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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5 things you need to know about using the internet at sea
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Deals of the week: Save up to $400 a night
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Popular Destinations
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Cairns
Known principally as a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns is now a global tourism destination with a vibrant culinary scene, good shopping and plenty of outdoor adventure – from scuba diving to bungee jumping. There are a myriad of reef tours leaving from the Cairns on a daily basis. Parents will find plenty…
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Brisbane
Australia’s fastest growing capital city has thrown off its country cousin image with a number of exciting new developments that are rapidly transforming the city’s the skyline. Proudly re-branded ‘BrisVegas’ by its residents, the Queensland capital offers visitors an intoxicating mix of cultural attractions, unique wildlife encounters and a dynamic restaurant and bar scene. Brisbane…
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Airlie Beach
Known as the ‘gateway to the Whitsundays’, Arlie Beach began life as a ramshackle coastal settlement but has now morphed into a bustling holiday destination known for its water sports and lively restaurant and bar scene. A number of new developments, such as the Abel Point Marina and Marina Village, have transformed this once sleepy…
Recommended Cruise Lines for First-Time Cruisers
Read Reviews from First-Time Cruisers
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Celebrity Solstice cruise review
Everything about Celebrity Solstice is classy. Gorgeous public spaces, fabulous restaurants, spacious and well appointed cabins and professional friendly staff.
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Golden Princess cruise review
Golden Princess is the best Princess ship to be cruising out of Australian waters at the moment. The moment we stepped into our mini suite I was impressed, the size and layout were great and the glass of bubbly was a real treat.
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Azamara Quest cruise review by Sue Masters
Azamara Quest has great service and a friendly crew. Their food is of a high standard. The ship being small can visit different ports compared to the large liners.
