Scandinavia, comprising Denmark, Sweden and Norway, is a popular destination for many late cruise deals, offering visitors refined culture and contemporary design set against a backdrop of breathtaking natural scenery.

Renowned for the magnificent fjords surrounding its coast, Norway is the country of the midnight sun with twenty-four hour daylight in the summer. It is also one of the very best locations for a spectacular view of the natural phenomenon Aurora Borealis, otherwise known as the Northern Lights.

Taking a dog sled to a native Sami village, watching the reindeer in their natural habitat, or visiting the fishing villages on remote islands around the rugged coastline of the north gives the opportunity to experience a very different way of life, while the beautiful beaches in the south and the cosmopolitan capital of Oslo demonstrate clearly why Scandinavia attracts so many visitors.

Denmark is a treasure trove of art and history, the statue of The Little Mermaid which sits in the harbour at Copenhagen being a permanent tribute to the great fairytale author Hans Christian Andersen, born in Odense. The Carlsberg Gallery in Copenhagen houses paintings by van Gogh, Monet and other artists, while the National Museum has exhibits spanning many centuries.

Sweden is the largest of the Scandinavian countries. More than half of Sweden is covered in dense and wild forest dotted with numerous lakes. The capital, Stockholm, is set on a raft of fourteen islands and cultural exhibitions dating to the 13th century sit alongside some of the most contemporary art and designs of the day. Gothenburg, the second city in Sweden, dates back to the 17th century with a huge Dutch influence and offers a variety of galleries, cafes and restaurants.

From the Tivoli Christmas Market in Copenhagen to mountain or cross country skiing in Tromso, there are some fantastic cruises from Southampton to every part of Scandinavia.

Best known for the spectacular natural phenomenon of the Aurora Borealis, large parts of Alaska are covered by glacial ice and much of the interior of the country is quite inaccessible except by air or boat. Taking one of the late cruise deals on offer to Alaska is the best way to discover this largely unknown country.

With a coastline of 34,000 miles, longer than the rest of the United States combined, Alaska is the largest state in the USA. Situated a mere 53 miles from Russia across the Bering Strait, Alaska has a temperature range from −60 F in winter to over 90F in the summer.

Alaska is a country of great contrasts, with the opportunity to see seals, sea lions, otters and whales along the central Alaska coast and Aleutian Islands. The Inside Passage along the south eastern coast of Alaska takes advantage of the more than 300 small volcanic islands and sheltered bays and is best seen by small boat, with Prince William Sound, Glacier Bay and Kenai Fjords being some of the most popular destinations for watching marine wildlife.

The imposing mountain backdrop is home a large number of endangered species which live undisturbed in their natural and undisturbed habitat. Alaska has a number of national parks, including Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, while Katmai National Park boasts the largest population of brown bears in the world.

Mount McKinley in Denali National Park is the highest mountain at over 20,000 feet and can be seen from Anchorage and Fairbanks, the two largest cities in Alaska. Stunning exhibitions of indigenous history and artefacts are on display at The Alaska Native Heritage Centre in Anchorage and Alaska State Museum.

For an unrivalled holiday experience, one of the last minute cruises available to Alaska is hard to beat.

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.

Agreeing what to do for your holiday can be a difficult decision, especially if you’re a group with varied interests, have different destinations in mind, or need to work to a strict budget. A cruise solves all these problems – and right now, there are some great cruise deals to be had, for every budget and interest.

Cruises are no longer expensive, stuffy and formal. While some cheap cruises still take the more traditional approach, many more have a laid-back, family-orientated approach. Whichever you choose, you’ll visit some fantastic locations, and be utterly spoilt in the process. Imagine the perfect holiday, and there’s a cruise deal to match it.

Cheap cruises that offer maximum value

Modern cruise ships are like luxury resorts at sea, with every need taken care of. If you can’t decide where to stay for your holiday there’s no problem, as every day means a different location.

Cruise deals offer every kind of holiday experience in one package – with many things included in the price. No need to trudge miles from the hotel for a night out – cruise ships offer nightly entertainment on a lavish scale. If you’re worried about the quality of the food, even cheap cruises offer superb dining.

