How To Tell If A Cruise is Right For You

Since I was a child, I’ve heard about how wonderful cruises can be. Filled with travel, relaxation and a touch of the finer things in life, a cruise really seemed to be the perfect fit for me. So, when my husband and I found a great deal to visit the stunning Norwegian Fjords by cruise ship, we jumped at the chance. I was so excited to experience my first time on the open waters, living out my Christopher Columbus explorer dreams, but what I soon found out, is that the cruise life wasn’t exactly all I’d dreamed it to be.

If you ask an avid cruiser if you should go on a cruise, their answer would be a resounding, one-hundred percent yes. There are a large group of people who really enjoy what going on a cruise has to offer. They actually often book their next cruise while still on the current one. On the flip side, you might ask someone who has had a bad cruising experience the same question and they’ll tell you to avoid it at all costs.

This article will help you find the answer to the question, “Is a cruise the right fit for me?”. This is the article I wish I had read before booking my first cruise experience and I hope it will help you have a clearer idea on if cruising is your dream getaway or something you’d rather avoid.

The answer depends on what kind of traveller you are, what kind of food you like to eat, if you enjoy large crowds or group tours and how involved you like to get in the local life of the places you visit. My controversial opinion is that cruises are not really made for the travel adventure lover, but more for the leisurely travellers that like to take it easy, have everything planned out for them and prefer a small taste of local life in other countries, rather than deep diving into the local heart of where they are visiting.

What Type of Traveller Are You?

If you are the type of traveller that loves spending most of your holiday at the pool, drink in one hand and book in the other, then the cruise life may appeal to you. There are, of course shore excursions that you can book through the cruise ship for when you are in port, but because cruising to destinations can take a few days, you will be spending a lot of time onboard the ship.

There are many entertainment options for guests to choose from on the bigger, more modern cruise ships, but most of the days spent at sea will be spent lazing around the many seating areas onboard. You will also be spending all of your nights on board the ship, and you'll eat most of your meals on the cruise ship, too.

However, if you’re a traveller like me, your vacation itinerary is always packed full of local history, food and experiences. When my husband and I travel, we love to take a stroll through the bustling town streets at night, taste local flavours and chat to local people about life in their country, so the in-out rush of port stops during our Norwegian Fjords cruise, left us feeling like we hadn’t experienced much of local Norway life at all.

How Do You Feel About Big Crowds?

Today’s modern cruise liners are often very big and can accommodate thousands of guests and often have up to 2000 crew members, too. Although the ships themselves are very big, with lots of room to roam about, meal times with thousands of other guests can feel very overwhelming.

We did not enjoy sharing the restaurants on board our cruise with 5000 other guests. I don’t enjoy large crowds at all, and unfortunately didn’t prepare myself properly for the vast amounts of other guests that were sharing the ship with us. Although they are more on the pricier side, there are smaller, more luxury-style cruise ships that would probably be a better fit for you if big crowds make you uncomfortable.

Are You Happy with Group Tours?

The ship you cruise with will offer you the chance to purchase some onshore activities and excursions with them. These activities are usually more expensive when booked through the cruise line, so we decided to book our on-shore excursions ourselves through local activity providers. If you do decide to book your activities through the cruise ship, you will most likely be joined by a large group of fellow passengers on your tours, which often involves traveling together on a coach or bus to reach the sight or sights you are visiting. If you prefer a smaller, more intimate feel, I would definitely suggest booking your activities on shore yourself, or just head out from the port and do a bit of your own exploring!

How Pampered do you Want to Feel?

One thing that we did really enjoy on our cruise was the effort that the staff made to make us feel spoiled, pampered and catered for. Our cabin staff knew us by name and always greeted us with a warm smile. The restaurant waitstaff were also very attentive and helpful. This level of service is promoted on most cruise ships, which makes cruises a great option if you are looking for a holiday to unwind and relax.

Cruise ships often have spas, which offer massages, facials and saunas, where you could definitely take a moment to destress from everyday life. There will most likely be many swimming pools or hot tubs on the outside decks to soak in, too. On standard cruise ships the level of service beats hotels of the same level and the same will be true with luxury cruises far outweighing luxury hotels when it comes to service and feeling pampered.

Do You Enjoy Eating Local Food?

As I said before, most of your meals with be on board the ship, with lunches being your best time to try some local dishes during your port stops. If you enjoy tasting the local flavours and eating traditional food of the places you visit, cruising may not be the best option for you. Cruise ships tend to cater to the western diet of steakhouses, Italian dishes, fish and chips, roasts and burgers. The food on offer on the ship will probably have little to do with the place you’re visiting, so if you’re definitely not okay with skipping the local flavours, maybe booking a flight would be a better option.

A bonus question to ask would be how much time do you want to spend in your chosen destination? Travelling by cruise is very slow compared to taking a flight. We spent two nights and a full day at sea before making our first port stop when we travelled from Southampton Port in the UK to Stavanger in Norway. A flight from our closest airport to Bergen, which is right in the heart of the Norway Fjordland, would take just over four hours. This means that you could spend one or two more days (or even more if you’re on longer cruises!) getting to really know and love your chosen destination if you choose to fly in, rather than cruise.

Cruising isn’t something that I would do again, but there is a large group of people in the world that absolutely love it. Whether you’re looking for your next travel adventure or just need some well-deserved time away, I hope this article has helped you decide if a cruise is the right fit for you. If you decide it’s a yes, please let me know how your experience went and maybe you can try and change my mind!