If it’s here, it’s worth doing. Fodor’s travel experts provide know-how, insights, and reviews to make the most of your cruise.
Our expert insights and detailed reviews make finding the perfect cruise a breeze, whether you’re looking for a luxurious escape or a budget-friendly adventure. We cover everything from the best cruise lines and ships to top destinations and onboard activities. Every recommendation is based on thorough research and firsthand experience, ensuring you’ll always have an unforgettable cruise vacation.
Our Cruise & Ship Reviews
- A-ROSA
- Abercrombie & Kent
- Alaska Dream Cruises
- AmaWaterways
- American Cruise Lines
- American Queen Voyages
- Aranui
- Aurora Expeditions
- Avalon Waterways
- Azamara Club Cruises
- Carnival Cruise Lines
- Celebrity Cruises
- Celestyal Cruises
- Costa Cruises
- Cruise and Maritime Voyages
- Crystal
- Cunard Line
- Disney Cruise Line
- Emerald Cruises
- Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
- Grand Circle Travel
- Hapag-Lloyd Cruises
- Holland America Line
- Hurtigruten
- Iceland ProCruises
- Imperial River Cruises
- Kontiki Expeditions
- Lindblad Expeditions
- Lüftner Cruises
- Margaritaville at Sea
- MSC Cruises
- Norwegian Cruise Line
- Oceania Cruises
- P&O Cruises
- Paul Gauguin Cruises
- Ponant
- Princess Cruises
- Quark Expeditions
- Regent Seven Seas Cruises
- Riverside Luxury Cruises
- Royal Caribbean International
- Saga Cruises
- Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours
- Seabourn Cruise Line
- SeaDream Yacht Club
- Silversea Cruises
- Star Clippers
- Swan Hellenic
- Tauck World Discovery
- The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
- Un-Cruise Adventures
- Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
- Viking
- Virgin Voyages
- Windstar Cruises
- Admiralty Dream
- Adonia
- Adventure of the Seas
- Alaskan Dream
- Allure of the Seas
- AmaBella
- AmaCello
- AmaCerto
- AmaDante
- AmaDara
- AmaDolce
- AmaKristina
- AmaLucia
- AmaLyra
- AmaMora
- AmaPrima
- AmaSonata
- AmaVerde
- AmaVida
- American Glory
- American Melody
- Amsterdam
- Aranui 3
- Aranui V
- Arcadia
- Aurora
- Avalon Affinity
- Avalon Angkor
- Avalon Artistry II
- Avalon Creativity
- Avalon Expression
- Avalon Felicity
- Avalon Luminary
- Avalon Panorama
- Avalon Scenery
- Avalon View
- Avalon Visionary
- Avalon Vista
- Azamara Journey
- Azamara Onward
- Azamara Pursuit
- Azamara Quest
- Azura
- Balmoral
- Baranof Dream
- Black Watch
- Boudicca
- Braemar
- Brilliance of the Seas
- Caribbean Princess
- Carnival Breeze
- Carnival Conquest
- Carnival Dream
- Carnival Ecstasy
- Carnival Elation
- Carnival Fantasy
- Carnival Fascination
- Carnival Freedom
- Carnival Glory
- Carnival Horizon
- Carnival Imagination
- Carnival Inspiration
- Carnival Jubilee
- Carnival Legend
- Carnival Liberty
- Carnival Magic
- Carnival Mardi Gras
- Carnival Miracle
- Carnival Paradise
- Carnival Pride
- Carnival Sensation
- Carnival Spirit
- Carnival Sunshine
- Carnival Triumph
- Carnival Valor
- Carnival Victory
- Carnival Vista
- Celebrity Apex
- Celebrity Beyond
- Celebrity Edge
- Celebrity Reflection
- Celebrity Xpedition
- Celestyal Journey
- Century
- Chichagof Dream
- Constellation
- Coral Princess
- Costa Atlantica
- Costa Classica
- Costa Delziosa
- Costa Fascinosa
- Costa Favolosa
- Costa Fortuna
- Costa Luminosa
- Costa Magica
- Costa Mediterranea
- Costa Pacifica
- Costa Romantica
- Costa Serena
- Costa Smeralda
- Costa Victoria
- Costa Voyager
- Crown Princess
- Crystal Serenity
- Crystal Symphony
- Cunard Queen Anne
- Dawn Princess
- Diamond Princess
- Discovery Princess
- Disney Dream
- Disney Fantasy
- Disney Magic
- Disney Wish
- Disney Wonder
- Eclipse
- Emerald Azzurra
- Emerald Luna
- Emerald Princess
- Emerald Sun
- Enchantment of the Seas
- Equinox
- Eurodam
- Europa 2
- Evrima
- Explorer of the Seas
