Travel Cruise Review

Mark Hammond asked:


Need some help with packing for your cruise? While packing for a vacation may seem like a no-brainer, there are actually a few guidelines you should follow with respect to packing for cruises.

First, don’t expect to pack extremely lightly and then buy most of your essentials on board. While you will find some available merchandise, toiletries, and even clothing on the cruise ship, most items will very likely be overpriced (because of premiums), and may not be exactly what you’re looking for or what you need.

Find out whether the cruise you’ve selected is formal, casual, or both, and then pack accordingly. Keep in mind that in most cases, formal means “semi-formal” on cruises. This means that instead of donning your best tuxedo and fancy ball gown, opt for a nice suit and a pretty cocktail dress instead. Think of dressing for a nice church wedding, and you’ll be set. If you’re on a formal cruise but don’t want to dress up, eat at different times, ask about casual meals, or order room service.

Pack non-bulky, lightweight clothes that don’t wrinkle easily, and that you can wear several times on the ship. For example, a nice pair of dark jeans can be dressed up or down, a lightweight men’s blazer can also be dressed up or down, and a simple black skirt can be worn with different tops, blouses, and jackets for different looks.

Plan to do laundry at least once during your cruise, as most cruises have self-serve laundry facilities on board. This way, you can avoid over-packing, particularly if you’re going on a longer cruise. Another way to cut down on the amount of clothing you pack is to plan to wear any souvenir clothing you know you’re going to buy on the cruise, which will save you some space, and won’t force you to “make room” for your purchases for the trip home. For toiletries, use smaller containers and sizes, like travel-size shampoo, soap, and toothbrush/toothpaste.

Pack according to where your cruise ship will take you, and what season it is. For example, if you’re on a tropical cruise (no matter what time of year), pack very light cotton layers. If you’re not sure, find out what the climate is like in that area and at that time of year, or ask your cruise agent.

It’s not recommended to pack any of your most expensive items, as you’ll likely worry about them getting lost or stolen for the entire cruise. Leave them at home and bring along cheaper substitutes. Keep all your necessary valuable items-money, documents, identification, medicine, camera, cell phone-with you on your carry-on.

Finally, check with a cruise agent to make sure you’re aware of any special requirements or restrictions (for example, most lines won’t let you bring alcohol with you) with respect to packing for your specific cruise.

Brian Jenkins asked:


With thousands of vacation options around the world, it can be difficult to narrow down your options to just a single destination. However, one of the most popular choices for leisure travel is the cruise. Cruises leave from ports all over the world, and for many vacationers, this is the best travel choice. Could a cruise work for you? Consider the many benefits to this kind of trip.

Primarily, with a cruise, you are not going to have many extra expenses, so it is easy to fit into a budget. Some cruises are all-inclusive, and while others are not, most include all of the basics you need for a great vacation. If you work with a travel agent, you can combine a cruise and flight for even bigger savings. You will find that most cruises include meals and entertainment, but on some, you have to pay for drinks and shore excursions.

Beyond budgeting, a cruise is super easy to plan. Instead of having to put together an itinerary yourself, you just “cruise” along, literally. The company running the cruise determines the entertainment, as well as set the course, taking you to various ports of interest. While some may find this a bit limiting, most enjoy the stress-free idea of not having to plan a vacation – they do the planning for you!

Cruises come in all shapes and sizes, giving you tons of variety. One of the best features of a cruise is the flexibility it offers. You can literally go to a local travel agent and name your port, or at least a general area from which you want to leave. In the United States alone, cruises leave from Alaska, Florida, California, and a number of other states. Caribbean cruises are popular, of course, but you can also find cruises in Europe, Africa and other countries throughout the world.

Location is not the only thing that is flexible. With a cruise, you can also be flexible about the amount of time you want to spend on vacation. Some cruises are very long, lasting 10 to 14 days. On the other hand, most cruise lines offer shorter 3-day cruises for those with lower budgets or those who do not want to spend their entire vacation on a ship. You can also find short day cruises, so if you are going on vacation near a coast, you might want to look into an evening casino cruise, daylong sightseeing cruise, or other short tourist option.

