How to Make the Most of Your Cruise

It’s no secret that cruising is booming – but is it for you? Sally Macmillan has been on more than 40 cruises and shares her tips for first-timers

We’ve come a long way in 15 years. Back then, just over 116,000 of us went cruising. This year, more than a million Australians will be on a ship somewhere in the world. We’re expecting 48 ships to visit our ports this summer and Sydney’s cruise terminals are busy every single day in peak season.

I’ve been going on cruises for nine years as a travel writer and I’m fresh back from a cruise to New Caledonia on Pacific Explorer, P&O Cruises’ newly renovated flagship. It was exactly six years ago that I cruised the Pacific Islands on Pacific Jewel, and while the charms of New Caledonia’s Noumea, Maré and Isle of Pines remain constant, much has changed in the world of cruising – even since 2011.

So what’s different? For a start, the choice of things to do. The youngest in our group was two, the oldest 60-plus, so we sampled everything on board from the kids’ clubs to waterslides, Segways, spa treatments and a degustation dinner at Luke Mangan’s Salt Grill. The lukewarm buffets and set dining times of cruising in the past have been consigned to history. And even though I’d sworn off zip lines since getting stuck on one in Alaska, I couldn’t resist giving it another go – this  cruise is all about having fun.

Bar-hopping before and after dinner takes you to trivia in the Explorer Hotel, live music hot-spot The Blue Room or to the sophisticated Bonded Store for expertly mixed cocktails. Another strictly adults-only activity is the new Love Riot show – a raunchy mix of dance, acrobatics, aerobatics and visual jokes.

If that sort of entertainment doesn’t appeal, there are pools, cinemas and theatres. Just like cruising itself, the choices just keep on growing. 

Before you book

Visit cruising.org.au to find a specialist cruise travel agent. Go to the ship’s website and explore the shore excursions – do you like the sound of them? Often, you can pick your cabin before you sail – as in  real estate, location is everything. Although modern ships have efficient stabilisers, it’s a good idea to book a cabin in the middle of the ship (the most stable point) if you worry about seasickness. If you’re sensitive to noise, stay well away from the pool deck. I like cabins on the same deck as the launderette – but not opposite or next door as they get a lot of traffic.

Choosing your cruise

Ships vary enormously in size and  this is what determines the facilities, itineraries, fares and the number of your fellow passengers. Bigger ships offer more choices of accommodation, entertainment, restaurants, bars and activities. Economies of scale also mean entry-level fares are lower than for smaller ships, so tend to be most popular with multi-generation groups and young families.

Royal Caribbean’s 4180-passenger Ovation of the Seas is the biggest to sail locally and boasts megaship features, such as surf and sky-diving simulators. A downside of huge ships is the queuing!

At the opposite end are ships that accommodate a few hundred people – some are akin to the world’s best boutique hotels and sail to places that megaships can’t reach.

In between, there’s a huge range of mid-size ships – the choices can be overwhelming, which is why getting expert advice is so vital.

What does “all-inclusive” really mean?

It means different things on different ships, so be clear in advance. All cruises include meals, entertainment and kids’ clubs, but specialty restaurants, drinks, decent coffee, compulsory gratuities, shore excursions and some onboard activities cost extra on some ships and are included on others. As a result, you might start with a low base fare, but find the extras mount up alarmingly.

In general, the more luxurious the cruise, the more you pay upfront and the more inclusions you’ll enjoy.  As a rough guide for your budget,  a drinks package bought onboard Pacific Explorer is $7.50 a day for soft drinks and $89 a day for a mix of soft and alcoholic drinks. And, remember, you can’t share a package with another cruiser. 

What should you pack?

We tend to think the Pacific Islands are balmy year-round, but the weather is quite cool from June to August. Packing layers and a lightweight waterproof jacket is always a good plan at any time of the year, along with swimmers, snorkelling kit and reef shoes or sandals.

Check the itinerary for theme parties (we had a white night and Gatsby night) and whether you need formal wear – cruise lines’ websites have detailed guides on dress codes  in their FAQ sections.

P&O and Carnival’s Australia-based ships have Australian power outlets, but if you have a lot of devices to plug in, you have to ask your cabin steward for a multi-socket powerboard, or bring a travel adaptor plug with USB sockets. Irons are not allowed onboard. Many ships have self-service laundry facilities, but the best advice is don’t pack anything that needs ironing!

Going ashore

Booking a ship’s tour takes all the hassle out of planning and if there is any delay on the tour, the ship will wait for you. (It won’t if you’re late back for any other reason.) Organising your own tour can save money and these days it’s easy to do research on a destination online and book in advance.

In Noumea, I took a ship’s tour to Duck Island. A high-speed Zodiac boat whisked about 10 of us away from the main harbour to this tiny islet, where we had about two hours to snorkel and relax on sunbeds, and the price was $79.99. A similar trip that involved a bus to Anse Vata and  a watertaxi was about $30. As time was limited it was worth stepping off the ship and onto the Zodiac.

SHIP FACTS

Ship facts Pacific Explorer is the line’s newest acquisition, refurbished in June. It takes up to 1998 passengers in rooms ranging from inside cabins to balcony suites. There are 15 eateries and nine bar-lounges, waterslides, two pools, kids’ clubs and two theatres. Fares for the eight-night Taste of Caledonia cruise, departing Sydney on May 24, 2018, start from $862.
Visit pocruises.com.au.