I am pre-supposing with this post that you already know whether or not you are a fan of cruising. It is not for everyone, and my purpose here isn’t to promote the merits of traveling by cruise ship (although there are many) but to compare options for creating a cruise that suits you best. I can honestly say that we have never had a bad cruise, but we have had some experiences that we enjoyed more than others – all for different reasons.
Cruises fall into a few categories including budget, premium, ultra-premium, and luxury. There are also expedition and river cruises for those seeking to get a little closer to the action – think Galapagos or the Rhine River. Most of the cruises we have taken fall into the premium category, but we have taken a couple of luxury cruises on Azamara and, most recently Regent. Throughout the years, we have gravitated to a couple of very reliable cruise lines, but we aren’t exclusive to any. We appreciate the elegance of Regent, the itineraries of Holland America, and the entertainment venues and specialty dining options on larger Celebrity or Royal Caribbean ships. Note: loyalty is rewarded by most cruise lines, but it takes a lot of cruise days to build enough status points to receive rewards.
We live close to a major cruise port, so it is relatively easy to find a cruise at any time of the year. When necessary, we will fly to a port (LA, San Diago, Vancouver, or Athens, Greece for example) and begin our voyage there.
We consider several factors before we choose a cruise, most notably, expectations, destination, duration, price, and the size of the ship. We often take advantage of the ship’s offerings for excursions, but we also like to research and contract services at each port of call on our own. Our most recent cruise, (Regent) was our first experience with an all-inclusive cruise line and while not completely won over, we enjoyed it very much.
Expectations
Are you an adventure seeker, a sun worshiper, or a discovery traveler? Do you have any physical limitations to consider? Expectations matter when it comes to cruising, so be clear about what you want and what activity level you are capable of. Once you have defined your expectations, you’ll need to do a little homework regarding cruise lines and destinations. Cruising provides a good opportunity to get out of your comfort zone and have a bit of adventure, so keep that in mind.
I use Cruise Critic almost exclusively for gathering information about specific cruises, but a quick search of YouTube cruising videos will produce an abundance of good information also. Reading reviews will help you understand the ‘climate’ of each individual ship and who they cater to specifically. Be sure you read a mix of both good and bad reviews. Some travelers can be unduly harsh, (nit-picky), or, they may describe everything as ‘wonderful’ or ‘terrible’ without being specific about what that means.
Malcolm and I prefer understated cruising with an older well-traveled crowd and we tend to avoid the busy big ships. We love discovering new places and while cruising won’t provide a total immersion in any one place, it will hit the notable highlights of each destination. In addition to a good itinerary, we expect a clean, comfortable, well-staffed ship, good dining options, a variety of sea day activities, good service, and a price commensurate with value.
Destination
We believe the destination is the most important thing to consider when selecting a cruise. To date, we have cruised the Caribbean, the Mediterranean Sea, the Pacific Ocean, the Bermuda Islands (north Atlantic), and the British Isles. We have used transatlantic cruises as transportation to European destinations, and Caribbean cruises for leisure and relaxation. Some cruises have taken us to exotic locations like Bora, Bora, and the Greek islands, while others introduced us to Scotland and Ireland for the first time. All of them brought us to beautiful destinations that we might never have discovered if not for the ease and comfort of traveling on a cruise ship.
Duration
The destination also dictates the duration of the cruise for us. If we are cruising the Caribbean, we will typically choose a cruise between 5 and 7 nights. Our recent Caribbean cruise was an exception at 10 nights, which allowed us three additional ports of call as compared to our last 7-night cruise. The extra time at sea was worth it to visit two islands we had not visited on previous cruises.
We cruised for 36 nights while exploring the South Pacific and Hawaii with Holland America a few years ago, 14 nights with Royal Caribbean when crossing the Atlantic from Miami to Southampton, which we immediately followed with 10 nights onboard a Princess ship for a highlights tour of Ireland and Scotland. A 5-night Celebrity cruise from Bayonne to Bermuda was perfect for kicking off our Island hopping road trip in 2018. If you really want to test your tolerance for longer trips, we suggest a Transatlantic repositioning cruise. I have provided a link to our post about that subject below.
