Why You Should Try A No-Fly Cruise

I love cruise holidays. I love the idea of visiting lots of different ports of call each day, for a mixture of sun and sightseeing. I love the amazing range of activities on board ship – from theatre style entertainment to movies under the stars. I love the array of dining experiences that range from super relaxed buffet style, to formal banquets and the captain’s nights. And mostly, I love that you can do all of these things without having to set foot in an airport, or spending anytime at all on an aeroplane. I basically love the ‘no-fly’ cruise.

Many cruises these days offer the option of leaving from a UK port, and avoiding flying altogether. A great example of this are the Ambassador Cruise Line who offer Baltic cruises from Newcastle. There are so many great advantages of cruising without flying, not least that these offer a great option for those who actually hate, or have a phobia about flying, or those who are more elderly, for whom flying is an uncomfortable experience. I first tried a no fly cruise when I was pregnant with Joe and was told to avoid flying. I found it a great experience as we combined this with an overnight stay and shopping trip in Southampton, which actually extended our holiday.

So why else should you try a ‘no-fly’ cruise?

Well, as I mentioned, this is a great way to extend your holiday, as you can take in some of the sights of your port city either before, or after, your visit. Interesting, fascinating cities like Newcastle and Southampton are great for city breaks as they have great shopping, and also nightlife, and both are becoming popular destinations for stag and hen parties. Cruises that leave from London make their start at the historic docks of Tilbury, made famous by Queen Elizabeth 1st.

Another reason to opt for no flying is that you are less restricted in terms of luggage and bags. On a cruise, you may want to pack for all eventualities, and for us ladies, that can include full length evening gowns that can take up a lot of space. With baggage allowance on the average airline around 20kg, this does not really give much room, but heading straight to the port means you can take more of your little luxuries with you. You also only have to unpack once.

The main reason why a no fly cruise is perfect, is that, once you have arrived at the port, your holiday really begins. We say a holiday starts the minute you arrive at the airport, but this is not strictly true, with long queues, the threat of delays, and sometimes, at especially busy times of the year, the lack of space to sit and wait. Airports can be nightmarish, but with a cruise, once your tickets and passport have been checked, you are free to enjoy the facilities and start to relax.

A no-fly cruise allows you to see some of the world, without any of the problems that flying, and therefore the airport, bring. A perfect way to relax and unwind.

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