How to choose a cruise

How to choose the right cruise 

The choice of cruising holidays and destinations has grown rapidly over the last few years and the popularity of travel by grand ocean liner is seeing a huge revival. Some say that the pinnacle of all cruises is a Round the World trip aboard the Queen Mary 2, but if your great grandmother hasn't recently left you a fortune, there are many other options, including cruises to Antarctica & Alaska, Cruises around the Caribbean and Mediterranean cruises.

Hints & tips for choosing a cruise 

Types of Cruises

The possibilities are endless and very much depend on the time at your disposal and your personal preferences - you need to think through the type of ship you would like to travel on - a large grand ocean liner, a more traditional tall ship, or a back to basics expedition boat?

Also how long you want to spend away - If you have never been on a cruise before try out a relatively short trip first - for example a long weekend - before committing to a 3 month long round the world cruise.

And finally, where do you want to go and what do you want to see - from the lush tropical islands of the Caribbean to the dramatic glaciers of Alaska, from the pyramids and monuments of a river cruise up the Nile to a cruise through the Panama Canal.

What to see and do 

Pick a cruise that caters to your interests - if you want the chance to really explore the area at each port of call opt for a cruise that stops for several nights in each destination. Plus consider picking a cruise package where excursions are included in the price. If you are covering a number of different countries and destinations take a small pocket guide for each place to ensure that you don't miss out on any of the major sights.

What to eat & drink 

Try out the local cuisine in the different places that you visit, plus find out if the cruise ship you are on has local dishes on the menu that vary along the way. Most of the larger ships have several restaurants to ensure that its passengers have a choice of dining during their trip.

What to bring back 

There should be plenty of opportunities to purchase souvenirs and presents from the different ports of call - from duty free bargains to local handicrafts.

Cruising around the Mediterranean

A possible route

Try a cruise around a few of the Greek islands scattered across the Aegean sea.

What to see and do

Wonder at the glorious Parthenon on the Acropolis above Athens; visit the walled city of Rhodes with its colonial charm, spend a day on the volcanic island of Santorini with its black sandy beaches, or explore Olympia - the birth place of the Olympic games - where ever 4 years a temporary truce was declared between warring parties, to allow the games to proceed.

What to eat & drink

Specialities include Taramosalata, Souvlaki (Kebabs), Keftedes (meatballs) and feta cheese. The local wine is Retsina and another Greek tipple is Ouzo , which has a distinctive aniseed flavour.

A Cruise down the Panama Canal

A possible route

The Panama canal still reigns as one of the world's great engineering feats and a cruise down its 51 mile length passes through 6 locks and several lakes. Many cruises also include a stop in Costa Rica and extend up the coast of Mexico.

What to see & do 

View the lush tropical plants and exotic wildlife of Gatun lake. Travel inland from Puerto Caldera to visit the city of San Jose - set on a plateau 3800 ft above sea level. Stop off along the coast of Mexico and visit some of the amazing temples and other ruins.

What to eat & drink

Test your palate out on the local cuisine - which tends to include a fair portion of chillies. Don't leave Panama without trying the national dish of Sancocho (an exotic chicken stew), Mexican favourites include burritos, enchiladas and frijoles (red beans) and Costa Ricans create a wonderful Sopa Negra.