What to pay attention to when choosing a cruise: tips from experienced travelers
The allure of sailing the open seas and the sense of complete freedom—cruise vacations have always been and remain one of the most enchanting ways to travel. However, before embarking on a maritime adventure, it's important to note that the choice of cruise ship can entirely shape your vacation experience.
Many travelers prefer quieter and more secluded ships, such as the 26-year-old Vision of the Seas, asserting that the serene atmosphere on smaller vessels reveals the true treasures of travel. The Daily Mail discusses how to make the decision when selecting a cruise ship.
The Vision of the Seas, operated by Royal Caribbean International, stands no chance of surpassing the world's largest cruise ship, the Icon of the Seas. This modern gem of the seas and oceans, boasting 20 decks with a waterfall and the tallest slide, will awe any traveler.
However, many tourists are not seeking extravagant conditions for their vacation but rather prefer a more relaxed atmosphere.
For instance, let's compare the prices of traveling on two cruise ships. An eight-day tour on the Vision of the Seas along the coasts of Florida and the Bahamas costs only $426, while the price for 7 days on the Icon of the Seas starts at about $2,536.
David Di Vito, a 34-year-old traveler, for example, prefers to travel on small, older, and more popular ships. The Vision of the Seas is one of his favorites.
According to tourists, it is more comfortable to relax on such ships, and booking excursions in ports is much easier. The capacity of such a ship is about 2,050 guests, which is incomparable to the number of 7,000 passengers on the Icon of the Seas.
You will be able to enjoy the ocean view from different places on the ship, and there is enough space to participate in various quizzes.
At the same time, Marie Marks, a luxury travel consultant at Protravel International in Beverly Hills, believes that each ship has its own personality.
Vision of the Seas made its maiden voyage in May 1998 and underwent refurbishment in 2013. It offers a variety of voyages to destinations such as Bermuda, the Bahamas, Canada, and New England, with prices starting at $900 per person.
According to Marie, the condition of the dry dock plays an important role in choosing a ship. Phil Perry, a minister from St. Charles, Missouri, agrees. He always checks the date of the last ship repair when looking for a cruise ship.
Another important point to consider when comparing large and small ships is their ability to access small harbors.
Due to their size, smaller ships can visit more exotic places with longer routes and intensive port visits.
At the same time, large cruise ships have better am enities and a greater variety of entertainment, as well as luxury restaurants.
Some travelers emphasize that luxury cuisine is not so important to them during their vacation.
For example, Adam Carnevale, a small business owner from North Carolina, was not impressed with his vacation with Carnival Cruise Line. In his opinion, the food and service on the Carnival Celebration (5282 passengers) did not match what he experienced on the Carnival Sunshine (3002 passengers).
"You don't have to offer me all these luxurious things. Sometimes vanilla is good," he said.
