Formal or casual? Choose your ship carefully

I once met a very formal retired lady and gentleman who informed me that they loved to go on cruises, so much so that they used to take on part-time work helping to supervise examinations at the local college, so that they could afford to go on cruises. They made it abundantly clear that they didn’t have much time for the fresh faced teenagers who were taking the exams. I feel fairly positive that the sort of cruise ships they travelled on would have been some of the more sedate vessels, and I can well envisage them enjoying getting all dressed up for formal dinner, and enjoying polite conversation over gin and tonics.

But what if formality is not really your thing? Are you one of these people who prefers smart casual to formal attire, and yet you really fancy the idea of visiting all sorts of exciting ports in a cruise ship and enjoying lots of fun activities on board? What if you have young children or teens that are not likely to take to formality (and loads of staid ladies and gents) very well? Don’t worry, although cruising holidays have a reputation for formality, there are plenty of cruise lines and ships with a more relaxed and child-friendly philosophy.

P&O’s Ventura is a cruise ship for families, and very much geared up to children. As far as cruise ships go, Ventura is big, and can carry more than 3,000 passengers. The ship is less traditional than other P&O ships, and there is less emphasis on formal dining. On board the Ventura smart casual for dinner is fine, and more convenient for families with young children.

Another good cruise line for those who wish to stay fairly laid back is the Italian line Costa Cruises. Also with Costa Cruises you will find a good cross section of European nationalities, with passengers tending to be Italian, French, German, and Spanish, as well as British.

Norwegian Cruise Line, like Scandinavia itself, tends towards upbeat and casual rather than stuffy and formal.

Carnival Cruise Lines is popular with young couples and also with families, and there are usually plenty of games and activities going on.

MSC Cruises is an Italian line that is good for families on a budget, and offers some good deals. The ship MSC Opera has a club for young children, and a disco for teenagers.

Whether you tend towards the formal or the casual, the important point about cruising is to do your homework first, and make sure you have chosen the right cruise line and ship, then when you book that cruise holiday you will know that you have made the right choice.