No-fly cruises, no-hassle holiday

Before we wouldn't think twice about our travel method -if we wanted to go to Spain, we would have booked a flight.  But since the pain of regular airlines strikes and the impact of the Icelandic volcano ash, we have been forced to seek alternative holiday arrangements.

Many sought out the obvious ferry or train methods and that suited well for the emergency of getting back home in a timely fashion but what about afterwards? What about booking a holiday from scratch? Would you really choose to start your trip on a ferry, then jumping onto a train before some time (much later) arriving at your holiday destination tired, aching and in a bad mood? I would think not. So let's look at the most sensible and probably least obvious alternative - the no-fly cruise.

There are hundreds of no-fly cruises leaving from UK cruise ports each year. The appeal starts right from when you arrive at the port. The atmosphere is immediately noticeable, you are missing the airport hustle and bustle and instead you are welcomed by friendly cruise line staff.
Car parking is available at every UK port and most travel agents can arrange coach transfers to get you to the port in comfort.

Once checked in, you can board the ship and start to get to know your floating hotel.  As you wait for your luggage to be delivered to your stateroom, you can enjoy a coffee by the pool or a walk out on deck, with no stress whatsoever.

A non-flying cruise holiday enables you to see so many different destinations without having the bother of packing/unpacking more than once. Another advantage, if you tend to end up paying for extra baggage allowance when you fly, is that a no-fly cruise has no restriction at all - as long as it will all fit in your stateroom, you can bring as many bags as you wish.

Compared to a 4/5-star hotel stay, a cruise holiday can be the same if not cheaper on a nightly basis and yet you get all your meals and snacks included as well as onboard entertainment and use of facilities. The following are also usually included in your cruise price - 24-hour room service, gym and fitness centre, sauna, jacuzzi and steam room, onboard activities, onboard entertainment (e.g. musical shows, casino, cinema) and fully supervised children's clubs, activities and dining.

There's also no need to worry about carrying cash around as today's cruise ships operate a cash-free environment. During check in you will be asked to register a credit card. You are then given a cruise card that usually acts as your cabin door key as well as handing it over every time you wish to make an onboard purchase.

Many cruise lines offer itineraries that leave from and return to a UK port - making no-flying holidays increasingly popular.  To travel this way is much more convenient when you have a young family too  - hop onboard a cruise ship and start enjoying your holiday from that moment on.  Kids are catered for as well as the adults.  And a happy child is usually a happy parent!

P&O Cruises, Cunard Line, NCL and Royal Caribbean now have itineraries departing from over 10 UK cruise ports. The list includes: Dover, Southampton, Harwich, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Greenock, London, and Newcastle.  Take the hassle out of your next holiday by choosing a no fly cruise holiday today.

For more information on no-fly cruises visit www.idealcruising.co.uk/no-fly-cruises.php.