Who Goes Cruising?
Cruise FAQs: Is a cruise for you? | Who goes cruising? | What does it cost? |
The A-Z of cruising | Don't leave home without... | Practical Tips | What to expect
1 Isn’t cruising just for old people?
Not any more – the average age of passengers gets younger each year. Although those of silver years have found cruising to be a very safe way to travel the world in comfort, the average age of first-time passengers is now well under 40. Remember also that even old people can have fun, too, and many have more get-up-and-go than many people under 40.
On a typical cruise you’ll meet singles, couples, families with children of all ages (including single parents and grandparents), honeymooners, second- or third-time honeymooners, groups of friends, and college buddies are all passengers. In fact, today’s passengers are likely to be your next-door neighbours.
2 Won’t I get bored?
Usually, it’s the men who ask this question, but get them aboard and often there’s not enough time in the day to do all the things they want to do – as long as you choose the right ship, for the right reasons. There are more things to do aboard today’s ships than there is on almost any Caribbean island. So, whether you want to lie back and be pampered, or be active nonstop, you can do it on a cruise vacation, and you will only have to pack and unpack once. Just being at sea provides a sense of freedom that few other places can offer. And, in case you think you may feel cut off without contact, almost all large cruise ships (those carrying over 1,200 passengers) offer internet access, pay-per-view movies, digital music libraries, and ship-wide wi-fi access.
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3 Does cruising suit singles?
Yes. A cruise vacation is ideal for those traveling alone (over 25 percent of all passengers are solo travelers – worldwide, that’s over 4 million a year), because it is easy to meet other people in a noncompetitive environment. Many ships have dedicated cabins for singles and special add-on rates for single occupancy of double cabins. Some cruise lines will even find a cabin mate for you to share with, if you so desire.
However, note that in cabins with three or four berths, personal privacy doesn’t exist. Also, some companies sell two-bed cabins at a special single rate, but don’t bother to think about the fact that many people who cruise solo do so because their spouse or partner has passed on, so the last thing they want is to be in a cabin with two beds.
4 Why is it so expensive for singles to cruise?
Because it’s a couples world. Almost all cruise lines base their rates on double occupancy, as do hotels. Thus, when you travel alone, the cruise (cabin) portion of your fare reflects an additional supplement. While almost all new ships are built with cabins for double occupancy, some older ships do have single occupancy cabins (as an example, Queen Elizabeth 2 has 118 singleoccupancy cabins, while Queen Mary 2 has none).
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5 Do cruises suit honeymooners?
Absolutely. A cruise is the ideal setting for romance, for shipboard weddings (these can be arranged in some ports, depending on local regulations), receptions, and honeymoons. Most decisions are already made for you, so all you have to do is show up. Many ships have double-, queen- or king-sized beds, too. And for those on a second honeymoon, many ships perform a ‘renewal of vows’ ceremony (some charge for this).
6 And what about children?
A cruise provides families with more quality time than any other type of vacation (family cruising is the largest growth segment in the cruise industry). Activities are tailored to various age groups – even Disney has cruise ships for families. A cruise is also educational, allows children to interact in a safe, crime-free environment, and takes them to destinations in comfortable, familiar surroundings. In fact, children have such a good time aboard ship and ashore, you may have difficulty getting them home after the cruise – as long as you have chosen the right ship. And you as parents, or as a single parent, will get time to enjoy life, too. While children don’t like organized clubs, they will probably find they make new friends quickly.
If you cruise aboard one of the 10 major cruise lines, you may have tips for your children automatically added to your onboard account. NCL, for example, requests $5 per day from each child of 3–12 years, while those over 13 pay the adult rate of $10 per day.
7 Can I find a child-free ship?
If you don’t like crowds, noise, long lines, try a small ship – a sail-cruise vessel or a river or barge cruise could also provide the right atmosphere. Companies with child-free ships include P&O Cruises (Arcadia, Artemis), Saga Cruises (Spirit of Adventure, Saga Rose, Saga Ruby) and Thomson Cruises (The Calypso).
8 Can I go cruising if I’m pregnant?
Yes, but most cruise lines will not allow a mother-to-be to cruise past her 28th week of pregnancy. You may need to produce a doctor’s certificate.
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