According to Virgin Cruises expert Lucy Southerton, far too many people make the same blunder when booking their maiden cruise voyage. Cruising is growing increasingly popular, offering passengers the chance to explore the world without the need to fly, but while some may view it as just another holiday, the experience can feel very different — particularly on a first cruise.
As a result, careful research is essential, with experts warning first-time cruisers make beginner mistakes include overpacking, ignoring the daily planner and failing to adhere to the dress code. Lucy, 28, reveals on her Cruising as Crew YouTube channel that these passengers tend to repeat identical errors — “some obvious, some not” — when reserving an ocean getaway.
The most significant and frequently made mistake on Lucy’s list of cruising blunders involves choosing the right cruise for beginners. Until you experience it firsthand, she argues, you cannot be certain how much you will genuinely enjoy the adventure, and therefore first-time cruisers should avoid itineraries featuring too many sea days. “Ideally, you want two sea days max — and ideally not consecutive,” Lucy explains.
“The reason for this is that this is your first cruise. You don’t know if you like it yet. I can almost guarantee that if you go on a ship and you spend two, three or four days at sea, you’re probably not going to like it.”
Lucy emphasises that one of the best aspects of a cruise holiday is the opportunity to disembark and explore a variety of ports, something she says should play a major role when selecting an itinerary.
An extended ocean journey isn’t suitable for everyone, Lucy warns: “There are people who want to spend 15 days at sea, reading their book, having no internet access — and there are others who will say, ‘I can’t think of anything worse than that.’”
Among the other blunders novice cruisers can make, Lucy adds, is failing to give adequate consideration to their travel insurance.
Whilst flight delays may prove bothersome when booking a resort getaway, you can usually rest assured that you will eventually reach your hotel — albeit somewhat later than planned.
Conversely, if the flight to the port where your cruise begins is delayed, the consequences can be far more serious. In some cases, you could miss the vessel entirely and lose your holiday altogether.
For this reason, Lucy declares: “Travel insurance is a non-negotiable, in my opinion, when it comes to booking a cruise.”
She also suggests that while there are some remarkable cruises that will transport you to stunning, pristine destinations, it is often best to stick to familiar territory for your inaugural cruise experience.
“I would urge you to stick to the Mediterranean, the Caribbean and Alaska,” she advises.
“These are well-trodden routes. All of the towns and cities your cruise ship will stop at are geared up for cruises. The tour guides in those cities are used to taking cruise passengers on tours — they know the drill. This means you can just relax into it a little bit more.”
Featuring numerous additional valuable insights — including which cruise lines to choose and how to select the perfect cabin — Lucy’s channel serves as an indispensable starting point for anyone contemplating their maiden cruise holiday.
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