74 December 14, 2014

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Prices are ‘from’ prices, based on select departure dates from Dublin. Price is per person based on 2 sharing& strictly subject to availability. Supplements apply for travel during bank holidays and school holidays. Pricesexclude check-in luggage. ClickandGo is fully licensed & bonded by the Commission for Aviation Regulation T.A0700. E&OE.

Prices are ‘from’ prices, based on select departure dates from Dublin. Price is per person based on 2 sharing Prices are ‘from’ prices, based on select departure dates from Dublin. Price is per person based on 2 sharing

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BOOK TODAY01 637 1699www.ClickandGo.com

LUXURYMEGADEAL5 STARALGARVE from only€319ppLIMITEDOFFER:BOOKBYTHURSDAY18thDEC

Sample prices include: Aer Lingus flights |Airport transfers | 7 nights b&b in a 5* hotel |Bed & breakfast | Taxes & charges

RealMarinaHotel&SpaOlhao | The Algarve | Portugal Bed&Breakfast

Jan - Mar from€319pp | April from€339pp

NOW

AVAILABLEON

LINE

•GIFT

VOUCHERS•

SUN-WAY’s impressive

Christmas sale includes aweek in Orlando from May 15,

staying at the Rosen Inn at Pointe from€519 per person sharing, including flights,

or take a three-night break in New Yorkfor Paddy’s Day, staying in the Pennsylvania

Hotel, room only, from March 15, with prices from€689. See sunway.ie, tel: 01 231 1800.ESCAPE with JP Thompson

jp.thompson@sundayworld.com

EARLY BIRDIES GET A DEAL ONTHE last time the IrishOpen was hosted in theNorth it was a sell-out.Tickets for next year’sevent at Royal Coun-ty Down, whichhas appeared incountless lists ofthe world’s bestgolf courses, will goeven faster.

Rory McIlroy (right)is hoping to recruitsome of the leadingplayers from both theEuropean and US PGA

for the 2015 tournament – Ric-kie Fowler has confirmed hewill be playing. The course,with the stunning backdrop of

the Mourne Mountains,will only be ableto hold 20,000spectators aday, but fans canguarantee theirplaces – with anearly bird dis-count – for the

event which runsfrom May 28-31.Golf fans can save

£10 if they book their tickets by Dec-ember 31, before prices rise to £35.

Childrne under 16 will be admittedfree as long as they are accompaniedby an adult (up to four children areallowed with one paying adult).

The surrounding area around RoyalCounty Down has beautiful forestparks such as Tollymore and Cas-tlewellan, castles and picturesquefishing ports. Newcastle is a scenicseaside resort which lies on the IrishSea at the base of Slieve Donard.Accommodation in the area is alsoexpected to sell out pretty quickly aswell, so for more see discovernorth-

IHAD always wondered aboutcruise holidays. As a traveljournalist and broadcaster whovisits many of the world’s mostimpressive liners when they

dock in Dublin for the day, I wascurious about how I would findsailing the ocean seas for a week.

Would I enjoy living, breathingand eating in a somewhat confinedvessel for seven days or more? As a29-year-old, would I really be ableto let my hair down and party inthe presence of so many families?And what about sea sickness? Theywere some of the many questions Iasked myself when contemplatingmy ocean voyage.

After much deliberation andweeks of research I decided itwas time I gave cruising a try. Myyounger sister Ruth and I chose togo la dolce vita, as the Italians say,and opted for a seven-night sailingacross the Mediterranean withItalian cruise line MSC cruises.

Our 59,000-tonne ship, named theSinfonia (which rather aptly hasa musical theme and is based onEurope’s most famous composerssuch as Bach and Tchaikovsky),set sail from the pretty port ofGenoa. Just some of the spotswe sailed to included Cannes,Salerno, Olbia and Mahon. Ourattractive itinerary also featuredan overnight stay in Ibiza which,

being the party animals that weare, we were delighted with.

We were offered a stack ofoptional extras such as drinkspackages and excursions ateach port. We opted for MSC’sAllegrissimo drinks package. Itwas great value and meant wecould pretty much drink and eatas we wanted without the worryof being faced with a hugebill at the end.

Some of the mostattractive excursionswere Jewels ofMontecarlo(from Cannes),the Amalfi Coast

IIdock in Dublin for the day, I wasdock in Dublin for the day, I wascurious about how I would findcurious about how I would findsailing the ocean seas for a week.sailing the ocean seas for a week.

and eating in a somewhat confinedand eating in a somewhat confinedvessel for seven days or more? As avessel for seven days or more? As a29-year-old, would I really be able29-year-old, would I really be ableto let my hair down and party into let my hair down and party inthe presence of so many families?the presence of so many families?And what about sea sickness? TheyAnd what about sea sickness? Theywere some of the many questions Iwere some of the many questions Iasked myself when contemplatingasked myself when contemplatingmy ocean voyage.my ocean voyage.

weeks of research I decided itweeks of research I decided itwas time I gave cruising a try. Mywas time I gave cruising a try. Myyounger sister Ruth and I chose toyounger sister Ruth and I chose togo la dolce vita, as the Italians say,go la dolce vita, as the Italians say,and opted for a seven-night sailingand opted for a seven-night sailingacross the Mediterranean withacross the Mediterranean withItalian cruise line MSC cruises.Italian cruise line MSC cruises.

Sinfonia (which rather aptly hasSinfonia (which rather aptly hasa musical theme and is based ona musical theme and is based onEurope’s most famous composersEurope’s most famous composerssuch as Bach and Tchaikovsky),such as Bach and Tchaikovsky),set sail from the pretty port ofset sail from the pretty port ofGenoa. Just some of the spotsGenoa. Just some of the spotswe sailed to included Cannes,we sailed to included Cannes,Salerno, Olbia and Mahon. OurSalerno, Olbia and Mahon. Ourattractive itinerary also featuredattractive itinerary also featured

Our girl neverimagined she’dhave such funin the confinesof a cruise

CRUISIN’:Rebeccaloved the

Amalficoast

PORTSIDE: Rebecca and her sister Ruth