If you’re interested in cruising, I’m sure by now you’ve discovered there are a lot of moving parts to planning a trip. I’ve mentioned this before but cruising is not like any other trip you will take. They’re amazing experiences but there are also a lot of elements and discussions about what you should or shouldn’t do, how to pack, how to plan, and so on.
One of the biggest things about many people who love cruising isn’t just about the cruises themselves. One of the funnest parts of cruising sharing our addiction! Cruisers tend to want to help others navigate through the planning and processes. Honestly, the process of preparing for a cruise can be fun! The preparation gets you excited about your trip! I admit I love the planning, the research about excursions, the places I’m interested in going, and the ship. The planning creates anticipation!
1. Choosing a Cruise
One of the first places first-time cruisers can go astray is not realizing there are different types of cruises and what type of cruiser you are. If you’re a solo cruiser, this list actually gets a bit easier though. While there are several cruise lines that do have solo cruise cabins, one of the biggest issues is that the big lines such as Carnival and Royal Caribbean charge for at least double occupancy.
At the time of this writing, Carnival is the only major cruise line that does not have solo cabins/occupancy. Royal Caribbean has added limited solo availability but there mostly add a surcharge for single cruising. Be aware of these surcharges when looking at a booking. (That rhymed)! A single occupancy surcharge, called a supplement, means you can cruise solo but you pay an added fee. That’s a bummer! However, for the sake of this article, this is a good thing! It helps us narrow down how to choose!
There are several awesome lines with solo discounts, solo cabins, or at least don’t charge for double occupancy or charge smaller surcharges. Solo travel is becoming more and more popular and cruise lines are catching on. Lines like Norwegian Cruise Lines even have cabins specifically for solos and some of them look pretty cool!
The one thing you will want to check when looking at these solo cabins is that the cost is not always the cheapest option. If you do a mock booking, you can see your options though so no worries.
2. Cabin Types and Knowing Which is Best for You!
You have several options when looking at cabins and the type of cabin influences a lot! Depending on which type of cabin is the major determiner of your cost (we’ll talk more about the other things that impact your cost later). I have listed the cabin types from typically lowest to highest in cost/size from smallest to largest. There are often price variations though so check your prices even between the same types of cabins.
As you consider what type of cabin is best for you, look past just the cost. There are several other factors to consider such as time of year and if your cruise is itinerary heavy vs. a lot of sea days. If your itinerary is filled with mostly port stops, you might not be spending much time in your cabin except to sleep and change clothes so save your money and maybe go with the interior or oceanview. If you’re going on an Alaskan cruise, you might want a balcony because so much of the trip is full of amazing views. It’s all up to you!!
Interior Cabins
Starting at typically the most inexpensive types of cabins are interior cabins. Interior cabins are a great way for budget travel as interiors are the cheapest option. Norwegian‘s solo cabins are an exception to this though as some of their solo cabins can cost more than a balcony so make note.
Interior cabins are also fabulous for sleeping since there’s NO light except maybe a little crack under your door (take a night light, it helps). I know cruisers who love interiors and book them on repeat; the cost is lower than other cabin options, you get fabulous sleep, and you feel less movement since interior cabins are closer to the center of the ship.
Interior cabins and itineraries: knowing where to save or spend
Another reason to consider an interior cabin is to consider your itinerary. On a port-heavy cruise, it’s most likely you won’t be spending much time in your cabin aside from sleeping and changing clothes. The downside to this though is you may have days where you may be in your cabin more. An interior cabin can be a great option though if you’re sailing in colder weather when a balcony might not get much use.
One other issue that came up during the pandemic was when several cruises could not disembark and the passengers had to quarantine in their cabins. Those with balconies could at least get some fresh air and step outside a little bit. There have been other stories of ships having to stay at sea longer than anticipated due to storms or engine trouble like the Carnival Triumph (now the Carnival Sunrise) had a fire onboard. However, while these stories made headlines, the occurrences of issues is minimal compared to how many cruises go without issue.
