The jet fuel crisis: Is a summer flight actually worth it?

Recent geopolitical events have led to a crisis in jet fuel, with so many airlines cancelling flights and adding extra charges. This makes it less than ideal for those of us who are searching for a cheap holiday abroad. With this rise in uncertainty about flights, it may be time to travel via other means. 

There is so much to do on cruise ships: from live shows to quizzes to swimming pools, there is something to cater for every taste

One option that I’d definitely recommend (and it’s something I have been doing a lot of recently) is cruising. Not only does this help you to avoid the risk of having your flight cancelled or paying outrageous prices for a short flight to Europe, but it also removes the hassle of airport security and check-ins. When I went on my first cruise, I was shocked by how seamless the process from arriving at the port to getting on the ship was – literally taking less than an hour!  

Of course, a slight drawback of a cruise rather than a flight is that it may take a day or two to actually reach the destination. But, these days, there is so much to do on cruise ships: from live shows to quizzes to swimming pools, there is something to cater for every taste. And when you are feeling a bit peckish, the food choices are incredible. I remember walking in awe around the buffet on my first cruise taking in the sheer amount of choice available. They really cater for all!  

And for those of you concerned about not being able to reach landlocked destinations, fear not! Cruises tend to offer excursions from the port to major cities further inland. For instance, when I went to Germany on a cruise, we docked at a place called Warnemünde, but we were able to get on a bus tour to Berlin, a city I really wanted to see. The same was true when we went to Italy, we were able to go to landlocked cities like Rome, Florence, and Pisa. Just because the city you might want to visit isn’t by the sea doesn’t mean you can’t reach it on a cruise.   

I think what people tend to forget about a cruise is that it includes so much more than the transport in the price

Also, even if a country is completely landlocked, it can still be reached by a river cruise. Personally, I’d recommend getting the ferry across to France and hopping on a river cruise from there. One that really caught my eye was a river cruise from Paris to the Swiss Alps, which includes stops in Luxembourg and Germany!  

One of the major things that does put people off a cruise though is the price. The cheapest seven-day cruise from Southampton that I could find for the summer holidays costs about £650. By just looking at the price, it may seem foolish to pick a cruise over a flight, since a plane ticket to Spain from London right now – even under the current circumstances – is as cheap as £30. Again, I should caution that the current flying situation is very precarious, and flights may be cancelled or increase in price substantially. But even at a price 20 times that, the flight is still cheaper than the cruise to the same destination.   

There are so many more flight alternatives that you can try from road trips to domestic tourism, allowing you to visit some of the sights the UK has to offer

I think what people tend to forget about a cruise is that it includes so much more than the transport in the price. Even if we are just comparing it purely based on transport, cruises (unlike airlines) allow for as much luggage as you would like to take with you for free. On the non-flight side, cruises include your private accommodation and all-you-can-eat food. Not to mention housekeeping and sometimes even room service and drinks packages. And don’t forget that they also include amazing entertainment and all the amenities like swimming pools, mini-golf, bowling, gyms, cinemas, and so much more! Looking at it this way, £650 doesn’t seem like a bad deal for a week of what’s essentially an all-inclusive hotel!  

So, in the current flying climate, amongst all this uncertainty, I’d recommend trying a cruise out! Of course, there are so many more flight alternatives that you can try from road trips to domestic tourism, allowing you to visit some of the sights the UK has to offer. But for someone who wants to see those of Europe, I’d say opt for a cruise. You won’t regret it!