The rising popularity of no-fly cruises has seen a huge increase in the choice of cruises, especially from easily accessible local ports. Being an island nation, everywhere in Great Britain is close to a port which offers superb cruise deals to destinations across the world.

Many regional ports are now offering cruises which can match the renowned luxury of extended cruises from Southampton, with a growing market in short cruises sailing to closer destinations.

Liverpool, long established as an important commercial port in the northwest, offers cruises to the Faroe Islands and Iceland in the Arctic Circle, stopping at Glasgow and the island of Mull en route, while Newcastle in the northeast, historically famous for shipbuilding, specialises in cruises to Scandinavia during the summer months. Cruise ships also sail to Scandinavia and St. Petersburg in Russia from Leith near Edinburgh, one of the larger ports in Scotland, taking in the spectacular Norwegian fjords and scenery.

The port of Oban in Scotland has long been the ferry terminal for the Western Isles and now offers an exclusive niche cruise calling at several points in the Hebrides, including Harris, Muck, Skye and Barra, with the opportunity to explore the wild and rough terrain of these remote and windswept islands by guided walking tours.

Dover and Harwich, on the south and east coasts, are best known as the ferry terminals to France and Holland, although both are also thriving cruise ports. Several cruises sail from Dover to the Baltic and Scandinavia while cruises from Harwich visit the Mediterranean, with ports of call at Lisbon, Rome and Venice.

The port of London offers a huge choice of cruises to every destination in the world, as well as short destinations around northern Europe and round-Britain cruises, which call at notable landmarks around the British Isles.

There are a number of cruises from Southampton to Egypt, which has coastlines on both the Mediterranean and Red Seas.

Cairo, the capital of Egypt, is the most densely populated city in Africa and is one of the most often visited destinations in Egypt, renowned for its rich and diverse heritage, with its many mosques, churches and bazaars.

The Pyramids of Giza, just outside Cairo, were built as a burial place for the Pharaohs over 3,000 years ago and are now the most popular tourist attraction in Egypt. Another must when in Cairo is the Egyptian Museum which houses exhibits from the tomb of the boy-king Tutankhamen.

There are many cruise deals to Egypt, which is a land of exotic temples built to honour bygone gods and kings. The Temple of Luxor was built around 1400 BC when the city was ancient Thebes, since when it has been a place of worship for both Christians and Muslims, while the Temple of Karnak nearby was the most important place of worship in ancient Egypt.

Sharm el-Sheikh situated on the Sinai peninsula has become a very popular tourist destination, offering a variety of attractions ranging from local products like pottery, leather goods and jewellery and superb water sports, especially diving.

The ancient city of Alexandria situated 225 km from Cairo was the cultural centre and capital of Egypt for many years. As a result of immigration from southern Europe and the Middle East Alexandria is now a commercial centre with a cosmopolitan culture and bohemian atmosphere.

To the south of Luxor is the city of Aswan on the banks of the Nile, home to the Mausoleum of Aga Khan and the Nubian Museum. Aswan became popular as a winter resort around 1800 and the atmosphere and pace of life still reflects some of that old world charm.

Booking a late cruise can be challenging if you don’t want to damage your wallet. Taking advantage of the best cruise deals, especially when booking late, requires a basic knowledge of the best cruise lines sailing the seas. The following overview will introduce you to a few of the best so you can book those late cruise deals and save…even at the last minute.

Ultimately, choosing the best cruise line is a very personal endeavour. It comes down to what you prefer to do while cruising, what type of cabin you find the most comfortable, and whether you want to get off the ship for exploration or just want to stay on the sea for your fun and relaxation. The cruise lines presented here represent a little of everything, so everyone should find something suitable to their preferences.

Silversea Cruises

If your idea of enjoyment on the open waves includes a smaller, more intimate ship and a lot of elegance, then you may want to book your late cruise on the Silversea Cruise line. They cater to a more sophisticated clientele and their cruises tend to be more on the luxurious and relaxing side. You won’t find a lot of over-the-top entertainment acts in flashy attire, but you can expect gourmet dinners and lots of time relaxing and watching the beautiful sea roll by. This cruise line is perfect for romance!

