Enjoy a cruise through culture

CRUISES are having a cultural overhaul as firms enhance their onboard educational offerings.

Companies are developing their "enrichment programmes" to provide workshops and presentations on topics like health, acting and painting.

A cruisecritic.co.uk poll found most passengers want to learn about the ports they are visiting, or have cooking lessons.

TOP cruise deals...

NEW YORK to the Caribbean. One night in NYC then join the Queen Mary 2 for 11 nights' full board calling at St Thomas, St Lucia, Grenada, Grand Turk, and back to the Big Apple.

Prices from £1,249. Leaves Heathrow December 7. See virginholidayscruises.co.uk or call 0871 781 9893.

TRY a cruise with an icy twist. Hop aboard the Rhapsody Of The Seas for seven nights calling at Juneau, Skagway and Tracy Arm Fjord in Alaska, Victoria, British Columbia, before returning to Seattle.

Prices from £1,559. Leaves Heathrow August 20. See cruise118.com or call 0800 280 2614.

WESTERN Caribbean cruise. Join the Freedom Of The Seas for nine nights from Port Canaveral calling at Labadee, Ocho Rios, Georgetown, and Cozumel. Prices from £999.

See iglucruise.com or call 020 8544 6447.