I'm a travel expert and these are the seven most important questions to ask yourself if you're considering going on a cruise

Many vacationers go on a cruise for the first time and then become addicted.

Before you decide whether to discover what's so addictive about it, you should follow the advice of Nicky KelvinEditor at Groot van The points manwho has summarized seven questions to consider before taking to the high seas with a floating hotel.

1. Do I prefer trips that are heavily planned in advance or left to serendipity?

Nicky says: 'There are people who like to go on holiday without any idea where they will be or what they will do from day to day. They like the flexibility that comes with not planning too much in advance. Others like to have their itinerary mapped out in advance.

'Sure, you have some flexibility in what you can do on any given day of a cruise. But the broad outlines of your trip are planned and recorded in advance, such as the destinations you visit, when and how long you stay in each port.'

Nicky says the benefit of a pre-planned vacation is that it “removes a lot of the hassle that comes with travel,” as the cruise line has done all the hard work of picking out an ideal, multi-day getaway for them. You'.

2. Do I enjoy travel experiences that revolve around one resort that offers accommodations, meals and activities?

While Nicky says cruise ships will take you to “multiple destinations,” he claims what they offer is “closer to what you'll find at an all-inclusive land-based resort than any other type of travel experience.”

The travel expert says: 'Even on a very port-intensive itinerary, on most ships you will likely spend the vast majority of your vacation hours on board your ship. Unless you book a rare overnight excursion, you will spend all your nights aboard your ship and will likely eat most of your meals on the ship. On most ships, all or almost all of your evening entertainment will be from the ship.”

3. Can I handle crowds?

“There are plenty of small cruise ships that look like boutique hotels, with only fifty or a hundred rooms,” says Nicky. However, he claims that the “vast majority” of cruise ships are much larger and often “packed with a lot of people.”

He says: 'The largest cruise ships in the world, such as Royal Caribbean's Oasis class ships, often sail with more than 6,000 passengers each. And that doesn't even include the approximately 2,000 crew members on board the largest cruise ships.

'If you book one of these ships, you may share your holiday with more than 8,000 other people. Mind you, these are very large ships, with plenty of room to spread out. Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas – the largest cruise ship in the world – has 18 passenger decks, quite a few of which are dedicated to a seemingly endless array of family-friendly attractions, restaurants, lounges, bars and other venues that can absorb large numbers of people. holidaymakers.

'But if the idea of ​​vacationing at a resort where you're one of thousands doesn't appeal to you, you should probably stay away from most of the major cruise lines' ships. You might be better off with a land trip – or with one of the lines like Windstar Cruises or Ponant that specialize in more intimate sailings on very small ships.”

4. Do I enjoy touring with a group?

“In some ways, cruises are very similar to land-based group tours,” says Nicky. He explains that you will likely be traveling with one group of people for the entire trip, saying, “You may end up in a group setting for some or all of your tour ports.”

Nicky says that the extent to which you experience a group tour during your cruise will 'depend heavily on which ship you are on and how you arrange your port activities'.

The travel expert adds: 'Especially on river cruises and expedition cruises, activities outside the ship are often done in groups. Group tours of the ports are part of the package for which you paid in advance. On traditional seagoing vessels you generally have more flexibility to tour the ports alone than to sail with a group.'

5. Is eating local essential for me when I travel?

Nicky claims that cruise ships 'typically offer cuisine in their onboard restaurants that reflects what their customers will find at home'. He says: 'If you're such a foodie that you can't imagine visiting Barcelona without spending a night among the tapas restaurants or visiting Rome without dinner at La Pergola, then a cruise might not be the best choice.'

While Nicky points out that you can try local dishes during port visits, he says: 'The reality of cruising is that many ships only call at ports during the day and sail away to their next destination before dinner time. That means your options for eating locally will be limited to lunch outings on many routes.

'When it comes to dinners – the most important meal for many travelers – on many cruises your options are limited to what's available on board your ship.'

6. How important is it for me to be pampered on holiday?

If being pampered during your holiday is important to you, Nicky says that 'a cruise might be a good choice'. He explains, “One of the reasons that people who cruise once often become hooked and do it again and again is that cruise ships offer a level of pampering not often seen at comparably priced land-based resorts.”

For example, even on the 'cheapest cruises' you have a room attendant.

Nicky says: '[The] The room attendant will probably get to know you by name and help you with anything you need on board.

“Normally, she or he will make up and clean your room at least once and sometimes twice a day, unless you request otherwise.”

He adds, “Cruise ship restaurants are also known for wait staff who get to know you by name within a day or two of arriving (if you dine at the same table every night) and really make an effort to go above and beyond.” . to meet all your wishes. Often they get to know your favorite drink or dessert and have it ready before you even say anything.”

Ultimately, “there is a level of service on cruise ships that is relatively rare in the travel industry.”

Nicky adds: 'An entry-level cruise ship probably has a higher level of service than an entry-level hotel. A luxury cruise ship is probably even more over-the-top than a luxury hotel.'

7. Do I worry a lot about costs when traveling?

If you're the type of person who wants or needs to know how much a vacation will cost before it happens, a cruise ship is a good option, says Nicky.

He explains: 'Your ship will provide much of the services you need during your holiday, including your room, your meals, your evening entertainment and some of your transportation. If you are traveling with children, the ship often also offers children's programs throughout the day at no extra cost. You pay one price for all this long before you travel. So you know what it's all going to cost you – and you've already paid it off – long before you leave your house and go to the ship. That is wonderful peace of mind for many people.'

However, he says, “Not everything on your cruise is included in the prepaid fare. On mass market ships you pay extra for drinks with your meals, to dine at some of the more expensive restaurants, for shore excursions and for the automatic gratuities that add many lines to the final bill. These things can add up and result in some hefty additional charges on your credit card before you leave your ship.

'But the good news is that here too, more and more lines are bundling things like drinks packages and tips into a booking package as part of promotions. Often you can even find a package deal on major lines where many of the 'extras' of your cruise are included in the price you pay upfront.'