Cruises, particularly Southampton sailings to the Mediterranean, are one of the most popular last-minute summer holiday choices, according to Barrhead Travel.
Destinations such as Tenerife, Antalya, Majorca and Alicante took the top spots for holidaymakers across the agency group’s network.
Some of the group’s regions, particularly in England, reported that cruising from Southampton has been most popular in recent weeks for families looking for last-minute getaways.
Barrhead Travel president Jacqueline Dobson said the value for money on offer for cruising was a big draw for families.
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She added: “We’ve had a strong lates market since June, when Scottish school holidays commenced. Over the last few weeks, that trend continued in our English stores when schools broke up in late July.
“A lot of families had left holiday plans to the last minute this year.
“We’ve seen an uptick in last-minute family cruise bookings for the summer and October school holidays because of the value available. For many, cruising from Southampton is also very convenient.
“Deals for cruising have been as low as under £1,000 for lead-in cabins for families of four – prices like this have helped stimulate demand. When you consider the range of activities and dining onboard that suit children of all ages coupled with the opportunity to visit multiple destinations, it’s no surprise that cruising is a winner for families this year.”
Barrhead Travel expects demand for cruising to increase in the coming years and has created a dedicated Cruise Academy to support anticipated growth.
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