Beauty and the boat: A look at Disney’s new movie-inspired sea venture, and the rest of the themed cruises on offer

It’s set to be one of this year’s biggest family blockbuster films, and now Disney is offering special Beauty And The Beast cruises for a chance to visit the sights that inspired the famous story.

The River Rhine cruise will take in France, Holland, Germany and Switzerland, with excursions to medieval villages full of cobbled lanes and half-timbered houses that look just like the backdrops to the film. You’ll expect to bump into Belle or Gaston around every corner.

Disney’s all-inclusive eight-day river cruises use the upmarket boats normally operated by AmaWaterways.

One of the main attractions will be a tour of Riquewihr in north-eastern France, the historic village that was the inspiration for French novelist Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve’s original 1740 tale.

There will be six Beauty sailings in 2018 which will also include visits to German fairytale locations the Black Forest and Heidelberg Castle.

Expect on-board film screenings and themed dinners, too. Adult fare starts at about £3,500.

• If you can’t wait that long for a floating Beauty And The Beast experience, Disney’s own Disney Dream cruise ship will be staging the first ocean-going live musical stage show of the story from November 6 this year on its itineraries in the Caribbean. Expect Disney’s renowned Broadway-style quality. Visit disneycruise.disney.go.com.

• Disney’s announcement followed news that this year’s Star Trek cruise on the NCL Norwegian Pearl was a complete sellout. It was another example of modern travellers’ appetite for film-themed cruises. The Star Trek cruise organisers quickly arranged two repeat cruises for January 2018. Book quickly – this year’s cruise sold out in just two months. Captain James Kirk, or actor William Shatner, was the star figure on board this year’s trip. Next year’s six-day cruises from Miami on the 2,400-passenger Norwegian Jade will feature Mr Sulu, actor George Takei. Single cabins are from £1,740pp. Go to startrekthecruise.com.

• If your heroes are of a more sporting nature, Princess Cruises has just announced big-name speakers on Crown Princess sailing from Southampton between April and September this summer. Celebrity speakers include former Tottenham football boss Harry Redknapp, former England cricketers Graham Gooch and Mike Gatting, snooker player John Virgo and goalkeeper Peter Shilton. Prices start at £799pp for seven nights. Visit princess.com/holiday.

• The ultimate luxury sports holiday is offered by Azamara – a World Cup cruise to Russia in June next year. The 12-day trip on a boutique ship sails from the heart of London, through the Baltic Sea to Scandinavia and Russia. The highlight will be a visit to St Petersburg’s Zenit Stadium to watch a World Cup game. Cruises cost from £6,998 for a two-berth cabin. Go to azamaraclubcruises.co.uk.

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