Sail Away: Discover which type of cruise is perfect for you!

From enormous ships packed with more restaurants and facilities than you can count to smaller ships focused on serving up luxury – ocean cruising is for everyone! You’ll never run out of things to do between stops and you’ll enjoy all the excitement of visiting lots of incredible destinations without the hassle of packing up your hotel room each time. 

Onboard facilities include – but are not limited to – casinos, pools, saunas, rock-climbing walls, ice-skating rinks, kids clubs and entertainment centres, while activities range from 4D movies, destination-based lectures and fitness and cooking classes to dining with the captain and indulging in lavish spa treatments.

Ocean cruises give you the opportunity to see the whole world, with endless possibilities at your disposal.

These days, highly competitive prices mean it now suits young families wanting a fun-filled experience as well as groups, couples and singles wishing to circumnavigate the globe in high style.

The most difficult part of ocean cruising is choosing which one to take. Do you want to shop for a bargain in Singapore, listen to the steel drums of the Caribbean, marvel at centuries-old European architecture or laze on a white-sand beach on an Asian island? With the right ocean cruise, you can do it all.

1,200 - 6,000+  PASSENGERS

90,000 - 220,000  Gross Registered Tonnes (GRT)

Think of these cruise ships as resorts at sea, where entertainment, cuisine, social activities, facilities and amenities are plentiful. Large-ship cruising offers an extensive range of entertainment and has exciting programs available for all ages and interests. Each day there is something new to do.

Benefits include:

• Plenty of daytime happenings: Days can be spent working out at the gym, indulging in a spa treatment, taking a cooking class, playing a round of mini-golf, or anything, really. Large ships are perfect for those who like to fill their days, as there is always something to do on the ship.
• Evening entertainment: Grand venues, such as casinos and nightclubs, are pumping once nightfall hits. Entertainment is world-class, with shows, live music, themed parties, comedy shows and nightclubs on offer.
• Children’s activities: If you are travelling with children, large ships are well suited due to the extent of children’s programs offered on board.
• Privacy: Many ships feature adults-only areas, should you want a bit of peace and quiet.
• Food: There is an amazing selection of restaurants and dining – from 24-hour room service to smorgasbord buffets and formal five-course dinners.

 

500 - 1,200 PASSENGERS

30,000 - 90,000 Gross Registered tonnes (GRT)

Somewhere between larger resort-style ships and small ships, mid-size ships tend to offer a premium cruise experience. You can easily find your way around, and there is still a range of activities and excursions to participate in.

Benefits include:

• Superior access: Mid-size ships are very well suited to smaller ports, due to their ease of manoeuvrability. This allows many cruise lines to operate itineraries that aren’t accessible to large or boutique ships, such as some around-the-world cruises and longer journeys that take in many exotic locales.
• Happy medium: Neither too big nor too small, the size and facilities of these ships generally strike a happy balance. You can easily find your way around, and there is still a range of activities and excursions to participate in.
• Full of variety: While mid-size ships don’t offer as wide a range of facilities as those provided on large ships, they do boast a greater variety than small ships – more than enough to keep everyone entertained, particularly when taking into account the ratio of passenger numbers to facilities.

 

River cruising is a great option if you’re more focused on the itinerary than the cruise ship and looking for a voyage with plenty of sightseeing opportunities.

Cruising through the heart of a destination, whether it’s magical Budapest in Hungary, the Nile in Egypt or the fascinating Mekong Delta in Vietnam, is a great way to observe local village life. Ships are often docked in the centre of cities and towns during stops.

Most of the actual cruising is done at night, meaning that you’ll go to sleep in one destination and wake up somewhere new. The smaller, more intimate ships used for river cruising also give passengers access to more remote destinations and, rather than days ‘at sea’, you’ll likely spend more of your days exploring the most incredible port cities and towns in the world.

Intimate, exciting and beautiful, exploring the world’s great rivers, lakes and canals offers a spectacular way to see a country up close, especially since towns and cities are often peppered along the edges of waterways.

River ships are smaller than their ocean-going sisters, offering intimacy and comfort.

They cover considerable distances, allowing you to see a great deal of the countries you are visiting. Only having to unpack once is a benefit, particularly as you are able to explore so many different cities on most cruises. Smaller vessels also allow admittance to areas larger ships cannot access.

50-500 PASSENGERS

5,000-30,000 Gross Registered Tonnes (GRT)

If you are seeking an intimate cruise experience with personalised service, a small ship holiday will probably suit you best. With small-ship cruising, you could find yourself on the deck of some of the world’s most exclusive ships – think coastal vessels, river cruise ships, sailing ships or expedition ships that take you on nature-based journeys to Antarctica and along the Amazon, for example.

