How to share your cruise holiday with a celebrity

Filed under: Cruises

BBC

Fancy meeting Marco Pierre White, hitting the dance floor in front of Craig Revel Horwood or discovering the wonders of the deep with Jean Michel Costeau? More and more cruise companies are offering "celebrity experiences" as part of their packages. Liz Jarvis, Editor of Cruise International, selects ten of the best for 2013.

Celebrity cruises

Enjoy a floating opera with Russell Watson
 This year, the legendary tenor – aka The Voice - will be performing on board select cruises with P&O. A three-night round-trip cruise on Aurora from Southampton departing 18 May and calling at Zebrugge and St Peter’s Port starts at £379pp. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.pocruises.com" target="_blank">pocruises.com</a>
Learn to bake with Eric Lanlard
 Famous for his fabulous cakes and creating gateaux for celebrity clients including Madonna, the Beckhams and Elizabeth Hurley, as well as royalty, master pâtissier and Cake Boy legend Eric will be giving lectures and demos on the 14-night Western Mediterranean voyage with <a href="http://www.pocruises.com" target="_blank">P&O</a> departing April 27. Prices start at £1,069pp.
Pick up some gardening tips from Charlie Dimmock
 The flame-haired gardening expert will be offering gardening tips on Fred Olsen's 14-night The Gardens of Madeira & The Canaries cruise on 22 April as part of its award-winning Vistas programme. Prices start at £1,389 per person. For more information go to <a href="http://www.fredolsencruises.com" target="_blank">fredolsencruises.com</a>
Learn to dance with Craig Revel Horwood
 If you think you’ve got dance skills, here’s your opportunity to find out what Strictly Come Dancing’s Mr Nasty thinks of your moves. You’ll also be treated to a display by dancers from the series. There are seven SCD cruises in 2013, with the first departing on 11 May, calling at Madeira, La Palma, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Cadiz and Lisbon. Prices start at £1179pp for a 13-night full board round-trip cruise from Southampton. For more information visit <a href="http://www.pocruises.com" target="_blank">pocruises.com</a>
Gorge yourself silly with Atul Kochhar
 Michelin-starred chef and TV cookery guru Atul created the Asian-fusion Sindhu restaurant for <a href="http://www.pocruises.com" target="_blank">P&O</a> and will be on four cruises this year including the 17-night Western Med Cruise departing on 27 April. Prices start at £1,069pp.
Brush up your oceanography with Jean-Michel Cousteau
 Friends character Phoebe Buffay's favourite oceanographer Jacques Cousteau may not be with us any more but his son, Jean-Michel will be giving lectures and accompanying guests on dives with Paul Gauguin cruises. A 10-night cruise to the Society Islands in the South Pacific costs from $4,995pp. For more information see <a href="http://www.pgcruises.com" target="_blank">pgcruises.com</a>
Take a foodie cruise with Marco Pierre White
 If he gets you hot under the collar then you’ll be pleased to know that Marco, who created restaurants including The White Room for P&O, is expected to be on six cruises in 2013, including a seven-night cruise on Ventura departing 7 April from Southampton to Lisbon, Oporto and Vigo. Prices start at £629 per person. For more info see <a href="http://www.pocruises.com" target="_blank">pocruises.com</a>
Spend some quality time with Bill Bryson
 Celebrated author Bill Bryson will be giving lectures on board Cunard in 2013 as part of its ‘Insights’ programme. Other speakers include Lord Digby Jones and Lord Robert Winston. Bill Bryson will be on QM2 from for the ‘Autumn Colours’ voyage (15-27 Oct 2013), travelling from New York to New England and Canada. Fares start at £1,959pp for 13 nights, including return flights to New York. Visit <a href="http://www.cunard.co.uk/" target="_blank">Cunard </a>for more information.
Let Jonathan and Charlotte entertain you
 They were two of the most popular contestants on Britain's Got Talent 2012 and you can catch them performing live on P&O’s Azura this year. A four-night round-trip cruise from Southampton on 18 April stopping at Zebrugge and St Peter Port costs from £319pp. For more info visit <a href="http://www.pocruises.com/" target="_blank">pocruises.com</a>
Go on a wine cruise with Olly Smith
 Renowned wine expert and specialist sommelier Olly will be on board P&O’s Azura for a 25-night <a href="http://www.pocruises.com/Discovery/issue01/names_and_faces/olly_smith/index.html" target="_blank">Mediterranean and Black Sea cruise</a>, departing 7 September from Southampton. Prices start at £1,859pp.