The Ultimate Guide for First Time Cruisers

First time cruisers

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

  • Solo cruising

    Five myths of solo cruising

    The popularity of solo cruising continues to soar and some might even argue that cruising is the perfect option for solo travellers. But the first try is always the most daunting and many first time solo cruisers still need the extra reassurance before getting on board. And many head on to become repeat solo cruisers!…

  • Cruise expert reveals the destination for people who have "been there, done that"

    Cruise expert reveals the destination for people who have “been there, done that”

    Flight Centre Cruise Expert, Kelli Willis shares her secrets on the who, where and when of booking your next trip. What are the biggest trends in cruise? Northern Europe and the Baltics are popular with people who have ‘been there, done that’ and want something a little different. There’s also growth in Japan cruising. It’s…

  • Norwegian Encore

    First look: the ship that offers the best of two worlds

    Sailing on the maiden voyage to Southampton, England It’s a ship for grown ups, but a tearaway teenager at heart. The Norwegian Encore, the sweetheart of the fleet, is the latest Breakaway-class vessel from the line and she is sleek, sophisticated and chic. The line has come a long way in recent years, not only…

Popular Destinations

  • Destination: Malaysia

    Destination: Malaysia

    The Malaysian government plans to develop a “Straits Riviera”, which will include purpose-built integrated cruise terminals in Penang, Port Klang, Kota Kinabalu, Langkawi, Melaka and Kuching. Lines such as Royal Caribbean, Star Cruises and Star Clipper regularly call at destinations around Malaysia. The region is one of the most regularly visited among the ASEAN nations.…

  • Destination: Japan

    Destination: Japan

    One of the most visited Asian countries by cruise, Japan has numerous fascinating attractions, from the bright neon lights and skyscrapers of Tokyo to volcanic towns such as Kagoshima. Cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean, Holland America Line and Princess Cruises often call at different ports in Japan on itineraries from China and Singapore, also…

  • Destination: Brunei

    Destination: Brunei

    It may still be a lesser-known Southeast Asian destination, but Brunei is seeing a steady, slow growth in cruising. Muara Port gives cruise visitors a warm, traditional welcome when they arrive at Muara Port on Brunei Bay. Take a mosque tour of Bandar Seri Begawan to see the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, which is…

Recommended Cruise Lines for First-Time Cruisers

Read Reviews from First-Time Cruisers