Cruise Trip Vacations

cruise vacations can offer vacationers an experience they cannot get anywhere else. However, it is important that you make a few right choices when selecting your cruise.

Otherwise, your fun vacation can quickly turn and become a less than desirable vacation. Answering a few simple questions can make all of the difference in your overall cruise experience.

First off, ask yourself where exactly you want to travel to. Picking the right destination can make all of the difference in the world.

If you are not a fan of extremely hot weather, chances are you would not want to travel to the Caribbean, especially during the summer months. Like wise, if you are not a fan of cold weather, an Alaskan cruise might not be the best fit for your vacation.

european cruises are become more and more popular. The best time to take a European cruise is between the months of April and October, with August being the most popular month.

The Greek Islands and the British Isles are among the most popular destinations of a European cruise.
An Alaskan cruise offers travelers a breathtaking experience.

The scenery is like none other. However, it is important that you realize that the weather can be very unpredictable. It is important that if you choose to go on an Alaskan cruise you pack for various weather possibilities.

It is also important to choose the right cruise lines. If you are traveling with kids, then a Disney Cruise Lines would be ideal. They cater to the needs and wants of families.

Disney Cruise Lines offers vacationers the opportunity to do things as a family or separately. They have programs for kids of all ages. Adults will not feel out of place on the cruise, as there are programs tailored to their needs as well.

Cruise durations vary from cruise lines to cruise lines and are a personal preference amongst travelers.

It is important that you consider how long the cruise is, when picking your destination. You do not want to try and cram too many ports of call into a short period of time.
As important as the destinations, durations and cruise ships are in deciding your cruise vacation, so is choosing the right travel agent.

Often times, people consider travel agents to be a waste of time and money. However, experienced travel agents who can give you intimate details of the various destinations can make all of the difference in your overall vacation experience. An experienced travel agent can put together an itinerary that is just right for you.

Cruises can be a great way to spend a vacation. Whether you are going alone, with a spouse or friend or taking the entire family, there is a cruise for you.

With some simple advanced planning, your cruise will be an experience that you will never forget.

Derek Smiley
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/cruise-tips-120910.html

Are all drinks included? Sorry for being stupid but never been on one.

Try this
http://www.oceanvillageholidays.co.uk/

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Any recommendations on the best cruise lines to take? which ones offer all-inclusive deals? Are all-inclusive the way to go?

For the most part all cruises are all inclusive. Let me explain.

Regardless of which cruise line you select, the things that are included are pretty much the same. The price of your cruise includes your cabin, all meals (including breakfast, lunch dinner, snacks and free room service)(you do pay to eat in the specialty restaurants), all shows and entertainment, and free use of all facilities on ship. The things that you will have to pay for are:

GRATUITIES: They will amount to about $10 per person in your cabin per day; about $70 each for a 7 day cruise. When you check in at the pier they will set up an on-board charge account for you to cover any and everything you may buy on ship. They will issue you a "cruise card" which will also serve as your room key and pass to get on and off the ship. At the end of the cruise they will add the gratuity to your tab and you can pay with a credit card or cash, your choice.

ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND SOFT DRINKS: Coffee, tea, milk, juice, and lemonade and punch will be provided free but you must pay for soft drinks and alcoholic beverages and they will add a 15% gratuity to each drink and soft drink order.

PHOTOGRAPHS: Cruise lines will take plenty of photographs of you all over the ship, in the dining room, and as you exit the ship in ports. These will cost a lot, like $15 to $20 for most.

TOURS/EXCURSIONS: You are not required to book any tours and can get off and on in the ports as much as you want. But the cruise line will offer a lot of tours and these are expensive.

SOUVENIRS: Anything you buy on ship from a gift shop or duty free shop goes on your on board account. Things that you buy on shore you pay cash or credit card for.

CASINO: If you plan to gamble on ship you will need cash for that.

OTHER: most cruise lines have what they call "specialty" restaurants where there is a gratuity/service charge. All other food on board is free and its not really necessary to budget for food; you cannot eat all of the FREE FOOD that will be available.

