🌿 Thinking about your first cruise?
Cruising always felt like something for older people. You know: People who love bingo, buffets and guided tours.
But then something shifted.
I heard exciting stories from my younger friends and realised: wait a minute… this might be the most comfortable way to travel I’ve tried so far.
So if you’re also cruise curious, or planning your first cruise and don’t quite know where to begin, I’m sharing what helped me make the decisions. Just useful, practical information en experiences from someone who had to figure it out too.
🧭 Why I started looking into cruises
It began with one simple wish: I want to see different places in one journey. Cruising offered something that felt surprisingly… comfortable:
One cabin, multiple destinations
No trains, transfers or check-ins
Everything arranged, but still flexible
Was I a cruise person? I didn’t know.
But I was definitely ready for comfortable travel — and this seemed like a good place to start.
In this blog, I share:
What to know before you book — the first things I discovered when I started looking into cruises
What helped me choose — how I went from confused to calm, and why the travel fair helped
A few practical choices — cabins, flights, packages, and what made sense for me
What’s next — a peek at the upcoming blogs in this series
and finally,
A TravelGlaze moment — with honest reactions I’ve heard so far
🧭 What to Know Before You Book
One thing I didn’t realise at first: cruises really aren’t all the same.
The ships vary in size, the atmosphere can be formal or super relaxed, and every cruise line has its own feel — shaped by who they attract and how they like to do things.
It took me a bit of time to figure out what would suit me.
I wasn’t looking for endless entertainment or formal dinners. I just wanted something organised, comfortable, and not too flashy.
Some decisions are easy (window or no window?).
Others took me a bit longer to figure out.
Like the route.
I chose a Mediterranean cruise that starts and ends in Barcelona — easy flights, no jetlag, and a good mix of sea days and city stops.
Then there’s the cruise line.
I went with MSC. It seemed comfortable, not too flashy, and the reviews said things like: “clean, organised, good food.” That sounded right for me.
And finally: what’s actually included?
Meals? Yes. Drinks? Sometimes. Wifi? Rarely.
It took me a while to understand what’s part of the deal — and what’s an extra.
(I’ll tell you more about that in the next blog.)
✅ What Helped Me Choose
I didn’t figure it out from behind my laptop.
What really helped was visiting a travel fair. (A good old-fashioned one, with brochures and people who love to talk about cruise ships.)
There, I started to see the differences between cruise lines — not just in price, but in atmosphere.
Some were all about entertainment. Others felt calmer, more relaxed. That’s when I started thinking: This could actually suit me.
In the end, the destination was what made the decision.
I knew I wanted to visit southern Europe — and this route gave me just the right mix of cities I hadn’t seen, plus a few I was happy to return to.
I chose the itinerary first.
Once that felt right, the rest of the choices became much easier.
🧾 A Few Practical Choices
Something else I spent a lot of time figuring out: where and how to book.
You can book directly with a cruise line, or through a travel agency.
Both work — it just depends on how much help you want.
Booking directly is often cheaper and gives you full control.
But it also means sorting everything yourself, from flights to transfers to drink packages.Booking through an agency can be a bit more comfortable, especially the first time.
You can ask questions, compare cruise lines, and sometimes get helpful extras — like onboard credit or travel insurance.
Then there’s the flight.
Some cruises offer packages that include flights. I chose to book my own — so I could pick a time I liked, and arrive a day early and stay longer. Just to be safe.
The choices didn’t stop there.
What kind of cabin do you want? This is one of the first decisions you make — and one of the hardest to visualise if you’ve never been on a cruise.
Inside cabins are the most affordable. They have no windows, and are often a bit smaller — but they’re perfect if you just want a place to sleep.
Outside cabins have a window or porthole, so you get natural light but no balcony access.
Balcony cabins give you your own little outdoor space — great if you want to enjoy the sea breeze from your room.
Suites come with more space and extra perks, but often at a much higher price.
I chose an inside cabin. We’ll be sailing mostly at night, and I won’t be spending much time in the room — so it felt like a comfortable, budget-friendly choice. Find out in a later blog if I made the right choise.
Dining style?
Cruises often give you two main options:
A fixed dining time and table — same time, same people, same waiters each evening
Or a more flexible setup, where you can choose when and where you eat
In addition to the main dining areas, many ships also offer:
Buffet-style dining, which is casual and open longer hours
Specialty restaurants, where you can try different cuisines or dine in a quieter setting
These specialty meals often come with an extra fee — sometimes included in a package, sometimes bookable per night. If you enjoy variety (or don’t love big dining rooms), it might be worth looking into one of those dining packages.
For me, I’m keeping it simple for now — I’ll try what’s included first, and see how it feels.Drinks and packages?
Honestly, this part was confusing. What’s included? What’s not? Do you need the drink package, or just a water bottle?
I’ll go into that in the next blog, but here’s what I’ve learned: start with your own habits. If you only drink a coffee and a Coke Zero a day, the packages might not be worth it.Excursions?
You can join group excursions through the cruise line, or explore the port on your own.
The cruise excursions are safe and easy — they wait for you if you’re late.But organising your own excursions gives you more freedom — and often more flexibility in price, pace, and group size. Sites like Shore Excursioneer or Cruise Critic are a good place to start if you want to explore your options.
🧳 What’s Next?
Right now, I haven’t boarded yet — but I already feel better knowing how to begin.
Cruising still feels a bit unknown to me.
But booking it, preparing for it, and slowly understanding how it all works?
That’s taken away most of the stress.
In the next blogs, I’ll share more about what I’ve learned while planning:
what to pack (and what not to), how those confusing packages work, and how I experience my first day at sea.
And of course: once I’m back, I’ll tell you how it all actually went.
The comfortable parts, the surprises, and the things I wish I’d known.
🌟 TravelGlaze Moment
Since I booked, I’ve had all kinds of reactions.
Most are curious. A few surprised. Some practical. All honest.
“Oh, this is on my list too!”
Yes — and my advice? Don’t wait. Don’t overthink. Just plan it. A cruise isn’t only for special occasions — it’s a very relaxed way to see the world.
“You’re not that old, are you?”
Well… Not yet, some people say that I’m getting on the way😄 Cruising really isn’t just for older travellers.
Many ships have kids’ clubs, casual dining, shows, even water slides — but also quiet corners, libraries, and calm sea views. The best advise I got: There’s plenty to do — but no pressure to join in.
“Isn’t it bad for the environment?”
It’s a fair question — and the honest answer is: not perfect, but improving.
Modern cruise ships carry around thousends of passengers, all sharing one ship, one route, one kitchen. If those same travellers flew, drove, and stayed in separate hotels, the combined footprint could be even larger.
Newer ships produce up to 30% fewer emissions than older ones and many are shifting towards cleaner fuel and shore power.
For me, conscious travel isn’t about perfection — it’s about awareness. if that interests you, I wrote more about this in a post on how Gen Z is changing travel.
“Is it… safe?”
Let’s just say: the Titanic was over 110 years ago. 
Modern cruise ships follow strict international safety rules, with regular drills, trained crew, and advanced tech. And — bonus — there are no icebergs in the Mediterranean.
💬 Have you been on a cruise — or thinking about one?
I’d love to hear what you’ve heard, wondered, or worried about.
Feel free to share in the comments — the more honest, the better.
