The ULTIMATE A-Z of CRUISING
Travel editor David Wickers shares everything you need to know, so you can navigate your way to the perfect cruise and set sail with confidence
Cruising is growing at a rate of knots. This year, some 2m Brits will set sail, and many of them for the first time. Such is the diversity of itineraries and styles of ship that a dismissive ‘cruising’s not for me’ no longer holds much water. But if you are still unsure whether cruising will float your boat, here are some of the pros (and cons) that you need to consider before you step aboard…
ALL-INCLUSIVE
All cruises include meals and entertainment. Several go the extra mile and throw in drinks (often just with meals), gratuities and wi-fi. Prices for a cruise aboard a Regent Seven Seas Cruises ship, one of the most inclusive, also cover flights, transfers, shore excursions, all drinks and dining (rssc.com). Tip: read the small print to know what you’re getting for your money.
BIG OR BOUTIQUE
The larger the ship, the more things there are to do. They are destinations in their own right, with lavish shows in plush theatres, huge gyms and spas, cavernous casinos, shopping arcades, kids’ clubs and a choice of restaurants. Boutique ships tend to be more luxurious, the service more personal, the atmosphere more relaxing. They can also visit much smaller ports and remote bays. Getting on and off, either by gangway or tender, is a far speedier business, too.
CABINS
The one thing you won’t find on a cruise ship is a ‘cabin’. The companies prefer to call them staterooms or suites. Most websites feature deck plans that show where the different categories (up to a dozen or more) are located and the various price bands. It’s worth considering whether you would prefer an interior cabin (one without windows) on a superior ship.
DRESS CODES
Although the trend now is for more ‘elegantly casual’ dining, many cruises have formal nights, where passengers are expected to up the dress code and don cocktail dresses or lounge suits (expectations tend to ascend with the star ratings!). The websites should make this clear.
EXPEDITION CRUISING
Ships are now going to places you probably never even knew existed. Expect the crew to include experts in marine biology, botany and wildlife, and for the ship to carry a fleet of Zodiac inflatables for excursions (invariably included in the price).
FOODIES
You will generally find that culinary standards well exceed your expectations. Many ships now offer restaurants endorsed by celebrity chefs, such as Thomas Keller on Seabourn (seabourn.com) or Marco Pierre White on P&O (pocruises.co.uk). Some also have multi-hob kitchens, where chefs pass on the tricks of their trade, sometimes taking passengers ashore to shop in local markets.
GLOBAL VOYAGES
Can’t make up your mind whether to go to the Far East or Indian Ocean, South America or the South Seas? Then go global! Each new year, a handful of ships cast off on circumnavigations, taking around three months or so. But if time (or money) is short, you can also opt for a single sector and maybe add another part of the world the following year.
HIGH CLASS
Although there is no official classification for cruise ships, the most reliable source of star ratings is the Berlitz Cruising & Cruise Ships guide, in which almost 300 ships are independently reviewed. With one or two exceptions, where ships have exclusive areas for those paying higher prices – Grill class on Cunard’s Queens (cunard.com) or The Retreat on Seabourn – there are no rigid class divisions as there are on aircrafts.
ISLAND HOPPING
In winter months, the bulk of the world’s cruising fleet is to be found in the Caribbean, hopping between islands (following recent restrictions on Americans, Cuba has recently been axed from many itineraries). In summer, island-hoppers tend to favour Greece. More long-haul archipelagos are explored in French Polynesia, Indonesia and Thailand.
JAUNTS
An ideal way to test the waters is to take a mini cruise. Several companies offer two- or three-night trips across the English Channel, visiting one or two of the French or Dutch ports, and/or the Channel Islands (cruiseandmaritime.com).
KIDS
Several of the larger ships put many land-based resorts to shame when it comes to supervised kids’ clubs, bracketed in age bands.
LUXURY
Forget, for a moment, all about ships and the sea. Step on board one of the Silversea (silversea.com) or Seabourn fleet and you’ll be checking in to one of the finest boutique hotels that just happens to take you from place to place. These are worlds where the food will rival the swankiest restaurants and the service will be personal and seamless. Remember, too, that luxury can also mean having a top, spacious suite on a mid-range ship.
MAINLAND
For most people, the appeal of cruising is all about visiting places (which is why ships tend to sail at night). Some companies also offer overnight stays in selected ports of call. Nowadays, there’s more emphasis on pre and post tours, where passengers enjoy, say, an escorted journey on the Rocky Mountaineer in the Canadian Rockies, for example, or arrange to stay for a couple of days in the gateway ports, rather than fly in and head straight on to the ship on the day that it sails.