If you want/need to have your hair done, get a massage or wrap, or any services from the spa, you will have to pay for them. You can use the gym free but the spa stuff cost big bucks.

Ships now have internet cafe and some have WiFi but the there is a fee for internet access and it is very expensive (like about $50 to $60 an hour).

You cabin will likely have a minibar with soft drinks and munchies; you have to pay for them (but there is free room service 24/7).

I have been on about 20 cruises on 4 different cruise lines and also cruised to Alaska. So I am going to tell you probably more than you want to know. Here’s what I say based on my experiences.

First you should know that all of the cruise lines give the best price for early bookings that are a year or more in advance.
Cruise lines also list specials on their web sites so do look for those. The specials can many times save you a couple hundred per person over the price for the exact same cruise on a different date.

Second you should know that all cruise cabins are sold based on double occupancy and the prices listed will be per person and based on at least two people going on the cruise. The price you pay will depend mostly on the type accommodations that you choose. There are 4 basic types of cabins on ships;
- inside (no window),
- outside (a window or porthole),
- balcony/veranda, and
- suites.

Royal Caribbean has some inside cabins on its Freedom and Voyager Class of ships that have a window overlooking an inside promenade mall.

The "FROM" prices you see will always be for an inside cabin. There are also some subcategories within each category with cabins on a higher deck, and/or a better location on ship (like midship), and/or that are slightly larger costing more. So as you browse, pay attention to the square footage of the cabins. You may not want to pay more for the same sized cabin on a higher floor; or vice versa do pay less for the same cabin on a lower deck.

You can reserve a cruise on line, by calling the cruise line, or through a travel agent by paying the minimum deposit which will be between $250 and $350 per person for a 7 day cruise, depending upon the cruise line. The minimum will be more for a longer cruise, for example $450 per person for a 14 day cruise. The balance will be due approximately 60 days before the cruise departure date. But you can make periodic payment on line or with the cruise line. I have reserved on line and made payments many times.

I have listed below the web sites for the medium priced cruise lines which operate from US ports. These are the cruise lines that most people use. There are some luxury lines that are much higher priced with prices starting around $4,000 for a 7 day cruise. The lines that I have listed below will have cruises starting in the range of $800 to $1,000 per person for a 7 day cruise, again depending upon the date and type cabin you select.

HOLLAND AMERICA
http://www.hollandamerica.com/

CELEBRITY:
http://www.celebritycruises.com/home .

ROYAL CARIBBEAN:
http://www.royalcaribbean.com/gohome.d…..

NORWEGIAN:
http://www.ncl.com/

PRINCESS:
http://www.princess.com/index.html

CARNIVAL:
http://www.carnivalcruiselines.com/

I have been on Princess, Celebrity, Norwegian, and Royal Caribbean ships and can vouch that they are good cruise lines. However, there are some differences.

- Princess, Celebrity and Holland America have great ships are more classy and reserved. Holland America has mostly senior citizens cruising on its ships.

-Carnival has more first time cruiser and young people who want to party, party, party. If that is what you are looking for then Carnival is the cruise line for you.

-Norwegian cruise line is good and I have been on many of their cruises. Its the line that you want to go on if you want to be informal for pretty much your whole cruise. They have formal nights like other cruise lines but they do not stress dressing up; the call it "dress up if you want to" night.

-Royal Caribbean caters most to families and has the most and best on-board activities. Many Royal Caribbean ships have things like ice skating, roller blade track, rock climbing wall, surfing on ship on the "Flowrider", mini-golf course, pool tables. full sized basketball courts, and adults only pool and hot tub area called ‘Solarium".

BEST DEALS

I have found that the best deals can be had by going directly to the cruise line web sites and looking for their specials. Most will have their specials prominently displayed on their home page but I have found that Royal Caribbean and Carnival have the best web sites for this.

Another decision you will have to make is where you want to cruise to; Bermuda, Alaska, Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexico, or Europe. In general the shorter cruises of 3 to 6 days go to Bermuda or the Bahamas. Cruises going to Alaska, the Caribbean, the Mexican Riviera and Europe are 7 days or more. If you think you want to go to the Caribbean there are really three basic types of itineraries.

