There are literally hundreds of ships and lines now sailing our oceans and rivers. But which one is for you? Peter Lynch shows you how to decide.
There’s an old saying among travel agents: put someone new to cruising on the right ship, and you have a client for life. Put them on the wrong one, and they will never sail again.
But with more variety than ever, the task of finding the right experience and destination can appear near impossible.
They come in all shapes and sizes, from intimate barges for 12 to floating resorts (the world’s biggest ship has 5,000 cabins and is divided into precincts because it’s so big).
There are sailing ships like Star Clippers, adventure ships that go to the polar ice caps, fun ships with waterslides, racetracks and flight simulators, and luxury ships that offer private dining and exclusive excursions to castles, wineries and art galleries.
How do you choose? If you’re a first-timer, our advice would be to see a specialist travel agent.
They are trained to ask you a series of questions that will allow them to match your favourite experiences to the cruise line that is the closest fit.
But if you want to do it yourself, here’s our quick guide to help you sort out what’s on offer:
