United Kingdom
USAMini cruise holidays are becoming much more popular with younger travellers looking to squeeze their getaways into a long weekend – here are eight of the best in 2023 and 2024.
Mini cruise holidays are becoming much more popular with younger travellers looking to squeeze their getaways into a long weekend – here are eight of the best in 2023 and 2024.
Fancy seeing the most sun-drenched and Instagrammable Greek islands but don’t have oodles of time? You can do it with Celestyal Cruises.
The budget-friendly Greek line has three- and four-night mini cruises that are big on sights. In fact, you’ll likely see more than many people do in a week staying on land.
The round-trip sailings from Athens visit places like uber-trendy Mykonos – keep your eyes peeled and you may well spot some celebs – and the sun-bleached showstopper Santorini.
If you’re feeling a bit more cultural you can explore ancient sites on your mini cruise as well. Back onboard, Celestyal ships provide an extension of the friendly, laid-back Greek lifestyle. They’re not at all stuffy and you can strut your stuff at Greek dance classes, emboldened by the drinks that are included in the fare.
Take a two-night mini cruise to Guernsey out of Southampton on MSC Cruises’ big, bold and blingy MSC Virtuosa.
You’ll spend a day in the compact capital St Peter Port where the waterfront is lined with bars and places to eat. Don’t leave without ordering some ice cream made with creamy milk from the island’s doe-eyed golden cows.
On the ship you can sashay up glittering staircases studded with thousands of Swarovski crystals, shop ‘til you drop in designer boutiques and order a drink from Rob, who presides over the Starship Club and is the first humanoid robotic bartender at sea. There are dates to choose from in 2024.
Enjoy full-on adult-only fun (wink, wink) on a four-night round-trip sailing from Miami with Virgin Voyages. Virgin revolutionised cruising with ships that reinvented dining, with a street food-style food court, funky cabins with hammocks on the balcony and amazing Rock Star suites equipped with guitars and tables designed to dance on.
Scarlet Lady is a child-free ship where late-night revellers can throw moves in the outsize nightclub, The Manor, and watch festival-like pop-up acts around the vessel.
There’s a stop in cosmopolitan Key West on these mini cruises and a day at Virgin’s private Beach Club in Bimini where you can dive, snorkel or simply chill out in a cabana with another cocktail.
If you can make your holiday stretch to five nights take a look at Marella Cruises’ Mediterranean Sunsets sailings on Marella Explorer.
The ship has a bumper batch of 10 bars, including the Indigo Bar which is the longest in the Marella fleet, so you can pick your perfect spot for a sundowner. The sailing from Corfu to Malaga includes calls at Alicante and in between there are two days at sea to kick back and enjoy all the onboard attractions.
The lively entertainment scene stretches into the early hours with silent discos and eighties and nineties-themed nights. Other haunts include The Lounge with its colour-changing bar and hot pink piano.
Escape the British winter and January blues to soak up some Caribbean sunshine on one of Royal Caribbean’s four-night Bahamas and Perfect Day mini cruises out of Miami.
After a stop in Nassau, where the Straw Market near the docking spot is a great place to pick up inexpensive hats, bags and jewellery, there’s the Perfect Day at CocoCay. Royal Caribbean’s 120-acre private island is jam-packed with things to do including a waterpark where thrill seekers can tackle Daredevil’s Peak, the tallest slide in North America.
The fun continues back on Freedom of the Seas with its FlowRider surf simulator and glow-in-the-dark laser tag area Clash for the Crystal City. There’s a sailing on January 8, 2024, with similar itineraries available year-round.
Get your fill of Belgian waffles, chocolate and a glass or two of one of the country’s 1,500 different beers on a four-day mini cruise from Southampton with Celebrity Cruises.
You can also sign up for a chocolate-making demo followed by an all-important tasting. Leaving on August 23, 2024, the Bruges and Netherlands long weekend also includes a trip to Rotterdam.
If you’ve got a head for heights, and want the best views of the city, head up the 180m Euromast which is the highest observation platform in Holland.
You’ll be aboard the stylish Celebrity Apex where you can sip artisan cocktails such as Forbidden in the whimsical Eden bar, sit in flower-shaped chairs and try to resist touching pink ostrich feather ‘trees’.
Forget having to hunt for your tent and the possibility of downpours and mud by going to a music festival at sea. Norwegian Cruise Line hosts some of the best and as they’re held in the Caribbean sunshine is guaranteed.
If you’re an R&B fan and want to do something different next Valentine’s Day Maxwell’s four-day Urban Hang Suite Cruise leaves Miami on February 10, 2024. Grammy-award-winning artist Maxwell will perform two concerts and will be more live music from the likes of Ledisi, Robert Glasper, Sabrina Claudio, and Musiq Soulchild, plus DJs, comedy and parties.
Norwegian Pearl stops at Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay, the line’s private island Bahamian playground. Back onboard you don’t need to worry about going thirsty as O’Sheehan’s Irish pub is open 24/7.
Live a posh Titanic-style lifestyle (minus any icebergs and sinking of course) with Cunard. You can get a taste of the luxe line on a budget with one of the mini cruises from Southampton.
Bag a cabin for less than £300 on a two-night jaunt on the flagship Queen Mary 2 departing on October 20, 2023, and immerse yourself in the retro glamour of afternoon tea served by white-gloved waiters.
There’s a stop in Hamburg, one of Germany’s most multicultural cities, where you can join the local beer culture and sip the city’s own pilsner. Need something stronger? Order lutt um lutt, which is beer fortified with fiery schnapps.
