There are so many cruise lines now, and so much choice. So how do you make a decision.....?
The information below is based on my personal experience or the views I have read from other cruisers. My views are likely to appeal to British cruisers, though comments from other nationalities would be very welcome. If a ship or cruise line is not included, this is because I don’t have enough information to post an opinion. It has no bearing on my opinion of any particular cruise line. Please feel free to comment, and I will take your views in to account in any updates to the blog.
1. Budget
When choosing a cruise, budget is a very important factor, not only what you can afford, but also what you are prepared to spend. You can keep costs low by:
a) Choosing a shorter cruise
b) Choosing a budget cabin
c) Choosing a budget cruise line
d) Booking at the last minute
If you do this, you will still get to visit some fabulous locations, and, in most cases, have access to the same facilities as passengers who pay more. This is definitely an option to consider.
Low budget cruise lines include Thomson and Island Cruise lines. They both receive high ratings from their customers.
Cheaper cabins are normally on a lower deck without a window. If this doesn’t bother you, then it is a value option...but book early. Most of these cabins sell out fast.
Cheaper cabins are normally on a lower deck without a window. If this doesn’t bother you, then it is a value option...but book early. Most of these cabins sell out fast.
Book a weekender or 5 or 7 day cruise. You still get the ‘cruise’ experience’ and you pay a lot less!
If your timetable is flexible, then keep a case packed and take advantage of a last minute bargain. This is how cruise lines fill up cruises which are not fully booked. You don’t get to choose your cabin, and may have to travel at a few days notice, but you can often nail a real bargain.
Cabin
If you are worried about seasickness, book a cabin which is on a low deck and midships. If you want the best views, then port side and forward is probably a good bet. If you don’t like to be shut in and enjoy a bit of privacy, choose a balcony and check if it is overlooked. For real luxury, book a suite, but expect to pay a lot extra. For some people either a bath or shower is important, so check out the plumbing before you book. The longer the cruise, the more time you are likely to spend in your cabin, and the more luggage you will need to fit into the limited storage space.
If you don’t like flying, this is an easy decision, but bear in mind that, when sailing from the UK, you will spend several sea days reaching your destination. A long haul flight will save time, and often money, although your luggage will be severely restricted. Think carefully before booking a 7 day cruise with 2 long haul flights...you will be tired from long flights and jet lag with very little time to recover. One option is to fly out and sail back...but these cruises normally sell out very quickly.
Where to Sail?
The further you travel, the longer it takes! It is probably a good idea to take a short cruise first before investing large sums of money.
For winter sunshine, you probably need to sail at least as far as the Canaries.
Which Cruiseline?
Choice of cruise line and ship is important. Your ship will be your ‘home’ for the duration of your cruise. Here are some considerations....
Balconies tend to be less expensive on larger ships, and there are more facilities.
Smaller ships are more intimate, with greater access to more remote ports.
Some ships, such as Arcadia and Saga ships are child-free. For family friendly go for ships such as Ventura, Azura, Aurora RCL. In school holidays there will be more children on board.
If you want a truly British environment, consider P&O or Fred Olsen. For a multi-national ship, try Azamura, MSC or Costa.
Cunard has strict formal dress codes, Princess is an example of a slightly less formal ship, though still having some formal nights.
Some ships, such as Fred Olsen and Cunard provide dancing partners for single passengers. On RCL there are dedicated facilities such as a ‘flow-rider’ for more athletic passengers and teens.
If you want a truly luxurious all inclusive experience, then consider Regent or Siverseas. Thomson also offer an all inclusive drinks package on some ships.
I LOVE THEM ALL. WHICH WILL YOU CHOOSE?
Very interesting Claire, we have now done 30 cruise and enjoyed them all, admittedly some more than others, we always book an inside cabin, we say what we save goes towards the next cruise. Our favourite cruise line is Princess, but having cruises many times with them they do offer a lot of perks to return passengers. You can also gain on board credit by being a shareholder, for instance by having Carnival Plc shares you can get on board credit with several cruise lines.
ReplyDelete