Discover the best cruise for you – from northern lights to Norwegian fjords - video Dailymotion

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00:00Imagine a holiday where you only have to unpack once but could wake up in a

00:16different destination almost every morning. One day you could be in a

00:19historic city, the next a magical fjord and even a tropical Caribbean island.

00:24That is the beauty of cruising. You get adventure, exploration and relaxation all

00:29wrapped up in one fantastic holiday. On this episode of Travel Smart I'm going

00:33to show you how to get the best out of being at sea while also saving some money along the way.

00:46No two cruises are the same and choosing the best one for you is often half the battle.

00:50There are ocean cruises. These are typically the larger ships that can feel like floating

00:54resorts at sea with plenty of bars, restaurants and shops on board to keep you occupied.

01:00These will visit destinations around the world often with thousands of passengers.

01:03That means plenty of sea days to enjoy the facilities. Families are catered for with kids

01:08clubs and water slides but adults are also looked after with spas and late night bars on board.

01:14River cruises on the other hand offer a different experience that's typically smaller

01:18and more immersive with just a few hundred passengers on board. Rather than long days at

01:22sea that you get on ocean cruise ships you may find yourself docked in a different city each day.

01:27On board life is a little bit different. It's less manic and there's typically only one pool

01:31deck and main dining room. Whichever cruise you choose the rhythm will typically be the same.

01:38There'll be sea days where you can explore the best of the ship and port days where you can get off

01:42and experience the local destination. Your cruise line may offer excursions to take you around the

01:48local area. These can be more expensive than going on your own but the one main advantage is that they

01:52will guarantee to get you back to the ship on time. If you're by yourself you're responsible

01:57for getting back to the ship before it leaves and you don't want to be a pier runner.

02:05Then there are those special sailings, the bucket list trips that take you to those memorable

02:10destinations. One of my favourites is the Northern Lights Cruises. This is where you head north to

02:15destinations such as Norway, the Arctic Circle and Iceland to see the magic of the Aurora Borealis,

02:21Nature's Light Show. Rather than standing in cold rural locations, a cruise ship offers a perfect

02:28vantage point with hot chocolate and blankets on the top deck with clear skies and no light pollution

02:33and a cabin that you can escape to if it gets too cold. There will even be experts on board like

02:38astronomers that will give you insight into the magic that you're seeing above you. Another standout

02:42option is sailing through the fantastic Norwegian fjords. You'll see marvellous landscapes, towering cliffs

02:48and cascading waterfalls. There are plenty of chances to get off and find yourself immersed in local

02:52Norwegian life on daily stops offering a scenic and memorable voyage. Wildlife spotting often goes

02:59hand in hand with these types of cruises with chances to see orcas and whales, all adding to that

03:04sense of adventure with a cruise ship as your base. Of course not every cruise is about chasing the cold.

03:11There are plenty of warmer itineraries that offer a different kind of magic.

03:20You could island hop across the Caribbean, visit iconic destinations in the Mediterranean

03:24and see the sandy beaches around Greece. Then there are fly cruises. These combine the price of a flight

03:30and a cruise all in one single package. You often fly out to one destination, get on the ship, sail and then

03:36come home, cutting out the time you have to spend at sea, meaning you have more opportunity to enjoy

03:41destinations that you want to be in.

03:49Packing for a cruise isn't as difficult as some think. Your cabin will come with toiletries, towels

03:54and even a hairdryer so you don't have to worry about that sort of stuff.

03:57It's worth checking for any themed nights on board such as a white party or 70s and 80s parties

04:02so you can pack any fancy dress that you want. There may be one or two formal nights during your

04:06sailing so it's worth packing your tux or cocktail dress but don't worry if you're not into dressing

04:10up too much. There's less formality on cruise ships these days and as long as you're not in shorts and

04:14sandals you can often eat anywhere on the ship. Even if you're traveling to warmer destinations,

04:19the ship can get cold in the evenings so I'd recommend packing some layers for those chillier nights.

04:23Cabin choice can make a big difference to the price you pay for a cruise. Inside cabins tend to be

04:28cheapest but you need to pay a bit more for a balcony although you do then get the natural light and

04:32sea views. If you're worried about potentially feeling seasick it's best to opt for cabins in

04:36the middle of a ship or on lower decks. Ships are built for smooth sailing nowadays but can get pretty

04:42rocky as they're hit by waves at the front and back. And if you're worried about noise try and

04:46buy cabins directly under the pool deck and nightclub. Food is one of the main highlights of

04:50cruising and the good news is most of your meals are covered. You can eat a la carte in the main dining

04:54room have your choice in the buffet or just relax in a casual cafe. There may also be specialty

04:59restaurants on board. You usually have to pay for these but it can be worth splashing out for

05:03if you want to immerse yourself in regional delicacies and culture. Entertainment is often

05:08a surprise for many first-time cruisers. It's no longer just about bingo and karaoke. Nowadays

05:13you'll find breathtaking stage shows, award-winning comedians and even expert talks from speakers

05:19linked to the destinations that you're visiting. If you've cruised before you'll know a ship can feel

05:23like a mini city with something different happening each night.

05:32Cruises can be a pricey but worthwhile way to travel. There are some ways to cut down the costs

05:37though. One of the best hacks is to look for a repositioning cruise. These are sailings in the

05:41off-season when a ship moves from one region to another such as from the Caribbean to the Mediterranean.

05:46These are typically longer voyages with more time at sea which is why they're cheaper. If you're a

05:50first-time cruiser it's a great way to get a taste of life at sea without feeling like you've overspent

05:54and for seasoned cruises it's a great way to spend time on a ship at a fraction of the price.

05:58And the cruise industry also has its own sales period in the new year called wave season where

06:03they'll offer discounts on cruise fares and cabins and onboard credit because they want to fill their

06:08ship for the year ahead. Closer to home itineraries such as British Isles sailings or Northern Europe

06:13can feel more cost effective compared with going further afield. If you've cruised before you'll

06:17know the real cost is in the extras. While your meals are included often drinks aren't. You may

06:23get tea coffee and water included but often you need to pay for soft drinks and alcohol. Most cruise

06:29lines offer drink packages but these only usually work out if you're having several drinks a day.

06:34So only spend your money on that if it makes sense to you otherwise it may be more cost effective to

06:37pay as you go. Wi-Fi is also at a premium on a cruise ship unlike in a hotel it's not included as

06:43standard. This may be a good chance for a digital detox but if you do need to stay connected at sea

06:48there may be packages available. These can be quite pricey though so the most cost effective option could

06:53be to wait until you're in port and can get connected. Also I know from personal experience you can get

06:58caught out by roaming charges at sea so make sure your phone is on airplane mode even if you're on wi-fi

07:03to avoid nasty bills at the end of your sailing. One of the quirks of cruising is how money

07:07works. You don't need to carry your wallet around with you, everything is charged to your cruise card

07:11that's all your souvenirs, cocktails and anything else you buy while you're on board. All you have

07:15to do is settle your bill at the end of your sailing. On days that you're in port you'll find

07:19you'll need your wallet again so it's best to have some euros or dollars to spend money on snacks and

07:23souvenirs in local shops. But if you do decide to use a credit or debit card make sure you opt for one

07:28that doesn't charge extra travel fees to avoid nasty surprises in your bill at the end of your trip.

07:33So whether you're a first-time cruiser or experienced sailor there are always adventures to be had at sea

07:39whichever horizon you're sailing towards. For more information, tips and updates visit

07:44independent.co.uk forward slash travel. Bye for now.

Discover the best cruise for you – from northern lights to Norwegian fjords

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