Thinking about your first cruise? Start here.

Your first cruise doesn't need to feel complicated

If you've never cruised before, the sheer amount of choice can be a little overwhelming. Which cruise line? What size of ship? Inside or balcony cabin? Is food included? What exactly happens on a sea day? And how do you know whether a cruise that looks great online is actually right for you?

The good news is that cruising doesn't need to be complicated. Get a few key decisions right and it can be one of the easiest ways to see several destinations in one holiday.

At Port & Place Travel, we think the best place to start isn't with a particular ship or offer. It's with how you like to travel.

Start with the cruise line, not just the itinerary

It's easy to choose a cruise because you like the destinations, but the ship is a huge part of the holiday.

Different cruise lines can offer remarkably different experiences.

Some are lively and family-focused, with waterparks, entertainment and activities from morning until night. Others are quieter and more traditional. You'll also find adults-only ships, small luxury vessels and resort-style ships packed with restaurants, bars and entertainment.

Think about what you'd normally look for in a hotel or resort. Do you want lots happening around you, or somewhere quieter? Formal evenings or a relaxed atmosphere? Plenty of family facilities, or an adults-only environment?

Finding a cruise line that suits you can matter just as much as finding the right itinerary.

Where do you want to go?

One of the joys of cruising is waking up somewhere different without having to pack and unpack every few days.

The Mediterranean is a popular choice for a first cruise, particularly if you'd like to combine cities, beaches and historic destinations. The Caribbean offers sunshine and island-hopping, while Northern Europe can take you everywhere from the Norwegian fjords to some of Europe's great cities.

You can also cruise much further afield, including Alaska, Asia, Australia and beyond.

And don't automatically assume you need to fly. There are plenty of cruises departing from the UK, which can make your first experience particularly straightforward.

Choosing your cabin

You'll generally encounter four broad cabin categories: inside, oceanview, balcony and suite. An inside cabin can offer excellent value, particularly if you expect to spend most of your time exploring the ship and destinations.

Oceanview cabins add natural light, while a balcony gives you your own outdoor space. For some people, sitting outside with a coffee as the ship arrives into port becomes one of their favourite parts of cruising.

Suites offer more space and can come with additional benefits, depending on the cruise line and ship.

There isn't one cabin type that's right for everyone. Where the cabin is positioned on the ship can matter too, particularly if you're concerned about movement, noise or how far you'll need to walk.

We've put together a separate guide to choosing the right cruise cabin if you'd like to explore this in more detail.

What is actually included?

This varies considerably between cruise lines, so it's worth checking rather than assuming. Your accommodation, main dining and much of the onboard entertainment will typically be included, but drinks packages, speciality restaurants, Wi-Fi, excursions and gratuities may be additional costs.

Some cruise lines include considerably more as standard than others.

This is one reason two cruises with similar-looking headline prices aren't necessarily comparable. We always recommend looking at the overall value of the holiday, rather than the fare alone.

What happens on a sea day?

A sea day simply means the ship isn't visiting a port that day.

You can do as much or as little as you like. Depending on the ship, that could mean relaxing by the pool, visiting the spa, trying different restaurants, seeing a show, joining an activity or finding a quiet corner with a book and watching the sea go by.

On larger ships, you might actually appreciate having a sea day just to explore everything onboard.

Will I get seasick?

Modern cruise ships are designed with stabilisers that reduce movement, but conditions at sea can vary and some people are naturally more sensitive than others. If you're concerned, cabin location and itinerary can make a difference. A cabin lower down and towards the middle of the ship generally experiences less movement than one high up at either end.

Your pharmacist can also advise you about appropriate travel sickness remedies before you go.

How long should a first cruise be?

There isn't a magic number.

A short cruise of three or four nights can give you a taste of life onboard, while seven nights gives you more time to settle in and experience both the ship and several destinations.

If you're already fairly confident that cruising sounds like your kind of holiday, we wouldn't necessarily choose a very short sailing purely because it's your first.

The important thing is choosing the right cruise, rather than simply the shortest one.

Ready to find your first cruise?

There are hundreds of ships and thousands of itineraries out there. That's exciting, but it can also make choosing one surprisingly difficult.

Tell us what you enjoy on holiday, where you'd like to go, your preferred departure point and what's important to you. We'll help narrow down the options and find a cruise that actually suits you.

Travel, Personally Planned.