Departure Lounge: One cruise, six destinations across Europe and North Africa 

Plus Football ferries to the UK for the Premier League

Explore some of this week's best getaway opportunities

Deal of the week

Sunset over the Fosso Reale in Via Scali delle Cantine, Livorno, Italy

Six destinations on one cruise offers bang for your buck on a family adventure. The multi-destination trip aboard MSC Virtuosa, departs July 6, 2027, with a seven-night itinerary calling to Barcelona, La Goulette in Tunisia, Palermo in Sicily, Naples, Livorno — the gateway to Florence and Pisa — and Marseille, before returning to Barcelona.

Covering North Africa, Spain, Italy, and the South of France, it promises diversity, beauty, and excitement. Flights, checked luggage, transfers, full-board accommodation, entertainment, and gratuities are included, with an all-inclusive upgrade available for €149pp. Priced from €1,159pp, based on two adults and two children travelling.

• sunway.ie

Ready for kick-off

Irish Ferries Football Flexi fares are aimed at football fans travelling to the UK for the Premier League

Irish Ferries new Football Flexi is pitched at Premier League fans travelling to the UK to support their team. Football Flexi offers free amendments if the fixture’s date or kick-off time changes with no fare increase, even if the new travel date would normally cost more. Short break fares cost from €132 per person, when four people travel together and you’ll avoid early morning airport queues while enjoying an onboard experience with comfy lounges, no luggage restrictions, multiple dining options, duty free shopping, sea views, and the chance to upgrade to Club class. Catch the 7:30am/8:05am sailing from Dublin and arrive in Holyhead at 11am/11.30am, just two hours from Liverpool, two and a half from Manchester and three hours from Birmingham.

• irishferries.com/FootballFlexi

Maldives for family fun

Aroma Lake in The Maldives

The Maldives isn’t always thought of as a family destination, but Kandima Maldives, which has just been named winner of the Family Activities & Entertainment category at the Family Traveller Awards 2026, aims to change all that.

Designed to welcome multi-generational families, the Indian Ocean resort, run by an Irishman, offers accessible rates to suit different budgets, and a year-round calendar of events. Alongside new attractions like Kandima Running Club and Fresh Labs’ foraging and farm tours, there’s a karting track, cool entertainment hub with gaming, escape room and VR experiences for older children and grown-ups, as well as more traditional sports, with water activities and an adventure park next on their plans. Sounds like a fun family option.

• kandima.com

Scotland on foot

Loch Ness at Fort Augustus Scotland

If you’ve never explored Scotland on foot, you’re missing out on a wonderful experience that’s just an hour away by plane. HF Holidays’ seven-night Great Glen Way Guided Trail follows the scenic 79-mile trail from Fort William to Inverness, passing the Caledonian Canal, Loch Lochy, Loch Oich, and Loch Ness.

The walking holiday experts include a private tour and tasting at Uile-bheist Distillery and Brewery as well as full-board accommodation, grade seven guided walks with an experienced HF leader, and transport where necessary. (All HF Holidays walks ar graded for ease of deciding what best suits your ability and fitness level.)

£1,649pp (approx €1,922) Book by October 16, 2026, for £50 off per person.

• HFHolidays.co.uk

Happy Halloween

Drogheda's Lú Festival of Light of light takes place from October 23-26

The Boyne Valley’s Home of Halloween programme spans five weeks and brings together four festivals and hundreds of events across Meath and South Louth from October 2 to November 8. It coverss everything from seasonal trails, folklore-inspired activities and immersive attractions to pumpkin patches, themed dining, thrilling events at Emerald Park and Farmaphobia at Causey Farm. October 23-26, Drogheda’s Lú Festival of Light will illuminate the town centre with giant projections, storytelling and light installations, while the celebrations continue with Púca Festival in Trim and Athboy from October 29-November 1 before Samhain Festival of Food & Culture in Kells, from November 5-8.

• boynevalleyhomeofhalloween.ie