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People embarking on a cruise holiday used to fall into two distinct groups. One wanted a cruise ship with all the bells and whistles plus a hint of elegance: a gym, an extensive spa and pool, an official black-tie Captain’s Dinner, shops on board and a West End-worthy entertainment pro- gramme. At the other end of the spectrum you had those who wanted to feel like adventurers, capable of surviving on the ocean without fripperies. If you wanted to travel to places like Antarctica, you knew you would be traveling on a spartan ship, usually a former research vessel converted for tourists whose luggage consisted solely of sturdy, functional clothing. While this undoubtedly has a certain charm, what’s so bad about watching the icebergs while you sit in an outdoor Jacuzzi and sip a glass of bubbly?
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