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Cruising: The Ultimate Vacation

Drifting between sleep and that first moment of waking, you're sure you're still dreaming ... there's the unmistakable scent of saltwater, the gentle sound of waves in the background … but then, you open your eyes and see the sun rising over the endless ocean, just as the steward arrives to serve you breakfast on your balcony.

For sheer luxury, few other vacations can rival a cruise. Forget for a minute, if you can, the unsurpassed ambience. A cruise's recreational activities and amenities will keep you delightfully occupied 24 hours a day.


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But finding the right cruise can be a job in itself. With more than 130 registered ships offering well over 5,000 different packages, first-time cruisers have an almost overwhelming array of choices. Ships come in a variety of sizes and styles--from the quaint riverboat, to the coastal yacht, to the oceangoing mega-ship with a passenger capacity of over 2,000--and sail to just about every destination in the world. Some ships cater to families, others to singles or older travelers. The time at sea or in port varies greatly from ship to ship, as do the types of amenities, activities, and even the theme. And then, of course, there's the price, which can be tailored to suit just about any budget.

With so much to choose from, it's important to know what to look for when planning a cruise.
 
Why a Cruise?

There are a variety of reasons for choosing a cruise vacation, not the least of which is value. In addition to your room or cabin, almost everything on a cruise is included in the price: entertainment, sports, recreational activities, onboard lectures, health clubs and, yes, meals.

Cruise lines recruit master chefs from some of the world's finest restaurants to satisfy your culinary demands. You can linger over full-course breakfasts, luncheons and dinners in a grand dining room, or dine buffet-style at a specialty bistro or in the privacy of your cabin. Dieters will find delicious, healthy choices, and kids can order burgers and other favorites from special children's menus. Between-meal cravings can be easily sated at any of the cafés, sushi bars, pizzerias and ice-cream parlors onboard.

But, for some at least, a cruise is about more than just the exceptional dining. According to many veteran travelers, it's one of the most relaxing escapes available. Breakfast in bed, lounging on deck with a cool drink, enjoying an afternoon massage, dining and dancing under a starry sky …. cruise activities can be a veritable antidote to stress. And if you need a little help relaxing, you can take advantage of a full range of spa services, such as manicures, facials and aromatherapy. If you prefer more active relaxation, there are classes in everything from aerobics to wellness and yoga, led by qualified instructors.

Not the laid-back type? Cruises offer more activities than any one person has time to experience. In addition to the many shore excursions, the ship publishes a daily list of the onboard activities, such as stretch classes, walk-a-thons, slot machine tournaments, card games, cooking demonstrations, snorkeling demonstrations, dance classes, skeet shooting, pool games, line dancing, and even the ubiquitous bingo, just to name a few.

Some cruises even focus their activities around a specific topic. There are "theme cruises" for just about everything, from classical music to '50s rock, cordon bleu cooking to health and fitness, baseball to poker. Lecturers and other experts in the area of interest are on board, and some may be celebrities. This year alone, the major cruise lines are offering over 150 theme cruises, ranging in length from one day to one month. If you have a specific interest, there's a good chance you'll be able to explore it on a cruise.
 
Planning Your Cruise

According to Jim West, veteran cruise director and author of The Essential Little Cruise Book, when planning a cruise vacation, one of the best things you can do is find a good cruise travel agent. In addition to the information and advice they can give you, these agents often have access to packages and deals that are unavailable to the public. A travel agent with the MCC or ACC designation specializes in cruise planning and is one of your best resources. If you don't already have a travel agent, you can find one that specializes in cruises by calling Virtuoso, (800) 401-4274, a travel network representing over 5,000 agents, or by visiting the Cruise Line International Association Web site, cruising.org.

"Don't just pick a cruise because it's inexpensive," West warns. "Many cruise lines cost a bit more, but offer great value--quality food, entertainment, and onboard activities." Certainly cost is a factor, but there are more important "lifestyle" considerations to take into account. Remember: The ship is your home for the length of your vacation. Make sure you're going to enjoy living there.

The first step, suggests one travel adviser, is to look over the photos in the brochures your travel agent gives you. These will give you an idea of the atmosphere of that cruise: Do the picture show a lot of families? Are the passengers in your age group? Are they dressed casually or conservatively? Do the activities shown appeal to you? And, if the brochures don't tell you enough, get online and check out some of the many Web sites devoted to cruise planning. Most cruise lines have their own Web sites, which include not only schedule information but also deck plans, menus and lists of activities.

