Fact & Fiction

Cruise holidays offer exceptional value for money with your accommodation, meals, entertainment and, of course, different ports of call all included in the price. The huge diversity of ships, the hundreds of different worldwide destinations and the wide variety of activities and facilities both on board and ashore mean there’s a cruise for everyone.

So if you’ve heard the cruising myths, let us dispel them so you can enjoy a holiday of a lifetime…

Fiction: Cruises are full of older passengers

Fact: Cruises are popular with every generation – singles, families, couples and groups of friends. There really is a cruise to suit every age and a ship to meet all expectations whether you want to be active or just sit and watch the world go by.

Some lines offer lectures and classes, others white knuckle adventures, excursions and breathtaking sight seeing opportunities.

Today there are cruises aimed at every age, interest, budget and nationality including families, single travellers and groups young and old.

Fiction: Cruising is claustrophobic; what if I don’t like the other passengers?

Fact: Imagine living in a small town. Although there may only be a few residents, you don’t see the same people every day. Cruising is similar. With ships ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand passenger capacity, you are fully in control of how intimate you want your cruise holiday to be. Each vessel is fully equipped to handle the maximum number of passengers it carries and all are staffed by experienced professionals who are there to cater to your every need, so even the biggest ship won’t feel overcrowded.

Fiction: Cruising is old fashioned

Fact: In a fast moving travel industry, cruise lines are clearly leading the way.

In 2010, the UK cruise market grew by 6% and carried 1.62 million passengers.

No other sector of the travel industry has had so much investment to ensure an excellent customer experience.

And in addition to these innovations, cruise lines are now paying greater attention to detail with the introduction of quality bedding and crockery, children's facilities, flexible gourmet dining experiences and a greater choice in the destinations visited.

Fiction: There’s not a lot to do on-board

Fact: Whilst facilities onboard vary considerably between cruise lines, most ships feature a range of cabins, restaurants and bars, public areas and in most cases entertainment areas and shows, gyms and health clubs. Other facilities may include a casino, pool and games rooms and many now offer dedicated child and teenager areas.

Cruising is one of the most diverse sectors of the travel industry. Each ship is unique in its style, size, quality, features and atmosphere. In addition there are ports of call stretching around the world so that a cruise can be combined with an array of exciting shore excursions.

Smaller vessels and yachts are not as well equipped, but because they travel closer to shore and make a lot of stops you are never short of something to do if sitting back is not your thing.

Fiction: Cruise holidays are too expensive for my budget

Fact: Cruising offers exceptional value when compared to a land-based holiday.

Remember the cost includes accommodation, food, activities, and entertainment plus visiting new exciting destinations. With a wide range of itineraries and many different cruise lines, there is a cruise holiday to suit all budgets.

Fiction: Are there really enough destinations to visit

Fact: There are thousands of worldwide destinations from which to choose and a cruise can take you to places virtually inaccessible by other means – Antarctica perhaps or the Northern Lights. Cruise ships sail to the four corners of the world and new destination ports are constantly being introduced.

Fiction: Cruises are formal and regimented

The choice is yours! Some people love the formality of a cruise with its set dining times and evening dress, and there are plenty of ships that provide this traditional style of cruising. Alternatively you may want an informal atmosphere – dine at a time of your choosing and dress casually and there are cruises just for you. Visit an ACE accredited travel agent who will have the expert knowledge to ensure you choose the right itinerary and cruise to match your requirements and meet your expectations.

Fiction: Cruising is too confining and I might get bored

Fact: The scenery is constantly changing as you visit different ports and cruise lines offer a wide range of activities to cater for both the active and those who like to be pampered. Depending on the ship, you can go bowling or ice skating, learn circus skills, keep fit in the gym, relax in the spa, take a dip in the pool, listen to guest lecturers, watch a movie or a show, begin a new hobby, visit the casino – the list of on board activities is almost endless and then there are plenty of shore adventures.

Fiction: There’s nothing for children and teenagers to do

Fact: Nearly every cruise line offers family friendly options although these vary between ship. For those with very young children, babysitting services are available on a number of ships with children’s activities are generally divided into distinct age groups. More large resort style ships are being built and these offer extensive facilities including such activities as rock climbing, bowling, cookery lessons and of course the ever popular computer games such as Play Stations and Wiis.