Price Range
We have a tendency to shop for cruises in the ‘Premium’ range, which include Celebrity, Holland America, Norwegian, Princess, Royal Caribbean, and Virgin Voyages. Those lines fit our budget and provide the services we desire most. They are typically not all-inclusive, so, if you are thinking of booking a cruise, remember to add things like gratuities, drinks, excursions, laundry service, and specialty dining to the base cost. Some lines will offer drink packages and gratuities as an inducement to book a cruise, while others are drifting toward including these items in the bottom line price.
Most ultra-premium cruise lines like Cunard, Azamara, and Oceania offer some flexibility, while luxury lines like Regent and Seabourn quote one inclusive price. Before you get sticker shock from the all-inclusive prices, do an analysis of how much the add-ons will cost when added to the base price of other lines. We contend that some premium ship cruises will end up costing as much as an all-inclusive ultra-luxury line. But, it is also possible to turn a premium cruise into a budget cruise if you plan wisely.
We like having the flexibility to book our own excursions and pay for our drinks, which is the biggest reason why an all-inclusive cruise would not be our first choice unless it is a really good deal. By a really good deal, I mean a significant reduction in the fare. That can happen if you are willing to be a ‘last-minute’ cruiser, or if you stumble onto a good promotion.
Ship
There are mega ships, like Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas with eighteen decks and a capacity of over 7,000 passengers, and small ships like the Regent Seven Seas Navigator with twelve decks and a capacity of 490 passengers. It is possible to find a ship of almost any size. Ship size typically dictates services available, such as entertainment venues, specialty dining restaurants, children’s activities, common spaces, and a variety of stateroom choices. For example, the small ship we just sailed (Regent Seven Seas Navigator) had balcony rooms only and most were about 350sf. There was a walk-in closet and a bathroom that had both a shower and a tub. Larger ships offer staterooms that vary from an inside cabin (about 150 sf) to a luxury suite well over 1,000sf.
Pros and Cons of Our All-inclusive Regent Experience
We loved our recent Regent cruise, for the convenience of having everything included in one price, with no surprises at the end of the cruise, but, we both agree that it removed a degree of spontaneity and it definitely encouraged over-indulgence, both with food and drink. It is easy to allow yourself to be over-served when the company is good, the wine is flowing and you are not paying (wink, wink). My willpower goes out the window when I can walk up to any bar and order anything I want. The concept is not exclusive to bar drinks and includes specialty coffees and sodas also. I exercise a bit more self-control when we have the option of NOT including a beverage package and paying as we go.
Pros: The stateroom size, a casually elegant atmosphere, low-key patrons (definitely not a party ship), attentive service, free laundry service, and small-group shore excursions. The main dining room provided a fixed menu which included steak, lobster, Caesar salad, and French onion soup, along with changing menu offerings each evening. Availability of any-time seating in the dining room with no waiting in line was a big plus. Common spaces were never crowded even though the ship was at capacity. There was one ‘specialty dining’ restaurant (a steakhouse) available at no upcharge. And, last but not least, an all-inclusive cruise eliminates most of the details (and burdens) of planning.
Cons: The price of an all-inclusive is the #1 con for us. There are three major areas where cost can be controlled while cruising – stateroom choice, alcohol consumption, and shore excursions.
If you do your research and choose a reliable tour provider, it is possible to book your own excursions at a considerably lower price than a cruise line will charge. You can also opt out of the alcoholic beverage program, and you can choose a less expensive stateroom.
