Which cruise suits you best?
BY READERS DIGEST
1st Jan 2015 Travel
Embarking on the wrong cruise can really cramp your style.
From speciality cruises to grand world voyages and peaceful waterways to family fun, finding the right type of cruise is like searching for your holiday soulmate.
Mini Cruise
Lasting anywhere from two to six nights, mini cruises are perfect for weekend getaways or city breaks with an exciting twist. It’s the chance for a big adventure and lots of sightseeing without any of the extended hassle. Forget airport transportation, booking hotel rooms or lugging suitcases between destinations. Simply relax into a weekend trip to Paris, spend a few days exploring the Norwegian fjords or enjoy a quick stint in the balmy Mediterranean breeze to ward off winter blues. Mini cruises are also perfect if you’re keen to try out cruising for the first time, and can help you decide whether time at sea is for you. But the mini cruise comes with a caution - cruising is addictive, you have been warned.
Expedition Cruise
From chasing the Northern Lights to exploring Antarctica or sailing the Amazon river to discovering wildlife on the Galapagos islands, expedition cruises will take you off the beaten track and far away from the tourist crowds. Expect a range of adventurous excursions such as hikes through tropical rainforests or across snowy, mountain valleys. Land on deserted beaches with Zodiacs and track whales through soaring glaciers. Travellers are often accompanied by specialists such as biologists and photographers, who lead unique land excursions and give fascinating on-board talks and seminars.
River Cruise
A river cruise is one of the most peaceful, calm and dreamy ways to explore the world. Life slows down while you’re on a river cruise, winding through the heart of bustling cities, past sleepy villages and around soaring mountains. These smaller ships often dock right in the centre of the towns and cities, giving travellers maximum time to explore each destination. Drift along the Danube to classical music or enjoy an evening of port tasting on the Douro. Retrace the journeys of ancient Egyptians along the Nile or wind through soaring emerald cliffs along China’s Yangtze.
Themed & Specialist Cruise
From ballroom dancing to wildlife-spotting, arts and crafts to cookery, golf to photography, yoga to history - whatever your special interest might be, there is a cruise out there tailored for you. Imagine a cruise ship filled with like-minded people, as you rub shoulders with industry experts, celebrities and gurus, all on hand to deliver specialist lectures, demonstrations, workshops and exclusive shore excursions. After spending time with such a talented bunch, you’re bound to come home an expert.
Group Cruise
Travelling together to a new part of the world is a unique and unforgettable way to celebrate a special occasion with friends and loved ones. Perhaps you’re simply holidaying with a large family group, or maybe you want to celebrate an important milestone, such as a reunion, anniversary or wedding, a little bit differently this time around. You'll find renowned experts in group travel and cruise holidays who can negotiate the best group cruise rates and amenities for you, directly through the cruise lines and can also organise customised experiences for your group whilst at sea, such as parties, group shore excursions and private events.
Around the World Cruise
A World Cruise is one of life’s ultimate travel experiences; grand voyages that offer a full-circumnavigation experience and bring the whole wide world to your doorstep. Ranging anywhere between 70-125 days, you wake up each morning to a new destination as you dip across the globe and retrace the routes of history’s greatest explorers. Most World Cruises are also sold in pieces or “segments.” Travellers can pick and choose the regions they want to explore, and then skip the segments in between, either flying home or venturing away and inland at a specific destination. They can then re-join the cruise adventure at any stage, in any port around the world.
Family Cruise
Your first port of call for a family-friendly cruise is probably Disney. On board one of these magical ships you’ll find Princess and Disney character meet-n-greets, deck parties and family-friendly musical shows and movies. Many other cruise lines are just as family-focused however, such as Carnival Cruises who have a partnership with Dr. Seuss, and offer various Seuss-themed events on board for the whole family to enjoy. Most cruise lines also have fun kid’s clubs and crèches, as well as night nurseries and babysitting services, and adults-only areas for parents wanting a little bit of alone time.
To discuss tailored insurance cover for your cruise or to receive a quote thats tailored to your individual needs, get in touch with our travel insurance partners - Holiday Extras on 0800 093 1900, quoting AZ594, or visit their website.