If you have never tried a ship-based holiday before then you will be surprised at the many different activities there are on offer nowadays. Once thought as of the preserve of the rich, the wide variety of itineraries and destinations means that anyone can consider a holiday at sea � you do not have to be fabulously wealthy to enjoy a voyage by luxury liner. Cunard cruises are one of the better known companies offering this type of break and their ships are some of the best appointed in service. A country that is not served by holiday ships is Somaliland. Nestled between Ethiopia and Puntland, this autonomous region shares the same name at its root with its troublesome near neighbour, Somalia. It is not however a lawless failed state and the unfortunate similarity in names may lead to some confusion in this respect, putting potential visitors off this hospitable country in the Horn of Africa. P&O cruises, and other lines, visit the island of Madagascar further down off the coast of Mozambique, on their African routes. If you want to reach Somaliland itself you can fly there via Dubai or Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. There are a number of modern hotels in the capital city, Hargeisa and you can hire a recent model car to make getting around easier. At the bottom of this continent lies South Africa where MSC cruises offer excursions to Durban, so you can participate in a safari and see the big cats in their natural surroundings.

"It was the most fantastic experience of our lives. Flew to Rome Mercedes taxi to the ship which could be seen from Space it was E-N-O-R-M-O-U-S." - LEGGE, Liverpool on 16th Jun 2009 (Carnival Cruises)

Cool destinations

Located a world away from the dusty hot plains of the Dark Continent are the glacial fields of Canada and Alaska which you can explore as part of a side trip with many companies. The wildlife there has its own attractions � there are bears and foxes and one of the more popular activities is whale spotting off the coast of Alaska. If you like the idea of exploring this beautiful part of the world then celebrity cruises are among the lines that visit these pristine shores. Being the cradle of civilisation, Africa of course has many things to see as well. In Somaliland you can take in the Lass Gaal cave paintings in the countryside around Hargeisa and visit the beautiful Daallo Mountains where you can see historic villages and wonderful sea views from the heights. On the other side of this vast continent is Morocco, where tours of the famous city of Casablanca are a favourite excursion on Fred Olsen cruises that stop off at the Canary Islands on the way down from .Southampton. This route makes a nice 14 day trip that is just right for an annual break. If you have decided that you would like to take your holiday in Somaliland this year then you should member to obtain a visa from the liaison offices in London before your departure. When you arrive in Hargeisa your passage through immigration and customs should be painless as long as you remember not to bring in alcohol, drugs or pornography.

"Embarkation was a breeze and our cabin was very nice especially the balcony, which my girlfriend loved!.All in all a lovely cruise and I would recommend Princess to anyone." - Hayward, Bradford on 16th Jun 2009 (Princess Cruises)

Starting from home

Some people who like the idea of a holiday on board a ship are keen on visiting foreign countries but do not wish to fly. For these people, cruises from Southampton are the way to go. You can basically go to anywhere you like from this UK port, depending on how long you have for your trip. If you only have a short time then you could go somewhere like Cork, in the Republic of Ireland, which is a 4 day round trip from this port. Further afield a 13 night cruise could get you all the way to Florida, but then of course if you do not like flying, you will have a problem getting back home. Royal Caribbean cruises do trips following this route but you would need to find another boat coming back the other way. A land trip is possible to Somaliland for the really adventurous with time on their hands � you can enter the country from Ethiopia, Djibouti or Somalia although, despite the best efforts of the government, there are still some land mines around. Once you are there you can use the buses if you prefer not to drive, as there is a network joining the cities and villages of Somaliland. Another option is to take a taxi which are in plentiful supply there and will not cost you an arm and a leg. If you want to see as many countries as possible in one long holiday then Princess cruises have world voyages.

"From initially puraching the holiday, through to pre-departure documentation, check in, and arrival, the whole experience of travelling with cruise.co.uk and Cunard on the QM2 was absolutely amazing." - Jones, Slough on 16th Jun 2009 (Cunard Cruises)

Traditional destinations

Probably the first location on the tip of everybody�s tongue when you mention that you are thinking of taking a holiday on an ocean liner is the Caribbean. Deservedly popular for its wealth of beautiful islands with coral sand beaches and palm trees lining the shore, there are many different ports to call at in this area. You can embark on Caribbean cruises at several ports in the United States including New York, Miami and New Orleans. Among the places you can visit in this region are Barbados, St Lucia and Belize. If you want to spend a few days on land and a few days at sea then Miami is an ideal place to start your trip from. The weather is warm and sunny all year round and there are miles of sandy beaches on which you can soak up the sun. You can choose from journeys of from about a week up to 16 days with a company like NCL cruises � a typical 9 day trip starting and finishing in Miami includes a couple of days at sea and will call into 4 other places on the way. If you prefer to be on dry land but still would like to be by the sea then a stay in Somaliland can include some time at the seaside town of Berbera, where the ocean is lovely and clear. Back inland, Hargeisa has a zoo where you can see lions, leopards and antelopes as well as many birds and reptiles.

"This is my only gripe and I would recomend others to try as it is so dofferent to any other kind of holiday. can't wait to go aagin." - Reynolds, Harlow on 16th Jun 2009 (Fred. Olsen Cruises)