Cruise ships today are floating resorts in their own right offering top class dining, entertainment, sports and leisure activities combined with high quality accommodation. Although cruising boasts one of the highest repeater levels of any holiday, it has also been attracting increasing numbers of first-timers.

So forget the popular misconception that cruises are only for those of a certain age, spending the entire time on board eating their way through breakfast, lunch, afternoon, tea, dinner and the midnight buffet.

Cruises Attracting Younger More Active Passengers

The reality is that the appeal of cruising is attracting younger and more active travellers, families with young children, singles and couples. You can even have your wedding at sea or renew your vows on board with P&O Cruises and Princess Cruises.

Latest statistics show that the average age of passengers taking European cruises with Royal Caribbean International is between 37 and 49, with between 60%-90% being first-timers.

And don’t think that once on board, your ship will be claustrophobic with no room to move and little space for privacy.

Today’s cruise ships are vast, many with up to 15 decks offering multiple restaurants, bars, swimming pools, gyms and spa areas. Children have their own supervised clubs while some ships are for adults only.

Cabins are far more spacious than you might imagine with good-sized double beds and showers or baths. More than half the cabins on the newest ships either have balconies or offer an ocean view and, remember, you only need to unpack once.

Cruise-and-stay Options

Many cruises incorporate a one-week land stay as this answers first-timers' concerns about committing all their holiday time to a cruise in case they get bored at sea – an unlikely prospect given all there is so much to do on today’s modern ships.

Cruise lines are also operating short sampler cruises, offering a highly affordable toe in the water to first-timers as well as being a popular option for those who only have time for a short break.

The recent wave of stunning ships, shorter itineraries and new brands with more informal styles of cruising, have played a big part in attracting “cruise virgins”.

Casual Cruising

Ocean Village was even designed with them in mind - hence its tagline "cruises for people who don't do cruises".

This casual cruise concept also applies to companies such as Island Cruises, Thomson Cruises, Costa, MSC Cruises and the mega ‘floating resorts’ run by companies such as Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line.

Out go formal dress codes and fixed seating or sittings for meals in favour of relaxed attire and flexible dining provided by celebrity chefs.

Fantastic Facilities

The array of on board facilities is simply astonishing – from rock climbing walls, ice rinks and surfing simulators on Royal Caribbean’s new superliners to bowling alleys on NCL’s latest vessels. Cunard Line even offers newcomers packages on selected cruises, which include welcome parties, on-board credit and Champagne on arrival.

Entertainment runs day and night while many shore excursions involve white water rafting, jet skiing and mountain bikes, rather than stuffy coach tours.

So whatever you want from your holiday, whether it be pure relaxation and pampering or high octane thrills and adventure, there will be a cruise ideally suited to you.