Booking your first cruise can be daunting, says Gemma Poppy Outram, cruise business development manager for travel franchise Not Just Travel. It pays to know the basics such as when to book, what type of cabin to choose, and where to make savings.
Gemma has been on more than 30 ships and runs her own cruise travel company in her spare time, too.
Last year, the side hustle made £1.5million as she passes on her knowledge to holidaymakers. “I know each cruise ship intimately and can match-make every customer to their perfect cruise holiday.”
Gemma says booking early gives you the best choice of cabins. “Early birds can book as far as two years ahead, with some lines taking 2026 bookings. You might bag an early booking discount, too.”
The right cabin can make or break a cruise experience, but it’s a tricky choice. “Is it best to let the cruise company allocate you? Do you choose forward, middle or aft? Top deck or a lower down? These decisions matter.”
Gemma tells budget-conscious travellers that they can save money with an inside cabin. “The temptation is to go straight for a balcony but that costs a lot more.
“Taking an inside cabin on your first cruise gives you the cruise experience. Next time, you can upgrade,” Gemma says.
Many veteran cruisers love inside cabins. “For many, the cabin is simply a base to sleep, shower and go. They can easily forgo the extra cost of having their own balcony.”
Gemma even suggests a “hack” to get round not having a window: using your cabin TV as a window. “Cruise ships typically have a webcam that looks out to sea. You can wake up to a sunrise view and see when you’re arriving at a destination.”
For those who can afford it, having your own balcony is special. “You can curl up with a book whilst enjoying the scenic ocean vistas.”
Facilities vary depending on the ship, so check. “Some lines simply have balcony chairs, others, like Virgin Voyages, come with egg chairs and even hammocks.”
If worried about seasickness, book a mid-ship cabin. “Some cruisers love to feel the movement of the ship rocking them off to sleep, others want to avoid any movement completely.”
Newer, larger ships absorb the majority of ocean movement. Often you barely know you’re sailing until you look outside, Gemma says. “If motion is a concern then consider a cabin somewhere in the middle of the decks.”
This is especially important when sailing over winter in cooler regions when it can be a little choppy.
Those who aren’t too worried about where their cabin is located have one major advantage. They can wait for a cheap last-minute deal.
“Just remember that cut-price cabins may be in noisy public areas, or at the very front where ship movement is most likely to be felt.”
If this all sounds too complicated, Gemma recommends getting a cruise expert to guide you through the process.
This won’t cost a penny extra. “The cruise company pays their commission, not you,” Gemma says.
Make sure they’re authorised by industry body ABTA, to protect your money if something goes wrong.
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Booking errors can wreck your fun and experts at Cruise Mummy warn against the following common mistakes.
Booking direct. It’s often cheaper and easier to book with a travel agent, especially the first time. They may offer access to special fares or packages with flights that aren’t available elsewhere.”
If you do book yourself, consider using an online comparison tool.
Booking at the wrong time. The best deals are available either when itineraries are first released, or 12 weeks before departure when prices drop to fill empty cabins.
Booking last minute is a well-known way to get a cheap deal but you may have to be more flexible over itinerary and dates.
Paying full price for children. Inevitably, cruises cost more during the school holidays, but savings can be made.
Look for cruise lines that offer a reduced fee for younger cruisers – not all do – or even let children go free. Some offer a complimentary night nursery, allowing you to be child-free during the evenings. Careful research could save you hundreds of pounds.
Getting a shock roaming bill. While at sea, your mobile can’t connect to its usual satellites, so it connects to maritime satellites instead, which are pricey.
Switch off your phone off or put it into aeroplane mode to prevent apps from using data in the background. If you cannot bear to be without the internet, Wi-Fi packages are available onboard. These come at a cost but are cheaper than paying for data roaming.
Running up a huge drinks bill. If you’re not travelling all-inclusive, onboard drinks will push up the price of your cruise.
Most cruise lines allow you to carry on one bottle of spirits or wine per person. Some may allow more for a small fee. You may have to pay a corkage fee if you drink your own booze in the ship’s bars and restaurants, though.
