How to pick the perfect cruise line for you?

By Cruise Booking Team

Updated on: April 28, 2023

It can be tricky for a first-timer to book the right cruise. Almost your entire experience of sailing depends on how you choose a ship, and your choice can make or break a vacation.

Important prerequisites before booking a cruise involve understanding with whom you are travelling, where you are destined, and what budget you hold for the tour. So, keep reading to get an in-depth overview.

How to pick the perfect cruise line for you?

Tips on how to choose the best cruise line

Following are the predetermined tips on booking the perfect cruise for you:

1. Understand the different types of cruise lines

Here is a list of different types of cruise lines in detail:

Cruising with family

Planning to go on a family cruise trip? There are popular cruise lines that cater to your requirements, especially the Disney cruise line. If you are travelling with your children, it is the most convenient option for you to avail. Disney performs an outstanding job of hosting state-of-the-art kids' clubs and includes a special play area for toddlers.

Other competitors of Disney include cruise lines such as Carnival and Royal Caribbean. They all offer children-friendly services.

It is, however, important to note that Costa Cruise is the only Europe-based cruise line that allows onboarding babies less than 6 months young. Most cruises set the age limit at one year of age. Other luxury cruise ships do not allow children less than 14 years of age.

Traveling alone or in a group

Cruise lines for solo travellers include Norwegian Cruise Line, which has comfortable, compact, and affordable studio cabins. On the other hand, a group of 15 travellers can avail of the cruise services opportunity of travelling with free fares offered by Carnival Cruise Line and Costa Cruises.

Other cruise lines offer an upgrade applicable to the leader of a group for free, and multiple other cruise lines offer onboard credits to all people onboard in a group.

If you are travelling in a group, your reservations will be linked, and you will be able to dine together with the members of your group and may even be able to acquire cabins in the same area of the ship.

Travelling as a differently-abled

Mainstream cruise line ships consist of wide cabins to make the admission of wheelchairs easily possible. These cruises even have shower facilities catering to the convenience of differently-abled people.

Cruisers for Newlyweds

The cruise lines Azamara Club Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, and others possess the legal ability to marry couples. Other cruise lines require planning a wedding onshore depending on how long you will spend in port.

2. Decide where you are headed

It is more likely for many to choose a tropical region like the Caribbean or the Bahamas. Cruises, however, do not restrict sailing only to these destinations. These sail all over the globe. The destinations cruises cover include Europe, Australia, Asia, etc. Hence, there is an array of destinations to choose from.

You can choose your destination depending on which season you prefer. Some cruises operate during specific months of the year. Hence, it will be easier for you to narrow down your choices according to your preferences.

3. Plan a budget accordingly

One can prepare a budget chart for cruising by listing and planning the following factors:

Air transport and transfer costs, travelling to and from the cruise port
Shore excursions costs
Costs of activities while at ports
Specialty dining costs onboard
Souvenirs, shopping costs
Beverages costs
Gratuities costs

Final word

Though it is a personal choice, most prefer larger ships as it ensures you are not stuck onboard with a substantially big crowd. The large ships are mostly the newer ships offering the most recent and high-end services. These ships, however, tend to be more expensive than other ships in a fleet.