Ask yourself what exactly it is you want from a cruise. Is it the exotic ports, the tours and the activities? Is it the unlimited food, the tranquility of being at sea and the opportunity to relax and be pampered? Are you longing for an adventure-filled family vacation or a quiet getaway for one or two? Are you hoping to learn something new or just make some new friends? Whatever you want, there's a cruise that can give it to you.
 
A World of Destinations

The choices of where to cruise are almost infinite. For the most part, wherever there's water, there's a cruise vacation! The Caribbean remains the most popular cruise destination; but Alaska--with its 3 million lakes, over 100,000 glaciers, countless islands, and numerous species of birds and fish--is quickly becoming a popular favorite. There are also cruise vacations through the Panama Canal; to Mexico, via both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans; around the Hawaiian Islands; and to the Mediterranean, Europe, New England and Canada. You can cruise the Amazon, Columbia or Mississippi rivers. You can even cruise to nowhere at all. In fact, "cruises to nowhere"--short trips that leave from such popular ports as Miami, sail out to sea for 100 miles or so, and return two or three days later--are a good way to test the waters, so to speak.

The number of days at sea is also an important factor to consider. If your goal is to relax and avoid the bustle of city sightseeing, then you may want to find a cruise that is not "port-intensive." On the other hand, a cruise that visits many different ports provides a good opportunity to check out destinations that you might not otherwise visit, and that might entice you back for more lengthy stays.
 
Singles, Couples, Families--There's a Cruise for You

For those traveling solo, cruises offer a great opportunity for meeting new people. Theme cruises, for example, provide an instant common ground for new acquaintances. Similarly, "singles cruises" are designed specifically for people hoping to meet other single travelers. While some single travelers prefer vacationing on the smaller ships because of their intimacy, immediate camaraderie and personal service, others feel that larger ships allow a better cross-section of potential acquaintances, not to mention a broader choice of activities and gatherings for meeting others.

Couples will discover that a cruise vacation offers a perfect balance between romance and adventure. With all the activities available, couples can spend as much or as little time together as they like, pursuing their individual and shared interests. For those times together, cruising provides one of the most idyllic settings for romance and sheer indulgence. And a ship's crew will go out of their way to ensure that a honeymoon or anniversary cruise is as romantic as it should be, often providing champagne on arrival and private seating during meals.

Families will be amazed at the way a cruise vacation can meet everyone's needs. With many ships employing trained counselors and providing a wide variety of age-appropriate, well-supervised programs for young cruisers, children are kept busy and happy morning to night. Breakfasts with cartoon characters, Nintendo competitions, poolside teen parties, no-parents-allowed movies and lessons in everything from photography to computers are just a few of the activities available. And with the children otherwise occupied, parents are free to find their own adventures. But there are always opportunities for family time: meals, family excursions or just some quiet time in your adjoining cabins. Shipboard life gives families the best of both worlds.
 
Choosing Your Cabin

Just how important is your choice of cabin? There's little consensus on this matter: Some travelers and agents feel the room doesn't matter, as you won't be spending much time there. And if you're not picky, you can save quite a bit of money by letting the cruise line choose your cabin. However, if you plan to spend time in your cabin, or if you tend to experience claustrophobia or seasickness, the choice of cabin can make or break your vacation.

Ships offer a variety of cabin choices: inside, outside, higher deck, lower deck, with or without balconies, suites, singles, doubles, triples, quads. Generally speaking, inside cabins offer no view and are fairly small. The bathroom is tiny, just big enough for a sink, toilet and very small shower. One cruise aficionado likened it to sleeping in a walk-in closet. Outside cabins are similar, except for the important fact that they offer an outside view and sometimes even include private balconies. Suites are the largest and most luxurious accommodations on a ship, with separate living and sleeping quarters, large bathrooms and sometimes even an extra powder room, and always a balcony or veranda.

The location of your cabin is also an important consideration. If you're a light sleeper, you'll want to make sure you're far away from the major centers of activity. As well, on some ships, you're more inclined to experience the ship's motion and vibration in certain areas, although most modern cruise ships are designed to minimize this. Nonetheless, if you're prone to seasickness, you may want to avoid inside and lower cabins or cabins at the very front or back of the ship.

Cabins usually sleep at least two passengers and sometimes four, although more and more cruise lines are offering cabins designed for single travelers. The beds, or berths, are typically twin, sometimes side-by-side but often upper and lower, not unlike a bunk bed. If you plan to share a cabin, always keep in mind the size of the bathroom. With two people, things can get a little cramped; with four, you'll need a schedule!
 
