First time cruise passenger

First time cruise passenger? We answer your questions

Am I likely to get bored or feel confined?

This is quite a common concern amongst those who have never been on a cruise ship before. It is hard to express in words the unique feeling of freedom that you get when sailing the open seas in a cruise ship to somebody who has never experienced it. Also, most cruise ships are really incredibly spacious, with plenty of room to stretch your legs. They are essentially floating resorts, with all of the facilities and amenities that are commonly found on land based resorts. There are plenty of things to do, whether you want to laze about on deck with a good book, watch a film in the on-board cinema, attend an enrichment lecture, engage in sporting activities, or dance the night away in the discotheque. Furthermore, you will be arriving in a new place every day or two, so you actually have far less chance of becoming bored or feeling claustrophobic than you would on a land based resort holiday.

Will there be anyone like me?

It used to be the case that cruises were the exclusive preserve of wealthy elderly people with time to kill and money to burn, but this has all changed in the past few decades. Nowadays, people from all age groups and all walks of life take cruises, whether they are single, part of a couple, or part of a family. Of course, some cruises are tailored more specifically towards a certain age group or type of person, but this only makes it more likely that you will be able to find a cruise that you will enjoy.

Do cruise ships welcome families with children?

Family cruises are becoming increasingly popular, and as a result more and more cruise lines now operate family-friendly cruises, with childcare laid on, and plenty of fun activities for kids of all ages to enjoy. If your children enjoy sports, games, swimming, movies, and going on adventures, they will find plenty to do on a cruise holiday. And because there is really nowhere to run off to on a cruise ship, you don’t have to worry so much about your children getting lost, so you can afford them more of a free rein than you would on other holidays. It should be noted, however, that not all cruises are particularly suited to children, so it is well worth checking out the facilities for families on a particular cruise ship before you you’re your journey.

Try holiday providers Thomas Cook for cruises.