Choosing

Some say the most important aspect of a cruise is your destination. Some say it's the itinerary. Others say it's the cruise line. They're all wrong.

The most important choice you'll make when choosing a cruise is the ship.

Here's why: Whatever ship you choose will be your home for seven days or more. The ship you choose will determine what kind of sleeping quarters you'll have, what kind of food you'll eat, what kind of entertainment you'll see, and even what ports you'll visit. If you don't like your ship, you won't like your cruise.

The right ship is one that makes you comfortable. Every ship has its own personality, depending upon whether it was built for ocean cruising, yachtlike cruising, coastal cruising, or expedition cruising. Big ships are more stable and offer a huge variety of activities and facilities. Smaller ships feel intimate, like private clubs. Each type of ship satisfies a certain type of passenger, and for every big-ship fan there is somebody who would never set foot aboard one of these "floating resorts."