Everyone, it seems, is choosing to go cruising. The Passenger Shipping Association (PSA) has announced another record year for the UK cruise industry with nearly 1.5 million passengers getting onboard in 2008 – up 11% on 2007.
The latest figures reveal a 23% increase in the number of people joining their cruise in a UK port while the number of fly-cruise passengers was up by 4%.
Meanwhile Cruise118.com is offering a seven-night Mediterranean cruise, with fares starting from £499. The ship departs Palma De Mallorca on March 31 calling at Olbia (Italy), Civitavecchia (Rome), La Spezia (Italy), Villefranche (France) and Mahon in Minorca (Spain) before returning to Palma De Mallorca.
Or if you fancy a visit to some of Europe’s most fascinating cities, there’s a 12-night Baltic cruise on board the Celebrity Century, with prices starting from £1,119. The ship departs Amsterdam on May 9 calling at Stockholm, Helsinki, St Petersburg, Tallinn (Estonia). For more details visit www.cruise118.com or call 0800 280 2614.
Leger Holidays is offering a cruise-and-tour programme which combines escorted trips on shore by luxury coach. A seven-day Springtime Fjordland tour costs from £589pp, leaving April 22. It includes travel by coach from local joining points to Tilbury, six nights on the MS Marco Polo and shore trips to Hardangerfjord, Eidfjord, Sognefjord, Aurlandsfjord, Geirangerfjord, Hellesylt and Bergen. An eight-day itinerary from £699pp departs April 28.
Leger has a 15-day cruise to the Adriatic and Aegean from £999pp departing April 10. This includes seven nights on board MSC Armonia, three nights on Lake Garda, two nights in Belgium and two in Austria. Highlights include Rhodes, Athens, Kefalonia, Dubrovnik, Venice and Verona. Call www.legerbreaks.info/ 0845 458 5599.
Sailing from Dover, NCL is offering a 12-night Baltic capitals trip. Leaving April 28, costing from £1,089pp, it includes Copenhagen, Warnemunde (Berlin), Tallinn, St Petersburg, Helsinki and Stockholm. Call 0845 658 8010 or www.ncl.co.uk.
About the Author: John Honeywell
John Honeywell is a travel writer specialising in cruise ships and cruise travel. Winner of CLIA UK's Contribution to Cruise award 2017.
Very interesting topic! Thank you!