Travel News

The Maldives has come out on top again as the favourite long-haul destination for Brits, beating the likes of Thailand, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates, to the number one spot in a recently released poll.

This is no surprise for the destination though, which has ranked first in the annual Travel Edit survey for a total of nine years now.

Chris Lorenzo, Managing Director of Seafarer, shed some light on why the Maldives have consistently proven to be so popular.

 "Whilst the Maldives have always been noted for the fabulous choice of private and exclusive resorts, the concept of island hopping and sailing as a way of exploring this fascinating island group is increasing in popularity," he said.

"We find that people are increasingly looking for an element of adventure and activity in their holiday experience and sailing a spacious modern catamaran with a professional crew to look after you and do all the hard work whilst exploring this beautiful country ticks all the right boxes."

The Maldives has, in recent years, even attracted a royal couple on their honeymoon, with newlyweds Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton enjoying a delayed holiday on the island paradise in 2011.

Mauritius, which boasts many of the same plus points as the Maldives, also attained a top ten position at number six, just below the US.

However, if you're looking to experience the Maldives and Mauritius, it's worth considering that their beautifully rugged coastlines can be fully explored by taking a cruise itinerary, which offers a comprehensive, yet unique perspective on their respective cultures.

Forget taking a large overbearing cruise vessel and instead enjoy a luxury and personalised experience with Seafarer Cruises.

All aboard the London Cruise Show. This spectacular event is returning to the UK capital for the weekend of March 22nd and will be playing host to an enormous selection of travel-related fun.

Seafarers will, of course, be in attendance at stand D38 where cruise-goers can get their hands on a number of exciting promotions and discounts that should help them make up their minds about their summer holiday.

The festival, famed for being the largest of its kind across Europe, allows attendees to gather impartial advice from industry specialists over a number of talks, hosted over no less than four separate theatres.

Three of the venues will have dedicated purposes, with one hosting the experts, one the cruise liners and one especially given over to the small liner companies.

Cruise enthusiasts will have the chance to discover new ships and developments throughout the sector, while all attendees will benefit from a number of show-only offers, upgrades and competitions.

However, the overall aim of the event is to open your eyes to different cruise destinations, vessels and experiences that you might never have considered if you hadn’t thought to broaden your horizons.

In particular, there will be an entire section dedicated to small ship cruising, where Seafarer Cruises will of course be in attendance. Here, attendees can catch a glimpse of the opulence, luxury and outstanding personal service they can expect when sailing on this type of holiday.

Organisers are so far keeping the names of celebrity attendees tightly under wraps to heighten the excitement, but a wealth of independent travel reviewers will be there, including Geographical Magazine, Cruise Critic and Berlitz Publishing.

The event runs from March 22nd until the 23rd at London’s Olympia venue on Hammersmith Road. Doors open at 10am on both Saturday and Sunday and advance ticket prices are £6, rising to £10 on the day.

So come along and find yourself inspired for your next cruise holiday. This very special event is not to be missed for those who love to travel the globe.