Fancy a cruise but can't possibly miss all that football? NICK DALTON scores with his pick of the ships where you can view the World Cup in style

THE BEAUTIFUL GAME
Football fans on board P&O's new superliner Azura will be able to watch all three of England's group matches on the ship's giant SeaScreen.

Cruise specialist Iglucruise.com is even throwing in a free £100 onboard spend, enough to pay for matchday beers. Interest is so high Iglucruise has devoted a whole section of its website to World Cup voyages.

For football-phobes there's still plenty to enjoy on Azura, with its 11 restaurants, outdoor spa terrace and 800-seat theatre. Watch England's opener against the USA (June 12) while leaving Malaga, against Algeria (June 18) after leaving Venice's Grand Canal and Slovenia (June 23) while sailing along the Spanish coast.

Iglucruise (0208 544 6447/ www.iglucruise.com) offers a 16-night Mediterranean cruise on board Azura from £1,199pp (two sharing), full board including £100pp on board credit. Departs Southampton June 9.

GRAND STAND
Enjoy the England games on the Grand Princess's large screen, located in the cruise ship's Movies Under The Stars poolside theatre. Catch the game against the USA while cruising off the coast of Italy and the Algeria game at sea heading back to Southampton (and be home for the Slovenia encounter). The Mediterranean Adventurer cruise takes in Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Rome, Naples and Corsica. The Grand Princess boasts five pools, spa, casino, nightclub shows and sophisticated dining.

Princess Cruises (0845 355 5800/www.princess.com) offers a 14-night Mediterranean Adventurer cruise on board the Grand Princess from £1,139pp (two sharing), full board.

Departs Southampton June 5.

CORINTHIAN SPIRIT
Thomson Cruises will be cheering England all the way on board its fleet of cruise ships including Thomson Dream, Thomson Spirit and Thomson Celebration.

Selected Brazil and Spain matches will also be shown, with coverage all the way to the final. For non-fans Thomson (0871 231 3243/ www.thomson.co.uk) is offering special deals in the on-board spas during matches. Thomson Spirit will catch all three of England's group games (USA in mid-ocean, Algeria docked in Corfu Town and Slovenia off the coast of Croatia and Montenegro). Ports of call include Athens, the Turkish holiday resort of Marmaris, Venice, Dubrovnik and other Adriatic beauty spots.

Thomson Cruises (0871 231 5938/www.thomson.co.uk) offers a 14-night Pearls of the Aegean/Adriatic Explorer cruise on board Thomson Spirit from £1,429pp (two sharing), full board, including return flights and transfers. Departs Corfu June 11.

ON THE BALTIC
From the serenity of the Baltic this Saga cruise not only allows you to catch the final two England group games but also their first knockout match (of course we'll get that far) on June 26 or 27, depending on whether we finish first or second in our group. The Baltic voyage on board Saga Pearl II will be in mid-ocean between Stockholm and Helsinki for the USA game, sailing to Lithuania for the Slovenia match and passing through the Kiel Canal, from the Baltic to the North Sea, for the other match whichever day it is on. Calls include historic St Petersburg in Russia, the Polish port of Gdynia, the Estonian capital of Tallinn and Copenhagen.

Saga (0800 096 0079/www.saga.co.uk) offers a 15-night Gems of the Baltic cruise on board Saga Pearl II from £2,174pp (two sharing), full board. Departs Dover June 13.

BARCA MAGIC
Royal Caribbean's superliner Independence of the Seas could well be the place to see England clash with the USA, with the match ending in time for the 10pm sailing from football-mad Barcelona.

Get ready for some exciting themed activities, including the ship's own football tournament.

Sail the Med from Cannes to Ibiza, taking in Barcelona, Gibraltar, Corsica and Malaga, while enjoying your final evening watching England take on Algeria.

Royal Caribbean (0800 018 2020/www.royalcaribbean.com) offers a 14-night Mediterranean Treasures cruise on board Independence of the Seas from £1,419pp (two sharing), full board. Departs Southampton June 5.