Vacations Blog

Each year going on holiday seem to get harder and harder. Between natural disasters, terror threats and strikes, the stress of just getting on a plane can warrant a holiday in itself. Of course you don’t have to leave the country; we normally manage at least one or two weeks of half decent weather.

The only other way to leave our island and enjoy some nice weather is by boat, have you considered a cruise?. Anyone regardless of budget and holiday taste can enjoy a cruise these days with the selection on offer. Whether you’re after the luxury of Silversea cruises or the opulence of the Oceania cruises or simply a few days peace and quiet, a cruise could be just what you’re after

If you’ve decided to take the plunge and you’re about to book your first cruise here’s a few things to think about first. A sensible budget should be set before you start planning. You can cut costs by sourcing and booking everything yourself but if you can afford it book through a cruise travel specialist. A travel agent will also be able to go through all your options with you and advise what operator would best suit your plans. They’re also likely to be able to offer you some last minute discount five star cruises too. Always remember they’re probably on commission so always double check their advice with a good old Google. Speaking of the internet, don’t forget to check some reviews too and maybe even try talking to some people who’ve left those reviews. Most cruise liners these days will require you to print your own boarding passes and other relevant paper work similar to most airlines. It’s advisable not to leave this till the day you leave as this will be the day you run out of ink and the shop is out of stock. If you have to fly to your port and the flights are through the cruise provider you have the added safety of knowing they’ll be able to help if you’re delayed or anything goes wrong. If the plane is delayed the liner will probably wait for you or help get you to the next port if a good proportion of their passenger list is also on the plane with you.

A well planned cruise can offer the holiday of a lifetime with experiences you’ll never forget. You’ll find you have a lot more contact with your neighbours than you might in a normal hotel, the walls are thinner and they’ll be less chance to get away from them if you feel the need. Always try to extend the common courtesy you’d like to receive in return and make sure you have a great holiday.