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Cruises from Dublin

All the cruises from Dublin in one easy place! In simple terms, all cruise lines and all destinations! See the Fjords, Northern Lights, Kiel Canal, France, Canary Islands, Spain, Scandinavia, Baltic region, Iceland and more…

See also cruises departing from Belfast , Cobh , & Ringaskiddy .

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Why Choose Cruise Paradise?

Welcome to Cruise Paradise, Ireland’s premier cruise travel company! Our extensive network of cruise line partners includes the most popular brands in the industry, such as Royal Caribbean , Celebrity Cruises , and MSC Cruises . We are in constant communication with these partners to ensure we offer you the best cruise deals and experiences.

As a leading cruise specialist, we keep up-to-date with all the latest trends and innovations in cruising, so you can trust us to provide you with the most current and accurate information available. Our team of passionate cruise experts are based in Ireland and have first-hand experience of cruising with many of the world’s best cruise lines .

For any destination around the world Cruise Paradise is Ireland’s leading choice in both affordable or luxury cruise holidays designed to meet your needs and expectations. Cruise through the Mediterranean and visit your favourite ports and cities, or enjoy the white sands of the beautiful Caribbean. From Alaska, US, South America, all the way to Australia, Cruise Paradise has the cruise holiday for you. We pride ourselves on delivering exceptional customer service and have been consistently recognised for our knowledge and expertise. Our team is dedicated to helping you plan your dream cruise holiday, from choosing the perfect itinerary to selecting the best stateroom or suite for your needs.

Whether you prefer to book online or speak to one of our knowledgeable cruise specialists over the phone, we are here to make your cruise planning journey as stress-free as possible. Our team is always happy to answer any questions you may have, and we will guide you through every step of the booking process.

Discover the breathtaking beauty of the Caribbean, with many Caribbean Cruises easily accessible from Florida. Sail with us on one of our Mediterranean Cruise itineraries and visit iconic destinations such as Barcelona, Athens, Venice, and Santorini. Whether you’re looking for a romantic getaway, a family adventure, or a solo trip, we have a Mediterranean cruise holiday that’s perfect for you.

Choose Cruiseparadise.ie for your next cruise holiday and experience the ultimate in luxury, comfort and convenience. Let us help you create memories that will last a lifetime!

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Departure month, number of nights, cruise type, why choose a cruise.

Luxurious Facilities

Cruise lines are luxurious, floating resorts, spending up to $400M to continually upgrade their facilities. No two cruise ships are the same, each one has unique features, decor, facilities, dining options and itineraries. Our knowledgable consultants will guide you from their own personal experience to ensure you pick the perfect choice.

Worldwide Destinations

Cruise ships offer an amazing opportunity to visit destinations all around the world, whilst only having to unpack once! Whether you're looking to explore the Caribbean, the Mediterranean or further afield, you can enjoy a range of cultures and experiences, knowing the complex travel arrangements are taken care of!

Great Value, Tailor Made Experience

With many cruise packages, all your meals and entertainment are included in the price! There are hundreds of options available to you - whether you love fine dining, you want options for all the family, you like a little luxury, or you're a solo traveller, our experienced and extensively travelled staff can offer personal advice and recommendations on the right cruise for you!

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Cruise holidays - Luxurious, scenic and adventurous

Combining a sense of adventure with gourmet cuisine and luxury accommodation, a cruise is the perfect escape for those who want to explore the world, but don’t fancy leaving behind the creature comforts usually found in a luxurious resort.

From huge vessels coasting along the Caribbean Sea, to smaller luxury yachts travelling to lesser known islands in the Far East, we’ve selected a mix of wonderful cruise itineraries that will inspire you to create your own.

Discover places you'd struggle to see on foot

It doesn’t get much better than sailing leisurely around fascinating and beautiful places – the feeling of falling asleep in one country and waking up in another is sure to entice any discerning traveller. If you’ve got an adventurous spirit but you still enjoy the comforts of great food and a wide range of entertainment, our cruises can be the perfect option for you.

Hop on board one of our larger vessels for incredible entertainment, divine gourmet restaurants, and exciting locations. Many offer a plethora of fun activities on board, including bowling alleys and indoor cinemas, whilst others boast glamorous suites that easily rival those on land. Meanwhile, our smaller luxury yachts may have less excitement on board, but they can journey to remote places that drift away from the usual cruise itineraries, giving you a more immersive, local insight into Asia or the Seychelles. Whichever type of cruise to choose, this is truly one of the best ways to see the world.

