HEADING on a cruise this summer? The Sun’s Head of Travel, Lisa Minot, has buckets of experience sailing across continents on some of the most renowned cruise lines. She shares her top tips for cruising here: KNOW BEFORE YOU BOOK With such a huge variety of cruise ships on the seas right now, making sure you get the right cabin is vital. I’d always go for a balcony or outside cabin with a window so you’ve got the perfect place to relax privately, perhaps to enjoy a sundowner cocktail or for a fabulous breakfast at sunrise.
It’s also great for when you’re sailing somewhere like the Norwegian fjords as you’ll be passing some astonishing scenery. If you’re looking to spot the Northern Lights though, make sure you book at the right time. It’s not known as the Land of the Midnight Sun for nothing - there will be daylight for many hours in summer so book in autumn or winter to guarantee it will be dark enough to spot the lights.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO A little forward planning before you board can enhance your experience no end. Most cruise lines will allow you to book parts of your cruise in advance, be it a pampering treatment in the spa or a slap-up dinner in one of the specialty restaurants. And of course, there are those all-important excursions for the days when you’re in port.
If you’ve got some absolute must-see or must-do’s then pre-booking an excursion will take the stress out of arriving in a new destination. One mistake I made when first cruising was t.