Tips For Your First Cruise Vacation

By Carrie Finley-Bajak Carrie Finley-Bajak


So you have decided it is time to try a cruise vacation.


Whether you're an introvert, extrovert, adrenaline seeker or laid-back observer, the vacations you take are usually closely aligned with your personality. When it comes to cruise vacations, sometimes determining what kind of cruise ship is best for you can be confusing. At one end of the spectrum are the sleek mega-liners, at the other, the small vessels, but which will best match your personality? If you like the festivity of being among plenty of people and fast-paced entertainment, you'll find it aboard one of the 12-15 story mega-liner behemoths.

Multiple pool areas, kid and teen venues, energizing activities from surf-simulators to nightclubs, and expansive dining options, are all designed to keep two to three thousand passengers buzzing well into the evening. Group activities cover a wide spectrum of interests, including culinary and athletic classes, games, to pool-side activities. Attire is usually relaxed, and depending on cruise line, evening wear stretches from casual to formal. Due to their size, some ports are inaccessible to mega-liners which require them to either anchor off-shore, or entirely bypass them altogether. This is where the smaller ships have an advantage.

Catering to roughly 100 to 500 passengers, smaller ships can glide into more quaint and unique ports around the world resulting in experiences not attainable by those aboard the big ships. But the difference doesn't end there.

Smaller ships usually offer enhanced ambiance such as meals on fine china, entertainment by classical musicians and upgraded stateroom amenities. Notable guest speakers, frequently experts in culinary, cultural or nature-related subjects of the region, will leave you with a heightened appreciation for the cities you'll be visiting. Dress codes are often country-club casual by day, elegant by night. In contrast to larger ships offering an array of constant diversions, guests on small ships can still expect to enjoy a pool, spa and/or a health club facility amid boutiques for the discriminating shopper. Varieties of dining and social activities create a neighborhood-like atmosphere among crew and guests and are tailored for the refined and gracious traveler.

To add another figure into the equation, there are also mid-sized liners which are a variation between big and small, however attitude and service generally side with the smaller ship approach.