As we brace ourselves to crawl along busy roads, suffer rip-off motorway service stations and overcrowded resorts – all the ingredients of a stressful August Bank Holiday weekend – the so-called ‘staycation’ in the UK rapidly loses its appeal.
And that’s even before trying to keep young children entertained.
I’d love to have a pound for every cry of ‘Are we nearly there yet?’ as we inched along in interminable traffic jams the length and breath of Briton.
If you are like me, you will have always thought about travelling to the far corners of the UK, but found the logistics of organising such a trip far too daunting.
Inspired by destination-based TV programmes such as Coast and the multitude of food and drink shows, I now know the way I want to experience parts of the British Isles that would be virtually impossible to reach overland – certainly in less than a fortnight.
I now know of an alternative, one that takes in all the cultural and culinary best the UK and Ireland has to offer yet with the hassle factor removed.
The solution? A round-Britain cruise, which makes it possible to see all the places you always wanted to explore to but have never quite found the time to get round to.
A typical itinerary will include England, Wales, Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland in less than two weeks, which has to beat M1 gridlock at the Watford Gap any day.
A growing number of people are opting to take in the many highlights Britain and Ireland can offer in the comfortable surroundings of a cruise ship.
So great was the popularity of P&O Cruises first round-Britain itinerary this year, that the company has scheduled two 11-night voyages on different ships from Southampton for summer 2010.
Fred Olsen and Princess Cruises are among the other lines running nine and 12-night round-Britain sailings, some even including an overnight in historic Edinburgh.
With Royal Caribbean International’s mega ship Independence of the Seas it is possible to visit Cobh, the colourful cruise port of Cork, Ireland’s second largest city, on short cruises from Southampton.
While the ports of call alone will be of keen interest, this type of cruise is all about the many excursions available.
How about combining ancient Welsh castles with the desolate beauty of the Orkneys and Outer Hebrides in Scotland and the buzzing cities of Dublin and Londonderry all in one holiday?
Or joining the search for Nessie in Loch Ness (via Inverness) with shopping along Edinburgh’s Royal Mile and cradling a proper pint of Guinness in Belfast’s most famous bar, the Crown Liquor Saloon?
All are possibilities, together with visits to Glasgow’s museums and art galleries from the port of Greenock as well as stops en-route in the Isle of Man and Guernsey.
UK holidays – weather permitting – can be difficult to beat given the diverse nature of what is on offer on our doorstep.
Jumping on a cruise ship – with all the onboard facilities thrown in – has just made the staycation concept all the more appealing.
If you fancy a twist on the staycation, have a look at these for starters:
P&O Oriana 11 Nights ‘Round Brittan’ Cruise In June 2010
P&O Artemis 11 Nights ‘Round Brittan’ Cruise In August 2010
Royal Caribbean Southampton to Cork in May 2010
Royal Caribbean Southampton to Cork in August 2010
Related posts:
- Cruise Britannia As children, one of the first things we learn...
- Stay calm and carry on – on a cruise ship Like the ghost of Hamlet’s father I would like...
- Are these the top cruise destinations for 2012? It’s the question executives in the industry would love...
Leave a Comment