Another great aspect of cruising is your ability to see so many different places in such a short amount of time. Most cruises, even short 3-day cruises, allow you to see at least two ports. On a longer cruise, you might dock at a different port almost every night. What is great about this is the fact that you do not have to worry about spending time traveling to all of these locations. Your travel arrangement is the ship itself, so if you are afraid to fly or simply want to try something new, a cruise is the perfect way to travel. A cruise ship is a very comfortable travel option with everything you need available to you.

Do not forget that cruises also offer opportunities you would not get elsewhere. For example, if the cruise goes out deep into open waters, you might see some marine life that you could never see from land. Of course, this depends on your overall location.

Cruises are also available in themes allowing you to find the best option for your vacation. You can find cruises sponsored by certain organizations, but some of the most popular are the singles and couples cruises offered by most major cruise lines. On a single’s cruise, you must be traveling alone or, at least, romantically unattached. The whole point is to meet people! Couples cruises usually have romantic activities and more privacy. You can also find family cruises, Like Disney cruises, which include meet and greet options with all of the Disney characters.

Lastly, cruises are extremely safe. While you are on a cruise ship, you can enjoy your vacation without having to worry much about crime. In addition, ships have fewer accidents than other travel options, and even when you get to port, cruise lines take great care to ensure that you are docking in safe parts of the city you are visiting.

Booking a cruise is extremely easy. You can find out about cruise options, or you can call a travel agent to discuss your cruising wishes. By working with a travel agent or company, you can choose a great cruise that works for you and your travel companions. A cruise is available in many different themes such as a family cruise or a singles cruise. These are all great options and your travel agent can help you choose the best option for you.

Helen Hecker asked:


If you have a disability, are disabled in any way or have some special needs or a special handicap you can still enjoy a great cruise experience and learn all about disable travel. The first step in planning a cruise ship adventure is to consult with a travel agent who specializes in cruise travel for people with disabilities to make sure you have an accessible trip.

Because the cruise lines are all different you need to compare the cruise lines and all they have to offer; this requires a little research on your part. However travel agents who specialize in cruise travel can really shorten your work and prevent a lot of problems and help you gain the best access. I encourage you to seek out their help and not try to go it alone.

There are many differences in the cruise lines. Some cannot accommodate wheelchairs easily. Most cabins are small and you’ll need to get the dimensions of the cabin to know if your wheelchair will fit.

Some of the larger cruise lines have cabins that have wider doorways. These cabins have bathrooms that will fit wheelchairs that can roll around inside. The closets are usually built so you can reach them from a lower vantage point. But make sure to double-check that the cruise line you’ve picked has these special accommodations. This is another reason a special needs travel agent or travel specialist can help.

Most of the cruise lines have elevators that have control panels within easy reach from a wheelchair.

The cruise lines have collapsible wheelchairs available but I would consider taking my own. It may be a concern if it is going to be uncomfortable in any way. Also there is a remote possibility that they might run out of them. If you bring a motorized or power wheelchair make sure to bring your charger along - one that is adaptable to 110 volts.

Make sure to discuss with your travel agent how your visit to the various harbors or ports of call on the cruise, will be handled. This can make or break your trip. Small boats, which are called tenders, are used to take travelers and disabled travelers from the cruise ship to the port of call. These tenders are not always accessible or even safe for people with disabilities, so make sure you travel agent has had experience with these tenders before you book any cruise travel. And it is just as important make sure to find out if once you reach the shore, that they’ll be able to handle your specific special needs.

In general some of the larger cruise lines will have ADA (American Disabilities Association) compliant rooms on their cruise ships. If you’re deaf or hearing impaired, you can request special accommodations, for example tele-typewriters (TTY) or telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD). Some of the cabins may have the ADA approved kits. These kits include visual smoke alarms and alarms that vibrate and door sensors so you know when someone is at the door.

