I’ve been cruising for over 25 years and have learned to narrow my search to find cruises that are great choices for my family. Each family has different priorities when choosing a cruise itinerary that’s right for them. Don’t be intimidated by the process of choosing the correct one for you. Make a list of the top things that you are less willing to compromise on as a starting point. You can search for cruises on your own or use an agent. I’ve done both in the past and had good experiences either way. Cruise agents may have access to some extra perks or can help with specific arrangements. Perhaps you want to feel more confident about the booking, so using an agent is your preference. Personally, I’ve booked cruises through icruise.com and cruises.com, as well as going directly to the website of the cruise line that I wanted to go on and booked through them. I gained more confidence each time I booked on my own and luckily, we never ran into any problems. Here are my tips to help you narrow down your search:
Decide which cruise line is right for you and your family. How can you determine that? This will be based on your budget, whether you are traveling with kids or not, and what overall ambiance you are looking for. For our family, our two favorite cruise lines based on the overall experience are Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line.
Choose the top destinations you want to cruise to, such as the Eastern, Western, Southern Caribbean, Hawaii, or Europe. Once you make a selection, you can verify which month(s) the cruise is offered. If you have specific dates, search by dates first and see which destinations are offered during that timeframe.
When choosing the best itinerary, make sure that the ratio of days at sea and ports is not almost even. Look at the details and count how many days the ship is cruising at sea versus going to a port (destination). For example, on an 8-day cruise, don’t choose 3 days at sea and 3 days visiting ports. I don’t count the day you depart since that’s usually late afternoon, nor the day you come back, which is usually very early in the morning and, in my opinion, not a port destination.
Pay attention to the length of time you will be visiting each port. Choose the ones that give you the time to explore the most. Think of the best value for your money!
Usually, the ships that have a lot of shipboard activities have fewer ports of calls. Make sure that your family will take advantage of the activities if you choose ship experience over the destination. I made that mistake with my kids a few years ago when we paid a lot of money for the cruise because the ship was new and had all these activities, but my kids didn’t do the rock climbing, surfing, zip lining, or go down the famous big water slide!
Of course, there are other factors to consider, but the service is more or less the same on cruise ships, and the food usually offers the same choices (some are of better quality than others), but overall, they offer the same basic things. I don’t focus so much on them, so for me, the destination will always be my preference!
In conclusion, choosing the right cruise itinerary for your family can be an overwhelming process, but with some careful consideration, it can be a fun and rewarding experience. It's important to identify your priorities, such as budget, destination, length of stay at ports, and onboard activities, to help narrow down your options. Whether you decide to book through an agent or directly with a cruise line, gaining confidence in the process will come with experience. With the right planning, you and your family can embark on an unforgettable adventure at sea.
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