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The grand Spanish river cruise that stops at three lesser-visited cities along the way
MY first cruise holiday ticked all the boxes.
Guided land tours and free entry to attractions? Tick. Cuisine that would make even Gordon Ramsay break out in a smile? Tick.
And a super-attentive and talented crew, worthy of BGT auditions?
I was already at the airport gate, for my river adventure exploring the Andalusia region of southern Spain.
I had picked the break, with French operator CroisiEurope Cruises, because I could enjoy new experiences each day and spend as much or as little time on the ship as I desired.
My three-deck, 88-cabin home, MS La Belle de Cadix, was a grand old beauty complete with lovingly polished brass and wooden fittings, as well as a bejewelled, centrepiece chandelier.
With a warm hello from her crew and a cold cocktail in hand, I knew Belle and I would get along just fine from the moment I stepped aboard, ready for my eight-day adventure along the Guadal-quivir River and Atlantic Ocean coast.
Cabins are comfortable and well decorated. Mine was on the upper deck and featured a very comfy double bed, French balcony windows, en-suite power shower, aircon and free wifi.
Downstairs on one of the lower decks is the elegant restaurant where all meals are served throughout the cruise.
The all-inclusive menus, comprising French and international dishes, certainly tickled my tastebuds.
From Chef’s stunning paella and honey-glazed duck breast served on a bed of fresh veg and polenta, to roasted pine-apple with rosemary-and-coconut ice- cream for dessert, every meal time was a fabulous feast.
And for breakfast, a tempting buffet awaits, laden with freshly made pancakes, omelettes, fresh breads, yoghurts, pastries and juices.
The waiting staff only add to the holiday experience, always going above and beyond to make sure you are looked after to the max.
There are also plenty of choices for those with special dietary requirements, although you must give advance details of your needs.
Wine glasses are refilled regularly and coffee comes with a Werther’s Original — a lovely touch.
There is a shiny dance floor with disco ball in the main lounge, which serves cocktails all evening and offers panoramic sea views through its many windows.
Flamenco dancers
The lounge is also where you will be briefed on the day ahead and timings of tours.
But worry not if you miss it — our multilingual manager Monika made a Tannoy announcement each morning to ensure everyone was in the know.
And there is even a volume-control switch if you are still dozing.
The top deck is a great place for relaxing by day or night, with sun loungers, tables and chairs for catch-ups over drinks from the open bar, and a decent-sized pool for a cool dip.
There is even an exercise machine for those who want to work out al fresco.
There is plenty on entertainment, too.
On one of my first nights, I got stuck into a bonding evening where crew introduced themselves to passengers with nicknames that included Elvis, George Clooney and Robert Redford.
And there is something different on each night, from pro flamenco dancers and musicians to karaoke.
At the various ports of call, you take either an organised tour or your own wander into town — your choice.
Of course, the real fun of a river cruise lies in the sightseeing — and there was plenty of that to get stuck into.
I visited the city of Cordoba — by coach ride along olive-flanked roads — and its magnificent mosque-cathedral, a Unesco world heritage site.
I also marvelled at the age-old architecture of Andalusian capital Seville.
A walking tour I took included admission to the stunning Royal Alcazar, Europe’s oldest palace.
Here, I learned how the palace had recently resumed a tradition of gifting the British monarchy a bundle of Seville oranges, which began way back in 1906.
The charming ancient port of Cadiz — with its vibrant culture, imposing golden-domed cathedral and picturesque beaches — was another memorable stop-off during my cruise.
Then there was sherry-tasting at the beautiful Bodegas Osborne in the town of El Puerto de Santa María — tipsy and tasty in equal measure.
But the crowning glory was surely a visit to Granada’s famed Alhambra palace, one of the most famous examples of Islamic architecture.
Our excellent CroisiEurope guides, including Alex and Noemi, imparted knowledge with gusto via handy headsets that you charge in your cabin each night to ensure that you do not miss out on a single nugget the next day.