For blind travelers who bring along their guide dogs or other service animals, they’ll have a difficult time finding the best cruise. Each of the ports of call has different rules and regulations regarding guide dogs and service animals. Service animals may not be allowed to leave the cruise ship.

It’s important to work with a travel agent who specializes in disability travel who knows how to do this and may be familiar with your chosen cruise already.

Special diets are usually easily accommodated on most of the cruise lines. Vegans and vegetarians have fresh fruit and vegetable options and special diets are available for those passengers who need a low fat, low salt or low cholesterol diets. People with celiac disease may need to discus this with the cruise lines to see if their chefs are familiar with how to prepare gluten-free foods. Cruise passengers with lung impairments who will need oxygen can cruise but make sure you arrange to have plenty of oxygen on board.

Make sure that you’re not traveling alone and have someone travel with you who knows your specific needs. Don’t take anything for granted. Check everything out and double check with your travel agent. You may want to call the cruise line yourself too. Make sure your travel agent is experienced and ask for references from someone they have arranged travel for with similar needs.

Don’t forget to check with your travel agent about any discounts, free add-ons, or good deals on cruise travel too. The cruise lines want your business whether you are disabled or not.

As soon as your travel agent books your cruise, make sure the cruise line is notified of your special needs and know of your disability. With help from your travel agent for the disabled or cruise line specialist you should be able to have a worry-free and carefree holiday, vacation or adventure and make you an expert on disabled travel.

Alex Stewart asked:


Are you going on or thinking about a cruise? If you’re curious about cruise ship vacations, but you’re not sure what to expect - keep reading to learn about common cruise ship amenities and what you can expect from a typical cruise ship vacation.

Firstly, the activities, food and services are going to vary from ship to ship and cruise to cruise, so it’s always important to talk this over with your travel or cruise agent. However, this article will provide you a good idea of what’s commonly offered on your average cruise vacation.

All-inclusive Dining

Cruise ships are known for their elaborate dining facilities. Depending on the boat, they’ll either offer semi-formal, sit-down dinners that are served or ongoing buffets that are not only varied, but also quite large.

Most cruisers “complain” that they gain ten pounds in a week thanks to the rich meals, included desserts and a variety of food selection. Despite this, few opt to skip the next meal.

Typically, cruise ships have one major dining room with several seating rooms, accompanied by smaller, café-style snack areas that either serve smaller selections, snacks or just drinks.

Others offer continuous casual food around the clock as snacks.

Entertainment and Bars

Along with dining facilities, cruise ships typically offer a bar or dance club. Patrons can enjoy a few drinks, indulge in some dancing or simply enjoy the DJ and live entertainment.

Depending on the cruise line, these areas are usually restricted to travelers who are either 18 and up or 21 and older.

Child Care and Kid-Focused Activities

If you’ve booked or are looking at a family-oriented cruise, they should offer either direct child care or structured, recreational activities specifically geared toward kids. These “kid-only” events are not only entertaining for the children, but they also give mom and dad that much needed break.

Despite focus on children’s entertainment, though, parents still must remain vigilant about the safety and whereabouts of their loved ones. Cruise ships are typically regarded as a safe vacation experience, but accidents and crime are not limited to on shore experiences.

Flexible Entertainment Options

For single adults, young couples or teens, flexible entertainment is often offered. Most cruise ships have open swimming pools, arcades, libraries and even movie theatres that can be fun for the traveler who needs a break from shuffle board on the pool deck.

Gambling

Depending on the boat and its port of call, a cruise ship will often host a small casino, allowing for on-board gambling. In the tradition of the gambling boats that trolled the Mississippi, casino cruises can be a fun way to enjoy a favored pastime.

Whatever your interests, there’s probably a cruise that caters to it - but you have to do a little research to find the one that tickles your fancy. If you need to have a gym, make sure you book a cruise with a full gym on board. If you love visiting spas, then pick a cruise that has a variety of spa treatment options. Remember, there’s a cruise for everybody.

