Don't let air traffic problems, delayed flights due to ash, snow or any other natural disaster stop you from having a holiday this year! Currently most of the main cruise lines operate out of Southampton, such as the likes of P&O cruises, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises all have ships sailing from Southampton. So by no means is your choice of destination limited, choice of ports currently include Oz, Canada, Africa, the Caribbean and many, many more!

More and more cruise companies are realising the benefit of offering UK pickups and so the choice for passengers is continually being increased. Booking your cruise from Southampton can also save you money as there are no air taxes or fuel duty to pay.

 Another major advantage many people appreciate is that even though you could potentially be travelling half way round the world, you will not experience jet lag. This means you can enjoy your holiday straight away without getting off an aircraft feeling tired and drained!

The port of Southampton offers more than just a place to board a ship, take a trip to the tourist information centre and you will find a multitude of things to keep the whole family entertained before you board. Such as the Southampton Titanic Trail, a visit to the Red Lion Pub (named as England's oldest pub) or a walk around the great walls. If you have more than just a few hours to spare, why not consider a day trip to the Isle of Wight which is only 20 minutes away by ferry!

If your really into your cruise ships the docks are a great place to sit down with a coffee and watch people start and finish their trip. It's a great way to build up the excitement to think that your next!

Don't forget with the multitude of activities and things to do on board your not going to be missing the flight, time at sea allows you to get your bearings and discover the benefits of being on some of the worlds best ships. This is especially useful for people who are new to cruising and want to experience what its really like on a cruise ship.