Amanda PhillipsCan there be a better way for first-timers to get a taste of life on the ocean wave than a short break cruise? The rise in popularity of these ‘taster’ trips reflects the trend for curious cruisers putting their toe in the water for the first time. Short getaways are also ideal if you’re tight on time and don’t want to blow a fortune on a quick holiday at sea. Increasingly these mini-cruises are proving popular with multi-generational family groups looking to celebrate a milestone birthday or anniversary as there are activities on offer to suit every age.
Short getaways are also ideal if you have a sudden onset of cabin fever yet don’t want to blow a fortune on a holiday at sea. These ‘mini-me’ getaways are every bit as pukka as their longer cousins and as a result are superb opportunities to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries or the festive season. Cruise lines pack short-break cruises with many elements of a longer voyage distilled into a few days.
There are no disputing short cruises are great value for money and with a wide range of sailings ranging from two to five nights the choice has never been greater. P&O Cruises alone have scheduled 34 short cruises in 2017 and many other Brit-popular cruise companies such as Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines ; Saga Cruises ; Cruise & Maritime Voyages ; Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean have a mini voyage that’s right for you.
In addition to the wealth of short cruises offered by P&O Cruises – mostly aboard the family-friendly Ventura as well as other ships in their fleet, there’s a mini-break with Cunard Line aboard Queen Victoria in November. Other options include a three-night ‘Taste of Paris & Bruges’ cruise roundtrip from Southampton in April aboard Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas which visits Zeebrugge and Le Havre. There’s a five-night roundtrip cruise on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Boudicca from Greenock in May which sails to Fort William; Ullapool; and Invergordon combined with scenic cruising through the Hebrides. Also in May, there’s a two-night ‘Taste of Modern Luxury’ cruise sailing roundtrip from Southampton aboard the perennially-popular Celebrity Eclipse that visits Le Havre (for tours to Paris, Honfleur or Rouen).
Saga Cruises has a five-night roundtrip ‘Continental Christmas Markets’ cruise from Southampton in December aboard Saga Sapphire sailing to Bremerhaven (for Bremen’s Christmas market); Ijmuiden (for Amsterdam); and Zeebrugge (for Bruges and Ypres). CMV’s Magellan also has a three-night round-trip ‘French Christmas Markets’ cruise from Tilbury calling at Rouen and Honfleur in December. For details of our Taster Cruises call our specialists on 0141 242 1337 or click on www.barrheadtravel.co.uk.
