Congratulations! You’re about to embark on a journey that will open your mind to a new way of travelling. And second, welcome to the world of cruising. We are thrilled to share what we know!

Cruising is an amazing way to see the world. It’s great for first-timers and veterans alike because it gives you a chance to make memories, visit destinations, and enjoy some time away from home on a cruise ship. But if you’re planning on taking a cruise for the first time, here are some tips that will help you make sure your trip is a success.

Choose your Destination

First, decide where you want to go! There are cruises available all over the world, so whether you’re looking for something warm or cold weather-wise, fast paced with lots of destinations, excursions and adventures, or more relaxed there’s something for everyone for any age or interest.

Types of Cruises

Next, pick a cruise. There are many types of cruises to consider, here are three options to get familiar with: Ocean, River, and Expedition.

Ocean Cruise

Starting with Ocean Cruises, while you are transported to intriguing destinations world-wide, you can choose from a broad range of activities and amenities. All vary by cruise line and ship. Ocean cruises offer multiple dining venues, swimming pools, movie theatres, ice skating rinks, and spa facilities, to delight all interests and age groups. Dining on a cruise ship offers new levels of sophistication. With celebrity-chef-inspired menus and sommeliers to help you select the perfect wine pairing to bring out the best flavours with their exclusive mouth-watering cuisine. These ships have an emphasis on resort style facilities with ship board activities and entertainment. These are great for family cruises, where everyone can have fun together from toddler to teen to adult.

Accommodations range from luxury suites with private balconies to affordable inside staterooms. Your stateroom, entertainment, food and transportation to each destination are all included in your trip. While shore excursions, specialty dining restaurants, upgrades, spas and gratuities on some cruise ships may be extra.

Luxury

For sophisticated cruisers with elegant, luxurious ships that range from yachts to small/mid-sized ships, with a few hundred guests or less. 

Luxury cruise lines include: Azamara, Crystal Cruises, Cunard, Oceania Cruises, Paul Gauguin Cruises, Ponant, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Seabourn, SilverSea, Viking, and Windstar Cruises.

Premium

An upscale experience that caters to all age groups and interests. Featuring mid-sized ships with more ocean view staterooms and a wide choice of services and amenities. 

Premium Cruise Lines we offer include: Celebrity, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Virgin Voyages.

Contemporary

Ships are larger and carry more passengers, offering more entertainment venues to appeal to all ages. Families prefer these for their child and teen programs and more stateroom choices. Attire is often relaxed with designated formal occasions.

From Alaska to Asia, South America to the South Pacific and beyond, are you ready to explore our world’s wonders by ocean? Our travel advisors’ cruise expertise includes cruise lines, ships, itineraries, flights, shore excursions, transfers, pre-and-post cruise hotels and insider destination information. Trust your cruise details to a professional, so you can relax and focus on enjoying your ultimate cruise vacation. 

Contemporary cruise lines we offer: Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean. 

River Cruise

Second are River Cruises. Selecting the right river cruise for your style comes down to four primary choices: the season, the river, the cruise line, and the cruise ship.

Unlike a large ocean cruise ship, most river cruises offer all exterior cabins, featuring large floor to ceiling windows or balconies with a smaller guest size. River cruises offer a more intimate experience aboard ship. River cruises include guided shore excursions as well as wine, beer and other drink options at lunch and dinner. These cruises spend most of their time in port docking in the heart of historic cities and small villages along the river. These can be fast paced and filled with sightseeing of heritage sites, museums, restaurants, and special landmarks distinct to the areas you’re travelling in.

River Cruise Vacations

France: Burgundy & Provence: Journey through Paris, the “City of Light”, sip and dine in the Burgundy wine region along the Rhone River.

Germany: Sail past castles, fortresses and picturesque German villages along the romantic Rhine River.

Central Europe: Visit Budapest, Vienna, Nuremberg, and Prague to witness grand architecture, and fascinating historic sites of the delightful Danube River.

Asia: See cosmopolitan Shanghai, and Beijing’s imperial treasures like the Great Wall, along China’s legendary Yangtze River.

Egypt: Explore the ancient world and uncover the mysteries of Egypt along the legendary Nile River.

South America: Venture into the Amazon jungle, swim with dolphins and relax on amazing beaches on a journey through the Amazon River.

Expedition Cruises

Expedition cruising is like traditional cruising, but more emphasis is placed on the excursions, ports of call and shore experiences distinct to expedition cruises. Expedition cruises offer a taste of adventure with off-the-beaten-path excursions and remote destinations. You will have the opportunity to get up close and personal with unique ports of call, their flora and fauna and breathtaking natural environments.

What sets expedition cruising apart are the unique itineraries, smaller ships, and specialist destinations. Expedition ships are designed to transport you to less-visited ports and scenic wonders that cannot be reached on land.

Exotic destinations include Antarctica, Iceland, Alaska, Greenland/Iceland, The Galapagos Islands, Norwegian Fjords, and the Arctic, among others.

All of these types offer a great experience. You just need to choose the one that best fits your personality, your interests and your comfort zone as a first time cruiser.

So which is right for me? That’s up to you! If you want a great time with family or friends, go with a standard or contemporary cruise. If you want an active vacation full of exploring and adventure, go with a river cruise to see lots of sights and landmarks.

Want to know more about what to bring on your first cruise? Visit our other blog post How To prepare for your First Cruise for a lot more information on what to pack and what to expect on your cruise.

Concluding

Overall, it’s natural to want to know as much as you can about a place before you get there, and that’s especially true when it comes to cruising. With so many different options, features, and amenities available on modern ships, plus the ever-increasing social media presence from cruise lines and onboard experts, there is no shortage of information out there to read and understand.

However, don’t let all this information overwhelm you. In the end, all that really matters is what you want to do on your cruise. What do you want to experience? What are your priorities? If your top priority is a sense of adventure and exploration but your second highest priority is a relaxing holiday with nothing but beautiful beaches and palm trees, then that’s what you should look for! 

Our Best Tip…

Do your research, talk with professionals, and veteran cruisers! Figure out what you want from a cruise ship and which destinations you would enjoy visiting. Also, check out detailed cruise ship reviews to see which lines have the features you’re looking for. There is something for everyone. From there, it’s about finding a trip that fits your wants and needs on your vacation.

If you want to find out more visit our website, our facebook or call us to find out more! Our travel agents would love to help you book your first cruise, our knowledgeable team love to offer fresh ideas and offers to anyone looking for a new adventure! Reach out to us to find out more on types of cruises and how we can help you make your travel dreams come true! 

Book your first time cruise now. Stay tuned for more deals on our Facebook pages for exclusive cruises and all-inclusive trips around the world! Got a bucket list trip? Book with us today!

Curious about other posts we’ve written? Check out 7 Secrets to Luxury Travel: Oceania Cruises, Why You Need to Add a River Cruise to Your Bucket List, and Vive la France! River Cruises in France