Lunches beyond the ship are provided in top-notch local restaurants, and down-time allows for shopping or people-watching at cafes.
But of the many sights, sounds and tastes that I experienced, nothing could compare to looking out from my bedroom window over the Atlantic Ocean sparkling in the sunshine.
Mucas gracias, Belle.
GO: Andalusia
SAILING THERE: CroisiEurope’s seven-night Guadalquivir cruise starts from £1,745pp.
The price includes return flights from Gatwick and overseas transfers as well as all meals and drinks, excursions, onboard entertainment and port fees.
For further information and to book you break, call 01756 691 269 or see croisieurope.co.uk.
Super sub Jack McCarron fires Monaghan to first title in 10 years with late scoring blitz at Croke Park
JACK McCarron climbed off the bench and kicked Monaghan to the NFL Division 2 title – their first silverware in a decade.
Boss Gabriel Bannigan said he held his experienced attacker in reserve so that he’d have him on the pitch for the crucial finale.
And the plan worked a treat with McCarron sniping 1-2 in the closing quarter to secure a third ever Division 2 title for the Farney.
Monaghan trailed by a point at half-time and were still only two points ahead with 57 minutes played.
But McCarron’s goal gave them vital breathing room and the 2015 Ulster champions kicked on with a series of stunning scores.
They blitzed Roscommon by 1-6 to 0-1 in the closing minutes with goalkeeper Rory Beggan blasting his third two-pointer of the evening to secure the 10-point win.
Monaghan struck six two-pointers in all and brought all of their Division 1 experience to the table having played there for 10 seasons until relegation last year.
Bannigan will be delighted too with the performance of his nephew, Micheal, who struck 0-5 while Dylan Byrne came of age at Croke Park with a Man of the Match performance.
Manager Bannigan praised McCarron and said: “Jack came off the bench in Navan as well, against Meath, and made a big contribution.
“We knew the final this evening was going to be helter skelter for the first 20, 25 minutes.
“So we went with a team to start the game and we said that we wanted Jack McCarron on the pitch for the business end and that’s what we did.
“Everybody wants to start, every player wants to be in the 26 but what we are trying to mould within the group is a first 15 that’s hard to get into and a first 2 that’s hard to get into as well.”
Monaghan aren’t in Ulster SFC action until April 20 when they’ll face Derry or Donegal.
So they could give their full focus to signing off on their spring campaign with a national win.
Roscommon, meanwhile, probably had one eye on next Saturday’s trip to Ruislip to play London in the Connacht SFC.
Bannigan said: “Without a doubt the cards fell right for us in that regard. Whatever about it being a help, we certainly didn’t have any distraction.
“We were able to come here and let the lads go for it. Listen, there is no doubt I wouldn’t want to be going out and playing Championship football next weekend.”
Roscommon manager Davy Burke felt his side was right in it until being burned off in the closing 15 minutes. Monaghan outscored them by 1-6 to 0-1 in that period.
Burke said: “Fair play to Monaghan, they pulled clear. It is probably difficult for the players and ourselves to juggle with such a big game next Saturday as well and obviously in a different country and all that type of stuff.
“The performance for a long time was positive but obviously the result wasn’t. But look, we got out without too many knocks.”
Roscommon were sitting pretty at half-time with a 0-12 to 0-11 lead.
The Murtagh brothers, Diarmuid and Ciarain, kicked five points between them while Ben O’Carroll and Ruaidhri Fallon snatched eye-catching scores.
But missed opportunities cost Roscommon and both Diarmuid Murtagh and O’Carroll wasted goal chances.
It caught up on them in that final quarter because the game was hanging in the balance at 0-20 to 0-18 in Monaghan’s favour.
The Farney took off from there and showed that 10 years in Division 1 has stood to them.
They kicked three two-pointers in a row at one stage in the second-half and Beggan hammered another late on to gloss the scoreline.
