Fly or Cruise?

While Heathrow’s July strikes have been called off, many more threats for journeys remain in August.  Millions of passengers face disruption to their travel plans this summer.  Britain’s summer of air chaos continues as the pilots of budget airline Ryanair have voted to embark on industrial action in a row over salaries.  Two walkouts will take place, one from 22-23 August and the next from 2-4 September.

A colleague of mine and her family have just been caught the stress of flying when their flight from New York to Orlando was cancelled due to bad weather. The airline in question did not put them up in a New York hotel as the delay was weather-related so they spent the first day of their Disney holiday sleeping on an airport floor.

As airlines fill their planes to capacity so the demand goes up and airports become more crowded and flights more uncomfortable. Security has tightened since 9/11 and this adds to the stress of your flying experience.

Unlike planes, cruise ships can take you to the heart of Alaska’s glaciers, through the Norwegian Fjords and even to the remote Galapagos Islands. The wealth of destinations available to travellers on cruise holidays is ever increasing and is certainly one of the top reasons why people are opting for cruising rather than flying.

The check-in procedure at the cruise port is so much easier than at the airport. Luggage labels which we have printed off at home are attached to our bags and the porters Wizz them away only to be seen again outside your cabin door. No waiting at luggage carousels or lost bags.

Within a few minutes of presenting our set sail pass, to one of the smiling check-in staff,  which has also been printed at home, we pass through security and are boarding. There is no sitting around waiting to board, or being strapped into a seat for takeoff. We are free to walk around the ship, lie at the pool or have an early lunch.

This all only applies for a cruise out of one of our ports. But as the industry continues to grow the varies destinations from the U.K do as well. You have heard me tell you before, many times that nothing beats being dropped off in Southampton at 10.30 in the morning and having a late breakfast in the Windjammer by 11.15. This proceeded by a relaxing 7-night cruise to the beautiful Norwegian Fjords, or a 12-night cruise to the Canaries or best of all a 14 night Baltic cruise.

My advice is to save the fly-cruise itineraries for after the summer holidays when airports are quieter and the children have gone back to school. Top destinations on my list would be Alaska, South America or Australasia.