The other con for me was motion. I am prone to motion sickness in extreme situations, but I don’t usually need medication and I rarely take it as a precaution. Much to my surprise, I got seasick on this cruise. It lasted just one night, during rough seas, and by mid-day the next day I was fine. I attributed it to a couple of things, other than just rough seas. The size of the ship and our stateroom position made a difference in my ability to tolerate the motion. Our cabin was on deck 7 toward the back of the ship. We honestly didn’t think about the cabin position when we booked and just took the first thing available. This would not have been a problem for me on a larger ship regardless of where the room was located.
The Bottom Line
Whether you choose an all-inclusive cruise or build your own experience, be sure to define your expectations, consider your physical limitations, determine your destination, look for a cruise line that serves that geographic location, choose a ship that suits your style, and if you are prone to motion sickness, be mindful of your cabin location.
Want to know more about cruising – check out our previous posts
Celebrity Eclipse – Transatlantic published 2017
Don’t Call It A Boat published 2019
From Ordinary to Extraordinary published 2022
Picture Retirement 
Definitely not our cup of tea….we like pushing the comfort zone too much! But we never say never….and one day when perhaps our adventurous spirits have been satisfied and we crave a bit more comfort….
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I get that from you guys, especially after your last few posts (a rat living in your sofa and eating frog on a stick) We enjoy ‘exploring’ but we don’t often ‘push the comfort zone’, at least not on purpose. My idea of a grand adventure is hopping on the wrong train! I do love reading about you guys doing those things though, so please keep on pushing (and writing). Cruise ships will still be there when and if you crave a bit more comfort…
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Ah Suzanne I laughed out loud at the “wrong train” bit 😀…and thank you for reading our posts, we so appreciate it ❤️
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Those cruise ships scare the pants of me – they’re soooo huge and soooo full of people. I’m just not social enough to even contemplate tackling something on that scale. That being said, I’ve done two European river cruises and could have stayed on them forever – floating up and down scenic (smooth) rivers, visiting charming towns, and eating lovely food (in moderation). I guess it all comes down to “different strokes for different folks”.
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Hi Leanne, I’ve never done a river cruise, but I expect I would like that also. There is a Chateau, Rivers, and Wine cruise that I would love to do one day. That one sounds heavenly. The crowds are the main reason we avoid the big ships too. When we have taken one, it was for a transatlantic (repositioning), and therefore NOT full of people. Yes, ‘moderation’ is the key to everything, isn’t it? I use that word a lot here on the blog, but I have to remind myself to put it into practice. 🙂
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Excellent post. We do Holland America for the same reasons you mentioned (itineraries). Our first cruise was on RCL and it was so crowded that I almost didn’t get my husband on another ship. We liked the Oceania cruise that we took, although we didn’t like having to miss a port after a much larger ship blocked our entry point. Will be on HAL for a 20 day trip soon-our longest ever. We’re also booked on a Celebrity cruise this fall. I suffer from motion sickness and take Bonine daily starting on the first day of the cruise. It has always worked well. I only got sick once when I forgot to take it. Our cruise agent knows to book us in a cabin in the middle where there is less motion, I would love to try a rivet cruise and have heard good things about Regdnt.
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Hi Beth, welcome to Picture Retirement. Your comment got held up in my spam folder and I missed it. Sorry about that. Anyway, It sounds like we are like-minded cruisers. I think the biggest mistake people make is choosing a mega ship their first time out. Unless you are young, highly energetic, and have a limitless supply of patience, it probably won’t be a good fit. Where are you going on your 20-day HAL? That sounds exciting. You are smart to take Bonine right away. I usually resist until it’s too late. Thanks for stopping by.
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A very comprehensive and well written post. Brian and I have done a few cruises and we really enjoyed them all.
A favourite sea cruise was to visit the fjords of Norway, the spectacular scenery left us so in love with Norway that we returned for a longer motorhome tour.
We also loved cruising the river Nile, absolutely incredible and also the slow boat cruise down the Mekong river from the North of Thailand to Luang Prabang.
We have a big list of cruises that we would like to do in the future, like yourselves we live very near a major cruising port ( Southampton in the South of England) making cruising in Europe quite easy for us. But we don’t mind flying somewhere to board a cruising boat.
