One of the great things about cruises is that they’re essentially a fix-all holiday solution. In other words, you don’t have to worry about too many details, you just get to sit back and relax while everything is taken care of for you. However, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t consider some suggestions, tips and/or do some planning.
Consider booking a cruise on a smaller ship
Let’s face it, the bigger the ship, the more families you’ll find cruising. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing (especially if you have kids), for those couples (or singles) who are traveling alone and want to really relax, nothing’s more stressful than having to hear children caterwauling 24/7. At the same time, a smaller ship usually means that you’re getting a more personalized experience as well. However, if you go the small route, prepare to shell out some serious funds, as they’re often substantially more expensive to book (but it’s totally worth it if you’re all about privacy).
Upgrade
If you’re booking a trip on a newer vessel then you absolutely have to take advantage of the incredible amenities that these ships often harbor. For example, luxurious 3 bedroom suites, with an exterior patio, an ocean view bathroom, and room service to boot – this is what cruising was meant to be like! Of course such treatment will cost you a pretty penny, as they say, but no pain, no gain.
Choose a longer cruise
There’s two benefits associated with choosing a longer itinerary; first, most of the people who are more experienced tend to go this route and second, there won’t be hardly any screaming kids present (at least this is the tendency). At the same time, a longer cruise might mean that you’ll be arriving at a more remote destination, so if you’re planning on taking a plane back anyway, why not fill up your holiday with an interesting excursion on land?
Carefully pick your cruise line and market category
Just like almost everything else in life, every cruise line divides their offerings into certain classes based of overall cost, of course. Typically, things are divided into 5 basic categories, which are:
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ultra / luxury
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upscale
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moderate
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economy
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specialized
As you might expect, the absolute best you can do is to book an ultra / luxury package, which will feature all the bells and whistles along with the best food and amenities. Falling right behind the luxury category is upscale, which is still going to be incredibly delightful and incorporate a barrage of modern features / delights. Then of course you have moderate packages which are designed to provide all the necessities and even some of the perks, but at a more affordable price. For those who are really interested in saving some cash while at the same time not sacrificing their vacation, there are the economy lines. Needless to say, traveling via an economy package is going to be hit and miss in terms of your overall enjoyment, some lines are going to be better than others too, so choose carefully. Lastly, there are the specialized lines, like those for seniors or perhaps singles. Arguably, these are some of the most interesting trips you can take, so if you fall into a category which encapsulates a specialized cruise, you should strongly consider taking it.
