One of the most common questions that I get from people that are wanting to try out cruising for the first time is,
“How do I choose the right cruise?”
There are so many different cruise lines and ships that it is overwhelming trying to figure out which one will give you the cruise vacation experience that you are looking for.
While the internet is amazing because it provides you all of the information you need to choose the best cruise for your family, it can also be information overload.
I always recommend that you use these 8 basic questions. They will keep you focused and on the right path during your research process.
1. Where do you want to go?
You need to have a general idea of the destination you want to visit. I don’t mean the nitty gritty details regarding specific towns, cities, and ports.
You just need to figure out the general area that you want to explore such as the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, or Alaska.
This will give you the big picture to start off with and will help narrow down your choices because not all cruise lines and cruise ships go to every destination.
If you are a first-time cruiser you may want to stay close to home to try it out without spending a lot of money.
2. How long do you want your cruise vacation to be?
By figuring out how long of a cruise you want to go on this can help narrow down your choices even further.
If you are a first-time cruiser then you may want to do a shorter cruise to try it out and see if you like it. That way if you don’t you won’t be stuck on the ship for a whole week, or longer.
There are destinations that don’t offer a shorter cruise itinerary so this will narrow down your choices if that is what you want. Also, I don’t recommend flying to a faraway destination just to do a 3-night cruise.
If you are looking for a longer cruise 7+ nights then you can pretty much go anywhere in the world.
Pro Tip: If you have a cruise port close to home this is the perfect choice for your first cruise experience. And, if you do a short weekend cruise you won’t even have to use any of your vacation time!
3. What is the budget for your cruise vacation?
This is the question that nobody likes to discuss. It is exciting to plan a vacation, but can be a hassle when it comes down to the budget. Some destinations are much more expensive to visit than others.
Your budget will help to narrow down your choices. You need to figure out how much your total vacation is going to be. If you need to fly to the destination before boarding your cruise ship then you have to take that into account.
You also need to remember that you will be spending money on the cruise. Figure out your budget first, then start looking at how much different cruises cost.
This will also help you to narrow down which cruise lines you should be looking at. Some cruise lines are high-end and very expensive, while others are more budget-friendly.
Some additional costs to consider:
- Cruise excursions
- Alcoholic and Specialty Drinks
- Specialty Dining Restaurants
- Shopping both on the ship and in port
These aren’t all of the add-ons that you will have to pay extra for, but they are some of the more popular ones that you will probably want to experience during your vacation.
4. Who is going on the cruise?
Are you going as a couple on a romantic trip or is the whole family going, including the kiddos. Now that you know which cruise lines and ships fit your budget, and go to the destination, you can narrow them down further by seeing which ones work best for your family.
You don’t want to choose one that is full of kids, like Disney Cruise Line, if you are wanting a romantic getaway. On the other hand, you don’t want to go on one that caters to adults, such as Cunard Cruise Line, because the kids could be bored the whole time.
Different cruise lines cater to different clientele, so you want to find the ones that will work best for you.
5. Do you want to sail on a large or small ship?
Different cruise ships offer different amenities and experiences. The large cruise ships, such as the Harmony of the Seas by Royal Caribbean, offer tons of dining options, entertainment options, and amenities.
However, they hold a ton more people. They also can’t visit the smaller ports of call because they are too big. These are great for a large, multi-generational family though, because they offer experiences for all age groups to enjoy.
There are also smaller ships, such as those by Windstar Cruises, that will give you the intimate experience that allows you to immerse yourself in the destination and culture. You need to choose which size ship you want.
Pro Tip: You can go on a large cruise ship for the variety of choices and utilize the adults-only areas for the quiet, relaxing time you want.
6. Do you want a casual or luxury experience, or something in between?
Do you want a down-to-earth, casual dress code all the time? A casual dress code with some formal nights thrown in? Or a country club casual with formal nights type of dress-code.
Some cruise lines don’t have any formal nights, while other ships have at least one formal night where you can dress up for a nice night out. The luxury cruise lines have a stricter dress code for the entirety of the cruise.
It is important that you figure out which type of cruise experience you want. This will allow you to narrow down the choices to the cruise lines that offer it.
Pro Tip: Formal nights only apply to the main dining room. If you don’t want to dress up, you can eat at one of the quick-service spots or, better yet, a specialty restaurant on those nights.
7. How important is the food experience to you?
A big part of the cruise experience for a lot of people is the food on the ship. The food is vastly different depending on which cruise line you sail on.
Some cruise lines are heaven for foodies, such as Crystal Cruises and Oceania Cruises.
Norwegian Cruise Line offers an amazing variety of dining options, so you will never be bored. Some of them are amazing, while others are just average.
It is important that you have realistic expectations regarding the quality of food you will be getting onboard the ship. Some people don’t care because they aren’t picky about food.
However, if you consider yourself to be a foodie, then you will want to research and figure out which cruise ships will best meet your needs.
If you want a cruise line that your whole family will love without sacrificing the food quality, Disney Cruise Line is an amazing choice.
By answering these seven questions you should be able to narrow down your options to a couple of cruise lines. Then you just need to research which of their ships go to the destination that you want.
This way you can check out the amenities, and the itinerary, of each ship.
Please note: Not all cruise ships are the same, even from the same cruise line.
If you know which cruise line you want to go on, you still need to research the ships to choose the best one.
Don’t assume because you have been on one, or researched one, and found it amazing that you will like all of them.
For example, the Norwegian Bliss is a much different ship than the Norwegian Epic, even though they are both part of Norwegian Cruise Line’s fleet.
Once you have answered the first seven questions, you should have your choices narrowed down to just a few ships. You can now ask yourself the final question.
8. Which cruise itinerary do you want to do?
It is much easier to choose the itinerary when you are only looking at a couple of ships, rather than dozens.
You already have the overall destination. Now you need to look at the itinerary options that those specific ships do for that destination.
For example, let’s say the overall destination you chose is the Caribbean and the two ships you chose go to both the Western and Eastern Caribbean.
You need to choose which of those two areas you like better by looking at the ports they include.
For this example, let’s say you like the look of the Western Caribbean better. Now all you have to do is compare the Western Caribbean itineraries of the two ships.
Are there any differences in the ports of call they make? Are there differences in how long they stay in the ports?
This will help you decide which cruise ship you should choose. If one of the ships goes to a better variety of ports, then that is the one you should choose.
If they go to the same ports, but one has better times that they are in the ports, then that is the one you should choose.
However, if everything is exactly the same, then you just have to decide which ship you like better, and you are ready to book your cruise.
By using these eight questions and answering them in this specific order you will have a much easier time choosing which cruise vacation is the right one for you and your family.
I know it can be overwhelming when you first start doing your research, but I promise you it will get easier as you answer these questions and start narrowing down your choices.
If you have any tips that we didn’t mention for choosing the right cruise, please share them in the comments below.