I’ve been on enough cruises now to know that things don’t always go to plan. I’ve had some fantastic holidays at sea, but I’ve also learned that there are plenty of things you can get wrong, particularly when you’re booking your first cruise.
The problem is that it’s not always obvious what you need to think about until you’ve actually been on a ship. And by then, if you’ve chosen the wrong cabin or booked a cruise that doesn’t suit you, there’s not much you can do about it.
I certainly look at cruising differently now compared to when I first started, and there are a few things I wish I’d understood sooner. Some of these might sound a bit harsh, but they’re worth knowing before you book.
Cruises can look ridiculously cheap when you see them advertised. A week away for a few hundred pounds (sometimes less!), with your accommodation, meals and entertainment included, sounds like a fantastic deal.
And sometimes it is. But it’s worth checking exactly what you’re getting for your money, because the extras can mount up quite quickly.
Drinks packages, WiFi, speciality dining, shore excursions and gratuities can all add to the cost, depending on which cruise line you choose. If you’re flying to meet the ship, you might also need to budget for transfers and possibly an overnight hotel stay.
You could find that a cruise with a higher initial price actually works out cheaper once you’ve added everything you want.
This is one of the reasons I’m a fan of comparing packages rather than just looking at the basic fare. When I sailed with Holland America, one of the options was the Have It All package, which includes drinks, Wi-Fi, speciality dining, shore excursion credit and prepaid Crew Appreciation.
It’s not necessarily worth paying extra for everything if you’re not going to use it, but I think it’s always worth doing the sums. I’d much rather know roughly what my holiday is going to cost before I go than come home to a nasty surprise.
I think this is one of the biggest things that first-time cruisers underestimate. Just because a ship looks amazing doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to be right for you.
Cruise lines offer completely different experiences, and even ships within the same fleet can vary quite a bit.
Some ships have huge waterparks, dozens of bars and restaurants, and enough activities to keep you busy from morning until night. Others are much more relaxed, with fewer passengers, a focus on the destinations and plenty of quieter spaces where you can enjoy the sea views.
You might love the idea of a massive ship with everything imaginable on board, but find the crowds exhausting once you’re there. Equally, you might book a smaller ship expecting a peaceful holiday, then spend the week wishing there was more happening.
It’s worth looking beyond the photos and finding out what a typical day on board is actually like.
I had a really good example of this when I sailed on Holland America’s Nieuw Statendam. I loved how spacious the ship felt, and there was plenty to do without everything feeling busy or crowded. The live music was a particular highlight, with everything from duelling pianos to rock and R&B, but the atmosphere was still quite relaxed.
It suited me brilliantly, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend the same ship to someone whose idea of a perfect cruise involves huge waterslides and thrill rides. That’s why it’s so important to find out what a ship is actually like, rather than just choosing one that looks…
