London - There are so many different ocean cruises these days, the choice can seem quite daunting. And if you ve never been on one before, you need to do your homework to avoid making an expensive mistake.
On the upside, there has ships, be one. started. cruise styles and itineraries, meaning What never been such a variety of there is a cruise for every-excellent value for money when consider meals and lots of entertainments are included in the price. Here are is more, cruise holidays can some ideas to get you
l Before you book that world cruise you ve been dreaming of, dip a toe in the water with a taster cruise. American line Royal Caribbean (0844 493 2061, royalcaribbean.co.uk) offers lively two- and three-night cruises from Southampton. On October 26, Independence of the Seas sails to Zeebrugge, the port for Bruges in Belgium, and then to Le Havre handy for an excursion to Paris. Or stay on board enjoying the many bars and spa, or get active on the rock-climbing wall, ice-rink, zipline and Flowrider surfing pool. The three-night cruise costs from £399pp (about R5 200).
l If your family loves the idea of an action-packed voyage, the revamped Carnival Sunshine will be sailing across the Mediterranean this summer. The ship has a water park boasting slides and a 300-gallon bucket to drench riders, a ropes course and zip-wire, and Hasbro, The Games Show, a giant interactive team game played in front of a live audience.
A 12-night cruise from Venice to Barcelona, departing July 28, costs from £1 189pp including flights. To book, visit carnival.co.uk. l Going on a cruise doesn t have to mean eating around the clock and piling on the pounds. This year Celebrity Cruises (0845 456 0523, celebrity-cruises.co.uk) is offering free Zumba classes, including Aqua Zumba in the pool and ZumbaGold for older passengers. A ten-night cruise of the eastern Med aboard Celebrity Reflection departs Rome on August 30 and calls at the Greek islands of Rhodes, Santorini and Mykonos. It costs from £1,338pp for a balcony cabin including return flights to Rome.
l Cruises are often the perfect way to see lots of different places in one holiday. Crown Princess (princess.com) sails from Southampton on September 30 for a two-week trip around the Med, meaning you could be strolling around Barcelona one day and having a flutter at a casino in Monte
Carlo the next, before exploring Rome s treasures and then heading to Ajaccio, Napoleon s birthplace in Corsica. The break costs from £999pp.
l Have a truly European experience sailing the Mediterranean with Italian line MSC Cruises (0844 561 1955, msccruises. co.uk), which boasts a cosmopolitan mix of passengers. It s a family budget-friendly option, too, with under-18s sailing free when sharing a cabin with two adults. There s a water park, 4D cinema, sports courts and children s clubs. Grown ups can retreat to the spa and adults-only sun deck. Seven-night round trip cruises depart Genoa weekly from June 1 to November 9, calling at Marseilles, Barcelona, Valencia, La Goulette in Tunisia and Civitavecchia. The cost is from £799pp including flights. - Daily Mail
l For more detailed information on ships and their various destinations, visit discovercruises.co.uk