The Cost of Cruising and How to Save

For the money, a cruise offers one of the best vacation values around. When you add up everything you get, cruising is a bargain that can't be equaled. Imagine the cost of a week's worth of accommodation, entertainment and meals on land, featuring fine dining in restaurants every night, grand room-service breakfasts, full lunches, afternoon teas and midnight buffets.

Your basic cruise package includes shipboard accommodations, all your meals, all shipboard entertainment and activities, all shipboard sports and recreational facilities, and transportation to and from ports of call on the itinerary. Everything else--such as spa services, most beverages, guided tours, and even airfare--is an "add-on," or additional expense.

Some packages include certain add-ons, so it's important to find out up-front exactly what is and isn't included in your package. For example, some of the larger luxury liners include all drinks; but if yours doesn't, you could find yourself spending a lot more than you expected.

Airfare and transfers to and from the airport can also introduce a major expense if you're not fortunate enough to live near the city of departure. All cruise lines offer air-inclusive packages, which are often the easiest, if not the least expensive, way to go. Some travelers opt to book their own airfare, either for convenience or because they've found a better rate. If you choose to do this, you'll be responsible for getting yourself to the ship on time, which is often easier said than done.

Aside from the obvious add-ons, several other factors play into the cost of a cruise. If you're flexible, these factors can help you save quite a bit of money.

One of the easiest ways to reduce the cost of a cruise is with your cabin. The bargain cruises you see advertised are generally for inside cabins and always for at least double occupancy. Without exception, the more people to a cabin, the cheaper the individual fare. If you don't care where your cabin is and you're happy to share, you can save hundreds of dollars. Even if you're traveling alone, the cruise line will match you with a cabin mate, allowing you to purchase a single ticket at the double-occupancy rate. And if you're lucky, they won't find a suitable roommate, leaving you the whole room to yourself at a substantially reduced price.

Another way to lower your cost is to sail off-season. That means, for example, sailing the Caribbean from late October to early December, or going to Alaska in May or September. For Mediterranean travel, the best values can be found in May, June, October and November. The money saved traveling off-season can be as much as 50 percent of the brochure rate. The one potential drawback: the weather may not be the best. But that shouldn't necessarily discourage you from an off-season cruise--just be aware that if bad weather does come up, your ship may have to miss a port or two.

"Repositioning cruises" are another way to get a great deal. Twice a year, certain cruise lines relocate their ships from one port of the world to another for the summer or winter season. Shifting between the Caribbean and Alaska means a trip through the Panama Canal. There are unusual Indian and Red Sea itineraries on ships moving between Asia and Europe, and South Pacific sailings between Asia and the Americas. These cruises can be lengthy, however, and often make fewer stops or visit more obscure ports. But if you're open to adventure, and you've got the time, a repositioning cruise can be a great way to go. Like other off-season cruises, these are often half the price of their seasonal counterparts.

Another way to save money is to choose a slightly older ship. Most travelers flock to the brand-new vessels, so those that are only a few years old are forced to offer steep discounts. Their amenities and itineraries are no less impressive, but they offer a much lower per-diem cost than the newer ships.

One more consideration when budgeting for your cruise is the tip. With few exceptions, tips are expected by the crew, and only a very few ships have no-tipping policies. So, how much do you tip? On most ships, you'll be presented with envelopes as well as with suggested tip amounts on the second-to-last day of the cruise. Suggested amounts are usually about $10 per day per passenger: $3.50 per person per day for the waiter and cabin steward, and $2 per person per day for the waiter's assistant or busboy. If you're in a suite with butler services, you will be expected to tip that person as well ($3.50 to $6 per day). Luxury ships may suggest higher levels, and European ships lower levels. You may also tip the headwaiter or another staff member who has gone out of his or her way to make your trip special (with the exception of the ship's officers and cruise director, who are never tipped). In general, staff on ships is paid very low wages, especially in light of the long hours they work, and the service they provide is usually so exceptional that you'll want to extend a gratuity to some of the people who have made your vacation everything you dreamed it would be. Bon voyage!
 
Sailor Talk

Whether you're reading the brochure for the first time or you're onboard and ready to sail, it helps to know the language. These are some of the terms and phrases you may encounter in the world of cruise vacations.

Aboard - On the ship, as in "All aboard!"

About - To turn the ship around.

Abreast - Alongside something, usually another ship or a dock.

ACC - Accredited cruise counselor. This designation by CLIA indicates an achieved level of expertise in cruise planning.

Add-on - A charge in addition to the basic cost of the cruise. Such extras may include airfare or land tours.

Adjoining Cabins - Cabins located next to each other, but without a shared doorway.

Aft - In or toward the stern (the rear of the ship).

