Sea Cruises or the Sky? Which One Is For You?

Cruise the sea or the sky

Flying is always the first option when on a business trip and the idea is to get to a destination quickly and hopefully without too much fuss. Those up front on the plane will have spent a bit more on their seat, but there are cheap business flights online available for those looking for comfort, a bit more space and better food within a lower budget. But what are the alternatives for the traveler and in particular for the one with some spare time, or wants an extra special holiday? A sea journey may seem a bit old fashioned, but there is a massive difference between the business class seat of an aircraft and the on board suite of a luxury liner. Things have got better in the sky as aircraft such as the new Airbus A380 and the Boeing - 777 have flat bed seats for business class, and this makes the trip far more acceptable. But it’s still a long shot from the cruises ship.

The world of cruises is ideal for the holiday which goes by at a leisurely pace, has the best in social and entertainment opportunities and takes passengers to some of the most interesting places on the planet. From cruises to Alaska and the Med to Caribbean cruises and trips across the North Sea to Holland. 


Flying business class is a very good experience, with the best that airlines can offer in the way of comfort food and entertainment. But of course the main difference is that the air journey is simply a way of getting from A to B in the shortest possible time, where as the cruise is a complete experience. Entertainment is a big feature of the onboard life and the bigger companies will feature celebrity cruises which have well known or high profile passengers on board. Ship operators such as Cunard have a programme of entertainment for the evening and they organise guest lectures during the day. The ships have theatres and conference areas where passengers can discuss issues with writers or experts in their field.

This is just one of the aspects of a journey which can take a few days to travel a few hundred miles. And that could be regarded as empty time. However the ships of the Norwegian freed Olsen Line weave in and out of the fjords along the longest coastline in Europe, and that journey is full of spectacular scenery. Stopping off in places such as the Hardanger Fjord this is a place for photo opportunities, great Scandinavian cuisine, and a high standard of on board service. The company has five liners and they not only have sailings in Europe but they also have itineraries which take in the Amazon, the Baltic and Canada so this is a far reaching world cruise company. They are Norwegian and have their main base in the UK. 


One of the favourite holiday destinations has been the Caribbean and there are plenty of business class flights on good airlines to be found at sites which specialise in cheap business flights. But once there, having checked into the fine hotel, there are limitations in the places to see. In the case of the Caribbean Cruises, and in this area Royal Caribbean cruises. and princess cruises are the specialists, there is a gentle trip around the various islands, taking shore visits for a day, and then moving on at the usual leisurely pace. What’s more, the same evening will be spent sampling a very high quality dinner with the group of people on the assigned table. Cruising is all about comfort and class, so whilst flying in the business section of a top airline is good, it will never match the cruising experience. As with the cheap business flights there are cheap cruise deals to be found in the world of sea journeys, with many of the larger companies like P and O cruises running promotions. Ironically theses can sometimes include business class flights to a region where the ship has docked, so you are not stuck with the long itinerary, but can select certain parts. As an example the NCL cruises offer very competitive prices for cruises around the Greek Islands, whilst further afield MSC cruises have trips in Australia and the South Pacific. A feature of the Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is that there is no set time schedule for things like dinners or lunches. You eat when you feel like it, and they consider themselves as a good alternative to a trip some would see as a bit formal and regulated. This company sees the cruise as a fun experience and just looking at the painted up hull and the interior gives an idea of the type of trip this is likely to be. The cruises from UK leave from Southampton, as do most off the big liners. While this shipping line has a free and easy approach to its business, there are the more formal companies, and given they have been in operation since 1836, you would expect Cunard cruises to head the list. They are synonymous with the luxury travel market and whilst there are obvious competitors they are the yardstick all sea journeys are measured by. Most cruise reviews point to the old traditional ways of this company, but they are quick to point out that the new Queen Elizabeth has the ultimate in new technology on board, but it’s encompassed in an art deco style which reflects the decor of the old luxury liners.    

Cruise offers abound

There are lots of good cruise deals to be found, as there are cheap business flights. In the latter area of higher grade travel, some of the low cost carriers have introduced a ‘business section’ which is significantly cheaper than that found on the national airlines. A Premium Class seat on a ‘No Frills’ airline such as Air Asia or Jetstar can be as little as £600/$900 one way, which is considerably less than the £2,000/$3000 charged by the mainstream national airlines. The food isn’t that good up front! But coming back to world of the cruise liner, there are last minute cruises to be found in the online sites of the major operators such as p&o cruises. They have a similar reputation to the Cunard Lines, with good big ship loads of facilities and great entertainment. The seas they sail are those which are promoted in the brochures as Mediterranean cruises, or Caribbean cruises, so it really depends on how far you want to travel. As you might expect the itineraries for the ships are planned well in advance so it’s possible to make a booking for cruises 2011,. In doing so, there will be plenty of options available for the best cabins, although most of the big ships can accommodate over 2,000 passengers. Also, check out the internet to find cruises reviews, by other satisfied (or sometimes not-so-satisfied) passengers.

Med cruises are particularly popular in the Caribbean, along with smaller ships which sail in the Caribbean and much loved destinations of the world. The seaboum cruises are regarded as something a bit special. Their ships carry just 250 to 450 passengers and have an air of exclusivity about them. One of their marketing ploys is to refer to their ships as luxury yachts but that is something of an exaggeration. But they do have a very personal service with spas and resort type facilities on board. The other company worth considering is the silverseas cruises whose expertise lies in all inclusive packages. The only extras on this type of deal are the shore visits and the drinks bill.

The best suites are those called outer cabins which means the sea is just beyond the verandah of the room – it’s that good. The accommodation is not massive, but ships designers have always had a knack of getting the best out of limited space. So there are things which are hidden away and slide out of cupboards - you may need your personal steward to help with finding all the bits and pieces in the cabin. The same steward is assigned to a particular deck, and particular cabins, so passengers often get to know this guy (or girl) quickly. The steward is there to make sure the passenger is well looked after, be on call for room service or emergencies - all cruise ships have good medical facilities and doctors on board- and are helpful but not intrusive.

The less expensive accommodation is the interior cabin and this has no sea view. But as with the business class seat on the plane which is far superior to the ones in the back, you get what you pay for – the difference is the value of the whole package on a ship looks to be a better deal all round. The business trip for the prime reason of business is never going to be made by sea, but thinking of the break away from all the hassle of airports, security, crowds, and small planes, the idea of cruising on a luxury liner is one which is becoming more appealing year on year.