Your Travel City Guide

Cruises don’t always have to be ‘around the world in 80 days’ and there are plenty of options if you only have a week or less at your disposal. For example, there are three day cruises available from Southampton taking you across the Channel to the picturesque Belgian city of Bruges, then stopping at the French port of Le Havre and spending the day in Paris before returning home. Usually billed as party cruises, these trips can be as short as two nights and make excellent celebration trips.

If you have a whole week to spare, then a cruise from the UK can take you down the French coast to Spain, visiting several holiday destinations such as Brest, La Rochelle Bilbao and Corunna in one go. At around £600 – £800 per person, they aren’t a cheap option but if you shop around there are usually plenty of bargains, especially at the last minute. You also have to remember that the cost includes all your food and entertainment, and that it is the equivalent of staying in a luxury hotel. If you have children, there is entertainment on tap, you can have meals at any time, and you don’t have to worry about organising sightseeing trips.

You’ll also find short cruises starting from places such as Mallorca, Corfu and Turkey, as well as further afield, where you fly out to meet the ship, then fly home at the end of the cruise.