A cruise is a great add-on to a beach stay, too. Spend a few days sailing along the crystal clear Indian Ocean before stopping at a beautiful Seychelles island and indulging with a few nights in a rustic-luxe retreat. Or perhaps you’d prefer soaking up the sun along Barbados’ sugary white coastline, before joining a week-long cruise to more incredible Caribbean destinations including St Lucia and the British Virgin Islands. Combine this with the ease of never having to pack and unpack, tasty cuisine and constant entertainment, and you’ve got yourself an amazing exploration. Our team have sampled plenty of cruise itineraries, and they’re passionate about crafting the perfect one for you.

With a mix of options for cruisers, rafters and adventurers, we've compiled a round-up of suggested river experiences , featuring some of the world's most epic waterways.

Blissful cruise itineraries with NCL

While booking a cruise on the sparkling new Norwegian Bliss is a no-brainer when it comes to fun for nearly all ages and travel styles, the only real question left is, “Which cruise itinerary to take?”

Exploring Vietnam's UNESCO site of Halong Bay

Halong Bay is one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature and is an essential stop on any Vietnam tour itinerary for its scenery, floating villages, caves and islands.

Experience an exotic cruise holiday in the Seychelles

Searching for an exotic cruise holiday? Then look no further than the Seychelles with its archipelago of 115 tropical islands.

Top 10 worldwide cruise itineraries

From island hopping in Hawaii to sailing through Alaska’s glaciers, a cruise is a once in a lifetime experience you won’t want to miss.

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FROM THE CASTLES TO THE CLIFFS

Ireland cruises.

From rugged cliffs to rowdy pubs and rolling countryside, Ireland has something for everyone.

Known as the Emerald Isle, Ireland is characterised by its rolling green hills and lush countryside, dotted with friendly country towns, dry stone walls and crumbling castles. Cruise to Ireland to visit the Cliffs of Moher, a UNESCO Global Geopark, about a two-hour drive from Cork, to see where the bright blue waters meet towering sea cliffs, or head to Cork's Blarney Castle to be granted the gift of gab by kissing the famous Blarney Stone. To step back in time, see Dublin's Malahide Castle, dating back to the 12th century. Don't leave without enjoying a pint of Guinness and listening to traditional Irish music at a local pub on Dublin's Fleet Street or Grafton Street.

Rich and Lush Landscapes

Unforgettable cruise holiday

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CLING TO THE CLIFFS

Over one million people visit the Cliffs of Moher annually, and you could be one of them – they're about a two-hour drive away from  Cork . Witness the majesty of Ireland's top natural attraction, which stretches for five miles and rises up to 214 metres. Be prepared, though: the Atlantic sea breeze at the Cliffs of Moher can literally blow you away. 

ENJOY THE KNIGHT LIFE

Get the gift of gab at Cork's famous Blarney Castle, where you'll find the Blarney Stone, which legend says will bestow on you the gift of eloquence (but only if you can bend over backwards to kiss it). Or explore the 12th-century Romanesque architecture of the Rock of Cashel, Ireland's most-visited heritage site, about an hour's drive from  Waterford .

To connect with nature in the middle of the city centre, head to St Stephen's Green in Dublin, where you can find an ornamental lake and several walking paths. If you're looking for an animal adventure during your Ireland holiday, visit Phoenix Park, one of the largest enclosed recreational spaces in any European capital city and home to the Dublin Zoo and roaming deer.

HIT THE HILLS

Just outside the city centre, the  Belfast Hills  offer stunning views of Northern Ireland's expressive capital city and the surrounding bay. The Castle Trail up Cave Hill will take you to these sights in an easygoing 30-minute hike.

CITY SLICKER

Whether you enjoy art galleries, museums, shopping or bar hopping, you'll never run out of things to do in Ireland's urban centres. Learn about Irish history in  Dublin  and  Belfast , or experience colourful and quaint Cork. 

FOLLOW THE RAINBOW

A cruise to Ireland brings you to some of the world's most charming and colourful towns. In Cork, pastel-coloured homes line the waterfront, and nearby Kinsale's downtown area is home to streets with brightly coloured shops in purple, green and virtually every other hue imaginable selling books, art, crafts and local trinkets.

POUR A PINT

Incredibly, there are over 750 pubs in  Dublin  and its surrounding area, so you never have to wander far for a drink. Temple Bar is the most popular area in town for a pint, but the best place to grab a Guinness is the Guinness Storehouse. Learn how the beer is made before pouring your own perfect pint.

