While destinations are a key part of any cruise, the ability to reach all those fascinating places in ease and comfort continues to be a priority.

This is particularly the case for families with young children and elderly travellers who may find the whole airport experience daunting and stressful.

I’m not trying to dismiss fly-cruises. After all, going by plane is the only way to connect to most long haul cruise departure points such as Alaska, the Caribbean, Asia and Antarctica.

However, larger numbers of people are choosing to set sail from a UK port as cruise lines introduce more ships from departure points such as Southampton and Dover.

Industry figures for last year show a 23% increase in the number of passengers opting to cruise from a UK port compared with only a four per cent rise in those taking fly-cruises.

Of the 140,000 extra UK passengers taking cruise holidays in 2008, 110,000 of them boarded their ship from a home port.

The main driver has been the deployment of more ships to the UK not only by British lines such as P&O Cruises, Cunard Line and Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, but also US and European companies such as Royal Caribbean International, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and MSC.

Such is the potential for growth in UK-based departures, more ships are being based here in 2010.

Most notable of these will be Celebrity Cruises’ new Celebrity Eclipse, the latest in the impressive Solstice-class family of large, premium ships.

The first Celebrity new-build in the history of the company to be based in the UK will be offering 26 departures on five different itineraries from Southampton in summer 2010.

These will range from four-night taster cruises to Cork to 16-night Eastern Mediterranean voyages as the line seeks to generate 40,000 new cruise passengers.

There will also be overnight stays in Palma, Majorca, on a 14-night Spanish Mediterranean cruise, and St Petersburg and Copenhagen on a 14-night Scandinavia and Russia sailing.

Celebrity Eclipse isn’t the only new kid on the block in 2010 as P&O Cruises introduces new large ship Azura from Southampton in April featuring a contemporary take on the company’s traditional cruise experience.

Azura is dubbed the ‘foodie-friendly ship’ due to its emphasis on contemporary dining across 11 dining venues.

These include an Indian restaurant called Sindu overseen by Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochar, three main dining rooms, a fine dining restaurant called Seventeen, and a wine bar and restaurant called the Glass House with wines recommended by TV expert Olly Smith.

Another new addition for P&O Cruises on Azura is an open air cinema, similar to the Movies under the Stars concept pioneered by US sister company Princess Cruises.

Although a sister ship to family-friendly Ventura, 3,100-passenger Azura has been designed to appeal to “heartland” P&O Cruises’ passengers who have taken an average of more than five cruises with the company in the past.

Azura will carry a range of spa cabins where passengers can buy an optional spa packages.

A number of cabins specifically for single passengers will also be available for the first time on a P&O Cruises’ ship.

Azura will be followed in October of next year by 2,092-passenger Queen Elizabeth, sister vessel to Queen Victoria.

Cunard aims to recreate the atmosphere of an English country house party feel of the 193Os on board with art deco features, tea dances, big band balls and Ivor Novello-style piano evenings.

As successor to the famous QE2, Queen Elizabeth will reflect the previous ship with artworks, memorabilia and a new version of the QE2′s aft Yacht Club lounge with 270 degrees of windows.
Eight five per cent of the ship’s 1,046 cabins and suites will have outside views, including two thirds (738) with balconies.

Also in the autumn of 2010, Royal Caribbean International will extend summer sailings from Southampton by the all singing, all dancing mega ship Independence of the Seas to year-round departures – another first for an American cruise company.

The massive vessel – longer than three and half football pitches and capable of carrying 4,300 passengers – will run winter sun cruises to destinations such as the Canary Islands and Mediterranean on voyages of between 11 and 18 nights in duration.

These developments will ensure that more four out of every ten cruises booked by British passengers will be leaving from a UK port in 2010.

And that has to be a major bonus for those fed up with the hassle of lengthy airport check-ins and interminable flight delays.

Phil Davies

Related posts:

• Getting Britain sailing Travel agents across the country including virginholidayscruises.co.uk are gearing...
• Have A Swell Time Sailing In Winter From The UK The Bay of Biscay is not renowned for being...
• Breakfast on a cruise ship For many years I have been feasting in the...
• Sailing with giants It’s easy to forget, but each time you take...
• Sailing for World Cup victory I’ve discovered what can make a noise louder than...

Posted in Cruising