How to Choose the Best Cruise Line and Route

You have a number of options for choosing the cruise line that suits you, and the route. Going on a cruise is no longer an elitist hobby; more and more people are taking cruises nowadays.

Before choosing the cruise line, you have to decide how many days do you want to go on a cruise for. Most cruise lines offer 3 to 4 day cruises, 7 to 11 day cruises and a 130-day round the world cruise. Therefore, how many days do you want to spend in a travelling hotel has to be decided before hand.

The other thing that you might want to consider is where you want to spend most of your time. If you want to spend more time on land then you can take a cruise to Europe. Every morning you will be calling at a new port. If you want to spend more time at sea, then you can go to the Caribbean, Africa or South America.

After deciding the type of cruise you want to go on, next is finding the best cruise line. Now this is going to depend on the kind of cruise you want to go on. Do you want a romantic holiday, a cruise with the family, a single's holiday, or mixing business with pleasure? Then deciding the type of atmosphere you want on the cruise is important. Do you want formal nights or not, do you want non-smoking or smoking, do you have a physical condition that may require extra medical care?

Cruise lines cater for a number of requirements. Some cruise lines are non-smoking, others have special smoking areas. If you do not want to miss your fitness program, check if the cruise ship has a gym or fitness centre. Most cruise ships have gyms, fitness centres and spas. Do you want to travel with other young couples, families, or singles?

When you have made your basic decisions about what type of a cruise, you want to go on, then go and meet a travel agent who specializes in cruises. A travel agent who has M.C.C after the name means the person is a master cruise consultant and is the right person to talk with. Tell the travel agent your specific requirements and he or she will suggest the most suitable cruise for you.

Even before meeting the travel agent, you can cruise on the internet. All cruise lines have their web sites that you can visit. You can check out the different cruises they offer, the cruise type, route, cost and if they have formal nights or not. You can also tour the ship and decide the cabin you want. Inner cabins cost less. Cabins with balconies cost more.

Remember everything costs except the bar, trips ashore, the spa and certain other items depending on the cruise line. So, if it is your first cruise, spend time on the internet studying the different cruises that are on offer, before going to the travel agent.

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