I would love to do more river cruises.
I enjoyed reading your thoughts of the more luxurious cruising boats such as the Azamara and Regent, since we have never experienced them. Thank you so much for a lovely post.
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Hi Gilda, I would love to do all of the cruises you mentioned – such beautiful, photographic scenery would be a thrill. Your example of Norway is exactly why we love to experience a place for the first time on a ship. It will often rule in, or rule out a future land visit for deeper exploration.
I remember that you live not far from Southampton and I envy that position. Ships leaving that port have so many options. I was notified of a last-minute deal on a repositioning cruise a couple of weeks ago that ended in Southampton. If there was any way possible, I would have been on it. Sometimes life gets in the way of fun. Take care and thanks for visiting. I enjoyed your thoughts.
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Both interesting and useful, although at present not so much for me. We’re nowhere near as adventurous as the Hungry Travellers in terms of travel style, as we tend to pre-book our travel plans, but we do like to stay IN places, not just drop into them as you do on a cruise. Having said that, we’ve been on an Antarctic cruise, Rhine river cruise, Hurtigruten winter voyage in Norway and (my favourite by far) the Galapagos. And I really want to do an adventure cruise in the Arctic one day, and possibly Alaska. I love being on boats, I never turn down the chance to do things like whale watching for instance, but I have to smile at the idea that your Navigator of the Seas is small. As I said before, I loved the intimacy of our 8 cabin / 16 berth Galapagos boat, and even the Rhine one was only about 30 cabins – more than enough for me!
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Hi Sarah, I agree with you that staying in a place is preferable to a hit-and-run. For us, a cruise provides the opportunity for a quick look, and a general assessment, all within the comfort and luxury of a floating hotel. When we do return to places of interest, we travel by rail and tend to stay in one place for a minimum of two to three days before moving on. Actually, given the preference I will choose train travel over cruising every time. Unfortunately, that type of travel requires huge blocks of time, which we can’t devote at this stage of life due to family obligations. One day…
We have a friend who is on the lookout for a ‘deal’ on a Galapagos tour. That destination has been a bucket list item for me for years. Fingers crossed.
Sarah, I know you love to travel and you might be interested in these folks, who seem to have found the perfect balance between DIY gritty travel and cruising. They used to live nearby and have embarked on a ten-year plan to travel the world. I find them to be interesting and informative and I think you might as well. Thanks for stopping by.
https://www.youtube.com/@RetirementTravelers
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Thank you Suzanne, I’ll certainly check out that link 🙂 And I hope you find your ideal Galapagos cruise. Our solution to the cost issue was to prioritise high quality guiding and visits to the outlying islands over comfort. Our little Angelito only had small cabins and bunk beds, but we were hardly ever in them, and the guide, food and most importantly the island visits were all absolutely wonderful! She’s been upgraded since but still seems to offer good value with a little more comfort than we had. Check her out: https://www.angelitogalapagos.com/webnw/
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Sarah, I will check out the link. I can do bunk beds in exchange for a great guide!
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Suzanne, Thank you for this post. You have great information for people who are considering their first cruise or people wanting to learn about other cruise lines. You have some great tips here and included examples of several cruise lines but I’m surprised you did not mention Viking. We’ve never been on another cruise line so I can’t compare it with the ones you mention. For years we resisted going on a cruise for many reasons with the biggest reason being we did not want to go on a giant ship with thousands of other passengers. After researching different cruise lines and talking to friends who enjoy cruising we chose Viking Ocean which has a maximum capacity of 930 passengers, all rooms have a balcony, and we really liked the itineraries.
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Hi Beth, it wasn’t intentional as I know Viking has a wonderful reputation. I just didn’t think of them since we have not cruised with that line and honestly, I always think of them as ‘River Cruise ships’ as opposed to oceanliners. The Viking Ocean sounds perfect at 930. Bigger than that and things get hectic onboard. Lots of folks seem to resist cruising because of misinformation, or one bad experience. I believe there is a cruise out there for everyone. But, it’s not the end all do all to traveling and everyone should choose what fits them best. Glad you found the post helpful. Take care.
