How you could save on your holiday by booking a luxury cruise - yes, really
When weighing up your holiday options for 2025, you might be thinking about gorgeous city breaks, adventures to far-flung locations, or winter sun destinations to escape the gloom. And if you can do them in style, well, that's all the better.
A bit of pampering and that feeling of being looked after usually comes at a price, but we've found a way for you to enjoy life's luxuries and travel for less this year: a luxury cruise. Yes, really.
When you first look at the price of a cruise, 'cheap' isn't the first word that comes to mind, especially when you're eyeing the higher end of the market. But once you start crunching the numbers and factor in everything that's included, there’s no doubt about it — a luxury cruise can be a more affordable way to travel. Here's how a luxury cruise could save you money this year...
Fine wines and cocktails included
On the very best luxury cruise lines, you’ll typically find that the voyages aren’t just full board – premium wines, spirits, and cocktails are included, too. That’s certainly the case with Uniworld – GH’s Travel Editor’s favourite cruise line, making these opulent cruises a tempting alternative to an all-inclusive holiday.
For instance, you can sip fine wines in the ship’s gorgeous Le Salon Champagne in a setting inspired by Yves Saint Laurent’s Villa Majorelle and sample local Bordeaux varieties in La Cave des Vins as you sail through France on an eight-day cruise on the S.S Bon Voyage. In fact, every night on a Uniworld cruise, the onboard sommelier presents the wines to guests, pairing them perfectly with what the chefs are busily preparing in the kitchen – an experience you’d typically find yourself forking out for in a restaurant.
Choosing a cruise can help make notoriously expensive destinations more accessible without sacrificing luxury. Take Venice. Wine isn’t cheap here, especially if you want to enjoy it in fabulous surroundings. A glass of red wine in Hotel Cipriani, one of Venice’s best hotels, starts at around 25 euros, and a classic Bellini costs 30 euros. Needless to say, a bar bill can quickly climb. Instead, picture sailing along the Venetian Lagoon with an expertly mixed cocktail in hand with a view of the city without being presented with a bill at the end of the evening. Fancy another? Oh, go on then…
Your excursions are taken care of
If you’re the type of traveller who loves to explore the destinations you visit properly, you’ll know that city passes, entry to attractions, and guided tours all add up. Not to mention the taxi bills to get you where you need to be.
On longer holidays, days out can add a significant cost to your trip. That's why we’re tempted by cruise holidays that include excursions at the price of the voyage. Be careful here, as not all do, but Uniworld does. An 18-day holiday to India includes everything you’ll want to see and do on a journey through this incredible country. Taj Mahal at sundown? A rickshaw ride through Old Delhi? A tour of the Amber Palace in Rajasthan? Check, check, check. And that’s just for starters. In every port of call, there's something to do that you don't have to pay extra for.
Over in the Far East, it’s the same situation. Instead of worrying about researching all the must-see locations (not to mention the best way to do them), it’s all taken care of if you opt for a luxury cruise. Sail aboard the Mekong Jewel in Vietnam and Cambodia, and there’s a choice of excursions, from sailing on a sampan in rural Vietnam to visiting a local school in Cambodia. You don’t miss out on the famous sights either, with visits to Angor Wat Temple in Siem Reap and a city tour of Hanoi included.
You get locally inspired food without a hefty bill
Choosing where to eat out can be a joy of exploring a new destination. Other times, when you feel less certain about a new destination, it can be more of a stressful experience. You might end up spending more than you expect in expensive, tourist-orientated restaurants in these situations. A luxury cruise really comes into its own here, especially when eating onboard honours the culinary highlights of a destination, like Uniworld cruises.
Take India, for example. Ingredients in the onboard restaurant on Ganges Voyager II are sourced locally, so you won’t miss out on the fabulous flavours of the region, from Gajar Shorba to Tandoori chicken. But you haven’t got to worry about finding good restaurants on your travels, which can be a relief to lots of travellers.
The other thing to bear in mind is that it's not just your main meals included on luxury cruises. It’s all the extras and in-between moments like an exquisite afternoon tea and snacks, adding even more value to your holiday.
And if you're worried about variety - don't. Even on small ships like SS La Venezia there's a choice of restaurants with frequent menu changes. Things are kept interesting for guests, too. For example, onboard SS Bon Voyage in France, there are regular cooking demonstrations in the open-air kitchen, making dining out an even more special experience.
It can be better value than staying at a luxury hotel
At the time of writing, one of Good Housekeeping’s favourite hotels in Venice, Hotel Indigo Sant'Elena, is just shy of £2,000 for a week during the same week that an exceptional Venetian cruise departs. And while that’s a rate for the two of you, that’s just for the room. Once you add in a few hundred pounds for your flights, allow a generous budget for food and drink (remember those Bellinis!), factor in the cost of your excursions, and book airport transfers – it’s going to get more expensive very quickly.
On the other hand, a week-long Venetian cruise onboard SS La Venezia costs from £2,664 per person in April 2025, and everything from flights to fine food and wine to day trips, airport transfers, and even a special guest appearance from Monica Galetti are all included. That's around £380 per person per day for a luxury holiday.
Set sail in style with Good Housekeeping Holidays and choose a luxury cruise in 2025 with plenty of inclusions, from food and wine to flights and transfers.
Browse more extraordinary journeys in the latest Good Housekeeping Holidays brochure.
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