Lucy Southerton, 28, works for Virgin Voyages and has revealed the common mistakes that many people often make when booking their first cruise in a YouTube video
Virgin Cruises expert Lucy Southerton has revealed the common mistake many first-time cruisers make when booking their maiden voyage. The 28 year old, who shares her insights on her YouTube channel ‘Cruising as Crew’, says that newbies often get it wrong when choosing their first cruise.
According to Lucy, the biggest blunder is selecting a cruise with too many sea days. She advises: “Ideally you want two sea days max, and ideally not consecutive.” This is because, as a first-timer, you won’t know if you’ll enjoy the experience until you try it for the first time.
Lucy warns that spending several days at sea might put you off cruising altogether. She also highlights the joy of exploring various ports, which should be considered when planning your trip.
However, she acknowledges that long ocean voyages aren’t for everyone, saying: “There are those people who want to spend 15 days at sea, reading their book, having no internet access, and there are some people who will say ‘I can’t think of anything worse than that’.”
First-time cruisers often make the mistake of not giving enough importance to their travel insurance, warns Lucy. Flight delays can be a nuisance when you’re heading for a resort holiday, but eventually, you’ll reach your hotel, reports the Express.
However, if your flight to the port where your cruise begins is delayed, it could spell disaster – you might miss the boat and lose your entire holiday. Hence, Lucy insists, “travel insurance is a nonnegotiable in my opinion when it comes to booking a cruise.”
She also advises first-timers to stick to popular routes for their maiden cruise voyage. “I would urge you to stick to the Mediterranean, the Caribbean and Alaska,” she suggests.
“These are well-trodden routes. All of the towns and cities that your cruise ship will be stopping at are geared up for cruises… the tour guides in those cities are used to taking cruise passengers on tour. They know the drill. This means you can just relax into it a little bit more.”
Lucy’s channel offers many more useful tips, including advice on choosing cruise lines and selecting the perfect cabin, making it an essential resource for anyone planning their first cruise holiday.
It comes after a travel expert issued a warning to anyone thinking of taking a cruise this year.
Embarking on a cruise promises relaxation, adventure and unforgettable experiences, but packing the wrong items – or forgetting the right ones – could spoil your experience. Cruise enthusiasts who have spend many holidays at sea have been sharing some advice for first timers.
Even luxury liners have limited storage space in every cabin meaning that a well-thought-out packing list is a must. Understanding what to pack isn’t just about convenience, it’s also about preparing for different climates, onboard activities, and potential emergencies.
In the r/cruise channel one Redditor said: “Pack all the travel essentials you need, like tums, pepto, aspirin, toothpaste, mouthwash, etc. Anything they sell is going to be expensive.”