Monaghan 1-26
Roscommon 0-19
Monaghan: R Beggan 0-7, 3 tpf, 1 45; R Wylie 0-1, R O’Toole, D Byrne; D Ward 0-2, tp, A Carey, C McCarthy 0-2, tp; G Mohan 0-1, M McCarville; R McAnespie 0-1, M Bannigan 0-5, 1tp, C McNulty 0-1; D Garland, A Woods 0-3, 1f, S O’Hanlon 0-1.
Subs: J McCarron 1-2 for Garland 45, S Mooney for McAnespie 58, J Irwin for Carey 67, J Wilson for McNulty 68, K Duffy for McCarthy 70.
Roscommon: C Carroll 0-1, 1 45); N Higgins, J McManus, D Murray; C Neary, R Fallon 0-1, D Ruane; E Nolan 0-1, K Doyle; C Lennon, C McKeon 0-2, C Murtagh 0-2, 2f; B O’Carroll 0-1, D Murtagh 0-8, 4f, 1tp, E Smith 0-2.
Subs: R Daly for Fallon 35, S Lambe for Higgins 38-50, blood, C Hand for Lennon 43, U Harney for Doyle 52, D Smith 0-1 for McKeon 55, C Heneghan for C Murtagh 62.
Ref: B Tiernan (Dublin).
I went to the world’s best airport with a huge new terminal – and found tropical gardens & even an indoor swimming pool
WHEN I told friends I’d be spending a whole day in the airport, their responses were much the same: “Poor you” and “What a slog”.
But after ten minutes in a bath-warm swimming pool hovering above the terminal at Hamad International Airport, in Qatari capital Doha, their sympathies somewhat faded.
This wasn’t a “slog”, at all. I was at the “best airport in the world”, according to aviation review site Skytrax. And a visit here is a holiday in itself.
Within a few hours I’d strolled through a tropical rainforest, tucked into traditional sweets in a souq and had a sumptuous massage in a tranquil spa where airport stresses melt into distant memories.
How is all this possible?
Well, the airport has pegged itself as the ultimate layover destination, and it’s so big it supposedly covers a third of the city of Doha.
Bedouin cushions
Around 30million people passed through the airport in 2018 – and that number is about to skyrocket thanks to a new expansion unveiled this month.
Two new concourses spread over 850,000 square metres will allow it to transport a 65 million passengers per year – almost 20 million more than London’s Gatwick.
And there is plenty to keep trippers entertained while they wait for flights.
The Orchard is the airport’s indoor tropical garden, constructed in 2022 – tall leafy palms and lush, green banana plants flourishing in the sunlight under a glass dome.
All of the shrubs are real. The birds hiding within them are not, although the chirping sounds floating from hidden speakers nearly had me fooled.
I wasn’t surprised to catch passengers reading a book on the artificial grass, or cosying down in one of the wooden tipis – with the noise of the nearby waterfall muffling out the chaos of a busy airport, this is surely the most peaceful spot in Hamad International.
At least that’s what I thought.
Unlike The Orchard, which is free to visit, a spa pass to the Vitality Spa costs around £40, unless you’re a guest of the airport hotel –more on that below.
When I visited, I had the entire space to myself, including the 25-metre pool.
A pass also gets you access to a changing room with lockers, slippers and a fluffy robe, hydrotherapy pools and a fully equipped gym.
Don’t worry about getting sweaty – there are showers with sumptuous toiletries, too.
There’s even a squash court, and a golf simulator. These cost extra, though.
The only downside to my heavenly hour-long massage (£95) was several blaring announcements of a gate change for the next Air Arabia flight.
There’s nothing like the noise of a Tannoy to welcome you back to reality with a thud.
Luckily, any woes could be cured by snacks. And where better to snack than a souq? I was in the Middle East, after all.
Yes, the airport is even home to Souq Al Matar, with woven rugs and bedouin-style cushions for lounging on, trolleys selling cinnamon sticks and other spices, and a shop dishing out traditional sweets.
Elsewhere, there’s a Harrods tea room, 100-room hotels . . . and don’t even get me started on the luxury shopping.
