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If you’ve ever looked at a cruise itinerary and wondered how travellers manage to fit so many destinations into one holiday, the answer is often surprisingly simple: fly-cruising.
While many people are familiar with traditional cruises that depart from British ports, fly-cruises are different. Instead of spending several days sailing from the UK to reach warmer climes, you fly directly to your ship’s starting destination. Because the exploration begins almost immediately, it’s a popular option for people who want to spend less time travelling and more time discovering new destinations.
But if you’ve never been on a fly-cruise before, you might have some questions – like how does it work? Is it complicated? What happens with luggage and transfers? To delve into the benefits of fly-cruises, we’ve partnered with Fred. Olsen, one of Britain’s best-loved cruise lines. Their carefully curated itineraries combine iconic destinations with lesser-visited ports, while their smaller ships can access places that larger vessels can’t reach.
Here’s everything you need to know about fly-cruising, including why it can be one of the easiest ways to explore more countries with less hassle.
What is a fly-cruise?
A fly-cruise combines the convenience of air travel with the enjoyment of a cruise. Rather than sailing from the UK to your first destination, you’ll fly straight to your ship overseas. From there, you can settle into life on board and start exploring. Depending on your itinerary, you’ll either fly home at the end of your cruise or sail back to the UK.
Why more travellers are choosing fly-cruises
A big perk of cruising is being able to visit multiple destinations while only unpacking once. Fly-cruising, however, takes that convenience a step further. Instead of spending several days sailing to places like the Greek Islands or the Canary Islands, you’ll arrive where the adventure begins. With less time spent at sea, you’ll have more time to explore historic cities, experience different cultures, relax on beautiful beaches, and enjoy the unique character of each destination.
One day, you could be wandering through the cobbled streets of an old Croatian town; the next, relaxing on a sun-drenched Greek island overlooking the Aegean. In a single voyage, you can discover the charms of Spain, Morocco, Gibraltar, Malta, and Italy. But you don’t just pass through these destinations. Fly-cruising gives you more opportunity to immerse yourself in each region and explore at a more relaxed pace.
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Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Sunlit Shores of Southern Spain*
Ceuta - Motril - Cartagena - Cádiz - Castellon de la Plana - Málaga
Spain | 9 nights | Flights & Transfers Included
Departs from Málaga on the ship Balmoral.
Departs: 13 Dec 2027
Includes taxes and fees
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Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Iconic Islands of the Mediterranean*
Trapani - Cagliari - Valletta - Mahon - Piraeus (for Athens) - Málaga
Spain, Italy, Greece & 1 more | 8 nights | Flights & Transfers Included
Departs from Piraeus (for Athens) on the ship Balmoral.
Departs: 05 Dec 2027
Includes taxes and fees
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Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Country Hopping from Greece to Tenerife*
Agadir - Gibraltar - Cartagena - Valletta - Trapani - Santa Cruz de Tenerife - Piraeus (for Athens)
Spain, Italy, Greece & 4 more | 11 nights | Flights & Transfers Included
Free Flights. Half price drinks package. Solo Offer on B Grade cabins only.
Departs from Piraeus (for Athens) on the ship Balmoral.
Departs: 19 Nov 2026
Includes taxes and fees
Does fly-cruising involve lots of complicated planning?
While combining flights with a cruise can seem more complicated than just sailing from a UK port, planning a fly-cruise is actually often very simple. Many cruise lines do the planning for you. With Fred. Olsen, for example, flights, overseas transfers, luggage allowances, and travel arrangements can all be included as part of your package.
This helps create a smooth, stress-free journey from the airport to your ship, allowing you to focus on relaxing. ATOL protection is also included for additional peace of mind.
If you prefer more flexibility, there are also options to book flights independently, choosing the times and airports that suit you best. You’ll then need to arrange your own transfers to and from the ship.
What happens when you arrive?
If you’re a first-time fly-cruiser, arriving in a new country and finding your way to the ship can feel a little daunting. Thankfully, the process is often much simpler than people expect. Transfers are typically arranged in advance, so you’ll be met at the airport and taken directly to your ship. That means no navigating unfamiliar public transport, organising taxis, or searching for the cruise terminal on your own.
On Fred. Olsen fly-cruise holidays, dedicated representatives are on hand throughout key stages of the journey, providing support and helping everything run smoothly. This can be particularly reassuring when you’re travelling somewhere new. With the practical arrangements taken care of, you can simply settle in, explore the ship, and start enjoying your holiday from the moment you arrive.
Why smaller ships can make a big difference to your experience
When many people think of cruising, they imagine vast, resort-like ships carrying thousands of passengers. While those types of ships do appeal to certain travellers, many people find that smaller ships offer a different, and more rewarding, way to travel.
Fred. Olsen’s 2026 fly-cruise programme is centred around the Balmoral, a smaller ship designed to access ports and harbours beyond the reach of larger vessels. This opens up opportunities to visit characterful coastal towns and smaller ports that many larger ships simply can’t reach.
But smaller ships don’t just access different ports; they offer a very different onboard atmosphere, too. Ships like Balmoral have a relaxed, intimate feel, making it easier to find a quiet spot to unwind, get to know fellow guests, and enjoy attentive, personalised service. In many places, Balmoral can also dock closer to city centres, historic quarters, and major attractions, reducing transfer times and making it easier to get out and explore.
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Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Greek Islands & Turkish Riviera*
Alanya - Bodrum - Rhodes - Heraklion - Piraeus (for Athens)
Greece & Turkey | 9 nights | Flights & Transfers Included
Departs from Piraeus (for Athens) on the ship Balmoral.
