Strictly come cruising

Shows such as ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ and Come Dine With Me have led to a renewed surge in demand for themed holidays, according to a leading UK travel company. Since the recent series of the popular dance show began two months ago, travel retailer Cruise118 has received hundreds of enquiries about their selection of dance-themed cruises. Meanwhile, the popularity of cooking shows such as Come Dine With Me and Masterchef have created a demand for cookery-themed holidays.

James Cole, director of Cruise118, said: “Programmes like ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ are extremely popular and attract millions of viewers.

“We’ve been inundated with enquiries about dance and food themed cruises at the moment and customers are telling us that, having watched the experts on TV, they have been inspired to learn new skills or enhance existing ones.

“A themed cruise can be the perfect opportunity to meet new people, indulge in your favourite hobby, or try something new and it looks like a cooking and dancing craze is sweeping Britain at the moment.”

Many mainstream cruises already offer dance classes and even ice rinks for those wanting to try out their moves on the ice. Those who want to focus on improving their skills or enjoying their favourite hobbies whilst on holiday can choose from a selection of specifically tailored cruises visiting fantastic destinations relevant to the nature of the cruise.

The team at Cruise118 say that Brazil is the most popular destination for those embarking on dance cruises whilst the Mediterranean provides the favourite location for those with a passion for cooking.

In addition to food and dance themed cruises, Cruise118 offer a broad range of experiences to suit all preferences. Arts and crafts cruises, singles cruises, golf cruises, spa cruises and bridge cruises are just a few of the broad range available.

These findings follow last week’s figures from web analyst Hitwise reporting that, despite UK internet traffic to travel websites falling by 4.6 per cent over the last year, cruise companies experienced an 8.2 per cent increase.

James continues: “The cruise sector as a whole is still thriving, despite the current economic downturn, as people look to make their holiday budget stretch as far as possible.

“Themed cruises in particular offer fantastic value for money as all food, lessons, seminars and entertainment are all inclusive.”

For more information visit Cruise118.com.