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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10 ways a savvy cruiser can avoid being ripped off by high prices
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Who’s best for families: Carnival or Royal Caribbean?
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Popular Destinations
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Destination: Antarctica
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Ports: Laos
LUANG PRABANG Who goes there: Avalon Waterways, APT, Azamara Club Cruises, Mekong River Cruises, Pandaw, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection. Cruisers like: Formerly the royal capital of Laos, the old town centre is now a World Heritage Site. The splendid Royal Palace Museum (Haw Kham) and the Wat Xieng Thong are among the best-known…
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Destination: Laos
In general, tourism to Laos is still somewhat niche compared to its Southeast Asia neighbours. However, like Myanmar, it is expected to see a major boost in the coming years as travellers look for new and unique destinations. While Vietnam and Cambodia have mastered Mekong river cruises, Laos is just beginning to explore its benefits.…
