Toward the end of October, the Emerald Princess will depart from Southampton and cruise to the Canary Islands before returning 11 days later. You could be on board that cruise for only £682 (~€791) per person. An even better deal may be to book an ocean view cabin for only £763 (~€884), though.
Guests are required to have been fully vaccinated for at least 14 days before boarding the cruise ship. You also have to have valid travel insurance.
These prices include full board, evening entertainment, and daytime leisure facilities. The gratuities are sadly not included. Princess Cruises will add US$11.50 (~€10.79) per passenger and day to your shipboard account.
The Route
This Canary Island cruise has the following itinerary:
- October 28: Southampton (departs at 16:00)
- October 29: At sea
- October 30: Vigo (on Spain’s northwest coast, 9 hours)
- October 31: At sea
- November 1: Funchal (on Madeira, 9 hours)
- November 2: Santa Cruz de Tenerife (10 hours)
- November 3: Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (10 hours)
- November 4-6: At Sea
- November 7: Southampton (arrives at 7:00)
The Ship
The Emerald Princess entered service in 2007 and was one of Princess Cruises‘ largest ships. The ship is known for its friendly crew, well-crafted shore tours, and improved speciality dining. Sadly, there apparently seem to be long queues to enter the main dining rooms.
On board, you have 9 free culinary options: The three very similar main dining rooms (Michelangelo, Botticelli, and Da Vinci), the International Cafe, the Horizon Court Buffet, the Cafe Caribe, the Pizza and Ice Cream Bar, the Trident Grill, and free 24/7 room service.
The cabins show a bit of wear and tear due to their age, but have been maintained to a high standard. The ship got new beds in 2015.
Overall, the Emerald Princess offers its 3,080 passengers a relaxed atmosphere with entertainment options for all ages across its 15 decks.
Getting to Southampton
Most people will get to Southampton from London. You can, however, also fly to Southampton with KLM from Amsterdam, or with Eastern Airways from Dublin and Manchester. Prices for such flights generally range from €185 to €265.
Cover Picture: © Princess Cruise Lines, Ltd.