Here’s the reasons I love to cruise!
I believe there is a cruise for everyone as ships come in all shapes and sizes, from vast floating cities with every amenity you could imagine, to smaller ultra-luxurious ships known for their intuitive and impeccable service.
Gilly Bachelor
- It’s an easy way to explore new places, I love the idea of waking up somewhere new every morning, without having to pack (and repack) my suitcase! With some port visits you’ll only have a couple of hours to get a taster, however, there’s a trend now for longer overnight stays so guests can get a more immersive local experience;
- The service for me comes right at the top of my list – from housekeeping to the restaurant teams to the spa staff – I’ve never had such consistently good service, and that’s not just from the 6* ultra-luxury cruise lines where it would be expected, but it’s been my experience with P&O and Princess too;
- The entertainment – there’s always something to take part in (or not) from daytime quizzes and shuffleboard competitions to West End quality performances. And if you choose a megaship, like the Symphony of the Seas, you’ll never run out of things to do with its glow-in-the-dark laser tag face-off in Battle for Planet Z℠, or you can catch a wave on the FlowRider® surf simulator and race down The Perfect Storm℠ triple-threat waterslides.
- So much is included! Most cruise prices include your accommodation, meals in the main restaurant(s) and entertainment. However, after this it does get a little confusing, so it’s important to be sure of what is, and isn’t included as it varies between every cruise line. For example, on a Seabourn cruise everything listed below is included in the fare, and if you’re cruising with Princess and upgrade to their Princess Plus package it includes drinks, tips and Wi-Fi which personally I think is great value.
- It feels safe! I was lucky enough to take a 3 day ‘cruise to nowhere’ on the Sky Princess in September 2021, and then a two-week Caribbean cruise on the Seabourn Odyssey, the following December. I was so impressed with the safety protocols around covid, with an impressive screening and cleaning regime in place and systematically applied, better than anything I’ve witnessed on land so far.
What's included in your cruise?
We regularly see fares on mainstream cruise lines for under £100 per person, per night, which is great value when compared to what you’d spend at a resort for accommodation, dinner and a show.
It’s important to check what’s included as some fares may/may not include the following:
- Soft drinks
- Alcoholic drinks
- Gratuities/tips
- Wifi
- Speciality dining restaurants
- Port Transport
- Excursions
The ‘skill’ to booking a successful cruise is to find something perfect just for you (cruising is a great option for solo travellers) or you and your travelling companions. In our experience finding the right cruise itinerary is only the first step as it’s also essential to find the perfect balance of the ship’s size, amenities, and level of luxury, to create the perfect cruise experience.