My wife and I go cruising regularly, often doing 4 or 5 cruises a year and we've been doing it for nearly 20 years having got tired of resort holidays and going back to the same old locations abroad. We hope you will glean what ocean cruising is really about and see if it suits you. We wouldn't go back to resort holidays and we've never been interested in renting villas etc.
This article will be a "warts 'n' all" view from our perspective based on our experiences cruising around Europe (we don't fly anymore so we sail from UK ports). I will included some experiences at the end of the article just to show how adventurous cruising can be.
Everyone, is the simple answer. Cruising is no longer just for the rich and famous. Like flying, prices have come down over the last 30 or so years and it has become available to all sections of the population. OK, it's not a budget holiday but, many people, even those on modest or fixed incomes can enjoy the experience.
No, not in the usual sense, there's no beach if that's your thing, no streets full of shops to walk around in the evening, no rowdy pubs and bars to avoid, just good quality food, west-end style entertainment and wholesome accommodation.
Think of taking the best resort you've ever stayed at in Spain, Turkey or Greece, for example, and putting it onboard a ship. The ship is your hotel and, unlike the shore resort, it moves overnight so that you wake up in the morning in a new city or country. The adventure is when you go ashore, new sights, new smells, new food experiences and new people to meet and interact with.
If you just want to sit on a beach, drink "All Inclusive" alcohol all day and endure dire local entertainment in the evenings, you probably won't enjoy cruising but, you could be surprised at what cruising has to offer.
Firstly, ignore the hype and what you see in the cruise line advertising! Yes, you can get what they portray e.g. sipping champagne on a balcony overlooking the sea and fine dining but, at a cost. The truth is that without spending a fortune, you will get a more modest experience albeit, still very good. Many cruise lines like to show the more exotic side of cruising and many emphasise the adventurous activities available at ports where they call but, the truth is that most passengers don't go for Jeep Safaris, Kayaking on white water or Trekking up mountains.
Just like most things, there is a wide choice of cruise options to suit most tastes. They range from basic, but good accommodation, food and entertainment to truly luxurious
Some passengers my wife and I get into conversation with onboard are on their first cruise and quite a few say that they were concerned about seasickness, gales, rough seas etc. so let's be honest. Ships sail on the ocean and the ocean is open water where the weather has a great affect. There will be rough seas and high winds at times, it's part of the adventure in our opinion.
A lot depends on what time of year you sail and your destination. Winter sailing will usually involve rougher seas but, almost all cruise ships have stabilisers which make the journey smoother but there will still be rough weather which can make moving around inside the ship interesting.
Safety at sea is paramount and the cruise lines do everything they can to make your journey as safe and comfortable as possible. Rest assured, Captains know what they are doing and avoid the worst weather but even they get caught out at times. We have been on cruises where the ship has been unable to leave a port due to high winds or have missed ports due to rough seas but, again, it's part of the adventure.
The bottom line is, if you feel unwell on a boating lake or suffer from serious motion sickness, cruising may not be for you.
Yes and no, most cruise ships offer facilities such as kids clubs or inclusive events for children and teenagers but older children and teenagers may find that their days are centred around the swimming pools unless, you are on a ship that offers more exiting features such as water slides, go-kart circuits, zip wires etc. Only the largest ships have these facilities so, on small to mid-sized ships, be prepared and bring entertainment with you.
Yes, many larger ships do offer the facilities listed in the last section but be prepared to pay for the privilege! For example, Royal Caribbean ships will charge USD $10 or more to use the water slides. Other attractions can cost a lot more.
The examples given below are base price offers and may be for inside cabins on saver fares. The cost of balcony cabins and suites will be considerably higher in most cases. Some of these cruise lines operate from UK ports such as Southampton, others will be "fly-cruise" where you fly to and from the port. Be aware that many of the cruise lines shown have additional charges as standard such as service charges, tax on purchases and additional costs which are included on other cruise lines. P&O Cruises do not have any additional charges for their standard offerings, only fine dining and drinks are chargeable.
| Cruise line | Representative ship | Gross tonnage (approx.) | Passenger capacity (double occupancy / max) | Crew complement | Typical 14-day fare (per person) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSC Cruises | MSC Euribia | ~184,000 GT | 6,327 guests | ~1,711 | £800 – £2,000 |
| Royal Caribbean | Harmony / Oasis class (example ship) | ~226,000+ GT (Oasis class) | ~5,400 – 6,800 (depending on ship) | ~2,100 (example) | From ~£799 (sample 14-night deal) — typical range £800 – £2,200 |
| Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) | Norwegian Bliss (example) | ~168,000 GT | ~4,010 (double occupancy) | ~1,716 | £900 – £2,200 |
| P&O Cruises (Carnival UK) | Azura | ~115,000 GT | ~3,100 (double occupancy) | ~1,200 – 1,250 | £1,299 – £1,899 (examples; last-minute 14-night from ~£1,399 shown) |
| Celebrity Cruises | Celebrity Beyond / Edge class | ~141,000 GT (Beyond / Edge class ~141k) | ~3,260 (double occupancy) | ~1,100–1,300 (varies by ship) | £1,400 – £3,200 |
| Princess Cruises | Sun Princess (example) | ~175,500 GT (Sphere-class) | ~4,310 | ~1,600 | £1,200 – £2,800 |
| Holland America Line | Koningsdam (example) | ~99,000 – 99,500 GT (Pinnacle class specifics vary) | ~2,650 – 2,650 (varies by ship) | ~1,000 | £1,100 – £2,300 |
| Cunard | Queen Anne / Queen Mary 2 | Queen Anne ~113,000 GT; QM2 ~150,000 GT | ~3,000 (Queen Anne) / ~2,600–3,000 (QM2 varies by configuration) | ~1,200 – 1,300 | £2,000 – £6,000 (premium / transatlantic / higher service level) |
| Viking Ocean (Viking Cruises) | Viking Star / Ocean ships | ~47,800 GT (ocean ships typical figure) | ~930 – 1,000 guests (ocean ships) | ~500 – 600 | £2,500 – £6,000 (Viking positions as premium/river-to-ocean product) |
| Marella Cruises (TUI UK) | Marella Discovery 2 | ~69,000 GT | ~1,830 – 2,074 (depending on load) | ~735 – 771 | £700 – £1,400 |
| Saga Cruises | Spirit of Adventure (example) | ~58,250 GT | ~987 guests | ~540 crew | £1,800 – £3,500 |
Cruise lines should not be judged on their ships alone. Their customer service is just as important and just like many organisations today customer service ranges from excellent to unacceptable. I am not going to name and shame the cruise lines that my wife and I have found dreadful to deal with but since the Covid pandemic, a lot are understaffed and difficult to contact.