If your next flight is more than a few hours away, head to the Discover Qatar desk where you’ll be able to book a brief excursion, be that a city tour (£24) or trip to a beach club (£6 entry).
Never did I think I’d be praying for a long layover. But, at Hamad International, it’s a welcome holiday.
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I visited Italian city with £3 award-winning pizza and beautiful nearby islands – and Ryanair has cheap flights
NAPLES is one of the few Italian cities that you can still very much enjoy on a budget.
Its sunny streets are less than three hours away by plane and there are budget flights from London, Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol starting from just £157 return this spring.
From pizza and football to castles and negronis, Lauren Clark serves up a slice of what the city – rich in culture and cuisine – has to offer.
WHY SHOULD I GO?
Naples, capital of the Campania region, is considered the birthplace of pizza — and you will be spoilt for choice, with award-winning margaritas served up for just £3 at the many restaurants on its bustling streets.
It is also a city that’s got everything a family with varied interests might need — from the history of Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii on its doorstep, to the beaches of famous islands such as Procida, Capri and Ischia a short boat ride away.
STREETS MADE FOR WALKING?
One of the city’s main selling points is that it’s very walkable, with the main attractions easily accessible.
Its compact nature does mean it can be cheerfully chaotic though.
There is a smooth-running metro system should you need it — including Toledo, one of the most beautiful metro stops in Europe.
For a bird’s eye view of the city, ride the Funicolare di Montesanto (tickets £1.36) up to the impressive Castel Sant’Elmo (entry £4.26) and admire the islands in the distance.
ANYTHING FOR THE BUCKET LIST?
From the city’s waterfront you can get a good look at the still-active Mount Vesuvius, which destroyed nearby Pompeii and Herculaneum with its 79CE eruption.
Also on the seafront is the impressive Castel dell’Ovo — or Egg Castle.
Why the name? Medieval legend had it that Roman poet Virgil placed a magical siren’s egg within the castle’s foundations to protect it — and Naples — from misfortune.
Another must-do is Napoli Sotterranea (entry £11.08), where you can explore a labyrinth of tunnels revealing 2,400 years of history, from Greek aqueducts to Second World War bomb shelters.
Bargain hunters may want to eschew the A-list favourite island of Capri for the neighbouring, more affordable tiny island of Procida.
After a 40-minute boat ride from Naples (advance tickets from £7.67), you’ll be enjoying its beautiful port, pastel-hued homes and black volcanic sand beaches.
WHERE SHOULD I EAT?
For pizza, head to Sorbillo — it has won a ton of awards and been featured in the Michelin guide, yet serves margaritas for only £3.44.
The city is also known for its pizza fritta (or fried pizza), which you can indulge in for just a few euros at the blink-and-you-miss-it tiny pizzeria Di Matteo, where Bill Clinton enjoyed a few slices during a presidential visit.
The waiters at Trattoria da Nennella, in the Quartieri Spagnoli neighbourhood, spontaneously erupt into song and dance.
The sound-track of Italian pop music is as cheesy as the tasty dishes placed on the gingham-clothed tables.
Two courses and sides will set you back just £12.80.
For pasta, head to Signora Bettola (try the ravioli capresi) — and for fresh seafood, stop by I Sapori della Pescheria Azzurra, which doubles up as a fish market.
For a delicious sweet treat, try graffa — a long, sausage-shaped doughnut which can be picked up from Chalet Ciro.
FANCY A DRINK
Sip on what is considered by many to be one of Naples’ best negronis, at neighbourhood cocktail bar Archeobar.
There’s also Riserva Rooftop on the Posillipo Hill, which allows you to sip on a glass of chilled wine from the terrace while seeing as far as Capri.
WHERE SHOULD I STAY?
The 30-floor four-star Hotel NH Napoli Panorama is the tallest in Italy, with sweeping views of the Bay of Naples.
It’s near the harbour, and the compact rooms are modern and comfy.
