Cruise Consultant of the Year Winner gives us her top tips for booking a cruise

Samantha Renvoye, this month crowned Cruise Consultant of the Year at the Cruise Lines International Association Australasia awards, has revealed her top tips when booking a cruise, from money-saving advice to the best underrated locations.

Samantha began in the industry as a travel agent in 1997, and has since worked on superyachts across the Pacific. She moved back to Australia 12 years ago, finding her calling as a cruise specialist at top-rated agency Clean Cruising.

Here are Samatha’s best cruising tips:

1. The earlier you book, the better

The earlier the better was Samantha’s advice. “It depends on the size of the ship what the availability will be, but the trend post-covid is that people are booking more and more in advance and people are struggling to get availability.”

Booking in advance can also save you money.

“For affordability, the more you can pre-pay in Australia dollars, the better”

This doesn’t just apply to booking cruises, but also air travel.

“The cheaper seats on airlines always sell first, so get in there early.”

2. Only wait for last minute deals if you’re super flexible

Although many cruisers will be keen to wait for last minute deals, Samantha advises against this if you have a specific itinerary or destination that you want to travel to. She warns that last-minute deals aren’t around like they used to be.

“If you’re flexible and not set on a ship or an itinerary, then last minute might be fine, though I don’t normally recommend that anymore!”

3. For luxury cruises, choose Ponant and Oceania

Although Samantha shouted out several luxury cruise lines, including Oceania and Regent, she said she was very biased towards Ponant, and in particular, the Paul Gaugin cruise.

“I love Paul Gaugin for the destination as much as the cruise line though I’ve also just come off Oceania, and I would have no problem recommending it to anyone. Luckily, we’re very spoilt for choice.”

4. For family cruises, choose Royal Caribbean

Samantha suggests Royal Caribbean for a great family cruise. Royal Caribbean is particularly great for “Multi-generation cruises, especially out of Australia, as the ships are bigger and can cater for more likes and dislikes within the families”.

She also suggested Disney Cruises for families with younger children and adult fans of Disney as “there’s a little child in everyone who’s always wanted to go to Disneyworld.”

5. Don’t be put off adventure cruises- they can be for all ages

Samantha wants to encourage people of all ages to book on to adventure cruises. She said, “People that might not be as mobile can still be adventurous”. Adventure cruises allow passengers to access remote locations from the safety and comfort of their ship.

“It’s so special to still have people be able to travel to incredible destinations despite being limited in some aspects.”

6. Book a river cruise through Europe if you don’t want to sit on a bus

Samantha raved about the river cruise scene. She recommended the Amsterdam to Budapest route, as well as river cruises through Portugal and even near Russia.

“There is so much variety and the value is amazing… on a river cruise you can go to lots of locations without having to unpack and repack. It’s difficult to do this when driving, and river cruising means that you don’t have to sit on a bus.”

“People have a preconception of what river cruising is like, but it’s a great alternative to driving or catching a train through Europe.”

7. Choose Oceania for amazing dining

When choosing the best cruise lines for dining, Samantha believes we are spoilt for choice.

“In the last 5 years, there’s been a big step-up in cruise lines focusing on food. A lot of my clients go onboard just for the dining.”

When I spoke to Samantha, she had just been inspecting Oceania’s Regatta, and said that the food onboard was magnificent. She also said to not discount Virgin Voyages, as their interactive meals were surprisingly brilliant.

Disney can also offer fun interactive dining, while Ponant and Viking are up there with some of the tastiest and most luxurious options.

8. Know what you’re paying for and have the right expectations for the right ship

“Everyone of us is always focused on price, however, you really need to have the right expectations for the right ship.”

Maybe you don’t need to go for a balcony suite, but if you choose an interior suite, make sure its placed on the right position on the ship to make sure you’re still getting the experience you’re wanting.” Attention to detail and making sure you know what you’ve bought is key.

9. Do your research and check out destinations and itineraries that aren’t mainstream

“There are so many different and amazing itineraries out there that people may not know about.”

Samantha encourages cruisers to do their research into different itineraries and destinations, and to not just follow mainstream travel trends.

She said that one underrated destination was Croatia, and that everyone who cruises there can’t say enough about it.

She also recommended itineraries around Borneo and any Indonesian island, as they have brilliant, culturally-enriching excursions that won’t be on everyone’s radar.

10. Never travel without insurance

Samantha’s parting words? Never travel without insurance.

“None of us would get in a car without our insurance, so why would you travel on a cruise without insurance?”

She tells cruisers to always read the fine print and select the best policy for the individual. There are lots out there, but you need to make the right decision based on your own needs, so that you are protected.