Sail away with a great deal from All Things Holiday and Travel, your cruise specialists .Not only are we able to secure very competitive deals from every cruise Line but you will also receive a high level of customer service from our knowledgeable crew, the only thing we don’t do is your packing!

We are passionate about cruises and spend our own holidays as passengers on the various ships and cruise lines. Therefore not only are we able to share our excellent knowledge as specialist cruise agents but being fellow passengers we are extremely well placed to understand your needs and share with you our insider hints and tips on all things cruising.

Whether you are a first time cruiser or are on your 100th cruise we are sure you will find our friendly and knowledgeable crew a pleasure to deal with and learn something new about cruises, whilst also providing you with some very competitive deals for the perfect sail away.

Cruises have never been so popular and have multi-generational appeal. They offer superb value for money as you can visit multiple destinations / Countries on a cruise as well as enjoy superb food and entertainment. Depending on the ship this can include shows directly from the West End and cooking demonstrations from your favourite Celebrity Chefs, whilst facilities can include Ice Rinks, Water Parks, Go Kart tracks and Sport Courts.

There is a ship for everyone and we take the time to get to know what you are looking for on a ship and itinerary in order we can guide you to your perfect cruise. With so many ships already to choose from and many more new ones with innovative and ground-breaking new features launching over the next few years we are sure you will find our service and knowledge invaluable.

No Fly Cruises

Norwegian Fjords

The best way to see the Norwegian Fjords is on a Cruiseship, with waterfalls trickling down from steep mountains and idyllic Norwegian Villages at the end of the Fjords such as Gerainger.

There are a number of lines that visit the Fjords from the UK between April and September

Canary Islands

The Canary Islands including Gran Canaria, Tenerife and Lanzarote are a popular destination for UK Cruisers in the months of September and October as the ships move away from the Summer itineraries of the Baltic and Fjords and start to head to warmer climes.

These cruises from Southampton tend to also include ports of call in Portugal, Madeira and Northern Spain and range from 10 to 14 days.

The Med

The Med is a popular year round cruise destination, although the majority of ships from Southampton tend to sail from April to October. Like the Baltic Cruises you can visit many Countries over the course of a 14 night cruise, for example Spain, Portugal, France, Italy and Gibraltar are typical of this.

There is a ship to suit everyone’s taste sailing in the med from the 5 star luxury of Celebrity and the fun packed megaships of Royal Caribbean to those aimed at the British Market such as as P&O and Cruise and Maritime. Whether you prefer the big ship experience or a more smaller intimate ship, there is a ship to meet your needs.

The Baltic

The Baltic is an extremely popular destination which is reflected by the number of large ships that now Cruise this area. For instance a 14 night cruise from Southampton may incorporate ports of call including Stockholm, St Petersburg, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Tallinn – therefore not only waking up in a different City each day but a different Country.

Some of the Baltic capitals are extremely expensive to visit so a cruise is a cost effective way of seeing these wonderful places. Cruises to the Baltic tend to be from May to September and you can choose to either sail from Southampton where they tend to be 14 days or fly to Stockholm or Copenhagen and catch a 10-12 night cruise from there.

Venice and the Adriatic

Like the Med this is an all year round destination and although there are cruises from Southampton to Venice and the Adriatic which are typically 17-20 days, there is also the option of fly cruises which either are round trips from Venice or sailings from Venice to Civitavecchia which is the port for Rome including the Greek Islands.

Transatlantic and Round the World Cruises

The ultimate in traditional cruising is the transatlantic cruise with Cunard from Southampton to New York. Spend time in New York before returning by sea or air. The round the World Cruise is the ultimate Cruising experience and and these sail from the UK in the Winter months so that you can escape the big freeze and explore the America’s, Australasia, Asia, Africa and Europe.

Around the British Isles

These cruises have become increasingly popular with UK residents, especially with Princess Cruises who over the past few years have used one of their largest ships to home port in Southampton over the Summer months due to the demand for this itinerary from overseas.

Caribbean

Take your time and relax with a leisurely 4 week round trip from Southampton on a small / medium size ship Itineraries can include the Eastern Islands of Barbados, Dominica, St Maarten and St Lucia, the Western Islands including the Cayman Islands and Jamaica or the Southern Caribbean of Aruba and Antigua.

