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Cruise vacations:10 ways to take to the sea #2

On a cruise ship in Scandinavia, with Rivages du Monde

The cruise. “Scandinavian Stopovers”, aboard the Astoria liner (photo).

Why is it good? First, for the Astoria, a human-sized liner (500 passengers) entirely French-speaking. Then, for the richness of the itinerary, from Stockholm to Copenhagen, via Visby, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, then from Gothenburg to Oslo. We discover the crazy charm of these cities which are among the greenest in the world.

We embark! From €1,545/pers. 9 days/8 n with full board from Paris in a standard interior cabin, côtesdumonde.fr.

On a barge on the canals of France and Europe, with Locaboat

Cruises. 200 barge tours on the canals, rivers and lakes of Europe departing from 26 bases, including two new ones in Brittany, Melesse and Saint-Martin-sur-Oust.

Why is it good? No need for a boat license to pilot these comfortable barges. After a short practical training, you are the only master on board, suddenly you feel totally free (and very proud when passing through the locks!). We stop where we want, according to the visits... Leaving from Melesse, we stop in Rennes to discover its Parliament and its cathedral, then, going south, we take advantage of the bridge with nine arches of Pont- Réan to admire the Vilaine, and the approach to Messac to stock up on pictures of mills, castles...

We embark! From €917 per week departing from Brittany, in a Pénichette 935 Classique 2/3 people, locaboat.com.

By ferry in Spain, with Brittany Ferries

The cruise. "Cruise stay in Spain", aboard the Pont-Aven.

Why is it good? Leaving Roscoff, we arrive, after a comfortable navigation, in Santander, one of the most beautiful Spanish seaside resorts. The golden sand beaches, tapas bars, gourmet shopping at the Esperanza covered market, idleness...

We embark! From €435/pers. round-trip pedestrian cruise, with 2 nights in a 3* hotel in Santander + breakfast and 3 nights in the cabin on board, brittany-ferries.fr.