- Freedom of the Seas
- Golden Princess
- Grand Princess
- Grandeur of the Seas
- Icon of the Seas
- Independence of the Seas
- Infinity
- Insignia
- Island Princess
- Jewel of the Seas
- Koningsdam
- L’Austral
- Le Boréal
- Le Bougainville
- Le Lyrial
- Le Ponant
- Le Soléal
- Legend of the Seas
- Liberty of the Seas
- Maasdam
- Majesty of the Seas
- Marco Polo
- Margaritaville at Sea Islander
- Marina
- Mariner of the Seas
- Millennium
- Misty Fjord
- MS Amadeus Brilliant
- MS Amadeus Classic
- MS Amadeus Diamond
- MS Amadeus Elegant
- MS Amadeus Princess
- MS Amadeus Royal
- MS Amadeus Silver
- MS Amadeus Symphony
- MS Fridtjof Nansen
- MS Roald Amundsen
- MS Santa Cruz II
- MS Spitsbergen
- MS Swiss Emerald
- MS Swiss Jewel
- MS Swiss Sapphire
- MS Treasures
- MSC Armonia
- MSC Divina
- MSC Euribia
- MSC Fantasia
- MSC Lirica
- MSC Magnifica
- MSC Musica
- MSC Opera
- MSC Orchestra
- MSC Poesia
- MSC Seascape
- MSC Sinfonia
- MSC Splendida
- MSC World Europa
- National Geographic Endeavor II
- National Geographic Explorer
- National Geographic Islander II
- National Geographic Quest
- National Geographic Venture
- Navigator of the Seas
- Noordam
- Norwegian Bliss
- Norwegian Breakaway
- Norwegian Dawn
- Norwegian Encore
- Norwegian Epic
- Norwegian Gem
- Norwegian Getaway
- Norwegian Jade
- Norwegian Jewel
- Norwegian Joy
- Norwegian Pearl
- Norwegian Prima
- Norwegian Sky
- Norwegian Spirit
- Norwegian Star
- Norwegian Sun
- Norwegian Viva
- Oasis of the Seas
- Ocean Adventurer
- Ocean Diamond
- Ocean Princess
- Ocean Victory
- Oceana
- Oceania Riviera
- Oceania Vista
- Odyssey of the Seas
- Oriana
- Ovation of the Seas
- Pacific Princess
- Paul Gauguin
- Prinsendam
- Quantum of the Seas
- Queen Elizabeth
- Queen Mary 2
- Queen Victoria
- Quest for Adventure
- Radiance of the Seas
- Reflection
- Regal Princess
- Regatta
- Regent Seven Seas Mariner
- Rhapsody of the Seas
- River Ambassador
- River Baroness
- River Beatrice
- River Countess
- River Duchess
- River Empress
- River Princess
- River Queen
- River Royale
- River Tosca
- River Victoria
- Riverside Mozart
- Rotterdam
- Royal Clipper
- Royal Princess
- Ruby Princess
- Ryndam
- S.S. La Venezia
- Safari Voyager
- Saga Sapphire
- Sapphire Princess
- Scarlet Lady
- Scenic Crystal
- Scenic Eclipse
- Sea Princess
- Seabourn Encore
- Seabourn Odyssey
- Seabourn Ovation
- Seabourn Quest
- Seabourn Sojourn
- SeaDream I
- SeaDream II
- Serenade of the Seas
- Seven Seas Explorer
- Seven Seas Mariner
- Seven Seas Navigator
- Seven Seas Splendor
- Seven Seas Voyager
- SH Diana
- Silhouette
- Silver Cloud
- Silver Discoverer
- Silver Explorer
- Silver Moon
- Silver Muse
- Silver Nova
- Silver Shadow
- Silver Spirit
- Silver Whisper
- Silver Wind
- Sirena
- Solstice
- Splendour of the Seas
- Star Breeze
- Star Clipper
- Star Flyer
- Star Legend
- Star Pride
- Star Princess
- Statendam
- Summit
- Sun Princess
- Sylvia Earle
- Tere Moana
- Ultramarine
- Valiant Lady
- Veendam
- Ventura
- Viking Aegir
- Viking Atla
- Viking Baldur
- Viking Bragi
- Viking Douro
- Viking Egdir
- Viking Embla
- Viking Emerald
- Viking Fjorgyn
- Viking Fontane
- Viking Forseti
- Viking Freya
- Viking Hermod
- Viking Hlín
- Viking Idun
- Viking Ingvar
- Viking Ingvi
- Viking Jarl
- Viking Kara
- Viking Legend
- Viking Magni
- Viking Mandalay
- Viking Mekong
- Viking Neptune
- Viking Neptune
- Viking Njord
- Viking Octantis
- Viking Odin
- Viking Osiris
- Viking Prestige
- Viking Pride
- Viking Radgrid
- Viking Rinda
- Viking Schumann
- Viking Skadi
- Viking Sky
- Viking Spirit
- Viking Sun
- Viking Tor
- Viking Truvor
- Viking Var
- Viking Venus
- Vision of the Seas
- Volendam
- Voyager of the Seas
- Wayra
- Westerdam
- Wilderness Legacy
- Wind Spirit
- Wind Star
- Wind Surf
- Wonder of the Seas
- Zaandam
Cruising 101
Cruising 101