Brian Jenkins asked:


Packing for a cruise is similar to packing for any other vacation. While there are some specifics to keep in mind, the most important thing that you can do to make your life easier is to ask your travel agent if there are any recommended items for your cruise or destination. Aside from packing the usual clothes and toiletries, you should keep in mind that items deemed tourist essentials will be expensive in port cities. If your camera takes film, you should bring enough for the entire trip. Batteries and sunscreen are some additional necessities that you should bring along.

When packing, carefully consider each item of clothing, as you want to ensure that you have enough clothing for the entire trip. It is important to check with your cruise agent for confirmation, but most ships offer laundry service, either self-service or full service. This can drastically reduce the amount of clothing you need to pack.

When packing for your trip, it is important to think of all phases of the trip. Many cruises require that you fly to the departing city. If you are flying into an area to depart on a cruise, make sure that all of the paperwork required for the cruise, such as tickets and passport, are in your carry on luggage. It is also a good idea to pack some extra clothing in your carry on bag in case your luggage is misplaced and this way you can continue on your cruise.

What to Wear

One of the things that many people enjoy about going on a cruise is the opportunity to get dressed up. In today’s world, there are not many opportunities to wear a formal dress or a tuxedo, outside of a wedding. Many cruises have a “formal night” where dressing up is encouraged. If you want to participate in this, it is important to plan ahead of time when packing your bag. Of course, if you do not want to participate, you can eat in another dining room on formal night, or order room service. Other than the formal night, there is little to differentiate between packing for a cruise vacation and packing for a regular vacation. Your cruise location will have more to do with what type of attire you should wear than the fact that you are on a cruise. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that because you are on the water, you can expect a near constant breeze at the least, and an occasional bracing wind as well. A jacket, sweatshirt or wrap should definitely be included in your attire, regardless of your destination.

What Not To Bring

What not to bring is almost as important as what you should bring. Do not bring anything that you will be devastated to lose. Do not bring expensive jewelry, unless you plan on keeping it in a safe, and not your room safe. Do not bring so many clothes that you can barely shut your bags, because you will certainly do some shopping while at various ports.

Cruising

Cruise vacations are wonderful adventures, but they are not much different from traditional vacations when it comes to packing. Pack a variety of mix and match clothing, in neutral colors and a variety of weights. Layering will help ward off the chill if you run into unexpected weather and a lightweight shell that acts as a rain jacket and a windbreaker is a nice item to have. Plan your wardrobe around one neutral color to reduce the number of belts, shoes and other accessories that you must carry on board.

Consider each of the ports that you will be visiting when packing for your cruise. If you plan to go hiking, snorkeling or sailing, make sure that you have appropriate clothing and footwear for your adventures. It is easy to think that all you will do in port is shop and eat, but many of the ports visited by cruise lines offer wonderful adventure opportunities, and it would be a shame to miss out because the only shoes that you have are sandals. If you have any questions about the activities that are available in port, simply contact your cruise agent prior to your trip. They can let you know the popular and not so popular activities available at each port.

When you pack, roll your clothes and place delicate items inside sturdier items. If you have more than a carry on bag, and will be flying to your destination, pack at least one change of clothes as well as any medication that you will need on your carry on bag. This way, if you are separated from your luggage you can go on your cruise. You can buy any additional clothes that you need at ports along the way.

Alien asked:


Having a better understanding of the cheap can help get a good deal very soon and without much effort. The understanding of the cheap cruise, the time of the availability of the cheap cruise, place to find the cheap cruises and the reason behind offering cheap cruises are a few things that one needs to know like the back of one’s hand in order to find them easily.

Once one is well and truly acquainted with the things above mentioned, one can be in such a position form where he or she can find cheap cruises very easily. Below is the brief delineation of some of the requisite things such as the understanding of the cheap cruise, the time of the availability of the cheap cruise, place to find the cheap cruises and the reason behind offering cheap cruises.  

