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Everything You Ever Wanted
To Know About Cruising!
Is
cruising affordable and a good vacation value?
Cruising is the best vacation value! There are cruises vacations to
suit every budget. Your cruise fare includes meals, your stateroom, on-board
activities and entertainment, plus transportation from port to port. You'll know
what your vacation will end up costing you before you go. (Typically, your only
extra expenses will be drinks, specialty restaurants, optional shore
excursions, and personal services such as massage or hairstyling.)
Click here
to see the value of a cruise to the total cost of other vacations. You'll be
amazed!
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How
long are cruises?
As long or short as you want. We offer itineraries from three days to
more than a hundred days in length.
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Where
can I go?
Wherever you want! Cruises visit over 1,800 ports worldwide and
practically every destination accessible by water. You can embark on your cruise
vacation from a wide variety of North American ports or exciting and exotic
locations around the glove. Just check out the Cruise Guide for Worldwide
Destinations by clicking here
to see all the exciting choices available to you.
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How
do I book a cruise?
Call or submit a request via e-mail to one of our travel specialists.
These professionals will help you pick the cruise that fits your vacation
schedule, tastes and budget. They can make all the arrangements to get you from
your doorstep to your ship and back.
Plus, all of our specialists are CLIA certified cruise counselors. They have
completed an extensive program of training, including sailing on and inspecting
a vast number of cruise ships. You can feel confident that a recommendation from
one of our specialists is based on personal knowledge and experience.
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Are
all ships fairly similar?
Far from it. Ships range from intimate and yacht-like to vessels
stretching longer than three football fields. You can sail with fewer than 100
fellow guests or with more than 3,000. Enjoy atmospheres ranging from casual to
formal, contemporary to classic. You can even choose sail-assisted ships. Enjoy
the endless activities offered on a contemporary resort-style cruise, or immerse
yourself in the culture of a destination on a special interest cruise.
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Are
there different types of cruises?
There are cruises designed to suit virtually every interest and
personal preference.
The choices include: boutique, luxury cruises with
globe-trotting itineraries; large, contemporary ships with a fantastic array of
recreational facilities; classic vessels evoking the time-honored traditions of
cruises; special interest or exploration cruises specializing in unique
destination with an accent on cultural enrichment.
There are cruise lines that feature soft adventure expeditions
to such unusual and rustic frontiers as Antarctica, the Amazon Rain Forest or
African Serengeti. Discover historical legacies closer to home with enlightening
itineraries to New England, French Canada and the Colonial America coast.
For experienced travelers, destination-focused cruises
specialize in culturally-rich ports of call with itineraries dedicated to
illumination such historic, world-class treasures as the antiquities of
classical Greece, the Polynesian paradise of Hawaii or the fabled splendor of
Norwegian fjords.
For many, the perfect vacation includes the non-stop fun and sun
of a tropical resort-style cruise to the Caribbean, where you can sample a
variety of island cultures and cuisines while working on a terrific sun tan.
Plus, many cruise lines create special "themes" onboard, with entertainment
ranging from jazz festivals and classical music concerts to golf clinics and
murder mysteries at sea!
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Are
there any special educational programs on-board?
To complement the spirit of discovery that travel evokes, many cruise
lines feature an extensive program of on-board enrichment seminars hosted by
distinguished guest experts. In addition to lectures highlighting the history
and sights of ports you will be visiting, there may also be special in-depth
presentations ranging from Renaissance works of art and strategic financial
planning to epicurean secrets of classic French cuisine.
CLICK HERE to see charts on
theme and special interest/niche cruises.
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What's
an air/sea cruise?
A fly/cruise or an air/sea vacation package includes, along with your
cruise ticket, either free or reduced-cost airfare to and from the ship's port
of embarkation. These convenient money-saving options are available from most
major North American cities and include ground transfers between the airport and
ship as well as baggage handling.
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Do
I need a passport?
Photo identification is required for all guests, crew-members and
visitors boarding a cruise ship. US citizens require a passport or a birth
certificate (original or certified copy) plus a picture ID card issued by a
federal, state, or local government agency. Children under 16 do not require a
picture ID card. Non-US citizens require a valid passport and visas (when
necessary) in addition to an Alien Registration Card (ARC or "Green" Card) if an
individual is a Resident Alien living in the US. Ask your travel specialist what
visas, passports and other travel authorization documents are required based on
your nationality and country of residence.
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Are
there different classes of service?
Today's cruise ships are "one-class." Everyone can use all of the
ship's facilities. The price of a cabin is based primarily on its size and
location. Regardless of the category you book, you'll enjoy the same courteous
service, menus, activities, and entertainment as everyone else on board. (The
only exception to this is Cunard Cruise Lines).
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Will
I get bored? Feel confined?
Hardly! Being at sea gives you a feeling of total freedom that no
land-based resort can offer. There's plenty of room. It will probably take you
two or three days just to discover everything that's on board. Plus, you get the
added adventure of exploring many exciting ports of call.
Cruise ships are floating resorts with all the choices fine
resorts have to offer. You can lie back in a lounge chair, breathe in the sea
air, soak up the sun, read books, or watch the ever-changing seascape.
If you're more active, join in exercise or dance classes, and sports contests.
