First-timer? Here’s how to choose a trip
HOW do you choose your maiden cruise? First-timers face a big decision. Here’s how to get it right.
One tip is to start with a short, taster cruise. Top options include three- or four-night breaks on P&O’s family-friendly Britannia. Try all the on-board facilities, including fine-dining, a pizzeria and grill, ice-cream parlour, sunset and crow’s-nest bars, West End-style theatre, gym, spa and more, to see if cruising is the holiday for you.
On short cruises, every day is spent at sea. P&O’s Southampton departures aim to sail close enough to the Dorset and Cornish coasts to offer wonderful views. From £199pp (pocruises.com).
Another idea is to include a cruise as part of a bigger holiday. Enjoy a week in a villa with a pool in Florida, then step aboard Freedom of the Seas in Miami for a fournight Royal Caribbean cruise.
You’ll stroll along sandy beaches in the Bahamas as well as enjoy a floating water park and a surf simulator on board. From £245pp (royalcaribbean.com).
Cruise-lovers also suggest themed or seasonal voyages for first-time trips. These include Cunard’s five-night Dutch Christmas Markets cruise in December. It starts and ends in Southampton and offers shopping stops in Rotterdam, Bruges and Le Havre. From £599pp (cunard.com).
Size also matters. ‘Small ships’ with fewer than 1,000 guests will be less overwhelming for newbies. Take advantage of the ‘every cabin has a balcony’ guarantee with Saga Cruises for privacy. In October the Flavours Of Western France And Spain cruise on its brand-new Spirit of Adventure takes in seven ports on a 14-night return trip from Southampton. From £3,349pp (saga.co.uk).