One way I found you can combat the “no window” issue is to turn on the cabin TV to one of the deck channels like the aft channel. You can see where you’re going and get great ocean views!
::NOTE for booking cabins with multiple passengers::
Be aware if you’re going with multiple people, when booking an interior cabin that the listing may say the cabin can accommodate up to four people. That depends on the people! There have been too many stories of those who have booked a cabin for three or four adults, not realizing two of the four beds are Pullman bunks. OH boy, you get to climb a ladder!! Sometimes there are pull-out couches, but this is not something you want to assume.
Oceanview Cabins
The second, slightly more expensive cabin is an ocean view. These cabins all have windows but cost a bit more than the interiors. On some cruises like Carnival, the window has a nice wide space some people sit in like a little reading nook. Oceanview cabins are a great option when wanting to watch your budget but still have some light. Typically, oceanview cabins tend to be a little bit larger than inside cabins too.
Be aware if you’re going with multiple people, when booking an interior cabin that the listing may say the cabin can accommodate up to four people. That depends on the people! There have been too many stories of those who have booked a cabin for three or four adults, not realizing two of the four beds are Pullman bunks. OH boy, you get to climb a ladder!! Sometimes there are pull-out couches, but this is not something you want to assume.
Balcony Cabins
Next, you have balcony cabins. There are some variations in types of balconies such as aft, wrap-around, and obstructed views. For the last few cruises I have gone on, I booked balcony cabins (with the spa upgrade) and now I am spoiled for all others. I also go on cruises where we have multiple sea days and I like to spend time alone, reading or writing on my balcony.
Suites
The last main type of cabin grade is suites. These are typically the most expensive cabin types although there are more expensive rooms like Norwegian’s Haven which are suites with special, upgraded options such as Haven passenger-only restaurants, lounges, and spaces. Suites can be a great option if you’re traveling in a group or with a larger family since they’re like apartments. Honestly, there are some suites that are bigger than some apartments or houses! Some suites even have their own hot tub! Personally, suites don’t interest me because of the cost and I don’t need the extra space. I would get a cheaper cabin and spend money on other things like the spa upgrade, or excursions.
3. Cabin location
This topic is a big one and all about personal preference. Cabin location for some people can make or break their trip experience whereas other cruisers just roll with whatever. When booking a cabin, you have more options than just the type of cabin. You also have the location of the cabin.
Guaranteed Cabins: Do you feel lucky punk?
For those who are willing to roll the dice, there are guaranteed cabins. These are the lowest price points within the various types which have an appeal. If you’re not picky about where exactly on the ship you stay, guaranteed cabins can work to your advantage. You choose the grade; interior, oceanview, or balcony but the cruise line chooses the location of the cabin. You will always be given the type of cabin you choose though.
I’ve done this a couple of times with an interior cabin. It worked to my advantage but only because I was given an outrageously cheap deal to upgrade to a balcony on at least one occasion. I would NOT bet on the upgrade fairy visiting you though! Make sure you are okay with the possibility of your cabin being in a location you may not love when booking a guaranteed cabin because there are no takebacks!
Obstructed View Cabins
Another option to save a few bucks if you want sunlight but don’t mind a possibly bad view is to book an obstructed-view cabin. Be mindful though, you can get a terrific view in a great ship location by booking an obstructed view cabin! You can book either obstructed view oceanview cabins or variations of obstructed view balconies.
There are two types of obstructed-view cabins; fully obstructed or partially obstructed. Obstructed-view cabins may have something like the lifeboats in front of your window which is considered fully obstructed. The way some ships are structured such as a beam across the window or the bend of the ship can be minor though but considered partially obstructed. You can have a great balcony for a smaller price point that is sometimes only slightly higher than an inside cabin!
Deck yourself, don’t wreck yourself
If you decide to choose your cabin location, there are some considerations you will want to make. Again, there are some things you will want to avoid but also personal preferences. When choosing a cabin, you will want to look at the deck plans of your ship.
