Choose cruise

Think a cruise holiday is too expensive or too ‘old’ for you? It might be time to think again. If there’s one word that sums up a modern cruise, the word is ‘variety’. There’s a variety of on-board activities catering for a variety of age groups (including children), a variety of food, a variety of price brackets and, of course, a variety of places to see, as your floating resort wafts serenely from port to port.

Most cruises will be all inclusive providing all meals and ship-board entertainment as part of the package, though alcohol will tend to be extra. Meals may be at set times, depending on your ship, while formal dinners are becoming less of a fixture as average ages on board are lower than they used to be, creating a more relaxed atmosphere (though it might be an idea to pack something smart, just in case).

On-board facilities depend on the ship, but most cruise liners will have at least one pool, various bars, gyms, beauty salons, games rooms and endless acres of deck space for soaking up the sunshine as the waves roll by. Whatever the vessel, you can expect a packed evening schedule of variety entertainment and nightclubs. While all your entertainment on board is included with the price, guided tours of the ports of call are likely to cost extra (as well as any off-ship catering, of course).

If all you need for holiday bliss is a sun lounger, a good book and a break from cooking and cleaning, then a cruise provides an excellent value for money holiday – the all inclusive price really can be just that, so you don’t have to worry about any hidden extras.

As well as a choice of which vessel you cruise on, there are many liners that offer special interest itineraries, with courses on arts, crafts, cooking and more for you to soak up along with the sun, though at a extra cost over the basic package. You can cruise around every continent on the planet (including Antarctica), but two of the most popular fly-cruise packages from Birmingham Airport take in some of the best coastal spots around the Mediterranean, or further afield in the Caribbean.

Each cruise will have its own individual course around the Med’s port cities; Thomson Cruises offer a variety of crusing throughout the summer season. MSC Cruises new service from Birmingham starting in May sets sail from Palma de Mallorca, capital city of the Spanish Balearic islands. First stop is at the port of Toulon on the French Riviera, well worth a trip ashore even if it’s only as far as the harbour for its promenade, lined with souvenir shops, cafes and excellent Provencal seafood restaurants. The historic centre of Toulon is just north of the harbour if you’re feeling more energetic, where you can see St Marie cathedral, which started construction in the 11th Century and wasn’t completed until the 18th, lending it an eclectic mix of architectural styles.

Genoa is the next destination, just across the border on the Italian Riviera, a UNESCO world heritage site thanks to its rich cultural history. If you visit only one part of the town, head for the Piazza de Ferrari, home to many of the grandest buildings in the city, including the Teatro Carlo Felice opera house and the Palace of the Doges (or dukes), ancient rulers of the city-state.

In stark contrast to the grand city of Genoa, a stop at the pretty fishing village and resort of Portofino is a taste of a smaller, slower Italy. With its jostle of terracotta buildings crowding around the harbour, backed by a tumble of verdant hillsides, it’s easy to see why the place is such a draw.

Cross the Med to its southern shore and a different continent, arriving at the city of Tunis, capital of Tunisia. The Medina old town is a great place to sample a heady mix of North African culture. Another world heritage site, thanks to it compact jumble of mosques, souks (covered markets) and ancient palaces, the Medina is a great place to pick up a bargain – after some obligatory haggling, of course.

Even further flung than North Africa, a fly-cruise around the Caribbean is the holiday of a lifetime. Every superlative you’ve ever heard about the Caribbean is justified – and more. The sea really does seem bluer, the beaches softer, the breeze mellower and the people more relaxed – living all year in one of the nicest places on the planet, wouldn’t you be, too? Again, the route taken around the islands of the West Indies will vary from ship to ship. Fred Olsen offers a variety of Caribbean fly-cruise packages from Birmingham Airport, often sailing from Barbados on a two-week tour, usually cruising between stops overnight to give passengers the chance to explore each visited island by day.

Barbados, on the western fringe of the Caribbean, is one of the smallest independent island states in the region. At only 150 square miles and some 300,000 people, it’s kept its small world charm. The capital, Bridgetown, lies on the sheltered south-west coast, surrounded by the perfect beaches that draw so many visitors and make Barbados one of the most prosperous of the West Indies.

A short cruise northwest brings visitors to Dominica, renowned for its spectacularly lush natural environment. Mountainous and heavily forested, the island is only around 30 miles by 10, but packs a lot into its tiny area. Even a short trek through one of its protected park trails is sure to sight plenty of extravagantly feathered birds of paradise.

Havana, capital of the island republic of Cuba, is a place lost in time. Isolated from the outside world by US embargo due to its communist sympathies, the place has a faded, dated and patched-up air. 1950s cars still cruise the streets, un-superseded by decades of progress excluded from the island. But faded doesn’t mean dowdy, Cuba is a place of pride and passion – especially for music and dance. A night out in Havana will be one to remember.

Other Caribbean cruise itineraries from Birmingham with P&O, Ocean Village and Thomson Cruises.