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Suzanne,
I hate air travel, so the only way I will revisit Europe is on a cruise ship. Our friend works as a travel agent and specializes in cruises. She promised to keep us in the loop for upcoming repositioning cruises, which sounds right down my alley. I also think I would enjoy a river cruise. I will visit your links. Thanks for sharing, and great to hear from you again. Joe
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Joe, we met a German couple a few years ago who lives part-time in the US and part-time in Germany. They take a ship over in April (to Southampton or Barcelona) (when most of the repositioning cruises happen) and come back to the US in October when the ships return. I have always aspired to do that, at least once in my lifetime. I’m pretty sure I could find a few places to spend the time in between. Technically, you don’t have to wait for a repositioning cruise to travel to Europe. Cunard’s QEII goes back and forth from NY regularly.
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Thanks for the information. I’ve never been on a cruise and you’ve explained the pros and cons clearly. We don’t have plans for cruising in the immediate future but if we do decide to cruise we’ll have a framework to use to make our decision.
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Hi Ally, I’m sure if you ever decide to take a cruise you will find more information than you could possibly need to make a good decision, but I appreciate that you’d use my posts as a framework. Thanks for reading.
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I’ve only been on one cruise and I think it was in the mid range – Norwegian to Alaska. We enjoyed it for the most part but I think if I did it again, I would go on a smaller ship. For one thing, during the pandemic thousands of people were quarantined on a cruise ship in the SF Bay for weeks! We heard some real horror stories.
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Jan, I certainly would not have wanted to be stuck on a ship during the lockdown. We heard a lot of terrible stories also. I’m sure those times soured some folks from ever cruising again. We tend to like smaller ships also. To us, that means 1,000 passengers and under. Plus, I’m not into crowds of people doing silly things.
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Interesting… we have the same views re the all-inclusive tours. Not so much from the willpower point of view because I have very little of that under normal circumstances, but more from the follow your curiosity and get out and try local idea. Great post.
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Jo, I much prefer having control over my own shore excursions. Malcolm is great at ferreting out the best vendors wherever we travel. He always manages to save us money that we can put toward other priorities. I think anyone who is a savvy traveler can create their own experience for a lot less than the advertised price. My advice to first-timers would be to stick with the program. About the willpower thing……only in between cruises! Thanks for stopping by.
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Hi Suzanne, Thank you for this post. I’ll refer to it again when I think about booking a cruise. I looked into ocean cruising a while ago (pre-covid) and the choices were overwhelming so I parked the idea. Although I prefer land travel, cruising does allow us to get to places where it’s not possible by road and see the place from the water.
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Natalie, with so many choices out there it can be overwhelming. That’s why I always suggest beginning with the destination in mind and working from there. Stick with a reliable provider and read reviews carefully. I met a guy the other day who loves MSC, and Carnival but I wouldn’t board one of their ships for free. Well, maybe for free. Anyway, the point is to understand who they cater to and what the ship’s atmosphere will be like. Do they provide enrichment classes during sea days, or is it a constant party? We are in the early stage of fact-gathering for a Galapagos cruise. Lots of info to digest. Thanks for stopping by.
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Your posts are always interesting and engaging, Suzanne. Wonderful photos and I am drooling at the lobster. I am curious about your personal views since you outline pros and cons and you have had significant experience on cruises. We were on one cruise for our 15th Anniversary (30 years ago.) The Western Caribbean, 7 nights, leaving from Miami. I suspect cruising has changed a great deal since then. I am prone to getting seasick and I did get sick (half the ship did) on certain days where we stayed out at sea. Good point about being mindful of cabin location. At the moment, we are not planning to cruise (many camping trips this year). Thank you for a great, comprehensive post, as always. Nice to see your smiles in the photos, Suzanne. 💕
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Hi Erica, yes, cruising has changed a bit in thirty years. Ships are much bigger and come with a lot of (unnecessary) bells and whistles. The ship you were on is likely still in service. They seem to refurbish them and keep going. I’m surprised you haven’t done an Alaska cruise, since so many of them leave from Vancouver.
