This article is part of Traveller’s Holiday Guide to short international holidays. See all stories . A cruise is a hassle-free, good-value way of enjoying a short break.
Everything is organised for you. Accommodation, food and transport is included, and you can add on easy excursions that will provide you with wine tastings, cultural experiences or wildlife encounters on shore. There’s no simpler way to have an easy family holiday that caters to every generation.
There’s no simpler way to have an easy family holiday that caters to every generation. Credit: Royal Caribbean For a short break, you’ll have to confine yourself to larger budget ships, since luxury and expedition ships rarely offer cruises of less than a week. Still, that gives you a wide choice of cruise companies, destinations and departure ports sure to float your boat.
Here are six summer options that will have you sailing away. Airlie Beach from Brisbane, Carnival Cruise Line Whitehaven Beach’s iconic white sands await you. Credit: Getty Images Queensland is our most popular cruise destination, so why not ramp up the summer heat on this four-day float that takes you to the Whitsunday Islands, where you can snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef, explore islands and inlets by high-speed catamaran, or head to mainland Conway National Park.
The 2260-guest Carnival Luminosa is great for kids, but also has popular bars, an edgy comedy club and a spa retreat, all more suited to adults for the best of both worlds.