A cruise may visit the places you want to see, sail on convenient dates and appear to fit your budget. That can make it tempting to pay the deposit as soon as you find one. Yet an itinerary and cabin photographs cannot tell you everything about the holiday. The deck plan, time available in each port and details of your fare may change how well a sailing suits you. These seven questions can help you look beyond the starting price before committing.
Where exactly is your cabin?
Choosing between a balcony and an inside cabin is only the first decision. Open the ship’s deck plan and find the cabin’s position, including what is above, below and close by. If you sleep lightly, a cabin beneath a pool deck or near a late-night venue may warrant more questions. Think about where you will spend time on board, too: the distance to places you use regularly could matter more than it first appears.
- Nearby facilities: How far away are the lifts, restaurants and other places you expect to use?
- View: Does the cabin description say that a window or balcony view is obstructed?
- Layout: Are the beds arranged as you want, with enough space for everyone sharing?
- Allocation: Are you choosing a specific cabin, or will the cruise line assign one within your booked category?
ABTA advises giving cabin choice careful thought when planning a cruise and suggests speaking to a travel agent if you need help understanding the options. If you need an accessible cabin, discuss your requirements with the operator before you book rather than relying on a general cabin description. Confirming these details helps you judge the cabin you will actually use, rather than the cabin type alone.
How much of each destination will you see?
A city’s name on the itinerary does not tell you how long you will have to explore it. Check the scheduled arrival and departure times, then find out where the ship stops in relation to the sights you want to visit. Can you walk into town, or must you allow time for a transfer? A scheduled stop from 9 am to 5 pm does not mean eight full hours of sightseeing: you must get ashore, travel, and return before the all-aboard deadline.
- Check travel time between the port and your chosen sights.
- Find out whether the ship docks alongside or uses smaller boats, called tenders, to take passengers ashore.
- Consider whether the arrangements suit any mobility requirements.
- Calculate the time left after transfers and boarding deadlines, not just the hours shown on the itinerary.
Depending on those timings, you might fit in both a leisurely lunch and a museum visit, or need to choose one. A port stop can look generous on paper while leaving less time at the place you came to see. Working that out while comparing sailings is easier than discovering the constraint after your journey has begun.
What does the fare actually include?
The starting fare is a useful reference, but compare cruises using what you expect to spend over the whole holiday. Inclusions differ between cruise lines, ships and fare types. P&O Cruises, for example, includes meals in a range of venues, while speciality dining, drinks packages and shore experiences may cost extra. Check the terms of the particular sailing and fare you are considering rather than assuming every option works the same way.
- Food and drink: Allow for packages, speciality restaurants and anything outside the included meals.
- Time ashore: Add excursions, transport, attraction tickets and meals.
- Onboard extras: Include internet access, spa visits and activities you would like to try.
- Other charges: Check for gratuities or service charges where applicable.
- Travel to and from the ship: Account for flights, transfers, parking or an overnight hotel stay.
A package is worth comparing with separate charges only in light of what you will actually use. A higher fare could include items you would otherwise pay for individually; a simpler fare may suit you better if those extras hold little interest. Looking at the expected total gives you a clearer comparison than looking at deposits or starting fares alone. Include the costs of the days ashore as well as those incurred on the ship.
Have you allowed enough time to reach the ship?
Plan the journey to the port alongside the sailing itself. Start with the cruise line’s check-in window and final boarding deadline. Then consider what a cancelled train, heavy traffic or a late flight would mean for your arrival. The relevant margin depends on your journey and the arrangements in your booking, so check those details before making onward travel plans.
For a fly-cruise, establish whether flights and transfers are included or booked separately. Ask whom you should contact if a delay affects your arrival, and what help your booking provider would offer. Consider whether arriving the day before would leave a more comfortable margin, weighing the cost of an overnight stay against the time you otherwise have available, particularly after a long journey.
Give your return journey equal attention. Before arranging a train or flight home, allow time to leave the ship, collect your luggage and reach the station or airport. The ship’s scheduled arrival is not the same as the time you will be ready to depart from the port. Check both ends of the journey rather than planning around the sailing times alone.
What medical care is available on board?
Ask the operator what medical facilities the ship has and what health information it needs from you, especially if you travel with a medical condition. Discuss arrangements before booking if you use medical equipment or have medication that must be kept at a particular temperature. If you are uncertain whether the trip is suitable for your health, your GP or treating clinician can help you consider it.
Find out how onboard care is charged as well as what is available. P&O Cruises, for example, runs a private onboard healthcare service and adds treatment and medication charges to passengers’ onboard accounts. That describes its service, not a standard arrangement for every ship; check the arrangements for the one on which you plan to travel.
A UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) does not cover treatment aboard a cruise ship, even while it is docked. You may be entitled to necessary state healthcare ashore in a participating country, but that is separate from care on the ship. Check your travel insurance for onboard medical treatment, emergency transport and repatriation where medically necessary.
How flexible is your booking?
Even if you expect your plans to stay the same, read the conditions of your chosen fare before paying. Different costs and restrictions may apply at different stages. Understanding them in advance also helps you compare fares on more than price, especially if the ability to make a change matters to you.
- Payment: When is the remaining balance due?
- Cancellation: What would you lose if you cancelled at different stages?
- Changes: Can you alter passenger details or sailing dates, and at what cost?
- Itinerary: What do the operator’s terms say about route changes or missed ports?
- Separately booked extras: What happens to independent excursion or hotel bookings if your plans change?
If the differences between fares are unclear, ask the travel agent or cruise line to explain them before you choose. Also read any insurance cancellation terms carefully: cover applies to reasons specified in the policy. Do not assume it will reimburse you if you simply decide that you no longer want to travel.
Does your insurance cover this cruise?
If you already have travel insurance, review it before taking out another policy, but do not assume your cruise is covered merely because you have a policy. The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office recommends checking the operator’s booking conditions, noting that cruises generally require an additional level of cover. Check the policy against the trip you have chosen, including any travel or stays either side of the sailing.
- Cruise cover: Is it included, or must it be added?
- Destinations and dates: Does the policy cover the route and the entire holiday, including stays before or after the cruise?
- Trip duration: Under annual multi-trip cover, does the full holiday fit within the maximum length allowed for each trip?
- Cancellation: Is the limit enough for each traveller’s prepaid, non-refundable costs?
- Cruise benefits: What cover is provided for cabin confinement, missed port departures or unused excursions?
Read limits, exclusions and evidence requirements, not just the names of benefits. When obtaining a quote, answer every medical screening question fully and accurately, including questions about conditions that are well managed. If you have existing cover and your health or travel plans have changed, check whether you need to inform your insurer.
Before you pay the deposit
You do not need to plan every day before booking. You do need a clear picture of where you will sleep, what you are paying for and how the time in port fits what you hope to do. If a cabin description, fare condition or travel arrangement is unclear, ask the cruise line or your travel agent before committing. Those answers can help you choose a sailing that matches the holiday you have in mind.