Hitting the open waters might just be the best way to escape the sweaty summer grind without losing that summer sizzle.

“What’s great about cruising is that you’re able to unpack once, but travel to a number of destinations,” says Ilana Valo, Director of Business Development at The Travel Network.

Cruise ships can house 5000 people or be intimately small for groups of 50, Valo reminds. The options are endless, and there’s a cruise out there to suit everyone.

How to pick the right cruise for you?  Valo offers her 5 tips for smooth sailing:

Tip 1: R&R
Look for adult-only ships, and ships with complete spa services. Smaller ships can often be more relaxing.

Tip 2: Adventure
Pick cruises with activities like snorkeling, scuba-diving, and off-roading. For the adventuresome, Caribbean and Alaskan cruises are great options.

Tip 3: Shopping    
Choose your shopping destinations. You can visit a market in Florence on a European cruise, or duty-free designer shops in St. Thomas on a Caribbean cruise.

Tip 4: Nightlife
All ships include a nightclub environment, but larger cruise ships also offer cigar lounges, wine bars, and dance theatres. Larger ships are better for socializing.

Tip 5: Out of the ordinary
If you want a different experience, choose river or expedition cruises. River cruises take you through smaller towns in Europe that people don`t normally visit, and expedition cruises take you through places like the Amazon or Antarctic.

Do you have a hot cruise tip to share?

by Katie Coristine