When planning your perfect cruise, there is a lot to think about! From picking the perfect destination to making sure you pack all the essentials, a new cruiser could easily feel overwhelmed!
If you make the right choices, cruising is a great travel option. You will have the opportunity to visit many interesting and varied places whilst having plenty of time to relax onboard your luxury cruise ship.
All food and accommodation is taken care of, you can just sit back and concentrate on enjoying yourself!
In this article, we look at how to plan your perfect cruise.
Choose The Right Cruise Line
Budget
A good place to start is to do some research and select a cruise line that matches your budget.
A lot of us would love to cruise with a high-end cruise line like Seabourn, Viking, Emerald or Regent Seven Seas. These cruise lines offer an all-inclusive experience on a smaller ship. Service is personalised, and your every need is taken care of.
Unfortunately those sorts of cruises are out of the price range of the majority of passengers.
Unless you are willing to spend multiple thousands of pounds per person on a week-long cruise, you may be better off looking at a better-value alternative.
There are many good value cruise lines to choose from, and you can still have a wonderful cruise experience, even if you are paying much less.
More budget lines include Carnival, MSC, Costa and P&O. I have sailed with all these cruise lines – some on multiple occasions. As long as you tailor your expectations to the price you paid, I think you will be happy.
Family or Adult Only Cruises?
This is an important thing to consider when you are looking at booking a cruise. Who will you be travelling with?
If you are travelling with adults, you might want to consider an adult-only cruise line like Virgin Voyages. Many other lines, like P&O and Marella for example, have adult-only cruise ships.
Although the prices of cruises on these ships go up and down seasonally as you would expect, the prices don’t rise disproportionally once the school holidays start.
Cruise lines know that families have little choice but to pay inflated cruise prices in school holidays – it’s all down to supply and demand.
If you are sailing on a ship that appeals to families, at the very least, make sure you travel outside school holidays if at all possible. It will be far less crowded, and more enjoyable.
If you are travelling with children, it’s best to choose a line that offers lots onboard to occupy them. Many ships have great kid’s clubs, pools, and waterparks – some even have bumper cars, laser quest and roller skating.
When I took my nieces on a cruise recently, we picked Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas. They absolutely loved it! Find out about all the fun things we got up to in the video below:
If you are taking a cruise with children, don’t automatically jump to the conclusion that a Disney Cruise would be the best option.
Although the ships are lovely, and they provide a truly unique experience, unless your children are huge Disney fans, I think they might find the whole experience overwhelming.
Disney cruises are far more expensive than the mainstream cruise lines too – you might be best researching Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, MSC or Costa instead.
The Italian cruise lines Costa and MSC, despite being on the budget end, are really family-orientated!
Find out how I got on when I took a really cheap Costa cruise out of season below. The ship was full of families with children:
Themed Cruises
Keep an eye out for themed cruises. You might find one that really suits your interests and tastes.
These cruises tend to be short cruises – long weekends or five-night sailings.
These are some of the themed cruises I have seen advertised:
- Culinary Cruises – Often like a food festival at sea, often featuring Celebrity Chefs
- Yoga and Spa Retreat Cruises – The majority of cruise ships have spas, and many offer Yoga classes, but you can find themed cruises where this is the main focus of the holiday.
- Comedy Cruises – featuring famous stand-up comedians
- Cricket Legend Cruises – for sports fans. Famous cricketers share their cricketing stories and experiences with guests
- Decade-themed cruises – where guests listen to bands and tribute bands whilst dressing in period/themed clothing – like a festival at sea!
Find out about the wonderful time I had on a Marella 1990’s themed cruise here:
Check YouTube, Cruise Critic or TripAdvisor For Reviews
Once you have found a cruise line or ship you are interested in, it might be worth checking out reviews from people who have sailed on the ship in the past.
Obviously, take reviews with a pinch of salt – not every cruise line is going to suit every cruiser – and some people will find fault with everything.
If the majority of the reviews are positive, then I would take it as a good sign that I will like the ship or cruise line.
Choose Your Ideal Destination
What is a perfect destination for one traveller, won’t be for another. That is the great thing about cruising, there is something for everyone.
Have a think about what is important to you. Do you like history and culture? Are you a beach lover? Are you an adventure seeker? Choose a destination that has lots to offer for your particular interests.
- Adventure Seekers
- Try Alaska for stunning glaciers and wildlife. Norway is also amazing and offers rib boat rides or kayaking in the breathtaking fjords.
- The Galapagos Islands or Antarctica can offer expensive but “once-in-a-lifetime” expedition-type cruising.
- History and Culture
- On Mediterranean cruises, you can explore ancient ruins and vibrant cities. You can visit many countries and experience much in a one week cruise.
- Take a Southeast Asia cruise to experience diverse cultures and interesting food.
- Beach Lovers
- Caribbean cruises are understandably very popular and offer white sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters.
- South Pacific itineraries visit tropical paradises like Fiji and Tahiti.
Give some consideration to the time of year you wish to travel.
It may be best to travel outside of the peak seasons when the weather is still good, and there are fewer tourists at all the major attractions.
