Tips for Finding the Perfect Cruise

A cruise can take you to multiple destinations without the need for driving, navigating strange roads, or packing your luggage every morning. These tips for finding the perfect cruise can help you set sail on a memorable vacation.

Menus created by Michelin-star-earning chefs. Entertainment that rivals Broadway shows. “Virtual balconies” that give those in windowless rooms real-time views of the ocean outside the ship on floor-to-ceiling multimedia screens.

With their massive size, myriad onboard experiences and technical advances, modern cruise options make the Love Boat look like a dinghy.

“The cruise of today is much different than the cruise of five, 10 or 30 years ago,” says Colleen McDaniel, editor-in-chief of Cruise Critic, a website that provides cruise reviews and information.

Depending on the cruise, travelers can enjoy onboard amenities such as an art gallery, ice skating rink, rock climbing wall, skydiving simulator and even a planetarium. For those who want to squeeze in some work or stay connected with others at home, once-spotty cruise internet access is now much more reliable.

“If you ask any cruise line executive, they’ll tell you they don’t compete against other cruise lines,” says McDaniel. “They compete against land options, and they’re keeping themselves very competitive.”

With more than 300 oceangoing ships operating worldwide, there’s a mainstream cruise experience for just about everyone’s interests and budget.

The first step to finding that perfect voyage is to envision your ideal expedition.

“It’s important to consider what you’re looking for in a vacation,” says Laura Poe, founder of the travel-planning firm Curated by Laura Poe. “Are you more destination-focused or more ship-focused? Are there specific experiences that are most meaningful to you? Who will you be traveling with? Are there any physical limitations or other preferences for your party?”

If off-boat excursions are your priority, consider where you’d like to go. Do you want to explore medieval cities or observe wildlife in its natural habitat? Popular destinations for 2024 include the Caribbean as well as Alaska, Iceland, Antarctica and the Galápagos Islands.

If you plan to spend most of your time on the ship, are you more interested in sunbathing by a pool or participating in activities such as cooking classes and line dancing?

These considerations can help you select the best cruise line and itinerary. For instance, smaller ships often have access to more off-the-beaten-path ports, while larger ones usually offer many onboard options for entertainment and other activities, Poe says.

Related: Cruise Ship Retirement: Is It Really Worth It?

Trip-comparison sites, Facebook groups and discussion forums such as those on Cruise Critic can help you find cruises that fit your desires, budget and ideal travel schedule.

Read comments and ask questions to get a feel for what to expect. Fellow cruisers are often more than happy to share their experiences and give you their take on different cruise lines.

To help you in finding the perfect cruise, you can also get a real-time feel for what’s happening onboard by following cruise line and ship-specific hashtags, such as #CarnivalCruise and #IconOfTheSeas, on social media.

Laura Patrecca is a contributing writer at Kiplinger Personal Finance magazine. For more on this and similar money topics, visit Kiplinger.com .

©2024 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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