Pick of the best cruises for 2025

​We’ve come up with some of the best cruises in six different categories to help you pick your next big trip for 2025.

​As we get older, many of us begin to appreciate the benefits a cruise holiday offers. Cruises allow you to see multiple destinations in comfort and style, without the hassle of preparing an itinerary, finding accommodation or repacking.

Larger, new-build ships are designed with accessibility in mind and this extends to cabins, theatres, restaurants and swimming pools. Some lines accommodate assistance dogs and offer assisted shore excursions. At the time of writing, all the cruise lines mentioned in our guide will have medical staff, including a doctor, on board.

In this guide, we highlight six different types of cruise and match each category to a best-fit ship or cruise holiday. We’ll also offer practical tips to make sure your cruise holiday goes off without a hitch.

What’s inside the guide:

• Affordable cruises. For those who want wallet-friendly options coming in at £900 or less
• All-inclusive cruises. Book a cruise where everything is included in one convenient package
• Singles cruises. Perfect for solo travellers, whether you’re seeking solitude or socialising
• Family cruises. A fantastic way to make new memories and enjoy time together. Our pick of cruises is for people of all ages
• No-fly cruises. Looking for a no-fly, no-hassle break? We’ve compiled a selection of cruises from UK shores
• Mini-cruises. These pack big experiences into a shorter duration, perfect for dipping a toe into cruising or an easy, one-step short break

Affordable cruises

You needn’t compromise on quality when paying less for your cruise. Fares vary according to when you sail and the cabin you choose. Booking well in advance or holding out for a last-minute deal can bring significant savings.

Inside cabins can also be more affordable, and not having a window isn’t a problem if you plan on spending time on deck and going on excursions. Although, on a cruise with multiple at-sea days, a cabin with a view might be worth the extra money. (Fares quoted are per person).

• P&O Cruises has a seven-night Spain and Portugal cruise from £849. The line has accessible cabins and welcomes assistance dogs on Southampton-to-Southampton cruises
• Ambassador Cruise Line has eight nights in Ireland and Normandy from £709. It welcomes guests with disabilities
• Princess Cruises offers a six-day trip to France and Italy from £778. The line has accessible cabins

All-inclusive cruises

All cruise holidays include meals, on-board entertainment, gym access, guest lectures and talks, and accommodation. Beyond that is a sliding scale of inclusions covering tips, excursions, wi-fi, spa access, flights and alcoholic (and non-alcoholic) beverages, and dining in speciality restaurants.

Among the lines offering the most facilities are Viking, Regent Seven Seas, Saga, Silversea, Seabourn and Oceania. British lines including P&O Cruises, Saga Cruises and Marella include tips in the cruise fare and other lines offer bolt-on drinks packages. Ask your travel agent or cruise line for details.

• Viking includes flights, complimentary shore excursions in each port, wi-fi, beer and wine with dinner, speciality restaurant dining, 24-hour room service, and access to the spa’s thermal suite
• Arguably the most luxurious cruise line at sea, Regent Seven Seasincludes flights, port-to-ship transfers, wi-fi, free bars (including daily mini-bar replenishment), and laundry

Singles/solo cruises

Cruises for singles over 60 are growing in popularity. New-build ships feature solo cabins as standard and many lines offer dedicated solo sailings and waive the single supplement, which is a surcharge a passenger travelling alone can face when in a room designed for more than one person.  

Lines including Cunard, Holland America and Regent Seven Seas offer a host at tables shared by solo travellers at mealtimes, and at social events. Norwegian Cruise Line groups its solo studios near a dedicated lounge for easy mingling.

• Fred Olsen’s small ships and friendly crew are popular with solo travellers. The line hosts drinks parties and mixed dining tables and offers solo cabins
• One Travellerhas fully-escorted cruise holidays with a dedicated tour manager
• Feeling adventurous? HX offers a range of expedition cruises with no solo supplements to destinations including the Galapagos, Arctic and Alaska

​Family cruises

Cruise ships provide an ideal setting for multi-generational holidays with plenty to do for all ages. The kids can stay busy at waterparks, on rope courses and in games rooms while grandparents and parents enjoy activities at their preferred pace. Children’s clubs are normally free.

• NASA-inspired activities, an IMAX theatre and Seuss at Sea make Carnival a family favourite. Kids will appreciate the on-tap ice cream, while mums, dads and grandparents should love the shows
• P&O Cruisesscreens films throughout the day, and offers circus skills and dance and drama workshops in school holidays. There are kids’ clubs for ages six months to 17 and a complimentary night nursery
• Norwegian Cruise Line has family suites and interconnecting rooms and some of the best activity facilities at sea
• On MSC Cruises one or two children (under 18) sharing a cabin with two full-paying adults can travel free

No-fly cruises

Cruising from the UK eliminates airport hassle and frees you from luggage restrictions. The list of destinations that can be reached from UK ports may surprise you.

• Fred Olsen offers departures from Liverpool, Dover, Portsmouth, Southampton, Edinburgh and Newcastle to destinations including South America, Greenland and the Indian Ocean. A World Cruise could take you as far as Australia
• Cunard offers transatlantic crossings, shorter cruises and exciting Grand Voyages from Southampton
• Ambassador Cruise Line specialises in affordable no-fly cruises departing from seven regional ports to places including Iceland, Scandinavia and the Caribbean 
• Based in Southampton, P&O Cruises offers sailings to more destinations than any other line

Mini-cruises

Two to four-night trips offer a taste of the cruising lifestyle without having to spend money on a holiday you may not like. En route to your destination, you’ll be able to enjoy the on-board entertainment and facilities such as the spa and gym (the larger the ship, the more facilities it will have). A mini-cruise also works for a short celebration or even a Christmas shopping trip. The most popular destinations are Guernsey, Le Havre, Amsterdam and Zeebrugge (for Bruges).

• Fancy Hamburg? Admire pieces by Rembrandt and Munch at the Museum of Fine Arts, visit the World Heritage city of Lübeck to try the famous marzipan and admire the gabled houses of the Old Town on a four-night cruise on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2. Cunard offers accessible cabins and inclusive children’s facilities
• Fill your case with cheese, wine and beer on a three-night cruise to Amsterdam with Ambassador Cruise Line
• Southampton Cruise Centre has plenty of mini-cruises to Amsterdam, Bruges, Hamburg, Antwerp and Guernsey and to ports around the UK

Protect yourself and your cruise through Age Co

Planning a cruise? Age Co Travel Insurance, provided by AllClear offers specialised cruise cover, either as an optional extra for Gold Plus customers or included as standard on Platinum. Benefits include:

Missed port departure cover: if you fail to arrive at your international departure point and miss your cruise, your travel and accommodation expenses will be covered. 

Itinerary change: you’ll be covered for each port missed due to bad weather or timetable restrictions. 

Cabin confinement: allows you to claim payment if you’re confined to your cabin by the ship’s medical officer. 

Unused excursions: provides compensation if you miss an excursion due to an accident, injury or illness. 

Cruise cancellation or curtailment: covers you if you have to cancel or cut short your cruise due to unforeseen circumstances. 

Click here to learn more about Age Co Travel Insurance.

Prices correct as of January 2025