Find out more about that in the article below:
Cruise Destinations and Timings (Peak Seasons, Popular Itineraries and Weather)
Booking Your Cruise
Choose Your Cabin Type
I often book an inside cabin. They are comfortable, well laid out, and great value for money. I get some of the best sleep in inside cabins because they are so dark. Of course, this could also be considered a disadvantage, as you don’t know when the sun comes up. You could sleep until lunchtime and not know!
Find out about the smallest cabins I have stayed in here:
Balcony cabins are great for many. It’s nice to have your own personal bit of outside space, particularly if the destination you are visiting offers lots of stunning scenery.
Have a look at my favourite ever balcony cabin – and why I liked it so much below. This cabin was onboard Norwegian Prima:
Ocean view cabins may offer you a good “middle ground” option. You get the views and the natural light, but at a cheaper price.
If you are happy to spend more, you could book a suite. This will offer you extra space, luxurious amenities, and VIP services like priority boarding and concierge assistance.
I personally don’t need the extra space, priority boarding, or a concierge, so I would prefer to book two cruises at a lower price instead. This is down to personal preference, of course…
Itinerary
Check the daily schedule for activities onboard, ports of call, and the time you will spend at each destination.
Have a look at the excursions offered by the cruise line. Do they visit the places you want to see? Do they offer the activities you would like to try? – snorkelling, kayaking etc.
How expensive are the cruise line excursions? Can you visit those places by yourself? Are they easy to walk to, or could you use public transport?
Find out more about what to expect when getting off in port in the article below:
Getting The Most For Your Money When Booking
Sometimes, it is possible to book a bargain last-minute cruise. But to take advantage of these cheap prices, you need to be able to travel at a moment’s notice and be prepared to be flexible about the itinerary you take.
If you find the perfect cruise itinerary and time you would like to travel, my advice would be to book it when you see it. Otherwise, it might sell out, and you will be disappointed.
Find out about that in more detail here:
How Far In Advance Should You Book A Cruise? (Last Minute Isn’t Always Best)
I took a cruise on Celebrity Infinity. I booked it only a couple of weeks before the cruise, and I wasn’t sure what cruising on an older Celebrity ship would be like. It sailed from Athens around the Greek Islands and Turkey – but I was happy to go anywhere, really.
Find out how I got on, and why the cruise was so cheap in the video below:
Use A Travel Agent Or Book Directly?
I prefer to book via a cruise travel agent. You get an unbiased opinion when it comes to choosing your cruise, and often added extras that you won’t get booking direct – like onboard credit or chocolates and wine in your cabin on arrival.
On occasion, I book direct, but that is only if I know exactly what I want to book and there is an online discount code I can use to get a cheaper price.
Find out all about that in more detail here:
Preparing For Your Cruise
Make sure you have everything planned and packed in advance, I cruise regularly so I think I have packing off to a fine art! Read the article below to make sure you don’t miss anything:
Planning And Packing For Your Cruise – Things To Do In Advance!
It is very important to get your cruise paperwork in order before you leave home. Passports, visas, luggage tags, cruise paperwork, etc.
Read the article below to make sure you haven’t forgotten anything:
Cruise Paperwork! Make Sure You Don’t Forget Essential Paperwork, or You Won’t Be Sailing Anywhere…
When I sail, I tend to take a range of “just in case” first aid items and medications. You can buy these things onboard in the shop, but they will probably cost you double.
Find out more about that, and what I do to make sure I stay healthy when I cruise here:
Staying Healthy When You Cruise, Avoiding Seasickness – Medications and First Aid Items to Pack
Make The Most Of Your Cruise
Once onboard, check out the cruise ship’s daily schedule, which can be found in your cabin as a paper sheet or via the cruise line App.
That way, you won’t miss the shows, the entertainment, the offers on Spa treatments, the interesting lectures etc.
When onboard, you can do as little or as much as you want. It’s fine just to sit on your balcony with a good book, or watch the world go by.
If you know what’s going on onboard and when, you can include it in your schedule – or avoid it like the plague – depending on your preferences!
Enjoy your ports of call, either exploring on your own or taking a cruise line excursion.
If you do a little research before you travel as to what is worth a visit in each port, you will have a plan. You may not have WiFi onboard, or mobile data in port, so do your research beforehand.
If you want to make new friends or socialise with other passengers, go along to dance classes, wine tastings, language classes etc.
Some people like to meet other passengers through cruise forums or social media groups before departure and arrange meet-ups once onboard.
Before You Go
One of the great things about cruises is there is something to suit everyone, and it is great for nervous travellers. Find out why here:
Why Cruises Are Perfect for Nervous First-Time Travellers
Find out about things that cost extra on cruises, so you aren’t caught out here:
Onboard Expenses – What Costs Extra On A Cruise? Gratuities, Wi-Fi And More…
Free Insiders Cruise Line Guide
Ever wondered how the mainstream cruise lines compare? Cruise lines won’t tell you this, but I will.
This FREE guide shows you everything you need to know to find your perfect cruise line.
Whenever I take a cruise I order a print of my trip. It uses the real satellite data from the cruise and is always a great conversation starter!
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