Which cruise line is the best for your next vacation? Let’s review!

How Do I Decide?

Have you ever thought about taking a cruise, but quickly became overwhelmed with all of the available options making you want to just give up? Cruising is one of the best options when it comes to planning a vacation that is a true mix of everything that goes into a fabulous vacation. Family cruises can be great for those looking for a mix of multi-generational family fun and some adult alone time, while adult only cruises are a wonderful way to reconnect with your partner. Finding the perfect cruise though takes a little bit of planning and a lot of knowledge. Even looking for last minute cruises are best left to the professionals, but lucky for you the cruise specialist travel agents at DWB Vacations are here to help.

Location, Location, Location

We’re not just trying to be funny. When it comes to a cruise there are 3 key locations that you need to consider. Your first location is your destination. Do you have a specific island destination that you want to visit? Whether you are looking for a Caribbean cruise, an Alaskan cruise, a Mediterranean cruise, or a cruise to the Bahamas your travel agent will be able to advise you on the best time of year to go, and what cruise lines might be a better fit for you.

The second location you will need to focus on is your departure/ arrival port. Are you looking to sail from New York, or New Jersey, Florida, Baltimore or even Texas your travel agent can help find the right port for you to travel from. Don’t forget your travel agent can also help with ports in other parts of the world. Booking your vacation with one of our cruise agents will ensure that you are fully supported during every step of your vacation.

Your final location is in regards to where you would like your cabin to be on the cruise ship. Do you want to be mid-ship, far away from the kids club, close to the elevator, talk with your travel agent about the different options for where your cabin will be located on the ship before you make your final decision.

Which Cruise Line is the Best Cruise Line?

The next question that most cruise agents get from potential customers is what cruise line is the best cruise line? The truthful answer to this question is all of them. Each cruise line has its own pros and cons, and it is your travel agent’s job to help find the right fit for you. For example Carnival Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line are contemporary cruise lines, perfect for families looking to sail within a certain budget who are looking for an energetic ship with lots of water slides, activities and a fun atmosphere. On the other end of the spectrum cruise lines like Celebrity Cruises and Princess Cruise Line offer a more elevated vacation vibe while MSC cruises offer different cruising experiences depending on the ship you are on. Virgin Voyages is revolutionary in the industry, offering very unique destinations and experiences for adults only, while Holland America and Viking Cruise Line offer more traditional cruising options. Disney Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean offer an adventure for sailors, and are great for both families and couples looking for lots of activities to do on the ship and for destinations that offer the opportunity to thrill, chill and explore. Talking with your travel advisor about what you want to accomplish on your cruise vacation is the best way to ensure that you find the perfect cruise provider for your trip!

Is Bigger Better?

Once you have decided which cruise line you want to sail on, the next logical step is to decide what style of ship you want to sail on? I am sure you have seen commercials or posts on social media about some of the new mega ships that are being launched like Utopia of the Seas or Star of the Seas from Royal Caribbean or MSC’s World America or even the new Disney Cruise Line ships the Destiny and the Treasure. While it is true that these new mega ships are full of all the bells and whistles and have tons of amazing activities for everyone on your cruise to enjoy, they are not always the best option. Discussing with your travel agent about your specific needs as well as your concerns will allow them to help connect you with the ideal ship for your vacation. For example, the Disney Wish is a beautiful ship and has lots of activities, but the Disney Magic is a much smaller ship so if on your ideal cruise you are looking to have all your destinations on the ship just a few steps away from your stateroom, then the Wish is not the ship for you. On the other end of the spectrum, let’s say you are slightly claustrophobic and so the idea of having everything within a few steps is making you nervous then a ship like the Norwegian Spirit would not be for you, but the Norwegian Breakaway would be perfect. A great cruise travel agent will take the time to work with you and find the perfect fit for your vacation.

When deciding what ship you would like to sail on you also need to keep in mind that the type of ship that you sail on will also determine where you sail too. More often than not, the cruise lines tend to put their older ships on their prime itineraries. Many times those more unique locations have smaller ports that are physically unable to handle the mega ships and the amount of guests on them. More times than not you will have to decide what is most important to you about your cruise, the itineraries or the ship. In most cases these mega ships are a destination all in themselves. Your travel agent will walk you through the different options and help you decide what will give you the best experience for the ideal vacation.

At DWB Vacations, We Care

At DWB Vacations we are not interested in just selling you a vacation. We look forward to serving our clients. That means from the beginning of the planning process till you are home from your cruise and beyond, we will be right there with you every step of the way.