ALWAYS fancied the look of a cruise but unsure which ship to pick?
The below may help to sway you.
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Modern-day ships have some world-class entertainment on board, from West End-quality shows to glitzy casinos.
If you’re into your tipples, though, the following ships are known for their wacky bars.
Here, Sophie Swietochowski shares her pick of the best places to booze on board your cruise.
MSC CRUISES STAR SHIP CLUB
On board: MSC Virtuosa and MSC Euribia Additional cost: £18 per cocktail and £10 for a non-alcoholic drink – price includes a souvenir glass
Mixology requires precision. That’s something MSC cruises Starship Club nails — because no one can measure as accurately as Rob the robot bartender, shaking up perfect nightcaps every time.
Rob is not just the average robot. He’s a humanoid.
This means that he can smile and chat to drinkers and is even known for cracking the odd joke while he muddles.
Here you can sip on futuristic and themed drinks, all tailored to your liking.
GO: A seven-night Northern Europe sailing on board MSC Virtuosa is from £809pp departing Southampton on September 13 and calling at La Coruna, Cadiz, Malaga and Alicante in Spain. See msccruises.co.uk.
PRINCESS CRUISES’ SPELLBOUND
On board: Star Princess and Sun Princess Additional cost: $45pp, including two signature cocktails
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Passengers are invited to make their way through a secret door that will transport them to the Victorian era, at Princess Cruises’ Spellbound.
The speakeasy, which has been designed in partnership with Hollywood club The Magic Castle, requires a secret password to enter a world where theatrical cocktails are served alongside a magic show.
Extra magic is injected into the drinks, too — think cinnamon- infused tipples hidden within a smoking chest and shimmery bubbles in elegant flutes.
GO: A seven-night Western Caribbean cruise on board Sun Princess is from £479pp departing from Fort Lauderdale in Florida on January 18, calling at Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico, and Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands. Offer includes up to £250 off flights.
For details and booking, check out princess.com.
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE’S SKYY VODKA ICE BAR
On board: Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Epic Additional cost: $20pp including two alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks
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ICE is not normally something you’d want to encounter on a cruise ship, unless you’re at Norwegian Cruise Line’s Skyy Vodka Ice Bar, where the atmosphere is as cool as the drinks served.
Inspired by the Ice Hotels in Scandinavia, this quirky space is made entirely of frozen water, from the walls and bar itself right down to the seats and tumblers.
Guests are given snuggly robes to keep them toasty in the 17C chamber and invited to knock back vodka-based slurps during a 30-minute session.
GO: A seven-night Mediterranean cruise on board Norwegian Epic is from £760pp departing Barcelona on May 3 next year and calling at Provence and Nice in France and Florence, Sicily, Salerno and Rome in Italy.
Offer includes up to £250 off flights. For details and booking, see ncl.com.
MARELLA CRUISES’ THE EXCHANGE
On board: Marella Voyager Additional cost: £18.95 this summer, including three exclusive cocktails
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Whisper the words “Mr Gigglejuice” into the receiver of a traditional telephone box to unlock a sexy drinking space with plump velvet cushions, rouge walls and flamboyant feathers — just don’t tell anyone we told you the secret password.
Guests should pre-book to ensure they nab a spot — and it’s an absolute must if you’re on board, says Sun Head of Travel Lisa Minot, who was one of the first to visit this speakeasy-at-sea.
Drinks are as fancy as the setting. Try the Charleston’s Collins, made with lemon grass and ginger-infused rum, vermouth, lemon juice, brown sugar and soda.
GO: A seven-night voyage to the Canaries itinerary costs from £933.16pp including flights from Bristol on December 5.
The ship departs Malaga and calls at Gibraltar, Cadiz in Spain, Funchal in Madeira and Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
For details and booking, see tui.co.uk.
ROYAL CARIBBEAN’S RISING TIDE
On board: all Oasis class ships Additional cost: Pay per drink or price included in drinks package
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THIS bar really elevates cruise booze to another level — and that’s not just because of the punchy tipples.
Royal Caribbean sometimes refers to its Rising Tide bar as a “wet lift” because the drinking-hole-cum-elevator travels between three decks in the middle of the ship all while waiters shake up spirits for passengers poised on bar stools.
Why waste time exploring on foot when you can see the ship in style and with a glass of wine in hand?
GO: A three-night Bahamas & Perfect Day cruise costs from £318pp departing Miami on January 9 next year and calling at Royal Caribbean’s private island CocoCay and Nassau in the Bahamas.
Flights cost extra. Check out royalcaribbean.com.
