"Why have not we done this before?" Has spoken with so many first time cruisers, their reaction is always the same - they ask "Why have not we done this before," It is good value for money and tested at least once. Cruises are much cheaper than they were before, and many offer better value than the conventional land based holiday as all food and entertainment are included. Prices for a 7 night fly cruise to the Mediterranean can start from as low as 399 pounds, but in general prices work out at about £ 100 a day. The price includes flights where required, transfers, accommodation on board, all meals, (be prepared to put at £ 1 a day, even a gym on board most ships will help to keep the weight down) entertainment and you'll see a new port every day. Unbeatable value. 1st Cruise Holiday Tips for getting the most out of your dinner, choose the second sitting where offered as you will rarely hurried to finish and you will get more chance to make the most of the social environment. "There is nothing to do on a cruise!" If you are active and need to be done? Do you want to totally relax and watch the world go by? Do you dress for dinner or do you need a more relaxed approach? Are you happy to fly and go on a ship or do you prefer to cruise out and back to the UK? We will guide you and point you in the right direction, alternatively you can contact us and one of our experienced consultants cruise will be glad to help. It is important to have a good idea of what you want as the range of cruises is enormous. Big ships over 100,000 tons have been fantastic family facilities including ice rinks, rock climbing, basketball and mini golf to name a few. In the evening after a superb meal in one of the many restaurants on board, the ship really comes to life with casinos, nightclubs, cinemas and a full range of entertainment to keep the fun loving active individual happy 24 hours a day. If this sounds like too much for you and your idea of a cruise means sit back and watch the world go by in total relaxation, then there is plenty of choice to offer. These vessels tend to be smaller and even if they do not offer a complete range of facilities, makes the up for in character and tradition. Dinner tends to be more formal in nature and range of excursions are generally more interesting. "I thought cruising was only for the wealthy" There is still the old aged perception that cruising is only for the "wealthy" and the upper class. Nothing could be further from the truth! There are now cruises and cruise to suit all tastes from a 3-star Thomson and Island Cruises up to 6 star Crystal Cruises. There are cruises that cater to families and others who are adult only. It is very traditional cruises where you have formal nights and gentlemen and ladies dress in dinner suits and cocktail dresses and there are ships that are quite informal and formal nights, the last thing on the agenda. "I'm afraid I might get seasick!" Most if not all cruise ships have stabilizers, but many cruise ships are so large these days that you do not even know you are at sea. In the event of a passenger feeling sea sick, there is always a doctor and nurse on board who could provide the necessary injection if needed or offer seasickness tablets. Note that there will be a charge for any treatment from a doctor and therefore adequate travel insurance is a necessity. If you think there is the possibility of seasickness, it is advisable to contact your own doctor before your trip. Generally, cruise ships travel where the weather should be fine, but just occasionally the weather patterns can change and there may be a change in the cruise itinerary. This is very rare but can happen. "How do I dress?" There is always the temptation to take clothes for all eventualities, but it is advisable to look carefully at your destination and its climate, and pack accordingly. If you take a fly / cruise, there will be a mass of compensation and that compensation will increase further as you fly. For Ex UK cruises there is no weight allowance. On more traditional ships (P & O, Fred.Olsen, Cunard), you can usually expect two formal nights where gentleman wear dinner suits and ladies cocktail dress. Even if a suit with tie for men is acceptable. It is helpful to look at the ships dress and pack accordingly. Details on this will be sent with your tickets, but if you are unsure check with your first cruise vacation consultants who will be happy to help. Above all, do not be concerned about impressive people or having enough elegant clothes, the whole point of cruising is to make yourself at home, relax and enjoy. 1st Cruise Holiday Tips It is well worth taking the time to book the cruise that suits you best. 1st Look for the destination that interests you and the itinerary. 2nd Look at the cruise line that suits your needs. (Do you have a family or are you just a few?) 3. Look at the ship and its facilities. Does it offer what you need? 4th Look at the price and that you are not too tight. Remember on most ships you will have to pay the additional cost of beverages, gratuities and excursions. (Look at our offerings to see if any fit your needs and pocket) 5. First-time cruisers look at our Taster Cruises. 1-7 nights in length. 6th If in doubt call our cruise consultants to help you choose. Once you have booked your first cruise when you book your cruise and your tickets arrive, they will typically be accompanied by a booklet describing the ship and cruise that you have booked and advising on things like clothing, gratuities, shore excursions, etc. Do spend some time reading this documentation you will get valuable advice on what to pack and how much the budget for drinks, gratuities and excursions. All ships accept credit cards, but you can deposit travelers checks or cash when you register at the beginning of a cruise. You will then run an account while you are on board and loose at the end. A final bill will be delivered to your cottage / cabin on the last night. For your convenience, and if your tip is not pre-payable (your 1st cruise holiday consultant will advise you on this) some ships will distribute envelopes for passengers to fill and distribute the final evening. You are advised to take dollars, pounds or euros, depending on the currency board. Inside or outside? Cottages or cabins so many cruise lines now call them come in many shapes and sizes, but for the sake of simplicity, they come in four categories. Inside, outside, balcony cabins and suites. Inside cabins are less expensive than their outside equivalent. There is no natural light, however lighting is good and inside cabins are now designed with the curtains drawn to give the impression that there is a window in the cabin. If you do not suffer from claustrophobia, you are probably better to choose an outside especially if it's your first cruise. The advantage of an inside cabin is the price and you need a good nights sleep with no natural light to wake you up in the morning. The disadvantage is no natural light and you can not view the weather. Therefore, a scouting mission is required to get your weather report. Many past passengers book an inside cabin to keep costs down and that you spend some time in your cabin apart from sleeping and a quick change for dinner as they do not feel the need to spend unnecessarily. Most cabins are equipped with TV, telephone, safe and private facilities in the way of bath or shower. Outside cabins have either a porthole or picture window, depending on the vessel and / or position of the vessel. As you move up the cottage / cabin scale, they become larger and better located on the vessel. Mid ship cabins are generally more expensive than those on the front or rear of the ship. The plants will grow and provide better wardrobe. Balcony cabins are now becoming much more popular and the ship is to create more and more of these cottages. Suites have a lot more resources and many include canapés delivered to your suite every night before dinner with a glass of champagne. Some of the larger suites have their very own butler and pianist, however, do these come at a price. For more of John Gibb's excellent advice for first time cruisers and more from his first Cruise vacations tips, check out 1stcruiseholidays.co.uk first Cruise Holidays.co.uk is filled with answers to common questions and solutions to the natural fear of cruises for the first time. The website not only provide travelers worried about cruising, though! With detailed information about each cruise line and ship, including scores, itineraries, ship details, photos, ships and more, you can find out all you need to know about your cruise vacation before booking it. 1stCruiseHolidays.co.uk have an expert team of cruise consultants will find you the best possible deal to make your first cruise experience a great one!
