Is choosing a cruise as easy as the 3 B’s?

Speaking to a regular client this week she told me she doesn’t mind which ship she cruises on as long as she has the 3 B’s – a Bed, a Bar and a Band !

This is great for some but for most passengers choosing the right cruise is more difficult and it depends on your priorities and what is most important especially if you haven’t cruised before

I read an article recently that compared choosing the right cruise for your next holiday to like speed-dating and you need to figure out whether your personalities match. In cruise terms, you need to decide which is ‘your type’

Firstly you will need to establish a few key points to narrow down your wishlist to then find your perfect cruise!

First establish your cruise personality!

Every line has its own personality and appeals to a different type of person. Carnival, for instance, is known for a gregarious, fun-loving crowd. Celebrity, by contrast, draws a quieter, more style-conscious customer. The two lines operate ships of similar sizes, and often on similar routes and at similar prices, but a regular Carnival customer would likely be miserable on a Celebrity ship — and vice versa.

Probably the biggest question is what can you afford to spend per person?  Like hotels, cruises come in a wide variety of prices with features to match, if you can break it down to a cost per person per day it will help you choose the best deal

Is an all inclusive drinks package important? Some cruise lines include an All Inclusive drinks package whilst others can be pre booked but must be for all passengers in the cabin and can be expensive

How many days can you afford to get away?  This can have a huge influence on which line  and ship  you choose. Some lines specialize in shorter cruises of three to seven nights. Others, such as Oceania, rarely offer a voyage of fewer than 10 nights.

On the far end of the spectrum Cunard, P&O  and Holland America operate annual around-the-world cruises of 100 nights or more.

Where do we want to cruise?– Do you have any ports that you must include in your itinerary?  Some lines are stronger than others in particular areas. In Alaska, for instance Princess and Holland America specialise in this destination

Do you mind flying or would you prefer to cruise from a UK port? This is a key factor in choosing your destination and may limit your choice of cruise line

What kind of cabin will be comfortable in? Inside cabins are cheapest but are windowless , balcony cabins are less economical but have more space and a private veranda to escape the crowds

What size of ship and type of cruise would you like?  Boutique and small vessels like Azamara carry up to 1,000 passengers and often have more ‘Path Finder ‘ and ‘Culturally immersive’ itineraries with more time to spend ashore

Mega ships like Royal Caribbean and MSC with up to 6,000 people – often the ship is the resort rather than the ports it is visiting

Mid range premium ships carry around 2500 people like P&O and Princess and appeal to the middle market

Or are you looking for the Ultra Luxury end of the market such as Seabourn and Regent the percentage of staff to passengers is higher and are typically less crowded

Do you want to meet lots of new people… or would we rather keep to yourselves? Some cruise ships have fixed seating at dinner time and only a few tables for two. If that doesn’t appeal, look for cruise ships that allow more flexibility in dining.

Do you want to get dressed up, or do you prefer to be casual? For more formal cruising look at Holland America and Cunard –Royal Caribbean and NCL are dressy casual and Celebrity is ‘Elegant Chic’

How much do you care about entertainment?  Royal Caribbean and Norwegian, really know how to put on a show, with their ships offering large theaters that stage Broadway-worthy productions. Other lines focus less on on-board entertainment  – some of the smallest ships have no entertainment at all, other than the occasional on-board lecture or port talk.

How important is the food?  Dining always has been a big part of the cruise experience, and many lines pride themselves on their selection of restaurants and many have Celebrity Chefs. Lines such as Oceania, Cunard and Crystal have brought in big-name chefs  to create and manage eateries you would expect from Michelin Star Restaurants

Also consider if having an on board spa, Kids’ facilities and casino is important.

Should you cruise on the ocean or a river as there are big differences between ships that carry hundreds or thousands of people and ones that are intimate and meandering along European and Asian rivers

If you can answer these questions you will find it much easier to choose your next dream cruise!