Top 5 Tips to Keep in Mind to Book Perfect Cruise

By Cruise Booking Team

Updated on: May 18, 2023

There are hundreds of cruise lines sailing in various destinations. It is a daunting task to choose the right one for you. Here are some tips to make the selection process more comfortable and help you choose and find the perfect cruise that best matches your fantasy and enables you to make the most of your cruise vacation.

5 Important Tips That Will Help You to Pick a Perfect Cruise

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1. Know how many days you can spare for a cruise vacation
2. Estimate budget
3. Are kids accompanying you?
4. Determine your cruise personality
5. Casual or dress-up type cruise. What's your preference?

1. Know how many days you can spare for a cruise vacation

The number of days you have set apart for a holiday can significantly influence your cruise selection. Some cruise lines offer shorter cruises of 3-7 nights, while others typically don't have cruise vacations of shorter than ten nights. So, if you want to spend less than a week on a voyage, you will need to choose a cruise line accordingly.

2. Estimate budget

Cruise holidays are certainly not cheap, and you need to have a decided budget for the voyage. You can save money by booking early, but there are lots of extra costs that you need to bear during your cruise vacation, and you should be aware of those so that you do not exceed your budget.

The up-front cost advertised by the cruise lines, especially by the mass-market lines, does not include onboard activities and meals in the restaurants. For specialty restaurant meals, You will also need to shell out more money if you are looking for a perfect cruise cabin with a specialty balcony or one that offers a spectacular view. Gratuity for the staff per person, per day, is also added to your bill. So, be sure to read the terms and conditions carefully to know how much you are likely to spend during your cruise vacation.

3. Are kids accompanying you?

If kids are coming along with you, your cruise selection process will take a whole new turn as you will need to keep their requirements in focus, especially if they are too small. There are lots of cruise lines that offer kid-friendly cruises. Here they have plenty of kid-friendly activities and amenities where you can be sure your child would be well-entertained in a safe ambiance. Deck-top water activities and water parks are always a favorite of kids. Keep your child's age and interests in mind while checking the kid-friendly activities offered by the cruise lines.

Also, Read: What are main tips on cruise ship etiquette?

4. Determine your cruise personality

Cruise lines are trying to woo travelers with a distinct feature. Some are tempting honeymooners and couples, while others target a family audience offering a lot of activities designed for young kids and teenagers. Individual cruise lines try to tempt people by offering relaxation with spas and excursions to exotic locales. In contrast, several mass appeal cruise lines are tempting travelers with gourmet food and entertainment. So, choose a cruise line that best matches your personality and expectations.

5. Casual or dress-up type cruise. What's your preference?

Individual less formal cruises such as those offered by smaller ships or a few larger ships do not observe any official formal nights. So, if you don't care to dress up formally, these cruises would be ideal for you. On the other hand, most luxury cruise lines and even certain mass-market cruise lines host official formal nights where you can dress up finely and look your best.

Keep the above selection points in mind when deciding to select a cruise line. However, as the saying goes, you can't have it all, so somewhere you would need to prioritize your requirements and look for cruises that best match your expectations.

Also, Read: What the main reasons to take a cruise vacation?

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT PICKING A PERFECT CRUISE

It is a great idea to take a cruise for a holiday regardless of your age. As soon as your child is born, you can take them on a cruise, but you'll have a wider selection if you wait until he or she is six months old. A cruise ship's pools, hot tubs, and kids' clubs are accessible to children as young as three years old. River cruises are best for children over the age of eight since they can make the most of the experience. A cruise may require an older adult to accompany you if you are between the ages of 18 and 25. Certain exceptions may apply and the rules may vary.

It depends on your personal priorities when to sail. No matter your preference, there's the best time of year to travel. The shoulder season, the time between peak and low season, is the best time to find low prices, but it could be rainy or there might be fewer wildlife sightings.

It is possible to take a cruise that lasts two nights up to 200 plus days around the world. Consider weekend itineraries that last three to four nights if you have limited time. In general, cruises last between five and 14 nights.

The best month to go on a cruise is often January through March.