New decades sometimes inspire us to think differently.
Perhaps mini cruises – often known as taster cruises – have been off your radar for a while. But with the arrival of a brand new year ending in a nice round zero, maybe the time has come to ring the changes.
So what’s the big deal about this form of holiday? Well I reckon there are at least seven reasons why you might want to consider making 2010 the year of the mini.
1. Enjoy a great introduction to cruising
If you’ve never been on a cruise, it may seem like a daunting task to book your first 14-night break to a distant location. Indeed, for some people that may be too much to take in all at once.
A mini cruise can therefore offer a good intermediate step. For a relatively low investment, and without committing yourself to too much time on the high seas you can find out what cruising is all about.
2. Choose a holiday that suits your schedule
Many people – for example self employed workers – lack the luxury of a long, ring-fenced holiday period. If they are lucky, they may be able to take a few extended weekends here and there.
For people like this short haul cruising can be ideal. They are still guaranteed a relaxing time without having to completely rearrange their schedule or opt for some boring, bargain basement holiday.
3. Win over the nervous or reluctant cruiser
Maybe you’ve always wanted to take a family cruise, but there’s one family member who’s proving problematical. It could be granny or one of the kids, and you’re unsure how they will react to a couple of weeks at sea.
This is where mini cruises come into their own. Choose the shortest options available – generally two or three-day breaks – and see how they get on. In many cases they’ll be fine and eager to experience their next sea adventure as soon as possible.
4. Cut your costs without cutting the fun
With so many people having to make economies of one form or another, thoughts of belt tightening inevitably turn to the annual holiday. You may feel you have to make some savings but don’t want to saddle yourself with a fun-free break.
A mini cruise could offer the ideal solution. You’re assured of all the atmosphere and entertainment you’d expect from a full length break but at a more affordable price.
5. Use it as one of your holiday building blocks
Increasingly cruisers are looking to tailor their holidays to suit highly individual tastes and schedules. And for many people a short haul cruise can simply be one element of a more complex holiday, which they plan to piece together block by block.
For example, they may choose to start or finish their break with a five-day cruise, adding on flights, hotel stays or other land-based activities to reflect their personal interests.
6. Satisfy your curiosity
In recent months you’ve doubtless read a lot about cruising, thanks in no small way to the enormous publicity given to the Oasis of the Seas.
You’ve seen the pictures of Oasis and other majestic liners of her ilk and noted the extraordinary range of services and features they offer. And you’ve probably wondered about life on board, and whether all the fuss is justified.
Well the great news is that the entry point to cruising is now incredibly low. For very little outlay – often just a few hundred pounds – you can find out for yourself exactly what it’s like.
What you’ll discover, of course, is that for all intents and purposes, mini cruises are identical to their bigger brothers and sisters, the key differences being the duration and range of the holiday.
7. Have fun with your mates
Perhaps you have some friends who can be hilarious in small doses. Well this could be the perfect opportunity to make the most of their company.
Three or four days on the move, visiting a couple of ports while enjoying the ship’s onboard entertainment facilities could be just enough time to have some great laughs without things getting too carried away.
Always make sure, of course, you pick a cruise line that offers the right level of informality for your type of party. This is where the advice of the Virgin Holidays Cruises helpline team can be invaluable.
Indeed, whatever your needs, why not give them a call now on 0871 781 9877.
Related posts:
- Oasis of the Seas Cruises The naming ceremony for Oasis of the Seas is...
- The shape of cruises to come Cruising has come a long way. Today’s cruisers enjoy...
Leave a Comment