Are you a gym rat or have the spa package? You may want to book towards the front of the ship closer to the spa and gym. “Wait I don’t want to feel the waves as much,” you say. If this is you, midship will be your best bet. “Oh man, I love the parties!” You might want to check out decks closer to the Lido deck you party animal!
Are you a light sleeper or like to go to bed earlier? Then make sure you’re not in a cabin below the Lido Deck. Most Lido decks house the deck parties, swimming pool, and other big ship events late into the night, plus you will most likely hear the crew moving the deck chairs early in the morning and late at night.
The most common advice for choosing a cabin if you’re not sure is to find a cabin that only has cabin decks above and below. Also, check for connecting doors and if you’re close to elevator banks. I’ve booked close to an elevator a few times but was on one of the spa decks. There weren’t many other cabins in that area, and the elevators were far enough that it didn’t matter.
4. Cruising Styles: Knowing the Differences to Make the Best Choice for you
One of the biggest mistakes first-time cruisers make is assuming all cruise lines are the same, or types of cruising are the same. You may think they are all either giant mega-ships, but did you know there are actually different styles of cruising to fit different budgets and cruiser styles?
When choosing a cruise, knowing the overall style of both the ship and cruise line can help you narrow down your choices. When talking about cruise styles, there are traditional and resort-style cruising. You may also hear “British style” and “American style”; British style is more traditional and the American style is considered resort style
Traditional Style Cruising Defined
If you watched the movie “Titanic,” and thought that looked like something you would love to do, then traditional style might be the thing for you! Traditional style cruising usually has older ships with more traditional decor as opposed to a contemporary look. The lines that are traditional style are usually smaller ships and smaller fleets such as Cunard. With four ships in their fleet, Cunard is considered a luxury line.
Another defining feature of traditional-style cruises is the ports of call. Since lines that offer traditional style cruising usually have smaller ships, they can dock in cities as opposed to the mega-ships which have to dock outside of town, at piers that handle both the larger ships and the vast amount of passengers disembarking at each port.
Traditional-style cruising tends to cater to older passengers and is not as family-friendly as resort-style ships which have kids’ clubs, water slides, and other family-focused activities. Traditional lines will have enrichment activities such as guest lecturers, classes, and other enrichment activities.
Benefits of Traditional Style Cruising- It’s not as stuffy or uptight as you may think!
If you’re more interested in more exotic ports of call, get a more intimate look at the cultures and people of the different stops. You can usually find more exotic excursion options and much smaller groups. This is not to be confused with small ship cruising though (wait, what)? Small ship cruising can be modern, just small.
Traditional cruising is marked by older ships whose lines emphasize their history, traditions, and heritage. One of the other major tells of traditional cruising is the lines tend to have enforced dress codes like Cunard which has formal nights for dining. The ship experience overall is more intimate- the passenger-to-crew ratio is usually small since there are fewer passengers.
Traditional cruises may initially look more expensive but if you do some comparison shopping and look at the deals, the resort-style ships can actually be costly. Traditional lines tend to be inclusive when considering drink packages, specialty dining options, Wi-Fi, and sometimes excursion costs. Many of these or various option packages are often included in traditional cruise pricing.
Resort Style Cruising
Resort-style cruising is in the name- the ships are like giant floating resorts. Lines that are resort-style include mega ships like Royal Caribbean which has the world’s three largest passenger-capacity ships. Resort-style ships focus on exciting, family-friendly, flashy fun like go-carts, water slides, roller coasters, laser tag, and IMAX movie theatres.
A big trend in resort-style cruise lines is having their own private islands. Islands like Half Moon Caye are co-owned by Carnival and Holland America, and only useable by the cruise line. These larger cruise lines may also have their own private beaches like in Roatán, Honduras Mahogany Bay. Resort-type cruise lines are about crowd-focused entertainment; Royal Caribbean has shows like Cirque de Sol, Norwegian has “Footloose,” and Virgin Voyages has gravity-defying acrobatic shows. Resort-style cruising has giant deck parties, dance parties, and packing value into each vacation.
