These are the best tips for cruise beginners

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Choose your travel destination consciously

To find a suitable cruise, you should consider several points. The most important decision is the destination. The whole world is open to crusaders, including the vast landscapes of the Arctic. Want to explore a new region or discover something familiar with a new way of traveling? The question is also very important: Do I want to travel a short distance in Europe by plane or car, or do I have to accept a long flight to get on board?

some examples

• on the Mediterranean

A true classic remains a journey through the Mediterranean offering a variety of places and cultures. Routes in the Mediterranean stretch from Spain through France, Tunisia, Italy, Greece to Turkey and Egypt. Accordingly, many ship and cruise passengers depart here – then some cities are literally swarming with tourists. The classics are routes in the Western Mediterranean, with a few stops mostly in Mallorca, Barcelona, ​​southern France and Italy. This route has the greatest competition and therefore the cheapest prices.

• Cruises from Hamburg

Hamburg is the cruise gateway for routes to the far north with the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. For example, from the Hanseatic city you can go to the picturesque fjords of Norway. Or to the wild and romantic British Isles. If you’re interested in cities, you can also book a cruise on Europe’s North Sea coast metropolises. In addition to Hamburg, this includes Rotterdam and Southampton in England.

• Expeditionary journeys – into the unknown

If you have a special spirit of adventure and want to go on an expedition to unknown lands like a true explorer, you will love the expedition. While guests enjoy the luxury on board, they also step into unique living spaces. These include, for example, Antarctica’s icebergs, polar bear hunting grounds in Spitsbergen, or bird breeding grounds in the Galapagos Islands. On an expedition, ships are usually smaller and therefore more expensive.

• Trend river cruises

Another big trend is river cruises on European and international rivers. Abroad, for example, the Nile in Egypt, the Mekong in Asia, or the Mississippi in the USA. All navigable rivers are offered in Europe. The classics are Danube, Rhone and, of course, Rhine. River cruise ships are smaller (and therefore more comfortable) and offer less pleasure than their sea brethren. River cruise passengers are usually more than 50.

Choose the right ship

The first decision on a cruise is the destination. Second, the size of the ship. From a smaller ship with up to 100 passengers to an ocean liner with a capacity of 5000 guests, there is a wide range to choose from. Of course, the number of people has a huge impact on the atmosphere while cruising. Small boutique ships usually offer a small entertainment program, while megaliners have many restaurants, pool areas, amusement parks and much more. There is also a huge difference in price. The determining factors are the quality of the staterooms (e.g. windowed-out or windowless shipboard), luxury standard and size: the smaller, the more expensive. Shore excursions are included in the price (mostly half board or all inclusive).

Find the right program

Once the desired travel destination has been determined, the next step is the itinerary. Each tour is designed individually. Depending on the destination, guests in northern Europe, for example, spend a lot of time on board. If you’re on a tour in the Mediterranean, there are some very good starting points for day trips on the mainland. It is important to decide what the focus is: do you prefer to relax on board and admire the panorama or do you prefer some action and excursions? Themed cruises are also popular: golf, hiking, cooking. But comedy, heavy metal or swinger rides are also offered. The only thing that helps is to learn more about the providers.

consider sustainability

Journeys are (often) criticized for their lack of sustainability. For this reason, some providers are now trying to operate as sustainably as possible. This varies from ship to ship. Those focused on sustainability should look to smaller companies (for example, Norwegian shipping company Havilar, which uses liquid gas and electricity). Anyone who values ​​all-round care at a minimal price is better off with a commercial provider. However, in these cases, sustainability is more difficult to implement.

Source : Blick