Cruise consultant of the year TOP tip

Samantha Renvoye, who crowned this month at the Cruise Lines International Association Australasia Awards Cruise Consultant of the Year, has revealed her top tips when booking a cruise from money-saving advice to the best underestimated locations.

Samantha started as a travel agency in the industry in 1997 and has worked on superyachts in the Pacific since then. She moved back to Australia 12 years ago and found her calling as a cruise specialist at Clean Cruising with the highest rated agency.

Here are Samatha's best cruise tips:

1. The earlier you book, the better

The earlier, the better Samantha's advice. “It depends on the size of the ship what the availability will look, but the trend after the kovid is that people are increasingly booking in advance and people have difficulty getting availability.”

Book money in advance.

“You can present more in Australia dollars for the affordability, the better”, the better “

This applies not only to the booking of cruises, but also to air travel.

“The cheaper places for airlines always sell first, so they get in there early.”

2. Wait only for Last minute offers if you are super flexible

Although many cruisers want to wait for Last minute, Samantha advises against it if they have a certain route or a specific goal to travel to. She warns that last-minute deals are not the same as before.

“If you are flexible and are not set to a ship or a travel route, it may be fine at the last minute, although I usually no longer recommend it!”

3. Select Ponant and Oceania for luxury cruises

Although Samantha spoke several luxury cruise lines, including Oceania and Regent, she said that she was very biased with ponant and especially with Paul Gaugin Cruise.

“I love Paul Gaugin for the goal as well as the cruise line, even though I am also coming from Oceania, and I would have no problem recommended to someone. Fortunately, we spoiled the choice very much. “

4. Select Royal Caribbean for family cruises

Samantha suggests Royal Caribbean for a great family cruise. Royal Caribbean is particularly suitable for “cruises with several generations, especially outside of Australia, since the ships are larger and can serve more preferences and dislikes within the families”.

She also suggested Disney Cruises for families with younger children and adult fans of Disney, as “there is a small child in everyone who always wanted to go to Disneyworld.”

5. Don't be an adventure crossing- you can be for all ages

Samantha wants to encourage people of all ages to book on Adventure Cruises. She said: “People who may not be so mobile can still be adventurous.” Adventure cruises enable passengers to access the security and comfort of their ship remote locations.

“It is something special if people can still travel to incredible goals, even though they are limited in some aspects.”

6. Book a river cruise through Europe if you don't want to sit on a bus

Samantha raved from the river cruise scene. She recommended the Amsterdam to the Budapest route and river cruises by Portugal and even near Russia.

“There is so much variety and the value is amazing … On a river cruise you can go in many places without unpacking and repacking. It is difficult to do this when driving, and River Cruissing means that you don't have to sit on a bus. “

“People have a prejudices about what river cruises looks like, but it is a great alternative to driving or catching a train through Europe.”

7. Choose oceania for amazing food

When choosing the best cruise lines for the food, Samantha believes that we spoiled the selection.

“In the past 5 years there has been a big step in cruise plates that focused on food. Many of my customers only go on board to eat. “

When I spoke to Samantha, she had just inspected oceania regattaAnd said that the food on board was great. She also said that they did not reduce virgin trips because their interactive meals were surprisingly brilliant.

Disney can also offer entertaining interactive restaurants, while Ponant and Viking are up there with some of the most delicious and luxurious options.

8. Know what you pay for and have the right expectations for the right ship

“Each of us always focuses on the price. However, you really have to have the right expectations for the right ship.”

Maybe you don't have to visit balcony suite, but if you choose an internal column, make sure that you are placed on the right position on the ship to ensure that you still get the desired experience. “Light to detail and ensure that you know what you bought.

9. Research your research and take a look at goals and travel routes that are not the mainstream

“There are so many different and amazing travel routes that people may not know anything.”

Samantha encourages the cruisers to carry out their research on various travel routes and aim and not only follow the mainstream tour trends.

She said that an underestimated goal was Croatia and that everyone who drives there cannot say enough about it.

She also recommended travel routes near Borneo and every Indonesian island because they have brilliant, culturally enriched excursions that are not on the radar of all.

10. Never travel without insurance

Samantha's farewell word? Never travel without insurance.

“None of us would get into a car without our insurance company. Why should you travel on a cruise without insurance?”

She asks Kreuzer to always read the small print and select the best guideline for the person. There are many out there, but you have to make the right decision on the basis of your own needs so that you are protected.