Royal Caribbean

You have probably heard of this cruise line before as they are quite popular. They also tend to offer more deals that are affordable to everyone, since they deal with larger ships and a mixed group of passengers. You never know what you will get with this cruise line. You can go as a family and have a good time or you can take someone special for a romantic cruise. You can even go with friends and party it up for awhile. Anything goes on this fun cruise line with larger sized ships and potentially larger sized late cruise deals.

Disney Cruise Line

Of course, this is the best cruise line if you will be travelling with children. It can be difficult to get children to enjoy a cruise, but it’s a lot easier when you are on a ship designed with the little ones in mind.

There are a variety of cruises offered through this line and each offers something a little different. You can choose based on destination or the type of Disney characters your children will enjoy the best. The food options tends to be less elegant than you will find on the smaller, more luxurious lines but you still have a nice variety of food with lots of options that are kid-approved. You can always find great cruise lines with Disney cruises, which makes them perfect for family on vacation!

Which cruise lines sound best suited to your needs? Do you prefer a smaller, more intimate cruise ship with the finest in wine and food or would you prefer something more laid back and entertaining for the entire family? You can find later deals on all of these cruise lines, but some may have fewer offers than others.

Cruise holidays have soared in popularity in recent years, with more travellers than ever choosing all-inclusive cruises over traditional package holidays. Cruise deals are widely available online, offering wide choice and value-for-money to holidaymakers young and old. What’s more, many discount cruises sail from British ports, making crowded airports and expensive flight surcharges a thing of the past.

Once perceived as stuffy, expensive and old-fashioned, cruise holidays have been completely remodelled recent years. While the more traditional cruise experience is available for those who want it, it has been joined by holidays aboard a new generation of “superliners” which are, quite literally, resorts-at-sea. Offering a wide range of leisure and entertainment facilities, and with multiple wining and dining options, these are extremely attractive to the younger traveller.

Discount cruises – the ultimate in holiday value

The competition between cruise lines has never been fiercer, and with a new niche always waiting to be found, the choice has never been greater either. Today there are discount cruises for every age group, from families with young children, to party-loving singles, to 50-plus couples wanting an adult-only cultural experience. Low price discount cruises are available on a no-fly, fly-cruise and cruise-stay basis. The latter is divided between a cruise and a stay at a conventional resort, and is the ideal introduction to those new to the idea of cruising.

Discount cruises take the hassle out of planning your holidays. Compare a cruise package to a fly/drive, where you have to travel from one resort to the next. With a cruise, your hotel comes with you, no matter where you’re bound! You can let the ship take the strain while you relax, and forget about suitcases until the final leg home.

With meals, entertainment and most onboard activities included in the price, discount cruises offer the ultimate in value. With endless ports-of-call in the Caribbean, Canaries, Mediterranean and many other popular holiday destinations, is it any wonder British travellers are queuing up to climb aboard?

Cruise deals and holidays are often thought of as a fairly modern concept. However, they were established over 100 years ago, by one of the most popular cruise companies operating today – P&O.

Cruises were first advertised as such by the Peninsular & Oriental line in1904, with 150 passengers taking “cruise tours” of the Mediterranean on the 6,000 tonne Vectis. Today, similar cruise holidays are offered on the 115,000 tonne Ventura!

P&O cruise holidays – the early days

The oldest cruise company in the world, P&O cruises can trace their origins back to 1822, and the formation of the Peninsular Steam Navigation Company (later renamed Peninsular and Oriental). By by1844, P&O’s passenger services included round tours of the Mediterranean and Egypt. Operated from Southampton, these were the precursor of today’s modern cruise holidays .

P&O’s fleet has always been at the cutting-edge of shipbuilding, the 1889 SS Valetta being the first ship equipped with electric lighting. By 1929 P&O offered 15 cruises on a fleet of powerful luxury liners – including the world’s first turbo-electric ship, the Viceroy of India. Sadly she, along with a number of other P&O ships, perished in WWII. However, these were replaced with even faster and larger ships; the luxurious Canberra and Oriana cutting the run time to Australia down from five weeks to three in the mid-1950s.

P&O cruises today.

In the 1960s and 1970s, passenger air travel made transatlantic crossings increasingly unfashionable. Many shipping companies followed P&O’s lead – often, with little success. But their failure at running cruise holidays was P&O’s gain, leading to events like the acquisition of Princess Cruises in 1974.

