New to Cruising
A favourite saying in the cruise industry is that first-timers who pick the right ship will be smitten.
Cruising is a great holiday, a chance to see lots of places while only having to unpack once. There’s great food – and a lot of it - and an attentive crew on hand to look after you. So how do you get it right? You could just ask Reader Offers to find you a cruise, but I always recommend a little personal research so you know what the options are.
It takes a bit of effort, but it’s time well spent. River or ocean cruise? Your first decision is whether to take an ocean or river cruise. Choose the former and you’ll sail by night, usually arriving in port in the early morning and departing in the early evening. There will also be days when you just stay at sea.
A river cruise is quite different, if only because you’re always sailing in sight of land. You’ll make at least one stop a day, sometimes two, and you’ll often cruise in the day - that’s the time to be up on the top deck watching the world go by. Vessels sometimes stay moored late or overnight in cities so you can go ashore in the evening and enjoy a local restaurant or show.
Pick your ship
If you’ve decided on a river cruise, selecting a ship is relatively easy. River vessels are small, usually no more than 150 passengers, and meals are served in one dining room, often in one sitting. It’s usually the itinerary rather than the vessel that guides the decision.
It’s very different if you’re planning to sail the oceans and seas. There are ships that hold anything from just over 200 passengers to more than 5,400, some that are packed with fun activities to attract families, others that are more sedate and appeal to older passengers. Some operate a strict formal dress code on selected evenings, others are more casual and relaxed.
There are British cruise ships such as Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines and P&O Cruises, where fellow passengers will be from the UK, and American-style cruise lines, such as Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises, which are more cosmopolitan but will have a majority of passengers from the US, unless you choose a cruise that departs from the UK.
European cruise lines Costa Cruises and MSC Cruises attract a majority of Italians, but also French, German and Spanish passengers. On these, expect the British to be in the minority. There are edu-cruises with the likes of Voyages of Discovery, with lecturers to talk about the history and cultures of the places being visited, and ultra-luxury lines
such as Yachts of Seabourn that include drinks and gratuities in the price.
Many cruise lines keep fixed dining in the evening, where you are allocated a table and time to eat for the duration of the cruise, but increasingly they are offering an alternative flexible option as well, so you can dine when you want.
Where to cruise?
The world really is your oyster. You can cruise in the Mediterranean or Baltic, go scenery-spotting in Norway, island-hop around the Caribbean, enjoy an exotic voyage in the Far East, or be really adventurous on a cruise to the Galapagos, Arctic or Antarctica. If time is not an issue, why not hop on a cruise around the world?
When it comes to river cruising, the Rhine is the big seller, but there’s plenty more choice. Viking River Cruises, for instance, has voyages through wine country on the Rhône in France and from Berlin to Prague on the Elbe in Germany. If something more exotic appeals, there’s the waterways linking Moscow and St Petersburg in Russia, and the Yangtze in China.
The cabin/stateroom
There are four types of accommodation on cruise ships – Inside cabins with no window, Oceanview rooms with a window that doesn’t open, rooms with a Balcony and Suites. The latter will have a sitting area; the more luxurious ones will have a separate sitting room and often come with a butler. Not surprisingly, inside cabins are the cheapest and suites most expensive, but prices also vary depending on location and whether the view is blocked by a lifeboat, as can be the case on older ships.
River cruise vessels don’t have inside cabins but accommodation on lower decks often only has a porthole so you can’t enjoy the view from your cabin early morning as the ship is sailing, which is a real shame. A few vessels have cabins with proper-size balconies, but most have so-called Juliette balconies that are not big enough to stand on but have French windows that open for fresh air.
How to book
The best way to book a cruise is through a specialist cruise travel agent like Reader Offers. Sure, you can book online or over the phone with the cruise line, but if you’re after honest, impartial advice, you need to speak to someone who will find a cruise to match what you want.
Reader Offers staff know all about different ships, cabins, dress codes, dining options and much more, so they can make sure you don’t make a mistake and that you do have a wonderful holiday. Send us an enquiry now
Reader Offers also continually negotiate with the cruise lines to obtain the best prices and benefits to pass on to their customers. As well as a discount, you might get a free transfer from home to the airport, or chocolates and bubbly to welcome you to your cabin. Just don’t say I told you!
When to book?
This is the million-dollar question and there is no easy answer. New season brochures launch with tempting earlybooking offers, including discounts, on-board credits, free flights, cabin upgrades or free port parking if you are cruising from the UK. However, there are always late deals around as cruise lines cut prices to fill unsold cabins as the
departure date nears.
The best advice is to book as soon as possible if you see an itinerary, departure date or cabin you want as there is no guarantee that any late deals will match your requirements. On the other hand, if you don’t care which ship you’re on, are not bothered when you go and are happy in any cabin as long as it’s cheap, why not book a late deal.
Hints and Tips
- Book early if there is a specific cruise, ship or departure date you want.
- Avoid family-friendly ships (these are the ones advertising colourful kids clubs in their brochures), especially in school holidays, if you don’t want lots of children around.
- When budgeting, bear in mind that on most ships you’ll be expected to tip your room steward and the waiters at the end of your holiday. Most cruise lines post a daily charge of around £7 per person to your cruise account.
- Pre-book shore excursions if there is something you want to do as popular trips can get very booked up.
- Don’t worry! Remember you are planning a wonderful holiday, not applying for a job.
Start a cruise search now - using our advanced search tools
Cruises are becoming more and more popular each year and with so many different types of cruises available, there is something to suit everyone's style and taste.
It is the ideal way to visit a variety of different destinations and only unpack once. Wake up in a different destination almost everyday and enjoy the scenery and attractions at each port of call - taking an escorted shore excursion or enjoying the freedom of exploring independently.
A range of ships
There are so many different types of ships, ranging from smaller intimate ships to the larger extravagant ones. They all offer organised activities such as pool and deck games, quizzes, lectures and not forgetting shuffle board. There is also a wide selection of facilities onboard like pools, fitness centres, libraries, boutiques and spas. Larger ships sometimes even offer jogging tracks, golf simulators and bowling alleys.
Dining options
Many people think that dining on a cruise ship means you have to dress up every evening but this is not the case. Depending on the cruise line you choose, it can be as formal or as casual as you would like. There is always a selection of food available in several different restaurants such as self service, à la carte, speciality, silver service and snack bars so you are spoilt for choice. Food is usually available 24 hours a day.
Payments onboard
A credit account system operates onboard, whereby you are given a card which you use to charge any purchases to your cabin. You then settle your bill at the end of the cruise.
Evening entertainment
In the evening there is always plenty of entertainment onboard a cruise ship, such as comedy acts, theatre productions and musical shows. There is also usually a casino and a nightclub, as well as a wide selection of bars.
A choice of destinations
There is such a wide choice of destinations to choose from on a cruise such as Caribbean, Mediterranean, Northern Europe or even more exotic destinations such as Alaska, the Far East, Hawaii, Australasia, South America and the Indian Ocean. Of course, if you want a flavour of all these destinations on one cruise, then you can try a longer World Cruise!
No Fly options
If flying is not for you, there is also the option to depart from a UK port. As soon as you arrive at the port your holiday begins - no need to waste your holiday queuing at the airport or waiting for transfers. Many customers are worried about seasickness but most ships are so well stabilized that you can hardly feel it moving at all.
