An expert's guide to cruising

Launching a travel agency during the Covid pandemic – when Brits weren’t allowed to leave their homes, let alone the country – sounds like a recipe for disaster.

But Robbie O’Grady and his partner Jonathan Howitt haven’t looked back since they opened the doors to The Cruise Room in 2021 – and they’ve now helped thousands of eager cruise travellers to reach the furthest reaches of the globe.

What are the most common mistakes that first-time cruisers make?
Choosing a cruise based on the headline price without researching whether the line is right for them or finding out what the ultimate price is – those are the two big ones.

Not talking to someone who is knowledgeable about cruising and who is impartial is also common. We all love our friends and family but often their preference is not our preference, and their perfect experience may not be ours.

What is your best advice for first-time cruisers?
Choosing a cruise is not the same as booking a two-night city break, so don’t try to wade through the oceans of possibilities alone. Picking the wrong cruise may leave you feeling that cruising is not for you, whereas choosing the right cruise will change the way you holiday for ever.

How do you help customers book pre and post-cruise stays?
Sometimes an itinerary dictates that someone needs to take a pre-cruise stay, such as flying into Miami for a Caribbean cruise, for example. Some guests will look to arrange something themselves, perhaps because they have air miles or hotel loyalty points, or sometimes they decide to stay with friends or family.

Which destination should cruise travellers have on their wish list?
That’s personal, as everyone has different ideas, but cruising into New York was a magical moment for me, and it’s a destination I’d highly recommend. Alaska, Antarctica and a river cruise on the Mekong are also on my personal bucket list.

Very few people book Kotor in Montenegro, especially on a Mediterranean cruise, but once they’ve experienced it they always remember it. These days the cruise lines own some incredible private islands, too.