With all the disruption at many major UK airports and passengers facing last-minute flight cancellations, we take a look at the pros of cruising vs flying in this week’s blog.
The coronavirus story is one we know all too well. In March 2020, former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the first case of Covid-19 in the UK. Shortly after, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the outbreak a global pandemic, with millions of people, businesses and organisations affected worldwide.
No industry went unscathed, but none was affected more than the travel industry. Restrictions were put in place to minimise the spread of the virus; countries were forced to close their borders, and airports became ghost towns. Monthly air passenger arrivals to the UK fell from 6,804,900 in February 2022 to 112,300 in April 2022, a fall of 98.3%.
It wasn’t until two years later that the UK government lifted the final Covid-19 travel restrictions, which saw hundreds of thousands of travellers book holidays overseas after not being able to leave the country for two years.
On 21 June 2022, the government laid plans before parliament to help airlines manage the resurge in flight numbers. This included a one-off “amnesty” on airport slot rules, allowing airlines to hand back slots for the rest of the season and deliver a realistic summer schedule.
However, lines like Ryanair criticised the plan and continued to run their full flight itineraries as planned. The result? Massive queues, long delays, caps on passenger numbers and tens of thousands of cancelled flights.
The disruption explained:
- Travel demand has grown exponentially since the UK government lifted the final coronavirus restrictions in March 2022, and many airlines have struggled to cope with the pressure.
- According to Airlines UK, more than 30,000 airport staff have lost their jobs since March 2020 – around 74,000 people were employed right before the outbreak in 2019.
- Since being made redundant, many have secured jobs in “more secure” sectors in fear of a possible resurgence of the virus.
- Recruiting and training new members, particularly pilots and security staff, can take as long as six months.
What does this mean for travellers?
The BBC reports that British Airways and EasyJet have cancelled over 40,000 flights, while Heathrow has asked airlines to pause selling tickets for summer 2022 until 11 September.
However, this doesn’t mean that travelling has to stop altogether. Cruises are one of the best ways to travel – not that we’re biased! Here’s why:
Easy check-in
The check-in process is much simpler and quicker when boarding a cruise. All you have to do is drop your luggage off, join the queue at your allocated time, show your boarding pass and proof of vaccination (where applicable), and you’re all checked in! Of course, another perk is that your luggage is brought to your room, rather than you having to wait around to collect it.
All-inclusivity
Cruises offer superb value for money, with your travel, accommodation and port transfers all included in the fare. Several cruise lines pride themselves on being truly all-inclusive, with dining, beverages and more also included in the price. Regent Seven Seas are renowned for offering all-inclusive cruises. You might even be treated to perks like onboard spending money and shore excursions with lines like Oceania, courtesy of their OLife Choice and OLife Ultimate packages.
More facilities
With cruising, the journey to the destination is as much a part of the experience as the destination itself. During days at sea, you’ll find plenty of ways to keep yourself occupied, from going for a dip in the pool to rejuvenating in the spa – not to mention the onboard entertainment, which often includes activities like dance classes and quiz nights, and educational programming on themed cruises.
Since the late 1900s/early 2000s, cruise ships have entertained guests with miniature golf courses, cinemas and sports courts. In recent years, lines like MSC and Royal Caribbean have spoiled the younger generation with onboard waterparks, zip wires and simulators. You can read more about family-friendly cruise lines on our blog.
Multiple destination visits
Not only do cruises call on numerous destinations, they sail through the very heart of the places they visit. This makes for particularly unique and immersive voyages to the Arctic, where you’ll travel through floating ice forms and get up close and personal with towering glaciers, not to mention more exotic destinations like the Caribbean, with its beautiful coral islands and tropical wildlife.
Which cruise lines operate no-fly cruises?
Many of our partners offer cruises from the UK. Below is an exhaustive list of all the cruise lines that sail from Southampton, the UK’s largest cruise terminal.
- Azamara Cruises
- Celebrity Cruises
- Cunard
- Explora Journeys
- Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
- Oceania Cruises
- P&O Cruises
- Princess Cruises
- Regent Seven Seas Cruises
- Saga Cruises
- Silversea Cruises
Other cruise lines with smaller vessels sail from Dover, London, Newcastle upon Tyne and Portsmouth. You can search for cruises by starting port via our website.
For more information regarding no-fly cruises, please call our Voyage Consultants on 0800 008 6677.
