Cruises are floating five star resorts

Have you ever needed a holiday and you don't know where to go? How many times do you see ads for places like the Gold Coast or country areas like the Hunter Valley or Queenstown?  If you're anything like me I'll bet you see ads for these places a lot.

Cruises however are lesser known, let me rephrase. When people think about cruising they think expensive and old people however it's not like that all.

It's a floating five star resort. I'm going to repeat that. Cruising is like being in your own floating five star resort.  

Now you can start with short cruises, ones that only last 2-5 days or go for a mid sized one which is 6-30 days or go full hog, a round the world cruise.

Cruises have a perception of being extremely expensive however when you consider that food and your accommodation is included they're exceptionally good value.  

Gone are the days where cruises are for the extremely wealthy. They're for anyone nowadays.

You will need to pay for extras like coffee and drinks or the specialty restaurants and shops on board but there are discount cards you can buy so you can do it for a low amount. A cruise can be as expensive or as cheap as you want.

Cruises operate on a cashless/tab basis. Thanks to new technology on the cruise's app you can keep track of your spending so you don't get a shock at the end of the cruise and you can limit your spending or pay cash deposits at the beginning of the cruise to cover your on board expenses.

There are so many activities on board. Trivia, piano lessons, spa treatments, a gym, multiple bars, karaoke, an open air deck up top.  Basically whatever you want, it's on board.

You will be mesmerised from the moment you set sail on your first cruise. Boarding starts several hours prior to departure so you can familiarise yourself with the ship and get organised in your cabin (Stateroom is the official room name).  As you depart the port the band will start to play and you can either hit the bar or you can stand on one of the balconies and watch the city move further into the distance as you depart. That in itself is pretty exhilarating. I don't know if you've ever watched a ship depart from a port but it is every bit as exciting as the movies and previous sightings make it out to be. It's a pretty amazing experience.

You can choose from a range of rooms that suits your budget.  Interior is the cheapest which means you'll have no window but that's okay. If you're anything like the majority you won't spend much time in your cabin. Other rooms come with an oceanview or a balcony but you truly don't need either. You can have a great experience regardless.

The staff aboard cruises are amazing. They are so friendly, so helpful, so considerate, and will go out of their way to ensure you're happy aboard your floating hotel and if you feel sick they'll be there for you too. They want to make sure you have the best possible time you can.  

When you're watching Movies/Concerts under the stars the crew will come around with blankets, ice cream and pop corn to make the experience enjoyable and memorable. Their customer service skills are of the highest quality.

Unlike the United States, tipping isn't widely expected or accepted in Australia and New Zealand.  Based on the first couple of days of my cruise so far I would say even if you don't believe in tipping it doesn't hurt to drop your cabin steward/butler a $20 in your nation's currency.

The cool thing about cruises is the entire experience. You're literally away from it all. You're in the middle of the ocean. Ships do dock in harbours for 6-8 hours at a time so what that means is you have the option of getting off the ship or staying aboard. It truly is up to you. Given ships dock in a number of ports you get to see parts of the country that you'd never see under normal circumstances.

One piece of advice, do your research. You may be able to see the port town or city for a lower cost than if you book one of the shore excursions. If there is anything you may think you need to buy like a local SIM card or toiletries, do that when the ship docks in port as town/city rates will be cheaper than on board prices.

Imagine how exciting seeing land must've been for the early settlers in Australia and NZ! They used to be on ships for months at a time without the comfortable amenities that modern ships come equipped with. 

Now, I'm a city slicker from way back so deciding to take a break where I literally got away from it all was something I wasn't entirely sure about but there is internet access aboard and you can buy packages to suit your needs. You can use the net as much or as little as you'd like. It's really up to you. My bet is you won't even miss being connected to the outside world.

It makes a nice change. On cruises you are forced to relax and chill out.

I'm travelling courtesy of Princess Cruises and they're amazing. I'd definitely take another cruise again.

My top 5 tips for first time cruisers:

1 - Book a cabin on a higher deck, the motion isn't as strong as lower decks so you won't feel as sea sick.  Take sea sickness tablets. In America it's called Dramamine, the Australian equivalent is Travacalm - warning, the tablets will make you feel drowsy and possibly bring up the sickness but then you'll feel better.

2 - Take a camera. You will want to remember your first cruise and believe me when I say you'll take hundreds, if not thousands of photos.

3 - Enjoy it. Be as active or as relaxed as you want. There are activities for people of all ages.

4 - You don't need to worry about travelling solo. It's still a fun experience.

5 - Start small. Do a short cruise to get used to it and then build up to a longer cruise.