DUBLIN DAY TRIPPIN'

Although you can cross the coast to the Cliffs of Moher within a day, there are other doable day trips closer to Dublin, too. Wicklow is nicknamed the Garden of Ireland and is home to Wicklow Mountains National Park. Step into the past at the seaside town of Howth and Malahide Castle, which has parts remaining from the 12th century.

FEEL THE LUCK OF THE IRISH ON THIS ISLAND ADVENTURE

Explore Dublin, with its cobblestone streets, nightlife, museums and green spaces. Then head into to the Irish countryside, dominated by colourful villages, greenery as far as the eye can see and breathtakingly rugged landscapes. And don't miss out on popular attractions such as 'Game of Thrones' sightseeing and Titanic history in Belfast.

BEHOLD THE BRITISH ISLES

Don't stop at just one  British Isle .  Belfast and Northern Ireland  are a doable day trip from  Dublin , and charming cities like  London  and  Edinburgh are just a stone's throw across the Irish Sea. Just remember that once you cross the border, the British pound is the main form of currency.

TAKE ON THE TRANSATLANTIC

Crossing the Atlantic on a cruise from Europe to the United States is an adventure of a lifetime. On  transatlantic cruises , you'll visit tropical ports like the  Bahamas  and  Puerto Rico , but you can also head to the icy ports of Greenland and  Iceland , if that's more your style.

If you're planning to drive around on a day trip, remember that Irish road signs are in kilometres – 10 km is just over 6 miles, so things may be a little closer than you think.

If your day trip will involve train travel instead, book your Irish Rail tickets in advance to receive discounts and guaranteed travel.

Tipping isn't customary in Ireland, but take a look at your bill because some restaurants will add a 10 per cent service charge to the bill.

CUISINE STIR THE POT 

Irish food is synonymous with comfort. Whether it's a hearty Irish stew or traditional bacon and cabbage, Ireland's cuisine is all about stick-to-your ribs satisfaction – all served with an equally comforting pint of Guinness, of course.

Irish stews come in many forms, but the three key ingredients are lamb, potatoes and onion. Carrots often make an appearance in the dish's rich broth, and the addition of thyme complements the gamey flavours of the lamb. You'll find traditional Irish stew on most pub menus.

BACON ME HUNGRY

Bacon and cabbage is a simple but beloved Irish dish. It includes sliced back bacon – which is thick-cut and steak-like rather than thin and crispy – boiled with traditional cabbage and potatoes. It's often prepared with spicy mustard seeds and fresh parsley or another herb sauce to balance out the hearty flavours.

CRACK OPEN COCKLES

Made famous in the Irish tune 'Molly Malone', cockles are small saltwater clams found along the Irish coastline, and they've become a local delicacy. They're usually served boiled alongside mussels, or in a chowder-like soup with a creamy, buttery broth.

Related Ports

Visit the Blarney Castle in Cork to kiss the Blarney stone, or pop into the Temple Bar neighbourhood in Dublin for a pint of Guinness, or make your way to Ireland’s oldest city, Waterford, to see where the famous Waterford Crystals originated. 

Amsterdam, Netherlands

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Find & Book Exclusive Deals with Cruise1st

Here at Cruise1st we make it our aim to bring you the best cruise deals with so much more added value.  We offer cruises with FREE stays, last minute getaways and cruises with exciting escorted land tours and not forgetting our many Cruise1st exclusive deals.

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We have strong relationships with all major cruise lines including Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean Cruises & Princess Cruises so we can deliver the best cruise holiday options at the lowest price. We have cruise itineraries to suit everyone’s lifestyle and budgets, from single travellers to larger families, so why would you go anywhere else? Cruise1st have your next dream cruise holiday covered, including  all inclusive options , so what are you waiting for?

Take a look at our top cruise lines below!

All-inclusive resort or cruise – which is best?

“Club Tropicana, drinks are free… Fun and sunshine, there’s enough for everyone,” so sang George Michael in Wham!’s famous 1980s paean to the nascent all-inclusive. In the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, ‘free’ booze and no bill sounded and looked – if you were anywhere near a pool in Ibiza with George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley – like holiday utopia. 

Drinks weren’t really free, but the idea that you could pay up-front to eat and imbibe, and be assured that you wouldn’t be presented with a terrifying bill at the end, was a novel concept, particularly for budget-conscious families and sun-seeking partygoers. 

