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(image by Ben Hall)
Whether you are looking for a singles cruise, luxury ocean liner or family friendly holiday, travel expert Joanna Hall, the author of Cruising, points you in the right direction.
You’ve browsed your 10th website, and yet dozens of questions continue to zip through your brain. Where should I go? Will I get bored? And perhaps the most pressing question of all: will everyone on this type of holiday be the same age as my parents, or worse, my grandparents?
I am talking about the world of ocean cruising, an exotic vacation on the high seas where you only have to unpack once, while effortlessly visiting a variety of different places, even countries, on a single trip.
If you are considering a cruise holiday, you’re not alone. Each year increasing numbers of Australians are discovering its many pleasures and benefits; in fact, it’s one of the fastest-growing sectors of the travel industry.
The new age of cruising
Forget any latent memories of the hit seventies TV series, The Love Boat, however. Cruising has undergone a renaissance in the past decade; typical passengers are no longer wealthy widows with blue hair.
According to statistics from the US, the average age of cruising has fallen dramatically, thanks to an increase in family-friendly vessels, and ships which have ditched stuffy old traditions, such as black tie nights and Captain’s dinner parties, and are truly resorts which happen to float.
Another benefit of cruising is that it can be exceptional value for money; most offer packages including flights, meals and entertainment, and at the luxury end, they also include all alcohol. And with today’s cruise ships ranging from expedition to six-star, there’s something to suit all budgets and tastes.
With so many options, however, choosing the right ship, and where to cruise, can be a daunting prospect – especially for “newbies”.
So here’s my top pick for some specific types of holidays:
1. Best for Honeymooners: undoubtedly the Paul Gauguin, a luxurious boutique ship, which plies the tropical waters of exotic Tahiti year round.
Named after one of France’s most famous artists, this French-accented ship carries only 320 guests in ocean view suites, 70 per cent of which have private balconies.
Another romance option is Ponant Cruises, which has five intimate yacht-like ships cruising the Mediterranean, the Persian Gulf, South America, Asia and the Caribbean.
2. Best for Family Reunions and Young Families: Royal Caribbean International has an impressive fleet of 20 modern ships navigating the world’s great oceans. They range from big, to the world’s biggest ship, Oasis of the Seas, which carries a whopping 5,400-plus guests. These ships offer something for everyone in the family, especially kids, including multiple dining options, kid clubs, activities for seniors, and plenty of sports facilities.
Local operator, P&O Australia, also has three great all-rounder ships, offering departures from Sydney, Brisbane, Fremantle, Newcastle and Auckland. A new ship, the Pacific Pearl, will be joining the fleet later this year.
3. Best for Adventure: CruiseWest is an expedition line in the true sense of the word, with 10 intimate ocean-going vessels which really get you up-close-and-personal with all the action.
Carrying between 78 and 138 guests, they explore exotic regions of the planet, such as Canada, Alaska, Mexico, Costa Rica, and the Galapagos.
Windstar Cruises is another option, operating three boutique luxury masted sailing ships which cruise quieter spots in Europe, the Caribbean, Costa Rica and Greece.
4. Best for Luxury: luxury line Seabourn has recently launched a fabulous new 450-guest ship, the Odyssey, which has broken with many cruising traditions and is luring a younger set to the high seas.
A stunning contemporary resort at sea, it offers ocean view accommodations with balconies, four dining venues, a split-level spa, and in-suite mod-cons including wifi, iPod docks and interactive flat-screen TVs.
A slightly more affordable option is the premium line, Azamara Club Cruises, with two boutique ships cruising Asia, the Caribbean, Europe and Mexico.
5. Best for Singles: Carnival’s “fun ships” tend to have a higher ratio of singles than most other cruise lines, and attract a younger crowd. Its newest ship, which cruises the Eastern and Western Caribbean, boasts an adult-only retreat, a fun-hub with internet access, a deck theatre with a giant screen, a variety of dining venues, shopping and a dance club.
If you don’t want to venture far, however, P&O’s ships have plenty of facilities and activities to keep single travellers occupied.
More info:
Paul Gauguin: www.wiltrans.com.au, 02 9265 7100
Royal Caribbean International: www.royalcaribbean.com, 02 4331 5400
P&O Australia: www.pocruises.com.au, 13 24 94
Ponant Cruises, CruiseWest, Windstar: www.traveltheworld.com.au, 1300 804 522
The Yachts of Seabourn: www.seabourn.com, 13 24 02
Azamara Club Cruises: www.azamaraclubcruises.com, 02 4331 5400
