Cruise Select

16/10/2026

Checking out Ambassador cruise Lines, Ambiance sailing out of Tilbury yesterday. Parking excellent, check in, one of the quickest I have experienced, so far perfect

14/09/2026

Third time on the Douro and yesterday was my third time visiting Salamanca, which is always a full day excursion (a typical day on a Douro River Cruise will be half sailing/half excursion as ships can’t sail overnight), but each cruise line does things a little differently. For me, this was the first time leaving a little earlier (7:50) but there’s always plenty of time to have a little snooze on the transfer (1hr 50) - and Salamanca is such a beautiful city, it’s worth it. Leaving earlier meant that we avoided the worst of the day’s heat. We started with some free time before a walking tour, followed by lunch which would be held buffet style at the Hotel Alameda with a flamenco show. However made it clear that you could join in however much you wanted to - if you effectively just wanted a shuttle in to Salamanca and spent the whole time at your own leisure or your own pace, that was fine, if you wanted to skip the walking tour, that was also fine, if you wanted to find your own lunch, also fine (just don’t miss the meeting time for the bus back!)

13/09/2026

Yesterday morning was spent cruising the Douro and transitting the two final locks before the Spanish border (at the Valeira and Pocinho Dams), which was a very relaxing and serene start to the day. In the afternoon, we visited the medieval hilltop village of Costello Rodrigo, one of 12 historic villages listed and protected by the Portuguese government. Close to the Spanish border, on a clear day such as yesterday you could see Spain (if, unlike me, you knew exactly where to look!). We had a short walking tour followed by some free time before returning to the MS Estrela stopping via a viewpoint where we could see vultures

12/09/2026

Let’s go Lamego! 🇵🇹
Our first excursion with yesterday was a visit to Lamego and its iconic Baroque Santuário de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios (Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies) - and as I always like to say (like Cogsworth), ‘if it ain’t Baroque, don’t fix it’. There were two options in getting down from this hillside sanctuary which overlooks the town: go by coach, or take the 600-something steps down (at least that’s an easier option than going up the steps on your knees like a pilgrim). I took the latter option, taking my sweet time and a million photos and videos along the way, and ended up being the last to join the rest of my group! There was some free time - enough to pop into the beautiful cathedral - before our coach collected us for the 90-minute transfer to Quinta Da Avessada, which specialises in Muscatel w**e and has been owned by the same family for six generations. Here we had a quick tour and tasting, followed by a special farm-to-table dinner, but of course the highlight was the Owner, fondly known as ‘Portuguese Mr Bean’. A pretty packed first excursion!

11/09/2026

Amy and her group of lovely clients are heading for their first shoreside excursion with Travelmarvel but first they spent the morning enjoying the scenery as they cruised, and transitted the Carapatello Dam, one of the highest in the world and a certified Douro River cruise highlight!

10/09/2026

A quick peak at my Category E Window Stateroom onboard MS Estrela as I start my seven night cruise on the Douro with - lovely earthy, warm touches in decor, plenty of sockets and charging points as well as mirrors, and great amenities. This will make for a comfy home for the next week! Keep an eye out for my updates as I cruise this stunning river

30/06/2026

🚢 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴? Don’t worry — we’ve got you covered!
✨ 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 “𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴” — the perfect starting point for anyone curious about this relaxing and scenic way to travel.
🤔 Wondering what to expect on board? Or how river cruises differ from ocean cruises?
🎞️ Watch our helpful video and dive into our easy-to-follow guide packed with tips, insider advice, and all you need to know to feel confident and excited for your first river cruise adventure!
👉 https://www.selecttravelholidays.co.uk/first-timers-guide-to-river-cruising

First time river cruising? This guide covers everything you need to know! Learn what to expect, top destinations, tips, and more for an unforgettable river cruise holiday.

26/06/2026

Our team keeping cool in the heatwave with ice creams! (And air con!)

21/06/2026

👀 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑨𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑪𝒓𝒖𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒐𝒍𝒐? 👀
🚢 Dreaming of the freedom to explore at your own pace?
Whether you’re an experienced solo traveller or considering your very first adventure, our 𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝟭𝟬 𝗘𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗖𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘀 will help you feel confident, prepared, and excited to set sail.
💡 From making the most of your time on board to meeting like-minded explorers, these expert insights will inspire you to take the plunge and book that unforgettable trip.
🙌 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗼 𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲?
👉 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱!
https://www.selecttravelholidays.co.uk/top-10-tips-for-solo-cruisers
✨ Have your own solo cruising secrets? Share them in the comments! ✨

Ever wanted to take a cruise on your own but you’re just not convinced? Well we have put together our top 10 tips for solo cruisers and single travellers and shared them with you below. These helpful tips will help you learn how to make your solo cruise trip even better than what you expected. Wat...

19/06/2026

Journey to the top of the world on a Swan Hellenic cultural expedition cruise—Arctic landscapes, expert-led discoveries, and moments few ever witness. Click to see what others don’t: https://inspires.to/experiences/journey-to-the-top-of-the-world-de43ej

Cruise the Arctic and see what others don't