Travel Cruise Review

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.

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.

Jeremy Foster asked:


A cruise is a great way to beat the winter blues, or get that all inclusive vacation for the whole family. A cruise is the best way to get to many destinations. Cruise ships offer so many amenities that most feel like a floating city. Once a vacationer experiences the enjoyment of a cruise they come back for more.

So, a cruise is a great vacation, but what about the price? Nothing spoils a great vacation faster than going into debt to pay for it. Below are some tips for finding the best deals on cruises.

Be Flexible

One of the best ways to find a great cruise deal is to be flexible about your vacation. Flexibility in the type of cabin, ship, and to some degree the destination, can all increase the opportunity to find deals. Being flexible about departure dates can also reduce the rates significantly.

Choosing off-peak times is also a matter of flexibility. If you are willing to hit the Caribbean in the summer or Alaska in spring or fall you might find more deals. These ships tend to be less crowded and the rates lower. These might be the last, or first, trips of the season and the cruise lines will often offer discounts just to fill the cabins.

For those who are a little more adventurous and have lots of flexibility in their schedule, last minute booking can often save a lot. Ships that are not full will offer reduced rates in an attempt to fill their cabins. This method can be risky and may result in missing a chosen sailing, but can also result in substantial savings.

Flexibility in departure cities can save money also. Departing from the Northeast, especially early in the season, can decrease the cost by quite a bit. When the ships are leaving their home ports and heading south to start the season you can sometimes get a great booking rate from their home city. You might also save on airfare if you live near one of the departure cities. Driving to the port, as opposed to purchasing a flight, is considerably cheaper. Jacksonville, New Orleans, Norfolk, and points in Texas often offer comparable cruises at much lower rates than the ones departing from South Florida.

Book Early



“Early Bird” discounts are very common in the cruise industry. Booking a cruise early, before it begins to fill up, is a great opportunity to get discounts. Once a ship gets near capacity, especially for popular destinations, the discounts dry up and the remaining cabins go for full price.

Booking summer vacations in the mid- to late winter timeframe is a great way to take advantage of these deals. This allows time to shop for the best deals and still book early enough to enjoy the discounts. The same holds true for winter voyages. Booking these in the summer often results in substantial savings.

Use an Agent

Travel agents can often shop the available cruise lines and find the best deal to meet your needs. Some agents specialize in certain cruise lines, but they also often have more leverage with those lines and can offer additional discounts not found directly through the line. Since agents get commissions on each cruise vacation they book, they can often give part of that commission as a discount, to entice the vacationer. This means an even lower rate.

Agents also know the best destinations for the particular time of year to get the best value. They can “shop” the various ships and packages to find one that suits your individual needs. To get the best value from an agent, do a little research first and then ask about the cruises that you found that best suit your plans and price range.

Get All-Inclusive



Cruises offer a wide array of on-board entertainment and food choices. These are always included in the price. The hidden costs can add up quickly. Port charges and taxes, tips, alcoholic beverages, special services, and special events on land can all add up to increase the total coast of the trip.

Airfare is another added cost that can increase the overall price of the trip by a large amount. Many cruise packages offer airfare in the deal. However, sometimes this is from one, or a limited number of, locations. Getting to those airports can increase the cost, as well. Shop for deals that include airfare from your local airport, rental car or shuttle service to the departure point, hotel accommodations (if you will need to stay in the port city before or after the trip), and return airfare, preferably at discounted rates.

Tips, and most port charges and taxes, are seldom included in the price, but a good agent can help you plan for those costs ahead of time. This should be factored into the final decision on destinations and ship choice.