17th September 2011
The very idea of a cruise holiday sends shivers down some spines — and not necessarily shivers of excitement. There’s something about the stereotypical swirly carpets and afternoon dance classes that puts a lot of people off. However, what many readers may not realise is that the cruise industry has come on leaps and bounds: newer, smaller ships, not a swirl in sight, and cruises to suit everyone — whether that’s a music voyage down the Danube with private concerts in palaces and churches along the way, or a wine-tasting trip around the Mediterranean aboard a real sailing ship. Whatever your preconceptions, I challenge you to read this guide and not find an idea that inspires you.
4th June 2011
Even in a time of national austerity, the last thing most people are willing to forego is a holiday. The more stressful life is, the more we need to escape from time to time, whether it’s to a monastery in Bali or a B&B in Bournemouth. For this new-look Spectator travel supplement, our theme is adventure. By that we don’t necessarily mean bungee jumping over Victoria Falls or climbing Kilimanjaro, but the simpler thrill that comes from discovering somewhere new. All travel should embody a spirit of discovery — the fly-and-flop holiday has its time and place, but the sophisticated traveller is always searching for something more.
Odysseus is back on his eternal journey to Ithaca – and he’s sailing towards your cinema screen. Ralph Fiennes is playing Odysseus in The Return, released last week. And Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey, starring Matt Damon as the cleverest of the Greeks at Troy, should be out next year. I criss-crossed the Mediterranean for three years,
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