Cruise Ships

Historical Background

Cruise ships originated in the colonial era, when they were the only means of reaching the mother country from distant lands. This was followed by the golden age of great ocean liners in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which lasted until air travel truly took over from ships around sixty years ago. From then on, a period of decline began. In the years that followed, only their use by Americans for recreational purposes saved cruises from disappearing entirely.

Long associated with the marginal image of American retirees visiting the Caribbean, cruises began to make a comeback a few years ago. Now, the growth of tourism, the increasing desire of Westerners to travel, and undoubtedly the idea of professionals offering an ever-wider range of "tourist products" have made cruises fashionable again—for all audiences (and not just seniors, far from it!) and all types, on all the world's seas.

An interesting detail: it should be noted that some ferries—or combinations of several in the Mediterranean and Baltic—allow for circuits identical or nearly identical to those traditionally offered by cruise lines, at a lower cost...

Life on Board

What exactly is a cruise on a ship? Answer: a floating Club Med governed by certain rules and traditions of life on board. Everything is planned and (almost) included in the price (excluding purely personal expenses, of course), from meals to (very rarely) the organisation of excursions, including the many activities and services on board. So, it's best to know this before choosing the option.

Boarding

A cruise begins at the embarkation port, at the maritime station. There, your tickets and identity documents are checked. Your luggage is taken care of and, after a security check, delivered directly to your cabin.

Boarding usually takes place between a welcoming line of ship officers and under the lens of a photographer tasked with capturing your arrival. You then head to reception to collect your cabin keys. A steward, responsible for your cabin, will guide you to it; this is the person you will interact with most often during the crossing.

Inside, you’ll find the "ship’s log," presenting the vessel and to which the daily programme of festivities will be added by the crew. Then comes the departure, marked by a certain ceremony (sirens) as the ship leaves the port.

At Sea and During Port Calls

The Crew

As soon as you set sail, passengers are invited to a welcome cocktail offered by the captain. This is the time to meet some of the crew members responsible for looking after the cruisers. The purser (or their representative) will collect your passport and give you a pass in return, which will simplify formalities during port calls. They are also responsible for cabins, food, and the "quality of life" during the cruise. The cruise director is the "GO" (gentle organiser) and, with their team, handles entertainment and even excursions if no one is specifically assigned to that role.

Meals

A cruise is a full-board formula. On the most luxurious ships, everyone can choose their table and meal times. However, on most ships—especially due to the number of passengers—this freedom is limited, and you must choose your table and time slot at least for the evening dinner, with little possibility of changing it later.

Traditionally, there are many meals and snacks on a ship. Breakfast is served either in your cabin or in various locations on the ship until 11:00 AM... at which time the tradition of serving "bouillon" on deck continues (it once warmed transatlantic passengers). Then comes lunchtime, served in the dining room or at an outdoor buffet, followed by a "four o’clock snack," usually offered in one of the lounges. Finally, dinner, which on some cruises has two sittings: the first, more family-friendly, requires a certain punctuality to make way for the second wave of passengers. This is where you must choose your time, table, and even your neighbours (as well as your menu type if necessary) from the start with the maître d’hôtel, though on this last point, it is sometimes possible to have "private" tables.

As for the quality of the menus, it all depends on the formula (and the nationality of the ship or passengers), though traditionally the "farewell gala" and the "captain’s dinner" generally offer the best in this regard. Other traditions that are tending to disappear on some voyages include formal dinners or evenings and the "midnight buffet."

Entertainment and Port Calls

Throughout the cruise, each passenger can, in principle, enjoy free of charge the wide range of entertainment (shows, lectures, games, etc.) and services (especially sports) offered on board. Not to mention the port calls.

These are not really designed for in-depth discovery of a city or region; they are generally short (one day), sometimes just a few hours. Everything is planned, and a guided tour—often not free (usually between 10 and 30 €)—is generally scheduled, though of course, nothing stops you from exploring on your own.

Important: never go ashore without the pass issued by the purser; this will serve as your passport with the authorities. Likewise, if you go alone, don’t forget to note the berth and the ship’s contact details in case of problems.

Upon Return

At the end of the cruise, a "farewell gala" is always held on board. On the day of departure, you must retrieve your passport, settle any expenses not included in the cruise (such as drinks, which are noted as you go), and consider customary tips for the service staff. If this is not already included in the service, budget roughly 5 to 8 € per day per person.

Ship, Cabin, Service

Key Considerations

Before looking at prices and destinations, take a look at the fleets, facilities, and services, which are crucial factors in choosing a cruise, given, of course, the time you will spend on the ship. Moreover, don’t forget that the appeal of a cruise ship lies precisely in life on board more than in the number or variety of port calls. In short, as a reminder, a cruise ship is not a means of transport; it’s an experience...