The understanding of the cheap cruise

The cheap cruise is all about getting the almost all the luxuries available on the board for the less price. Cheap cruise does not mean to be a cheap holiday. Sometimes, it happens that number of the cabins surpasses the number of travelers; in such scenario cabins are made available a cheaper rate.

The Time of cheap cruise:

Usually, excess cabins are not made available at a discounted rate until the date of sailing comes closer. In addition, on the basis of the historical trends of dawdling sales, a cruise company can offer great discounts as incentive so that sales can be increased. Cheap cruise can also be obtained when booked either early or late.

Source of cheap cruises:

Cheap cruise can be obtained from cruise agents, travels agents, cruise brokers and the like.

The reason behind offering cheap cruises:

There are numerous reasons behind offering cheap cruise. Actually cruise lines companies do not want to leave any cabin vacant on the ship. This is because of the fact that once the port is left by the ship, any probable revenue that could have been generated from that vacant cabin is lost for good. So, with this thought in the mind, cruise lines companies offer cabin at discount rate when the number of cabin surpass the number of travelers willing to pay for the vacant cabins.

Understanding the above mentioned facts and realties, one can easily get the cheap cruise without much effort and hassle. With fortitude, consideration, and an eagerness to inquire about the possibilities of the availabilities of cheap cruise, one can get it for great price.

Jacqueline Michaels asked:


Many people are simply overwhelmed when it comes time to book the cruise vacation of their dreams. There are so many options, so many cruise lines, so many destinations, and so many considerations. The list just continues on and on until one feels like they will never be able to sort through the jumble to find the perfect vacation package. But you can book the cruise vacation that you’ve always dreamed of. And while you can use a travel agent to do it, you can do it just as easily on your own if you know how.

The first step to booking your cruise vacation is to research and gather all of the cruise information you can find. Doing a keyword search online is a great place to start. You can also visit your local travel agent for brochures and catalogues printed by Princess Cruise Lines and various other cruise lines. Compare prices, destinations, and overall service of each vacation package offered to get a basic idea of what type of package you would like to purchase.

Next you will need to choose your destination. Again, the internet is a great tool. Online you will find tourist information, pictures, and testimonials for all of the top cruise destinations in the world. Your local travel agent may also be able to give you some insight into which ports are most popular among which types of travelers. Another great source of information are friends and acquaintances that have traveled with a cruise line. They can give you a unique perspective and advice on which destinations to avoid and which ones to include in your itinerary.

Before you visit your travel agent or book online, you should have a good idea of how much money you can spend and how long of a cruise you would like to take. Keep in mind that the time of year that you book your cruise can have a huge impact on the price you will pay. This means that you may be able to book a longer cruise with more ports of call for the same price of a shorter cruise if you book during the off season.

Once you have gathered and researched all of the information, you can begin booking your cruise. You can do this through a respected and well-known travel agent of your choosing or you can book your cruise yourself online or directly through the cruise line itself. No matter which method you choose, you will have to make several decisions about your vacation at this point in the planning process. Here are just a few:

1. Choose your point of departure and the travel method that you will use to get there.

2. Decide on ports of call and any extra activities that you may wish to take advantage of.

3. Choose your stateroom. Keep in mind that staterooms vary in price, amenities, size, and services available.

4. Become familiar with cancellation policies and restrictions.

5. Find out if you will be required to put down a deposit and how much it will be. Some cruise lines will require you to pay the full amount due up front.

Travel Agent or Book Yourself?

While finding a cheap price used to be the motivation that kept people glued to their computer well into the night looking for the perfect deal on a cruise, the popularity of cruises has led to the equalization of cruise prices all across the board. This means that you will probably pay the same price for a cruise that you book yourself as you would for one that you book through a travel agency. So which method should you choose? Take a quick look at the following advantages of each before you make your decision.

