Deborah Gray

A three-night no‑fly cruise aboard Windstar’s Star Pride travels from London to Belgium, avoiding EU Entry/Exit System queues while offering comfortable accommodation, varied dining and sociable company. Excursions to Ghent and Antwerp highlight local architecture and food, and onboard entertainment is modest but warmly received. The voyage ends with a return along the Thames, with prices starting from £1,253 per person for future departures.

Britons aged 50 and over are increasingly planning extended 'golden gap year' holidays, driven by shifting priorities and rising interest in premium travel experiences. A range of European options cater to this demand, from luxury rail journeys across Switzerland and Italy to long-duration cultural tours through Northern Europe. Other featured experiences include Norway’s coastal voyages, bespoke city-hopping rail itineraries, private Croatian yacht charters, wildlife trips in Slovenia, Greek archaeological and island tours, the full Camino pilgrimage, Italian culinary journeys, and scenic tours of Scotland’s Highlands and islands. These packages highlight slow travel, cultural immersion and comfort, appealing to older travellers seeking meaningful, well-organised adventures.