If you think that cruise holidays are just for retired couples or the extremely wealthy then think again, cruises are one of the travel industry’s fastest-growing areas and have far more to offer than just luxury cabins and cabaret.

And with the wide range of liners and destinations available there is a cruise to suit you whatever your budget and preference, from Caribbean cruises for the sun-worshippers to whale watching breaks for lovers of wildlife. But before you book a cruise holiday you must make sure that you do your homework and find the right deal and destination for you, remembering to consider everything from the onboard cuisine to the local climate.

When going on a cruise holiday it’s important to get your accommodation just right, you don’t want to spend your dream cruise vacation with the family with a lot of compromise. Cruise ship cabins are generally built according to demographics – that is, the age, income and lifestyle of passengers – which will affect the size and price of your cabin.

As a general rule of thumb, any cabin less than 150 square feet can feel a little cramped, even for newlyweds and families should look for suites that are over 200 square feet in size. Cruise holiday dining caters for every taste, whether you prefer formal dining, celebrity chef cuisine, tapas bars, pizzerias, oriental or even just a plain old food court. And the beauty of a cruise is that most of these dining options are available 24 hours a day, perfect if you get the midnight munchies!

Night time is arguably when a cruise holiday comes to life, with all sorts of entertainment available from nightclubs to casinos to, of course, cabaret. In addition, you get to sample the nightlife of the various places that you stop off at, which could be anything from sampling midnight markets to all-night clubbing.

One of the best things about a cruise holiday is that it is a great way to see a variety of places without losing time commuting as the journey is a big part of the holiday. And with the wealth of cruise lines available, a cruise holiday can be as casual or as luxurious as you like and they also offer an endless amount of activities, either on board or when ashore.

And with the vast array of facilities and destinations, a cruise holiday is as suitable for a young couple as it is a family of four, you just need to make sure you pick the right cruise and go at the right time. The first thing you need to decide upon is your destination and the sort of holiday you want, for instance, a cruise around the western Mediterranean could take in some of the continents cultural hotspots or just its hotspots. So do you want history and culture, a relaxing beach holiday, or both?

Then you need to decide upon the best time to travel, for instance, you probably won’t be wanting to visit the Caribbean during hurricane season. And, similarly, the summer months may actually be too hot for a Red Sea cruise.