Cruising in Florida - Tips to Help You Pick the Cruise That's Right for You!

Cruising in Florida has been growing in popularity steadily now for the past 20 years. New cruise lines, such as the Disney Cruise Line, have seen the market potential and set sail to capture the Florida cruising market. Similarly the existing cruise lines have sought to out do each other with more and more ships (and choice) regularly being added to the Florida cruising market. If you have never been cruising before, cruising in Florida is the ideal way to take a 4-5 day 'taster' break without committing yourself to a full cruising holiday that you may not enjoy!

However, deciding on the best cruise for you and your family is not easy. With so much choice, it's easy to become bewildered and just give up. That need not be the case, if you follow our simple tips for trying to decide which cruise is best for you.

• Unless you know you are going to like cruising, don't book the most expensive cruise going as your first cruise only to end up feeling you have wasted all your money when you decide you hate cruising.
  Use the an agent who is a member of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) as they will be able to offer you the best choice of cruises.


• Decide what type of ship you want before you start looking. A huge range of ships cruise from Florida - some are massive and have every possible amenity while others are smaller with a more intimate atmosphere.
  Think about where you'd like to go and the types of excursions you enjoy as this will help the agent find the best cruise for you.


• If you enjoy theme parks, some cruises include packages with entrance to one of the many central Florida attractions, which can be a great way to save money.


• Don't forget transport to the port and make sure you check how long the embarkation process takes so you can be sure to get there in plenty of time.


• As already mentioned, cruise ships offer many different activities so make sure you take your swimming suit, sun screen and clothes for splashing around in the extravagant pools.


• Many ships have formal events in the evening and you will be expected to dress accordingly (evening dress for women and a tuxedo or a dark suit for men). So pack well!


• Even though Florida cruises tend to travel in smooth waters and have stabilizers to prevent the ship from rocking too much, it's always a good idea to take motion sickness medicine just in case there is a storm.


• Just because you are all at sea doesn't mean you need to tip. Some Florida cruises include the tips in the cost but the majority don't.


• Steer clear of Florida cruises during the hurricane season, which runs between July and October. They maybe cheaper but also maybe a whole lot rougher!

Whichever cruise you decide to pick, the one certainty is that you will have fun. With so many Florida cruising choices and such a vast array of activities on each ship, there is never a chance to be bored.

Just sit back, sip a cocktail and enjoy the sunsets!