- Western caribbean cruises typically go to Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Jamaica and a private cruise line island.

-Eastern Caribbean typically go to St Thomas, St Maarten, a private cruise line island and maybe another island like Tortola or Puerto Rico. If you want to do a lot of shopping then pick a cruise with St Thomas as one of the port stops. St Maarten is also mainly a beach and shopping stop.

- Southern Caribbean cruise itineraries typically start in Puerto Rico and go either to Aruba, Curacao, and St Thomas and St Maarten, OR they go to the southern Caribbean islands like Barbados, Grenada, Antigua, St Lucia and maybe St Thomas and/or St Maarten. The main difference between these two itineraries, aside from the different islands, is the Aruba cruise has 2 "at sea" days with no port stops, while the other has a port stop about each day.

If you are going to Alaska there are also a lot of options for slightly different itineraries. Some Alaska cruises start in Alaska, (Anchorage, Seward, or Fairbanks) and others start in Seattle or Vancouver. Cruises of the "inside passage" are generally 7 days but you can also do what is called a cruise-tour which may be 10, 12 to 14 days and involves touring by train and/or bus either before or after the ocean voyage. So you have to look very carefully at your options for an Alaska cruise. You should not just say to an agent I want an Alaska cruise. Pick one or more of the cruise lines I listed above and search for Alaska cruises and look at all of the options available to help you decide.

So regardless of where you go the cruise will include pretty much everything as stated above. But you have a lot of options to look at to pick the best cruise for you. My recommendation is look at Celebrity, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Princess, pretty much in that order.

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I have heard about all inclusive cruicruises but can't find any. Anyone have any idea where to look or what line(s) offer them?

There are a few of them, but pretty costly……
Silverseas
Radisson Seven Seas
Crystal

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Looking for a simple honeymoon adventure and we agreed a short cruise would work around our jobs. Has anyone ever taken an all inclusive cruise out of Galveston?

Both Royal Caribbean and Carnival offer cruises out of Galveston. However, these cruises are not completely All Inclusive as they do charge for drinks, and specialty restaurants at the very least. Carnival has a 3 or 4 day cruise and a 7 day cruise. Royal Caribbean only does 7 day cruises out of Galveston from early December until mid-April.

Carnival is not for everybody, but it might be your only option if you are looking for something less than 7 days. The 3-4 day cruise most likely will go to Cozumel and either Riviera Maya or Progresso.

If there are other companies, specifically smaller ones, I do not know.

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If you’re considering a cruise, whether it’s to Alaska, the Caribbean or anywhere in between, sail on a Carnival cruise line. Carnival cruise lines know how to entertain, and work hard to provide activities and services that will keep young, old and in between happy while sailing.

A Carnival cruise ship is literally a floating resort with plush accommodations, first class restaurants, spas, and shopping experiences. Carnival cruise ‘Fun ships’ sail from many ports to over 60 destinations, including Hawaii, Alaska, Mexico, the Panama Canal, the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada and New England, even to Europe. For those wanting to see Alaska, Carnival cruise lines sail to Glacier Bay and both Northbound and Southbound Alaska. For those wishing to hobnob with old tales of pirates and treasure in the blue Caribbean, ports in the Eastern, Southern and Western Caribbean are ripe for the plucking. Carnival cruise trips to Mexico sail to Baja and the Mexican Riviera and the Bermuda leg offers a Cruise to Nowhere, if you’re daring enough.

Carnival cruise lines offer both standard and luxury appointments, providing a first class sailing experience for budget travelers or those with bottomless pockets. The finest in dining, entertainment and travel ports of call are the best that a cruise line has to offer, and Carnival cruise vacations have one of the highest user ratings of major cruise lines. Carnival cruise lines don’t just offer great destinations however, but moderately priced cabins for singles or families. Don’t even think about having to sleep on an uncomfortable bunk or berth either, because Carnival cruise lines have installed ‘Carnival Comfort Bed’ sleep systems in all the ships in their globe-trotting fleet. The younger crowd is kept entertained with the new Carnival cruise ‘Club 02′, designed specifically for travelers between the ages of 15 and 17. It’s the new ‘hot spot’ on the ship for those who don’t want to hang out with the parents but want to make friends, dance to the latest music and play video games. The club is staffed with fun and energetic employees who know what your kids want and how to offer it to them.

