Question 1

How much does a cruise actually cost?

Accepted Answer

It varies enormously — a seven-night mainstream Mediterranean cruise for two can start well under £2,000 including flights and taxes, while a Silversea expedition sailing for the same couple can be well over £15,000. Fare type matters as much as brand: a low headline fare with drinks, dining and shore excursions added on can end up higher than an all-inclusive fare that looked more expensive on paper. We'll always run the numbers both ways.

Question 2

Is cruising really for me?

Accepted Answer

Cruising covers everything from big-ship family holidays to small-ship expedition sailings — it's less a single holiday and more a category. If you're not sure, a quick conversation is usually enough for us to say honestly whether we think it'll suit you, and which brand and ship style is worth looking at first.

Question 3

What if I get seasick?

Accepted Answer

Modern cruise ships are large and heavily stabilised — most guests never notice movement, especially in the Mediterranean, Caribbean or on rivers. If you're prone to motion sickness, cabin choice makes a real difference (mid-ship, lower decks are the steadiest) and over-the-counter remedies work well. On rougher itineraries such as transatlantic or Norwegian fjord crossings, we'll tell you honestly what to expect.

Question 4

What should I pack?

Accepted Answer

Layers for on-deck days, smart-casual for most evenings, and one dressier outfit per week for gala nights on premium and luxury lines. Formal white-tie cruising is largely gone. Details vary by line and itinerary — Silversea and Celebrity lean a little smarter, Royal Caribbean is more relaxed — and we'll send a specific packing note before you sail.

Question 5

How does dining work?

Accepted Answer

Every ship includes a main dining room and a buffet at no extra charge, plus casual venues like pizza, burgers and cafés. Speciality restaurants (steakhouse, Italian, sushi and so on) usually carry a cover charge unless you're on a suite or all-inclusive fare. On Silversea, and on Celebrity's 'Always Included' and river sailings, most dining is included from the outset.

Question 6

Do I need a drinks package?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes — not always. A package makes sense if you enjoy several drinks a day and want a predictable bill; it's often poor value if you're a light drinker or on a short port-heavy itinerary. On all-inclusive brands (Silversea, Celebrity River, and Celebrity 'Always Included' fares) drinks are already in the fare and there's nothing extra to buy.

Question 7

How do tipping and gratuities work?

Accepted Answer

Most ocean lines charge a daily service charge per guest (typically £13–£18 a day), which is either added to your onboard account or pre-paid with the fare. It's shared between the crew who look after you. Extra tipping is entirely optional. Luxury lines (Silversea) and Celebrity River Cruises include gratuities in the fare, so there's nothing to add on board.

Question 8

Is there Wi-Fi at sea, and is it any good?

Accepted Answer

Yes — and thanks to Starlink it's genuinely fast on most Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Silversea ships now: video calls, streaming and remote working all work. It's usually charged per day unless bundled into your fare (Silversea and Celebrity 'Always Included' fares typically include it).

Question 9

What are the dress codes?

Accepted Answer

Daytime is casual everywhere. Evenings are smart-casual most nights — think collared shirt and trousers, dress or smart top — with one or two 'gala' or 'chic' nights per week where jacket-and-dress-code is encouraged rather than required. Silversea is a touch smarter throughout; Royal Caribbean is the most relaxed. Formal white-tie cruising is essentially gone.

Question 10

Do you book package holidays, dynamic packages or flights?

Accepted Answer

No — we specialise in cruise, and we think you're better served by a specialist for everything else. If you're after a package holiday, a dynamic package (hotel + flight put together) or flights on their own, we'll happily connect you with a trusted partner agent we've worked with for years. You still get looked after; it just isn't us doing the booking.

Question 11

Do you only book Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Silversea?

Accepted Answer

Those three are our specialism — they're the brands we know inside out and where our Royal Caribbean 'Royal Guru' recognition, Celebrity Certified Expert accreditation and CLIA Ambassador status sit. But we also book other ocean cruise lines directly. MSC in particular is useful when the Royal Caribbean Group brands don't sail the dates or route you want — autumn ex-UK sailings from Southampton being a common example. If a different line fits your trip better, we'll say so and book it for you.

Question 12

Do you book river cruises?

Accepted Answer

Yes — Celebrity River Cruises is part of the Royal Caribbean Group, sailing the Rhine and Danube from August 2027, and we book it directly. For other river lines (Viking, AmaWaterways, and specialist operators on the Douro, Nile or Mekong), we refer to trusted partner agents who specialise in those brands.

Question 13

What does a consultation involve?

Accepted Answer

Twenty unhurried minutes on the phone, Zoom or WhatsApp with a named specialist — whichever suits you. We ask about who's travelling, what a good holiday looks like to you, and what you'd like to get out of it. There's no script, no obligation, and no hard sell. You leave with a clear recommendation whether you book with us or not.

Question 14

Can I contact you outside working hours?

Accepted Answer

Yes — we're not a call centre. Your specialist is contactable by email and WhatsApp, and we look after you before, during and after you sail. If something needs to be sorted while you're on board, we'd rather you message us than sit on hold at guest services.

Question 15

Is my money protected?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Valora Travel is PTS Protected (Protected Trust Services), which means client money is held in an independent trust account and released only when suppliers have been paid. Your booking is financially protected from deposit through to sailing. We work with the cruise lines directly, and your booking is confirmed with them in your name.

Question 16

What accreditations do you hold?

Accepted Answer

We are PTS Protected for financial protection, a CLIA Ambassador (Cruise Lines International Association's senior training and accreditation level), hold Royal Caribbean 'Royal Guru' status — the line's own recognition of deep product expertise on Royal Caribbean International — and are a Celebrity Certified Expert, Celebrity Cruises' own accreditation for advisers with verified expertise across their fleet and The Retreat.

Straight answers, plainly written.

Before you book

On board

Booking with Valora

Financial protection

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