Post lots of photos from your camping trips. Or, if inspiration strikes, share a post with us about your experience! Miss your voice.
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Hi Suzanne, We used to live in the Yukon and have returned north camping/touring throughout Alaska. Always gorgeous scenery. Not sure whether you have been in that area.
At this moment I am unsure my time frame to return to blogging since I am in the middle of other projects. I visit/read my blogging friend’s posts…and I do consider them/you a friend, Suzanne. Our paths also overlap on Instagram where I occasionally post a photo and I love seeing your amazing photography. Always nice to connect.💕
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Erica, we haven’t been there, but no cruise on Earth could top camping throughout Alaska. How special that must have been. Having your priorities in order is important. I do enjoy your Instagram posts.
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Thank you so much for this wonderful, informative post, Suzanne. We’ve always been intrigued by the idea of a cruise, but our focus for so many years was solely on RV travel. I had no idea that you and Malcolm have been on so many cruises, including a transatlantic, which is definitely on my list! We are definitely not interested in enormous “party” ships and prefer a more mature crowd, but also are not interested in cruises where we have to dress in formal wear for dinner. I want gourmet food, with healthy choices. And on and on!!
It’s hard to know where to begin in sorting through all of the cruises that are available, so I appreciate you sharing your experiences. I’m making notes from your post, and I’m going to go back and read all of your other posts on your previous cruises. Thanks again, loved this!
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Laurel, dress-up evenings are a thing of the past on most ships these days. Malcolm took a jacket and wore it once on our last cruise. Most men were in long sleeve shirts and trousers. He wasn’t happy that I encouraged him to pack it.
If you find yourself with plans to visit Europe in April or October, I highly recommend a Transatlantic cruise as transportation there or back. The thing I love most about a Transatlantic is the ease of everything; quiet atmosphere, great food, casual dress code, having my meals prepared, room cleaned, developing a healthy routine…two weeks of altered reality is good for the soul.
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Thanks for the overview! I’ve been on large ships a couple of times, but I don’t think we’ll ever do that again. Too many people for my taste, and it takes too long to board and disembark at each port. I love river cruises in Europe, but haven’t done one since before Covid. We’re going on a cruise to Alaska in August, on Regent ships with about 750 passengers. I’m looking forward to it, but hoping I don’t have issues with sea-sicknesses. Our first day of travel is at sea, so that may be a bit rough!
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Hi Ann, 750 is almost double the size ship we were on. You should be fine unless the seas are really rough. I agree about the really big ships, just too much going on for a ‘relaxing’ cruise. The ease of boarding and superior hospitality at Regent is something we thoroughly enjoyed and haven’t experienced on other lines. Enjoy your Alaska cruise.
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Hi Suzanne! What an excellent post with your insights on pros and cons of your various cruises. It’s always interesting to me to hear other people’s views and the responses. Hopefully others will try cruising for the first time based on your informative post! I am leaving on Saturday on the Royal Caribbean Odyssey of the Seas transatlantic cruise with my best friend of 50+ years! We are so excited. We will have 8 relaxing days at seas and make stops in Spain, France and Italy. When we disembark in Civitavecchia we will join an 8 day tour of Italy and fly home from Milan. I have arranged excursions on our stops with Spain Day Tours and Italy Tours instead of with the cruise line as they plan for small groups. I have always loved to cruise but this will be my first TA and my friend’s first time to Europe. Traveling is good for the soul!! Thanks again for the thoughtful post!
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Carol, how I envy you on this journey. What a wonderful thing to do with your friend, and to be with her for her first time in Europe. Awesome. I think the combination of a Transatlantic and a land tour is the best of both worlds! I do hope you will write about it upon your return. Wishing you smooth seas.
