| This article comprises of wide range of cruises | | | | Going on a cruise summons up images of being on a |
| available from a number of cruise liners including Island | | | | large ship at sea, but there are also some very |
| Cruises, Royal Caribbean cruises and Celebrity Cruises. | | | | interesting river cruises to be had, such as Nile |
| As well as bargain hunting on the websites of the | | | | cruises, cruises on the Danube that take you to |
| major cruise lines, a second way to cruise at a | | | | some of Europe's major cities, and even cruises on |
| reasonable price is to opt for a cruise of a less | | | | the beautifully serene Norwegian fjords. These tend |
| traditional nature. By this I mean the "mini-cruises" | | | | to be run by smaller companies, and are significantly |
| offered by ferry companies such as P&O, or the | | | | less expensive than the major sea cruises. |
| cruises offered by small fleets of sailing ships, such as | | | | One type of cruise that is relatively inexpensive, and |
| those that operate from Greece and Turkey. | | | | yet offers wonderful fun in the Aegean Sea is the |
| Dealing first with the ferry companies, these offer | | | | gulet cruise. A gulet is a type of Turkish yacht, and |
| some amazingly cheap deals, and are good for those | | | | normally takes just 8 — 14 passengers. You |
| looking for the cruise experience, but on a short | | | | can join a gulet cruise out of the Turkish marinas of |
| break. The major ferry companies frequently find | | | | Marmaris, Bodrum or Antalya, and prices are usually |
| that they need to fill up the places on their | | | | based on two people sharing a cabin. Gulet cruises |
| passenger ferries, particularly in the out-of-season | | | | are definitely for the young and lively crowd, and |
| periods, and offering "mini-cruises" is a good way of | | | | prices usually include all food and some drinks, making |
| doing this. When booking a mini-cruise you can also | | | | them excellent value for money. Gulet cruises take in |
| book and pay for all your meals on board ship. | | | | pretty little bays and inlets, as well as visiting |
| Paying in advance gets you a better price, and the | | | | picturesque fishing villages, with plenty of opportunity |
| all-you-can-eat meals are generally of four star quality. | | | | for sunbathing, snorkelling and partying. Similar sailing |
| You only need to pay extra for the optional drinks | | | | holidays can be had from ports and marinas in |
| that are served at your table. The mini-cruise usually | | | | Greece, and also now from the marinas of Croatia. |
| includes transfers from the port to the major | | | | Fun and informal cruises on sailing ships are also to be |
| sightseeing centres too. P&O run some very pleasant | | | | found around the West Indies, Panama, Costa Rica, |
| mini-cruises from Hull, which give you a great day out | | | | and other seas further a field, from companies such |
| in the exciting cultural metropolis of Amsterdam, the | | | | as Windjammer Cruises. |
| unique port town of Rotterdam, or the quaint little | | | | So, there is more to cruising than traditional cruise |
| Belgian town of Bruges. P&O also run mini-cruises | | | | ships and some of these alternative forms offer |
| from Portsmouth to Bilbao in Spain, and the ferry | | | | great value for money, along with a great deal of fun |
| company DFDS do similar mini-cruises to Norway and | | | | and adventure. |
| Denmark. | | | | |