Booking with a travel agent has many advantages over booking online, and since the cruise line pays the agent a commission for booking the trip with its line, there is virtually no cost to you when you use an agent. Here are just a few of the advantages of booking your vacation through an agent:

1. An agent is quite familiar with all of the cruise lines available and the packages that they offer. This helps them to quickly narrow in on a package of your choice without having to do a lot of unnecessary research.

2. Since agents are familiar with popular cruise lines but are not employed by them, they can give you unbiased advice concerning your vacation and which cruise line you should travel with.

3. Most travel agents are certified or licensed through the Cruise Line International Association and the Travel Institute.

4. A travel agent will look for reduced pricing for your trip even after it has been booked and rebook your sea voyage for you at a lower price if and when it becomes available.

5. In the unfortunate even that something goes awry during your trip, your travel agent will act as a mediatory between you and the offending cruise line.

Booking online also has many advantages. Although a rare occurrence, searching for last minute deals online can still yield results. But even if you can’t find a last minute cruise bargain, you may choose to book online for one of the following reasons:

1. Online cruise websites contain most of the information that is available to travel agents. This puts the control of your vacation directly into your hands. You may also be able to browse inside information that would not have come up during a normal meeting with your travel agent.

2. You can access online travel agencies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This allows for a lot of convenience and flexibility, which is perfect for people who have a hard time keeping and making appointments.

3. When it comes to researching your vacation, there is no better place to do it than online. Here you will find numerous research tools as well as photos, diagrams, reviews, schedules, and videos just to name a few.

4. Using an online calendar, you can search for the most inexpensive package available through the cruise line of your choosing. Sometimes you can save a few hundred dollars by leaving a week earlier or later than your scheduled time frame.

5. Since your travel agent narrows in on certain lines, ships, and destinations according to your wants and needs, you may not be able to browse all of the options available. Booking online will allow you to do this and more.

As you can see, there are many advantages of each, so it may be hard to make a decision. If you’re finding this to be true, you may want to book your vacation through an agent and perform additional research online yourself. Whatever your decision, once you have looked at all the details, go for it!

Helen Hecker asked:


Going on a cruise was once an easy thing to arrange. All you had to do was go to your travel agent and look at a few brochures. But as the industry has grown it has become an overwhelming mix of itineraries, cruise packages, choices add-ons and prices. So how do you look through and search for all the available information to find the best cruise deal? The following tips will help you find the best cruise and save you money.

1. The busiest season has always been January through March. This is when the cruise industry books the most cruises. Cruise lines usually make about 38 percent of their yearly sales at this time. This is the best time to find many hot or last minute deals because they offer a lot of incentives.

2. Make sure to start well ahead of your vacation or holiday time if you can unless you want a last minute cruise deal. First of all you should call the cruise line you are most interested in and ask for the cruise line rep about any of their cruises and the staterooms. You can ask about handicapped-equipped staterooms then if this is a special need. You can always do this later after you do some research too.

Find out what specials they have running and make sure to tell them how old you are and what state you live in or if you’re traveling with a group of people or another couple or have cruised with their cruise line in the past. Does it include your airfare? Do you need a family deal? This is because your specific situation may entitle you for big discounts. Take whatever the quote given to you by the cruise line rep as your starting price point.

3. Next check out the Sunday newspaper ads in the travel section and look for cruise bargains. The bigger city newspapers and the newspapers located in or near cruise embarkation cities are great for finding good or cheap cruise deals. You can go to your local library to view the ads if they carry those news papers. Some daily newspapers even have there travel ads online.

4. Take a look at the cruise booking Web sites. There are cruise discount agencies that may have the cheapest cruise rates to be found anywhere, whether you want a luxury cruise or budget cruise. Huge travel Web sites such as Orbitz, Expedia and Travelocity usually have great deals too. You can also find last-minute cruise deals too. The cruise Web sites’ prices are usually fairly similar. And the travel sites are usually similar but somewhat higher. Make sure to ask about any additional, secret or hidden fees, such as cancellation penalties. These can cost between $40 and $85.

