Cruise Guide

Why choose a cruise holiday?

Because you'd be mad not to. Cruising is no longer the province of the rich and famous, it's for everyone. Democracy has come to the high seas! The value alone should make you consider cruising. The cost, compared to a land-based hotel vacation is crazy. For similar money, a cruise will give you 24-hour luxurious full board, room service, onboard activities and entertainment, a new port or a new country every day, plus flights if necessary, all included; a real adventurous experience, seeing places you've only dreamed about, and only packing and unpacking once. That's why people choose a cruise holiday. It's a no-brainer.

The world's your oyster.

And it has never been more oyster-like. There is virtually nowhere on the planet you can't cruise to. If the sea goes there, you can get to see it. The Med, the Baltics, the Caribbean, of course. But even more exotic destinations are just as easy to reach. South America, the Falkland Islands, Antarctica, Alaska, the North Cape - where's that? Go find out. It's all out there waiting for you. It's the most exciting time in the history of the world for Mr & Mrs Joe Public to go exploring. Don't miss out. Grab it while you can.

See the sights.

Remember the old song: 'I joined the navy, to see the world, and what did I see, I saw the sea!' Well, it ain't like that anymore. Typically, ships call in to a port for a day. This gives you plenty of time to see the sights, take a tour, or maybe just mooch around and do your own thing. The guided tours are usually fabulous. You can learn more about the place, and the country, in a few hours than you did through all your years at school. Be prepared to have your mind changed and your prejudices jolted.

Big, you want big?

Or small, you want small? Size matters, especially with cruise ships. They can vary in size from those catering for 100-200 guests, to 3000-guest mega-ships of 150,000 tons or more - that's about twice the size of an aircraft carrier in case you're wondering. Smaller ships can get into smaller ports, big ships sometimes anchor at sea and you go ashore by tender. But more and more ports are catering for the larger ships. New facilities, modern port terminals are being built all over the globe.

Tips about tipping.

Some cruise lines include tips in the price. Others don't. All cruise lines are different. But they all give you advice onboard about who you should tip and how much. This takes any embarrassment out of it. One thing to remember, especially if you're a first-time cruiser, is that service on cruise ships is usually of such a high standard, far above what you normally get ashore, that guests usually want to reward the barmen, cabin stewards and other personnel simply because, generally speaking, they're smiley, helpful, attentive and can't do enough for you.

Food, glorious food.

Imagine a world where the food is free, is of superb quality, and you can graze all day, eating as much as you like. That's cruising for you. There's not just the pleasure of the food itself, there's the enjoyment of the company at table, the conviviality, the general bonhomie of the occasion. Fancy a snack between meals? It's there for you. Can't be bothered to leave your cabin? Ding! There's room service for you. But you're disciplined, you need to watch your waistline. Well, you'll need lots of self-control. The temptations are great. Everywhere you look you'll see mouth-watering displays of the most delicious food and fine cuisine. It takes a strong will to resist. What about dress codes? Depends on the cruise line. Some are casual, some dressy. Some mix both. You'll dress elegantly in the elegant restaurants. And you'll maybe in short-sleeve order if you're snacking on a pizza up on deck. Now, where do you want to sit? At a large table, mixing with others and socialising? Or perhaps you may prefer something more intimate. It's yours for the asking. Food is always included in the price of your cruise though you may pay to dine in the speciality or gourmet restaurants.

A show that is really a show...

...that's entertainment! The big shows on many cruise ships are Las Vegas, Broadway or West End quality productions, staged in superb purpose-built, state-of-the-art, modern theatres. That's not all. There are loads of other activities and forms of entertainment, ranging from lectures about the ports of call, the history and politics of the various countries; to art classes and ice-carving, to cookery and glass-blowing. It's enough to blow your mind. Cinemas, libraries, casinos, health spas, you name it, the ships have it.