Departs: 14 Nov 2027
Includes taxes and fees
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Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Ancient Wonders of Turkey, Greece & Egypt*
Kusadasi - Heraklion - Istanbul - Dardanelles - Alexandria - Piraeus (for Athens)
Greece, Turkey & Egypt | 12 nights | Flights & Transfers Included
Departs from Piraeus (for Athens) on the ship Balmoral.
Departs: 23 Nov 2027
Includes taxes and fees
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Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Adriatic Coastlines & Cultures*
Kotor - St. Anthony Channel - Dubrovnik - Koper - Sibenik - Sarandë - Taranto - Bay of Kotor - Piraeus (for Athens)
Italy, Greece, Croatia & 3 more | 12 nights | Flights & Transfers Included
Departs from Piraeus (for Athens) on the ship Balmoral.
Departs: 02 Nov 2027
Includes taxes and fees
Seeing destinations from a different perspective
One of the joys of fly-cruising isn’t just the time spent exploring; it’s the journey between destinations, too. Scenic cruising is purposefully woven into your itinerary, giving you a closer connection to the sea as you sail. Rather than simply travelling from one port to the next, you can sit back and enjoy ever-changing views as you sail through some of Europe’s most spectacular scenery.
From dramatic mountain vistas and pine-speckled islands to gleaming marble cities and sun-bleached ruins, cruising offers a perspective that few other types of holiday can match. Watching a destination emerge on the horizon, gliding past beautiful bays, or admiring sunset views from the deck can become some of the most magical moments of your trip.
Fred. Olsen’s Mediterranean itineraries include opportunities to sail past awe-inspiring sights like Mount Athos, the volcanic island of Stromboli, the stunning Bay of Kotor, and the iconic Amalfi Coast. Seen from the water, these landscapes reveal a side of each destination that many travellers never experience.
Which destinations can you visit?
One of the biggest attractions of fly-cruising is the sheer variety of destinations on offer. Fred. Olsen’s 2026 fly-cruises include voyages through the Mediterranean, the Greek Islands, Croatia, Cyprus, Turkey, Egypt, Portugal, and the Canary Islands.
Depending on the itinerary you choose, you can discover the coastal beauty of Cinque Terre, wander Dubrovnik’s medieval walls, explore the whitewashed streets of Rhodes, enjoy the lush landscapes of Madeira, and sample local food in Istanbul’s bustling markets – all on one holiday.
Some itineraries are centred around historic cities, archaeological sites, and cultural landmarks, while others focus on island-hopping adventures, spectacular coastal scenery, or the chance to soak up the winter sun. If you’re looking to travel for longer, there are also opportunities to combine selected itineraries into one extended holiday, with more destinations, experiences, and time to explore.
Is fly-cruising suitable for first-time cruisers?
Fly-cruising can be an excellent introduction to cruising, particularly if you’re keen to visit a variety of destinations. Because you’re flying to your port, more of your holiday can be spent relaxing, exploring, and enjoying the places you’ve travelled to see.
If you’re still working, fly-cruising can be an efficient way to make the most of your annual leave. If you’re retired, it can provide a relaxed alternative to organising a multi-stop holiday, where flights, hotels, and transfers need to be planned separately.
Many first-time cruisers are also surprised by how straightforward the experience is. With flights, transfers, and other arrangements taken care of, there’s no need to worry about finding your way around unfamiliar cities, booking trains, arranging car hire, or moving between hotels. Instead, you unpack once, settle into your cabin, and enjoy the comfort of having your accommodation, dining, entertainment, and transport all taken care of.
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Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Mediterranean Islands & Spanish Shores*
Valletta - Cagliari - Cartagena - Ceuta - Málaga - Cádiz - Motril - Valencia - Trapani - Piraeus (for Athens) and 1 more
Spain, Italy, Greece & 1 more | 17 nights | Flights & Transfers Included
Departs from Piraeus (for Athens) on the ship Balmoral.
Departs: 05 Dec 2027
Includes taxes and fees
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Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Scenic Greek Island Hopping*
Ermoupoli - Santorini - Agios Nikolaos - Kos - Piraeus (for Athens)
Greece | 7 nights | Flights & Transfers Included
Departs from Piraeus (for Athens) on the ship Balmoral.
Departs: 26 Oct 2027
Includes taxes and fees
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Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Cyprus, Turkey & Egypt Escape*
Alexandria - Istanbul - Marmaris - Limassol - Piraeus (for Athens)
Greece, Turkey, Cyprus & 1 more | 10 nights | Flights & Transfers Included
Solo Offer on B Grade cabins only. Solo traveller offer available.
Departs from Limassol on the ship Balmoral.
Departs: 09 Nov 2026
Includes taxes and fees
Final thoughts…
If you want to see more of the world without the complexity of a multi-stop trip, fly-cruising could be for you. Instead of rushing through airports and hotel check-ins every few days, you can wake up somewhere new each morning, knowing your floating hotel is travelling with you.
Whether you’re sipping coffee on a harbour promenade in Croatia or watching the sun set over the Amalfi Coast, fly-cruising offers a wonderfully simple way to travel. And paired with Fred. Olsen’s thoughtful itineraries and the welcoming atmosphere of a smaller ship, it’s easy to see why fly-cruising is becoming so popular.
So, whether you’re looking for cultural discovery, winter sun, spectacular scenery, or simply a more relaxed way to explore, a Fred. Olsen fly-cruise offers an effortless way to experience it all.