Worldwide Cruises

Caribbean

Take your time and relax with a leisurely 4 week round trip from Southampton on a small / medium size ship Itineraries can include the Eastern Islands of Barbados, Dominica, St Maarten and St Lucia, the Western Islands including the Cayman Islands and Jamaica or the Southern Caribbean of Aruba and Antigua.

USA and Canada

Sail out of New York to experience the stunning Falls season with ports including Boston, Quebec, Bar Harbor and Maine. Alternatively, fly into San Francisco and join your Cruise ship for a Cruise along the West Coast including San Diego and the Hawaii.

Alaska

Spectacular Glaciers and Wildlife, sail the inside passage route of ice age glaciers with ports of call including Juneau and Skagway or The Glacier Route between Vancouver and anchorage on a luxury cruise ship such as Celebrity or Princess Cruises.

Australia and New Zealand

A Cruise is a great way to get around Australia, from the spectacular sailaway from Sydney Harbour to the Cities of Melbourne, Adelaide, Cairns to snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef.

Alternatively, you could incorporate a cruise to New Zealand’s South and North Islands.

Other Cruises

River Cruising

When you mention Cruises people automatically think of Ocean Cruising but River Cruising is now an extremely popular form of Crusing, as your River Cruise Ship glides smoothly along the scenic Waterways of Europe.

Ocean Crusing on a Clipper

Enjoy an Ocean Cruise on a stunning Tall Ship which is under Sail when there is enough wind, whilst enjoying all the comforts of a traditional Cruise Ship. A very relaxing and intimate cruising experience of days gone by and very popular with those who enjoy sailing.

Re-Positioning

These tend to be extremely good value as ships re-position themselves for the Winter. Often these will include ports of call in the Azores and off the East Coast of America before re-positioning themselves in Florida. Vice Versa re-positioning also takes place in March/April as ships sail over for the Summer Season in the UK. Therefore if you are looking for a really good value 14 day cruise with the emphasis on the Ship and lots of sea days and don’t mind a flight one way then this could be the cruise for you.

Other Destinations

We mustn’t forget Cruises featuring the Middle East, South Africa, Indian Ocean, Panama Canal, Asia and South America, along with expedition Cruises to Antarctica and the Galapagos Islands – Indeed if there is a port a cruise ship won’t be far away so there is always an itinerary to tick off some of the places you have on your bucket list and a Ship to welcome you aboard for your next adventure!

Frequently asked questions

It is the only holiday where you can wake up in a different Country each day but only unpack once! A cruise is a cost effective way to visit some of the most expensive Cities in the World whilst some of the panoramic views of destinations when sailing towards them from top deck are just stunning. Cruises appeal to multi generations and there is something for everyone on a ship. The ships have amazing facilities but of course many associate cruises with the food on offer (you may go on as a passenger and come off as cargo but there are gyms on the ships to help avoid this!). There is also an array of entertainment and activities on board for you to partake in as much or as little as you like.

However what people mention more than anything is the fantastic service they receive from the crew. The crew will treat you like a VIP and work tirelessly to provide you with the best individual service experience you will probably experience from any type of holiday. The crew may be assembled from over 100 different nationalities but the teamwork and respect that they show to one another is a shining example to others around the Globe and very humbling. There are just so many things we could write about what we like about cruises, but be warned once you have been on one cruise you may soon be booking your next one!

Modern cruise ships are equipped with all the latest technology for passenger comfort and safety, from stabilisers to help ensure the ship doesn’t experience extensive movement in high seas to sophisticated radar.

We have been in a force 10 in the Bay of Biscay and have hardly felt a thing, but certainly, the location of your cabin can help and we would highly recommend a mid-ship balcony cabin if your budget allows. The less movement is lower mid-ship whilst higher up at the front and the back (aft) of the ship you may experience some slight movement when the sea is rough but it really depends on the individual. it is always worth speaking to your pharmacist prior to travelling as there are plenty of products that can assist, but certainly the modern ships are built to ensure the ultimate comfort for passengers and so you may never need them.

This will depend on your budget, all types of cabins are reasonably spacious but if you can afford it we would always recommend a balcony cabin. There is nothing like sitting on your private balcony watching the stunning scenery of the Norwegian Fjords pass you by or seeing the sunset in the Caribbean.

Our specialist team will be able to advise you on the pro’s and con’s of each cabin and advise you of the best one to meet your own personal needs. Unlike other parts of the ship a balcony is your own private space on the ship to sit and watch the world go by or have your breakfast watching the sunrise.

