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All cruises are the same, right? No, in fact, two people on the same ship can have two completely different experiences. There are several factors to consider when planning your cruise vacation.

SHIP SIZE
Why should the size of the boat matter to you? It's the difference between staying at a mega-resort or in a boutique hotel with just a few rooms. There are generally three sizes of boats:

Mega-Ships: These ships pack thousands of passengers onto a floating city. These boats offer more choices of activities but less personal service and bigger crowds everywhere you go. Docking is limited to large, well-visited destinations.

Medium Sized Ships: These cruise ships usually carry 400-600 passengers, enough to warrant a fair amount of activities and entertainment, with smaller sized pools and typically more rooms with personal decks. Usually the crowds are more subdued, and often the ships feature specialized itineraries or themes (wine tasting or a focus on local culture, for example).

Small Ships: These ships tend to be more casual with a focus on educational activities (whale watching, for example) and learning about destinations en route. The ships are able to go to more varied destinations, getting closer to the scenery. Entertainment is likely to be limited, as are dining options. This intimate setting means only a few hundred passengers (or less) will be aboard.

DESTINATION
Your choice of sailing itinerary is probably the most crucial decision you will make when it comes to your cuise experience. Selecting the port cities will determine just how interesting the cruise is for you. Remember that shore tours are not covered (unless specified) in your cruise price, and a single excursion can run well over $100, adding significantly to your trip. You can also budget for your own sightseeing, but you may spend a lot more time making arrangements and are responsible for getting back to the ship on time, whereas any arrangements made by the ship mean that everything will be taken care of for you, and if the tour runs a little late, your ship will still be there waiting.

ROOM LOCATION
Next to your destination, the location of your cabin on board ship is the most crucial factor to your happiness. For some, a room is just a place to sleep, but the better the cabin, the more likely you are to have some room to move, a balcony to watch the passing views, and feel less motion from the boat.

YOUR TRAVEL COMPANIONS
Determining the size of your ship and itinerary are likely to be significant factors in the type of person you will find on your ship and how compatible the group is likely to be for you. While there will always be a mix of people, short trips to Mexico from Florida in March and April, for example, are more likely to be filled with young 20-somethings than a cruise to the South Pacific during the same time frame. Selecting a ship that focuses on things you like to do with a crowd size you are comfortable with is more likely to ensure your vacation is a success.

Cruising can be a great way to vacation, but considering these four simple factors can be the difference between the best vacation of your life and one that turns out to be disappointing. Be honest about what you like and need on a vacation, and you are sure to have a great cruising experience. Bon Voyage!

Learn more about this author, Christine Zibas.
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