How to Pick a Cruise
Finding the perfect cruise for you is not just a matter of finding a great deal. Sure you may save some money,
but what if you hate every minute of it because it wasn't the right cruise for you? The most important thing you
can do is look beyond the deals and do some much-needed research before handing over any money.
So, how do you pick a cruise and what should you look for?
Destination
Obvious, right? Well, maybe not so obvious. Say you want a Caribbean cruise. Does it matter which one? You may
think every Caribbean cruise is the same, but you'd be wrong. The islands in the Caribbean vary greatly from one
island to the next. Some have tropical rain forest and mountain ranges with cascading waterfalls, while other
islands like Aruba remind travelers of the Arizona desert.
For many people, shopping is the highlight of their vacation. If you're one of those people, but one of the ports
you visit is just a little village with very little shopping, you may be disappointed with your cruise. Or if you
have always wanted to go snorkeling in the Caribbean but there are no nearby reefs to explore, that too would prove
to be very disappointing.
The Cruise Line
Not all cruise lines are alike. Some are expensive and luxurious, requiring more formal attire for dinner. Other
cruise lines are more relaxed and casual. Some cruise lines have assigned dinner seating, some don't. There are
even differences between ships in the same cruise company. It's necessary to research the different ships to see if
the cruise you've chosen has what you want. Does it have the type of onboard entertainment you're looking for? Does
it have a casino? A rock wall to climb? If these things are important to you, then you would have to be on a ship
that doesn't offer these services.
You may also want to avoid certain types of cruising activities. If you have a past gambling issue, then you may
want to avoid a casino. Imagine how disappointed you'd feel if you wanted a quiet, romantic cruise, only to find
you're stuck on a ship with a loud, non-stop party atmosphere.
The Date of the Cruise
Finally, the date of the cruise is important as well. You may want to spend time in Alaska after your cruise and
experience the late sunsets in the summer. You would then want to book your cruise around the summer solstice, June
21. You may save more money if you take an Alaska cruise in late August, but you won't experience the longer days
you would in June. But, if you're a shopper wanting a great deal in Alaska, you might want one of the last cruises
of the summer season in September, when many of the shops offer steeply discounted products.
You may also want to check that the cruise you're signed up for isn't a theme cruise, or sponsored by a group or
corporation, which may provide a different atmosphere than what you're looking for.
Synonyms:
ruise, criuse, cruse, crusie, rcuise, cuise, curise, crise, cruie, cruies, and cruis are typos for "cruise."
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