Explore More UK Summer 2020

TRAVEL
This page, from
left to right: Key
West in Florida;
Cuban influences
are everywhere in
the Florida Keys
archipelago
Caribbean
cool
Travel writer and river cruising fan
Gabrielle Sander reports back from
her first ocean adventure
PHOTOS: © ISTOCK
It is a year since I took my
first cruise; an eight-day trip
along the Rhine, from Basel to
Amsterdam, on board Viking
Eir. It’s one I’ve waxed lyrical about
to many since, as well as in this very
magazine. Aside from introducing
me to a generous and picturesque
portion of Western Europe,
it opened my eyes to a way of
travelling I’d previously filed under
‘things to do when I retire’.
I fell in love with the ease of
sailing from one port to the next; a
new town, city or country each day.
Such a romantic, easy way to travel.
Country-hopping without having
to hire a car, board planes, or lug a
suitcase onto different trains.
It helped that my vessel was sleek
and smooth-sailing (sometimes I’d
look out the window just to see if
we were actually moving); quiet,
with only 190 passengers, and lowlevel,
so we could cruise close to
land and dock moments from the
sightseeing action. It also helped
that everything was on point, from
the initial welcome to the smooth
operation of the excursions, and
sweet touches such as the plump
strawberries left in our stateroom
one morning. Just like that, my
love of cruising was sparked.
So, when it came to joining
my first Viking ocean cruise –
Turquoise Caribbean Seas, starting
and finishing in Miami – I was
excited, but also unsure whether
I’d enjoy it as much: how would
the cosy nature of the ship work
on a larger scale, and would the
personable nature of the river cruise
translate to an ocean cruise?
Well, that hesitation passed
within five minutes of boarding
Viking Sky. The welcome,
the sunny spaces and cool
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