Selling Cruises: The Best Ships for First-Time Cruisers
by John Hawks

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Now, let me start a real fight going among OSSN members. I'll begin by sharing my personal picks for the best vessels for first-time cruisers. At the end of my list, I'll give you the proper email address so that you can share your own favorite ships for neophyte cruise clients (and you can tell me why I'm wrong about my own list!).

Here we go:

• Carnival: Its midrange Spirit-class ships ("Legend"/"Miracle"/"Pride"/"Spirit")
• Celebrity: Its newest ships ("Constellation"/"Infinity"/"Millennium"/"Summit")
• Disney: "Magic" or "Wonder" (a great choice for families cruising for the first time!)
• Holland America: "Oosterdam" or "Zuiderdam" (its Vista-class vessels)
• Norwegian: "Dawn," "Star," or "Sun" (with "Freestyle Cruising" that means you can dine on board in almost any restaurant, at whatever times you choose!)
• Princess: "Caribbean Princess," "Grand Princess," "Gold Princess," or "Star Princess"
• Royal Caribbean: Its Voyager-class ships that are basically floating mega-resorts, with everything from ice rinks and rock-climbing walls to shopping atriums and Johnny Rockets

Let me point out that, for this article, I've consciously chosen those cruise lines that will likely be the most familiar brand names for the average traveler who has never cruised. Other cruise lines such as MSC Cruises, Oceania Cruises, and Norwegian Coastal Voyage (among others) do a fabulous job with first-timers, too, so don't forget to check them out.

Now, please share with us your favorite ships for brand-new cruisers. We'd love to hear stories about clients who've left home worried about sailing and returned home ready to book their next cruise immediately! Send your notes to us at john@ossn.com.