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