| Choose your cruise |
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| Written by Sue Bryant, 2004 | |
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Page 1 of 2 Throw away all those preconceived ideas because cruising these days is just about anything you want it to be. Sue Bryant, editor of Cruise Traveller magazine, brings you up-to-date with today's cruise ships and destinations.
The first time I saw the Northern Lights was from a cruise ship. It was a dream come true. Huge curtains of light, swirling and shimmering in the sky, as the ship steamed through the darkness across the Arctic Circle.A cruise holiday also allowed me to see fiery Stromboli erupting on a sultry night off the coast of Sicily last summer. We arrived at the tiny Aeolian island in darkness to see rivers of molten lava pouring down the volcano's sheer flank and crashing into the sea with a great 'splosh' and a whoosh of steam. And from yet another ship's deck, I've stood, awestruck, as a huge school of humpback whales breached alongside us, leaping out of the water, flipping over and crashing back in again. A cruise can take you practically anywhere in the world, and to many places that would be almost impossible to reach overland. Ships sail deep into the Amazon, through the ice of Antarctica, up close to the glaciers of Alaska and even into rarely visited ports like Aden in Yemen or Cochin in Kerala. Whether you've cruised before, or perhaps written off this form of holiday as a floating Butlins, the thing to understand about a holiday at sea is the huge variety. Just as there are many kinds of hotels - all-inclusive resorts, hidden gems, flashy places with spas or, indeed, Butlins - there are many types of cruise ship. MisconceptionsA lot of people like the idea of a cruise - the good food, the attentive service, the idea of a new place every day, the joy of only unpacking once - but share the common preconceived ideas of first-time cruisers. Will it be too formal? Will I be told what time to have dinner? What if I don't like the other people? Even those who are already hooked often categorise themselves: 'a P&O person', or 'a lifelong Cunard fan'. The cruise lines would be delighted to hear this, but there's a whole world and 250-plus ships out there, waiting to take you far beyond your usual horizons.The issue of 'too formal' is one that's been addressed by several cruise lines. Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) was one of the pioneers of cruising with choice - the choice not to dress up and the choice of where and when to eat. NCL's spacious, modern ships have restaurants ranging from Italian to gourmet French cuisine to Spanish tapas bars (the newest ships have ten restaurants) and an informal dress code. They sail around South America, through the Panama Canal, all over the Caribbean, Alaska and Hawaii and one ship, Norwegian Dream, is based in Europe each summer. Some of the very smartest ships have a casual atmosphere too. On SeaDream Yacht Club, which is the equivalent of sailing on a luxurious private yacht with 100 like-minded guests, there won't be a tie in sight, although the ladies' interpretation of 'casual' wear pushed my own casual cruise wardrobe to the very limit. Because they are relatively small, these yachts can potter around some of the less-visited Caribbean islands in winter like ultra-hip St Barts and Guadeloupe, or Jost van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands, while in summer they frequent some of Europe's most glamorous ports - Portofino, Capri and Monaco. Some of the most laidback holidays at sea are on some of the world's most beautiful sailing ships. Star Clippers operates three stunning square riggers in the Mediterranean, Aegean, Caribbean and Southeast Asia. The two smaller ships take 170 and the flagship, Royal Clipper, takes 228. You sunbathe stretched out on the warm wooden decks, acres of white sail billowing above, the only noise the wind and the gentle creak of the five masts. Aperitifs are in the al-fresco bar, which has a resident parrot, and dinner is completely come-as-you-please. Entertainment is informal: Captain's Story Time and mast-climbing (in a harness) on days at sea, or water sports from a special platform when you drop anchor at yet another stunning beach. Passenger profileWhat about the other passengers? Provided you choose the right ship, there is no reason to expect you won't get on. Lifelong friendships are often forged on cruise ships; equally, people travel alone and choose to dine alone, undisturbed. A rule of thumb is that in school holidays there will be lots of families on board a bigger ship. The long winter cruises, say, around South America or the world cruises, attract an older market.On the ships of Costa Cruises and Mediterranean Shipping Cruises, there will be more Europeans; while P&O Cruises, Voyages of Discovery and Fred. Olsen are sold almost exclusively to Brits. There are numerous big cruise lines where you'll travel mainly with Americans, but again, each line has its own personality. Holland America Line has very classical, elegant ships. Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean are great for families. Celebrity Cruises is very glamorous, while Carnival Cruise Line, with its extravagant décor and singing waiters, has a definite air of Las Vegas. If you're a real traditionalist and enjoy dressing for dinner, attending the captain's cocktail party and travelling on a classic liner, why not try out the QE2, operating shorter cruises now that she has been replaced on the transatlantic service by big sister Queen Mary 2. Alternatively Crystal Cruises, a five-star line appealing to an international crowd, has a bit of everything. Lots of glamour and dressing up, the kind of service you'd expect on a small, luxury ship, and all the facilities of a large vessel, including a fabulous spa, paddle tennis courts on deck, glitzy Broadway shows, an ultra-cool Martini bar and a big Internet centre. Frozen NorthWhere to go is as important as choosing your ship. Cruise destinations come in and out of fashion. Right now the long, light summers of Alaska are hugely appealing to Americans wanting to escape urban life for views of pristine forests, glaciers, waterfalls and wildlife. |
