Cruising tips

When you’re committing to the financial outlay necessary to take a cruise, you will want to make sure you have everything covered.

1. Research – take a moment to think about your perfect cruise holiday and decide how much time you have, how much you can spend and with whom you will travel. This will make it much easier to decide which cruise holiday is for you!

2. Ship – modern-day cruise ships come in all shapes and sizes, offering a wide variety of cruise holidays to suit everyone, from small luxury vessels cruising Europe’s rivers to megaliners offering a huge choice of onboard activities, such as rock climbing and dance lessons.

3. Destination – if you have a particular destination in mind, chances are that there’s a cruise ship that goes there. As the popularity of cruising holidays grows, so too do the number of destinations that ships visit each year – from unspoilt South Pacific ports, to the historic cities of Europe and the exotic cities of Asia.

4. Season – compare your availability with the best time to travel to your preferred destination. Places like Alaska are only accessible during the Australian winter, others such as the Caribbean are great to cruise to year-round.

5. Knowledge – make sure to speak with a cruise expert to help you organise your dream cruise.

6. Cabins – when it comes to your home-away-from-home, think about what sort of holiday you want. If you plan to spend little time in your cabin, opt for a smaller, inside cabin and take the savings with you as extra spending money. A larger cabin might suit a longer voyage or for a little luxury, choose a private balcony and soak up the incredible views.

7. Dress – cruise passengers often look forward to the chance to dress up on their holidays. Some cruise lines have very casual dress codes while others can be quite classy, particularly on formal nights. It’s a good idea to check dress codes for the cruise ship you select.

8. Deals – book as far in advance as possible to get the best deals and choice of cabin on your cruise holiday. And don’t forget if you are travelling with a group of friends or family, there may be special group deals.

9. Packages – cruise lines offer a host of services designed to take the stress out of planning your holiday and save you money. Many will offer special deals on flights and accommodation in the cities where your cruise begins or ends, as well as transfers to the ship.

10. Paperwork – taking out comprehensive travel insurance is a must to ensure any hassle-free holiday. Before you book, make sure your passport is current for at least six months after the date you return home and also check with your cruise expert from if any visas are necessary.

We can also recommend that you leave your day-to-day worries portside when you board your ship and focus on relaxing to make the most of your cruise holiday.