Cruise Information and Tips
The
prospect of cruising can be daunting if you don't know the ropes. We will try
in this blog to remove the mystery and explain what is involved and add some of
our favorite tips on the way.
Before you get some cruising tip you need to ask yourself
why cruising?
Cruising offers an excellent
holiday choice. It caters for a variety of tastes and needs with lots to do or
see and great food and entertainment. Where else can you find a holiday where
you will visit lots of different places and your hotel moves with you. No
packing, no hassle, no worries. And these days it not just for older
holidaymakers - there are lots of activities for children, teens and adults
alike - day and night.
You can choose from
more than 200 ships ranging from active to sophisticated with lots of
facilities like pools, spas and fitness centers. There are organized activities
like bingo, lectures, art auctions, pool and deck games, cooking demonstrations
and wine tastings but you may prefer to just sunbathe, read or do nothing at
all. The children will entertained with supervised children’s programmes
leaving you free to enjoy the ship. There is fine dining from a range of
restaurants and, at night, production shows, films, the casino and the
discotheque.
The range of
cruises offered is wide - from sun and fun in the Caribbean or Mediterranean to
sightseeing in Alaska or the Baltic. If you don't like to fly there are now
plenty of cruises from UK ports. Try adventure cruising in remoter parts of the
world like Antarctica or cruise under sail onboard a many masted tall ship.
Whatever cruise you select there will be tours ashore offering sightseeing,
snorkeling or scuba diving, horseback riding, biking or hiking, a round of golf
or a calypso party on a catamaran.
And if you are
worried about seasickness, most ships are so big and well stabilized that most
of the time you can hardly tell you're moving, and you can take precautions in
planning your cruise that will minimize the risk - see our tip. If we can't
convince you then why not try a river cruise - sightsee all day long on the
placid waters of one of the world's great rivers.
Finally cruising is
a great value holiday. The upfront price may seem high, but remember your
cruise fare includes your accommodation, food, activities (including children's
programs) and entertainment. Compare the cruise cost with the all in cost of
your hotel based holiday and you will be pleasantly surprised.
WELCOME ABOARD!
Which Ship to get on ?
One of the biggest decisions you
need to make in planning a cruise vacation is what ship is the right one for
you. The size and type of ship you choose can make a huge difference in your
cruise experience. The good news is that you have a broad range of vessels to
choose from.
Have
You ever Considered Wedding Onboard:
Weddings Onboard
Weddings
onboard a cruise ship are increasingly popular with some of the larger cruise
lines offering special packages for the occasion and wedding coordinators who
arrange the ceremony, the menu, the cake, the flowers and the music. However,
getting married legally while at sea is complicated, and even if it is while in
port, local licences will be required. Onboard weddings are held in a ship's
chapel (if provided), a lounge, the library or a conference room.
Some lines do not permit weddings at all while some luxury lines will
accommodate weddings but you must make the arrangements and provide the
minister. Carnival and Princess Cruises largest ships have dedicated wedding
chapels and on Princess the captain will conduct the ceremony. Carnival can
also arrange weddings on the beach at some of its Caribbean ports. Disney will
marry you on their private island and NCL only at US embarkation ports. Royal
Caribbean has a variety of wedding packages and will conduct ceremonies in
ports of call in the USA, Caribbean or Europe both onboard and ashore.
Choosing Your Cruise
Selecting
the right cruise for you will depend on what is important to you. Some will
want to select the right kind of ship first (see Choosing Your Ship), for some
the places to be visited will come first. The important factors in selecting
the itinerary are:
- the
type of cruise
- the
length of cruise
- when
do you want to cruise?
- where
do you want to cruise
Booking Your Cruise
