Whether your interests range from seeing the Caribbean to visiting Alaska or Europe, a cruise can be your guide to the ultimate vacation. Yet, with all the choices out there, choosing the right cruise for you can seem a daunting task.
There are some ways to help make your task easier. To begin, you should decide when you want to travel. There are many cruise locations that are seasonal and unless you want to freeze on a cruise to Europe in the winter, you should consider what time of the year you will be cruising.
Here's a list of seasonal cruises and the best time to go:
- Alaska - May to September
- Asia - October to March
- Baltic - May to October
- Bermuda - May to October
- Black Sea - April to October
- Canada - May to October
- Mediterranean - March to November
- New England - May to October
- Panama Canal - September to May
Some cruises can be enjoyed at any time of the year. A list of all season destinations include:
- Caribbean - Year Round
- Hawaii - Year Round
- India - Year Round
- Mexico - Year Round
- South America (Northern Coast) - Year Round
- South Pacific - Year Round
Another consideration is how much you want to spend on the cruise. The most expensive time to take a cruise is during "high season", although when that high season is will depend on the location. It can also be more costly to travel during specific months of the year that are popular for travel - such as the summer months when families take their holidays when children are out of school.
Ultimately, the type of cruise you want is also up to you. There are cruises designed to suit virtually every interest and personal preference.
Cruise lines vary from Megaliners to Boutique ships and they are all very different. Megaliners usually hold up to 2,000 or more passengers. Superliners hold between 1,000 to 2,000 passengers. Midsize ships have between 400 to 900 passengers and the small ships usually carry fewer than 400. A Boutique ships typically carries less than 300 passengers.
There are cruise lines that feature soft adventure expeditions to such unusual and rustic frontiers as Antarctica, the Amazon rain forest or the African Serengeti. Or you can also choose to discover historical legacies closer to home with itineraries to New England, French Canada and the Colonial America coast. For many, the perfect vacation includes the non-stop fun and sun of a tropical resort-style cruise to the Caribbean, where you can sample a variety of island cultures and cuisines while working on a terrific sun tan.
Plus, there are many cruise lines that create special "themes" on-board, with entertainment ranging from jazz festivals and classical music concerts to golf clinics and murder mysteries at sea.
Every day, more and more people are discovering the all-inclusive pleasures of a cruise vacation. More singles, families, couples, honeymooners, second honeymooners and groups of friends are sailing away on the vacation of their lives. Last year alone approximately seven million people enjoyed a cruise vacation. When you add it all up, it's easy to see why.