Air/Sea - A package that includes airfare, cruise price and transfers between the airport and ship.

Alleyway - A narrow hallway aboard the ship.

All Hands - Everyone working aboard the ship.

Amidships - In or toward the middle of the ship; halfway between the bow and the stern.

Ashore - On shore; opposite of aboard.

Astern - Beyond the stern, that is, behind the ship.

Baggage Allowance - The amount of baggage you're allowed to bring on board free of charge.

Basis Two - See Double Occupancy.

Beam - Width of the ship at its widest point.

Bearing - Compass direction of the ship, expressed in degrees.

Berth - 1. The bed in your cabin. 2. The place where a ship is docked in port.

Bow - (rhymes with "how.") The forward part of the ship; opposite of stern.

Bridge - The place where the captain controls the ship, where navigation and steering occur.

Bulkhead - An interior wall of a ship.

Buoy - A marker or float used to identify navigational landmarks or channels.

Cabin - Your room on the ship. Also called a stateroom.

Category - The price level of a cabin based on location, size and amenities.

CLIA - Cruise Line International Association. A marketing and training organization composed of 25 of the major cruise lines serving North America. Currently, over 21,000 travel agencies are affiliated with CLIA and display the CLIA seal, which identifies them as authorities on selling cruise vacations.

Confirmed Cabin - A cabin category and room number that is confirmed at time of booking.

Connecting Cabins - Adjoining cabins with a connecting door that allows easy access between them.

Debark - See Disembark.

Deck Plan - A diagram of the cabin and public room locations.

Disembark - To leave the ship or go ashore.

Dock - A place to moor the ship; a pier or wharf.

Double Occupancy - The rate per person based on two people sharing the cabin. Also called "basis two."

Draft - The depth of water needed to sail without the ship touching the ocean floor.

Embark - To enter the ship; to go aboard.

Escorted Tour - A tour that has an escort, who is in charge of all travel details from beginning to end.

Excursions - Sightseeing tours or activities offered while at a port of call. Additional costs usually apply.

Fantail - The rear overhang of the ship.

Fathom - A measure of water depth, equaling 6 feet.

Final Payment - Payment of the full cruise fare plus any taxes or add-ons.

First Seating - The earlier of two dinner seatings in the ship's dining room, usually at 6:15 p.m. Also called the main seating.

FIT - Foreign Independent Tour. Locally hosted arrangements tailored to meet your specific needs and desires. See also Private Tour.

Fore, forward - Toward the bow of the ship.

Free Port - A port free of customs duty and most customs regulations.

Funnel - The ship's smokestack. Cruise lines normally display their logo on the funnel for ease in identification from a distance.

Gangway - The ramp or stairway by which passengers embark and disembark.

Gross Registered Ton (GRT) - Measurement equal to 100 cubic feet of enclosed passenger space within a ship, not the weight of the ship.

Guarantee - Type of reservation in which a minimum cabin category is guaranteed but no cabin is assigned until nearer the time of sailing; this is often taken in hopes of receiving a free upgrade.

Guaranteed Share - A single booking at the double-occupancy rate, with the understanding that the cruise line may pair you with another single passenger of the same sex and smoking preference.

Guaranteed Single - Type of reservation that allows the cruise line, rather than the single passenger, to select the category of cabin to be occupied solely by the single passenger. Rates are slightly less than the single supplement because the cruise line has complete discretion in the category of accommodation.

Hand - A crew member.

Head - The bathroom.

Helm - The ship's steering equipment, or position on the bridge in charge of steering.

Hold - The ship's cargo area.

Hull - The outside shell of the ship from the main deck down to the keel.

Inside Cabin - A cabin that has no window, porthole or balcony.

Keel - The ship's backbone and main structural component, which extends the entire length of the ship's bottom.

Knot - One nautical mile per hour. A ship's speed is measured in knots.

Late Seating - The later of two dinner seatings in the ship's dining room, usually at 8:30 p.m. Also called the second seating.

Latitude - The distance north or south of the equator, expressed in degrees, minutes and seconds.

Leeward - The side of the ship sheltered from the wind; opposite of windward.

Lines - The ropes used to tie up the ship while at dock.

Longitude - The distance east or west of the prime meridian, expressed in degrees, minutes and seconds.

Lowers - Twin beds positioned on the floor, often convertible into a double. Compare with Lower Berth.

Lower Berth - The bottom bed in an upper and lower berth, or bunk-style arrangement.

Main Seating - See First Seating.

Manifest - List of a ship's passengers.

Master - The person in charge of the ship; the captain.

MCC - Master cruise counselor. Designation by CLIA indicating an achieved level of expertise in cruise planning.