5. Make sure to check with your cruise travel agent. Some people prefer to work with a travel agent or are not savvy about researching online. Find out if they charge a consulting fee before you meet. Some fees are usually refundable if they book your cruise. When you get together with the travel agent, say exactly what you want and that you’re comparing prices. Your local travel agent can be very helpful if you have disabilities, health problems, special needs or need visas or other documents.

6. Think about placing a “cruise wanted” ad on Craigslist online. Be specific and detailed about what you want. Then sit back and wait for replies.

7. Once you have a number of cruise line or cruise package quotes compare them and try to negotiate a lower price, extra discounts or some onboard extras.

Note that if you’re getting the same quote from your travel agent that you’re getting from the cruise line then you need to continue shopping for the best quote - your travel agent isn’t saving you any money. The best cruise deal is out there that is just right for you and will save you money on your vacation too regardless if you’re going to Alaska, Mexico, the Caribbean, Hawaii, the Bahamas, or Bermuda. You just need to do a little research and don’t take the first deal you see.

David H. Urmann asked:


Wilmington is a pleasant port city in the southeastern corner of North Carolina. It is a popular destination settled on the Cape Fear River and its historic downtown. The city offers great cruises for dinner or reception, sightseeing and charters.

Wilmington is a district of New Hanover County originally located on seven hills at the east side of Cape Fear River. It was built in 1739 and named in honor of Spencer Compton, a governor’s patron. Wilmington became the most beautiful city at the south because of its four season climate, historic old homes, boulevards and lake cruises. Below are the three popular cruises that offer fun and comfort.

Jubilee Snooze & Cruise

Jubilee Snooze & Cruise is located at Ann Street that offers Bed and Breakfast, dockside dining, boat and charter rentals, dinner cruises, receptions and weddings.

A wooden 45′ motor yacht called the Sea Star is great for a retreat, business meetings and wedding receptions. Yacht accommodations provide a master suite, two cabins and another head. The salon is furnished with mahogany panels with wing chairs, leather sofa and two tables. The room is fully air-conditioned with modern facilities like DVD player, flat screen TV and an internet access.

The yacht has a galley with complete basic appliances for cooking. A midship guest and forward state rooms are available for additional companions. However, charters include a bow, a perfect place to relax, sightseeing and star night gazing.

Amenities for a group of 6 include daily breakfast, meal options, two baths, a bar, refrigerator, TV and DVD in each salon or cabin and wireless air card for internet access.

You can choose from many packages offered, whether for an overnight stay or day cruise, for special occasions like wedding, or for a group cruise.

Cape Fear Riverboats Inc.

Cape Fear Riverboats, Inc is at the south water street in Wilmington. It was founded in 1987 by Captain Carl Marchburn. They currently operate HENRIETTA III and CAPTAIN J. N. MAFFITT boats.

Henrietta III Riverboat Cruise

Henrietta III is a trailblazer steamboats launched in the mid of September 1987 in Mississippi. It is the place for a day and evening of fun for occasions and functions.

Henrietta III is located at Water and Dock Street in Wilmington. It is available during special occasions like weddings, birthdays, reunions, outings and corporate functions. Henrietta III provides fine dining restaurants, sightseeing tours, travel cruise agents, reception location and boat, charters and yacht rentals. It also features a 1 ½ hour narrated cruises during daytime and a dinner riverboat.

The ship has three decks, dancing and dining facilities at the lower decks and atrium and open deck at the upper level. There are evening cruises that lasts for four hours. Shorter cruise are also available like the murder mystery cruise from May to December, Redneck Wedding Comedy Cruise every Thursday from may to October, Friday Dinner Dance Cruises every Friday from April through December, Saturday Dinner Dance Cruises, Sunset Dinner and Narrated Sightseeing Cruises every Tuesday to Saturday from April to October.

Wedding packages include private evening and daytime packages, private ceremony and reserved daytime cruises as well as private ceremonies and reserved evening cruises. Sightseeing cruises offers lunch cruises, school groups, Water Taxi to Battleship and MAFFITT Narrated SS cruises.

