LEARN something new everyday on your cruise with expert talks by presenters from the world of television and radio, says DEBORAH STONE

GARDENERS’ DELIGHT
Gardeners’  Question Time panellist Matthew Biggs and horticultural writer Will Giles will keep green-fingered passengers enthralled on board the recently refurbished 484-berth Braemar during a cruise.co.uk (0800 408 6200/ www.cruise.co.uk) fly-cruise to the Caribbean.

Matthew, who presented Channel 4’s Garden Club, is a grow-your-own veg enthusiast
and will chat about ideas for kitchen gardens. Will, who has appeared on BBC’s Gardeners’ World, will be talking about exotic plants based on his own experience at his Exotic Garden, near Norwich.

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Both accompany a trip to Diamond Botanical Gardens at Castries, on the stunning island of St Lucia. These tropical gardens are in a gorge at the foot of the famous Pitons and fed by underground hot springs and a beautiful waterfall. There are also opportunities to visit Trinidad’s
Royal Botanic Gardens, one of the oldest in the world.

The cruise also calls at St Kitts and Antigua which has historic forts and sites including Nelson’s Dockyard.

● A 14-night Caribbean Isles cruise on the Braemar from £1,259pp (two sharing) including flights from Gatwick, Birmingham or Manchester to Jamaica and return from Barbados.

Departs November 25, 2010.

DISH OF THE DAY
Celebrity chef Kevin Woodford will be in the hot seat when he demonstrates how to cook some of Portugal’s most mouthwatering dishes during Saga’s (0800 056 5880/www.saga.co.uk) Portugal and the Atlantic Isles cruise on board its newest addition, the 446-passenger Saga Pearl II.

The ship has undergone a multi-million pound refi t since joining the Saga fl eet and now boasts a spa and gym, cinema and lounge with a dancefloor and stage. Kevin, known for his appearances on Ready Steady Cook, is one of several food and wine experts on this cruise which includes stops at Portugal, Spain, Madeira and the Azores.

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First stop is Oporto, the city synonymous with port wine and one of Portugal’s loveliest historic centres. Lisbon, the country’s capital, has Unesco World Heritage sites while Portimão, on the Algarve coast, features some stunning beaches. There’s a quick stop in neighbouring Spain to sample sherry and tapas in Seville, then it’s back to the Portuguese-speaking world of Madeira, famous for its fortifi ed wine. The gastronomic tour finishes with a few days in the
Azores, a picturesque string of nine volcanic islands in the Atlantic where seafood is always on the menu along with local brandies and liqueurs.

● An 18-night Portugal and the Atlantic Isles cruise on Saga Pearl II from £2,399pp (two sharing). Departs Southampton, November 19, 2010.

DOWN THE HATCH
Expert Olly Smith will share his passion for fine wine and travel with passengers on boardP&O’s (0845 355 5333/www.pocruises.co.uk) recently launched ship Azura, when he joins its Canary Islands cruise.

He will be hosting wine tasting sessions in his latest venture, the ship’s restaurant and wine
bar The Glass House, a stylish set-up with a contemporary feel. Indeed, Olly helped to create the restaurant’s concept and has introduced wine to suit every dish on the menu.

Azura sails to the garden island of Madeira then on to the Canaries. La Palma’s pretty harbour Santa Cruz has a lovely old quarter with quirky shops, while Gran Canaria’s capital Las Palmas is
lively.

The Azura, which carries more than 3,000 passengers, has state-of-the-art facilities including a two-tier theatre, outdoor cinema, pools, spa, gym, sports courts and bars and restaurants galore, including 11 food venues.

● A 12-night Canary Islands cruise on Azura from £1,661pp (two sharing). Departs Southampton, October 17, 2010.

ARCHERS AHOY
Fred.Olsen Cruise Lines (01473 742424/www.fredolsencruises.co.uk) is offering fans of The
Archers a treat. Actors from the long-running BBC radio series, which tells the everyday story of country folk, will entertain passengers with behind-the-scenes anecdotes and Q&A sessions. They will also perform a specially written episode.

Even better, there will be an opportunity for passengers to create a follow-up script then play the supporting roles when that is acted out by the cast.

The cruise aboard Black Watch, an 804-passenger ship, takes in some of Norway’s more northern destinations.

The vessel was refurbished last year and includes a new casual dining area and lounges, great places to relax after visiting the beautiful fjords including Tromsø – one of the best Northern Lights vantage points – then Honningsvåg, gateway to the Northern Cape. The cruise also visits Alta, the northernmost city in the world.

● A 14-night North Cape cruise on Black Watch from £1,989pp (two sharing). Departs Southampton, July 16, 2010.