For those just dipping their toes into the world of cruising, the Bahamas and Caribbean are great starting points, says cruise industry expert Stewart Chiron, as there are often shorter itineraries to offer a sampling of cruise life. Perhaps consider the three-night Turks and Caicos Getaway on Princess Cruises or the four-night Key West and the Bahamas on Celebrity Cruises.
Curry takes a different approach and suggests first-timers go big. "Nearly every day I have travelers who start the conversation with 'I don't really like cruises' . . . but have Antarctica on their bucket lists," she says, directing them to small ship cruises.
"I explain that they are really just a way to access remote areas and have a floating hotel in regions where accommodations might be more challenging or inconvenient to find, but the focus during the day is entirely off the ship," Curry says. "Often these same travelers end up loving the small ship experience so much that they come back again and again to try out that same type of experience elsewhere."
