In fact, with more choice, there's probably a cruise for anyone and everyone, old or young; single or families. To get the best from your experience, especially if it's your first, take note of these six ideas to consider:-

1. Cruises Are Just About For Anyone

With the wide range of cruise lines around at the moment, you would be hard pressed to be unable to find something that suits you, whoever you are and whatever your situation. Just a short look at the variety of options available will help you realize the opportunity. Families - retirees - affluent - cost-conscious - upmarket - partying - all of these have cruise lines that tend towards these specialities.

2. You Don't Have To Be Posh To Cruise

Remember Titanic, where there were very different classes, from the very posh to those at the bottom of the ship who paid the least? Never to mix? Well, there are still different price ranges, but the differences have become much less defined. Everyone who takes a cruise can expect exceptional service and wonderful experiences as a minimum.

Whether you have a relatively small inside cabin or a stateroom, you will still have wonderful accommodation, activities and eating. No-one suffers the ignominy of the earliest years of cruising and that has grown the market immensely.

3. Cruise Eating is Amazing

One of the unsung values of cruising is the opportunity to eat well. In fact, more than well! Cruising offers the chance to try out new tastes and eat till you pop! From expansive breakfasts to start your day, through elevenses to lazy lunchtimes, your mornings will be just the beginning.

After resting up a little, it's time for afternoon tea, followed by the gastronomic highlights of wonderful ocean bound dinners. And if you are still hungry, there's always time for that 2am snack, whilst checking out the full moon on the ocean. What could be better? Well, the choice of eating opportunities, that's what!

Almost every variant is possible, and that's on many individual ships too! Any large cruise will have several restaurants offering different types of fare, from casual to formal. From snacks to full-blown many-course offerings. And then there's the wide-world of culinary delights to sample. From Sushi to Indian. From traditional American fare to the heights of French cuisine. From Mexico to Thailand and beyond. The possibilities are huge - if you are up to it!

4. Go Wherever You Want (almost!)

There is hardly a spot on the planet that you can't visit. The traditional cruise destinations like Hawaii, the Caribbean and the Mediterranean are still there, amazing as always. And now there's the far east, Alaska, Mexico and South America.

Newly popular are the Baltic countries, like Russia and Norway, with a touch of the new, like Estonia too. And who could resist the possibilities of arriving in Sydney to the view of the Harbour Bridge or the Golden Gate in San Francisco, to make it nearer to home. It's making the decision that's the tough bit!

5. Be Prepared to be Entertained

Whether you want to climb those Royal Caribbean artificial rockfaces or lounge by a pool. Maybe it's the 'Culinary Arts Center, presented by Food and Wine Magazine' on Holland America. Or perhaps for kids there's the Fun House - the home of the Camp Carnival program. Each line has their own specialities, so it's worth to check the line that has what you want.

And not to forget the evenings! Did you want Broadway shows? Well, that's just what you get. The most spectacular revues are waiting for you - again line by line have their particular favorites - and guests come back year on year for more.

Don't want a big show? Well, many cruises recognise that this isn't for everyone and guests want variety. So whether it be a few drinks in an atmospheric jazz bar or an energetic spin around the dance floor, you have to choose. But then again, maybe there's an evening to try everything!

6. Making the Most of Onshore Excursions

They let you out, sometimes! Remember that this is a vacation where not only do you get the most fantastic accommodation, eating and entertainment, but each day (mostly) brings a new place to visit. Those onshore activities can be very wide-ranging. From a leisurely stroll round quaint backstreets, to a no-holds-barred mountain top trip in a four-by-four.

Make no mistake the ports of call are ready for you. Often you will get a whole day onshore which you can freely explore or buy a great trip and be shown the sights!

So, there you have it - a vacation opportunity that is out there waiting for you. If you need more information about cruise lines, destinations and what to expect, there's plenty of information online, right now for you.