There's a cruise for everyone...

Cruising it's having it's hay day presently, with more and more passengers opting to cruise for their next big getaway than ever before. Cruise lines are constantly updating their fleet and are adding more and more ships to keep up with the demand so it's no surprise you find yourself wondering what all the fuss is about and whether you should take the plunge.

I absolutely adore cruising. I have spent many a day at sea and on many cruise lines and I have previously specialised in cruise so I am well versed in the cruise lingo and what you should be thinking about for your first cruise holiday.

Firstly, I always ask, what sort of holiday are you looking for and what do you enjoy? Like land resorts, cruises cater for different tastes and they suit varying clientele. If you are after an action packed family adventure I would be naturally guiding you towards lines such as Royal Caribbean or Disney . If you are a couple looking for an intimate more luxurious cruise I would naturally guide you towards Oceania or Celebrity as examples (there are many many many cruise lines available!)

Secondly, have a budget in mind. Cruises can vary dramatically in cost and it tends to be dependant on the ship's facilities and what level of luxury they are offering. A budget line might be offering a week in the Greek isles for a quarter of the price of a luxury line. Cruising is pretty much as bespoke as choosing any holiday. For the UK market, budget conscious travellers could take a look at P&O, Ambassador, Norwegian, Marella and MSC Cruises. For mid budget, take a look at Fred Olsen, Celebrity, Cunard, Royal Caribbean, Holland America and Disney cruises. For luxury/high end budgets take a look at the likes of Oceania, Silversea, Explora Journeys and Regent Seven Seas. There are of course many other cruise lines to consider but these were just the first to spring to mind. Some of the lines mentioned have a limited UK season, others have ships year round that depart from the UK.

That brings nicely on to point number three- are we flying or after a UK departure? The UK has many cruise ports, the majority  of ships do still  depart from Southampton but there are other options such as Liverpool, London (Tilbury), Portsmouth, Dover, Newcastle and Rosyth. A few other limited departures from ports such as Belfast which are usually highlighted by the particular cruise line are sometimes available. If you plan on flying to a destination to pick up your cruise these flights can sometimes be included as part of the cruise operator package or you can choose to have it packaged up by your Travel Counsellor, the latter can allow for pre and post cruise stays in your departure destination, For example, for our honeymoon in Asia, I have packaged a Celebrity cruise together with flights, transfers and accommodation before and after in Singapore. This allows for a little more flexibility with your holiday- there are many things you can include on your cruise holiday!

Cruises operate around the world. But as a quick guide for best times to travel here are some suggestions:

-Summer season: Europe, Alaska and Northern America itineraries (late Summer into Autumn).

- Winter season: Caribbean, Pacific, Asia and Australasia

Key exceptions:

- Japan in March/April is cherry blossom season, cruises can get booked up years in advance so it is worth planning ahead!

- Round The World itineraries usually take place at the beginning of the year i.e. January - April

So you've chosen your ideal cruise line and destination, now you are faced with array of accommodation options. Inside, outside, balcony, suite cabins and their various grading systems can be quite confusing. But essentially most ocean cruise lines follow the rule that the more mid ship location a cabin is, regardless of cabin type, it will be more expensive. This generally is because it's simpler to get around the ship being in a mid location and folks tend to believe you won't feel the ship's movements as much being central (ships nowadays have stabilisers to aide with this!).  Your cabin will then be priced on it's inclusions and overall size. For example, I have opted in for a centrally located Aqua Class veranda (balcony) on a Celebrity ship. Because I have chosen the Aqua class (and it's additional inclusions) I am paying for those extra  inclusions (such as access to an Aqua class restaurant) and I am paying more for the location of the cabin over others that might be at the forward or aft of the ship. I can then choose to do it as a cruise fare or include what's known on Celebrity as 'All Included' which includes the classic drinks package and basic Wi-Fi. If I add the All Included on I will be paying additionally for it. I have used Celebrity as an example as that's who my honeymoon is with but the cruise lines operate similarly with various add on options available. It's not the easiest side of cruising to understand which is why it is super handy you have a super knowledgeable Travel Counsellor on hand to help!

You might hear a few new terms in the world of cruising so I will try my best to explain the following few:

- Gratuities: Essentially tips. Most cruise lines expect this and they can be pre-paid at the time of booking or will be added at a daily rate to your final cruise bill. These can range from an average of between £5-£20 per person per day so they can add up. But they are for the hard working staff so please consider the level of service you are likely to receive before bemoaning the fees charged.

- Cabin berths: How many passengers does the cabin sleep. Generally cruise lines can be limited by up to 4 in any cabin , but many do offer interconnecting options (a door through the two cabins and the ability to open up the two balconies) or suite options have more berth's available.

- On board credit: A perk sometimes offered by cruise lines, see this as a credit attached to your passenger name. As you buy things on the ship you will use your cruise card (given to you when you embark) what you spend will be firstly credited by the on board credit and then you will be charged for everything after. For example, I had a £100 on board credit for my last cruise, I booked a massage on board that cost £70. It came off that on board credit and I had £30 left to spend before my credit card was charged. 

- Embarkation and disembarkation: You will usually be given times to get on and off the ship at the beginning and end of your cruise. Operators can be quite strict with this, especially if you are departing on a bigger ship from Southampton. Abide by these and if you are part of a larger group and want to embark together, use the latest boarding time for your party. You are unlikely to be let on to the ship earlier than your designated time. Nobody wants to be waiting outside the terminal for hours on end. Disembarkation details are usually posted to your cabin a day or two before your departure and will detail everything you need to do before you leave. These differ on fly cruises and can differ flight to flight so it is imperative you take note of your specific details. 

There are many more terms that I will cover in part 2 but consider this your first introduction to the world of ocean cruising - I am always happy to help suggest the perfect cruise for you! 

And finally, to conclude part 1 I just wanted to highlight that for any cruise booking you will always need cruise specific travel insurance (they will check!) and cruise lines have varying accessibility requirements that I strongly recommend checking out before you book. 

Happy sailing!