Why is Southampton the Main Port For Cruises From the UK?
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Southampton has a proud maritime history. Some of the first people to use the town as a port of entry and a trading post were the Normans, after their invasion of Britain in 1066. From then on Southampton became established as an important port, and in 1843 the port’s first commercial dock was opened. It was to become known as the ‘Outer Dock’ to distinguish it from the smaller and older ‘Town Dock’. In the early part of the 20th century Southampton Docks handled nearly half of the country’s oceanic passenger traffic. Nowadays the port is recognised as the cruise capital of the UK, with more than 65% of cruise holidays beginning or ending in Southampton.
All major cruise lines, including P&O Cruises and Royal Caribbean, now operate out of the Southampton. In the past four years, despite talk of a recession hitting overseas travel, the port and its ancillary services have seen a steady growth in cruise holidays.
A major factor in Southampton’s popularity with cruise companies is its deep-water port that is capable of accommodating virtually any size of vessel. Southampton is also ideally placed for ease of access from The Midlands and the South West of the UK. Southampton is only 75 miles from London, and the M3, M27 and M34 are all excellent road links between the capital and the port.
The handling company, Cruise and Passengers Services, operates in conjunction with the major cruise lines to provide secure parking, as well as passenger handling and check-in services, so you can arrive at the docks secure in the knowledge that your car, your luggage and your embarkation are all taken care of with the minimum of worry on your part.
If you plan to arrive the night before your cruise holiday begins there is a wide selection of hotels to choose from, and it is often possible to leave your car in the hotel car park. Each cruise line has its own terminal, so this again is an attractive option – no overcrowded terminals with passengers queuing to board flights to fifty different airports.
For an even more gentle departure, the Orient Express runs from Victoria Station for the Queen Mary 2 Trans-Atlantic sailing and on other special occasions. If you choose to arrive by more conventional rail travel, Southampton Central Railway Station has taxi ranks with waiting vehicles to quickly transport you and your luggage to and from the station. Because of these advantages, cruises departing from Southampton are very popular for UK holidaymakers.
After experiencing a Southampton cruise departure, spending several uncomfortable hours in a crowded airport departure lounge doesn’t seem very attractive; it’s easy to see why a cruise holiday is now so popular. There are always late cruise deals available online, as well as special offers if you book in advance.
Jetline Cruise are fully bonded agents, we are members of the Association of Cruise Experts (ACE). And offer discounted P&O Cruises and Late cruise deals, we sell cruise holidays cheaply not cheap cruise holidays.
Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ian_R_Guilder
Experienced bargain cruise hunters know the value of showing some patience when it comes to searching for last minute cruise deals. If you have been thinking of taking that first cruise ship holiday and have been told to book well in advance, then it may pay to check out the last minute cruise deals on offer and take your holiday a little sooner than you anticipated.
You see, there is a little phenomenom in the sales world that seems to apply across most areas and that is the last minute rush for bargains. The cruise line industry is no different and savvy bargain hunters have snapped up some amazing deals late in proceedings. But be warned, you will require some patience and a little nerve as you seek out the late specials.
Where To Look For Last Minute Deals
As companies attempt to fill their staterooms before their intended departure date and realize they aren’t going to fill them as anticipated then they may start to lower their prices. Bear in mind, last minute cruise deals can be booked up to 90 days in advance so if you have got some extra vacation time owing then it still gives you plenty of time to organize the time off from work.
Believe it or not, thousands have taken advantage of the last minute cruise deal rush over the years and in dollar terms, the aggregate savings made would run into the millions. Has this hurt the cruise lines? Well undoubtedly they would like to obtain “full tote odds” for their staterooms but let’s face it, selling them at a reduced price and having them occupied would be a lot more beneficial for them than to have empty during a cruise.
The trick is finding these late minute bargains. Don’t expect to see them advertised en masse in the local dailys or electronic press. After all, cruise lines need to protect their full-fare paying business. Travel agents are normally your first “port-of-call” when searching for a discount fare. But the internet has opened up a whole new world for the cruise enthusiast and there are some excellent sites specializing in deals. Do a search online for discount or last minute cruise deals and you’ll get wide selection of sites who have done the “hard yards” and “sniffed out” the bargains.
Cruise Specials Online
Another handy tip… some of these sites, particularly the higher ranked and more established ones offer a mailing service online where you can sign up to receive regular newsletters detailing cruise holiday bargains in a whole variety of categories.
It is also a good idea to check out the various cruise line company websites. More often than not, last minute cruise deals will be featured here. Take it a step further and give them a call. Let them know you have some spare vacation time coming up shortly, how much you have to spend and of course, if they have any discounted specials available during the next couple of months.
Performing a little due diligence will pay off for you in the long run. Last minute cruise deals in most cases are like “little nuggets of gold:” you have to search for them.
Dean Caporella is a professional broadcaster. Learn how to spot a last minute cruise deal plus get the latest cruise news and reviews at =>http://www.cheapcruiseheaven.com
Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dean_Caporella
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Click HERE for Great Westgate Luxury Resorts Vacation Deals!
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Posted on: Sunday, March 20, 2011 at 2:00 am 
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