One of the questions I get asked all the time is:
“I’ve never been on a cruise before. Where should I start?”
If you’re travelling as a couple and want to experience cruising for the first time, my recommendation is usually not to start with one of the mega ships (unless you’re travelling with children and want all the family activities).
Instead, I’d encourage you to look at a smaller ship.
Smaller ships tend to feel more relaxed, more refined, and are generally more adult-oriented. You spend less time waiting in line, the service feels more personal, and it’s simply a different style of travel. It’s one of the reasons I enjoy recommending them to so many of my clients.
But the ship is only half the story.
The itinerary matters just as much.
When you’re choosing your first cruise, look for an itinerary that hugs the coastline instead of spending days crossing open water. I love itineraries where you’re waking up in a new destination almost every day, with only one or two sea days mixed in.
After all, the whole point of cruising is to experience more places without constantly packing and unpacking.
That’s exactly why I chose Celebrity Constellation for my hosted Italy & Croatia Group Cruise.
It’s a beautiful mid-sized ship sailing one of my favourite Mediterranean itineraries, visiting incredible ports like Portofino, Florence (La Spezia), the Amalfi Coast, Kotor, Dubrovnik, Split, and Ravenna. Every day brings a new adventure, while still giving you enough time to relax and enjoy life onboard.
And while we’re talking about choosing a cabin…
People often tell me,
“I don’t need a balcony. My room is just for sleeping.”
I couldn’t disagree more. 😊
One of my favourite moments on any cruise is waking up early, stepping onto my private balcony with a cup of coffee, and watching the coastline slowly come to life. Seeing colourful villages, dramatic cliffs, fishing boats, and historic cities appear in the distance is part of the experience.
Those quiet moments often become some of my favourite memories.
If you’re sailing an itinerary with breathtaking scenery, a balcony isn’t just another cabin category—it’s another way to experience the destination.
Cruising isn’t simply about getting from one port to another.
t’s about slowing down, waking up somewhere new, and enjoying the journey as much as the destination.
