Smooth Sailing: A guide to planing a cruise to suit your preferences

There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all holiday at sea. Just as there are cheap and cheerful hotels for budget travellers and luxury establishments for those for whom money is no object, there are cruise ships to suit every style and every pocket.

While all ships share the benefits of cruising (value for money, all meals and multiple destinations included), each one is different.

There are supersized resort ships with waterslides, rock-climbing walls, surf simulators, childrens' and teenagers' play areas; luxury all-suite vessels with personal butlers; head-turning tall ships that, wind permitting, can cruise under billowing sail; and yacht-style ships that look at home among the gin palaces of Monaco.

The destinations

Many of today's mega-ships are destinations in their own right, but being able to visit lots of different countries, parts of a region or islands on one holiday, without the usual logistical hassle, is still the main reason why most people choose a cruise. Cruising is often unfairly dismissed as unadventurous. Yet there are opportunities to join a cruise and go hiking , to learn to dive in the Caribbean or camp out on the ice in Antarctica. Your destination choice will, to a large extent, dictate the size and style of cruise ship you pick.

Accommodation

You need to decide what sort of cabin you'd like. Inside cabins (no window) are the cheapest, but you can pay a bit extra for a room with a sealed window. Cabins with balconies are the most popular. If money is no object, suites are a treat.

Consider the costs

Obviously price is important, but choosing a cruise on cost only could be a false economy if you don't have a good holiday. With entertainment, children's clubs and food included, and fierce competition forcing prices down, there has never been a better time to book.