W hen booking a cruise , your holiday doesn’t have to start as you get on the ship or even when you disembark.

Instead, many passengers choose to combine a land-based holiday either pre or post- cruise .

Data from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), based on 2025 passenger data, found 64 per cent stayed at least one night in the cruise port city before or after their sailing. Another 15 per cent stayed one night before and one night after.

This has given rise to what tour operators and travel operators described as cruise and stay packages, with many offering deals that combine both.

You can also build you own deal by booking flights, hotels and cruises separately.

Arriving at or close to a cruise port ahead of your sailing can help you acclimatise to the different weather or timezone, or just ensure you don’t miss the ship’s departure.

Extending your trip on land after disembarking from a cruise can also give you more time to explore the final port on your itinerary or venture…