Retiremove’s Cruise Editor KEITH SAVIDGE offers you the kind of holiday advice you won’t get anywhere else
If you have never been on a cruise holiday before the first question you need to ask yourself is: Why would I choose a cruise and what are the considerations? I must say that in all the years that I have been going on cruises, I have never heard anyone say: ‘Never again!’
A second more common question is: Will I get seasick? Most people don’t get ill at all even in choppy seas. If you are worried choose a big ship. The nearer the centre and the lower the deck you are, the least likely you are to get ill.
If you are really worried, speak to your pharmacist before you go – as there are plenty of good products on the market that will prevent or certainly reduce sea sickness.
My four top tips before you book
1. Buy the latest edition of The Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships. The guide grades every single cruise ship and tells you the good, the bad and even the ugly. The 2014 edition is out now. We have one to give away if you would like to enter our prize draw. Just email us at info@retiremove.co.uk, making your subject ‘Berlitz cruise guide prize draw’ with your full postal address no later than 15 December 2013.
2. Don’t rely on advice from friends and contacts who have only ever sailed with one cruise line. Admittedly there are some limited loyalty advantages of staying with the same company, but more often than not, loyal guests can have a blinkered approach to their preferred cruise line and no idea of what other ones have to offer. And be wary of taking advice from people who have never been on a cruise at all!
4. If you have never been on a cruise ship, but have a serious interest in booking a cruise, a number of travel companies organise ship visits. I have often been on these as it is a great opportunity to sample the food, inspect the facilities and cabins and get a feel of what it is like on board before you book.
The cost per person is usually about £25, but that includes a welcome drink; a very short presentation; a tour of the whole ship, including a visit to each variety of accommodation and ending with lunch and wine. They usually last about four hours, starting at about 10am.
Will it be claustrophobic on a ship with all those people?
The only time it’s busy on board is on the very first day – and then only for the first few hours. This is because the cabins are not ready for occupation and some areas of the ship are out of use while they are being cleaned, which means everyone is confined to certain areas. However when everyone has dispersed you’ll wonder where everyone has gone! Rest assured that any modern cruise ship has more than enough space to handle the number of passengers it can carry.
What kind of people will I meet?
Cruises tend to attract retirees as they have the time (and money) to enjoy leisurely holidays at sea. It’s also nice to mingle with people of your own generation. My wife and I are very sociable and have made many friends through cruising and met a lot of diverse and interesting folk from self-made multi-millionaires through to arty and creative types. However, if you don’t fancy sitting with the same group of people for a week or two, just ask for a table for two when you book or ask to sit on a large table when there is a better chance of meeting a mix of like-minded people.
Is a cruise holiday really expensive?
More often than not, and particularly if you sail from a British port, the cost per day is far cheaper than a hotel, with the added bonus that all your meals, professional entertainment, and use of the ship’s facilities such as swimming pools and gym are included.
Most of the larger liners have additional speciality/fine dining restaurants which are either complimentary or attract an additional nominal charge. You should budget for extras such as wine and alcoholic drinks but soft drinks are free. All the food is always of an excellent standard.
You will also be amazed at the quantity and quality of activities and entertainment, both during the day and at night; with many ships offering live cabaret, casinos, West End style shows and numerous late night bars and discos. Expect plenty of wow factor in the designs of modern ships too, particular in the communal areas. The above photographs is of the atrium on P&O Cruises ship Adonia. You do need to budget for guided tours though. All cruise companies offer them in each port but usually charge extra.
Will I put on weight?
Almost certainly unless you are very restrained and go to the (free) gym every day. The best thing is to try and lose some weight before your holiday or bring clothes with elasticated waists. Remember on most cruise liners you can eat free of charge 24 hours a day!
Tipping
Most ships charge an additional “per person, per day” gratuity which is automatically added to your bill. If you don’t want to show your appreciation this way just visit the Guest Relations desk and ask for it not to be added. Most cruise companies tend to treat the tips as part of the crew’s salary, so it is appreciated if you tip the appropriate staff directly.
Which itinerary shall I choose?
Historically, cruise ships used to follow the sun, which for British guests means the Mediterranean is best during the summer and the Caribbean in winter. However with the increase number of cruise ships the list of destinations is endless. there’s lots of flexibility too with some companies letting you stop off for a few days at the beginning or end of your trip which means you can extend your holiday. There are very few parts of the world you cannot visit on a cruise. The above photo shows one of the many Mediterranean routes you can select if you sail with Cunard.
