Is a cruise for you?
When most people think of a cruise their first thought is a boat filled with retirees doing the Macarena or college kids drunk on spring break. Quite frankly, that was my expectation too, but the many cruises I have been on have been anything but that.
To me, it is a floating hotel and train, all in one. Cruises allow you the opportunity to travel to multiple cities within different countries in a short period of time. The best parts of a cruise is that it only takes a quarter of the planning necessary than it would to travel to same locations by train, plane, bus, or car. Now this doesn’t mean that the boat may not be busy, but it does mean that picking a cruise tailored to your preferred travel style will make your trip an enjoyable time where you can relax and engage with other cultures around the globe.
When choosing a cruise that aligns with your travel style, the top things to keep in mind are the cost, the vibe, and the travel locations. Deciding on a budget, and choosing a cruise line, state room and travel destination that match your personality will create an enjoyable trip without worry or frustration.
My preference is to use this trip as a means to efficiently visit many bucket-list locations during one trip. Due to the close proximity and numerous waterways located on the continent, Europe is my favorite continent to cruise. If your goal is to relax at the beach and spend the days snorkeling, a Caribbean cruise may match your travel style best.
Choosing the Right Cruise Line
The worst thing is showing up to your accommodation expecting a relaxing and luxurious stay and finding it is a family-oriented stay or vice versa. Choosing the right cruise line is important as the theme and demographic of the boat can truly impact your stay. This means that a boat with waterslides and an arcade is great if you have kids, but if you are looking for an adults-only escape, this would not be the right option. By following the chart below, you will be able to decide which cruise line best fits your travel style and budget.
| Cruise Line | Cost | Vibe | Adults Only | Exclusive Section |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norwegian | $$ | Family-friendly. Intended for families with older kids (12-17). | No | Yes – The Haven |
| Regent Seven Seas | $$$$ | Couples and single travelers looking for all-inclusive luxury. | No | No |
| Carnival | $ | Fun, budget-friendly cruises with all the basics plus more. | No | No |
| Princess | $$ | Carnival’s luxury Line | No | Yes – The Princess Suites |
| Viking | $$ | Relaxed river cruised geared toward couples. | Yes | No |
| Royal Caribbean | $ | Family-friendly. Intended for families with older kids (12-17). | No | Yes – The Royal Suite Class |
| Ritz Carlton Yachts | $$$$ | High-end luxury, tailored to unique experiences. | No | No |
| Disney | $$$ | Fun, Family-friendly. Oriented towards families with younger kids (2-14). | No | Yes – Concierge |
| MSC | $$ | European-based cruise line aiming to bring luxury to mainstream cruises at a more affordable price. | No | Yes – MSC Yacht Club |
| Ponant | $$$$ | High-end luxury with minimalistic design. | No | No |
| Virgin | $$ | Adults-only, geared towards fine dining and experiences. | Yes | Yes – RockStar Quarters |
| Celebrity | $$ | Family-friendly cruise, great for families with older children and couples looking to relax. | No | Yes – The Retreat |
Which Stateroom is Right for You?
This will be your home away from home for the duration on the trip, so it is important to find a room that fits your needs. When considering a room, it is best to start with room size and, of course, a budget.
Next is the view. Do you need a balcony or a window? if not, an interior option is a great choice that is also quite cost effective.
Lastly is location and luxury. If you are someone who likes to travel in style, you can look into staying in the exclusive section of the boat. Now, on the other hand, if you get motion sick, it is best to stay towards the bottom, middle potion of the boat to minimize the feeling of the waves. For this traveler, opting for a window or balcony is also a decent option to get fresh air circulating through the room.
If you are looking for a more detailed guide to booking the perfect stateroom, read The Best Stateroom on a Cruise: How to Know Which Stateroom to Choose.
Tips for Choosing the Right Room
- If you get motion sick, stay closer to bottom in the middle and opt for a balcony for the fresh air.
- If you are wanting views from the balcony stay on the highest floor to capture the best views.
- If you are looking for luxury but prefer a lower price point, stay in the exclusive club section of the boat. See the chart above for which cruise-lines have this option.
- This tier typically includes a 24 hour butler and room service included.
- Most cruise-lines offer separate restaurants, cuisine, and bar for only guests staying in this tier.
- Always account for luggage when deciding on room size. If you are bringing multiple large suitcases, these will take up room, and make the space feel smaller.