Resort-type cruise lines are about relaxing and enjoying experiences in a more casual setting; dress codes are not enforced if there is one. While there may be formal/ elegant nights, the definition of formal is vastly individual. I’ve seen everything from jeans to beaded evening gowns on Carnival’s elegant night. The overall feeling of a resort-style cruise is about relaxing with a “do as you please” attitude as opposed to traditional-style cruising.
5. Choosing the Best Type of Ship for you
When looking at cruising, we tend to think of the mega-ship lines such as Carnival, Norwegian, or Royal Caribbean. These all have appeal but maybe those mega-ships aren’t for you! Do not fear, you’ve got options! There are different categories that have appeals to various budgets and passenger expectations.
Categories:
- Mainstream Ocean Cruise Lines
- Premium Cruise Lines
- Luxury Ocean Cruise Lines
- River Cruise Lines
- Specialty Cruise Lines
Mainstream Ocean Cruise Lines
Mainstream Ocean Cruise Lines include “mega-ships” that tend to cater more towards families, higher energy activities, and lots of big attractions like roller coasters, laser tag, and go-carts. Cruise lines in this category are all about BIG- big ships, big passenger capacity, and big activities. These lines include mega-ships that can accommodate 5000 or more passengers. These lines include Royal Caribbean which currently has the largest passenger ship to date with the Wonder of the Seas which can carry almost 7000 passengers!
Mainstream cruise lines are based on serving a majority of people with resort-style experiences. These are typically the most commonly considered cruises.
Mainstream Cruise Lines include Carnival, Disney, Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises, MSC, and Norwegian. Celebrity and Holland America have been building larger ships with more offerings, and are straddling the lines between mainstream and premium cruising.
Currently, Carnival Cruises does not offer any cruises with single occupancy. You either have to pay for double occupancy or travel with someone else. Royal Caribbean has limited solo options. These mainstream lines are not quite as solo travel friendly as premium lines with the exception of Norwegian but that is rapidly changing.
Premium Cruise Lines
Premium cruise lines are considered to be affordable luxury offering amenities such as spas, multiple dining options, pools, and kids clubs as the larger lines. The difference is premium cruise lines offer more amenities on smaller ships so there are fewer passengers. Premium lines offer more attention to customer service and more gourmet dining with more space per passenger. These cruises tend to be friendly toward solo, more mature cruisers.
Initially, luxury lines’ prices seem more expensive. If you shop smart and try things like cruising off-season, or shop various cruise deals, you can get a premium cruise for similar costs as mainstream cruises. Depending on what options you choose, premium cruise lines can offer high-end experiences for mainstream costs (or better).
Premium cruise lines include Azamara, Celebrity, Cunard, Holland America, Oceania, and Virgin Voyages. Currently, Holland America and Virgin are two of the top lines offering solo cruise options. Several cruises are available at amazingly low costs if you shop their discounted cruises.
Luxury Cruise Lines
“Luxury” is the keyword when looking at luxury cruise lines. These lines have smaller ships and smaller fleets with an emphasis on passenger service. On luxury lines, the food is top-notch, and cabin restrooms are stocked with high-end bath products. If you want a more intimate destination experience, luxury lines can access smaller ports in the cities as opposed to having to dock in industrial areas, then traveling into the city which is what the mega ships have to do. The smaller luxury lines can also visit destinations larger ships cannot reach, giving you more options. These lines are considered “all-inclusive,” meaning amenities like wi-fi, drink packages, and sometimes excursions are included in the cruise fare.
The smaller ships mean you have a better chance of meeting and getting to know new people. These cruises are typically more port-heavy with an emphasis on getting to know those destinations. There are often lecturers and classes although Celebrity has similar offerings.
