"I'm not a cruise person."
I hear it all the time. Usually it means someone is picturing buffet lines, crowded decks and loud music by the pool.
There are cruises that don't feel like a cruise. I've sailed Norway on Seabourn, and this season I'm headed to Antarctica on Seabourn Pursuit and Tahiti on Silversea. Every line has its own personality, and my job is matching the line to the person.
Here's how I think about a few of them.
Explora Journeys
Modern and calm, with big suites, an unhurried pace and a real focus on wellness. It feels like a boutique hotel that happens to float. I like it for people who love contemporary design and great food and want a quiet ship.
Windstar
Small ships and sailing yachts that can get into ports the big ships can't, like the middle of a Mediterranean harbor or a quieter island. Casual but polished. Windstar guests tend to be curious and well-traveled.
Seabourn
Classic luxury with an intimate feel and very personal service. Drinks and gratuities are included, and it's elegant without being stuffy. This is the line I sailed in Norway, and the one I'm taking to Antarctica.
Silversea
All-suite and all-inclusive, with smaller ships that sail everywhere from the Mediterranean to the polar regions. I'm sailing Tahiti with Silversea this season, so I'll have a lot more to say when I get back.
Oceania
A favorite with food lovers. Great cuisine, longer stays in port and itineraries packed with destinations, with a slightly more relaxed feel. Good for travelers who want the culture and the food.
AmaWaterways
A river cruise is a hotel that moves. AmaWaterways docks right in the middle of cities and towns along Europe's rivers, so you spend your days walking around and come back to the same stateroom every night.
Ama has been one of my favorite river lines for years. I'm hosting a group on their brand-new Mekong ship, the AmaMaya, this March. Riverside and Tauck are 2 more I love on the rivers.
Ocean, expedition or river?
Ocean cruising is about comfort, great service and seeing several countries or coastlines in one trip.
Expedition cruising is about discovery. Think Antarctica or remote Alaska, with expert guides, small-group landings and lectures that help you understand what you're seeing. HX does this really well.
River cruising is slower and walkable, with the ship docked right in town. Most of it is in Europe.
Each one fits a different kind of traveler.
Where you can go
Alaska, for glaciers, wildlife and narrow waterways
Antarctica, for the true expedition traveler
The Caribbean, with quieter islands the big ships skip
The Mediterranean, where small ships dock close to the old town centers
And Northern Europe, South America, Asia and plenty more
The details matter
Some people care most about suite size and what's included. Others care about the dining, the lectures or more time in port. A few days before or after the cruise can change the whole trip. And every line has quirks you won't spot on a website.
So I start where I always do: what is important to you? The destination? The suite? The number of nights?
And don't skimp on the room. You're in your room more than you think.
So tell me: what's kept you from trying a cruise?