This text is part of the special book Plaisirs
Ships of all sizes, itineraries to the four corners of the world: the cruise offer is colossal. How to choose yours? A route that comes out of the beaten track seemed to us to be a good filter. Since the majority of cruise passengers (six out of ten, according to the Cruise Lines International Association) return to one of the destinations first visited during stopovers, we might as well present unique ones…
The Canary Islands to port
One navigation, one region: this should appeal to travelers who like to bathe, it is the case to say, in the same history and the same culture during their entire stay, rather than changing them daily.
Anchored in the Atlantic to the northwest of the African coast, the seven main islands forming the Spanish archipelago of the Canaries constitute an unusual region. This offers great opportunities for hiking in the heart of large national parks, such as those of Timanfaya and Mount Teide, which offer unusual volcanic panoramas, sea of lava included. Visiting the towns is an opportunity to taste island cuisine, spiced up with the ubiquitous green mojo, a coriander sauce. As Christmas approaches, Santa Cruz de Tenerife is particularly festive. And rest assured, the Tajogaite volcano, which put on a show a year ago on the island of La Palma, has indeed gone back to sleep.
This season, CroisiEurope, well known for its river navigation, is offering an eight-day cruise between Tenerife and Lanzarote aboard the flagship of its fleet, The beauty of the oceans, an intimate vessel with a maximum capacity of 120 passengers. Both on the waves and on land, on excursions, life takes place in French (the company’s French clientele represents 55% of its passengers) and the atmosphere is relaxed. In terms of catering, you can enjoy excellent cuisine from France, which includes local culinary touches. The program includes a tasting of local wines and cheeses.
The climate: spring-like and sunny all year round.
Departures: from November 2022 to April 2023
A Cajun-Caribbean duo
Departing from New Orleans, the liner Breakaway of the Norwegian Cruise Line calls on Mexico’s Costa Maya, Harets Caye (the company’s private port of call in Belize), Roatán, an island in Honduras, and Cozumel, Mexico, before setting sail return. What a beautiful trip for those who love the sea, wish to give a few strokes of fins above a portion of the magnificent Mesoamerican reef and discover Mayan archaeological sites. As a bonus, it gives the opportunity, in New Orleans, to slum in the famous Bourbon Street before or after navigation!
The ship is an 18-deck behemoth that can accommodate 3,959 passengers. “Even though it has a large capacity, it is spacious enough that you don’t feel overwhelmed,” says Isabelle Côté, director of cruises and European tours at Tours Chanteclerc. “It offers an array of Broadway-style entertainment and more than 25 dining experiences. The Waterfront, a promenade lined with restaurants, bars and relaxation areas to contemplate the ocean is my favorite! ” she says.
Both on board and on excursions, life takes place in English, but cruise passengers who have purchased their cruise package from Tours Chanteclerc benefit from the services of a French-speaking guide for the duration of their trip.
A tip from your dedicated: Introverted people may want to prefer a medium or large ship to a small boat. Why ? On board the latter, outside their cabin, it will be difficult for them to preserve their bubble. On a liner, where there are many public spaces, they will always find a place with little traffic!
Departures: from November 2022 to March 2023
Journey to break the ice
For some, the fact that Antarctica is the last untouched end of the world is precisely its attraction. For others, this is precisely why we should refrain from going there. Among the latter, the French tourism specialist Rémy Knafou also recommends sanctuarization. Because even if its access is regulated by the Antarctic Treaty, reinforced by the Madrid Protocol, in practice, “it is the tourism professionals who are responsible for protecting the continent! » he rebels in Reinventing tourism (Ed. du Faubourg, 2021).
This next season, no less than 21 boats will cruise there, according to CruiseCritic.com. Four of them belong to “mass cruising” companies, such as Celebrity, and won’t stop anywhere. The other 17 are so-called expedition ships, whose passengers will be able to set foot on the soil of the white continent, a privilege that comes at a high price.
Among these boats, the newcomer from the French company Ponant, Commander Charcot, with a capacity of 245 passengers, stands out, and for good reason: it is a hybrid-electric icebreaker powered by liquefied natural gas. Zero fine particle emissions (and zero emissions altogether in electric mode), electric positioning system without anchoring, landing without impact, recovery of propulsion energy (it heats the benches on the promenade deck and the water in the swimming pools)… A little more and he would sail on tiptoe!
Who says expedition, also says experts on board to talk about geography, marine fauna, history, including that of the explorer Jean-Baptiste Charcot. Among the cruises on the program until March 2023, that of December 7, lasting 13 days, will moreover be dedicated to the “gentleman of the poles”.
The climate: in December-January, it is high summer, the sun is at its post nearly 20 hours a day, and the temperatures oscillate between -2°C and 4°C.
Advantages: a kitchen designed by Alain Ducasse (for the entire Ponant fleet) and the cancellation of the usual supplement for simple use of a double cabin on Commander Charcotgood news for solo travellers.
This special content was produced by the Special Publications team of the To have to, relating to marketing. The drafting of To have to did not take part.