Fiction: I might get seasick

Fact: Today’s cruise ships are well stabilized and it’s often hard to tell that you’re actually moving. Technology assists the ship’s captain in avoiding bad weather where possible and there are certain regions of the world that are renowned for their calm waters such as the Caribbean and Adriatic. Should you feel the need, medication for seasickness is available onboard.

Fiction: It’s difficult to understand the different products on offer, the terminology and destinations

One of the great things about cruising is its rich diversity... yet this can deter customers who don’t know about the huge potential cruising has to offer.

The first choice to make is whether you want to embark on a river or ocean cruise.

Ocean cruising literally means that the cruising experience takes place on the seas and oceans of the world.

Ocean cruising takes place on a ship (not a boat!), and whilst onboard facilities, size and ambience vary considerably, most cruise ships feature cabins/staterooms, restaurants and bars, public areas and in most cases entertainment areas, including gyms and health clubs.

During the course of most cruises you will find the ships visit a number of ports where you can disembark and enjoy the destination and excursions that the cruise lines offer. During a 7 night cruise, you can enjoy approximately 5 ports of call – although this will vary dependent on where the cruise is sailing.

River cruising is a very different experience, on much smaller ships (called vessels), and with scenery on both sides and with the vessels stopping right in the heart of the cities and towns along the river, these are seen as a great alternative to city breaks and to coach tours.

The increasing popularity of river cruising can in many ways be attributed to the increasing ease by which we can reach these cultural, scenic and historic areas, as well as the highly valued experience onboard.

River cruising varies a great deal from ocean cruises, not least because of the destinations that they serve, but also because the facilities onboard are more limited. However, river vessels also feature guest cabins, restaurants and bars, and some entertainment or relaxation such as health spas.

Next you must choose the type of cruise you want.

Exploration Cruising takes place on smaller ships and in more remote destinations. It’s particularly attractive to those looking for something off the beaten track, and with a stronger emphasis on wildlife, geology, culture or the environment.

Many Exploration Cruises carry experts on these subjects, who will give talks and share their knowledge; and the focus is very firmly on the destination as opposed to onboard entertainment and activities.

With much smaller ships these cruises can reach ports and destinations that their larger cousins will not be able to reach, and will typically feature destinations such as Antarctica, Amazon, South America, Galapagos, and the Arctic.

Cargo ships used to be the main way for UK holidaymakers to take a cruise before the advent of the modern cruise ships. It is still possible to take a cruise on a cargo ship, although the options available are limited.

This is certainly a niche area of the market – cruises with cargo ships offer a far simpler experience, lacking in the many modern innovations we see on purpose built cruise ships. There is likely to be little or no entertainment, few public areas, and dining is rather more restricted. That is not to say that the experience is a bad one, however this would certainly be the domain of the more nautically minded.

RMS St Helena, sailing primarily the South Atlantic, is one of those shipping companies offering a cargo ship cruise experience.

A mini-cruise is exactly that, a shorter cruise for those who want to experience a cruise but may want a shorter break.

In the UK these tend to sail from Southampton or Dover to ports in Western Europe that allow guests to explore places such as Amsterdam, Hamburg or Paris. Other short cruises are available in other destinations including the Mediterranean, Greece and Cyprus, Caribbean and Far East.

One of the advantages of these short cruises, particularly with many departing from the UK, is that they offer a great chance for guests to “taste” the cruise experience without committing to a much longer holiday.

Fly Cruise, Ex-UK Cruises and Cruise & Stay

An Ex-UK cruise is a cruise holiday that departs from a UK port. This enables a guest to start their holiday at the port without the hassle of passing through an airport, and all of the restrictions on luggage that this entails. As a result it has proved to be very popular particularly with older guests and large families.

The main destinations for Ex-UK cruising are:

Mediteranean
Western Europe & UK
Baltic
Norway
Atlantic Islands

Alternatively, fly cruising allows a guest to fly from a UK airport to join a cruise in an overseas port. This gives you many more options as to where you cruise.

Fly cruising is more popular than Ex-UK cruising largely because it offers guests many more options in their choice of destination; and also because the weather in Northern Europe makes it much more suitable to cruise in the summer months; so the possibility to fly and start in warmer climates in the winter makes cruising a year-round holiday choice.

Another choice is Cruise & Stay, combining a week’s land-based hotel stay with a week cruising. These are a great introduction to the cruise experience, especially for first timers.