Choosing the ideal cruise

Celebrity Summit at sea, en route to bold new adventures
(Photo courtesy: Celebrity Cruises)

CHARLOTTE, NC — In the world of cruising, "one size does not fit all." Basically there are two types of people who cruise; veterans and novices. Savvy sea-going travelers long ago figured out how, where, why and which ships or cruise lines they prefer. Novices tend to be more cautious and selective, frequently looking for the best deal as their primary frame of reference.

Since most veteran cruisers are set in their ways, for one reason or another, it is hardly necessary to offer tips on how to choose an itinerary or a ship.

Celebrity Millennium in port in Ketchikan, Alaska
(Photo: Robert Taylor)

Tips for first-timers is a completely different story, but there are ways to maximize the cruising experience without being overwhelmed by the choices.

Experienced cruisers can tell you the name of virtually every ship in a fleet, what the itineraries are and anything else you want to know, or don't want to know, about travel at sea.

 

New worlds await in each port
(Photo: Robert Taylor)

The first recommendation is to avoid those people at all costs. They can literally ruin a cruise adventure for just about anyone because, for the most part, travel for them is all about status and little else.

"My wife and I have been to the Caribbean so many times, we don't even bother to get off the ship," bragged one snooty passenger recently. That isn't travel, its using a ship as a private restaurant and beach. All of which is fine, but then again, why not just go to a nice resort somewhere?

For people considering a cruise vacation, who are truly interested in travel for travel's sake, here's a basic list of tips for planning your voyage.

Dragon stairway in Danang,
Vietnam  (Photo: Robert Taylor)

Price & Length: Many people are enthralled by the idea of saving money and doing a short cruise to the Bahamas or some small destination in the islands. There's nothing wrong with that, but don't forget the adage "you get what you pay for."

Today's medium sized cruise ships hold about 3,000 passengers and they are basically horizontal floating skyscrapers.

Like any and all forms of travel, the cheapest price is not always the best way to go. Cruising is no different. Check the costs closely and you may quickly discover that a rate that is just a couple of hundred dollars pricier may be worth a thousand or two more value.

Cruising into the future in a split level suite aboard the new
Celebrity Edge which debuts in December
(Photo courtesy: Celebrity Cruises)

Two months after you return from your vacation of a lifetime, that extra money will be long forgotten, but the overall experience will be an eternal memory.

A three or four day cruise may sound like fun, and it will be, but know that by the time you are settled in and oriented to your ship, it will just about be time to disembark. Therefore, plan ahead and think about a 7 to 10 day cruise at a minimum in order to get the maximum benefit of the adventure.

When Celebrity Solstice docks in Juneau, it is the tallest
structure in town  (Photo: Robert Taylor)

Cruise Line & Ship: Do your homework. Go online and research lots of information about various cruise lines and their ships. Tend to avoid reading online comments from other travelers because it is impossible to determine whether their lifestyle matches yours and what level of actual knowledge they have. A first-rate experienced travel or cruise agency is your best source of good, solid information.

Ship's library on Solstice
(Photo: Robert Taylor)

All cruise lines and ships are not the same. As with any form of travel there are bottom of the line and top of the line operators. For most people, somewhere in between usually offers the best value for the money.

My Khe Beach in Vietnam looks much different than it did in the
late 1960's  (Photo: vietnamguide.com)

Ports & Itinerary: You and you alone know best what strikes your fancy so let that be your guiding light to choosing the best cruise option for you.

For example, sailing out of Miami or Fort Lauderdale might save a little money, but if you are going to cruise the Caribbean, why not start closer to your destinations and depart from Puerto Rico? By doing that, it's like getting an extra port from the outset and you can probably visit another island or two in the process.

Bermuda is a fun place to visit
(Photo: Robert Taylor)

Don't forget, different itineraries will generally cater to different personnel. The Caribbean typically has a younger group of cruisers than those sailing in Alaska. European cruises will obviously be more international.

If you are looking for parties and all-night activities, chances are you will do better in the Bahamas and Caribbean than sailing to the Galapagos Islands.

Celebrity Reflection in port (Photo courtesy: Celebrity Cruises)

Sea days vs Port Days: This is one of the most important things to consider when planning a cruise. If you just want to enjoy the ship and its amenities, an itinerary with more days at sea is ideal. Most first-timers however, prefer to use the ship to visit several places in one tour where they can see multiple ports in a single trip.

Dramatic Mendenhall Glacier
in Alaska (Photo: Robert Taylor)

Check to see how many ports a ship visits during any given cruise and make your selection based upon the destinations and number of places you wish to see.

A note of caution, always avoid cruising on an itinerary that offers two ports in a day. One port in a day can be limiting enough, but two is next to impossible.

Celebrity will change the face of cruising forever when the Edge
sails its maiden voyage in December
(Photo courtesy: Celebrity Cruises)

Logistics: This is arguably the most overlooked category of any cruise planning process. Talk to a travel professional or someone you trust who can give you the low-down on the ships that are most capable of handling large number of passengers in ways that minimizes the sense of congestion.

Cruise lines offer all manner of shipboard activities and the ones that are best are those that diversify interests, especially on sea days, to greatly reduce the feeling of being crowded.

Celebrity Edge's "Magic Carpet" will be like a gigantic multi-story exterior elevator  (Photo courtesy: Celebrity Cruises)

There are numerous cruise lines from which to choose, but for starters check out Celebrity which does an excellent job of making their passengers happy with great service and cruises that can be done without breaking the bank.

Bon voyage!