A cruise holiday is a wonderful way to get a snapshot of a city or country that you would never consider visiting for a two-week holiday – even if it’s only for a day. As an example, a cruise from say Hong Kong to Beijing via Japan will allow a brief visit to so many interesting places and sites that you would never otherwise see. It is also a great way to suss out a place that you may want to return to in the future.
If you are a cruising novice, all cruise ships offer guided tours in each port which usually cost extra. Nearly every ship offers a shuttle bus to the nearest town centre if it’s not within walking distance and you don’t have to join an organised tour.
A good tip is to research the ports of call before you start your holiday so you have a good idea of what you would like to see. And always pack a pair of binoculars and comfortable walking shoes along with your guide book.
If you want a relaxing holiday you should think about choosing an itinerary with more days spent at sea. Some Mediterranean cruises stop at a different port every day; getting up early each morning to eat breakfast before embarking on a tour can be very tiring. The other extreme is a transatlantic crossing say from London to New York which offers just one stop and 7-10 days at sea.
I would recommend an itinerary where the sun is guaranteed to shine for your first cruise holiday which would probably be a seven-night holiday where you fly to meet the ship such as to Miami to explore the Caribbean islands; so you can experience sparkling seas, glorious sunsets and warm balmy evenings on deck.
My favourite cruise holidays
Most interesting cruise For visiting cities and places where you would not necessarily spend a full two week holiday I would recommend the itinerary from Hong Kong to Beijing with the Regent Seven Seas Cruise Company. Currently the website is offering a 15 night trip from 6 March 2014 for £5,229 calling in on some incredible places you probably never even knew existed. The price includes business class flights, unlimited shore excursions, ground transfers and all meals even in speciality restaurants. The itinerary is below.
What to see in Hong Kong: The Peak Tram; Stanley (floating) Market; Temple Street Night Market; Ngong Pin cable car and Nathan Road
What to see in Beijing: The Great Wall of China; Tiananmen Square; The Forbidden City; Olympic Stadium; The Fake (multi-storey) Market and The Temple of Heaven
What to see in Shanghai: The Bund (architecture); Nanjing Road (shopping); Yu Yuan gardens; Zhujiajiao Village (Chinese Venice); Shanghai Theatre acrobats and Tianzifang Street for just people watching.
I would thoroughly recommending booking a tour to see The Terracotta Warriors and a mini cruise on The Yangtze River (Three Gorges).
Best cruise for wining, dining and be pampered is a transatlantic crossing from Europe to the Caribbean (autumn) or Caribbean to Europe (spring) on Seadream. Seadream is an all-inclusive yacht (but with no sails.)
This fine dining and service is second to none and is excellent value. With just over 100 passengers, the staff will know your surname and drink preferences by the end of your first day on board. There are no balconies – the ship is your balcony – there’s even a golf simulator where you can not only practice your putting but play on many of the most famous golf courses in the world.
Probably the most scenic cruise, provided you add a seven day “land cruise” is Alaska.
To witness the “calving” of the glaciers; the stunning scenery, together with the fact that at most ports, the cruise terminal is literally in the high street, makes it a cruise that you will never forget.
Great cruise lines for this holiday are: Regent Seven Seas; Silverseas; Oceania and Celebrity.
May I commend that you book the “land-tour” first as the days can be early starts so you can relax on the rest of the cruise.
Must be seen in Alaska: The McKinley Explorer (train ride); Denali National Park; aeroplane ride round Mount McKinley; a boat trip on The Yukon River; Dawson City (an original cowboy town) is a must; pan for your own gold – you will find some and travel the White Pass Scenic Railway.
Which cruise company should I choose?
You should use the same criteria when choosing your cruise company and ship as you would to book a hotel. If you like five-star hotels, you may be very happy with a four-star star ship, but if in any doubt, choose a five-star one. If your budget is more a two-star hotel you will certainly be delighted with a three-star ship. Peel through the pages of the Berlitz Guide for a detailed breakdown.
Which ship should I choose?
If you choose to go on one of the larger ships e.g. 1,500 passengers or more, Cunard has some of the most stunning ships at sea. This is the top flight cruise line if you are looking for a traditional style of holiday on board one of the three queens; Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria. If you choose to book a suite you get privileged access to certain fine-dining restaurants. The class system is alive and kicking on Cunard. However, if you prefer to be on a more egalitarian big ship consider Celebrity.
