Not everyone cruises with a significant other or with family. Tons of cruisers share their vacations with friends – whether it’s a reunion, special event, or just an excuse to get away and have some fun. However, there are some things to consider when picking your cabin buddy.
1. What’s their budget?
This is arguably the most important. If you are cruising on a budget and want an inside cabin to save money, while your cruise partner is the type who wants a suite and plans to just charge their card and worry about it later, you are going to run into some problems. You don’t have to match your budgets dollar-for-dollar, but make sure you’re both on the same page as far as costs you’ll be sharing, such as the cabin and any excursions or activities booked together.
2. Do they have a preference for a cruise line?
Maybe you want to cruise together but you love to sail Carnival while your friend has Platinum status on Royal Caribbean. Make sure you can come to an agreement on which line you’d like to sail. If neither of you has cruised before, set time aside to research the cruise lines together to find which one will suit you both the best.
3. What itinerary would they pick?
Are you a fan of sea days while your partner wants a port-intensive cruise? Are they looking for a Southern Caribbean cruise while you’d prefer Western Caribbean? This might go without saying, but check with your sailing partner on where you both are interested in visiting before you book your cruise.
4. What time of year can they cruise?
Maybe they can only get off work around the holidays while you’d prefer to sail during the shoulder months when prices are lower. Time off work is definitely something you need to align before you get carried away with planning a cruise together.
5. How adventurous are they?
If you plan on spending your time in port together, you may want to check that you’re interested in doing the same things. If you want to go off-roading and zip-lining while your cruise buddy just wants to relax on the beach, you’re going to be at odds over what to do. Before you sail, discuss excursions and your options in the ports you’re visiting to make sure you’re on the same page.
6. What are their dining preferences?
Some cruisers love the main dining room, some cruisers hit all the specialty restaurants, and then some cruisers will eat every meal of every day at the lido buffet. Everyone is different. Make sure you both agree on where you’re interested in eating, whether or not you’ll try a specialty restaurant, how you feel about elegant nights, etc., so that one or both of you doesn’t end up disappointed. After all, the food is one of the best parts of a cruise!
Do you have criteria for picking a cruise partner?
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