Travel in 2013: Holidays for cruise-goers

Camp for a night in Antarctica with Hurtigruten

Shorter cruises are all the rage, says leading cruise line P&O (0843 374 0111; pocruises.co.uk), which is adding nine new two- to five-night sailings to the Channel Islands, Belgium and the Netherlands, all departing from Southampton. A two-night cruise on Azura to St Peter Port, Guernsey, costs from £199pp, including meals and entertainment. Departs 16 April.

Cruise-and-stay holidays are also becoming increasingly popular, according to Thomas Cook (0800 169 4557; cruisethomascook.com), with consumers looking to extend ocean cruises with city breaks and beach holidays to make the most of their time and money. It has responded with a variety of offers, such as the “Aegean Adventure Stay Cruise” from £979pp. This includes a week in an all-inclusive hotel in Crete followed by seven nights on board Costa Cruises' ship Costa Mediterranea, calling at Santorini, Mykonos, Izmir, Samos, Kos and Rhodes. The price includes accommodation, transfers and easyJet flights from Gatwick to Crete, departing 21 June.

Camp out for the night in Antarctica. Groups of up to 15 guests travelling to the region with Hurtigruten (0844 448-7601; hurtigruten.co.uk) are being offered the opportunity on its “Ultimate Explorer Experience” cruise. Guests joining the night camp, developed in collaboration with the Norwegian Polar Institute, will be fully kitted out with specialist equipment and expedition tents. The 10-day voyage costs from £3,295pp full board, departing 13 February and 22 November. Flights from the UK to Buenos Aires and on to the departure point at Ushuaia, plus two nights' B&B in Buenos Aires can be arranged for £1,392. The camping expedition can be booked once on board for £330pp.