This was published 6 years ago
How to choose the right cruise holiday: Advantages of cruising over other holidays
Cruises can provide a more varied holiday experience than many non-cruisers assume, whether catering to the active, the beach-flopper or the culture vulture.
Though I've long been a contented cruiser, no doubt lulled into a panda-like state by too much cosseting, I was for the first few years a guilty one. I suspected that I could have replicated my cruise journeys independently if it weren't for an onset of travel laziness. This was, however, jejune nonsense.
For a start, daily shore excursions from dawn to dusk require stamina and enthusiasm: not the characteristics of lazy folk.
A more important insight acquired during a Greek islands cruise was that, while I could have replicated the holiday myself – in fact as a backpacker I had – I'd be spending half my time on ferry logistics and accommodation hunts, and acquire half the insight that I effortlessly obtained from shore-excursion guides in Ephesus and Rhodes.
Since then I've embraced guilt-free cruising. I've accepted that a do-it-yourself holiday is certainly possible, but just different, and not necessarily better. A cruise is a way to see the world like any other, with its particular pros and cons.
Cruises do, however, provide a more varied holiday experience than many non-cruisers assume, whether catering to the active, the beach-flopper or the culture vulture. They offer some advantages over their land-based equivalents and, in some cases, set sail to places you can't access by land at all unless you're an extreme adventurer. Here's how.
THE ACTIVE HOLIDAY
THE USUAL WAY Unless you're prepared to lug gear and camp rough, active holidays are often confined to a single base, not to mention a single activity, and can lack variety.
THE CRUISE WAY You can hike islands and swim or dive on reefs too remote to access yourself, with background landscapes that change from day to day. Excursions are accompanied by naturalists for additional insight.
THE CRUISE Ponant has a 16-night itinerary from Cairns to Manila on L'Austral that emphasises active exploration of Indonesian, Malaysian and Philippine islands on Zodiac shore excursions. Among highlights is an orang-utan rehabilitation centre, the waterfall- and rainforest draped Coron Island, and snorkelling on fringing reefs in the Kei Islands and Bunaken Marine Park.
DON'T MISS Tangkoko Nature Reserve, where a guided walk through the rainforest provides encounters with creatures such as the crested macaque, bear cuscus, and the spectral tarsier, one of the world's smallest primates.
SAIL AWAY From $8904pp, departing March 15, 2018. See ponant.com
Credit: Pam McLean
THE GOURMET GETAWAY
THE USUAL WAY On a do-it-yourself holiday it can sometimes be difficult (and, after a while, tedious) to seek out somewhere to eat nightly. Bad meals can be demoralising.
THE CRUISE WAY Pick the right ship and you'll never have a disappointing meal, plus you'll have the chance to try regional specialties and impressive cheese selections. Shore excursions can provide a variety of curated food experiences.
THE CRUISE Uniworld's "Connoisseur Collection" of cruises has a gourmet emphasis. On an eight-day, round-trip, Seine River cruise from Paris on the recently launched Joie de Vivre, you'll do cheese and brandy tastings, visit the La Couronne restaurant made famous by Julia Child, and enjoy a champagne tasting with the on-board sommelier.
DON'T MISS Uniworld's gourmet walking tour in Rouen, which doesn't just allow a taste of cider, chocolate and other treats, but highlights the 800-year-old history of the old town, famously associated with Joan of Arc.
SAIL AWAY From $4999pp, five departures between April and August 2018. See uniworld.com
THE CULTURAL TOUR
THE USUAL WAY Find you way from A to B to C, making sure you've booked hotels and entrance tickets to crowded culture sites months in advance.
THE CRUISE WAY Many cruise lines have special access or expedited entrance to cultural sites, and you're accompanied by a guide, especially useful in bringing museums and ruins to life.
THE CRUISE Viking Cruises' 15-day "Cities of Antiquity & the Holy Land" on Viking Sky is quite a romp through history as it sails the Eastern Mediterranean between Rome and Athens. Visit the ancient ruins of Pompeii and Knossos and explore the roots of three great religions in Jerusalem, as well as enjoying history-dense Cyprus and Rhodes.
DON'T MISS A shore excursion to Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee through some of the locations of Jesus' life story, such as Cana and the Mount of Beatitudes, where the Sermon on the Mount was delivered.
SAIL AWAY From $5699pp, departing November 4, 2018. See vikingcruises.com.au
THE BEACH ESCAPE
THE USUAL WAY A beach or island resort. Nothing wrong with that, except that it doesn't move, so you'll be flopping on the same sands for your entire holiday.
THE CRUISE WAY The classic "flop and drop" cruise to exotic islands provides the perfect chance to swim, sunbathe and relax on not just one, but a whole variety of beaches.
THE CRUISE A seven-day, round-trip cruise out of Phuket on Star Clipper's eponymous sailing ship takes in tropical getaways in the Andaman Sea, including an uninhabited archipelago inside lovely Ko Tarutao National Park, the superb underwater world of the Simian Islands, and the towering rock landforms of Ko Butang.
