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Cruises In 2024/2025
Cruise Holidays
Once thought of as a type of holiday for the older generation, cruises have become one of the most innovative holiday types around. The ability to watch incredible theatre productions, experience cookery classes with the world's top chefs, slide down the flumes of a waterpark and even try your hand at surfing, can all be done while at sea on a cruise ship. Incredible isn't it?
Cruise companies like Carnival, Royal Caribbean and P&O Cruises have revolutionalised the cruising industry, accommodating all budgets and all interests. From dedicated adults only cruises and all inclusive cruises to specialist themed cruises and the wilder Antarctic cruises, there are so many to choose from, and if you've never been and want to try, the popular "mini-cruise" is the perfect place to start.
Latest Cruise Deals
Featured Cruise Ship
MSC Virtuosa
MSC Virtuosa is the perfect cruise ship for a family holiday. With 5 swimming pools, an outstanding kids' club and baby club, virtual games arcade and Savannah Aquapark, this liner is decked out with everything children could want from a holiday. For adults, theatre shows, live entertainment, a luxury spa and wellness area, and the star attraction, the MSC Starship Club with a robot bartender, make the stay just as fun and exciting.
And not only does it offer lots of sailings from Southampton (no flying!), it also offers mini cruises and short breaks, making it perfect for "testing the water" if you've never been on a cruise and want to see what they're all about.
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Cruise Holidays Guide
Cruising From The UK
Southampton has always been know as the main gateway port for cruises from the UK. It's world class passenger terminal facilities have developed over time, and the car-drop off system has been planned to the smallest of details. The result? A very slick start to your holiday.
Although the majority of cruises in the UK depart from Southampton port, other ports around the UK have also gained the opportunity to offer other regional cruise departures, including from Newcastle, Hull, Bristol and Liverpool. In fact Liverpool's planning authorities have given the go ahead for a £50m new cruise terminal, close to it's existing waterfront location.
Deals & Offers
There are lots of great ways to save money on a cruise holiday. For a start, booking in advance can help you secure the price, get extra discounts or free onboard credit, and allow you to pay a low deposit and pay the balance off over time. Last minute offers may also be available. These cruise ships are leaving anyway and cruise lines hate to see them go empty so may have last minute discounts. And finally, every so often, one or two companies offer free child place cruises, or discounts for children, helping you save on a family holiday.
Fly Cruise Holidays
To save spending days at sea, cruise companies organise fly cruises. Based in a port abroad, customers can fly to a destination in the Mediterranean, Caribbean or US and start the cruise holiday from there, greatly reducing the number of sea days. In fact for many Mediterranean fly cruises and Caribbean cruises, there are often no sea days, instead each night, the ship cruises to a new port for customers to discover the next day.
Barcelona, Rome, Miami/Fort Lauderdale, Dubai and Palma (Majorca) have become popular cruise ports from which to start your holiday. And for some much needed winter sun, Canary Islands cruises are a great option. Whilst some guests enjoy a few days at sea to make the most of all the fantastic facilities on board the ship, others prefer to see somewhere new each day.
Cruise & Stay
Another great holiday option is to enjoy a cruise, followed by a few days in the destination to explore it more. This often doesn't cost much more, and options include places like Majorca, Rome and Malta, as well as Croatia on a Jet2 cruise. Cruise Nation offers some excellent package cruise & stay holidays.
Last Minute Cruise Deals
When cruises are planned, they are often planned several years in advance so that the companies can make sure there is space in port, there is enough food and fuel, etc. What this means is that they are very rarely cancelled and if there are spare cabins onboard close to departure, cruise companies would love to see them filled. As a result, when there are empty cabins, companies will often release last minute cruise deals to help fill those cabins and earn additional revenue for the cruise that will be departing anyway.
What this means is that if you can be flexible with your dates of travel and destinations, you can pick up some fantastic savings on late cruise holidays. Compare the latest cruise deals or go directly to companies like Costa Cruises, P&O, Cunard and Carnival to see what the latest last minute deals might be.
Mini Cruise Breaks
For newcomers to the cruise world, a mini cruise is the perfect way to get started. If you're unsure whether you will like it, these 3, 4 and 5 day short breaks allow customers to try out a cruise for the first time, without having to commit to endless days on board if they don't. But to be honest, with copious amounts of food, fantastic entertainment, kids clubs, swimming pools, a spa and much more, who wouldn't like a cruise?
If you're short on time, a four day cruise is a great chance to spend a long weekend on holiday. Mini cruises from Southampton generally offer stops in Guernsey, Bruges or Amsterdam before travelling back home and can start from as little as £249pp for a two night break or £349pp for a 4 night mini cruise.
All Inclusive Cruises
All inclusive cruises are a great option to help you keep track of your spending while on holiday. Not all companies offer this, but you can generally upgrade or add on packages to include drinks, premium drinks and WiFi.
Marella Cruises offers these all inclusive cruises which are generally fly-cruises, and so your flights AND coach transfer from the airport to the port is included too. They also include a standard drinks package and tips.
We are privileged to support the Family Holiday Charity, an incredible organisation which helps families get away together.
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