Cruise Ship Tips

Matching your travel needs and desires to the right cruise line, cruise and ship is vital to your ultimate satisfaction with the experience.

Types of Cruises

Repositioning cruises, when cruise lines move their fleets at the end of one venue's season to another area for the beginning of its season, provide a change of pace, often at attractive prices.

Fly and cruise offerings combine the cruise with airfare to and from ports of embarkation and disembarkation, while land and cruise packages combine hotel and land transportation with a cruise.

Yacht charters offer the ultimate in luxury featuring pampering by the staff, gourmet dining, elegant surroundings and easy access to intimate ports. Expedition cruises usually emphasize adventure, education and exploring, more than luxury. Destinations may be exotic, rugged and off-the-beaten-path, such as the Galapagos Islands for a study of plant and animal life or ports of Bible lands to visit Bible places. The cruise line may provide a naturalist or other expert to present lectures and slide shows and to conduct shore expeditions. Smaller vessels are usually used for expedition cruises in order to navigate in narrow passages. Nature and the environment are common themes; other offered expedition themes are archaeology, astronomy and marine wildlife.

Theme cruises are offered on vessels of all sizes and may feature noted speakers presenting lectures on theme topics, such as health, finance, big band music with well-known musicians aboard, bridge tournaments, etc.

Cruises on sailing vessels vary considerably in itinerary from the major liners. Accommodations range from luxurious to casual. Sometimes the passengers can serve with the crew thus offering another dimension to a unique experience.

Freighter cruises can be an inexpensive way to cruise and provide a unique adventure for someone who has a lot of time (up to 60 days). The ship's emphasis will be on delivering cargo not on entertaining passengers, however, cabins are generally large and comfortable, food is good, and the number of passengers very limited. Ports of call are also few, but may be more exotic than normal cruise lines offer.

Trans-Atlantic cruises offer traditional cruising luxury. The crossing takes five days, and the return will usually involve air flight, perhaps on the luxurious Concorde, if you can afford it.

If you want to do some extensive sight-seeing, look for a cruise with pre- or post-cruise extensions. These allow you to spend a few nights in a hotel at your port of embarkation before sailing or at your port of debarkation afterward. Such packages often include tours, meals and special activities.

In-depth land exploration can be enjoyed via a cruise-tour, which combines cruising to several ports-of-call and a land tour with several nights in hotels. Alaska is a popular destination for this type of cruise.

Cruise Pricing

Cruise pricing has traditionally been "all-inclusive", however, not everything is included. Usually included in the cruise price are cabin accommodations, ship to shore transfers, meals while on board ship, non-alcoholic drinks with shipboard meals, and most shipboard entertainment and activities. Usually not included are gratuities (tips), shore excursions, optional activities and programs, alcoholic beverages, soft drinks served on deck or in your cabin, purchases in the ship's store, and personal services such as laundry, medical care, and barber and beauty care.

Port charges and embarkation fees are passed on to each passenger by the cruise line. These used to be included in the advertised price, but because of stiff price competition, are now usually quoted separately from the price of the cruise package. They are, however, in the prepaid amount at time of booking.

In the case of land and cruise and fly and cruise packages, the cost of included hotel or resort accommodations, airfare to and from port of departure, and other included land activities may be included in the advertised price. Your online agent should offer the details, but it is always wise to inquire to determine exactly what is and what is not included in the package price.

Discounted Cruises

Advance bookings. Several cruise lines offer discounts to passengers who book up to six months in advance. Discounts can be substantial, but cancellation penalties may apply.

Short notice. Last minute bookings (within fourteen days of sailing) are, of course, based on availability, and full payment will usually be required when reservations are made.

Regional discounts. In some cases special rates are offered for specific regions of origin, e.g., Florida, California or New York.

Repositioning cruises. Cruise lines transfer ships from one area to another to accommodate demand. These repositioning voyages (most often between the Mexican Riviera and Alaska and between the Caribbean and the U.S. East Coast) are offered as special cruises at a discount price. Return travel is at your discretion and at additional cost.