DON'T MISS Star Clipper itself, a magnificent four-masted barquentine that provides a rare chance to enjoy cruising under full sail. Hammock-like nets slung beneath the bowsprit are a fine place to relax as the sea foams beneath.
SAIL AWAY From $1720pp, multiple departures until April 2018. See starclippers.com
THE CELLAR-DOOR TOUR
THE USUAL WAY A sip and spit around the Hunter or Yarra valleys is pleasant, but isn't quite the same thing as a wine-focused journey around France.
THE CRUISE WAY River cruises don't just visit cellar doors, but allow for scenic sails through the world's best wine regions, some accessing wineries and vineyards not open to the casual visitor.
THE CRUISE APT has a wine expert on some European cruises to explain wine-making methods and traditions and lead tasting sessions. An eight-day return cruise from Bordeaux takes you to a tasting dinner at Chateau de Cazeneuve, a dessert-wine tour of Sauternes, winemaking workshop at Chateau Busquet, and Medoc cooperage.
DON'T MISS A shore excursion to Chateau Mouton Rothschild, a Premier Cru estate north-west of Bordeaux in the famous Medoc wine region, where you can tour the Vat House and cellars and inspect the Museum of Wine in Art before enjoying a tasting.
SAIL AWAY From $5595pp, departing September 27, 2018. See aptouring.com.au
Uniworld's new Joie de Vivre on the Seine River in France.
THE CITY BREAK
THE USUAL WAY Fly somewhere, stay somewhere at inflated city-hotel prices. One destination, one room with a view if you're lucky. Fun, but limited in scope.
THE CRUISE WAY Your urban weekend away becomes an extended holiday in multiple destinations. You'll enjoy different cities, often with a cabin view right onto the action.
THE CRUISE Celebrity Cruises' 12-night "Scandinavia and Russia" cruise on Celebrity Eclipse return from Amsterdam really packs in the urban destinations. Many are among Europe's most easily accessible, elegant and user-friendly small cities, including Helsinki, Copenhagen and Stockholm. You can also spend a day in Berlin and two days in St Petersburg.
DON'T MISS An evening's cooking class with a local chef in St Petersburg, who'll show you how to make pelmini dumplings and then lead you through a vodka tasting with some traditional snacks to help soak up the alcohol.
SAIL AWAY From $3249, multiple departures between May and August 2018. See celebritycruises.com
THE WILDLIFE TRIP
THE USUAL WAY Organised safaris or dive excursions, which can often visit predictable and well-trodden (or paddled) places where animals are accustomed to human disturbance.
THE CRUISE WAY Small-ship cruises get you up close to remote and seldom-visited environments, and often carry on-board biologists and photographers to help passengers make the most of wildlife moments.
THE CRUISE A nine-day Lindblad Expeditions "Cloud Forest to Caribbean" cruise will take you to Panama and noted eco-destination Costa Rica aboard National Geographic Quest, which is equipped with kayaking and snorkelling gear for up-close marine animal encounters. On land, you're likely to see macaws, toucans, hummingbirds, monkeys and sloths.
DON'T MISS A transit of the Panama Canal to see one of the world's great engineering wonders. Even here, wildlife can be spotted on an excursion to the rainforest of Barro Colorado Island, home to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.
SAIL AWAY From $5740pp, multiple departures between January and April 2018. See expeditions.com
THE WELLNESS RETREAT
THE USUAL WAY A wellness resort. Lovely but monotonous, unless you want to spend your entire week being serenaded by whale song in a massage room.
THE CRUISE WAY A comprehensive on-board program of yoga, pilates, water aerobics and other stretching classes, plus spa treatments, fitness programs, healthy menus and nutritional and health advice from experts – all folded into an adventurous holiday.
THE CRUISE Silversea runs a whole range of wellness-themed cruises, among them a 13-day itinerary between Ho Chi Minh City and Hong Kong on Silver Discoverer that takes you to mostly Vietnamese destinations, including the Mekong Delta, Da Nang and Cat Ba Island.
DON'T MISS An excursion to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park from port city Dong Hoi. The World Heritage site is like an inland Halong Bay, with soaring karst outcrops riddled with caves. Its stunning landscapes provide wellness for the soul.
SAIL AWAY From $12,690pp, departing March 2, 2018. See silversea.com
THE SHOPPING SPREE
THE USUAL WAY You're generally confined to a single city during a shopping break: not so good if you want to pack variety and interest into your spare suitcase.
THE CRUISE WAY Few cruises focus specifically on shopping, but choose an itinerary that links great shopping cities – or even better, countries – and you'll discover a huge range of shopping opportunities along the way.
THE CRUISE Windstar Cruises' 14-day cruise from Hong Kong to Tianjin (Beijing) on Star Legend starts in and visits some of Asia's top shopping cities. In Taipei, plunder the traditional goods of famous Dihua Street Market. In Shanghai, top shopping drag Nanking Road is a shopaholic's delight.
DON'T MISS Fashion and homewares apart, you can also snap up interesting souvenirs such as locally brewed sake from Miyakojima, black pearls from Ishigaki and Bingata-dyed fabric from Okinawa, all remote Japanese islands.