Luxury lines include Azamara, Cunard, Oceania, Ponant, Seabourn, and Silversea. There are other lines too such as Seabourn Yacht Club but by the definitions I am using here, Seabourn also falls under Specialty Cruise Lines.
River Cruise Lines
The definition of river cruising is in the title- these are cruise lines that specialize in river cruising. There are larger lines that do have river cruises. For the purposes of this article though, I am only including cruise lines that only sail on rivers.
The Viking River Cruise Line defines river cruising as:
- A form of leisure travel that takes guests along inland waterways.
- Usually, there are several port stops over the course of each passage.
- Typical river cruises often last longer than a week.
- Carry anywhere from 100 to 250 guests, depending on the ship size.
- Are popular on many of the world’s major rivers, including the Danube, Rhine, Volga, and Yangtze.
Because river cruising is on smaller ships, you have more opportunity to get to know your fellow passengers, and similar to some of the luxury lines, there is more opportunity to get more intimate visits to the ports of call because the ships can dock in the cities, unlike the mega ships which have to either tender or dock at large dockyards.
River cruises are excellent for those who want to learn more about different locations and are not interested in the mega-ship amenities. The smaller ships do not mean giving up on fun or activities, but the offerings are geared toward a more mature, childless audience. The accommodations and food are typically higher-end and give passengers a more exclusive feeling.
Specialty/ Adventure Cruises
Specialty or adventure cruises are smaller cruise lines similar to river cruise lines in that the ships are smaller, allowing a deeper dive into the various ports and typically a higher level of passenger service. the biggest difference though is specialty cruises are niche travel with the more experienced traveler in mind. you will not find resort-style amenities like giant water slides, onboard movie theatres, or go-carts. What you will find are unique experiences and more adventure!
Specialty or adventure cruises specialize in experiences such as cruises to the Galapagos Islands, Antarctica, or Transatlantic cruises. Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 is the only ship that only does transatlantic cruises, but some of the mainstream lines also offer transatlantic crossings.
Star Clipper Cruises is one of the more unique cruise lines. While Star Clipper Cruises only has three ships, they are clipper ships; masted ships based on tall ships. They are luxurious, only sailing with 166-277 passengers. Other companies that offer unique cruises are UnCruise Adventures, The Groove Cruise, Quark Expeditions, Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic, Mark Carwardine Holidays, and WildPhoto Travel.
Note: these are NOT budget-friendly cruises but they offer “once in a lifetime” experiences.
6. Knowing the Right Time to Travel
One of the biggest blunders newbie cruisers make is choosing the “wrong” time of year to travel. This holds true of almost all types of travel too. Checking prices for “off-season,” versus “peak-season” travel can save you some serious cash and possibly hassles too!
Depending on your needs may also determine when you can travel. Flexibility can save you a bundle! The peak travel for cruises is seasonal; Spring or Winter Break for students, and summer time will be the busiest, and also more expensive. Most travel advisors say the best prices for cruising are October/November, after Thanksgiving but before Christmas, then between January/February. These are called “shoulder seasons,” meaning not quite the peak or high season, but not the lowest season.
Shoulder seasons can vary depending on location. For Caribbean cruising, shoulder season for the fall months also is hurricane season. I love to go on Caribbean cruises in October but that is also hurricane season. For me, it’s worth it because there are smaller crowds, fewer kids, and lower prices. However, the fall months or shoulder season for the Caribbean is peak leaf-peeping season in Canada and New England.
Final Take Away
I know this is a lot to take in! The biggest thing to leave you with is to do your research no matter what cruise you’re interested in. If you need help or want to ask questions, there are usually Facebook groups for the various cruise lines and specific FB groups for both the ship you may want to know about and the date of a cruise you booked.
Facebook groups are a great place for newbies to ask questions, or do a quick search in the group. Cruisers LOVE to talk about cruising! Don’t be afraid to ask. Most of us want to share what we’ve learned. Heck, the biggest issue you will have is getting us to stop talking about cruising!! Now go book that cruise!