Holiday guide
Ocean cruising
Whether you’re after massive or modest, upmarket or mid-range, classic or expedition, there’s sure to be a ship to suit. Our experts offer the best advice on which cruise is best for you.
Twenty spectacular destinations best seen by ship
There are stellar destinations here and overseas that are simply at their best when visited aboard a cruise ship.
- Brian Johnston
How fast do ships travel? 12 of the biggest questions in cruising answered
How fast do cruise ships sail, what do crews get paid and why are bananas on board considered unlucky? The big questions in cruising answered.
- Brian Johnston
How to choose the perfect cruise
Whether you’re a cruise veteran or a first timer, a party animal or a culture vulture, there’s a cruise out there to suit every taste.
- Brian Johnston
The world’s 10 greatest cities to visit by ship (plus five to avoid)
Get the absolute best out of the world’s 10 greatest ports, and note five far-flung ones that are best skipped.
- Brian Johnston
This cruise line hits the affordable sweet spot for adults avoiding megaships
This is the cruise line for those keen to move on from big ships overrun with kids and enjoy upmarket extras, without luxury prices and pretensions.
- Brian Johnston
Better than the Med: Europe’s other great sea remains underrated
Like the Mediterranean, this sea and its eight countries are rich in attractions and culture – but there are far fewer crowds.
- Brian Johnston
Finally, cruise ships are letting you taste the local food
A downside of cruising is missing out on local food, but that’s changing as some cruise lines strive to offer more regional dishes and food experiences.
- Brian Johnston
Every voyage here is a lottery and my luck was once-in-a-lifetime
No two trips are ever alike, which is why I’ve become addicted to visiting the polar fringes of our planet.
- Justin Meneguzzi
Is a Kimberley cruise too wild for a nervous traveller? I found out
I’m not a fearless traveller. When a crew member warns there are crocodiles everywhere we will cruise, I consider staying on the ship for the next 10 days.
- Kristie Kellahan
In a region famous for wild party cruises, this trip defied expectations
Having seen the reality TV show Below Deck, shot on the Dalmatian Coast, I was worried I would be the frumpy middle-aged woman in a sea of glamorous youngsters.
- Kristie Kellahan
The highlights among the 63 cruise ships coming Down Under this summer
The range of ships this summer ought to be celebrated, and cruisers should take advantage of Australia’s cruising golden age while they still can.
- Brian Johnston
- Opinion
On a Disney cruise, Mickey Mouse was far from the highlight
There’s something else appealing about cruising with Disney, for both kids and parents – and it’s not the people dressed up in character costumes.
- Ben Groundwater
- Opinion
Going on a cruise is like entering a parallel universe
As a cruise ship novice, I felt a bit like an alien on another world. But, by the end, I had joined them.
- David Whitley
- Opinion
Bring back Boaty McBoatface: Ship names are too confusing (and boring)
It was once easy to discern which ships belonged to which cruise line. Now with all the Skys, Spirits, Suns and Stars, it’s hard to know which ship is which.
- Brian Johnston
To reach an untouched paradise, you need to travel on this unique ship
A hybrid between a cruise ship and a cargo ship, the one-of-a-kind Aranui 5 takes passengers and vital supplies to some of the most remote islands on the planet.
- Helen Anderson
On my first big-ship cruise, I realised I’d been missing all the fun
On board one of the Australia-based former P&O ships converted to a Carnival vessel.
- Shaney Hudson
No buffets or entertainment – just an incredible cruise experience, period
Most cruises are a blur of activity – buffets, crowded pools, and predictable entertainment. This journey is very different.
- Natasha Bazika
Bigger than the Panama: Cruising the world-beating canal few have heard of
It’s longer than the Panama Canal, busier than the Suez: Europe’s un-lauded sea canal is a treat for travellers.
- Brian Johnston
Inside the $900 million ‘pleasure zone’ created just for cruise passengers
One way cruise lines can avoid complaints about overtourism is, increasingly, building their own exclusive island resorts for passengers.
- Sara Macefield
This Mediterranean megaship odyssey feels like time travelling
History is at your fingertips – and your feet – when you cruise the Mediterranean aboard a megaship.
- John Borthwick
Seven of the world’s wackiest cruise ship cabins
From a suite in the ship’s funnel to a family room with its own slide, these staterooms are as in demand as they are extreme
- Nicole Carmichael
One of the world’s most isolated places is the ultimate cruise destination
Forget Greenland, Svalbard and Antarctica. Getting to one of the world’s most isolated places isn’t easy, but this island outclasses them all.
- Brian Johnston
My first time on a big ship taught me a big lesson
The secret of making the most out of this trip is working out when to go big, when to go small, when to go niche and when to go solo.
- David Whitley
Want to use the Wi-Fi on a cruise ship? Read this first
Poor Wi-Fi has long been a bugbear of cruise travellers. No more, though some aspects of staying connected are still annoying.
- Brian Johnston
When people say cruises are all same-same, I counter with this
Even cruise regulars might not have heard of these niche, sometimes quirky, cruise companies.
- Brian Johnston
Going on a cruise? Beware these insurance traps
If you haven’t checked your travel insurance cover on this kind of holiday, you might be in for a very nasty surprise when trouble looms.
- Brian Johnston
- ★★★★½
Not quite luxe but this expedition ship is the real deal
Premium rather than luxury, this is an unbeatable vessel with every technology and a crack team of experts to tackle polar travel.
- Brian Johnston
The nightmare that happens when you miss your cruise
Life lesson: the ship never waits. In Portugal in 2016, a British passenger tried to swim back to her departing ship and was lucky to survive.
- Brian Johnston
Are you the perfect cruiser? Check our etiquette guide to find out
If it takes two to tango, it takes a whole boatload of people to sail. Do you have your cruising etiquette down pat?
- Brian Johnston
- Collection
Traveller’s ultimate guide to cruise ports
Planning a cruise, but not sure what itinerary is right for you? Here’s our expert guide to some of the major port stops around the world.
Business class at sea: Exclusive, luxury areas on big ships take off
If hotels can have executive club lounges and airlines have business and first class, why can’t cruise ships do the same thing? Now they are.
- Brian Johnston
I went on one of Virgin’s party cruise ships alone. Here’s what happened
What started as a quiet solo escape became a whirlwind of fun, unexpected friendships and unforgettable moments.
- Tatyana Leonov
When it comes to cruising, there’s good news for solo travellers
Single, or partner not keen on a cruise? The good news is many lines are making it easier, cheaper and more appealing to sail alone.
- Brian Johnston
This is a cruise fit for the gods
This eastern Mediterranean cruise takes in history, myth, and a date with Dionysus.
- Keith Austin
The world’s 15 greatest seas and how to explore them in comfort
Dreaming of sailing the seven seas? Even better, match these 15 amazing expanses of water with the best lines for a cruise of a lifetime.
- Brian Johnston
Which cabins are noisiest? 20 more of the big questions in cruising answered
What should you pack for a cruise? Is there a dress code on board? Do cruise ships really have a brig for unruly passengers? Here are the answers.
- Brian Johnston
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