With a host of benefits for groups and a whole world out there to explore – planning a cruise or ferry trip is plain sailing
From short ferry trips to France and the Channel Islands, to two-week cruises and exploring picturesque lakes via a tourist boat – there’s plenty of ways to add water-based items to your itineraries.
There’s nothing quite like sailing in to your port of call and taking in the sights of your new surroundings from the water. With a multitude of different ways to get groups onto the water, cruising allows groups to explore destinations in a way that they can’t always get when travelling on the road.
In for the long haul
There’s a versatility that comes with cruising that groups may find attractive. For those looking for longer trips, there’s plenty of great options out there. An added bonus – plenty of cruises depart from ports in the UK such as Southampton, making it easier to embark on far-afield journeys.
With a history that can be traced back 168 years, cruising with Fred Olsen will see groups spoilt for choice. Priding themselves on offering a personal service, groups can sail on ships big and small with Fred Olsen, with the option to stay closer to home with cruises around Europe and the British Isles, or to opt for destinations a little further afield – Fred Olsen offer cruises to the Amazon, South America and the Caribbean to name a few. Once you hit your group passenger target (usually between 15 and 30 guests, depending on the cruise chosen) Fred Olsen will provide a free cruise place for the group leader. ‘No single supplement’ deals are also available, making it affordable for solo travellers within groups to enjoy the cruise experience. For more information visit goo.gl/6WkKRS
As well as Trans-European river cruises, CrosiEurope offer longer cruises to a variety of destinations; from falling in love with Italy’s romantic Amalfi Coast, to sampling all that Croatia has to offer – groups are sure to be kept busy. It’s also never too late to plan a Christmas excursion for groups – CrosiEurope offer Christmas market cruises to help you get into the festive spirit, visiting destinations including Strasbourg, Vienna, Nuremberg and Avignon. Discounts are available for groups of 20 people or more – and to make things even easier for groups, pre- and post-cruise meeting services are also available. To find out more, visit croisieurope.co.uk
Another big name in cruising, P&O ships sail worldwide, and with a whole fleet to choose from, groups will undoubtedly find one that fits their needs. P&O Mediterranean cruises are popular, with durations ranging from 7-19 nights, and ports of call including Malta, Barcelona, Santorini, Marseille and Monte Carlo – although this is in no way an exhaustive selection. Groups can also enjoy a range of Western European mini-cruises to destinations such as Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Ireland. Group booking promotions are available for groups of 16 and more. For more, visit pocruises.com
A day on the water
If your group isn’t looking to spend a week at sea, there are plenty of ways to add a day or two on the water to your itineraries.
For those looking to avoid flying, taking a ferry can be the perfect solution for travelling to closer to home locations such as France and Holland in comfort, all while experiencing the sea air. DFDS offer ferry crossings to various destinations in France such as Calais and Dunkirk. They also offer mini cruises to Amsterdam, where groups are able to choose excursions that most appeal to them – from visiting the Amsterdam Artis Zoo, to sampling culinary delights on a Gourmet mini cruise. For more information visit dfdsseaways.co.uk
Day trips provide an attractive way for groups to visit places quickly and with ease. Condor Ferries offer day trips on high speed services to Jersey, Guernsey and St Malo, as well as trips to the South Coast, Portsmouth, Poole and Western France – making it an ideal way to visit places closer to home. Groups of 10 or more can enjoy a discount of up to 20% on all services for passengers on foot. A 10% discount applies on car rallies of 10 or more vehicles travelling on the same sailings. Visit condorferries.co.uk
A trip to the Lake District would be complimented well by a cruise on Lake Windermere – England’s largest lake. Windermere Lake Cruises offer a variety of cruises that range from 45 minutes to three hours, and allow groups to embark at various locations around the lake. Sail from Bowness to Ambleside, or take in the last of the summer sun with an evening cruise – there are plenty of options to suit the needs of any group. For more information visit windermere-lakecruises.co.uk
River tours are an easy way to fit some time on the water into a day’s itinerary. Shropshire Raft Tours provides experienced guides who take groups on a historical tour of Ironbridge, all while taking in the scenic views of the Severn on board a 25-foot orange raft.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, so it’s a great time to get groups to Shropshire to experience some of the heritage preserved by the Trust, in the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. To find out more, visit shropshirerafttours.co.uk
Whatever your preference and however you decide to travel, ferries and cruises open the world up to groups – making places that may not have otherwise been accessible a viable option for group tour organisers to consider. With the sheer number of locations and operators available, there’s never been a better time to start working in some water-based options to your itineraries.