Want to bring your golf clubs along? Carnival cruise lines offer a V1 Digital Coaching System that will help cure any ailment to your golf swing from the convenience of the ship deck so that you’ll be ready to play once you hit the ports. No matter what you like to do, Carnival cruise personnel will try to provide it for you. Day and night time entertainment keeps passengers enthralled and happy between ports of call, with dancing, singing, and other venues geared for all age groups and tastes.

A Carnival cruise adventure offers events and event planning help if you have special needs or larger groups of people in your traveling party. Online, Carnival cruise lines offer tips, suggestions, and messages posted from other Carnival cruise adventures. The Carnival cruise line’s official website is easy to navigate and offers answers to just abut any question that could possibly be asked about the Carnival cruise vacation experience.

Chonticha Marijne
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/what-can-a-carnival-cruise-offer-the-experienced-traveler-125944.html

Since cruises are so expensive especially if you are a drinker like myself…..is it true there are all inclusive packages?

Oh my and how there are!

These all-inclusive ships are truly spectacular. They are not inexpensive but then again they should be in a class by themselves.

I was involved with the creation of one such line, Silver Seas. They have drinks included, tips included, and the service, the ships and the itineraries are magnificent.

Here is a link to their site with sailing dates and prices:

www.Silversea-Cruise-Line.com

There are others as well that do an equally great job with the all-inclusive concept. Be prepared to spend a lot though, they don't appeal to everyone but those that you will meet on board know a great product when they experience it and come back over and over.

This is how the well traveled travel well! I also like Seabourn.

These are smaller ships by today's standards but have a service level that is truly wonderful. Some still charge an additional amount for Shore Excursions because not everyone wants a shore excursion. Some people are on board just to experience the cruise!

What is nice is some of these luxury vessels are truly itinerary focused. They go to some of the ports that the others do not which is nice in itself.

It is a lovely way to cruise, not the only way but a lovely way to cruise. Is it for everyone, NO Thank goodness!

Oh and Crystal is a wonderful cruise line, one of my favorites in larger ships but is not an all-inclusive cruise line. Costly yes but again worth the price of admission. They do a really great job and their ships are lovely. Alcohol, well not free there!

Bon Voyage no matter where your cruising may take you!

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I want to take a cruise with my sister this summer and we want to get an all inclusive one, but I can't find any. We are thinking of leaving from Florida and going out to the Bahamas or the Caribbean. I don't know where to look, or which cruise lines offer all inclusive cruicruises.
Any help would be great!
Tanks!

You will probably not find a 100% all inclusive cruise.

The basic cruise fare includes your room, meals in the regular dining rooms and buffets, room service, shows, and most ship facilities. Many ships also have free pizza, ice cream at various times. sushi, and hot dogs and hamburgers.

There are usually 3 choices for free dining. There is traditional dining where you are assigned a time and table for dining. They range from 2 to 10 seats and you have the same diners each time. There is anytime dining which allows you to go dine any time and you are seated with others dining at the same time. Both are held in large dining rooms with waiters. Then there is the buffet which is usually on the top deck. It is open to all and many people always use it for breakfast and lunch.

The extras are first tips. Figure about $10 per day per person for the tips to the room steward and wait staff. This is optional and some cruise lines automatically charge you. It can be adjusted or reversed at the end of the cruise. You should also tip a few dollars if you use room service. All bar drinks will have 15% added for a tip.

Many ships have alternate dining facilities that have a service charge of $15 on up. It may be a steak house or an Italian restaurant for example. There are also specialty coffee bars that have a charge. All bar drinks including sodas have a charge. The only free bar drinks are at the Captains Reception and the Repeat Cruiser Reception. Do not assume that the drinks being offered when you board are free. They are not. Bar drinks are $6 and up. Some ships are even charging for juice at any meal other than breakfast.

