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During the ‘golden age’ of cruising in the 1950s the finest ships were mainly the preserve of the elite.
On one Cunard sailing in 1950, dubbed the ‘all-American star voyage’, the decks teemed with famous names including Noel Coward, Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, Walt Disney and Rita Hayworth.
Where there were cheap tickets, they’d be in less salubrious second and third-class cabins (steerage), while first-class pools, social events and the best restaurants were out of bounds.
It’s even believed that the word ‘posh’ derived from those glamorous days, as ‘Port Out Starboard Home’ used to be stamped on the most expensive tickets, as these were the shadier sides of ships heading to and from India. Today things are different, with luxurious cruises available to all, often for rock-bottom prices. There are good value ‘first time cruise’ packages, special deals on longer sailings (a fortnight in the Caribbean can work out at £143pp a day including flights, meals and entertainment) and bargains if you grab tickets quickly after they are released.
Having spent more than a decade cruising the globe, I’ve learnt how to hunt the best offers. So here’s my pick of the best low-cost cruises…
UNDER £89 A NIGHT
A view of Cadiz’s rooftops and cathedral
Adults-only Ambition’s cruise from Liverpool takes guests to the maritime history of El Ferrol in Spain followed by Portugal’s capital, Lisbon. There are stops in Cadiz, Palma de Mallorca, Valencia, Alicante and Gibraltar.
Book it: 18-night Gems Of Spain And Portugal departs Liverpool on September 28 this year, from £1,599pp and includes all meals and entertainment (ambassadorcruiseline.com).
GREEK GIFT
Elafonissi Beach in Crete
Cruise around the Greek islands of Crete, Santorini, Mykonos and Milos on fun-focused ship Celestyal Journey. There’s also a call to the Greek city of Thessaloniki and Kusadasi, Turkey, to visit the ancient city of Ephesus.
Book it: Seven-night Idyllic Greece cruise departs Athens on November 1 this year, from £779pp (was £1,400pp, so it’s 44 per cent off), including meals, soft drinks, WiFi, entertainment and tips. Flights extra (celestyal.com).
ONE-NIGHT TASTER
Balmoral docked in Belfast
Expect a party atmosphere on Balmoral’s Taster Cruise, an overnight sailing so guests can experience the entertainment, bars and restaurants on the 1,340-guest ship.
Book it: One-night cruise on Balmoral from Rosyth, Scotland, to Newcastle departs August 18, 2026, from £149pp including all meals and tips (iglucruise.com).
FLIGHT FANTASTIC
Nelson’s Dockyard in Antigua
Marella Discovery 2 will be sailing around the Caribbean islands next spring with calls at Barbados, St Lucia and Antigua. The cruise starts at £143pp per night including flights.
Book it: The 12-night Atlantic Quest cruise departs Bridgetown, Barbados, on April 23, 2026, from £1,712pp (was £2,333pp, so it’s 26 per cent off), including meals, flights from Gatwick and 20kg luggage per person (tui.co.uk).
DISNEY MAGIC
Inside the Very Merrytime cruise to the Bahamas
Disney Cruise Line’s ships are always full of magic and there’s a rare family deal this Christmas to the Bahamas, with third and fourth cabin passengers half price.
Book it: A three-night Very Merrytime Cruise on Disney Wish departs Port Canaveral in Florida, USA, December 19 this year, from £3,297 (was £3,933) for two adults and third and fourth passengers sharing the cabin. Includes meals, snacks, soft drinks and plenty of entertainment. Flights are extra (disneycruise.co.uk).
FASHION FUN
Cunard cruise liner Queen Mary 2 docked in Brooklyn, New York
Join Queen Mary 2’s Transatlantic Fashion Week with events headlined by American designer Christian Siriano such as runway shows, talks and Q&A sessions.
Book it: Seven-night New York to Southampton voyages are from £749pp including meals and entertainment; outward flights are extra (cunard.com).
CHRISTMAS CRACKER
The site of Pompeii with Mount Vesuvius in the background
Get away on a Med sailing trip this festive season as part of Viking’s Quiet Season collection. Guests must be 18 or over for travel to Rome and Athens with visits to Naples for Pompeii, and Messina, Sicily’s cultural crossroads, and the former Minoan kingdom of Crete.
Book it: An eight-day Journey To Antiquities voyage on Viking Saturn departs Civitavecchia (Rome) on December 20, 2025. The price is from £1,490pp (reduced from £1,990pp), including flights, five tours, meals including wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, WiFi and tips. Must book by phone (0800 3196660).
NIFTY NORWAY
The Lofoten Islands district in Norway
Havila Voyages is offering savings on short winter cruises departing October 1 to December 31 this year, including Christmas and New Year, with calls to Tromso and Lofoten.
