Which cruise line is right for me?
Are you worried about getting seasick? Out of all of the cruises I’ve taken, I’ve only felt seasick once, and that was on the way back to New York from the Caribbean we had to take a detour due to a storm and so we were skirting around the edge, causing swell in the ocean. It lasted a day or so and wasn’t overly pleasant. But that is the only time. If you do suffer from seasickness maybe a river cruise might be better for you, that way there is no ocean swell and you are always right alongside land. Potential river cruise lines are: AmaWaterways (5*), APT (4*), Croisi Europe (3+*), Emerald (4*), Fred Olsen (3+*), Riviera (4*), Scenic (5*), Uniworld (5*) and Viking (5*). Bear in mind that river cruising does tend to attract an older market (average age is around 50). River cruising is ideal for those of you wanting to get right into the heart of a city. Most river cruise lines carry electric bikes on board and you can take these off for the day. They are usually all inclusive too so no need for carrying cash on you.
Do you want to try an Expedition cruise? If you are someone who prefers a ‘hot’ holiday rather than a ‘cold’ holiday, this isn’t the cruise for you! Having said that, expedition cruising is fast becoming very popular and attracts all ages. Expedition cruise lines include the following: Aurora (4*), Hurtigruten (4*), and Ponant (5*). These lines all specialise in expedition cruising, although there are some more mainstream cruise lines who do cruises to Alaska as well. You can also take an expedition cruise to the Galapagos, a destination where only a limited number of ships are allowed at a time so if you're looking to escape the crowds this is the cruise for you! On an Alaskan cruise the ships usually have experts on board who will chat to you about what you are seeing, and the environment around you.
Are you wanting an adult only cruise where you can relax knowing that no little bundles of fun will be running around disturbing your peace? Cruise lines to try would be Azamara (5*), Crystal (6*), Cunard (5*), Oceania (5*), Ponant (5*), Regent Seven Seas (6*), Saga (4*), Seabourn (6*), and Silversea (6*).
Alternatively, if you are looking for a family holiday, and cruising really is for everybody – from amazing kids clubs for those with littlun’s, to adults only areas for those who want their space, to family friendly stage shows. Every taste and age are catered for. I recommend the following cruise lines for families: Carnival (4*), Celebrity (5*), MSC (4+*), Norwegian Cruise Line (4*), P&O (4*), and Royal Caribbean (4*). There are other cruise lines who accept children, but don’t really cater to them as such so this is my shortlist of the most appropriate for families with children.
I have shown the star ratings of all of these cruises because some cruisers have larger budgets than others, so the ultra-luxury cruises will be the 6* lines shown above. Other factors to take into account are age (some lines cater more to those aged 50+ so you probably wouldn’t want to be choosing one of these if you’re a couple in your 30’s), size of the ship (larger ships have more on board to keep everyone entertained, but smaller ships can get closer in to port and can access some ports that larger ships can’t), accessibility (most lines cater for passengers with disabilities these days, but some are better than others), food - some ships have just one or two restaurants, but the larger ships could have 25 eateries on board1 No more having to be in the formal dining room at 6pm and being seated with people you don't know. Eating on a cruise ship these days is all part of the fun (and one of the things I enjoy most about being on a cruise!). And finally the destination (so many ships visiting so many destinations, there is so much to choose from, from Caribbean to Mediterranean, Asia to Australasia, Europe to South America, and Alaska to the Galapagos, and everything in between!). You could go on a World cruise for 6 months, or a taster cruise for 3 nights. You can cruise out of Southampton meaning no flights required, or you can join a cruise ship from Florida, or Barcelona, there are so many embarkation points. You can tie in a trip on the Rocky Mountaineer with a cruise to Alaska to celebrate a special birthday or anniversary. Or even a trip to Disney World with a Disney Cruise. There are so many options out there!
I could go on and on about cruising, so if you have any questions, just ask, and I will find the perfect cruise for you. Above is just a snapshot of some of the cruise lines out there, but there are so many that I can't list them all here. Whatever you decide, you will not regret trying a cruise.