What type of cruise ship is best for me?

Never fall into the mistake of believing that all cruise ships are the same. For, while most cruise ships offer the staple common denominators of great food, service and luxury, each and every one of them is as individual and distinctive as a human fingerprint. More than four hundred cruise ships are in service right now, and every single one of them offers a different take on a timeless seagoing formula.

That said, there are several different kinds of cruise ships that offer a pretty similar on board lifestyle. From a prospective passenger's point of view, the trick here is to pick out a ship and a company that is compatible to their on board expectations. You have to know exactly what you want- and, more importantly, exactly what you do not want-from your cruise experience.

If you're a bit of a party animal, lover of casino action and purveyor of  a vast range of eclectic, exotic cuisine from around the globe, then it makes zero sense to book on a small, highly specialized expedition ship. You might do just as well to check into the local morgue for a week or so.

Similarly, if the very idea of those big, boisterous party boats fills you with unease, or even if you just value your personal space, then booking on the latest version of Vegas-on-Sea, with its thousands of passengers, is not going to do anything positive for your blood pressure.

If you're all about the destinations, then definitely consider booking on a smaller ship. They can usually get into the sweeter, more off the beaten tarck places that the larger ships have to bypass. And, with far fewer passengers on board, there will generally be far less hassle to get off and on the ship. For many people, this constitutes a far better value cruise experience overall.

Do you want to spend your time on board a ship that carries nationalities other than just British and Americans? The big, beautiful ships of Costa and MSC in particular often carry up to six or seven different nationalities, and sometimes more. It's an energising, intriguing mix, and also a great way to learn about other people's cultures and lifestyles.

On the other hand, that same scenario could well be some people's idea of hell on earth. Do your homework before you book on something that puts you in mind of Hades on sea.

All of this sounds like simple, common sense, but it's amazing how many people ignore these things when confronted with a cheap, seductive lead in price.

Don't be so mean to yourself. You deserve better.