The Ship

There is a vast choice, with ships accommodating from a hundred to over 3,000 passengers, like the "Voyager of the Sea," one of the largest in the world! For the latter, sometimes nearly 300 metres long and with up to fifteen decks, they are the equivalent of real floating cities, complete with streets and giant lifts, duty-free shopping arcades, post offices and banks, bars and restaurants, video libraries, libraries, cybercafés, cinemas and theatres, nightclubs, casinos, swimming pools, sports halls, and even sometimes a small marina at the stern.

Selection Criteria

In terms of choice—and this is the first question to ask—it all depends on what you’re looking for and the type of atmosphere you want: the rather cold gigantism of these "sea monsters" or something more "intimate," with perhaps more opportunities to interact with others. Not to mention, for example, the very special charm of a sailing cruise ship.

Thus, on the largest ships, life on board is often prioritised, with a large number and variety of activities (not always of high quality, it’s true, and sometimes at the expense of port calls). Conversely, on smaller vessels, these are often less intense, in exchange for a more refined atmosphere or one conducive to rest or discovering the sea on sometimes characterful ships.

It’s also with small ships that you can most often enjoy original port calls, as their low tonnage allows them to access almost any port in the world. The downside is that a cruise for a few hundred passengers will generally cost more than one for a thousand or more. Nevertheless, especially if it’s your first experience, opt for the former to appreciate life on a cruise ship and avoid "factory ships."

In summary, in all cases, carefully check in catalogues (and online) what your floating accommodation will look like.

Things to Know

For information, a ship over 30,000 tonnes is a very large cruise ship, between 15,000 and 30,000 tonnes a large one, between 5,000 and 15,000 tonnes a medium one, and between 2,000 and 5,000 tonnes a small cruise ship or large yacht. Below that, it could be sailing ships, yachts, or simply various small vessels fitted out for cruising. To get an initial idea of your ship’s comfort level, compare its passenger capacity with that of other ships in its class (you can also calculate the "tonnes per passenger" ratio).

Finally, a detail that matters: the nationality of the shipowner and the majority of passengers on board. Indeed, what could be more boring than finding yourself on a cruise where you won’t understand—or barely understand—the other passengers or the crew, or even appreciate the entertainment designed primarily for them? Hence the existence of cruises by nationality. In short, find out beforehand from the agency.

The Cabin

Nothing like a sailboat bunk or even some basic cargo ship cabins. In fact, a cruise ship cabin resembles a hotel room (or suite) with at least one or two beds (sometimes bunks), a table and chairs, storage space, and a toilet area.

Categories and Layouts

In terms of choice, it all depends on your preferences or how much time you plan to spend inside, as well as, of course, your budget. On the largest cruise ships, there can be up to ten different cabin categories. Beyond the class, there are outside cabins (sea view) or inside cabins (without an opening, which may bother claustrophobics), with or without portholes (which never open) or even a small balcony, on upper decks (better and less noisy, thus more expensive) or lower ones. Nevertheless, whatever the type chosen, comfort on a cruise is generally guaranteed, with almost always a full bathroom or private WC + shower, and depending on the cabin, a telephone, TV (internal programmes), VCR, radio, minibar, and air conditioning.

A useful detail to know before boarding: the voltage on board. Often, on Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian companies, it will be 110 V with American plugs, so you’ll need to bring your transformer and adapter. A more significant drawback: the "standard" cabin on most ships is not always very large, from 10 to 15 m², unlike luxury cabins.

Things to Know

Always try to visualise the position of your cabin category on the ship’s plan (available from the agency or online) before purchasing.

In all cases, the choice of cabin (along with the travel season) is what makes prices vary by a factor of two or more for the same cruise. As with choosing an airline, always look at the quality-price ratio rather than just the price.

Service and "Entertainment"

A cruise ship is a full-board hotel, so check the quality of cabin service and the type of cuisine offered on board (especially on US cruises!).

An important reminder: find out about meal arrangements, which are always included in your service. Check the number of sittings, whether times are flexible or not, if you can choose your table and neighbours or if everything is pre-arranged, or if there are in-cabin meal services and, if so, for which time slots. Indeed, only luxury cruises or small ships allow total freedom in this regard.

Also, find out about the facilities and entertainment available during the cruise (and the language in which they are offered), as well as, if travelling with children, childcare options and what is provided for them. In terms of activities, know that anything is possible, and animators really show imagination in this area.

As for port calls, it may be useful to know their number and duration (often count an extra hour for formalities), the organisation (guided tour or not, free or paid), and how they are scheduled in the cruise (e.g., x days at sea followed by a port call, or a succession of night-time navigation and daytime visits).