Most cruises can be booked online but sometimes further information is required but be prepared! Have a cup of tea or coffee to hand and be prepared for a long wait in the queue. Once connected to an operator, you will either receive pleasant and helpful advise or be left wondering why you bothered to call in the first place.
Cruise ships come in all shapes and sizes from small, 60,000 Gross Tons or less to huge, circa 250,000 Gross Tons or more. P&O's Aurora, shown above, has a capacity of up to 1,786 passengers whereas the Royal Caribbean Icon of the Seas, shown above, has a capacity of up to 7,600 passengers. The larger the ship, the more passengers and facilities can be accommodated. Passenger numbers can range from a few hundred to more than 6000. Luxury cruise ships have lower passenger numbers but a higher ratio of crew per passenger. Larger ships tend to have lower crew/passenger ratios.
Modern ships have all the facilities necessary for comfortable voyages including stabilisers for rougher seas, Wi-Fi, mobile telephone coverage (very expensive) and a wide choice of eating and drinking venues. And, of course, plenty of sun loungers along with swimming pools. Some of the much larger ships have water parks, surfing, go-kart tracks and sports facilities.
There are basically 3 types of cruising, American, European and British. All are "cashless" onboard with charges added to an onboard account which is settled at the end of the voyage. American style ships charge in US dollars whereas British style ships usually charge in Pounds Sterling. Some, like MSC are multi-national where passengers can come from all parts of Europe.
Many cruise lines do not base themselves in UK ports although they may call here and pick up passengers. MSC are famous for this and are often called a "bus stop" cruise line. Cruise lines and ships based abroad will usually be reached by flying (Fly-cruise) but you can make your own arrangements. I do not include the true luxury cruise lines here because they really are beyond the means of the average mortal. If you have to ask how much they cost, you probably can't afford them!
| Cruise line | Style | Onboard experience highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Caribbean | American | Large resort-style ships, Broadway shows, water slides, buzzing nightlife, casual friendly service. |
| Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) | American | “Freestyle” dining (lots of restaurants), flexible dress code, lively bars and entertainment, family-friendly. |
| Celebrity Cruises | American (premium) | Modern design, strong food and wine culture, chic atmosphere, polished service, a little quieter than RCI/NCL. |
| Princess Cruises | American | Traditional with a modern touch, movies under the stars, varied dining, efficient service, multi-national passengers. |
| Holland America Line | American (classic) | More sedate, classical music partnerships, cooking demos, attentive service, older demographic. |
| MSC Cruises | European | Italian flair, international passenger mix, late dining, multi-lingual announcements, lively evenings, family-friendly. |
| Viking Ocean | European (Scandi premium) | Calm, understated luxury, no casinos, destination-focused, all-balcony ships, spa/thermal suites. |
| P&O Cruises | British | Traditional British style, familiar food, kettle in cabins, sailings from Southampton, entertainment aimed at UK tastes. |
| Cunard | British (heritage) | Formality, afternoon tea, ballroom dancing, transatlantic tradition, high proportion of formal dress nights. |
| Marella Cruises (TUI) | British (package holiday) | Relaxed, pound sterling onboard, entertainment very UK-centric, flights & transfers bundled, family-friendly. |
| Saga Cruises | British (over-50s) | Smaller ships, all-inclusive fares, very high service, calm and genteel atmosphere, exclusively 50+ passengers. |
Yes and no. You get what you pay for and, unfortunately, there can be huge hidden charges with some cruise lines. For years, cruise lines have and still do add daily "Gratuity" charges to each passenger's bill but, the industry is changing. Many American style cruise lines still add this charge which is how they pay the wages of the crew but it's really a "Service Charge". Most cruise lines make this charge "optional" but others make it "mandatory". Some cruise lines such as P&O Cruises did away with these charges years ago.
Another added cost is "Onboard Tax" which is applied to every purchase, bars, shops, dining and activities. This "tax" can be as high as 20% which can make a big difference to the final bill. If you must keep in touch with home you will find onboard Wi-Fi can be very expensive if it is not included in your cruise package and mobile phone costs at sea are incredibly expensive (roaming packages do not apply at sea!)
Call charges can be as high as £2 per minute to make and receive a call and video calls, using mobile data are eye-wateringly expensive!.
All normal cruises include dining, snacks and basic refreshments unless you choose one of the few "All Inclusive" cruise lines but, you will pay extra for the privilege. Additional "fine dining" and variety dining is always an extra costing between ￡15 and ￡60 per person depending on the ship. Drinks can be expensive too, especially on the American style cruises charged in US dollars. P&O charge UK pub and bar prices. Almost all cruise ships also offer up to 24 hour buffets.