Choosing the right cruise ship based on your interests

Choosing the right cruise ship is a bit like picking a suitor through an online dating service:
You’ll find lots of interesting characters, but not every one is a good candidate for romance.

Like a potential suitor, each cruise line has a personality. Disney means families. Silversea
pampers with luxury. Lindblad Expeditions delivers adventure.

Ships range from the gargantuan (Allure of the Seas, with room for 6,296 passengers) to the
intimate (the Isaac H. Evans, a Maine windjammer that accommodates 22).

Itineraries are almost endless, from sprints through the Caribbean to river rambles through
France’s wine country.

How do you choose the line — and indeed the ship — that best suits you?

First, know what you want out of the cruise. Consider the itinerary, the individual ship and the
cruise line.

“You want to match your style to theirs,” said Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor-in-chief of
CruiseCritic.com.

If you want an active night life, Carnival or Norwegian cruise lines might be the right choice.
But if you want a chance to explore along the way, you will want a cruise that stays longer in each
port.

Do you want to chill out and get a tan or learn about the architecture of Spain?

Itineraries exist for both types of journeys.

“Be really articulate about what you want to get out of the vacation,” Brown said.

Columbus travel agent Ike Reynolds of Reynolds Travel concurred.

“Choosing the right ship has to do with the preferred itinerary . . . and amenities,” he
said.

“As an example, Royal Caribbean cruise line has two 5,000-person ships, which have fantastic
public space, upscale dining, activities like rock-climbing walls, miniature golf — but they are
big ships with lots of passengers.

“Some travelers prefer a smaller ship with less passengers onboard and less chance of getting
lost when you leave your stateroom.”

Travelers should also remember that even within a cruise line not all ships have the same
activities.

Once you know what type of trip you want, you should investigate further, seeking reviews from
those who have taken the kind of trip you are considering.

CruiseCritic.com is one place to start. The website dedicated to cruising is a repository for
100,000 cruise reviews, covering almost 500 cruise ships.

But there is a place closer to home to mine for information, Brown said.

“The best place to go shopping is to go to a travel agent,” she said. “I’ve been on 200-plus
cruises. I use a travel agent. They can really help you winnow down the choices.”

Travel agents know the terminology, can ferret out deals, will help customize your cruise and
can help you pick the right stateroom.

“I can’t imagine why you wouldn’t go to a travel agent,” Brown said.

For example, they can make sure you are placed lower and midship if you are prone to motion
sickness, said Cindy Turkelson, an agent with Travel Leaders in Columbus. They can help you
determine the right number of days away. And they can steer you toward ships with like-minded
passengers — for example, locating a yoga cruise.

Travel agents might also keep you from buying a cruise on price alone. Price is only one factor
to consider, Brown said.

“It’s only gotten more complicated as (cruise lines) have switched from all-inclusive.”

As you consider a trip on the high seas (or placid rivers), have fun planning.

Cindy Decker is Dispatch travel editor. Reach her at 614-461-5027 or by email.

cdecker@dispatch.com

@DispatchTravel