RETURN TO THE SEAS

In this new world of sanitation and testing, cruise companies are reinventing the onboard experience and offering new opportunities. From wildlife excursions to cultural odysseys and polar visits, we bring you some of the best cruise experiences for 2021 and beyond

- JULIA BUCKLEY & JAMIE LAFFERTY

LET’S BE HONEST: 2020 WASN’T THE BEST YEAR FOR CRUISES.

But the focus on ships as a point of potential Covid-19 infection has meant that cruise companies have introduced strict protocols for the future — including ones that promise to improve your all-round experience, with smaller groups and spaced-out excursion times, plus booking flexibility that was hitherto unheard of.

Some companies, such as Ponant, continued sailing throughout 2020; others are returning to the high seas this year. All have used the enforced pause in business to work out new safety rules, and before booking any trip, you should check what the cruise line is doing to protect both crew and passengers. For starters, you should expect pre-boarding Covid-19 tests and regular temperature checks to become routine. Some are going one step further: Saga, for instance, has already insisted its passengers be fully vaccinated 14 days before sailing. Things might change as the year goes on, but it’s likely that masks will be required in public areas, too. And apart from the onboard protocols, all itineraries, of course, will depend on borders being open.

But it’s an exciting time to set sail, especially since social distancing probably means cruising is about to feel much more boutique. So grab your passport (and negative test results) — we’ve picked some of the most exciting trips to lure you back on board.

BEST FOR EXCLUSIVITY

THE GALÁPAGOS

A tour of the fauna-rich islands offers a rare chance to discover the archipelago at its most abundant and serene. Words: Jamie Lafferty