For many of us, boat travel beats air travel hands down. No overcrowded departure lounges, no in-flight contortionism, no disappearing luggage. Which makes you wonder why most cruisers start their holiday by getting on a plane.

Of course, you don’t have to. Many cruise lines now harbour their ships in home waters, which means you can step straight out of your car and into your holiday, with no airport hassle. There’s a choice of two dozen ports of departure, from Dover to Newcastle, Liverpool to Leith — you can even sail from Tower Bridge, in the heart of the capital. And with air fares struck out of the budget, it’s better value, too.

So, where can a Britain-based cruise holiday take you, aside from a hop across the Channel or the North Sea? Simple answer: anywhere you fancy. This summer, Fred Olsen Cruise Lines alone will offer 91 cruises from the UK, with a range of destinations that spans the Arctic and the Amazon, including the Med, the States, the Canaries and Africa. Here’s our round-up of the best options for 2007.

THE BALTIC

The ship:in a former life, the Discovery starred on American television as the original Love Boat. It has gone from soap suds to studious sophistication. Its passengers are keen both to see the world and to understand it — there is a full menu of shipboard lectures, not to mention a 5,000 volume library.

The cruise: the Discovery sails from Harwich on a range of summer cruises to Scandinavia and the Baltic. As you glide ever northward, the summer days stretch on and on — peaking with the 10-night Land of the Midnight Sun trip, departing on June 14 and calling at Alesund, Honningsvag, Tromso, Leknes, Flam and Gudvangen. Prices start at £1,199pp; call 01444 462150 or visit www.voyagesofdiscovery.com .

NEW YORK

The ship: Cunard is the only line now offering regular transatlantic crossings between Southampton (which you can reach by chartered train from Waterloo) and New York. These days, the Queen Mary 2 has taken over the route from the Queen Elizabeth 2 — it’s huge, and can weather the worst Atlantic storm without driving you to your sickbed.

You’ll find that most of your fellow voyagers are American, but the style is pure Blighty, right down to the Golden Lion pub, the Royal Court theatre and Churchill’s cigar bar. The crew includes full-time librarians and proper English nannies. The cruise: crossings run from April to October, last six days and start at £899pp, including a return flight. Sounds cheap, but note that there are 25 bands, with the dearest running to £14,349. Call 0845 071 0300 or visit www.cunard.co.uk .

THE MED

The ship: “solid as a battleship” is how the cruise guru Douglas Ward describes the Black Prince. This modest two-star will disappoint those seeking glamour on the high seas, and on-board facilities are few, but it inspires affection among its mainly British passengers — many wouldn’t dream of sailing on any other ship. The cruise: a 14-night trip, departing from Liverpool on July 25 and visiting La Coruña, Tangier, Monaco, Barcelona, Ibiza and Lisbon, starts at £1,432pp. Call 01473 742424 or visit www.fredolsencruises.co.uk .

THE CANARIES

The ship: the P&O fleet sails out of Southampton throughout the summer and, despite being American-owned, it’s still a bastion of Britishness. The Oriana will have revamped cabins, a Gary Rhodes restaurant, extra kids’ facilities and more this summer. It’s a popular ship with families, as well as couples of all ages. The cruise: the 12-night Canaries Discovery cruise sails on April 12, visiting Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, Tenerife and La Palma, as well as Madeira and Lisbon. Prices start at £1,049pp; call 0845 355 5333 or visit www.pocruises.co.uk .

ROUND BRITAIN

The ship: Ocean Majesty is a rather grandiose name for this two-star boat — although it’s looking much sprucer after a £1m upgrade. Its small stature allows easy access to lesser ports, essential if you’re going to get the most from a round-Britain whizz. You’ll have compatriots for company, most of them over 50. The cruise: from Harwich, a nine-day itinerary takes you north via Aberdeen and by the Western Isles en route to Greenock, on the Firth of Clyde, within easy reach of Glasgow. Then it’s down to Dublin, the Isles of Scilly and Dartmouth before you sail home up the Thames into the open arms of Tower Bridge. Prices start at £637pp for the May 17 departure (other Ocean Majesty cruises depart on July 14 and September 12); call 0800 043 0234 or visit www.pageandmoy.com .

THE INDIAN OCEAN

The ship: small and traditional, the Van Gogh carries 550 passengers and offers good value — £46 per day. The cruise: there’s eight weeks of it, sailing from Falmouth on October 1, following the sun through the Med and Suez to the Seychelles, Madagascar, the Comores and Zanzibar. Then it’s back to Crete, Sicily, Gibraltar and, 54 days later, not-so-sunny Cornwall. Prices start at £2,499pp; call 0870 380 3333 or visit www.travelscope.co.uk .

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