Six of the best no-fly cruises from the UK

Highlights on a two-week Western Mediterranean must be Barcelona, where Antonio Gaudi created outrageous architecture including the Church of Sagrada Familia; Naples, where you can catch a local 

train Pompeii; Livorno where the train to Pisa takes only about half an hour; and Civitavecchia, where you can swim from the sandy beach but most people take the excursion to Rome. 

The Canaries 

Sailing south for the winter, or autumn or spring, is very popular with Brits in search of the sun. 

Many Canaries cruises stop first at Madeira, famous for its botanical gardens, before hitting the beach at Gran Canaria or Tenerife, the second with additional attractions such as its mysterious 

pyramids. 

There are also good beaches on Lanzarote, where a trip to see the volcanic craters at Timanfaya National Park is increasingly popular. 

Mini cruises 

Great for those who need a quick cruise fix, want to try out cruises without going away for weeks or who have something to celebrate – mini cruises are an extra special treat. 

Most just go over to France or Belgium – Zeebrugge for Bruges and Le Havre for Paris are popular – but you can also get up to Amsterdam or down the River Elbe to Hamburg on some. 

And because mini cruises are often used for birthday parties and family celebrations, you’ll usually find a younger crowd and lively nightlife onboard.