It still offers considerable appeal in our cash-strapped times, which may explain why all-inclusives have had something of a renaissance. Cruising offers similar peace of mind and plenty to do with kids clubs, waterslides and Disney princesses on board – though alcohol isn’t always free. During both types of holiday, the entertainment comes to you and you’ll never have to flinch at the prices on the menu. 

But which type of holiday is best? Our writer put them both to the test.

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All-inclusive

Club Med founders Gilbert Trigano and Gérard Blitz, who dreamt up the all-inclusive concept in the 1950s, had beaches and sunshine in mind. But skiers also favoured the all-in pricing model. Europe’s slopes were a win-win for the brand, which opened its first Alpine village at Leysin in Switzerland in 1956 ( clubmed.co.uk ).

Traditional sunshine strongholds Mexico and the Caribbean – where Butch Stewart picked up the mantel with his Sandals brand – still account for a big slice of the all-inclusive pie, but the net has spread further to include Cuba, Egypt, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Croatia, Montenegro, Cape Verde and the Azores. Further afield there are all-inclusive resorts in Kenya, Thailand (mostly Phuket) and the Maldives and Mauritius. Turkish-owned Rixos ( rixos.com ) has recently opened resorts in Qatar and Doha, while Tui ( tui.co.uk ) and First Choice ( firstchoice.co.uk ) offer several resorts in Costa Rica. 

Cruise 

An average week or 10-day ocean cruise can tick-off several different destinations in one country, or across several countries in one trip. If you have a bit longer, it can take you round the world. Three-month world cruise itineraries cross continents, sail several seas and oceans, visit scores of capital cities and offer hundreds of excursion opportunities. 

And let’s not forget off-grid but accessible by water destinations such as the Galapagos, the Pitcairn Islands and Antarctica. River cruises follow the course of most navigable rivers, from the Amazon to the Zambezi. The Mekong, the Mississippi and the Ganges are among their more adventurous destinations. 

Whether beach or mountain-based, most all-inclusive resorts feature an activities element. Sandals comes up trumps, with free scuba at its Caribbean dive resorts and multiple rounds of golf and green fees at top courses in Jamaica, St Lucia and the Bahamas. 

Meanwhile, guests at Rixos resorts in Turkey have free daily access to The Land of the Legends Theme Park in Antalya – which means big savings in peak periods. This Easter, there are also egg hunts as well as giant egg-painting: a week at Premium Tekirova costs from £2,390 for four adults and two children, departing on March 30.

Watersports not your bag? Ikos Oceania in Halkidiki can provide a Tesla Model 3 at no extra cost for one day’s exploration as well as a culture pass to local museums. At Ikos resorts ( ikosresorts.com ), spa access is free between 8am to 8pm. 

If you’re after more than a typical beach holiday, check the activities part of a hotel website to find out what’s included. The adults-only Sanctuary Cap Cana ( sanctuarycapcana.com ) in the Dominican Republic offers Spanish classes and, at the House of Aia on Mexico’s Riviera Maya ( thehouseofaia.com ), a ‘personal growth’ programme includes 20 classes, ceremonies and rituals from visiting guides.

If you have adventurous teens in tow, the US offers some interesting options. At the historic Castle Hot Springs in Arizona ( castlehotsprings.com ) there’s axe-throwing, cruiser bikes, geothermal hot springs and creekside hammocks for lazing in, while, further north in scenic Wyoming, Scott Dunn has stays at Brush Creek Ranch, set in 30,000 acres of sage-bush prairie where you can ride, fish or take to the landscape by ATV ( scottdunn.com ).

With distractions ranging from rock-climbing walls and ropes courses to simulated surfing, via encounters with Star Wars, Marvel and Disney Pixar characters, cruising sets a high bar for activities. And on land, there are excursions – sometimes included – for every type of passenger. 

It’s not just families who benefit. Swan Hellenic ( swanhellenic.com ) has teamed up with Deepak Chopra to offer wellbeing voyages, while adult-only ships offer films under the stars or in theatres, lectures from wildlife experts and historians, opportunities for citizen science, celebrity speakers, casinos and activities ranging from dance lessons to art and photography classes. Virgin ( virginvoyages.com ) also puts on DJ sets and pool and dance parties. And let’s not forget the main event – a new place to explore every day.