Private charters cruise all year round and public cruises go out on April to December. All its cruises board thirty minutes before departure. The Henrietta III is approved by the U.S. Coast Guard.

Captain J N Maffitt River Cruises

Captain J N Maffitt River Cruises is located at Dock Street. They offer services like river cruises and sightseeing tours. It was named for Captain John Newland Maffitt. He is one of the Confederacy’s blockade runners.

Maffiit offers a 45 minute sightseeing cruise along with historic narration of Cape Fear River. It sets daily at 11 am and 3 pm from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Off-season from May to Memorial Day is available. Furthermore, charters and battleship river taxis can be availed during summer.

River cruises and sightseeing is fun for all ages. Its well designed accommodations and receptions make people enjoy special occasions at its finest. Wilmington provides great cruises with rich historic experienced to locals and many tourists.

Jeremy Foster asked:


When you are using a travel agency to book your cruise, you already know that you are going to get the best deal and that you are going to have access to all sorts of different packages. However, in order to be sure that you have found the perfect cruise for you and your family, there are a few things that you should keep in mind as you work with the agency.

Discuss with your travel agent about the different cruise lines that they work with and what those cruise lines offer. Often, if you simply go to book a cruise with a travel agency, they will go to the cruise line that gives them the biggest commission. However, there are other cruise lines that they might work with, and it is important for you to know this. The reason is that different cruise lines, and different ships, have things to offer that are vastly different. For instance, some cruise lines have lots of programs for children, while some of them focus on adults and leave kids to fend for themselves. Some cruise lines have specific cruises for singles, widows, and other various groups of people. If you truly want the best cruising experience, something that you will want to consider will be looking at these different cruise lines and ships. Therefore, talk to your agent about the various lines they work with and the cruises that are available.

Another thing that you need to think about when you are booking a cruise through a travel agency is the location. Again, some travel agents get bigger commissions to go with specific locations, and so they will try to place you in cruises that might benefit them the most, rather than thinking about what you would really like – so make sure the agent understands your preferences. Ask about the other locations and destinations and see which types of deals those places might have for you. Your travel agent will have a good idea of which destinations are best if you are single, if you are going with your spouse, or if you are going with your children or extended family. Different destinations mean different things for travelers, and so you really want to think about this and research it before you book your cruise.

When you are booking a cruise with a travel agency, another thing that you want to think about is the time of the year you will be taking your cruise and what this means for pricing and destinations. Some destinations only offer cruises at specific times of the year, which means that those destinations are not going to be open all year round. Some cruise lines will follow the same route but stop at different islands or at different destinations, and each of the destinations that they might stop at will have different things for you, your spouse, or your kids. Therefore, in order to make sure that the cruising experience is the best that it can be for all of you, you will want to talk to your travel agent about the specific places you will be going with your cruise ship.

Another tip to follow when planning a cruise with your travel agent is to look at the on board entertainment as it pertains to you and your family. Each of the ships will have different entertainment, whether this is musical acts, comedians, magic shows, or other types of entertainment. Therefore, something that you want to keep in mind is that whether you are traveling alone, with your spouse, or with your children, the types of entertainment that you are seeing should mirror the things that you most enjoy. You do not necessarily want to attend a cruise with mostly family-friendly entertainment if you are a single person, and you do not want to take your children on a cruise that offers only gambling and other adult-themed entertainment. Ask your travel agent about the onboard entertainment, and you will be sure to choose a line and ship that is best for you.

When you are booking a cruise, you will probably have many questions, and you want to be sure that you can get the best deal. Therefore, you will always want to look at going through a travel agent. They can help you by answering your questions, and by making sure that you know the deal you are getting is going to be the best possible. Booking a cruise is something that you should be happy about and something that you should take pride in, so go ahead and make sure that the cruise you choose with your travel agency will lead to the memories of a lifetime for you and your family. You will be glad that you did.