A brand-new British cruise line is coming. Starting in June this year, Ambassador Cruise Line aims to appeal specifically to older travellers. Their newly-refurbished, 1,400 passenger ship ‘Ambience’ will set out on her maiden voyage from Tilbury on 6 April 2022. The full no-fly programme includes 33 sailings to the Baltics, Greenland, the Arctic and Iceland. Expedition-style voyages to the Canaries, the Caribbean and Scandinavia will be offered in the winter months. Guide prices from £850pp for 7 nights.

Azamara is noted for its destination-intensive itineraries aboard boutique ships and the company is coming back stronger than ever this summer, having just announced an array of immersive Greek-island cruises. Starting 28 August 2021, there are five 7-night Greek island sailings aboard Azamara Quest including calls at Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes, Cyprus and Crete, with many late-night departure times to allow more time ashore. Bookings are now open!

Prefer to stay in the UK for your travels this year? Cosmos has a selection of enticing Stay and Explore escorted tours on home turf, including ones to Stratford on Avon and the Scottish Highlands where the single supplement is waived for the first four passengers to book. These small group tours average no more than 24 in total and return to the same hotel each day, so there’s no packing and unpacking. 5 nights from just £499pp (was £700pp).

Be part of history as one of the first guests aboard Tradewind Voyages’ tall-ship Golden Horizon on her 1 July inaugural voyage from Harwich to Leith, taking in picturesque coastal towns along the way and enjoying all manner of drinks (except the Connoisseur Selection) for no additional charge on board. Or there’s a Complimentary Cabin Upgrade on selected July-August UK voyages, from Glasgow & Ireland to England’s Southwest: 4 nights from £849pp.

With the green light given for travel, Madeira looks a great choice for a sunshine break this summer. Garlanded in vibrant bougainvillea and frangipani, Madeira is nicknamed the Island of Eternal Spring for good reason, and offers scenic hikes, jaw-dropping coastlines, indulgent spas and the delicious sweet wine its name has become synonymous with. Tropical Sky has a bouquet of hotel options to choose from, in the old town of Funchal, set in lush gardens or perched on clifftops.

Cycling for Softies celebrate the best thing about being on a bicycle or e-bike: not clocking up the miles, but the time you’ll spend in between. With a warm breeze on your skin, lovely views in every direction and a great stay sorted for the night, is there any better way to explore? Book a tour – of the Cotswolds villages or the glorious vineyards and chalky cliffs of Sussex – before 31 May 2021, and you’ll have two bottles of delicious Sussex sparkling wine to help you on your way!

Boom Radio promises a fresh mix of music and conversation for the over 55s from familiar presenters such as David Hamilton and Graham Dene. In addition, each month our own Jennie Carr leads a travel-themed podcast discussion, this time finding out about UK cruises this summer with Celebrity Cruises, hearing about ‘going solo’ on a trip with One Traveller and sailing aboard Swan Hellenic’s Minerva, where singles and couples can explore the remotest corners of the globe on cultural expedition voyages.