In 1977, the remodelling of the P&O passenger division created P&O cruises and P&O cruises Australia. In 2000, the independent company of P&O Princess Cruises PLC was formed, merging with Carnival PLC in 2003.

To celebrate 175 years of history, P&O cruises will be holding a “Grand Event” in which their entire fleet will leave Southampton simultaneously on July 3rd 2012. These cruise holidays promise to be the most iconic P&O cruises ever.

More people are choosing to spend their vacation time on a cruise than ever before. Going on a cruise is a great way to have a luxurious holiday, yet manage your money in an effective way. Despite the season already being underway, there is no reason why you shouldn’t still look for the best deals available this summer.

There are two ways that cruise companies offer their clients great value for money promotions, and both of these are very effective. Often if you book before a certain date you will be offered a discount, which can help make the cost of your cruise cheaper. These are great for people who know exactly where and when they want to travel, and how much they have to spend.

However, last minute cruise deals are becoming increasingly popular, and can save you vast amounts of money on your vacation. If you are flexible with your dates, and do not mind what your destination is, you can find some very cheap offers.

Doing your research is important to weigh up all of the costs and benefits of your trip. If you understand fully how the cruise companies operate you are likely to find better deals, promotions, and offers. You need to establish what is included in the overall price, and if there are any hidden extras. Learning as much about the different companies will ensure that you are one step ahead of them when looking for the best cruise deals.

Ensure that you are on the cruise company’s mailing lists, and that you are one of the first to receive promotions and offers. You will then need to compare several different cruise companies, and ensure that you are getting the best cruise deals available. If possible try and use the same travel agent every time you book, they will become loyal to you, and offer you the best deals.

The internet is one of the best tools when trying to find great cruise deals, and you will be surprised how many there are available. Savvy shoppers will always find the best offers and although it may take some effort and time, it is worth it in the end. Although cruises were often believed to be for the rich this is simply not the case anymore. If you shop wisely, and know how to find the best cruise deals you will find a bargain.

Flexibility is essential, and the more choices you allow yourself, the better cruise deals you will find. There are many different destinations, sizes of ships, and times of year to choose from. While on board you can choose what to include, cabin choice and overall package. Every part of your cruise deals can be tailor-made with you in mind.

Cruise operators will not want to leave with spaces left, and this ensures that as the date to leave approaches there will be many offers available. They will try to fill every last space on the ship, even at a very cheap rate. Leaving it until the last moment may not suit everyone, however, for some it is ideal, and the perfect way to ensure you get the best cruise deals.

When you’re looking for the best cruise deals you want to find something great but still affordable. The funny thing is it’s not too difficult to find cheap cruises on the internet. All you have to do is know where to go and what to look for on their website. Today we want to give you a few tips on how to use the web to find all those deals for your next cruise.

If you want to find the best cruise deals then you should look at a number of other travel sites or agencies before settling on one. This means you really get the best for you money and save yourself a packet, meaning you have more to spend when you actually get there.

Another thing you have to understand is the language used within the cruise industry. This can play a major role in understanding what you receive for your purchase. Sometimes when you visit a cruise vendor site they will have a sitemap that offers all this information. If not then head over to the cruise company’s main site to get a better feel for everything.

Considering the amount of time you’re going to go for will play a part in the price of your cruise. Depending on the cruise you go on, sometimes shorter trips will come in best, while other times it is better value to take a week-long cruise, rather than for four or five nights. The type of room you want will also play a big role, as will the ports of call you visit. Figure out what you want before you start looking for the best cruise deals the web has to offer.

You can also find cruise deals that are affordable by doing a little background work. There are several occasions when tourists don’t ask questions they’re supposed to be asking. Some cruises can be loaded with hidden fees. When you book your trip it’s important to know what to expect before you go. If you just purchase a cruise based on the first number, it’s possible you could get hit with more fees when the vacation is over.

These are all important tips to consider, especially if you’re trying to find the best cruise deals out there. However, there are a lot of other ways to make this vacation extremely affordable. Everything from how you vacation at each port to purchasing travel insurance on your own should be considered. We also recommend booking your cruise deals with a trusted source.