Benefits include:

• Relaxation: If you enjoy a quiet, relaxed cruising experience with fewer passengers, facilities, entertainment and dining options than large ships, this will be ideal.
• Divine dining: River cruise chefs take great pride in using – and showing off – produce that’s local to the area the ship is cruising in.
• Unique experiences: Boutique and small-ship cruising is perfect for those looking for a more unique adventure or an educational journey that provides a rather intimate ambience, often with expert speakers on board.
• Spectacular service: With smaller ships and fewer passengers, the attentive and courteous staff members on board a river cruise feel more like friends.
• Engagement: Embarking on a river cruise is about immersing yourself in your surroundings, which is easy to do because of the proximity of most river cruise ports and shore excursions.
• Access to off-the-beaten-track ports: Large ships generally aren’t able to access every port. Small-ship cruising allows you to experience culturally rich and unique destinations, with exclusivity in your shore excursions.
• Easy border crossings: Visas and border patrols are taken care of, so all you have to do is enjoy the journey while someone else sees to the finer details.

Looking for a way to see the world while living the high life at the same time? Luxury cruising is the way to do it! Picture comfortable suites, spacious public areas, stylish dress codes, gourmet dining and even private butlers! With smaller passenger numbers than many other cruise ships, luxury cruising is a much more personal experience. It’s also important to know some luxury cruises come with age restrictions, so you might need to leave the kids at home. Luxury cruises sail all over the world – from the icy waters of Alaska to the Mediterranean, Middle East or Asia. Talk to your Travel Expert about luxury cruise options for your next holiday. 

With more focus on the experiences and excursions that take you off the ship, an expedition cruise is the perfect way to channel your inner Christopher Columbus as you navigate some of the most jaw-dropping natural wonders around. The smaller ships typically used for expedition cruising allow travellers to access more remote destinations, while also making for a more intimate experience at sea.

There’s no shortage of destinations available, from the icy waters surrounding Antarctica to the epic fjords of Norway and the unique nature of the Galapagos Islands. 

Generally, there are fewer passengers on board than on the larger ocean-cruising liners, with numbers starting at fewer than 50 and climbing to about 500. Smaller ships are at an advantage as their size enables them to cruise to more shallow or narrow waterways, gaining access to unique destinations.

Onshore excursion options are plentiful with this type of cruise, as travelling to destinations that are off the beaten track is essentially about exploring diverse ecological terrains and cultural wonders.

Many adventure and small ships have inflatable Zodiacs that transport passengers into the depths of the environment that is being explored. Traversing spectacular icebergs and watching wildlife, camping out on an ice-shelf or snorkelling with sea lions in the Galapagos Islands are just a few of the options available with adventure and small ship cruising.

Benefits include:

• Off-the-beaten-track destinations: Accessing fascinating places allows you to discover and learn more about your destination.
• Onboard experts: Specialist guides assist in making your cruise as wondrous as possible, with informative lectures, interactive classes and in-depth briefings all part of the inclusions.
• Responsible travel: Responsible travel is demonstrated by hiring local guides and working with local businesses.
• Discover the wild in comfort: Amenities often include state-of-the-art equipment, such as satellite navigation, medical facilities, gourmet cuisine and comfortable cabins.

Luxury cruising can be likened to an extravagant floating resort, filled with everything your heart desires. Those who appreciate a first-class travel experience will undoubtedly enjoy cruising aboard a luxury cruise liner, where spacious surroundings, art collections, flawless personal service, extra stateroom amenities, quality linens and onboard enrichment programs are just a few of the inclusions.

Cuisine is creative, fine dining is a highlight and connoisseur wines and premium spirits take centre stage on luxury cruises.

Luxury vessels can carry anywhere from 500 to 1,000 guests and offer a high passenger-space ratio. These ships sail to ports that are chosen based on what sophisticated travellers desire.

Benefits include:

• Top-quality amenities: Luxury cruise liners offer a more luxurious experience with their spas, health clubs, pools, restaurants, lounges, entertainment and casinos.
• Shore excursions in style: Whether you are exploring the Chilkoot Trail in Alaska or sipping on a fine Chianti in Florence, luxury shore excursions are always designed around comfort and service – just like your onboard experience.
• Spacious elegance: Generally, accommodation on a luxury cruise will offer more space and more features. Some rooms feature in-room spas, private balconies and 24-hour butler service.
• Fine dining at its best: Dining is understood to be an integral part of luxury cruising. Celebrated chefs design innovative menus, while the attentive staff members cater to every whim.

Why not combine your holiday and your hobby for the ultimate cruising experience? Special interest cruises are a fantastic way to celebrate a niche, see the world and meet like-minded people at the same time! From country music to comedy, literature to food, gardening, art or sport – if you can dream it, you can probably cruise it. Hear from industry experts, take part in workshops and visit destinations related to your interest. Explore Monaco on a Grand Prix cruise or sail through France on a culinary journey. Cruising solo? Special interest cruises are perfect because you’ll have something in common with the other passengers right off the bat!