For medium-sized ships e.g. 500 and 1500 passengers, Crystal and Regent Seven Seas are among my favourites.
And for smaller ships e.g. 200 and 500, the most frequent award winners are Seabourn, closely followed by SilverSeas.
There are also much smaller ships of between 50 and 200 passengers. Seadream has two yachts (Seadream I and Seadream II) and to all intents and purposes, they are identical. This is my favourite ship, but is closely followed Sea Cloud. Most of the ships in this category are referred to as yachts – but not all have sails.
I have cruised on all these ships and apart from my obvious favourite of Seadream (pictured left). It’s very hard to choose between the rest – as very simply, they are all different. It is a sad fact that the more expensive the cruise – the nicer the people you meet. Seadream stands out because with just over 100 people, you simply get the best personal service.
The food is always stunning. However it boasts a ‘large bath’ rather than a swimming pool, limited entertainment and relatively small cabins and bathrooms. The trade off is that it can visit some of the smaller places that the larger ships cannot go. It may mean less choice of tours, but also fewer people disembarking and fewer tourists. It’s probably as close as you will get to sailing on a private luxury yacht!
If you like entertainment go for a big ship which will have lots of choice including two theatres. If you are a foodie the smaller the ship, the better the food. However, larger and medium size ships nearly all have “speciality restaurants” where it is possible to enjoy finer food if you pay extra.
Choice of cabin:It can be very confusing nowadays for the first time cruiser, as many cruise companies describe all their accommodation as suites or staterooms. Generally there are just four categories of accommodation:
Inside cabin (with no view – although there are some exceptions)
Outside cabin (with a large picture window, although occasionally, just a port-hole)
An Outside Cabin with a balcony
Suites – which offers a separate seating area with a balcony
When viewing the brochure, it can be particularly confusing choosing a cabin as there can be up to 20 different prices. Cabins in each category tend to be identical in size (except for suites); the price variation depends on where they are. Pictured above is an oceanview stateroom on board Cunard’s Queen Victoria.
When to book:
Booking “early” is usually when the cruise is first released. Not always, but this can give some really good bargains. More importantly, it gives you a total choice of cabin description, location and destination. The big plus with booking early is guaranteeing to get the cabin and itinerary what you want.
Booking “late” is best described as within 90 days of departure. You may have to be a little flexible with dates and destinations but can provide you with better discounts.
I have actually booked a five-star ship within three days of the sailing date at a cost of just $55 per person per day for an Ocean View Cabin.
Negotiating the best fare
Negotiating discounts are nigh on impossible with cruise companies but if you are booking with an agent the secret is to ask for “on-board credit” or “free parking.” You will have more success asking for an ‘added value’ extra than money off the fare.
And when on board, never suffer in silence if you have a problem. Complaining at the time will always bring ‘added value’ benefits.
If you know the holiday you want and are keen to secure the best cabin leave your details with someone like www.cruiseline.co.uk and they will ensure you receive the early brochure as soon as it comes in.
I also use an excellent American-based web-site called:
In my opinion, it probably has the best search engine for finding cruises and almost certainly, some of the best last-minute deals. If you don’t buy your cruise through them, I would certainly use their web-site to compare prices. I have booked many cruise holidays through them online – and have never had a problem.
If you prefer to book through a British based company I would recommend:
Telephone: 0800 008 6677 from a landline or 01273 836600 from a mobile
They provide excellent customer service and will also assist with pre or post hotel stays – and even flights.
www.cruisecritic.co.uk offers over 100,000 cruise reviews to help you choose the best holiday
How to complain
Whatever you do, if you have a problem don’t wait until you get home – resolve it straight away on board. That is what the crew are there for.
Don’t complain to your cabin steward – as he or she doesn’t have the power to either put matters right – or compensate you for what has gone wrong. Make an appointment to see the manager in his/her office.
Avoid meeting in your cabin. While all cabins are sound-proofed a raised and angry voice could penetrate to the adjoining cabins.
Avoid being a consistent and petty complainer – and in truth, although they would not admit it, there are always ways of them paying you back. You don’t want your luggage dumped on the quayside after you have disembarked at the end of your voyage do you?
For individual cruise line websites see below:
