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Ahoy there! How to choose the perfect cruise

21 Oct 2015

Thinking of sailing away during the holidays? Luxurious, glamorous and relaxing, cruises are a great way to get away from it all.

There are lots of different cruises in the marketplace, so we spoke to a couple of experts about how to find the perfect one for you, from selecting the right ship and cabin to choosing the right time of year to travel. 

“I think cruising is a fantastic method of travel because you just have to hop onboard and unpack once. Then you have an amazing array of activities, food, beverage options and incredible entertainment on-board, in addition to being taken to some incredible ports of call. It’s a really easy holiday option,” says Ben Mead, director at Holidays of Australia.

What cruising experience do you want?

Depending on the kind of cruise experience you’d like, you may want to go for either a big or a small cruise, as they both offer different things for passengers. Generally, small cruises tend to be more intimate, while larger cruises have a wider range of entertainment options and facilities available.

“Small ship cruising is for those who don’t need to be entertained by a broadway show, skate rink or robotic arm cocktail server. If you need these, then avoid a small ship cruise,” says Nicola Caygill, managing director at Micro-Cruising. “When choosing a small ship cruise, you get to know your captain and the staff which is wonderful. It also means you get to know your fellow passengers too.”

“Every day you wake up in a new destination to explore. You can be off the ship twice or more in a typical day.  You can even dive off the side which is very different to the big ship disembarkation process”.

Ben adds that small cruise ships are sometimes able to go into ports that larger cruises aren’t usually able to visit. 

“But the smaller ships won’t have the same number of facilities on board or dining venues or as large a theatre or as many swimming pools and facilities as the larger ships,” he says.

“If you have a look at the larger ships in Australian waters, the facilities have a number of swimming pools, specialty restaurants and a number of cabins. All the additional facilities almost make them a destination in themselves.” 

According to Ben, cruising is great for multi-generational family travel, where the grandparents, parents, aunties and uncles and kids all travel together. There are certainly cruise ships that cater well for younger ones, such as kids’ clubs, water slides, ice-rinks and climbing walls, too

“Then there are ships that are geared to the older demographic and the retiree market, which are like a country club experience,” he adds.

If you’re a newcomer to cruises, you may prefer a shorter cruise close to home, such as a two or three-night sampler cruise, which gives people a taste of what cruising’s all about, suggests Ben. 

Choose the right cabin

Selecting the perfect cabin depends on what you’d like from your cruise experience. 

According to Ben, the cheapest cabins are the interior cabins with no windows, which are ideal for people who prefer to sleep in total darkness. 

Then there are the state rooms, which usually have a picture window and offer some pretty views and natural light.

The most popular rooms are the balcony state rooms, which have a private balcony and sliding door. Depending on the cruise you choose, you may be able to have a special dining experience, where a waiter can bring you a beautiful a la carte dinner to your room, says Ben. 

There are also a variety of suites that you can consider, including penthouse, family and mini suites. 

Choose the right time to travel

“If you’re an older person who wants a break from looking after the kids, look at travelling outside of school holidays, when you get more kids on the ship,” suggests Ben, adding the fact that cruises are usually quite good at ensuring that large groups of passengers don’t overrun the rest of the ship.

“You do traditionally have younger people on board cruises during school holidays and special event periods like Australia Day or New Year’s Eve. So if you want a quieter experience, make sure you pick the right time of the year and cruise line. Another rule of thumb is the longer the cruise, the quieter the cruise.”

Of course, make sure you do consider the weather and time of year that you travel at your destination, adds Nicola. If you want to view the icebergs in Alaska, then February is the good month to travel, while if you’d like a sunny tour of the Greek islands, then look at a trip during June or July.

Check the inclusions and exclusions 

Every operator differs in the inclusions and exclusions of their itineraries, so it’s a good idea to keep your eyes peeled for them, advised Nicola. Here is a list of the costs to ask about:

Port fees, taxes, landing fees, gratuities, visitors tax, Green tax, government bed taxes, taxes of the country (i.e. GST, VAT), included and optional tours that are to be paid on the ship, drinks (sometimes coffee or even bottled water are charged to clients), air conditioning, porterage, extra towels, captain dinner charges, entrance to national parks, transfers to and from the ship.  

A tip for getting a great deal

“Early bird deals can sometimes be offered a year and a half out from your departure date plus you get good flight deals too. Early birds get the first choice for cabin type (and you are the first in line to request a specific cabin),” explains Nicola.

“Late bird deals can be even better than early bird deals, however waiting it out may mean you don’t get the cabin type you are after and potentially miss out on the departure altogether and your flights seats may not be available or affordable. Flexibility is key for late birds.”