A cruise and stay package combines the best parts of both types of vacations; you get all the advantages of a cruise, such as using the ship’s amenities and visiting several locations, with the additional benefit of a more traditional holiday or mini-break tacked on to the start or end of the journey.

Anyone who wishes to stay more than one day in a particular location and who wants to have time to experience the local nightlife will benefit greatly from cruise and stay vacations. They are a desirable choice for first-time travellers who are hesitant and wish to gradually acclimate to ship life with a vacation that combines a cruise and a hotel stay.

From the major players like Royal Caribbean International, Carnival Cruises, Princess Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises many cruise lines offer cruise and stay (or stay and cruise) alternatives. Some cruise lines also offer land programmes, which are more like overnight (or multiple night) excursions. Many cruise lines provide add-on hotel stays where you’re left to your own devices, just like a typical vacation.

The most common pre- or post-cruise stay choices are bolt-on beach or city breaks in or close to the embarkation or disembarkation port for convenience, but as the demand for cruise and stay grows, cruise lines and tour operators are becoming more creative in their offerings, Choosing to cruise and stay means you’ll get to enjoy all the perks of both a cruise and a hotel stay in one special vacation, whether you like the ease of an off-the-shelf cruise and stay package given by the cruise line or tour operator or want the utmost freedom to make your own arrangements.