Which Voyage is Right for Me?

With so many exciting voyages to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start. In this article we’re going to give our seasoned advice on how to pick the right trip for you, whatever kind of sailor you are.

Choosing the Right Voyage for You

The ‘voyage of a lifetime’ can mean different things to different people. 10 days striking out for a remote Hebridean island might tick all the boxes for some, while others might need a month on the Southern Ocean.

The main things to consider when choosing a voyage are the ship itself, the sailing area and the length of the trip. Let’s look at each of those in a bit more detail…

Voyage Crew on Oosterschelde Darwin200 final leg 32 Horta Azores to Falmouth Cornwall

Which Ship?

Different vessels have very different accommodation. It’s important to be realistic about your needs in terms of privacy, comfort and access to a hot shower. You might fall in love with the idea of a particular destination, but if home comforts are important to you make sure they are provided or you’ll likely not enjoy yourself.

It’s also important to consider the number and ratio of crew on board. If there are lots of trainee guest crew, like yourself, will you be able to get as hands-on as you would like? If the crew is a small one, will you be able to relax with a book as much as you would like?

There is lots of information about each ship on our vessel pages, and if you have any questions or concerns about accommodation, crew ratios or sailing style, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

If you’ve got your heart set on achieving a particular goal, make sure the ship you choose can accommodate this. For example, if you’d love to climb the rigging, tall ships with square sails will provide many more opportunities for going aloft than boats with only fore-and-aft sails.

Going aloft on Morgenster with Classic Sailing

Which Sailing Area?

I would always recommend picking the ship first, and the destination second. If you’re on a boat that suits you, you’ll have fun wherever you are. That said, many of the ships have hugely varied sailing seasons spanning large swathes of the world’s oceans… so which single voyage to pick?

Consider the kind of climate you’re most comfortable in, and what you’re most excited to see and do during your trip. Is it wildlife you’re interested in? Seeing beautiful scenery? Having the chance to explore historical sites? Or are you after some extended time out of sight of land? Scroll down each voyage page for a detailed voyage description, covering the expected highlights of a particular trip.

If you are keen on a ‘big’ adventure, take into account your previous experience. If you’re brand new to sailing then any of our voyages are going to be pretty adventurous. Choose a varied coastal or island-hopping trip with periods at sea and chances to explore ashore. If you’ve done a fair bit of sailing, and know that you enjoy a challenge, then a more remote expedition voyage could be right up your street.

Take a look at our article ‘How Tough is Sailing in Remote Waters?’ to see if one of our more extreme voyages would be right for you.

What Length of Voyage Should I Choose?

The timing of a sailing trip obviously has to work for you, in terms of fitting it around your other commitments, but how long should you aim to go for?

This is again largely down to your experience and adventurousness! If you’ve never been sailing before, I would highly recommend that you start with a shorter trip, just to make sure you like it. That’s not to say we haven’t had newbies book on to ocean crossings and have the time of their life. But if you’re at all concerned about whether or not you’re going to enjoy sailing, start small.

Once you’re comfortable with the concept AND reality of traditional sailing, book the longest voyage you possibly can! Yes, I would say that… but there is nothing like an extended period on board ship. You get completely immersed in the rhythm of life at sea, form lifelong bonds with your fellow sailors, experience a variety of different conditions and get to know the ship inside out.

Taking a gap year or sabbatical? Go and cross an ocean! If one voyage isn’t enough for you then talk to us about booking back-to-back trips. If a week is what you can manage, then book a week. On a boat that suits you, a week will be magical too.