Meet Blackbury
A specialist luxury cruise company for families, couples and grandparents.
Blackbury exists because choosing a luxury cruise has become harder than it should be. Hundreds of itineraries, a dozen lines that all call themselves luxury, suites that look identical on a deck plan and behave completely differently at sea. You don't need to research all of it. We'll tell you which options are worth considering.
About Blackbury
Why cruises
Because a good ship solves the hardest problem in family travel: moving a group of people with different ages, interests and energy levels through several places without anyone packing a bag twice. Done well, it is the easiest luxury holiday there is. Done badly, it is a week on the wrong ship.
Why families and grandparents
Because the people who most want to bring everyone together are the people with the least time to plan it. We plan around grandparents, parents, teenagers and small children at once: suites, dining, excursions at two speeds, and the flights and hotels either side.
What we believe
- Fewer, better options. Two or three ships we would actually book, with reasons.
- Honesty about fit. If a cruise is wrong for your party we say so, even if it means recommending something we don't arrange.
- One person owns your trip, from first conversation to the day you get home.
- Clear about money. Planning figures up front, a firm price in your proposal, nothing booked until you approve it.
What we won't do
- Invent urgency. We tell you about real constraints, like connecting suites selling out, and nothing else.
- Pretend ratings are independent. Our stars and verdicts are our opinion and labelled as such.
- Pass you to a call centre.
How we charge
Complimentary to start. Clear if it gets complicated.
The first conversation and first recommendations are complimentary, and there is no obligation. If a trip needs extensive research or itinerary design beyond the initial proposal, we agree any fee with you in writing before we begin.
How it works
What happens after you enquire
No obligation. No pressure. Just a conversation about what would work for your party.
Tell us what you're thinking
Two to five minutes online, or a call. Who's travelling, roughly when, and what matters most.
We call you
A cruise specialist talks it through: the party, the occasion, the budget, and anything that worries you.
We shortlist the right ships
Not forty options. Two or three we'd actually recommend, with the reasons, and the ones we'd avoid for you.
We build the trip
Cruise, suites, flights, hotels before and after, transfers, excursions, dining and any celebration on board.
You approve it
Nothing is booked until you're happy with the plan and the price.
We handle the rest
Documents, confirmations, requests to the ship, and one person to call before and during the voyage.
Tell us what you're looking for. We'll do the research.
Don't spend thirty hours comparing forty ships, cabins, dates, flights and hotels. Give us five minutes and we'll narrow it down to what is worth considering.