First cruise
Big, easy ships with plenty to do, and lots of short Caribbean sailings so you can try cruising without a big commitment.
Royal Caribbean · Celebrity · Princess
Plan my first cruise
Cruises
Start with who’s traveling. I’ll match you to the right line and ship, explain what’s really included, and stay in touch from booking until you’re back home.
Start here
Pick the group that sounds like you. These are the lines I’d look at first, and I’ll narrow it down to the right ship and sailing.
Big, easy ships with plenty to do, and lots of short Caribbean sailings so you can try cruising without a big commitment.
Royal Caribbean · Celebrity · Princess
Plan my first cruiseKids’ clubs, family-size cabins and something for every age, from toddlers to grandparents.
Disney Cruise Line · Royal Caribbean · MSC · Norwegian
Plan a family cruiseGrown-up ships with great food and a quieter pace. Virgin Voyages and Viking’s ocean ships are adults-only.
Virgin Voyages · Viking · Oceania
Plan a cruise for twoSome ships have cabins designed for one, which can spare you the usual single supplement. I usually travel solo myself, so I know what to look for.
Norwegian · Virgin Voyages · Celebrity
Plan a solo cruiseFewer guests, more included, and smaller ports the big ships can’t reach, all the way to Antarctica.
Seabourn · Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection · Azamara · Swan Hellenic
Ask about luxury cruisesEurope’s great rivers with a new town most days, and you only unpack once.
Viking · AmaWaterways
Plan a river cruiseDon’t see your favorite line? I book almost every cruise line, so just ask. Not sure which group fits? Try the Travel Matchmaker Tool.
Destinations
May to September
Glaciers, whales and small mountain towns along the Inside Passage.
Plan an Alaska cruise
Year-round
Warm water and a different island almost every day, on sailings from a few nights to two weeks.
Plan a Caribbean cruise
April to October
Italy, Greece, Spain and France on one itinerary, with a new port most days.
Plan a Mediterranean cruise
May to October
Santorini, Mykonos and quieter islands, with white villages and sunsets over the water.
Plan a Greek Isles cruise
May to September
Amsterdam, Scandinavia, the Baltic capitals, Iceland and Scotland from the water. I’ve taken this kind of sailing myself.
Plan a Northern Europe cruise
March to December
The Danube, Rhine and Douro, with Christmas market sailings late in the year.
Plan a river cruise
Year-round
Island-hopping between Maui, Oahu, Kauai and the Big Island without repacking.
Plan a Hawaii cruise
Year-round, busiest in winter
Pacific ports such as Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta, on shorter sailings from the West Coast.
Plan a Mexican Riviera cruiseAlso ask me about the Norwegian fjords, the Panama Canal, transatlantic crossings, Antarctica and the Arctic, the Galápagos, New England and Canada in the fall, the Mekong, and around-the-world voyages.
Know before you go
A cruise fare covers more than most vacations, but not everything. Here’s what to plan for.
How much is included depends on the line. Luxury lines such as Seabourn and Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection include most of it, like drinks and tips, while Virgin Voyages includes all of its restaurants and basic Wi-Fi.
When I send you options, each cabin shows its total price with taxes and fees included, so you can compare them side by side.
Why book with me
“My father is disabled, and she went above and beyond to find the right cruise ship with a wheelchair accessible room, as well as put my mom at ease with a video tour of the room.”Parents’ 50th anniversary cruise · Panama
From my own sailing
Photos from a recent Virgin Voyages sailing.
First cruise?
For cruises that start and end at the same U.S. port, U.S. citizens can often sail with a birth certificate and a government photo ID. I still recommend a passport. If you miss the ship in a foreign port or need to fly home early, you’ll need one. Some itineraries require a passport no matter what, and I’ll tell you which.
Your choices are usually an inside cabin, an ocean view, a balcony or a suite. Inside cabins are the best value, and balconies are worth it on scenic routes like Alaska. If you’re worried about motion, a cabin low and in the middle of the ship moves the least.
For summer in Alaska, holidays and school breaks, 9 to 12 months ahead is a good rule, because the cabins people want most go first. Other sailings can work closer in. Prices are subject to change until booked.
Your cabin, most meals, entertainment and most activities. Tips, drinks, Wi-Fi and excursions are usually extra. See what a cruise really costs above.
Most people feel very little on today’s large ships, which have stabilizers. Routes like the Caribbean and Alaska’s Inside Passage tend to be calm. If you’re prone to motion sickness, choose a low, midship cabin and ask your doctor or pharmacist about remedies before you go.
A sea day is a day with no port stop. You’ll have the pools, shows, spa, classes and long meals, or a good book on your balcony. Many cruisers say sea days end up being their favorite.
Still not sure which line fits?
Tell the tool who’s sailing, where you’d like to go and your budget, and it’ll suggest cruise lines to start with. Send me your matches and I’ll price them.