Voice of Travel

Never been on a cruise before, but you’ve heard amazing things about them…and are considering a cruise for your next vacation? Here are some things to think
about when deciding:

• Where do you want to go? There are cruises that go almost anywhere. You can cruise the Caribbean islands, Alaska, the Mediterranean, the Galapagos Islands, and so many more places!
• What type of ship are you looking for? Some cruises are made for those that like to keep busy. They have rock-climbing walls, ice skating rinks, many shows, and lots of other things to keep you busy. Other cruise ships are more quiet, and good for relaxing. Also, depending on the cruise as well as the type of cruise line, you might find different age companions.
• Some are more geared towards the younger crowd, while others are geared towards families, or for couples without children.
• If you are bringing children with you, do you want some sort of children’s program? Many of the cruise ships offer activities for small children up through teenagers, to keep them busy and having fun while on the cruise. If you’ll be bringing kids, you might want to check if they have these facilities so you can have some alone time, plus your kids can have fun as well.
• How much money are you looking to spend? Based on the type of cruise line (some are a lot more expensive than others), as well as the type of cabin you select (from inside all the way up to suite) you can really vary your spending. You can easily go on a 7-night cruise for under $500 per person, but can just as easily spend $7,000 per person on a 7-night cruise.
• Is tipping included? In some cruise lines, tipping is already included in your price, or is a set amount per day. If so, take that into account when pricing one cruise against another. One might look cheaper, but if it didn’t add the tipping, you might end up paying more.
• What else is or isn’t included? In some cruises, some shore excursions are included, or different drinks. On most cruise lines, your food is included, as well as water, coffee, and iced tea. If you’d like any juices, sodas, or alcohol, you must pay extra. On a few cruise lines, these may be included. That should all be taken into account when checking out the cruise line.

What else is important to you? Many things are different on different ships or cruise lines. The quality of the food, the entertainment offered, and even the types of shore excursions vary greatly from ship to ship, and cruise line to cruise line. These are just a few of the things you should think about when trying to plan your first cruise.