Virgin Cruises expert Lucy Southerton has highlighted the most common mistake first-time cruisers make when booking their maiden voyage: choosing an itinerary with too many sea days. She warns that until you experience a cruise for yourself, you cannot be certain how much you will enjoy it, so beginners should avoid itineraries featuring an excessive number of days at sea.
Limit sea days on your first cruise
“Ideally, you want two sea days max - and ideally not consecutive,” Lucy explains on her Cruising as Crew YouTube channel. “The reason for this is that this is your first cruise. You don't know if you like it yet. I can almost guarantee that if you go on a ship and you spend two, three or four days at sea, you're probably not going to like it.”
Lucy stresses that one of the finest elements of a cruise holiday is the chance to disembark and discover a range of ports, something she says ought to be a significant factor when choosing an itinerary. She cautions that a lengthy ocean voyage isn't right for everyone: “There are people who want to spend 15 days at sea, reading their book, having no internet access - and there are others who will say, 'I can't think of anything worse than that.'”
Other common mistakes to avoid
Amongst other mistakes first-time cruisers can make, Lucy adds, is neglecting to give proper thought to travel insurance. While flight delays may prove irritating when booking a resort break, you can typically be confident that you will eventually arrive at your hotel - albeit a bit later than anticipated. In contrast, if the flight to the port where your cruise commences is delayed, the ramifications can be considerably more severe, and in certain instances you could miss the ship completely and forfeit your holiday altogether.
“Travel insurance is a non-negotiable, in my opinion, when it comes to booking a cruise,” Lucy states.
Stick to familiar waters
She also recommends that while there are some extraordinary cruises that will take you to breathtaking, unspoilt locations, it is frequently best to remain within familiar waters for your first cruise experience. “I would urge you to stick to the Mediterranean, the Caribbean and Alaska,” she advises. “These are well-trodden routes. All of the towns and cities your cruise ship will stop at are geared up for cruises. The tour guides in those cities are used to taking cruise passengers on tours - they know the drill. This means you can just relax into it a little bit more.”
Lucy also notes that first-time cruisers often make novice mistakes including overpacking, disregarding the daily planner and neglecting to follow the dress code. Her channel is packed with further expert advice, from which cruise lines are worth considering to how to pick the ideal cabin, making it an essential first port of call for anyone thinking about embarking on their first cruise holiday.
