Cruise Guide

Why choose a cruise holiday?

The simple answer is because you'd be mad not to. Cruising is no longer the province of the rich and famous, it's for everyone. Democracy has come to the high seas! The value alone should make you consider cruising. The cost, compared to a land-based, stuck-in-one-place hotel vacation, is a no-brainer. For similar money, a cruise will give you ultra-luxurious, 24-hour full board, stateroom service, endless onboard activities, Broadway-standard entertainment, a new port of call or a new country almost every day, plus the cost of flights if necessary, all included. Just think of the places you can visit, places you've only dreamed about. And there's the added bonus of only packing and unpacking your suitcases once! Mediterranean cruises are the most popular of all cruises and it's easy to see why. Many of them are no-flying cruises out of Southampton. A no- fly cruise from Southampton allows you to park at the quayside. Willing and friendly porters - yes, they do exist - will help you with your luggage. You feel as if you're on holiday already and you haven't left the UK yet! Hang up your wardrobe, just the once, and you're off. From then on, the world comes to you. All those magical ports of call will turn up and anchor outside your balcony, day after day, night after night. And when you return to the UK, it's the friendly porters in reverse. Straight into your car and off you go. You simply can't beat it. To cruise the Med, the playground of Europe, is to experience the quintessential cruise destination. The quality and facilities on board the ships, especially some of the top cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises must be seen to be believed. On a Med cruise, in the cradle of civilisation, amid a myriad of cultures, you'll see some of the most beautiful ports, picturesque harbours, ancient ruins, and most famous historical sites to be found anywhere in the world. These are just a few of the reasons people choose a cruise holiday.

The world's your oyster.

And the world has never been more oyster-like. There aren't many places on the planet you can't cruise to. If the sea goes there, the chances are the you can cruise to it. Baltic cruises have become a popular cruise destination rivalling even the Mediterranean. And just to think of a Russian cruise is exciting. ‘Paradise found’ is how Caribbean cruises have been described. It’s a perfect description for a Caribbean cruise in a world of sunshine, white sand and endless blue sea. It’s no wonder some people who cruise to the Caribbean keep going back time and time again. And these days even more exotic destinations are just as easy to reach. The Panama Canal, South America, the Falkland Islands, Antarctica, Alaska, the North Cape - where's that? Go find out. It's all out there waiting for you. It's the most exciting time in the history of the world for Mr & Mrs Joe Public to go exploring. Don't miss the moment. With fuel prices increasing and natural resources running out, future generations may well look back on this time as the golden age of cruising. Nothing lasts forever. Grab the chance while you can.

See the sights.

Remember the old song: 'I joined the navy, to see the world, and what did I see, I saw the sea!' Well, cruising is not like that. It never was and it certainly isn't now. Typically, cruise ships call in to a port for a day, occasionally stopping overnight. This gives you plenty of time to see the sights, take a tour, go shopping, or maybe just mooch around and do your own thing. The guided tours arranged by the top cruise lines are usually fabulous. The guides are often highly professional, and hugely knowledgeable. In a few hours you can learn more about the place, the country and its history, than you did in all your years at school. Whether you're on a Caribbean cruise or Baltic cruise, be prepared to have your mind changed and your prejudices jolted.

With cruising, size doesn't just matter, it's crucial!

Cruise ships vary in size from those catering for 100-200 guests, to 3000-guest mega-ships of 150,000 tons or more. How big is 150,000 tons? About twice the size of an aircraft carrier! They're so big you sometimes hardly know you're moving unless you look out to sea. With all those guests do they feel crowded? Far from it; the bigger the ships the more spacious they are. Whatever kind of cruise holiday you choose to take, the size of ship is important. The smaller ships naturally can get into smaller ports. The big ships sometimes anchor offshore and you go ashore by tender. But more and more ports are catering for the larger ships so you can walk-on, walk-off. To cater for the huge rise on the cruising industry – and frankly for sheer value it's the only holiday worth taking - new facilities and modern, larger port terminals are being built all over the globe.

Tips about tipping.

All cruise lines are different. No matter whether you're on a Russian cruise or cruising the Canary Isles or on a Caribbean cruise, the cruise line will have a tipping policy. Some lines include tips in the price. Others don't. With some lines you can pre-pay tips before you sail and get a discount. But all cruise lines will give you advice onboard about who you should tip and how much. This removes any embarrassment. One thing to remember, especially if you're a first-time cruiser, is that service on cruise ships is usually of such a high standard, far above what you normally get ashore. As a result, guests actually want to reward the bar staff, cabin stewards and others simply because they're so helpful and attentive. They can't do enough for you. And they're full of smiles. They serve you without pressure. There's none of the fawning obsequiousness or disdainful smarminess you encounter in many top hotels. This is another reason a cruise holiday is so appealing.

Food, glorious food.

Imagine a world where the food is free, is of superb quality, and you can graze all day, eating as much as you like. That's cruising for you. There's not just the pleasure of the food itself, there's the enjoyment of the company at table, the conviviality, the general bonhomie of the occasion. Fancy a snack between meals? It's there for you, whether you're on a mini cruise or you're cruising Alaska. And if you can't be bothered to leave your cabin? Ding! There's room service for you. And if you're disciplined and you need to watch your waistline, well, you'll need lots of self-control. The temptations are great. Everywhere you look you'll see mouth-watering displays of the most delicious food and fine cuisine. It takes a strong will to resist. What about dress codes? This depends on the cruise line. Some are casual, some dressy. Some mix both. You'll dress elegantly in the elegant restaurants. And you're perhaps in short-sleeve order if you're snacking on a pizza up on deck. Now, in the restaurant, where do you want to sit? At a large table, mixing with others and socialising? Or perhaps you may prefer something more intimate? It's yours for the asking. Food is of course included in the price of your cruise though you may pay extra to dine in the speciality or gourmet restaurants.

A show that is really a show...

...that's entertainment! The big shows on many cruise ships are Las Vegas, Broadway or West End quality productions, staged in superb purpose-built, state-of-the-art, modern theatres. The theatrical shows on top lines such as Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises are renowned. That's not all. There are loads of other activities and entertainments, ranging from lectures about the ports of call, the wildlife of the region, the history and politics of the various countries you're visiting; to art auctions and ice-carving, to cookery and glass-blowing. It's enough to blow your mind. Cinemas, libraries, casinos, swimming pools, fitness centres, health spas, beauty salons, and shops, shops, shops. You name it, the ships have it.