How to Choose a Cruise Line and Cruise
Although similar, all cruise lines are different. Some offer structured dinners, while others advertise themselves as freestyle cruises. Some cruises are family friendly and affordable while others are pricey and exclusive. It's important to choose a cruise line that works for you because otherwise you will not be happy with your vacation choice.
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Instructions
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Research cruises within your price range. We all may want to take a Crystal Cruise, but those cruises are significantly more expensive than a Carnival, Princess or Norwegian cruise.
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Select your point of departure and your destination. Cruise lines leave from specific seaports; if you want to skip the airplane flight and leave from somewhere close to home, research which cruise lines leave from near your location. Search cruise line websites for ports and destinations to determine whether a cruise line has a cruise with the specifications that you are looking for.
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Choose between an upscale cruise and a fun cruise. For upscale cruises, research Crystal Cruises and Silversea Cruises. For fun cruises, try Carnival, Princess, Royal Caribbean or Norwegian cruise lines.
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Pick a kid-friendly cruise if you are bringing children or teens along. Many cruise lines offer events for kids and teens. Consider a child-themed cruise like the one offered by Disney, which is sure to please children of all ages.
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Decide if you prefer a structured cruise or a freestyle one. Most cruise lines are relatively structured: you choose your dinnertime, eat then and schedule other events around that time. However, cruise lines such as Norwegian feature freestyle cruising, which allows you eat when you feel like it.
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Think about amenities. If you aren't on vacation without a great spa or fun excursion, add these to the list of features you are looking for in a cruise.
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Consider a theme cruise. Cruises like this include music cruises and lifestyle cruises. You won't get to choose your cruise line since the theme cruise has already chosen that, but you're likely to meet other passengers with similar interests to your own.
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Think about days on the boat versus days spent docked at ports. If you want adventure, choose a ship that spends a lot of days docked. For a more relaxing cruise, opt for a cruise that spends more days at sea.
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