Whether you’re stepping up from mainstream to luxury cruising, planning the holiday of a lifetime, or fantasising about having your every whim catered to, you need to know what to expect. This article is written for you, outlining what to expect from your first luxury cruise...

Well, what a treat this was! I have just returned from a fantastic voyage with Windstar Cruises on the newly refurbished luxury yacht, the Star Pride. It was the Star Pride’s Inaugural voyage, since having had a major facelift, and it certainly delivered on all levels! We sailed from Athens through to Barcelona, stopping off at various ports throughout Greece and Italy. It was such a lovely experience, and one the most intimate cruises I have been lucky enough to have sailed on so far, carrying just 312 guests!

At the beginning of March, Panache Cruises’ Sales and Operations Director Clare Cruise was invited on board Emerald Cruises’ brand-new superyacht, Emerald Azzurra, on her inaugural cruise out of Aqaba, Jordan.

As it happens, Clare was the very first guest to step on board Azzurra – an absolute honour and an unforgettable experience!

From the idyllic beaches of Croatia to the breath-taking views of the Amalfi coast, the Mediterranean is sure to provide the ultimate summer holiday. On a Mediterranean cruise in the height of summer there are endless opportunities to explore the coast or try the finest delicacies, both of which will be something to remember for a lifetime. The Mediterranean is always a perfect pick for summer cruising but will 2022 be the summer you decide to take the plunge into the crystal waters of the Med?

After two years of living with the pandemic, travel is finally opening up again and every week we are hearing more positive news about travel restrictions coming to an end and more countries opening up their borders to international tourists.

With the excitement of cruise travel returning to normal, we decided to plan the ultimate cruising diary for 2023. Check out each of our recommended sailings and destinations and let us know what you think!

Barbados is a travel destination which truly has it all. Glorious white sand beaches, glistening turquoise bays, lush botanical gardens, rolling hills and vibrant nightlife. Surfers from far and wide flock to the wild east coast, while food lovers tour the island for a taste of Barbadian culture.

At the end of September I was lucky enough to spend 10 amazing days with Windstar on board their Star Class ship, Star Legend, sailing from Lisbon to Barcelona. This was the first time I’d stepped on board a cruise ship of any kind since November 2019, so I was incredibly excited, but also curious as to how it would all look on board post-pandemic.

As the waiter hovered beside me, pen poised, I scanned the menu for the umpteenth time. But no matter how delicious the Michelin-star-inspired dishes sounded – including sea-line-caught sea bass with truffled cauliflower and caviar served with smoked candy floss or crab and yuzo Tobiko Uramaki sushi, – I knew what she wanted for lunch wasn’t on there.

Exciting news!! Emerald Cruises has announced plans to build a second superyacht which will join its fleet in 2023.

Emerald’s current superyacht, Azzurra, is custom-designed to allow closer access to the ports and harbours in itineraries, places only small yachts can reach. The new addition, Sakara, will be identical in its design and join its sister-yacht in sailing the Mediterranean, Adriatic, Red Sea, and Black Sea.