NATURAL WORLDS
Arguably, the most scenic of all cruise itineraries are to be found in Alaska. Barely changed since the beginning of time, the region has 34,000 miles of coastline, including the legendary Inside Passage. Both polar regions should also top the bucket list for those craving wilderness, as will the Norwegian coast (a prime spot for seeing the Northern Lights). For tamer terrain, consider a river cruise, where the moving pageant of landscapes appears on both port and starboard beams.
ON YOUR OWN
Whether travelling solo by choice or circumstance, cruising is good news for single travellers. Many ships have single cabins and there are usually get-togethers, including cocktail parties, shared tables at dinner and even ‘gentlemen hosts’ to trip the light fandango.
PORTS OF CALL
Depending on local conditions, ships may tie up at jetties or drop anchor and shuttle passengers ashore by tender. If you have any mobility constraints, do check on the number of tender days, as you may find ship-to-shore transfers tricky. Even smaller vessels are likely to be moored well away from town centres, although river cruises are much more likely to afford doorstep access to where you want to be.
QUEASINESS
Although there can be no guarantee against seasickness, the fin-like stabilisers on modern ships do help counter the choppiest of seas. If in doubt about your sea legs, choose a large vessel, avoid long sea crossings and pick a cabin in the middle of the ship and on a lower deck, as it will be less prone to motion. Over-the-counter remedies can also help. If you are still anxious about mal de mer, consider a river cruise, where the water is always calm.
RIVER CRUISING
Cruising on rivers is up 10% year on year and is expected to attract 250,000 passengers this year. Half will be sailing along either the Rhine or the Danube but there are other European rivers to think about, as well as long-haul options, such as the Nile, the Mekong, the Volga, the Amazon, the Brahmaputra and the Mississippi. Companies offering river cruises tend to include more ‘extras’ in the overall price.
SEA DAYS
Cross the Atlantic and there’s nothing but sea for six or more days. Even on a regular, port-intensive Med, Caribbean or Baltic cruise, there may be a day or two spent at sea, and that’s almost definitely the case if you sail from a UK port. They can be relaxing, especially if it’s warm enough for loafing on deck or beside the pool, or active, with ships usually arranging a full menu of things to fill the time. Book early for any spa treatments on sea days, as these are the busiest times.
THEMES
Whatever your interests, there’s likely to be a cruise that offers activities you’ll love. Think cooking demos, bridge, photography, computer classes, wine tasting and dance lessons.
UK & UNPACK
A third of all British cruisers and more than 600 sailings cast off from a wide range of UK ports, including Belfast, Bristol, Tilbury, Newcastle, Liverpool and Dover, as well as Southampton. The big plus about departing from a home port (aside from avoiding the hassles of airports) is that you can load up your car or take a train, hand over your luggage, then step on board and straight into your holiday. The big plus that both ocean and river cruising have over a tour by land is that even though you travel to different destinations, you only unpack once.
VALUE
Despite myths that cruising is the domain of lottery winners, pension pot splurgers and dowagers with dough, cruising can be amazingly affordable and comparable to a hotel on land, all with the added advantage that a ship will carry you from place to place.
WILDLIFE
Anyone with a love of wildlife should put the Galápagos at the top of their wish list.
XERCISE
Want to avoid weight gain from those round-the-clock eats? Then exercise. Most ships have very well-equipped gyms, as well as a range of classes (usually at an extra cost). Then there are the swimming pools (early risers stand the best chance of doing laps) and, on larger ships, promenade/jogging decks; on RMS Queen Mary 2, three circuits equals one mile.
YACHTS
It’s hard to beat cruising under a full set of billowing sails for romance. But if you are looking for casinos and West End-style shows, you’ve walked up the wrong gangplank. The three Star Clipper vessels, built along traditional lines with teak decks, polished woods and gleaming brass, are classics (starclippers.co.uk).
Zzzs
There are lots of Zs on the cruising compass, such as Zanzibar, Zakynthos in the Greek Ionians, Zadar in Croatia, ‘New’ Zealand and ‘old’ Zealand (in Denmark). Then add activities, such as zip wiring with Royal Caribbean, Zodiac inflatables for trips ashore on expedition cruises and even two Z ships: Zaandam and Zuiderdam, both belonging to Holland America Line!