7 cruise secrets first-timers need to know

Not sure if cruising is for you? Perhaps you’ve yet to book a voyage but consider yourself “cruise curious”? We’ve collated the questions most commonly asked of Doc Holiday by first-timers to help you find the right cruise for you.

Dilvin Yasa

less than 2 min read

March 10, 2024 - 9:36AM

Escape

1/9

Is there a particular itinerary you’d recommend for first-timers?

I’m going to start by telling you what I don’t recommend: booking a months-long grand voyage which takes in multiple continents and seas. If you’re not sold on the idea of cruising (or perhaps you have a history of sea sickness), consider starting with a sampler cruise, which is essentially a cruise (usually two or three nights) to nowhere, the vessel simply cruising slowly along the coastline and returning to its embarkation port. Royal Caribbean, for example, offers two-night sampler cruises on board Quantum of the Seas, for example, from $428 per person.

If you’re a little more open to the idea of a “cruising holiday”, a week-long voyage with minimal back-to-back sea days can make for a great first cruise. Princess Cruises’ seven-day Southern Australia Explorer (priced from $1604) departs – and returns to – Melbourne, and visits Phillip Island, Adelaide, Port Lincoln and Kangaroo Island, with two sea days spaced out between the ports.

2/9

How do you know which cruise line is right for you?

Every TEDx speaker worth their salt may insist you start with your “Why?” but here at Escape, we say, “Nope, start with your ‘Where?’”. The first step for any dream cruise is deciding on the destination before looking at which lines are cruising there, what your budget is, and how much time you can take off.

Since a cruising experience can be anything from a tranquil river cruise with fewer than 200 passengers to a bells-and-whistles ocean liner accommodating up to 7600 passengers (we’re referencing Royal Caribbean’s new Icon of the Seas here), you’ll need to ask yourself what you’d like out of the experience. Would you prefer your pick of specialty restaurants and razzle dazzle productions, or are you more of an evening-lecture-and-reading-quietly-in-a-library person? Do you want something with a kids’ club, or something adults-only such as Virgin Voyages or Viking?

Generally speaking, Carnival, Celebrity Cruises, P&O Cruises and Princess Cruises are great for kids, while Holland America or luxury lines such as Regent Seven Seas, Silversea and Seabourn are brilliant for passengers of a certain vintage.

Once you’ve worked out where you’d like to go and locked in your budget, it’s helpful to do your research. Browse forums, join Facebook groups, read reviews, and most importantly, speak to other cruisers within your demographic about their experiences and recommendations.

3/9

What time of year should we book our cruise for?

This depends entirely on where you’d like to go. Some destinations are season-specific; if you want to cruise Antarctica, for example, that would mean taking annual leave between November and March, while cruising in the Arctic (including Alaska) kicks off in late May and stretches into October.

For those dreaming of a northern Europe getaway, it’s best to cruise between May and October, when streets are bursting with life – courtesy of the locals keen to make the most of the warmer weather, while those cruising to southeast Asia will appreciate the lower humidity of cruising between November and March. Prefer the warm waters of the Caribbean, the South Pacific, the Mediterranean or Galapagos? These are considered year-round destinations, although it’s helpful to know Caribbean voyages can be impacted by hurricanes between June and October. May to October around the likes of Fiji and Vanuatu are drier, if a little windier.

4/9

What are the biggest differences between ocean cruising and river cruising?

These are very different products, each with their respective fan base (plus a certain percentage who like to dip a toe in each camp).

Ocean liners are significantly larger vessels of 10 to 20 decks, capable of carrying thousands of passengers and offering a vast range of specialty restaurants, entertainment options (everything from silent disco and karaoke to Broadway-style productions, as well as attractions for the kids). plus a wealth of shore excursions. Large ships usually rely on tenders to get on and off the ship, and ports are often located a distance (in some cases, quite far) from town.

While all-inclusive exists at the luxury end of the spectrum, fares usually include food (in the buffet and main dining room), accommodation, some non-alcoholic beverages, shows and most of the on-board activities. Some cruise lines also include wi-fi and gratuities, depending on the fare you’ve purchased. Suite guests, of course, are entitled to quite a few more privileges than someone in an entry-level interior cabin. Most cruise lines will charge additionally for specialty dining, drinks, shore excursions and spa treatments.

On river cruises, you can expect a certain level of intimacy (a nightmare for the introverts among us terrified of shared dining tables), with fewer than 200 passengers and dedicated meal times. Expect a different port every day with ships dropping anchor right in town. Most river cruises are all-inclusive (including shore excursions), yet tend to have one main restaurant serving a buffet breakfast and lunch, with a served evening meal. Entertainment, too, tends to be low-key, featuring educational seminars, demonstrations or a solo musician.

5/9

Do I need travel insurance if I’m cruising domestically?

Medicare is a glorious thing, but once your ship leaves port, it’s important to understand you’ll no longer be covered by it (yes, even when you’re cruising Australian waters). This means should something go wrong on board, you won’t be covered for hospital, medical expenses or the urgent transfer off the ship. The real kicker? You won’t be covered by your private health care provider either.

Stay safe by taking out a comprehensive travel insurance policy which includes cruising as standard, or select a cruise pack as an add-on (depending on the provider). Where possible, buy your travel insurance policy as soon as you book your cruise; many policies can usually be purchased up to 12 months in advance, with the exception of a few providers, such as NIB Travel Insurance, where policies can be bought up to 18 months in advance.

6/9

I’m not thrilled about paying a single supplement. Which cruise lines do you recommend for solo cruisers?

This is a topic that comes up frequently and I understand your frustration about having to pay an eye-watering surcharge to recover revenue lost by not having another paying guest occupy the cabin.

The good news? There are plenty of cruise lines offering solo cabins, including Virgin Voyages (pictured above), Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Lines, MSC, Celebrity Cruises, AmaWaterways, Holland America and Oceania, but these are limited and sell out quickly so you’ll need to get in early to nab one. Missed out? Don’t worry, some cruise lines – Tauck, Emerald Cruises, Hurtigruten and Silversea among them – regularly reduce or waive single supplements across select voyages, so it pays to sign up for sale alerts with each respective cruise line.

7/9

How soon do I need to book specialty restaurants and shore excursions?

There are no hard and fast rules about when cruise lines make activities, entertainment and speciality dining experiences available, but you can usually expect to see dining reservations anywhere between 60-90 days before your sail date and shore excursions up to a year in advance. In some cases, you may even see them as early as two years out.

Since there is limited capacity for shows and high demand for key dining and shore experiences, you’ll want to keep an eye on the cruise line’s site or app and book these as soon as they become available to avoid missing out. Be sure to book any spa treatments you’re interested in, particularly if you’re keen to enjoy your downtime session on a sea day.

8/9

Is it okay to fly in the morning of a cruise or should I aim to get in a little earlier?

Disregard all those “helpful” FAQ sections on cruising sites which tell you to arrive early on the day of embarkation; flights are delayed all the time (particularly since Covid) and the last thing you need is to stress about making the cruise. Book your flight to arrive at your embarkation port destination at least one day before, and give yourself plenty of time to get the flight home. I usually opt for an evening flight so I can spend my final day on board relaxing on the ship without the stress of trying to get to the airport in time.