How to choose a cruise: a guide for first-time cruisers

Whether you’re into high-end food and wine or looking to entertain your young family, there’s a cruise out there for you. The trick is knowing where to look, writes Dilvin Yasa.

Fancy an ’80s cruise complete with distressed denim workshops and Let’s Get Physical workouts, or how about a luxury experience in the South of France teeming with Michelin moments?

When it comes to cruising, there isn’t a single market that isn’t catered for (hello, The Walking Dead and Star Trek cruises), which is great if you know what you want, but problematic if you’re still a little unsure.

Cruise length means a lot

Carl Frier, managing director Australasia, Cruise 1st , says long before you try to work out what kind of experience you’re after, it’s a good idea to take into account how long you’re willing to travel for and whether you’ve travelled internationally before.

“If you love the idea of staying on a ship and you don’t suffer sea sickness, then that’s when you can start looking at longer itineraries which are heavy with days at sea," he explains. “But those who’ve never travelled internationally before might find trips with plenty of port visits stressful and could be better suited to keeping things close to the Australian coastline."

While it’s never easy – or advisable – to fit yourself within one specific category, this is a good time to think about who you’re travelling with, what everyone’s interests include and what your expectations are of the trip itself. Once you’ve got a firm list of random words such as ‘tropical’, ‘food’, ‘penguins’ and ‘personal butler’, you’re good to move on to the following itinerary matches.

Gentoo penguins at Neko Harbour — The Gentoo penguin colony lies nestled in Andvord Bay, Neko Harbour, surrounded by the mountains and high glacier walls of the peninsula.

First-time family cruisers

Whether you’ve got little rug rats, energetic tweens or tricky teens, you’re going to need two things: a larger style cruise ship that’s loaded with amenities such as sky diving simulators, kids’ clubs and family-friendly shows, but also, good-old fashioned tropical sunshine.

“Any large ship that sails to Hawai‘i is a great – and tellingly popular – choice for this group, but you can’t go past itineraries around the South Pacific," says Deb Long, owner and manager of Weston Cruise & Travel .

“This is a trip that offers plenty of sunshine so that everyone can actually enjoy the outdoor amenities of the ship, but [also] have plenty of time and space to frolic once they get to that tropical island." Think New Caledonia , Fiji , Vanuatu and Tahiti .

Amédée lighthouse, New Caledonia — Amédée lighthouse near Noumea, New Caledonia.

First-time cruisers on a budget

If you’re still unsure whether cruising will be for you but don’t want to spend a decent chunk of coin finding out, opt for a closed-loop cruise (departing and returning to the same port) from a major Australian city, or take a two- to three-day sail along the Australian coastline, such as one from Melbourne to Adelaide.

Station Pier, Port Melbourne — An increasingly popular stop for domestic and international cruise ships, Station Pier is the gateway to your next cruise adventure.

Best of all, you can either go with a luxury ship, or get even more bang for your buck with a ship that is considered more suited to families. Itineraries around the South Pacific also tend to be geared towards the more affordable end of the cruising market.

First-time cruising for foodies

Blame it on the popularity of cooking shows or the rise of celebrity chefs, but culinary travel is one of the biggest travel trends of 2019 and happily, it’s a trend that transcends oceans.

Close to home, cross the Tasman Sea and experience the joys of wine tasting in New Zealand’s Marlborough region.

Cruising New Zealand — Book a New Zealand cruise and enjoy breathtaking scenery of the Fiordland National Park.

Further afield in Europe, there are plenty of food cruises with exclusive access to wineries across France, Germany and Austria onboard either a river or ocean cruise . If you have ever wanted to indulge in the best of Bordeaux or the Dordogne and Garonne without the hassle of planning, contacting the wineries and booking the restaurants yourself, then this is your ticket to hassle-free foodie heaven.

First-time cruising for the mobility impaired

Cruising is an outright winner for those with disabilities. The cruise lines, and Royal Caribbean in particular, are well versed in making memorable travel highly inclusive of the mobility impaired.

The bigger and newer ships will be able to accommodate the mobility impaired better with more up-to-date fit outs and technology, and dedicated accessible rooms and services.

As for itineraries, the city-based New Zealand itineraries are probably best, with great access to land without tenders. Having said that, the crew are adept at getting the mobility impaired in and out of tenders.

The Mediterranean is also a winner: you’ll find many ports here, such as Naples and Monaco, are located right in the middle of town, thus reducing the need to travel too far once onshore.

Cruising the Greek Islands — A cruise on the Mediterranean will take you to destinations like Greece, Italy and Spain.

First-time cruising for adventurers

If you want to treat your cruise like an energy drink commercial, combining a pleasant onboard experience with action-packed port adventures such as hiking, kayaking with wildlife or rock-climbing, it’s hard to go past the Kimberley or Canada , says Long. “[Cruises here] tend to be [on] smaller ships as they need to navigate tiny waterways, but itineraries around these areas are often filled with adventure sports, wildlife and plenty of action."

