Cruise Tips For First Time Cruisers !!!!!

As a first time cruiser the entire idea of going on a cruise may be quite daunting at first , which I’m sure you will have lots of questions and really don’t know where to start.

So I thought I would give some very helpful tips on what you should be looking for when booking your first cruise. Hopefully these tips will make things a little bit easier and you will soon discover cruising gives you so many opportunities to travel to those places that you never thought you would get to, not only will you see so many unique and memorable ports of call in just one holiday – you will only need to unpack once.

• Which destinations would you like to visit and how long for ?

As a first time cruiser many people don’t realise where they can travel to on a cruise. In the summer season most cruise liners offer the Italian/Spanish Mediterranean, Eastern Mediterranean, Fjords, UK, Baltics, Europe and in the winter you have the Eastern/Western/Southern Caribbean which are the most popular of places to start on a cruise, but that is only the only tip of the iceberg where you can travel to. There are lots of cruises out there to look at ranging from 2 night mini cruises to give you a taste to cruising to doing a full world cruise for over 100 nights. There is always something to suit everyone and every budget.

• Choosing the right cabin.

When it comes to your cruise picking the right cabin can be a big decision and mind boggling. You have so many to choose from and If you have never cruised before then you might need some guidance with this one.

Inside Cabin :

These are located on the interior of the ship. There is no window with this cabin therefore no natural light.  If you are trying to keep to a tight budget these are the most cost effective. Most people only use their cabin to get changed and sleep so these will suit a lot of people.

Outside Cabin:

An outside cabin you will get either a porthole or a picture window with a view of the ocean. These give you natural light. They are a tad more expensive than an inside cabin but certainly worth the extra to know what the weather is like every morning. Some guest who feel claustrophobic on an inside cabin would normally opt to have an outside cabin.

Balcony Cabin:

A balcony cabin is very much the same as an inside cabin but in addition your room will have doors that lead out onto your own private balcony overlooking the sea. These are perfect if you want your own private space to relax in, maybe even order room service and have breakfast on your balcony. You do pay more for the privilege of a balcony but it is certainly a good category to be in.

Suite:

Suites are the top accommodation you can choose from on-board a ship. Most suites will have a separate living area to the bedroom and also your en-suite. These are a lot larger than the standard cabins. Some suites will also have their own private butler if you are after pure luxury. You do pay more for the suites but if you’re after a bit of luxury or maybe celebrating something special this type of cabin is for you.

• What is the Dress Code ?

When it comes to dress codes on-board this can really vary ship to ship. As a general rule, the dress code for most ships during the day is casual holiday beach wear. For evening dining, choose an outfit that you would wear to a nice restaurant. Cruises for five days or longer normally includes at least one formal dining night where guests would normally wear evening gowns or a cocktail dress for ladies and tuxedos, or dark suites for gents. If you don’t want to dress up you have the alternative to eat in the buffet restaurants where it is a lot more relaxed.

These are only a few guidelines but I will be back to you with more helpful tips.