Ready to Cruise? Here’s the Right One for You

Families

When traveling with a family, it’s so important to plan based on the whole crew’s preferences and needs to make sure the trip is fun for everyone. On cruise ships, on-board activities are often the most crucial element of the experience – how else will parents find a minute or two to relax?

As you might guess, one of our top picks for family cruising is Disney Cruise Line. Not only do they offer all of the normal amenities, from spas, to fine dining, to on board entertainment – they also offer a whole range of activities specifically geared toward kids. Depending on the specific cruise you choose, these could include kid-specific Disney shows, parties attended by Disney characters, themed water activities, special desserts and treats for kids, special shops with Disney gear, and more.

If you’d rather try something different, check out Royal Caribbean International cruises. Again here, the on board activities are the real star of the show. These ships often offer really unique options that will keep your family occupied all day, including rock-climbing walls, surf simulators, skydiving simulators, water parks, bumper cars, and more. The kids will end every day totally wiped out – in a good way!

Singles

We’re big proponents of solo travel. When you’re out in the world on your own, you get to choose what you want to do every time, and really take time to relax and rejuvenate. If you’re thinking about taking a cruise solo, however, you’ll want to be careful about which you choose, in terms of pricing and amenities.

Norwegian Cruise Line offers studio rooms specifically designed and priced for solo travelers. Norwegian offers cruises all over the world, many of which offer these less expensive rooms for singles, without sacrificing any of the other on board amenities that make the cruise experience truly special, like entertainment, bars and restaurants, pools, and dance parties.

If you can’t find what you’re looking for on Norwegian, try Holland America Line. This cruise line actually has a program geared toward singles – the Single Partners Program – which includes mixers and games. And if you’re not opposed to rooming with someone new, you can actually save money by letting the cruise line pair you with another cruiser who is also traveling solo. Holland America also offers a small number of single-person rooms, but not nearly as many as Norwegian.

Seniors

One of the biggest perks of moving into the retirement phase of life is that you finally have more time to travel the world and one of the best ways to do that is by cruising. On a cruise, you’ll have the chance to see many places in one trip and relax as you travel from destination to destination. Whether you’re planning to cruise solo, with a partner or with friends, you can plan a trip that really appeals to you at this stage in your life.

One of the best options for senior cruises is Azamara Club Cruises. These ships sail in North and South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific. This line is great for seniors for several reasons. First of all, they really place an emphasis on the needs of individual cruisers. They’re known for their impeccable service and attention to detail, and even have butlers on board if that tickles your fancy. Azamara Club ships often stop for longer periods of time at ports in different countries, so you won’t be rushed to take in the cities you visit. They’ll also accommodate guests with special needs and dietary restrictions. There are wheelchair accessible rooms available, and service animals are welcome on all ships.

Another great option is Oceania Cruises, which travel pretty much everywhere: Africa, Asia, Europe, Australia/New Zealand, the Caribbean, Alaska, Canada/New England, South America and the South Pacific. These ships are great for seniors because they offer a number of onboard enrichment programs, like culinary classes and art lessons. They also often have impressive art collections on board for your perusal. In addition, cabins are known for being particularly spacious and private, so you can get some peace and quiet if that’s what you’re looking for. Don’t leave your cruise investment unprotected! Make sure you purchase cruise travel insurance right after you make your first deposit.

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Now What?

No matter what type of cruiser you are, it’s important you start off your experience on the right foot – which means making sure you’re covered by insurance. Because you’ll potentially travel to different countries and you’ll have travel connections to make along the way, it’s super important to make sure you’re covered just in case anything goes wrong. We advise using a comparison site when purchasing insurance to guarantee higher amounts of coverage that is still very affordable. Unfortunately, insurance offered by the cruise line isn’t as comprehensive or flexible as other general retail insurance policies.

If it’s your first time cruising, check out our blog for our first-time cruising tips and when you should be booking. If you’re not keen on ocean cruises, there are plenty of river cruises out there to check out. Saving you the stress, find an insurance policy that will cover you while you set sea with our instant quote tool.

Meagan Palmer

As a seasoned professional with over five years of experience in the travel insurance industry, Meagan has honed her expertise in marketing and operations working for Yonder Travel Insurance. Throughout her career, she's shown dedication assisting customers at every stage of their travel insurance journey, from the initial quote process to navigating the claims process. Her expert understanding of travel insurance equips her to provide unbiased and valuable insights, which help travelers find the best coverage and maximize its benefits.