Destination guide
Cruise holidays: not just for the over-60s
If you still picture cruises as ballroom dancing and early dinners, you’ve not been on a modern ship. Today’s fleet is built for families, friendship groups and couples who want adventure ports by day and a proper night out after dark.
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Your protection: All holidays booked with us are protected by Travel by Inspire’s ABTA, ATOL and IATA memberships. ATOL 11183 · ABTA L4341.
The myth: “cruises are only for older people”
That stereotype is decades out of date. Walk a pool deck on a school-holiday sailing and you’ll see toddlers in life jackets, teens on waterslides and couples at the cocktail bar. Lines actively design ships for multi-generational families and for 20- and 30-somethings who want nightlife without giving up waking up in a new port.
Family ships: kids’ clubs, waterparks and room for everyone
If you’re travelling with children, look for:
- Age-banded kids’ clubs (often from nursery through teens) so parents get real downtime
- Waterparks, splash zones and sports courts on the top decks
- Family cabins or connecting rooms — far less stressful than two random insides
- Character dining and immersive kids’ programmes on Disney-style ships
- Big-ship thrills on Royal Caribbean and similar lines (slides, surf simulators, go-karts on some classes)
- MSC and other family-friendly European lines that sail from UK and Med ports
We’ll match the ship to your children’s ages. A waterpark ship is magic for primary-school kids; teens may care more about the sports deck and late kids’ club hours.
Young couples, friends and nightlife
Cruising isn’t only soft-play and early bedtime. Plenty of sailings skew younger:
- Ships with late-night music venues, comedy clubs and adults-only spaces
- Short-break party sailings and festival-at-sea style itineraries (seasonal)
- Adventure-leaning ports — hiking, snorkelling, city nights ashore — then back on board
- Adults-only or adults-leaning lines if you want zero kids’ club noise
Tell us whether you want quiet balconies at sunset or a ship that still buzzes at midnight. They’re different holidays.
Solo travellers
Cruising can be one of the easiest ways to travel alone: built-in dining, entertainment and shore options, plus host programmes on some lines. Single supplements vary wildly — sometimes they’re steep, sometimes they’re reduced on specific sailings. Aaron will hunt the fair ones rather than pretending every cruise is solo-friendly.
Southampton sailings vs fly-cruises
| UK port (e.g. Southampton) | Fly-cruise | |
|---|---|---|
| Travel day | Drive or train with cases — no airport security dash | Flight to the embarkation port; more destinations in a week |
| Best for | Families, first-timers, anyone who dislikes flying | Caribbean, fly-to-Med, exotic fly-stays |
| Watch-outs | Itineraries are often longer (7–14 nights) | Flight times, luggage limits, transfer reliability |
Neither is “better” — it depends on school dates, flight comfort and how far you want to go.
What’s usually included (and what isn’t)
- Typically included: cabin, main dining rooms, buffet, theatre shows, most kids’ clubs, use of pools
- Usually extra: drinks packages, speciality restaurants, shore excursions, spa, Wi-Fi, gratuities on some lines
We’ll itemise the extras so you’re not surprised at the bar. No made-up “from £99” banners here — cruise pricing moves with cabin grade, school holidays and promotions.
Seasickness: honest tips
- Larger modern ships with stabilisers feel remarkably steady in normal conditions
- Mid-ship, lower decks move least if you’re anxious
- Open-sea days on Atlantic crossings feel different to island-hopping in the Med or Caribbean — itinerary matters
- Acupressure bands, ginger and pharmacy remedies help many people; ask your pharmacist before you sail
How Aaron helps
There are hundreds of ships and thousands of sailings. You don’t need to become a brochure expert. Tell us who’s going, roughly when, and whether you care more about kids’ clubs, nightlife, or waking up in a new city every day — and we’ll shortlist a handful of protected options through Travel by Inspire.
Photo credits: slgckgc · Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0); ITookSomePhotos · Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0); Tudor Washington Collins · Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0).
Shore excursions and extras: Many shore excursions, transfers to the ship and selected onboard packages can be arranged as part of your cruise booking. Tell Aaron which ports or extras matter most and he’ll include what we can in your quote.
Why book with Cuxton Holidays
We’re a home-based travel agency in Rochester, Kent, trading under Travel by Inspire. You deal with Aaron from the first chat to the day you come home — no call centres. We’ll build a trip around your dates, budget and how you like to travel.
Ready for a cruise?
Tell us who’s travelling, when you’d like to go and what matters most. Aaron will reply personally with ideas and a free quote.
Get a free personalised quote for a cruise
Or call 0333 032 3409 · sales@cuxtonholidays.co.uk
FAQs
Are cruises really suitable for young families?
Yes. Many ships have kids’ clubs by age group, waterparks, family cabins and flexible dining. Disney, Royal Caribbean and MSC-style ships are designed around it.
What about seasickness?
Most modern ships are stabilised and stick to calmer itineraries in season. Choose mid-ship lower decks if you’re worried, pack remedies, and tell Aaron — we’ll pick routes and ship sizes that suit you.
Southampton or fly-cruise?
Southampton (and other UK ports) means no flight with luggage — popular for families. Fly-cruises open up the Med, Caribbean and beyond in a week. We’ll compare door-to-door time and cost.
What’s usually included?
Your cabin, main meals, entertainment and most kids’ clubs are typically included. Drinks packages, speciality dining, shore excursions and Wi-Fi are usually extra — we’ll spell that out clearly on your quote.
Can solo travellers cruise without a huge single supplement?
Sometimes. A few lines offer solo cabins or waived supplements on selected sailings. It’s worth asking before you rule it out.
