10 questions to ask for the perfect cruise

Picking the perfect cruise can be daunting, with so many variables to choose from. Here are 10 things to consider when booking the right cruise for you:

1. Where do you want to go?

It wasn't long ago that most cruises took place in the Caribbean. These days, even the most mainstream lines offer sailings around the globe. Still, not every line goes to every destination. In Alaska, for instance, two lines -- Princess and Holland America -- dominate with seven ships a piece. Industry giant Carnival, by contrast, has just one ship in the state.

2. How long do you want to be away?

This can have a huge impact on which line -- and ship -- you choose. Lines like Carnival specialize in shorter cruises of three to seven nights. Others, such as Oceania, rarely offer a voyage of fewer than 10 nights. A few lines such as Cunard and Holland America operate annual around-the-world cruises of 100 nights or more.

3. What's my budget?

Like hotels, cruises come in a wide variety of price points with features to match. Mass-market lines such as Carnival offer voyages for as little as $399 per person, per week. Luxury lines Seabourn and Regent Seven Seas can charge as much as $1,000 per person, per day. And the lead-in price you see in ads often is for a small, inside cabin.

4. What's my cruise personality?

Every line has its own personality -- and appeals to a different type of person. Carnival is known for a gregarious, fun-loving crowd. Celebrity draws a quieter, more style-conscious customer.

5. Am I taking the kids?

Some lines are much more focused on families than others. In addition to Disney Cruise Line, mass-market lines such as Royal Caribbean and Carnival are leaders in family-friendly cruising, with extensive on-board children's areas, deck-top water parks, family pool areas and other kid-friendly amenities.

6. Do I mind being with a crowd?

Cruise ships are getting bigger -- with more passengers on board than ever. Royal Caribbean's 9-month-old Allure of the Seas can carry more than 6,000 people -- nearly twice as many as the largest ships a decade ago. Still, you don't have to be with a crowd if you don't want to be. There are plenty of smaller vessels sailing to destinations around the globe.

7. How much do I care about entertainment?

Lines such as Disney, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian really know how to put on a show; their ships offer large theaters that stage Broadway-worthy productions. In fact, some offer shows that are fresh off Broadway (and/or Las Vegas), such as the musical "Chicago" on Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas and Blue Man Group on the Norwegian Epic.

8. How important is the food?

Some cruise lines place far more emphasis on food than others. Oceania, Cunard, Crystal and other lines brought in big-name chefs (Jacques Pepin, Todd English and Nobu Matsuhisa, respectively) to design eateries.

9. Do I want to get dressed up?

Overall, cruise ships have become a lot less formal in recent years. The days of black tie nights are virtually gone. But the dress code at sea still varies from line to line. Want to keep it super casual? You might want to go with Norwegian, where the "freestyle" philosophy extends to the dress code. By contrast, on UK-based Cunard, formal nights still take place several times a week and passengers wear jackets even on casual nights.

10. Will I get seasick?

Modern cruise ships are built for stability. New technologies such as stabilizers make for smoother sailing than the vessels of a couple of decades ago. Weather prediction has improved too, so the captain can know bad weather is ahead and cruise around it. However, the ocean is still unpredictable, so if you're concerned, go with a bigger, smoother riding ship that sails in calmer waters.

BY GENE SLOAN AND RICHARD BAGULEY
Detroit Free Press
9:53 AM, Sep. 24, 2011