Cruising 101: how to book a cruise for the first time
Tackling a cruise for the first time can seem daunting, with a dizzying assortment of companies, itineraries, and destinations available. With this in mind, how can first-timers book a cruise without going wrong? We asked three experts for their seasoned advice: Carolyn Spencer Brown, chief content strategist at Cruise Critic, and travel specialists Mathy Wassmerman and Tom Baker. Here’s their advice for planning a foolproof oceangoing vacation.
Above: Image credit: Instagram.com/silverseacruises
Image credit: Instagram.com/cruiseexperience
What is the best cruise destination for a first-timer?
First, know that you have two major types of cruise available: ocean or river. Ocean cruises are the most common, and tend to have larger ships and cover more ground. River cruises, by contrast, must have smaller ships because they navigate more narrow waterways, and thus will carry fewer passengers. There are advantages to both: you may prefer a more intimate sailing experience, or may be prone to seasickness: In that case, river cruising would be ideal for you (you really won’t feel much movement on those calm channels). If, however, you’re traveling with a group or want a variety in where and what to eat, or what to do, an ocean cruise is definitely the way to go.
Ultimately, we say to opt for the Caribbean for your first cruising experience. It’s easy and affordable to reach the boarding ports, and shuttling between the clusters of islands offers a compact, convenient contrast in cultures. “Think of a cruise as a tapas menu,” says Carolyn Spencer Brown; it allows you to sample destinations to which you might later return for a longer visit. Even handier, almost every island accepts payment in US dollars, so there’s no need to juggle currencies, and you’re not likely to face language barriers or bad weather.
How long is best for a first-time trip?
Five days to a week is the sweet spot for most first-time travellers, which will offer at least three ports to explore. Shorter itineraries, like three-day samplers, generally won’t allow you to explore more than one destination, and you can’t decompress as thoroughly, either. Trips that are ten days or longer, on the other hand, skew heavily toward retirees and people who don’t have limits on the number of days they can be absent from their 9-to-5 employers. Inevitably, a slew of sixty-somethings on a three-week trip can dampen the vibe for younger cruisers.
Image credit: Instagram.com/cruiseexperience
How do you book?
Cruise lines offer direct booking on their websites, but seasoned cruisers usually rely on a travel agent. Though agents’ roles have diminished in the mass-market travel business, they remain crucial for cruising. Not only do specialists offer seasoned advice, they can also wrangle deals and promos you may not know about: Ask them about shipboard credit, which is the seafaring equivalent of a gift card to spend onboard—$100 or so is a standard bonus.
How do you pick a room?
There’s an array of options (and pricing), especially on mega-ships. For first-timers who aren’t likely to spend much of the trip lounging in the room or exploring the attractions on-board, a cheaper interior cabin with no window or balcony can be a money-saving option. Don’t be driven solely by price, though, Baker says: that cheapie stateroom might be right across from the service area, with a door slamming shut 24/7, or underneath the kitchen, with heavy carts rolling at 6 a.m.. He recommends looking at the exhaustive maps on Cruise Deck Plans, which offers advice and user-generated feedback to help guide you—think of it as a sea-going counterpart to Seat Guru’s airline seat maps.
What are sea days? Should I avoid them?
Transits, when the ship is en route between ports, are known as sea days; passengers, obviously, are confined on board. Many newbies fret about wasting time at sea rather than exploring, but Tom Baker recommends always including at least two sea days in any itinerary. “They’re when people really unwind,” he says. “A couple of sea days can really make or break the experience.”
Image credit: Instagram.com/cruiseexperience
What about shore excursions?
For a first-time cruiser, these can be confusing. Basically, your cruise will offer a wealth of activities you can sign up for, sometimes at an additional cost, when you’re in port. They’ll range in activity level and focus (from cultural to food-centric, say), and reflect your destination (think glass-bottomed boat tours in Grand Cayman and an afternoon of wine tasting in Tuscany).
Details on available shore excursions often aren’t added to an itinerary until six months or so before sail date, so check back regularly, and snap up a place on any that jump out at you—popular options can reach capacity long before your trip starts. “Don’t just look at what the ship offers for excursions, though,” says Mathy Wasserman. “And don’t be frightened by the ship’s idea that if you don’t use their excursion, you’ll be late and miss [the ship’s departure].” (Though you really do have to make the return time that the ship stipulates.) If you can’t make it to an excursion through your cruise line, she recommends two independent companies that guarantee an on-time return and allow you greater freedom to explore: check Shore Trips and Tours by Locals.
What are some recommended ports?
Many cruise lines now lease smaller islands around the Caribbean as privately run beach ports; skip these, as there’s little or no local culture involved. For killer beaches and a welcoming local vibe, Barbados is a must-see. Mathy Wasserman also suggests the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao) in the southern Caribbean near the equator. “They tend to be less developed for cruise ships, so there’s a more authentic experience, and tend to have better weather—they’re below the hurricane belt.”
Image credit: Instagram.com/cruiseexperience
The Cruise Line and Ship
What’s the best first cruise line for a family?
With kids or teens, plan for the ship to be as much of a draw as any destination. Standouts among the mega-vessels include Norwegian’s fleet, especially the new Bliss: the 4,004-passenger ship is crammed with activity zones, while the crowd skews heavily toward family travelers—12 percent of Norwegian’s guests are kids. Otherwise, consider a ship like Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas. It has adrenaline-rushing attractions like a skydiving simulator and a multi-deck slide called The Ultimate Abyss.
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What about young couples, or honeymooners?
Focus on smaller, higher-end lines such as Windstar, which operates both yachts and smaller ships with a capacity of 200 or so passengers so it can offer more personalized service, with a greater focus on the ports and destinations rather than keeping passengers entertained onboard. “If you’re willing to spend $500 per person per day, you’ll get more for your buck than you think you might,” says Carolyn Spencer Brown. Not only will you notice an uptick in service, but you’ll also be less nickel-and-dimed, with items that might be charged as extra on a mass market cruise line, like excursions or alcoholic drinks, bundled upfront. Seabourn also falls into this category.
Larger operators have also created hideaways, zones that are separated from the rest of the passengers and so act effectively as ships-within-a-ship: Look at MSC’s Yacht Club , or Norwegian’s The Haven as examples.
What about empty nesters?
Adventurous and energetic couples should focus on a luxury operator like Regent Seven Seas, which bundles round-trip airfare, Wi-Fi, and most shore excursions into its upfront cost. Consider, too, Oceania, which has a well-deserved reputation as offering the best food and beverage at sea thanks to its partnership with French culinary icon Jacques Pépin. Don’t sleep on bucket-list trips, either, like Cunard’s transatlantic crossing on the classic Queen Mary.
Image credit: Instagram.com/cruiseexperience
Other Tips
If you’re flying to the embarkation point, plan to arrive the day before—that ship won’t wait if you’re snarled in air traffic delays all morning. And even on all-inclusive packages, cash tips for outstanding service are appreciated: $50 worth of small bills on hand should cover a week-long trip.
This story originally appeared in Conde Nast Traveler