Exactly 10 years ago we left the continent for the first time. It was our honeymoon and we spent over a month in Africa visiting South Africa, Madagascar and Mauritius. We had promised ourselves to be back to South Africa for our 10th year anniversary. However we chose to postpone our trip since we want both our daughters to be able to understand better and savour the safari experience. Let’s face it … life is not easy with young kids. Whatever you do takes longer, wherever you go must be planned better. However we are still adventurers at heart and having kids never stopped us from going anywhere. This time we opted to take it ‘easier’ by going on a cruise – we know several other families who do so and recommend it, so we decided to give it another try (we had been on a Southern Caribbean cruise some years ago which you can read about here). However we still managed to stir in a good dose of the adventure, that we crave so much for when we are abroad. The balance between relaxation and adventure was the key of this trip and this is how we did it.
How we choose our summer trip destinations
Travelling is not just a week in summer for us and if you follow me on socials, you understand that we travel as much as our budgets permit. So I usually choose our destination depending on the cheapest flights+accommodation available on our dates. Here are some other criteria that we look for when we travel in July/August:
- Temperature – we avoid temperatures over 30 degrees. I look very forward to wear trousers and sweaters in July or August, as I am unable to enjoy the outdoors in Malta during daytime (apart from going to the beaches, which are usually overcrowded). We try to look for countries where walking and hiking is comfortable.
- Crowds – this is the peakest of peaks so avoiding crowds may seem impossible. However there are still some lesser known destinations waiting to be discovered. Funnily enough the less known the destination is, the more I am attracted to visiting.
- Nature – we look for natural attractions whenever we travel (not just in summer). Mountains, lakes, waterfalls, beaches, wildlife – that is where you will find us. We have enough buildings at home so we avoid going in cities as much as possible.
Where we actually ended up this year
We chose something different from our usual trips – we tried out a cruise. It was our second one since we had already been on a Caribbean cruise back in 2019. I am far from being a cruise fanatic and I always have my doubts about this type of trip. I still do and to be honest I still think that it is not my travel style. However sometimes there are circumstances that can make a cruise worth it – like last minute deals that are very tempting and itineraries that visit unusual destinations. In fact, apart from the price, the itinerary was what convinced me to book. We were visiting Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands (which are both part of Scotland) and Iceland – including the Westfjords.
What makes a cruise deal worth it?
Keep in mind that a cruise fare usually includes accommodation, food and transport from a destination to the next – if the price you pay is less than what you would actually spend on land, that makes it worth it in my opinion. We paid Eur 1,450 per adult (infants only pay taxes and kids a part of the fee – depending on the cruise line) for a 12-day cruise in a balcony cabin going around Iceland, Orkney and Shetland islands in Scotland. Whoever has some basic knowledge about these countries would know that prices are very expensive (especially in Iceland). So I am sure that if we had to go on our own like we usually do, we would have paid much more. PS. I am not mentioning the cruise line we have travelled with as this is not an advert, contact me and I would be happy to help you out.
The downside is obviously that your time on land is limited. You get a taste of the destinations you visit and when you like a place you would want to return for more. On our previous trip we had visited small Caribbean islands where in most cases we were able to go around the entire island in a day. This time round we were visiting Iceland – a destination where I would have spent a minimum of 2/3 weeks on a normal trip. Instead we had 4 full days. However I am really happy with what we managed to see and do during our days on land – we visited a good part of the West. One thing is for sure – we will return to Iceland. On the other hand in Orkney and Shetland we were happy with one day in each destination. I am pretty sure that hadn’t it been for this cruise I would have never fitted them in a Scotland itinerary.
Making the most of your days on land
Ship organised shore excursions are not exactly our thing and their prices are inflated. I get it that most people prefer having their mind at rest by just booking a shore excursion directly with the cruise ship. We have been on a ship shore excursion excursion in Orkney, as we were not able to find an alternative. Moreover there are age restrictions for excursions – we were travelling with a 1 year old and most of the time there is a minimum age limit.
We prefer going around on our own – that is our style. As you may know if you have been following me, we rent a car and drive whenever possible. So most of the time we rented a car and went around exploring at our own pace. We find that it is the most comfortable and convenient option fitting our style. Car rental is available in most of the main harbours where cruise ships stop frequently. Obviously you have to be very careful of the time as it is your responsibility to return back to the ship on time – we were among the first to make our way to the gangway and board off the ship in the morning and make the most of our day. We used to leave the ship before people who had shore excursions would start queuing to disembark. In Iceland we also had the opportunity to stay overnight in Akureyri, so we were able to distance ourselves more from the ship without the worry of having to return back at a fixed time.
Renting a car is not the only option of course. You can hire a taxi and have someone drive you around. You can also join local tours, as soon as you step down from the cruise ship there will be a tourist information where you can inform yourself on the possibilities in the area.
Pros of going on a cruise
- You are being transported to a new destination while sleeping – this is the biggest advantage of a cruise.
- Facilities on board: You have everything handy – restaurants, gym, kids areas, entertainment for the evening, clinic in case of sickness, shops etc. When travelling with kids this is a big plus.
- Days at sea – this can be both a pro and a con. In our case we took advantage of these days as we were able to relax between one destination and the next. I rarely manage to fit in relaxing days during our usual trips. There are plenty of activities going on so you can make these days as active or relaxing as you wish.
Cons of going on a cruise
- You get a taste of a destination and most of the time you will end up wanting more and having to return. However in certain destinations like smaller islands a day may be enough
- Missing on the local experience – having limited time also implies having less time to interact with locals, tasting local dishes, etc.
- There are certain destinations that I would never want to visit on a cruise – places that are already touristic will be packed to the full by the time you will get to them. Most probably you won’t manage to be earlier than the crowds to skip lines.
- If you are environmentally conscious you will learn that cruising is the exact opposite of what you believe in. Abundance of food, overtourism, pollution, waste – it is one of the main reasons why I dislike cruises.
Conclusion
Make sure to evaluate well which type of cruise you choose, especially if you are quite picky and not a cruise lover like me. Although it is highly unlikely that you won’t enjoy your trip, you need to be aware that depending on the destinations you visit, you will would want to return to explore more. I found the website Cruise Critic (no affiliation) very helpful with reviews and tips from previous travellers. If you plan on going on a cruise make sure to check it out prior booking.
