For first time cruisers, choosing your first cruise can make or break whether you love this holiday style. If you decide to go down the travel agent route, they’ll give you a list of questions to determine the cruise line, fit for the destination.
But there are many other factors to consider for your first cruise: the cabin, the itinerary, the shore excursions, and even the additional packages.
Lucky for you, we’ve put together a handy guide to ensure your first cruise goes without any hiccups.
As the cruise industry has grown, so have the offerings. There is something to suit everyone’s taste – whether you’re travelling with the kids, grandma, and grandpa, if you’re on a budget, or if you want something super opulent.
Make sure you do your research – whether it be speaking to friends or family members who have cruised or speaking to a travel agent to navigate through the options.
When first time cruisers do their research, make sure you understand the demographics of each cruise line, during the year as well as the itinerary. It comes as no surprise that, for obvious reasons, during the school holidays, you’ll find more kids sailing.
If you are looking for a destination-specific cruise, like if you want to explore the Arctic or Antarctica, then it is also important to pick the right cruise line for your budget, and the differences between each line.
But perhaps if seasickness and the number of people are issues, consider taking a river cruise where you are always close to land and these ships won’t have more than 180 people onboard.
Find out more information in our guide to first-time cruisers.
First Time Cruisers Tips
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Over 180 go down with norovirus on a Royal Caribbean cruise: Here’s how to avoid it
Around 180 people fell ill onboard Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas after reporting norovirus symptoms.
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The best cruises in Europe 2025
Tallis Borne Marcus reveals why 2025 is set to be a standout season for cruise enthusiasts, with new destinations, itineraries, and ships making European getaways more exciting than ever.
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Who has the best cruises from Brisbane?
Brisbane, the sun-drenched capital of Queensland, is fast emerging as a premier cruise departure point in the region.Â
Popular Destinations
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Pacific riots mean 120,000 Aussies could find their cruises diverted
The New Caledonia riots that broke out in May over a controversial electoral reform have not abated, and because it is an important part of the Pacific cruise run, it will hit the Australian season hard.
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Destination Focus: Australia
For travellers and cruise enthusiasts wanting a bucket-listed cruise adventure without venturing too far from home, a cruise around the stunning coastline of Australia promises an unparalleled journey of discovery.
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Destination Focus: The Mediterranean
The Mediterranean is a captivating region woven from ancient civilizations, diverse cultures, and stunning landscapes, no wonder it has long beckoned travelers seeking to unravel the secrets of a storied past.
Recommended Cruise Lines for First-Time Cruisers
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Ultimate Guide to Princess Cruises
With six decades of providing bucket-listed itineraries to cruise passengers across the globe, Princess Cruises stands out as a leader in the cruise industry providing cruise enthusiasts the opportunities to experience the world’s most sought-after destinations.
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Ultimate Guide to Carnival Cruise Line Australia
Tagged as the World’s Most Popular Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line has a five-decade history of providing bucket-listed voyages around the world.Â
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Ultimate Guide to P&O Australia
For over nine decades, P&O Cruises Australia has been a pioneering force in the cruise line industry. In line with this, here’s Cruise Passenger’s ultimate guide to P&O Cruises Australia.Â
Read Reviews from First-Time Cruisers
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The first review of Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas
Ovation of the Seas – a sister to Quantum and Oasis of the Seas is one of Australia’s favourite ships.
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Celebrity Solstice offers great service
Celebrity Solstice is an extremely clean ship with attendants in public restrooms and friendly crew. From the minute we arrived we were treated like royalty. Their buffet was very good with lots of seating options.
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Royal Princess Caribbean cruise review
As regular Princess cruisers we were excited to explore the Caribbean on this magnificent ship. Whilst we have always enjoyed sailing with Princess, the Royal added a new dimension to our cruising experience.