Newer resorts have really lifted the bar. At its properties along Turkey’s Turquoise Coast, Rixos rolls out the red carpet for families with a Rixy Kids Club that has cooking and pottery lessons as well as football and dance academies. At Rixos Sungate, where the kids’ club is set around a splash park in a forest, children can learn to code using Lego robotics.

At Ikos Resorts’ collection of luxury properties in Spain and Greece, kids’ clubs are run in line with UK Ofsted standards. Meanwhile, Tui’s family-friendly resorts come with kids’ clubs and a seven-day line-up of activities including creative sessions. Mini Club Med offers trapeze lessons, introductory water-skiing, horse-riding, cooking classes, games and nature discovery activities. For older kids (11-17), there’s film design, DJ sessions and dedicated areas in which to hang out. 

If you’re travelling with very small children or have ambitious activities in mind, check the small print: like lots of childcare for babies and toddlers, Petit Club Med and Baby Club Med both cost extra. Motorised water sports often incur a fee at all-inclusives while some resorts impose limits on the number of windsurfing or other tutored lessons.

Cruise ships do a stellar job when it comes to children’s clubs, with all ages well catered for. Most resort ships divide clubs into four age groups and some, including P&O Cruises ( pocruises.com ), offer free babysitting. Royal Caribbean ( royalcaribbean.com ) has an adventure science lab for budding junior scientists as well as baby and tots programmes for those aged six to 36 months. Celebrity Cruises has a STEM at Sea partnership with The Frost Science Museum (Equinox and Edge-class ships; celebritycruises.com ).

P&O Cruises is particularly well set up for those with kids in tow, with round-the-clock children’s clubs on its family-friendly ships and family-oriented shore excursions. MSC Cruises ( msccruises.co.uk ) has baby, mini, junior, young and teen clubs. The latter offers Xbox and PS4 tournaments, a Drone Academy, flash mobs and dance offs. Disney Dream ( disneycruise.disney.go.com ) has some imaginative offerings too, including the Jedi Training Academy and the opportunity to hang out with characters from the Toy Story trilogy.

You get what you pay for. If that’s sun and sea and a good four-star family resort, expect two or three bars and a standard buffet: a week at the Iberostar Bellevue in Montenegro costs £1,562 in mid-May ( iberostar.com ). Pay a bit more and you’ll be rewarded with more imaginative menus. At Ikos Porto Petro in Majorca, five à la carte restaurants serve meals inspired by Michelin-starred chefs (from £2,470pp with Sovereign; sovereign.com ).

Ikos also has curated “dine out” programmes that encourage guests to eat at local restaurants – including a rustic tapas joint in Estepona, an agriturismo in Ibiza and a buzzy beachfront spot in Marbella. Sandals ( sandals.co.uk ) has similar in Curaçao and Nassau. Caribbean all-inclusives generally offer three or four restaurants – and maybe a pop-up beach venue or barbecue night.

Think cruise, think buffet, right? Wrong. Standards are high, with new ships offering a plethora of cuisines, dining styles and venues along with healthy options and dietary alternatives. You’re as likely to find vegan muffins and bee-pollen at the breakfast buffet as a Full English. 

Silversea and Virgin have ditched the buffet altogether. Partnerships with chefs including Marco Pierre White and Eric Lanlard (P&O Cruises), Relais & Chateau (Silversea; silversea.com ), Jacques Pepin (Holland America Line; hollandamerica.com ) and Thomas Keller (Seabourn; seabourn.com ) have also made a difference. Crystal ( crystalcruises.com ) has a Japanese restaurant masterminded by Nobu while wine presenter Olly Smith helms the Glasshouse on some P&O ships. 

Silversea, Holland America Line and Oceania ( oceaniacruises.com ) are highly regarded among foodies and Regent Seven Seas ( rssc.com ) offers some stylish settings while Celebrity’s newer ships have roof-top gardens and over-the-sea dining. Fine dining can cost extra, depending on the ship, but expect to pay around £15 on top for three courses, which might just include one of the finest steaks you’ll ever eat. 

All-inclusive 

It’s a broad-brush summation but for something established, refined and ‘old-school’ romantic – think castaway beaches, palm fronds gently buffeted by warm trade winds, knock-out views and honeymoon havens – the Caribbean is a safe bet. The likes of Jumby Bay ( oetkercollection.com ), Spice Island Resort ( spiceislandbeachresort.com ), Necker ( virginlimitededition.com ) and Curtain Bluff ( curtainbluff.com ) are famous for a reason. 

