Common misconceptions about cruising include the vastly outdated stereotype of life at sea being nothing but formality and cocktail parties. For those that like that sort of thing, it is of course still freely available, but the industry now rightly offers a rich and wide variety of differing on-board lifestyles, one of which is bound to match the way you like to spend your holiday.

Everyone after all has a very clear idea about the type of holiday experience they enjoy, and the style they prefer. This may lead you to worry about whether cruising is for you, but in fact the wide range of ships on offer ensures that there is going to be something that suits you it is just a question of finding the right thing.

If you are a true traveller who loves to explore, then the perfect ship will take you far away from the tourist trail. You can behave by day as an intrepid adventurer, returning at night to review what you have seen with naturalists, experts in their field, whilst enjoying good food and service and welcoming personal comforts.

If you think a holiday should be a time for casual relaxation, a range of ships will cater to your tastes, while those who prefer the whole black tie/evening gown experience can find it in the surroundings of their choice. For most of us, a mixture is nice, and the opportunity to dip in and out of what pleases us. Often you will find that the dress code relates closely to the region in which you are travelling, how late you might expect to be ashore and so forth.

If you are active and sporty, you will be looking for shore excursions which include such options as mountain bike riding, glacier hiking, kayaking or snorkelling, horseback riding, white water rafting and so on. You may prefer simply to take a bike ashore and explore on your own, or to set off on long country hikes in stunning countryside. Watersports might be your thing, or the opportunity to work out every day in a state of the art gym.

You may have children travelling with you – what age are they, and what do they enjoy? Or you may be travelling with a whole range of generations you need to find something that will suit the needs of all members of the family.

Above all, we want to travel with others who share our standards and values so picking the right ship is absolutely essential.