Book it: Six-day Voyage South (Kirkenes to Bergen) sailings on Havila Pollux start from £425pp (was £535pp) on a choice of departures and include meals; flights are extra (havilavoyages.com).
SAVE £1,000 EACH
The island of Santorini in Greece
There’s a butler for every suite on luxury ship Silver Whisper and prices have been reduced by £1,000pp on an Athens round trip this autumn. Calls include Nafplio in the Peloponnese, Kusadasi, Santorini and Patmos.
Book it: Seven-night Piraeus To Piraeus cruise on Silver Whisper departs October 31 this year, from £2,726 pp (was £3,733pp). Price includes flights, meals, premium beverages, selected shore tours and WiFi (panachecruises.com).
FLOWER POWER
Bruges’ historic city centre
A free tour to Keukenhof Gardens at tulip time is a highlight of Spirit Of Discovery’s short cruise to Holland, Belgium and France, with the full fare reduced by up to 30 per cent. The cruise includes calls to Bruges in Belgium and Honfleur, France.
Book it: Five-night Continental Easter Mini Breaks depart from Portsmouth from £2,225pp (was £3,179pp) including all drinks and meals, three tours and a chauffeur to and from the port (saga.co.uk/sd180).
CAR PERK
The Guggenheim museum in Bilbao, Spain
Get in touch with your cultural side with visits to art galleries in Bilbao in northern Spain and vineyards in Bordeaux, France, during Sky Princess’s spring cruise. The Southampton sailing also comes with free car parking.
Book it: Seven-night no-fly 2026 Spain & France cruise on Sky Princess, departs Southampton on March 23 next year, from £1,499pp (was £1,514pp) including meals, activities for children and evening entertainment (rolcruise.co.uk).
FIVE-NIGHT FAVOURITE
Liberty of the Seas on the water
Watch ice-skating, acrobatics and parades in the Royal Promenade on megaship Liberty Of The Seas. There’s so much to do on the 3,640-guest ship it might be difficult to entice the family to go ashore in Hamburg, Germany, and Zeebrugge in Belgium.
Book it: A five-night Hamburg & Bruges Southampton round trip on June 21, 2026, is from £574 including meals and snacks, water, juice, coffee and tea options and entertainment (royalcaribbean.com).
LOW-DEPOSIT CANARIES
Farmers’ market in Funchal, Madeira
Looking for winter sun? Put down a 10 per cent deposit to secure a round trip on P&O Cruises’ Azura from Santa Cruz de Tenerife, calling into Fuerteventura, Santa Cruz de La Palma and Funchal, Madeira.
Book it: A seven-night Canary Islands fly-cruise on Azura departs January 16 next year, from £630pp (was £678pp), with an offer of 20 per cent off a classic drinks package (imaginecruising.co.uk).
DISCOVER THE MED
Villefranche-sur-Mer lies between Nice and Monaco on the French Riviera, Cote d’Azur, France
Cruising the Strait Of Bonifacio in Corsica is one of the highlights of Oosterdam’s Med cruise next month, which also features calls at Katakolon for Olympia, Greece, Sarande in Albania and Valletta on Malta. There are further stop-offs at Messina in Sicily, Naples and Civitavecchia (Rome) in Italy, Ajaccio on Corsica and Villefranche-sur-Mer on the French Riviera.
Book it: A ten-night Traversing The Mediterranean on Oosterdam departs Athens on October 22 this year with fares from £1,709pp (was £1,899pp) including meals, afternoon tea, theatre shows and children’s clubs; flights extra (hollandamerica.com).
SCENIC CARIBBEAN
Norwegian Aqua goes to the Bahamas and Dominican Republic
Visit five ports when new ship Norwegian Aqua sails the Caribbean. In the US Virgin Islands, see green sea turtles in Turtle Cove or hit the white sand beaches in the British Virgin Islands. There’s also a call to Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas, Norwegian Cruise’s private island.
Book it: Six-night Caribbean: Bahamas & Dominican Republic cruise on Norwegian Aqua, from £606pp (was £1,049pp, a 42 per cent saving) departing Miami, Florida, on November 30 this year including all meals. Flights extra (ncl.com).
FAB FJORDS
Seven sisters waterfalls in Norway
Make the most of 24-hour daylight and £110 onboard credit during Celebrity Apex’s cruise to Norway, with calls to the beautiful ports of Nordfjord, Geiranger and Bergen.
Book it: Seven-night Norwegian Fjords Southampton round-trip on June 27, 2026, from £1,622pp including meals, WiFi, drinks package, tips and free parking at Southampton (celebritycruises.com).
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