The Maldives attracts a discerning international clientele while, in Europe, there are affordable package resorts where screaming kids are well tolerated. At the stylish new kids on the block (think Ikos and Grecotel Luxme; grecotel.com ), Poppy and Miles only scream in the privacy of the rooms however. 

Skiers are too busy skiing, too knackered or too busy partying to care about trifles like the vibe. If in doubt opt for Club Med, where most people speak French. 

It varies enormously across ships. River ships are tranquil, geared to sightseeing and generally follow an up-early and early-to-bed routine. Large resort ships can feel like theme parks, with entertainment into the wee hours; smaller ships go out of their way to leave passengers alone and provide impressive libraries and spaces for quiet contemplation. Viking ( vikingcruises.co.uk ), Silversea and Seabourn excel at this. Then there are the tall ships such as Sea Cloud ( seacloud.com ) and those in the Star Clipper fleet ( starclippercruises.co.uk ), where you’ll spend most of your time on deck watching the wind make the sails dance. 

Some liners take a ship-within-a-ship approach, with exclusive areas, pools and services – at a cost. MSC has the Yacht Club while Norwegian Cruise Line ( ncl.com ), Royal Caribbean and P&O have premium areas with pools and separate menus. Cunard ( cunard.com ) has the Grills Suites. 

If you’re after a more intimate, house-party atmosphere (complete with Surrey types, ex-boat owners and ‘non-cruisers’), opt for a yacht-style cruise ship from Ponant ( uk.ponant.com ), SeaDream ( seadream.com ), Scenic Eclipse ( scenic.co.uk ) or one of a handful of Windstar ships ( windstarcruises.com ).

Hidden costs All-inclusive

Do question the headline price, especially if booking via a third party. In January 2024, a Which? survey of 2,000 holidaymakers revealed key omissions from some operators, including soft drinks. Those who booked with the cheapest provider, lastminute.com , were forking out an extra £367 per week on average for extras. 

Operators take different approaches to inclusions. BA Holidays says: “Expect your holiday to include flights and accommodation, all three meals and snacks in between. Drinks are included too but expect house wine and local spirits unless otherwise stated.” EasyJet’s small print states: “What’s included in the all-inclusive package varies vastly between hotels. When booking your holiday be sure to look at the board description.”

Premium restaurants often cost more, but at the Oaks IBN Battuta in Dubai for example (where a week costs from £989pp through loveholidays.com ) the price includes à la carte restaurants and in-room breakfast. In all cases the two-clicks-away small print was clear. Read it. If in doubt, use the chat function, talk to a travel agent or pick up the phone.

All cruises include accommodation, dining, entertainment and access to pools and the other fun facilities, but Wi-Fi, drinks – alcohol and soda – and tips and room service might not be included. Tips are automatically added to cruise bills on a per passenger, per day basis. Expect to pay for service on spa and beauty treatments and bar drinks.

If you plan on drinking every day, pay for a drinks package (there are alcohol-free packages, too). Celebrity Cruises alcoholic drinks packages start at around £55 per day and Cunard’s soft drinks package starts from around £8.50 per day. Princess Cruises’ Wi-Fi, tips and drinks bundle costs £50pp per day ( princess.com ). 

Though you’ll still pay extra to tip for beauty services, some truly all-inclusive lines also include Wi-Fi, limitless premium drinks, a free mini-bar, most service fees and some excursions. Some also include airfares and a pre- or post-cruise hotel night. Take a look at Regent Seven Seas, Silversea, Viking, Crystal and Seabourn. 

Which wins?

The all-inclusive concept has evolved – there’s no room for holiday snobbery in 2024. If all you want is a hassle-free place to relax by a pool or on the beach and forget about daily expenses, this is as good as it gets. But if you intend to stay longer than a week or haven’t been to the destination before, do some research. You may tire of the same sand, sun loungers and restaurants while venturing out to drink and dine makes little financial sense.

If you’ve a thirst for new places, a cruise offers all of the above plus the bonus of a new port of call most days – without the need to unpack. You’ll never get bored of the changing views and, as for feeling claustrophobic, you can disembark every day (though you don’t have to). Plenty of ships overnight in port, so you can dine ashore too. 

Cruises score bonus points for once-in-a-lifetime experiences too. Unless you own a boat, how else do you experience the romance of a dawn arrival in Manhattan, a sunset sail out of Sydney or your first glimpse of porpoising penguins in the Galapagos?

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