Sail Away with tripsology This Summer

Pick the perfect cruise that’s just right for you…

Cruises might not be on your radar YET and for a long time, cruises were seen as something you did when you retired. Not so…it’s super cool to take to the seas these days and there’s an amazing choice of where to sail to, what you can see, on-board entertainment and most of all, cruises are proving superb value for money all round. Music to our ears, right?

Cruises are seriously in fashion right now as holidaymakers seek to pack in as many destinations as possible around their fun filled days and nights lapping up all that’s laid on.

There are so many different trips to choose from, you’ve literally got the world at your flip-flops and far-flung corners of the globe really are within easy reach if distant shores are calling your name this year.

The beauty of a cruise ship holiday is that you can take in multiple destinations without having to hop on and off planes and battle with airport queues and another bonus is that you only need to pack and unpack once! On a cruise, you can simply board the ship and sail away, leaving your troubles behind.

This week, we check out some of the best cruises on offer such as **family cruises, couples’ cruises, culture cruises, river cruises** and **cruises for singles**. We can help you decide which one is going to suit you and your needs. There’s a cruise just right for every individual taste and for all ages too – from toddlers and kids all the way up to the grown-ups (and those who might be advancing in years but refuse to grow old 😉 – yes, there’s everything for the young and the young at heart.

Best Cruises for Families

Taking the kids on holiday is sometimes a thankless task for hard-working, tired and weary Mums and Dads who are desperate for a break. The list of demands can start to stress out even the most patient of parents and finding something that suits everyone in the family can be difficult. A cruise could be the perfect solution. Princess Cruises offer a fantastic range of activities and entertainment for kids and teens alike.

For 3-12 year olds, they have Camp Discovery where kids can make new friends while getting involved with all the ship’s activities designed specifically with younger passengers in mind. There’s never a dull moment, letting Mum and dad enjoy their time too.

Kids (age 3-7) can escape to The Tree House – a forest themed social area or The Lodge (for 8-12 year olds) which is inspired by the great outdoors packed with sports activities and chill zones for the kids to hang out with people their own age. There’s also Playstation®, Nintendo Wii ™ and Xbox Kinect consoles, board games, air hockey and ping pong. The list goes on and on. Your kids can also get involved in theme nights and friendly competitions and challenges, it’s all happening!

And for the teenagers in the family who might be at that ‘too cool for anything’ stage, there’s a trendy Beach House lounge where they can just hang out and do their thing (probably Instagramming and Snapchatting!)

For the ultimate family friendly fun at sea, Disney Cruises has the lot. You can only imagine the sparkle and magic that will fill your days and nights. There’s just so much going and everyone is super happy – if this sounds like your dream trip, book your Disney Cruise!

TUI is also a great choice for family cruising and have nailed it when it comes to keeping the little ones amused. There’s family-sized interconnecting cabins to give everyone a bit of space and the buffet lunches are second to none when it comes to even the fussiest of eaters. They have a top mix of activities on-board such as quizzes, shows, tournaments and every ship has its own Kids Club too. Have a look at the exciting destinations on offer this year and this could be your best family holiday yet.

Best Cruises for Couples – Adults only

If love and romance is on the cards for your cruise, we’ve got that covered too.

What could be more romantic than lazy days at sea with the ocean as a backdrop to some summer loving? It’s all pretty idyllic but you need to make sure you choose the right ship – after all, you don’t want rowdy kids or crowds spoiling that perfect moment on deck or a cosy dinner for two.

If you and your beloved are looking for kid-free cruising with a touch of on-board sophistication, this could be the answer. Get set for some love on the ocean wave with TUI!

Best Cruises for Singles and Solo Travellers

If romance is the furthest thing from your mind and you and your sea legs just want to get away from it all, there’s also specific cruise holidays for singles who are happy being on their own but don’t want to feel conspicuous among larger groups and families. Let’s face it; more and more people are taking off by themselves to experience new adventures without any ‘excess baggage’ in tow! Besides, cruising takes the stress out of holidaying alone and the ships are very sensitive to the needs and wants of the solo travellers. It’s also important to find a good deal that doesn’t involve hefty single occupancy surcharges. Seeing the world by yourself is a memorable and enriching experience but it doesn’t need to cost the earth.

Look at what’s on offer with Fred Olsen Cruises – you never know you might make some new lifelong friends or cupid’s arrow could strike and you could find true love at sea! Or, you could just be happy in your own company – sometimes there’s nothing like it for peace and relaxation.

Be sure to let us know all about it when you come back – our other solo traveller members are always looking for hints and tips on going it alone on holiday.

Check out these top ten tips for solo cruising from www.cruise.co.uk

Best Cruises for Culture

So, you love a bit of history and culture on your holidays but still want to cruise rather than plane hop or drive between world-famous landmarks and stories? You can do it. There’s interesting stuff to be found everywhere on the planet but perhaps consider a jaunt to the Far East? Asia is such a unique and exotic continent of intriguing destinations, stunning landscapes, colours and of course, it’s a real melting pot of ancient traditions, customs and mystique.

Princess Cruises have some exciting trips if you’re after a taste of the Orient. You can depart from the likes of Singapore, Tokyo, Beijing and Hong Kong allowing you to have a day or two exploring these bustling cities before taking to the seas on a voyage of discovery.
Browse the destinations and departure ports from Princess Cruises.

Another exciting and fascinating journey to consider is Russia, Scandinavia and The Baltics. You could be visiting the likes of Oslo, Gothenburg, Tallinn, and the stunning city of St Petersburg.
Sail away with TUI on their Baltic Discovery cruise.

A little closer to home, you could take in some truly historic cities and ports on the [Spirit of Iberia cruise with TUI](http://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/8130215/type/dlg/sid/article-may18wk2/https:/www.tui.co.uk/cruise/baltics/st-petersburg-port/). The itinerary includes Porto, Lisbon, Cadiz, Gibraltar and Malaga and there are some top shore excursions to satisfy culture hungry passengers before you set sail for the next port of call.

Best Cruises for Entertainment and Night-Life

Not everybody wants to step ashore and trawl around the ancient wonders of the world. History just isn’t some folks’ bag and that’s fine too – you’re on holiday to relax and forget about everything for two weeks. Some holidaymakers simply want to board the cruise ship and sail away with nothing else in mind but chilling out and making the most of the on-board entertainment. Cruise ships have a reputation for some of the best holiday nightlife. Round the clock, there’s something going on in just about every corner of your ship.

Choose from deck parties, glitzy cabaret shows and late-night discos where you can dance the night away. Many of these ships are like floating palaces and have super stylish bars and restaurants. Some even have on-board casinos if you’re feeling lucky.

If you want to party on down into the wee small hours after a night of lavish musical entertainment, and to be honest, you’ll find that on-board most cruise liners these days but one that comes highly recommended is Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas.

Best River Cruises

There’s nothing more relaxing than watching the world go by from the water and with some of these glorious river cruises you could be setting sail for some of the world’s most scenic routes such as the Danube, the Rhine and Moselle Valley, the Rhone and the Seine to name but a few.

Besides enjoying some great food and drink on-board, you can also visit some beautiful historic cities and picturesque towns along the way when you step on dry land for some free time.
Shearings and Saga both offer some great river cruises – the only dilemma you’ll have is choosing just one. They’re all so tempting! Maybe you can squeeze in another before the end of the year…

If you’ve really got your heart set on a cruise this year, you can find out more by visiting our travel partner’s www.cruise.co.uk in-depth guide to cruising and everything you ever wanted to know (– but were afraid to ask!) is all there.

Happy Sailing!