- Consider using packing cubes to minimize your suitcase needs. Bonus: this makes packing and unpacking a breeze.
Best Places to Visit on a Cruise
Now that you know what type of stay you are looking for, deciding on where to visit is next. The key to cruising is using this trip to explore many destinations in easily digestible bites of travel and culture.
Since most cruises only spend a day in each location, seeing the highlights of each destination is best for this type of trip. This is what I call Travel Tapas. You get a taste of each place without committing to a whole trip dedicated to the one location. By doing this, you can decide if that city is worth a longer visit in the future, without the regret of wasting PTO for somewhere that could have been a two-day trip only.
Now with that in mind, some of the best places to visit on a cruise are the following:
- Venice
- Naples to explore Pompeii
- Greek Islands
- Many have much to explore, but some can be covered in a day.
- St. Thomas
- Tortola
- The Bahamas
Booking Excursions
Now that you know where you will visit, you have the opportunity to plan out your adventure in advance via excursions. Excursions are the planned trips taken when ashore. These can be booked with the cruise-line, via a third-party company, or none booked at all. Picking excursions are similar to picking a cruise line. Knowing what type of traveler will impact the excursions you plan, and this centers around budget and physical capabilities.
Budgeting for Excursions
Budgeting for excursions allows you to remain stress free about the cost of the trip, letting you enjoy the experiences more. Additionally, you can weed through the excursions that are not right for you and decrease decision fatigue while planning.
Activity Level
Physical capabilities are always important to understand as many excursions expect you to walk nearly 10 miles, sometimes on uneven pathways. The questions to ask yourself are: are you willing and able to walk 10-15 miles, are you more of a 2-3 mile type of traveler, or is some form of transportation best for you?
If you are willing and able to walk, checking to see if the city is safely walkable from the port is the next step. Walking from the port to the city will save you precious time and money. If you would prefer another mode of transportation, look to see if the city has taxis readily available, and check with your cruise-line to see what transportation options they offer. Most cruise-lines offer a bus into the city center at a lower cost than a regular excursion.
The next thing to decide is what type of adventure are you looking for. Are you looking for history, culture, relaxation, or a mix? Deciding on your type of adventure, you will have narrowed the selection to a few options, so by this point, all you need to do is check the reviews and see what your preferred trip.
In contract, not all destinations need excursions planned. Many cruise locations can be explored on foot without a plan as they are easily and safely walkable from the port with plenty of sights, snacks, and shopping to satisfy any traveler.
For more information on booking excursions, The Best Guide for Planning Cruise Excursions goes more in-depth into what you need to know about booking excursions that match your travel style.
Pros, Cons, & Top Tips
Benefits of a cruise
- Travel Tapas – Visit iconic cities without having to commit to a whole separate trip.
- Maximize your time by combining dining and rest with transportation.
- Nightlife and a variety of dining experiences on board.
- If flights are booked through the cruise, many cruise lines include transportation from the airport to the cruise port and back.
Drawbacks to Cruising
- You will not experience the local nightlife of your travel locations unless you book a cruise with multi-day port stays in the itinerary.
- If the city you are looking to visit is not right at the port, you will have to spend some of the time driving from the port to your target location.
- European cruises tend to be fast paced as there are few days at sea to rest.
- The boat can be busy but not much different than traveling to any vacation destination during summer.
- Food can be hit or miss. On some boats, the cuisine is phenomenal, others it is equivalent to average American food.
- Many restaurants on the boats have a dress code, so you will need to pack adequate clothing if you plan on dining there.
- The cruise-line lists this information on their website, so you can pack accordingly.
Top Tips
- Pick a cruise where the day at sea is a day or two before disembarking as it allows you the day to pack up without any of the stress.
- Know which cities you need to book excursions for and which you do not.
- Many cities are safely walkable from the port.
- Prepare a packing list with pre-planned outfits for your cruise to make mornings easier.
- Booking a cruise during the off season can allow you to receive some booking incentives or lower your cost at more affordable rates.
- If you are flexible with travel dates, booking 10-14 days before a ship departs is a great way to snag low-cost cruise deals.
- The cruise lines are desperate to fill all of the rooms before departure, so they discount the rates greatly.
- Figuring out which boat and itinerary matches your travel style will make your vacation so much more enjoyable.
- See if your cruise-line offers upgraded boarding and disembarkation for purchase.
- This allows you to board and disembark the boat before everyone else, maximizing your time ashore.
