Cruising

A cruise holiday can be a great choice for those who love to travel, and like some variety in their destinations.

Cruise ships come in all sizes, from small and intimate to large ships which seem almost like floating hotels. Many cruise lines tour different parts of the world at different times of year, so no matter what your preferences, you are sure to find an option that suits your needs, budget and wish list.

The following is the first half of our general list of issues to consider when looking at a cruise holiday:

• Locale: First you will need to decide what part of the world you want to see on your holiday. Would you love to cruise among the icebergs in the Alaskan waters? … Maybe the white sands and turquoise waters of the Caribbean or Polynesian Islands are more your style. You can cruise the Mediterranean, the Panama canal, or the west coast of North America, just to name a few more choices.
• Size of ship: Cruise options range from huge mega-liners with live theatres, multiple swimming pools, interior shopping malls and even ice rinks, climbing walls and surfing, to intimate smaller ships for only a few pampered passengers. Your tolerance for crowds, need for privacy, and shopping and leisure needs are things to consider here.

• Crew/staff to passenger ratio: On a larger cruise, naturally you will find there are more passengers than crew, and while the service is usually fair, it is not normal to expect impeccable first-class attention as you would on an intimate, smaller cruise with a higher staff-to-passenger ratio. If top notch service is your first priority, be sure to choose a cruise honeymoon with a reputation for attentive staff, and a high crew-to-passenger ratio. Also note the ‘level of luxury’ comments in Part II.*
• Ship amenities: As mentioned above, cruise ships come with a wide array of amenity options. On the larger cruise ships you will find multiple restaurants, gym and squash facilities, interior atriums consisting of many storeys with lots of onboard shopping, libraries and lounges, disco and dance halls, live theatre shows, multiple swimming pools and waterslides, full spa services and much more.

  Smaller, more intimate ships will have at least one restaurant and possibly some amenities such as gym or spa, and lounge areas. If you and your spouse-to-be love a variety of choices and can tolerate larger numbers of people, then a mega-liner cruise ship offers a huge array of fun choices included in the price and would be a good option for your holiday cruise.

*Please see Part II for more considerations on cruising.

TIP: If money is an issue as you are planning your vacation, be sure and take advantage of the tips in the Travel Industry Secrets Guide, packed with tips to help you save money on your travel planning - now and on all your future trips!