There are subtle differences between all the cruise lines and our experts have cruised on many of the ships and so will be able to help you choose one that is best suited to your needs. There are large, medium and small sized ships, some are adult only whilst others are aimed at families.

Some Ships incorporate Ice Rinks, Bumper Cars, Go Karts, Water Slides and Aqua Theatres whilst others are more traditional with a wrap around promenade and deck games such as Shuffleboard. Some lines have anytime dining with multiple restaurants serving food from around the World with a relaxed dressed code and anytime dining, whilst others have more traditional set dining times and formal nights.

For those who have not cruised before or have not experienced other cruise lines it can be quite difficult to decide which line and ship to choose, which is why we take the time to understand your needs and share our knowledge with you to enable you to make an informed decision for your perfect cruise.

Absolutely not! Some of our favourite days are sea days as there is always so much to do and see on the Ships. You can do as little or as much as you like on board but there are always so many activities to get involved in from quizzes, game shows and crafts to talent competitions, sporting challenges (some ships have Sports Courts, Go Kart Tracks and mini golf courses) and watching the latest movies under the stars.

Each night you will receive delivery of the Ship’s daily newsletter in your stateroom detailing activities taking place on the ship for the next day and this is jammed packed with things to do around the ship. Alternatively, if you want to take it easy and just watch the World go by there are many quiet areas of the ship including of course on your own balcony!

Each cruise line and ship has a different dress policy and we can advise you on this. On ships that have formal nights it is black tie dress code which means for the gents it is dinner jackets/tuxedos/dark lounge or business suit and for the ladies a cocktail dress, ball gown or smart trouser suit. However nowadays many of the modern family orientated ships have relaxed their dress code meaning smart casual every night.

Even on the more formal ships if you don’t want to dress up you can always choose to eat in the excellent buffet when it is formal night in the restaurant. If you are going up to the Fjords or the Baltic where the weather can be erratic you will want to take a wider array of clothing than if you were heading on a 2 week cruise to the Med. A no fly cruise definitely has its advantages in that you do not have to worry about luggage limitations as long as you can fit it in your cabin!

From a two day mini cruise to Guernsey to a round the World cruise, you can literally go anywhere without having to get on an aeroplane. Some lines such as P&O do a no fly 24 day cruise to the Caribbean whilst Cunard have their iconic transatlantic Crossing to New York and round the World cruises.

If you don’t fancy flying there are so many great itineraries from Southampton on the bigger ships, whilst you will also find smaller ships home-porting at a number of other UK ports such as Newcastle, Liverpool, Dundee, Bristol, Hull and Tilbury.

On a typical 7-17 day cruise you can choose to sail to the Stunning Norwegian Fjords and Iceland, the spectacular Cities of the Baltic, the sun-kissed Canary Islands, the magical Mediterranean or the idyllic Adriatic. Alternatively if you don’t mind flying a fly cruise opens a whole World of opportunity to explore with popular ones including Alaska, Australia and The Caribbean.

Your cruise will usually include you accommodation, meals in the main dining room and buffet, entertainment, use of leisure facilities such as the pools and gym, pre paid gratuities and port taxes. Your fare may also include from time to time promotional benefits including drinks packages and on board spend. Additional charges will apply to shore excursions, speciality dining and spa treatments.

There are no cash transactions on board, instead at the start of the cruise you will be given a cruise card or smart wristband which will be used to access your cabin as well as charge items to your cruise account. So say for instance you book a shore excursion whilst on board or had a cocktail in one of the bars, this will be charged to your on board account on the presentation of your keycard / smart wristband and your account will then be settled at the end of the cruise to the credit / debit card you provided upon embarkation.

Most modern ships provide the facility to check your on-board spend on the TV in your cabin. There is also the opportunity to pre-purchase shore excursions and drink packages weeks before you set sail. We certainly highly recommend that you reserve your Shore Excursions weeks before you set sail to avoid disappointment as often the most popular ones sell out before the set sail date.

Cruises have such a broad appeal and is why they are so popular as multi-generational holidays. For instance Royal Caribbean ships have something for everyone such as an ice rink, sports court, mini golf and climbing wall as well as a host of entertainment venues, fully equipped gym, spa and solarium.

The Kids Clubs on Cruise ships are absolutely brilliant and are split into different age groups. Whether you are a family of 4, a multi generational party, a couple on honeymoon (on some ships you can get married at Sea) or a solo traveller, there is a Cruise line and Ship for you and once you have been on one cruise you will never stop cruising!