ENGLAND'S scenic shores

With uncertainty surrounding where and when we can travel, thank heavens for the British cruises now welcoming us back… safely

- JANE DRUKER

Having been starved of going out, getting to know new people and enjoying live entertainment, being aboard the brand new Viking Venus ship – the seventh in the Venus family, a small ship at 745 feet with eight decks – and taking a tour of some of the most beautiful spots in the UK, is an absolute treat.

My journey began in Portsmouth, where proving you’re double-jabbed is the order of the day. Once ensconced in my Penthouse Veranda stateroom cabin (every single cabin has its own outdoor terrace – heaven), I do a COVID-19 test immediately before being allowed to freely move around the ship. This is the first of daily tests for each and everyone aboard on the eight-day Scenic Shores sojourn from Portsmouth to Liverpool, the Isles of Scilly, Falmouth and Portland on the Jurassic coastline.

Superior sailing

After setting sail north, we come down in a little hug of the south west coast. There are two days at sea, but with so much to do on the ship, this is a superior vacay. To maintain some social distancing, there are 360 people on board as opposed to the usual 930. They were all Brits deeply ready for new experiences and a bit of fun. Many of the couples I spoke to had had seven cruises cancelled in the past 18 months.