Fellow guests

Who would you like on your cruise?

Less expensive cruises have the broadest demographic. You may find multi-millionaires on a fun weekend Carnival cruise, but you are unlikely to find call center workers on a luxury 14-night European cruise.

Families with children cruise during the summer and school holidays. If you do not wish to cruise with children, avoid cruising June through mid-September, mid-December through the first week of January, and April. If you want to avoid kids but need to cruise during those times, choose a 10+ day and/or higher-end cruise where there are fewer children.

Working-age people typically stick to cruises of a week or less, though Europe is a frequent exception (apparently it's worth taking two weeks' vacation).

Retirees are on almost all cruise ships, but are more likely the majority on cruises longer than a week, and those outside summer and school holidays.

Birds of a feather flock together. So if you've picked a high-end Baltic cruise because of the outstanding cultural opportunities, you probably aren't the only one. Similarly, if you are heading to the Bahamas for a weekend of fun, you will probably be in good company.