Elsewhere, expedition cruises around the polar caps, Galápagos Islands and Alaska attract cruise passengers keen to get to know their penguins, tortoises and marine iguanas intimately.

Expedition cruise, Antarctica — Some of sights to behold on an expedition cruise around Antarctica.

First-time cruising for niche markets

Food and wildlife are great, but what if your interests are a little less… pedestrian?

In Australia alone, we have plenty of options. Have a passion for the performing arts? There’s a cruise for that (Bravo). Or country music? Yep, there’s a cruise for that too (Cruisin’ Country).

Head stateside and it gets a lot more wacky. If you are obsessively into hair metal bands, science fiction television shows or conspiracy theories, then head directly to Florida, do not pass go and do not collect $200.

First-time cruising for luxury lovers

Dreaming of a high-end onboard experience complete with personal butler service, heated marble bathrooms and Michelin dining?

As the luxury end of the market continues its upward trajectory, so too does the desire to visit polar caps and other obscenely cold places. It is, say our experts, a perfect match.

Those looking to enjoy the finer things in life should look at locking in a place on a luxury expedition voyage taking in Iceland, Greenland, the Russian Arctic and Antarctic itineraries. Or if you’d like something a little less adventurous, opt for either the Canada-Alaska or Norwegian Fjords routes. As Long recommends, “Another great itinerary for the luxury market is sailing along the coastline of Norway where you can take in the fjords or sail around the archipelago of polar bear-heavy Svalbard."

Cruising the Geirangerfjorde — The Geirangerfjorde is one of the most spectacular sites in Norway.

Video credit: Tourism Australia

From pink salt landscapes to oases fringed by forests of red gums, the lakes of this rural region are astounding.

You’re going to find peace and quiet when you take a road trip through the lakes of the Wimmera Mallee region. Whether it’s mirror-like pink salt lakes that look like an inland sea, or lakes fringed by forests of red gums that showcase Victoria’s arid beauty, there’s a lake for you out here somewhere.

1. Lake Tyrrell

Located in the dead heart of the Mallee, Victoria’s largest salt lake, Lake Tyrrell , is a landscape photographer’s dream – especially at sunrise and sunset when the pink salt flats look like a gigantic mirror. It’s easy to camp or park a caravan nearby, too, though the tiny town of Sea Lake is just south (with accommodation). In winter, shallow water covers the salt, creating surreal reflections of the sky.

2. Nhill Lake

There’s a permanent water source here, so there’s always plenty of water for water skiing, swimming and fishing (the trout and redfin fishing here is legendary). Located beside the pretty heritage town of Nhill with its main street of historic buildings, there’s options for eating and drinking right next door. There’s also a barbecue area with plenty of shady picnic spots and a boardwalk for walking around the lake.

3. Lake Bringalbert

Lake Bringalert is a great spot for aquatic adventures.

Located south-west of the pretty Mallee town of Kaniva, Lake Bringalbert epitomises the best of ‘outback’ Victoria. It’s ringed by red gums and red mallee and feels completely hidden from the world – you’ll barely ever see another person. There’s basic camping on its foreshore and Kaniva offers more accommodation options. It’s the perfect lake for swimming, kayaking and skiing, and the stars at night come without even a hint of city glow.

4. Lake Hindmarsh

If you’re a bird fan, you’ll love Lake Hindmarsh . Located north of Dimboola, Victoria’s largest natural freshwater lake is like an inland sea full of pelicans, swans and numerous species of ducks – but it also teems with everything from spoonbills to parrots. Sunsets here will blow your mind – the lake is a mirror for the pinks and golds you’ll see on the horizon. There’s free camping spots along the foreshore if you’d like to really contemplate the magic of the lake.

5. Pink Lake

Also known as Loch Lel , the summer months offer up some seriously vivid pink water colour at this lake north of Dimboola. The pink varies throughout the year, but is best after rain (hence why summer is the time to visit).

There’s plenty of birds, including wedge-tailed eagles, but you’re as likely to spot big lace monitors, kangaroos and echidnas. Nearby, check out the uber-cute heritage town of Dimboola and its eclectic shops, and Little Desert National Park, full of walking trails through mallee heathland.

6. Lake Lascelles

On a hot summer’s day, there’s nowhere better for a cooling dip, kayak or boat ride. You can camp by the lake , or at powered caravan sites – or the pretty town of Hopetoun offers numerous accommodation options a short walk away. At night you’ll see the lights of Hopetoun reflect off the lake. Fish for yellow belly, redfin or catfish, or try water-skiing. There’s also a great walking trail around the lake, where there’s more birds than you can count.

The best itineraries for first-time cruisers