Ship Details

Cruise lines provide in their cruise brochures not only the details of the cruise itinerary but also the specifics of the ship. Information provided is of the following type:

* Size of the ship in tonnage: Intimate - up to 10,000 gross registered tonnage (grt); Small - between 10,000 and 20,000 grt; Medium - between 20,000 and 30,000 grt; Large - 90,000 grt and over * Passenger capacity * Number of persons on staff * Year the ship was built * Cruising speed * Refurbished dates * Registry * Nationality of crew * Facilities on board

Cabins

Generally, the larger more expensive cabins are located on the highest decks, suites and penthouses being on the highest. The higher the cabin is above the waterline, the better the view the occupant has of the shore and visited ports. These cabins are more expensive. Also more expensive are cabins amidships (in the ship's middle) since they are less affected by the ship's roll and pitch than cabins forward and aft (behind). Inside cabins are usually less expensive than outside cabins, especially if the outside cabin is above the waterline and a porthole, or windows. As with hotel rooms, cabins near stairways, elevators and other public facilities tend to be noisier. Also those on the deck below a dance floor should be avoided, unless you intend to dance all night.

Cruise Brochures

The cruise brochure, or catalog (available directly from cruise lines.), is the best way for you to visualize yourself and your companion(s) enjoying that cruise. Ship's details, length of cruise, ports-of-call, shipboard activities, class of service and services included and excluded are described. Sailing dates, cabin categories and prices will be listed. There will also be a section showing deck plans with the location of cabins, dining, recreation, etc.

By studying different brochures you can learn a great deal about cruising in general and the cruise being offered in particular. The pictures of passengers enjoying themselves will help you determine to which age group that cruise ship caters. Does the brochure show families with children, older people, or single people? What is being emphasized � activities, fun, nightlife, or relaxation? The typical cruise brochure is designed to provide all the information necessary for helping you make a sensible buying decision.

Nautical Terms

Comfort on board ship can be enhanced by learning a few terms.

* Aft - near, toward, or at the rear of the vessel.

* Amidships - at the middle of the ship.

* Bon voyage - an expression borrowed from the French to wish a passenger a safe and pleasant voyage.

* Bow - the forward most part of the ship.

* Bridge - the navigational command center of the ship.

* Free port - a port where no customs or duties are levied on purchases.

* Leeward - the side sheltered from the wind.

* Port - the left side of the ship when facing forward. Also called larboard.

* Port or port-of-call - a place where ships may ride secure from storms and load and unload passengers and cargo.

* Porthole - Small, opening in a ship's side to admit light to an above water cabin or passageway.

* Starboard - the right side of the ship when facing forward.

* Stern - the rearmost part of the ship.

* Tender - a small craft used to ferry passengers between ship and shore.

* Galley - the ship's kitchen.

* Windward - the side towards which the wind blows.

Other Packaged Travel

Watch out for and understand the fine print! Pricing in the travel industry is very volatile and is affected by high season, low season, competition and numerous other factors. Airfares alone are constantly changing at the rate of several hundred changes per day. A low fare available in the morning may well be gone by noon. Industry travel offerings often have a number of restrictions you need to consider when evaluating price. Even the most reputable companies may have some. Still, it is always a good idea to look for the fine print when comparing products. Here are some statements you may find somewhere in the materials describing travel product offerings.

* "Package prices based on off-peak travel. Peak travel day rates will be slightly higher. Weekend and class of service surcharges may apply."

* "All listed rates are per person, based on double occupancy and are subject to change without notice."

* "Up to $12 per person, round-trip, in airport passenger facility charges (PFC) may be collected in addition to the published price."

* "[Company name] reserves the right to re-invoice your reservation should an error be made in computing your package price. All other bookings are subject to applicable fare increases or surcharges. Rates are subject to change for events beyond the control of [company name] including, but not limited to, increases in fuel surcharges, departure taxes, tariffs or passenger facility charges."

* "[Company name] shall not be liable for substitution of common carrier equipment, termination of service, changes in fares and rates, or for cancellation or double booking of reservations..."