our Insider’s Guide to Cruises because 2010 is expected to be another record year for the cruise industry, with 1.65 million British passengers taking a cruise, more than double the figure in 2000 — one in ten package holidays booked is now a cruise. Also, 19 September marks the beginning of National Cruise Week.

efore I went on a cruise, I balked at the idea of crowds, swirly carpets and organised fun. Now I know I was wrong. There are a vast number of cruise ships to choose from: some take up to 6,000 passengers and provide 24-hour entertainment for all the family; some specialise in cultural tours with daily lectures by on-board academics; there are small, luxurious yachts; ships are geared for polar adventure with ice-resistant hulls. Whether you want to cross the Atlantic in style, potter round the British coast, explore anywhere from Antarctica to Zanzibar, drift down the Mekong or the Rhone, visit the Mediterranean’s antiquities or cruise the Caribbean in luxury, there is a holiday to suit everyone. In our first Insider’s Guide, Simon Calder experiences adventure cruises to the Arctic and Antarctic; Jeremy Clarke and Joseph Connolly eschew flying to cruise to Iceland and round the Hebrides; Roderick Gilchrist takes a river trip up the Danube; Julian Allason explains the concept of ‘enrichment’ cruising, and Gabriella Le Breton relaxes on a luxury mega-yacht. Meanwhile, I board Celebrity Equinox with my six-yearold daughter to find out what’s on offer for families. We have also researched the ‘best of the rest’ and recommend our choices. We hope you enjoy reading it. Charlotte Metcalf, Travel Editor

Contents

Adventure Cruises

4 Mesing about ontheriver Roderick Gilchrist

7Bestofthe Rest Luxury Cruises

11 another day in paradise Gabriella Le Breton

15 Best of the Rest

17 Winter wonderland Simon Calder

31 Stars of the sea Charlotte Metcalf

21 Best of the Rest NoFly

The Spectator (1828) Ltd, 22 Old Queen Street, London SW1H 9HP. Tel 020 7961 0200. Fax 020 7961 0250. Editors Charlotte Metcalf  Production Manager Tim Gow  Design Tim Gow, Chris Ryan  Sub-editors Andrew Petrie, Clarke Hayes  Advertising Vicky Sullivan 020 7961 0095  Cover Image Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth Supplied free with the 25 September 2010 issue of The Spectator. River Cruises

23 IMPROVING BODY &MIND Jeremy Clarke

28 princes fitfor aqueen Joseph Connolly Family Cruises

27 Best of the Rest

34 Best of the Rest Enrichment

37 A learning experience Julian Allason

41 Best of the Rest

Insider’s Guide to Cruises 3