Want to try a cruise but not sure if it's for you? After all, it's a bit of a gamble. What if after a few days you decide you don't feel like it, but still have to stay on board for a week or more, and possibly 5,000 kilometers from home?
It's a tricky conundrum for would-be cruisers, but the solution may be closer than you think.
Most cruise lines offer 'short cruises' that start with a duration of just four days, although that's not really feasible if you have to fly to the Caribbean or Mediterranean first. Fortunately, there is another way: the "trial cruise". These sailings usually last just two or three nights and depart from and return to British ports: perfect for a risk-free taste of life at sea.
It's not just beginners who can benefit from these microcruises: they're also an ideal option for seasoned seafarers or city breakers looking for a weekend getaway without airport delays, lost luggage and budget airlines - and at an affordable price. reasonable price too. Many cruise lines even offer door-to-ship pickup, so you don't have to find parking.
These short cruises connect places such as the Channel Islands, Paris and Bruges via their seaports Le Havre, Cherbourg and Zeebrugge. There are also plenty of excursions to choose from, allowing passengers to customize their cruise in advance or explore independently.
So whether you want a first-time cruise, a hassle-free mini-vacation or a combination of both, these excellent options provide the perfect way to spend a long weekend without boarding a plane.
Find culture and carats in Antwerp
This cruise allows you to explore Antwerp, a vibrant city known for its diamond industry and full of beautiful gastronomy, art and architecture. Take a peaceful cruise along the historic Scheldt River to experience it from all sides, then explore its fascinating medieval heart with its market square, café-filled side streets and Belgium's largest Gothic cathedral.
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The city's biggest draws, however, are its vibrant fashion and nightlife scenes and its fascinating (and sometimes startling) Flemish and French architectural and cultural contrasts. You can even visit the mansion that was built as a home and studio for the famous painter Pieter Paul Rubens.
Ambassador Cruises (0808 102 8062) is offering the three-night Festive Weekend Getaway cruise from £269 per person, aboard Ambition, sailing December 8, 2023 (return from London Tilbury to Antwerp)
Find continental coolness in Guernsey
From Roman times through to the German occupation of World War II, Guernsey's capital, St. Peter Port, has been a busy hub. Here you'll find Georgian and Regency houses mixed with a continental café culture, plus tumbling terraced gardens, winding streets and hidden green alleys just begging to be explored.
Take a taxi to explore the Ruettes - quiet, quiet streets dedicated to walkers, cyclists and horse riders - and to Castle Cornet, home to several museums and theater events. Fort Gray is home to a fascinating Shipwreck Museum, while the German Occupation Museum provides a vivid account of island life during this period. Don't forget that Guernsey is tax free, so leave time for shopping too.
P&O Cruises (0344 338 8003) offers the three-night Guernsey Getaway cruise from £429 per person, aboard Arcadia, sailing June 6, 2024 (return to St Peter Port, Guernsey from Southampton)
Spend a serene day at sea
While a two-night cruise from Southampton to Newcastle (with one day at sea) may not exactly scream excitement, it does provide the perfect opportunity to experience the joys of 'sea days' on a shorter cruise - and comes complete with evening cruises. entertainment.
There's fun off the ship too: in Southampton itself, explore the Old City Walls and God's House Tower, a 13th-century gatehouse that leads into the Old Town and houses arts and heritage attractions, including fascinating exhibitions. When you reach Newcastle, head out on foot to see the bridges and bustling quayside, as well as the Baltic Arts Center which has loads to explore.
Fred Olsen Cruises (0800 677 3995) offers the two-night cruise to Newcastle from £249 per person, aboard Balmoral (sailing from Southampton on 28 February 2024)
Soak up history in Bruges and Mont St Michel
Of course, a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage city of Bruges is not complete without a boat trip on the canals - the city's arteries - but it is the Burg that is truly the soul of the city. Ride through the center in a horse-drawn carriage, visit the Hanseatic Quarter and enjoy the Museum of Flemish Art. Then it continues to Mont St Michel - also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Situated on a rocky outcrop rising from the sea and accessed via a tidal bridge, the walls include more than 60 medieval buildings and a 1,000-year-old abbey.
MSC Cruises (020 3909 5432) offers a three-night cruise to Zeebrugge (Bruges) and Cherbourg (Mont St Michel) from £399 per person, aboard Virtuosa, sailing on 6 May 2024 (return from Southampton)
Cruise under the stars in Scotland
This short cruise around the sheltered waters of Mull offers stunning views of sea eagles and ancient castles, plus a chance to really appreciate the region's beautiful coastal scenery. The cruise starts and ends in Oban and covers Loch Linnhe, Glencoe, the Sound of Mull and Loch Sunart, including a visit to the community of Tobermory with its beautifully colored houses. When night falls, the cruise anchors in secluded bays, where you will have only seals and stars for company.
The Majestic Line (01369 707951) offers the three-day A Taste of The Hebrides cruise from £1,360 per person, with weekly departures from March to October, aboard Glen Massan (return from Oban)
Count the wonders of the Severn
If you fancy a taste of small ship or river cruising, the 22-passenger Edward Elgar offers the opportunity to do both. This sailing tour takes in the Cotswolds escarpment, the Upper Severn Estuary and Forest of Dean, pausing for tours of Berkeley Castle and the Purton Hulks cemetery with 80 barge wrecks stranded there.
There will also be time to visit the Wildfowl & Wetlands Centre, founded by the 'father of conservation', Sir Peter Scott, and an excursion to the Cotswolds Canal Trust Heritage Centre, where you will discover the history of the local waterways.
English Holiday Cruises (01452 410411) offers the three-night Ship Canal Explorer cruise from £595 per person, aboard Edward Elgar, departing March 29, 2024 (return from Gloucester)
Enjoy culture in Zeebrugge and Le Havre
For incredibly fresh seafood and excellent beer (often served together), look no further than Zeebrugge, Belgium's largest fishing port. There's a unique mix of sights and sounds to take in here, but the nostalgic gem of Admiral Keyes Square is the city's most enchanting corner, an oasis of peace and quiet.
Then it continues to Le Havre, which lost most of its medieval buildings during the Second World War. Yet from the ashes rose an incredible concrete mix of industrial and natural grandeur - an extraordinary combination that has since been honored by UNESCO.
Cunard (0344 3388641) offers the three-day Bruges and Le Havre Short Break cruise from £689 per person, departing May 30, 2024, aboard Queen Mary 2 (return from Southampton)
Take the Tykes to Belgium
If you're looking for a great first cruise for young children, it makes sense to choose Disney, with its pools, onboard shows and a host of kids' clubs. Spend time exploring Southampton before boarding, taking a look into the past at the Tudor House and Garden or the Maritime Museum, then on to Zeebrugge. Here, the children's beach village - with swings, climbing frames and even a life-size play boat - is guaranteed to please, but if you want to add some culture, Brussels is a short distance away.
Disney (001 407 566-3457) is offering the three-night Belgian cruise from £1,152 per person, departing August 16, 2024, aboard Disney Dream (return from Southampton)
Choose an adventure in Paris and beyond
See Paris at your own pace (perhaps with a narrated minibus tour, or lunch on a riverboat on the Seine?), or skip the City of Lights altogether and head to the D-Day beaches and the Bayeux Tapestry on a historical excursion from a day that stretches from the Middle Ages to the liberation of France at the end of the Second World War. You'll have two nights here, so there might even be time to visit the glory of Versailles.
Royal Caribbean (0344 493 4005) offers the two-night Paris cruise from £357 per person, aboard Anthem of the Seas, sailing May 10, 2024 (return from Southampton)