You’ve decided you’d like to set out on a cruise vacation.
With something for just about everyone, cruises cater to all kinds of travelers—rest assured, the perfect fit is just waiting for you, once you know just where (and how) to look. Once you’ve made your match and have properly planned and prepped, you’ll be ready to set sail, and you’ll be free to do as much or as little as you please on board. Off the ship, there’s always a new destination to explore just over the horizon. Sailing away on the ship of your dreams is more affordable—and enjoyable—than ever before, and this Cruising 101 guide is just the resource you need, whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned cruise vet, to help you on your way.
Once you know you want to take a cruise, the choices you face can seem endless. Where to begin? By doing research and learning more about cruise travel, you’ll be able to make informed decisions and properly plan your trip—advance planning is the only true way to avoid disappointment and ensure that you spend your money and precious vacation time wisely. This Cruising 101 primer comes jam-packed with advice, tips, and strategies that will help you answer questions and make the right choices so that the cruise adventure you select will be stress-free, fun-filled, value-packed, and the very best fit to realize your idea cruise.
Choosing Your Ship
In cruising, one size definitely does not fit all. What’s appealing to one passenger may be unacceptable to another. The ship you pick will determine the type of accommodations you’ll have, what kind of food you’ll eat, what style of entertainment you’ll see, and even the destinations you’ll visit. If you don’t enjoy your ship, you probably won’t enjoy your cruise. The most important factors you’ll need to consider when booking a cruise are the size of the ship, the type of cruise line, and your cabin.
Planning Your Cruise
When planning for a cruise vacation, what do most potential passengers want to know? First and foremost, figuring out the costs associated with cruising is a biggie, like what’s included in the fares (and what’s not), and how to save money on bookings. Then there’s the decision of whether to go it alone and book your cruise online or to use a trusted travel agent to seal the deal. Finally, there are specific considerations for cruisers with special interests and lifestyles who are looking to pin down their perfect cruise vacation match.
Before You Depart
Some of the things you’ll need to do before your cruise take time—for instance, obtaining travel insurance and the proper documents; other details, like packing, may seem relatively simple, but can expand in significance if you leave them all for the last minute. You’ll sleep better if you plan ahead. By breaking your preparation down into manageable chunks, you’ll have plenty of time to get ready and won’t be frazzled as your cruise date approaches. It’s much easier to leave your worries behind on the dock when you plan with care.
Life On Board
With the planning, packing, and anticipation behind you, finally embarking on your ship can be exhilarating—though it can also be slightly intimidating if you’re still learning the ropes. There will be a lot happening around you, and it will all be new. Not to fret: while procedures may differ slightly from cruise line to cruise line, once you understand the process and know what to expect, you can just go with the flow. After the check-in and boarding process is complete, the fun and relaxation really begin. Think of the ship as your first destination, a movable port of call, and keep in mind that most of today’s larger cruise ships have the same basic arrangements and share the same ultimate goal—for you to have a safe, enjoyable, and memorable vacation on board!
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