All Your Need to Know Questions Answered

Cruise holidays

Tips on booking the right one for you

Picture courtesy of Stephen Birch

If you have never been on a cruise holiday before, booking one can probably seem like a daunting prospect, especially when many people also feel that cruising is just for the rich and that taking a cruise is expensive. However with some careful planning and research you should be able to find some great cruise deals and book the holiday of your dreams and learn to love the cruising experience.

The first thing you need to do is decide on where you want to go, the most popular destinations, with the most cruise lines running are the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, however areas such as Baltic and Scandinavian are becoming increasingly popular as well as Alaska and Canada. As we want to further our horizons we like to explore further afield or places which in the past may not have been popular tourist destinations such as the Middle East, Far East, South America, are now accessible by cruise holidays or you could opt for a round the world cruise. However if you don’t fancy far flung destinations, don’t worry there are cruises available around the British Isles too!

Picture courtesy of Grand Velas Riviera Maya

There are different types of breaks available, many people choose to depart from a UK destination such as Southampton, and this is great for Mediterranean cruises however for further destinations such as the Caribbean this isn’t always available. However you do have the option of choosing a fly and cruise holiday or a cruise and stay holiday, which allows for time to get to your destination by air, before departing on the cruise.

Once you have chosen your destination, booking onto the right ship for you is your next task. Cruise lines offer a wide range of ships to cater to many different ranges from families, to couples and solo travellers which mean the will be plenty of options at your chosen destination. The size of ships can also greatly vary with smaller more intimate ships only holding a couple of hundred passengers, to the larger ships which can hold up to a couple of thousand. Smaller ships tend to have a more personal, intimate feel however sometimes on board activities and restraint choices can be less. Larger ships don’t always offer the same personal feel but they do have plenty to offer passengers entertainment wise.

 Picture courtesy of dustin.askins

Finding a good deal is also relatively easy especially with the internet! Many cruise companies offer early bird discounts, for booking early you should also enquire about and free credits for on board drinks of for excursions, sometimes these can be included in an offer. However you need to check the costs on board before booking, it could tip you out of your price range, depending on how much you wish to spend. Sometimes packages for food and drink can be bought beforehand but again make sure you check what these include.