What To Know Before Booking Your First Cruise

Cruises are a popular holiday variation for people who love the open water and enjoy paying a decent amount of money for a packaged holiday. Think of it as like paying for one of those all-inclusive hotel holidays, only your hotel constantly moves around and covers a large distance. 

As amazing as cruises are, there are plenty of things to know before booking your first one. We’ve all probably heard tales from friends or family members about cruises gone wrong. From experience, this normally happens when people don’t fully understand things about cruise holidays – so here’s a list of key things to consider before you book anything. 

Different Types Of Cruises Exist

If you’ve never been on a cruise before, then you won’t truly appreciate how many different types of cruises exist. The problem with not knowing this is that you can easily get things mixed up during the booking process and end up with tickets for a cruise that’s wholly unsuitable for you. 

Imagine you’re looking for cruise deals last minute in the hope of going on an adults-only cruise – or perhaps a cruise for people aged 50 and over. However, you didn’t realise that you actually booked a family cruise or a themed cruise, which totally ruins the whole holiday experience. 

Conversely, you wanted to go on a family-friendly cruise but ended up booking one for retirees. You can imagine how awkward the holiday will be when there’s a bunch of retired folks, and then you and your young family. 

Different types of cruises exist because different people want various things from this type of holiday. Some do want a themed cruise with kid-friendly activities; others prefer a more chilled-out vibe with absolutely no kids around. The first step in the cruise-booking process is a simple one: understand what type of cruise you want to go on. 

We’ve already mentioned a few, but here’s a list of some common cruise options: 

• Adults-only cruises
• Retirement cruises
• Cruises for over 50s
• Family cruises
• Themed cruises (like a Disney cruise)
• River cruises
• Island hopping cruises (this involves more stopping and getting off)

Not All Cruises Are All-Inclusive

There is a crazily common misconception that cruises are automatically all-inclusive. The reason behind this misinformation is likely down to who talks about cruises around you. Most of the time it’s friends/family who’ve been on luxury cruises. These are expensive cruises that almost always offer all-inclusive options. 

That being said, you can easily find cruise lines without all-inclusive options as the default. It’s something to be aware of, especially when going on a family-friendly cruise, because a lot of those types of cruises are not all-inclusive unless you pay a lot of extra money.

Why does this even matter? Well, imagine you book a holiday for your family assuming that everything on board is free. You settle in, head down to the food area for the first time, and deal with the awkwardness of having to pay extra. It’s actually a massive deal when you consider your budget for this holiday. You probably didn’t factor in the cost of food and drink because you thought it was free, which makes this a much more expensive trip than anticipated. 

The moral of the story is this: always check if a cruise is all-inclusive before you book the tickets. It should tell you in the ticket summary – and keep in mind that most cruise lines that offer all-inclusivity will advertise this strongly. It’s a big USP for them; if you don’t see any mention of it, then it’s safe to assume your ticket isn’t all-inclusive. 

Be Careful When Choosing Your Cabins

Let’s say you’re going on a traditional holiday and want to book hotel rooms. You’re normally quite aware of the different room options because they’re obvious: single rooms, double rooms, twin rooms, suites, etc. Hotel rooms are given names based on how many beds they contain or people they sleep, so it’s not hard to know what to pick. 

On a cruise, you’re booking cabins instead of “rooms”. They’re basically the same thing, only each cruise ship will have specific cabin types – as explained below: 

• Inside Cabins – Sometimes called interior cabins, these are the cheapest options with no windows or views. 
• Outside Cabins – Also known as oceanview cabins, these are a step up and give you at least one window or porthole to see the ocean outside. 
• Balcony Cabins – Bigger cabins than outside cabins, and normally located higher up on the ship. As the name suggests, you get a balcony that lets you walk outside. 
• Suites – Far bigger than the other cabin options as you sometimes get multiple rooms within a suite. Lots of additional space and ideal for longer stays. You may also find Junior Suites that offer more space and large balconies than balcony cabins, but nowhere near the grandeur of a regular suite. 
• Family Cabins – Some cruises have connecting cabins for families. They’re bigger than the standard inside or outside cabin options, but have a door to connect rooms together. A great option if you want your kids to sleep in one cabin and you in another. 

Be careful when choosing your cabins, as you need to pick suitable ones for your stay. For example, if you get quite queasy looking out at the ocean, then an inside cabin makes more sense for you. By contrast, if you desperately need lots of room to avoid feeling claustrophobic, then a balcony or some type of suite will be essential. The wrong choice can ruin your cruise holiday! 

Opt For A Short Cruise

This is your first time going on a cruise, so it makes sense to pick a short one. Some cruise ships offer quick trips for a week or less. An option like this is ideal because you’ve got no idea how you’ll handle a cruise. Being on water for multiple days can be quite scary for some people – so imagine you book a 30-day cruise as your first experience. 

Opt for a shorter cruise to immerse yourself in the experience and find out if it’s right for you. You may love it and want to book a longer one in the future, or you come away thinking “phew, I’m glad I didn’t book that for any longer”. 

There will obviously be some smaller things to consider before booking your first cruise, but these are the main points to keep in mind. Make sure you book the right type of cruise for a short duration, and be sure to book the ideal cabin for your needs. All the while, check to see if you’re getting an all-inclusive deal or will need to pay extra – it helps with budgeting the whole trip. 

See more of my cruise-related posts here

Becky

Meet the award-nominated UK lifestyle blogger behind Spirited Puddle Jumper – a mum of three living in South East London! Becky shares the real ups and downs of family life, parenting tips, and lifestyle inspiration, proving that being a mum doesn’t mean you stop being fun or having other interests! Follow along for honest insights into UK family life and opinions on a whole range of topics, from travel and food, to beauty reviews, home and DIY, business and health and wellness.