Midships - See Amidships.

Moor - To secure a ship to a fixed place; to anchor.

Muster - To assemble the passengers and/or crew.

Nautical Mile - Measure of distance equal to 1,852 meters.

Obstructed View - A view from an outside cabin that is partially blocked, often by lifeboats.

Ocean View Cabin - See Outside Cabin.

Open Seating - A meal in which seats are not assigned.

Outside Cabin - A cabin having one or more windows, portholes or a balcony, offering a view of the ocean or river. Also called an ocean-view cabin.

Passage Contract - Detailed terms of responsibility and accountability found in the cruise ticket.

Pitch - Up-and-down rolling of the ship.

Port Charge - A fee, including port taxes, collected by the cruise line and paid to a local government authority.

Porthole - Circular windows in the side of the ship's hull.

Port - 1. A harbor town or city where ships dock. 2. The left side of a ship looking forward; opposite of starboard.

Port Tax - A charge levied by a local government authority for the privilege of docking.

Private Tour - A local tour with a private guide and vehicle, tailored to your timetable and interests. Additional costs apply and are generally higher than "seat-in," or group, tours. See also FIT.

Purser - The senior ship official responsible for the comfort and welfare of passengers; the head steward.

Quad Rate - The rate per person based on four passengers to a cabin.

Roll - The side-to-side motion of the ship.

Room - See Cabin.

Seat-in Tour - A group tour with a specific itinerary and timetable, arranged by a local operator. Additional costs usually apply, but are less than private tours.

Second Seating - See Late Seating.

Shore Excursions - See Excursions.

Single Occupancy - A cabin occupied by one person. Cabins specifically for singles are available on some ships; others may levy a charge or single supplement.

Single Supplement - The additional charge for single occupancy; it can be as much as twice the per-person double-occupancy rate, depending on the category of accommodation.

Starboard - The right side of a ship looking forward; opposite of port.

Stateroom - See Cabin.

Stern - The rear of the ship; opposite of bow.

Steward - Ship's employee responsible for attending to passengers' needs.

Stopover - Leaving a ship at a port of call and rejoining at a subsequent port of call or when the ship returns.

Suite - Usually the best grade of accommodation, with separate sleeping and living areas, lavish bathrooms and private balconies or verandas.

Tariff Rate - The rate printed in the brochure or the brochure rate.

Tender - A small boat that transports passengers between ship and shore.

Theme Cruise - A cruise catering to a specific interest or activity.

Transfers - Transportation between the ship and other locations, such as airports, hotels or departure points for shore excursions.

Triple Rate - The rate per person based on three passengers to a cabin.

Upper Berth - The top bed in an upper and lower berth, or bunk-style arrangement.

Wait List - The cruise line's effort to obtain accommodation for passengers on a first-come, first-served basis when no cabins are presently available.

Windward - The side of the ship facing the direction from which the wind is blowing; opposite of leeward.
 
BeyondWork Easy Extras

  • BeyondWork Cruising Specials

  • Complete Idiots Guide to Cruise Vacations by Fran Wenograd Golden. This book presents a thorough overview for first-time cruisers, covering such topics as making the decision to cruise, tips on discounts and deals, the cruise lines and their ships, cruise planning practicalities and wrapping up your cruise.
  • CruiseMates. This independently operated Web site provides a meeting place for cruise enthusiasts, objective critiques of cruise ships, and practical advice for getting the best value from your cruise vacation. Visit them at www.CruiseMates.com
  • Cruise Line International Association (CLIA). The trade association for the North American cruise industry, CLIA's mission is to educate, train, and promote cruise vacations. For ship profiles, cruise line links, help finding a cruise specialist and other useful information, visit the CLIA Web site at www.cruising.org
  • The Essential Little Cruise Book: Secrets from a Cruise Director for a Perfect Cruise Vacation by Jim West. Short and easy to read, this book covers everything the first-time cruiser needs to know, including how to choose a cruise that's right for you, picking a travel agent and cabin, what to bring, cruise etiquette and how to cure sea sickness.
  • Unofficial Guide to Cruises 2000 by Kay Showker and Bob Sehlinger. In addition to ranking more than 350 ships for value and quality, the authors give indispensable advice for getting the lowest possible fares, getting the cabin you want most at a price you can afford, booking hassle-free air connections and making the most of your time and money on board.
  • Virtuoso. A professional network of over 5,000 travel consultants, Virtuoso can link you with a cruise specialist to help you plan your dream vacation. Call (800) 401-4274, or visit their Web site at www.virtuoso.com
  
 
 
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