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Great guide to cruising, Suzanne! I’ve never been on a cruise ship and in general don’t think it’s my cup of tea. Just the feeling of being herded to shore with heaps of other people and all doing the same thing, following the same trajectory, and being looked at as walking wallets… But, maybe I have the wrong perception. One day, if I don’t want to worry about anything and can ignore being part of the pack, I’ll try it out. 🙂
What’s a discovery traveler? Wouldn’t that be the same as an adventure traveler? So, there are cruises that gear towards the discovery traveler? I would think the ship has to be pretty small to discover new and out-of-the-way places.
Being able to eat and drink whatever you want and as much as you’d like sounds wonderful! Such an indulgence. I’d have to try that once, right? In the meantime, I’ll start saving for an Antarctic cruise out of Ushuaia.
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Hi Liesbet, a cruise ship is just a vessel that transports passengers to exciting destinations in a comfortable and convenient manner. The ship does not necessarily dictate the experience (although sometimes it can). An adventure traveler might be someone who wants to ride zip lines, go scuba diving, or hike in a rainforest, while a discovery traveler might be someone more cerebral, who wants to explore the wonders of the Galapagos Islands or visit wineries and learn about grapes that grow along the Rhine River.
In other words, there are cruises that ‘thrill’, cruises that ‘teach,’ and some that simply entertain. The latter is the one we tend to avoid. Not all cruises or cruise ships are created equally and it makes sense to know what kind of traveler you are. We have never felt trapped or herded on any of the cruises we have taken because we tend to control the way we experience the ship and each destination.
Sometimes that means getting off the ship and finding a great place to taste regional food or visit a museum to learn about local history. You don’t have to sit on a tour bus with thirty people and be bored to death, while wishing you were getting lost on the streets of a quaint village, having beautiful encounters with the locals.
Thanks for your comments. I think a lot of people have a misconception about what cruising is really like. Although, some stereotypes do ring true. The Antarctic is high on my list of places to visit. I hope we both get there someday.
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Thanks for elaborating on that, Suzanne. I appreciate it. I should not have an opinion about cruises and cruise ships until I actually experienced one! 🙂
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Liesbet, people who don’t share their opinions are very dull. You, my dear, are never dull. Thanks for your thoughts. Always…
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This is really great info, Suzanne! Having never (really) been on a cruise, I would love to take one soon. We’re interested in the Viking River Cruises in Europe. We’ve been getting the brochures in the mail. I’m bookmarking this for future reference 🙂
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Hi Terri, we have not done any of the Viking River Cruises, but we know friends who have and loved the experience. If you have not cruised before, it is probably a good place to start – small, elegant, fantastic destinations.
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Thank you! I told my hubby I liked seeing the shorelines 🙂
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Suzanne: Our 20 day cruise is a HAL Collector’s cruise-Lisbon plus 7 stops in Spain for the first leg, then multiple stops in France and Italy, plus Croatia, Corfu, Greece and Montenegro.
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Sounds heavenly. Enjoy
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Hi Suzanne, what a great post about cruising. I know there are some who will never take a cruise but Mike and I love them. We usually incorporate a cruise when we visit internationally and then add some land travel to explore in more depth. We have recently booked 3 cruises – yes 3 cruises – unheard of for us to be so spontaneous. We leave from Brisbane on June 7 for a 10 day cruise to New Guinea. We are taking a River Cruise for the first time from Amsterdam to Basel with land time in Amsterdam pre cruise and Milan post cruise. We just saw a deal for a cruise to Norway and Iceland and have booked that for June next year where we will also add land travel through England and Scotland. Cruising isn’t for everyone but I love that you only unpack once and there is always something to do within your price range. x
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Having three cruises booked must feel like heaven. Each one sounds wonderful. The Norway and Iceland destinations especially appeal to me. Right now, I am looking at an Alaska cruise in August. Haven’t booked yet, but leaning that way.
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