If you want an active holiday, the average cruise offers far more than just a pool and gym. Today’s superliners are literally floating resorts; with flumes, waveriders, climbing walls and even skating rinks! And if you want to chill by the pool – just pick a book from the onboard library.

Cheap cruises to every destination

When looking at cruise deals, consider what you want from your holiday. See the sights, or relax on the beach? A cruise-and-stay in Egypt will let you do both. Fancy seeing Venice and Rome? There are cheap cruises which visit all the great Renaissance cities of Europe. Looking for something special for the kids? How about a Disney Cruise – complete with onboard water coaster.

Whatever you want to do on holiday, there are late cruise deals to fulfil your dreams.

Looking for a holiday in the sun, packed with activities and entertainment? Maybe you’d prefer a more cultural experience, touring Europe’s Renaissance cities. Whatever your holiday plans, you’re going to want them to be affordable, so why not consider a cheap cruise? There are late cruise deals to some of the world’s most beautiful and popular destinations, tailored to meet the needs of every holidaymaker.

Cruise holidays are fast becoming the top choice for British travellers on a budget. With everything at an all-inclusive price, and countless holiday options to choose from, they’re the ideal way to enjoy a last-minute break. Here, we describe some of the late cruise deals available.

Late cruise deals packed with variety

You can find late cruise deals covering every type of holiday destination. Some are more traditional, focussing on the “at sea” experience. Others are livelier and less formal, visiting a number of different ports-of-call. Every cruise line has its own “flavour”, but a simple look at their websites will tell you what it is.

If you’re looking for a cheap holiday packed with variety, how about a cruise in the Caribbean? With excellent shopping, endless beaches and a laid-back party atmosphere, late cruise deals are widely available – though avoid the hurricane season.

If you hate flying, you can cruise direct to the Canary Islands and Mediterranean, on a no-fly cruise from the UK. Southampton has numerous late cruise deals throughout the year, with the opportunity to sail on some of the largest and most luxurious cruise ships in the world.

Cruise deals that are rich in culture

Europe is rich in history and culture, with some of the world’s most beautiful and romantic cities. A number of major cruise lines offer late cruise deals with a cultural flavour, such as the Renaissance cities of Europe or the Baltic capitals.

Also available are themed cruises which allow you to indulge your favourite hobby. With guest speakers and related shore excursions, these are often available as late deals at reduced cost.

Some of us don’t have the ability to plan ahead. Hectic schedules due to work or other reasons can make it impossible to think a few months ahead when considering when and where to go on holiday. In this case, it means that you can take full advantage of the last minute deals you can find online when you do eventually come to book your trip away.

Late cruise deals in particular are an excellent way to save some money. As the ships look to fill up to their maximum capacity, you can pick up an excellent bargain. Here are some great deals that you can find now and throughout the year:

Stay and cruise Holidays – While there are tons of different companies offering late cruise deals, several of them will have stay and cruise options. Stay and cruise is when you use the cruise as your method of transport to and from a destination, enjoying it while on board but you get to further explore a destination when you arrive than you normally would. Due to the unique approach of this kind of cruise there are always last minute options available. Best of all they can come with huge discounts if you find the right company.

Norwegian Cruise Line – If you want to travel abroad then NCL is the perfect choice. You can experience areas like Italy or Barcelona at discounted rates, and there are deals to countries all over Europe and beyond. Even if you want to experience the popular PortAventura theme park near Barcelona there are cruises that are specific to this attraction.

Voyages of Discovery- When it comes to cruising Northern Europe, VoD offer plenty of late cruise deals. You can travel to places like Bergen and Harwich or Stockholm and the Kiel Canal. It all depends on the type of holiday you want to enjoy and how long you plan on vacationing.

Cruises from Southampton – Britain’s major port sees a large portion of the late cruise deals available. Even if you don’t live in the South of England, it is worth checking what deals you can find here, as it is often cheaper to travel down to Southampton to leave on your cruise that go from a more local port.

A lot of travellers don’t realise how many opportunities are available when it comes to late cruise deals. The first time you try to book your trip last minute, it’s unlikely you will want to go back.