My first cruise was in the Mediterranean with a group of friends, all couples. I was in my 40s.
It seemed a practical way to see different areas of Europe: From Barcelona in Spain to Provence in France, and Florence and Rome in Italy.
I figured that the convenience would more than offset the concerns of being in a tight space on a ship.
My presumptions were wrong. Getting a room with a balcony widened my vista to sensational sunrises and generous doses of invigorating ocean air. The best part was we all get accustomed to space and the room turned out to be more comfortable than I had imagined.
So that was my first cruise holiday rather than the last. I’ve since taken a few others – to Alaska, the River Nile, even a cruise to nowhere during COVID!
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Why take a cruise?
Is going on a cruise ship part of slowing life down as we get older? Absolutely not. To me, it’s an extension of life’s lessons learnt on the move; on our journeys.
Find unforgettable experiences on the right cruise
Besides the destination, the onshore experience matters when it comes to cruises. Here are some interesting ones:
Crystal Cruises offers high adrenaline hot air ballooning in Italy or flying a MIG fighter jet in Russia.
There’s a National Geographic cruise named after Antarctic explorer, Lars-Eric Lindblad. You’ll see majestic glaciers up close from a kayak, while guided by top naturalists.
As a passenger with Oceania Cruises, you can join culinary discovery tours which include Michelin-starred restaurants or visits to the top markets in the world with the ship’s chefs. Imagine getting the inside track on the Spice Souk in Dubai or the Pike Place market in Seattle.
How to choose the right cruise?
Here are a few guidelines as cruise ships have different themes:
- The Disney Cruises are perfect for a 3-generation family holiday. The grandkids will love themed meals, swimming and dancing with their favourite Disney characters. Disney cruises start the Singapore sailing dates from 2025 and it’s not too late to book a year ahead. Other options are Holland America Lines or Royal Caribbean. The latter now offers S$70 off when you sign up at their Singapore website.
- There are a few 'adult only' cruises. Some, such as Viking Ocean Cruises do not permit children under 16 on board. Others like Seabourn Cruises don’t specifically prohibit children but don’t have facilities or programmes for young ones either.
- • The over 50s cruises offer another interesting option. On the Seabourn, there are wellness programmes developed by guru Dr Andrew Weil.
River vs Ocean Cruises
Rivers, have by tradition, been transport trade arteries. Across Europe there’s the Danube, the Rhine and the Douro. Egypt has the Nile.
In North America, there are interesting river cruises to take — the Mississippi or Alaska, while in South America, there’s the Amazon. Closer to home, Asia has its fair share of rivers too.
There’s the Mekong in Vietnam, the Ganges in India and the Yangtze in China.
The river cruise ships are usually smaller than their ocean bound counterparts which results in many of them offering luxury service because of high staff-to-guest ratios.
One of these is Uniworld which boasts one crew member for every two travellers.
I saw many river cruise ships on a recent trip to Germany and vowed that one day I should do one of these to enjoy Europe in a different way.
A highly rated one is Avalon Waterways which has an adventure host who arranges yoga on board and treks along riverbanks.
Things to consider when making cruise bookings
- Book early for best rates: On our first cruise, my husband and I were invited to plan a year ahead. The price difference can be a huge saving. Take for instance the Seabourn 21-day Antarctica cruise which costs US$26,999 for a Dec 2024 sailing vs US$19,799 in Feb 2026.
- For rooms, there are basic cabins (with no windows), ocean view (with porthole windows), balcony and suites. I would recommend paying a little extra for a balcony room, which adds so much to the travel experience.
- Look out for promotions like ‘on-board’ credits which can be used to offset the overall cost of the trip.
- As silvers, medical facilities are important. You may want to choose cruises where the clinic is open 24/7.
- Check out the cruise company’s loyalty programmes, as there are big discounts when you book the next trip at the end of your cruise.
- Set aside some money for tips for the ship’s staff including the housekeeper, restaurant service, porters.
- Download the cruise app as the daily schedule of activities is there and seats for the best shows are booked out early.
Keep an open mind and surprise yourself
I have a friend who swore that he would never take a cruise.
There are so many things to worry about from infections to rough seas.
Eventually he succumbed to his wife’s wiles, and now swears by cruising as the only way of travel.
The Pluses of cruises for me
For me, the principal benefit of a cruise is that I can visit a few countries and not have to pack and unpack every few days.
Also, the cost of a holiday can be fairly well contained as at least two meals are on board and accounted for.
Perhaps that is why people sell their homes to live on a cruise ship. I wonder if it’s something I can do.