SAIL AWAY From $4799, departing March 17, 2018. See windstarcruises.com
THE FAMILY HOLIDAY
THE USUAL WAY All in together at the beach house or resort, with the whole family in the same place and everyone compelled to do the same thing.
THE CRUISE WAY For extended families who have different interests, a cruise provides the perfect compromise. A range of activities, dining and entertainment options keeps everyone happy, whether together or – when it's the moment for me time – separately.
THE CRUISE Regent Seven Seas Cruises has occasional "Club Mariner" itineraries with a special youth program and interactive activities designed for three different age groups, including teens. One is a seven-night Alaskan itinerary from Vancouver to Seward on Seven Seas Mariner. Shore activities include adventure karting, bear spotting, zip lining and a river-boat adventure.
DON'T MISS The children won't soon forget a helicopter ride to Mendenhall Glacier, where they'll meet a professional musher and learn about Alaskan sled dogs before they get the chance to drive a dog team.
SAIL AWAY From $5350pp, departing May 16, 2018. See rssc.com
AMAZING SIGHTS BEST APPRECIATED FROM A CRUISE SHIP
CHINA'S YANGTZE GORGES
Only little nibbles of this 250-kilometre stretch of China's most famous landscape can be seen by land. River cruises take you between plunging cliffs overlooked by misty mountains, passing seemingly inaccessible ancient temples along the way. Smaller tributary Lesser Three Gorges has emerald-green water and forest-covered hills. See sanctuaryretreats.com
TRISTAN DE CUNHA
The world's most remote inhabited archipelago (population 300) lies in the middle of the south Atlantic and has no airport, no hotels and not a single restaurant. The British territory is only infrequently visited by cruise ships, providing the ultimate in boasting rights for the intrepid. See ponant.com
NORWEGIAN FJORDS
While you can see many fjords by road, you don't get the same impression of these majestic landforms that you get midwater from a ship's deck. Sheer walls rise on either side, tumbled with waterfalls and occasionally opening to trim villages of snug red houses. See vikingcruises.com.au
PANAMA CANAL
True, you can see it from the canal's banks, but why bother? It's sailing through that matters, providing a rare chance to experience an engineering marvel of locks that can accommodate even large cruise ships. Besides, travelling between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans is a rite of passage for cruise aficionados. See princess.com
ANTARCTICA
Unless you're Bear Grylls or a research scientist, the only way to see Antarctica is by cruise ship; an exclusive 30,000 passengers per year disembark on the great white continent. Icebergs blue as Midori, penguin colonies and surfacing whales are the setting for remote adventure without sacrificing creature comforts. See chimuadventures.com
FIVE PLACES BEST VISITED BY CRUISE SHIP
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Coral atolls in a sapphire sea, smouldering volcanoes and wild rainforest-draped landscapes provide a backdrop to this nation famous for vivid tribal life, festivals and feather-shimmering costumes. Expedition-style cruising accesses remote communities in comfort and safety. The energetic can snorkel with whale sharks, dive on World War II wrecks and fish for black marlin. Some itineraries focus on diving the remote Louisiade Archipelago, others venture 160 kilometres up the Sepik River. See truenorth.com.au
GALAPAGOS ISLANDS, ECUADOR
In these remote Ecuadorean islands, sea lions swim up as you snorkel, tortoises trundle past, and you can hear giant iguanas chomp on seaweed. The birdlife made famous by Darwin is extraordinary: finches, blue-footed boobies, penguins and flamingos. Small cruise ships get in among it with glass-bottom boats, kayaks and scuba-diving gear. On-board experts in biology and geology help you understand these remarkable volcanic islands and their rugged basalt landscapes. See celebritycruises.com
THE KIMBERLEY, AUSTRALIA
The Kimberley coast is virtually inaccessible except by water. Rugged hills, plunging gorges and pristine coastlines await on cruises that mostly sail between Broome and Darwin. Swim on reefs with manta rays, turtles and dugongs, and scramble into spectacular red gorges where you can reward yourself with a float in a rock pool where waterfalls gush. Remote historical settlements and Aboriginal rock art provide hidden cultural interest in this rugged outback landscape. See silversea.com
THE AMAZON, SOUTH AMERICA
The only comfortable way to experience the world's most bio-diverse region is by cruise ship. Pink dolphins leap, toucans chatter and mist shimmers in rainforest. Many river cruises depart from rubber-trade town Iquitos in Peru, with excursions exploring tributaries such as the Rio Negro. In Brazil, grand colonial-era city Belem and humid, frontier metropolis Manaus are among ports of call. Zodiac excursions take passengers on close encounters with macaws and monkeys. See hl-cruises.com
SVALBARD ISLANDS, NORWAY
Shore excursions to view polar bears are a highlight of these spectacularly rugged Norwegian islands. More than half the archipelago lies in nature reserves or national park, home to walrus, seals and Arctic foxes. The islands are also rich in birdlife, with colonies of gannets and puffins. This really is expedition territory, since big cruise ships are banned from operating here, leaving the field open to exclusive small-ship adventurers. See hurtigruten.com
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