Some cruise lines sell a soda card for about $4 a day. It is only for fountain soda. Unless you have 3 sodas a day it is not worth it. You can also buy a specialty coffee card which gives you 15 for about the price of 12.

There is a charge for any personal service such as laundry, salons, private trainers, etc. Spa treatments are very expensive, $50-$100. There is also gambling which includes the casino, bingo ($10-$20 per session), and sometime deck games such as horse racing. A ship photographer will be taking pictures all over the ship and at special occasions. They cost over $10 each. Phone calls in the room are about $8 a minute. Some ships have cell phone service. You are charged for international roaming by your phone service at about $2.50 per minute. There is also a charge for using internet service on a ship but it is cheaper than phone calls.

Sundries are very expensive. Figure at least double the normal price. If you need a watch you will find no better prices anywhere.

Off ship excursions are expensive. They start at about $30 and can be in the hundreds. You can book them on the ship or go on your own. The ship will not leave without you if a cruise excursion is late. With one you did on your own they will not wait.

₪ ɦəlʞɹɐq ₪

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Guys,
I am planning for Alaska tour soon for 7-10 days from LA/SFO/Seattle including visit to anchorage. So i would appreciate some help on the tour deals and tips to travel by road in alaska from the port of landing and back to the cruise.

Thanks,
Raj

CruiseCritic.com, "Boards", "Ports of Call", "Alaska".

There are going to be very few, if any, cruises from LA or SFO; Seattle is a better bet. Ten-day itinerary will also limit your choices. With the deals out there now, you might want to consider a 14-day, back-to-back cruise. Might be cheaper than going one-way [most alaska cruicruises are one-way] and then paying airfare for return.

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If you have not vacationed in the Bahamas, you are missing out on one of the best vacation destinations that could be chosen. The islands of the Bahamas have some major destination and tourist spots, which offer a traveler a unique vacation experience. Taking a vacation in the Bahamas is a dream come true for most people, whether business or pleasure or even a combination of those, and it does not need to be as expensive as you might think.

The two main islands are New Providence Island and Grand Bahama Island, although the smaller islands of Abacos, Acklins, Andros, The Berry Islands, Bimini, Cat Island, Eleuthera, The Exumas, Inagua, Mayaguana, and San Salvador also offer prime vacation spots. Crystal clear turquoise waters, endless white sand beaches, perfect temperate weather all add up to a vacation that is as good as it gets.

You can fly into the Bahamas via commercial airlines which is only a very short flight from Florida, or you can take a cruise to the Bahamas, where Nassau is a very popular cruise ship stopover with most of the major cruise ships. A passport and visa aren’t usually required, but verify with your travel agent exactly what paperwork you should bring to stay out of trouble.

Your opportunities for relaxation are limited only by your imagination. If you like beaches, the sands of the beaches here are second to none, and end in the crystal aqua waters of the ocean. Sun bathers can always find a section of beach in which to gather some rays and enjoy some peace and quiet. If golf is your thing, the Bahamas offers several world-class golf courses. And if you need a bit of diversion, there are some casinos here that offer casino action and slot machines that are on a par with the best that would be found in Las Vegas.

You will find the locals are friendly and welcoming of visitors. The shopping along the main streets and shopping district offer many deals and unique items, many of which will not be found in your normal shopping centers back home. Language is not a problem here, since English is the language of choice in the Bahamas.

A discussion about the Bahamas would not be complete without mentioning the world-class resort of Atlantis. The Atlantis is a truly breath-taking resort and is also home to one of the largest casinos in the islands. The grounds of the Atlantis are impeccably kept with hardly a single blade of grass out of place. As a result of all of this, the Atlantis is home to many conferences and conventions, and can accommodate even large conferences of several thousand attendees.

If you have never been to the Bahamas, you owe it to yourself to visit there and experience it. If you have been there already, you already understand this, but there is almost certainly new aspects of the Bahamas that you have not yet experienced. Take the time to treat yourself to a Bahamas vacation, you will not regret it.

Jon Arnold
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/find-out-why-the-bahamas-should-be-your-next-vacation-destination-94879.html