Cruising into the sunset

Inclusive food and drink packages, unlimited onboard entertainment, a variety of day trip options, amazing sea views and luxury features ranging from pools to cinemas, what’s not to love about a good cruise?

What to think about

There are endless options when it comes to selecting a cruise for your next holiday, both in Australia and overseas.

Start with thinking about how long you want your cruise to go for and where you really want to go.

Have you been hanging out for a holiday amongst tropical islands with warm weather to enjoy for a week or two? Perhaps you are looking for a mini cruise off the coast of your own State or are looking for a much longer trip through Europe and want to spend a few days on a classic riverboat cruise?

Once you have decided, you can compare what options and styles of cruises are offered by different companies depending on your trip length and destination.

With cruises put on hold over the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, but restrictions now relaxed around the world, cruise holidays are beginning to pick up again and retirees are finally getting the opportunity to embark on their much-awaited trips.

Why are cruises popular?

Those who have experienced cruises give a number of reasons why they had a positive experience, and almost all do have a great experience.

Many love the easy nature of the trip - everything is organised, planned and structured for you in a way that takes the stress and worry out of planning a holiday.

There are also so many options for customisation if you want them, which gives a cruise variety and lets passengers tailor the experience to their interests, as well as offering a new experience each time you book a cruise.

Then there is the value that cruise packages represent. A cruise that includes your accommodation, food, drink and experiences all in one package will often work out to be cheaper or at least a competitive price to what you would spend separately for a similar experience on an overland holiday.

Finally, cruises offer comfort in the fact that you will consistently have service and support available to you, as well as access to luxury extras which might make your holiday even more comfortable.

Cruise operators will often have a number of options designed to appeal to various people, such as cruises that focus on relaxing activities, wining and dining, or cruises targeted at people who want a party atmosphere on the ship and adventurous day trips.

There are even themed cruises for people looking for a specific crowd, like golfing cruises and singles trips. If you’re unsure where to start with the style of cruise and what would suit you, ask a family member or friend who has been on a cruise about their experience, or you can ask a travel agent for advice on the options available.

When selecting your cruise you can also consider which operators offer the best cost value, for example what day trips are included or not included in the cost, the food and drinks packages available and whether there are any extra bonuses thrown in like Wifi or massage vouchers.

Accessibility and safety

Cruises are a great travel option if you have mobility requirements or need certain accessibility features in order to make the most of your trip.

Many cruises are wheelchair accessible and cater to people with impacted mobility.

The fact that there are always medical staff onboard the ship can also give you peace of mind that help will be quick to arrive if you have a medical emergency, for example if you have a chronic health condition like diabetes and experience a severe drop in blood sugar levels.

For any health or accessibility considerations you want to discuss before booking a cruise you can talk to your travel agent, who can help you select the right cruise or communicate on your behalf with the cruise operator about including these requirements in your package.

If you are booking directly with a cruise operator give them a call to talk through exactly what you need and get confirmation that they will be able to meet your requirements.

Post-COVID cruising

Cruise lines are using new safety measures following the COVID-19 pandemic to keep passengers safe.

Changes include more frequent cleaning, better ventilation and installation of touchless technology.

Onboard medical staff and facilities for treating people with COVID-19 have also improved, so you can be confident you will be looked after if you do become sick.

Depending on where you are going and the cruise operator you are travelling with, you may be required to prove you are vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide a negative test result before boarding.

When you are selecting and booking your cruise, the operator will tell you everything you need to know about their COVID-19 requirements.