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Although the whole concept of cruising for leisure was born in Great Britain, in the Shetland Islands in 1835, the idea of sailing round the British Isles is relatively new. American visitors, however, find the idea fascinating and British passengers wanting to learn more about their homeland are becoming increasingly interested in cruising at home.
The idea of not flying, no long periods at sea and no borders to cross is appealing to many and the ports of call are becoming well equipped for receiving hundreds of visitors on a day’s excursion ashore.
Most itineraries include a call at St Peter Port on the Channel Island of Guernsey, where tax free shopping is possible whilst at the same time giving the ship duty free status.
The islands off the coast of Scotland provide the chance to view wildlife such as otters, seals, dolphins and even whales. In addition, some of the British Isles’ most culturally rich attractions may be seen in Dublin, Edinburgh and Cobh (Cork).
Occasionally, an additional French port of call may be offered, usually Honfleur or Cherbourg. Fred Olsen Line promotes itineraries from Greenock and Liverpool aboard Black Prince. These give passengers the opportunity to visit Cornwall, the Channel Islands, Ireland and London in one holiday. Such a small ship is able to dock in Greenwich or Chatham, in order to facilitate relatively short transfers to the capital.
Those interested in gardens and gardening are rarely disappointed on a British Isles cruise and there are often lecturers on board who provide lively introductions to the places to be seen.
In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of ships calling in at Belfast in Northern Island. From the port, both Stormont Castle and the Giant’s Causeway are in easy reach.
With more than 40% of British passengers now choosing to begin their cruise from a UK port, Royal Caribbean International have announced that Summer 2013 will see them deploy nine ships in Europe, three of which will be based here in the UK. … [Read more...]
Jurys Inn Southampton, centrally located in Charlotte Place, is the largest hotel in the city. It’s close to the Central Rail Station and is the ideal base for exploring the city’s galleries, parks and many other attractions. With Cruise Parking from just £121, it offers great value. See the Jurys Inn website for more information. For something with historical character, opt for four-star Dolphin Hotel, which has a history dating back to 1454. … [Read more...]
Celebrity Cruises will base a second ship out of the UK next year which will sail to the Baltic and Norwegian fjords. The 1,950-passenger Celebrity Infinity will be based out of Harwich in Essex and offer 10-, 11- and 12-night cruises throughout the 2013 sailing season. Celebrity has also announced an exclusive partnership with leading wine expert Oz Clarke and wine merchants Vinopolis. Infinity is one of the four Celebrity ships that have … [Read more...]
If you want to find the best gay cruise for you but don't know where to start, we can help! Here are two great cruise operators to help you plan your holiday... … [Read more...]
When it comes to iconic stretches of coastline, Dover surely has it covered. Just one glimpse of those chalky cliffs perched over the English Channel and strains of Dame Vera Lynn’s White Cliffs of Dover seem to fill the air. Here too is Dover Castle, dubbed the ‘Key of England,’ host to the royal visits of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, and Winston Churchill's war-time planning sessions. Thankfully, invading fleets have now been replaced by … [Read more...]
Ask someone what the south coast city of Portsmouth is famous for, and no doubt the answer will include one of two things: the Mary Rose, Henry VIII’s warship that famously sank in the Solent in 1545, or HMS Victory, Admiral Lord Nelson’s flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Surprisingly, then, for such a seafaring city – with more than 800 years of naval history and home to today’s Royal Navy – Portsmouth is a newcomer … [Read more...]
William the Conqueror, Henry V, William Shakespeare and Jane Austen:Southampton’s list of famous associations reads like a who’s who of the history books. Let’s also not forget the city’s seafaring connections: the port was the departing point for the Mayflower carrying the Pilgrim Fathers in 1620, as well as the fateful journey of RMS Titanic in 1912.Today, Southampton is the cruise capital of Northern Europe with 1.4 million passengers passing … [Read more...]
This Saturday, 5th March, a Spitfire spectacular has been organised in Southampton to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the first ever flight of the Spitfire. … [Read more...]
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated 120 kilometres (75 mi) south-west of London and 30 kilometres (19 mi) north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest. It lies at the northernmost point of Southampton Water at the confluence of the River Test and River Itchen, with the River Hamble joining to the south of the urban area. The … [Read more...]
Southampton to Alaska For the first time in 40 years P&O Cruises is offering a round-trip voyage from Southampton to Alaska, on its adults-only ship Arcadia. The complete voyage will take 72 days – although of course you can opt to do just a part of the trip. Arcadia will cross the Atlantic via Madeira, spend a few days in the Caribbean before traversing the Panama Canal to the Pacific, then make its way up the west coast of America, arriving … [Read more...]
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