Cruising is increasingly popular among all age groups, with plenty of people choosing to return to the water year after year once they’ve experienced the luxury, excitement and variety that cruise holidays have to offer. Cruise holidays are, however, very different from your average beach getaway, so how do you know what to expect, which cruise to pick and what time of year to go?
An excellent way to dip your toes into cruise ship travel is to do a touch of light research via a television show! Not only are these shows hugely informative, but they’re massively entertaining giving you a flavour of the fun that can be had while you’re cruising.
We’ve compiled a list of our favourite cruising programmes for you to choose from before you book your cruise getaway.
Cruising with Jane McDonald
Aired: 2017-2021
Episodes: 31
Where to watch: My5
Who else could we start our list with other than the Queen of Cruising herself: Jane McDonald? Over the course of 31 episodes, Jane explores almost the entire globe, with episodes covering Greece, Australia and New Zealand, South America, and the Caribbean.
Presented with her signature friendly face and upbeat personality, Jane takes us through the entertainment on a cruise, popular cruise destinations and excursions. If you’re completely new to cruising or just looking for your next destination, Cruising with Jane McDonald is the ideal entry point to explore all things cruising.
The Secret Life of the Cruise
Aired: 2018
Episodes: 1
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
The Secret Life of the Cruise follows a voyage of one of the biggest cruise ships in the world, MSC Seaside, as it carries its 5,000 passengers and over 1,000 crew across the sea. This bitesize documentary lasts just over an hour and covers the things below deck that will give you an increased sense of appreciation for cruise ships.
This doc won’t necessarily give you a lot of inspiration in terms of destinations, but it offers a sense of scale that other shows based on cruises fail to capture. Learning about the people and machines that allow a cruise to operate will have you booking your next cruise holiday to appreciate this in person.
The World’s Most Expensive Cruise Ship
Aired: 2022-2023
Episodes: 10
Where to watch: My5
This opulent series follows the maiden voyage of Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ most luxurious cruise the Seven Seas Splendor. As the title suggests, this cruise ship is all about luxury with no expense spared, so it’s the ideal ship to demonstrate just how extravagant a cruise can be.
Rather than focusing on destinations, this series chooses to put a spotlight on the happenings onboard the world’s most expensive cruise ship, demonstrating the dining, shopping and leisure activities that can be experienced on board a top-end cruise.
Brendan’s Love Cruise
Aired: 2013
Episodes: 20
Where to watch: Channel 4
If Cruising with Jane McDonald and Love Island had a child, it’d be Brendan’s Love Cruise, but don’t let the romantic theme put you off – this reality series still offers plenty of great inspiration for cruising destinations as well as providing plenty of entertainment along the way.
The show follows a cruise ship around the Mediterranean offering singletons the chance to go on speed dates onboard and romantic offshore dates, showcasing the versatility of a cruise holiday.
The Cruise: Fun-loving Brits at Sea
Aired: 2023
Episodes: 20
Where to watch: My5
Following a similarly light-hearted tone to Brendan’s Love Cruise, The Cruise: Fun-loving Brits at Sea follows several families as they journey around the Mediterranean, a popular cruise destination for Brits looking for an introduction to cruises.
Throughout the show, guests disembark in Italy, Greece, Spain and Turkey, showcasing the variety of cultures that can be experienced in a short space of time on a cruise ship, one of the biggest advantages to a cruise holiday over other types of getaways.
We hope that once you’ve done a bit of casual research into cruises via these amazing TV shows, you’ll be ready to dive head-first into the planning of your next cruise holiday. It’s almost impossible to put across the grandeur and excitement of a cruise, even in 20 episodes, but you can get a taste of it to whet your appetite.
Whether you’re undecided on location, or not completely sold on cruise holidays, after watching any of the shows listed above, you’ll be quickly logging on to book your next getaway.