Choosing a Cruise

Choosing a summer cruise seems simple enough — just pick a destination, shop by cruise line and check availability, right? Well, yes and no. Once you know where you want to go, it’s important to know what amenities you expect, what excursions you want to try and what you most want to get out of your vacation.

River or Ocean?

First up, choose what kind of cruise you want. With a growing list of incredible river cruise itineraries, the competition is steep. While a river cruise may feel like more of a floating hotel, taking you from one amazing destination to the next, expect plenty of off-ship excursions, incredible dining and sightseeing. Ocean cruises have all the same tour offerings and fine dining, but are likely at sea longer — making for much larger, decked-out vessels.

Where to Go?

If you have a specific destination in mind, like Alaska or the Caribbean, choosing a cruise line becomes much simpler. If you need more time to decide where you would like to explore, maybe consider shopping around by vessel. Put your attention on the amenities and experience you’ll have onboard, especially if one destination isn’t particularly swaying you.

How Long?

This question sometimes sneaks up on your vacation. Yes, you know where you want to cruise and all the amazing amenities offered onboard and on land, but what if the cruise length doesn’t quite fit with your plans? You can bookend your cruise with a few nights on land before or after. This will allow you to ease off the ship and back into real life without rushing home.