Practice your tennis stroke or golf swing, or take in some fresh air on the
jogging deck. You can swim, stretch out in the sauna or work out in the gym.
You can also see a feature film, attend an enrichment lecture by
experts, play backgammon or bridge. That's just when you're on board! For more
details, see the Cruise Guide for Active Adults &
On-Board Spa Facilities.
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What
can I do in port?
So much you'll have a hard time choosing! You can explore on your own
or take a guided tour (referred to as shore excursions). Search ancient ruins or
hunt for shopping bargains. Ride a raft over river rapids, or a horse across
mils of hills and beaches. Climb a waterfall or pyramid. Follow the footsteps of
history or the wake of a water-skiing boat. If there's still time, play golf or
tennis. Learn how to windsurf. Sun and swim at some of the world's best beaches.
Catch a record marlin. Sail, snorkel or scuba dive. Take a cable car to the top
of a mountain. Explore dark catacombs.
In short, cruising is the perfect way to sample a number of new
destinations and try all the things you've ever dreamed of doing, while never
having to pack and unpack! See charts on the Cruise Guide for Active
Adults and Golf Facilities.
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Do
I have to participate in the activities?
On a cruise, you do what you want, when you want. You can do everything
or do absolutely nothing. It's your vacation!
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Do
cruise lines welcome families with kids?
More and more cruise vacations are booked by families with children. As
evidenced by the over 700,000 youngsters who cruised last year, most cruise
lines provide plenty of supervised activities for kids, especially during school
holidays. If your children enjoy swimming, sports, games, movies, and the
adventures of new places, they'll love a family cruise. You'll find that
children adapt to shipboard life with ease, and you won't have to wonder what
they're up to every minute. The trained youth counselors will help keep them
safe, busy and entertained. Ships even offer different types of age- appropriate
activates, suitable for toddlers to teens. Best of all, children often travel at
a reduced rate. CLICK HERE to see the Cruise Guide for Children.
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What's
there to do at night?
When the stars come out, a cruise ship really turns on. There's dancing,
live entertainment, nightclubs and lounges, feature films, and parties with all
your new friends. Most ships also have casinos. What's more, there are many
special events like the Captain's Cocktail Party, Passenger Talent Night,
Broadway-style shows and Las Vegas-type revues.
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Is
there a charge for entertainment?
Never. On a cruise vacation, the entertainment is on the house. There's
no cover, minimum or charge for an admission ticket. The shows are live, films
first-rate and all included in your cruise fare.
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Will
there be people like me?
There's no such thing as a typical cruise passenger! All kinds of people take
cruises now...all ages... from all walks of life...singles, couples and
families. Just ask your Cruises of Paradise travel specialist for advice on the
best ship for you, based on your tastes and lifestyle.
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What
should I pack?
Pack like you would for any resort. Cruise vacations are casual by day,
whether you're on the ship or ashore. In the evening, ships vary as to dress. As
on shore, attire is dictated by occasion. At the Captain's Gala, for example,
you'll probably want to wear something more formal, such as a dark suit, or
cocktail dress; perhaps even a dinner jacket or gown.
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Will
I need a tuxedo?
Reflecting today's lifestyle trends, many cruise lines now feature a more
relaxed and casual approach to dress throughout the cruise - while on others,
formal dinners or parties are part of the fun. However, don't buy a tuxedo just
for the trip. Even on the most formal of ships, a dark suit and tie are fine for
the dressiest occasions. Plus, many ships offer tuxedo rental services.
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Can
singles have fun on a cruise?
Cruising is ideal for people traveling alone, because it's so easy to
meet other people. In fact, most ships have parties for singles - early on, so
you can get to know other guests right away. Many ships even offer gentlemen
hosts who can be dance partners, dinner companions or a fourth at cards.
Most ships also have single cabins as well as single rates for
double stateroom. If you ask them, many cruise lines will even find you a
roommate to share a cabin so you can obtain the per person/double occupancy
rate, saving you even more on a great vacation. For details see the
Cruise Guide for Singles
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Can
I use my hair dryer or shaver?
Most ships have 110-volt outlets in the staterooms. But do check with
your Cruises of Paradise travel specialist to be sure. Most ships even feature
hair-dryers in your cabin.
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What
about meal times?
Again, there are choices and more choices. During the day, there are many
different dining options - in the formal dining room, on deck, in a pizzeria and
at an espresso bar, to name just a few. At night, most ships offer several
venues. Some ship's dining rooms can accommodate all guests at one time, called
a "seating." Many ships offer you a choice of several seating times, and others
encourage you to come to dinner whenever you like. More traditional ships have
two dining times in their formal dining rooms, which differ only by time:
typically 6:00pm (Early) and 8:30pm (Late). To choose, just decide whether you
prefer to dine early or late - then have your Cruises of Paradise travel
specialist request your preference when you book your cruise. Frequently, you
can choose to enjoy diner someplace other than the formal dining room, such as
in an intimate restaurant that features, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, or
Southwestern cuisine. More and more cruise lines are opening up their informal
lido areas to evening dining, where the dress and dishes always are casual, and
sometimes, you can even eat out under the stars. A large number of ships offer
romantic in-cabin dinners. The choice is yours!
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Is
cruise ship dining as good as I've been told?
Everything you've heard about cruise ship dining is true. At each
meal, you'll find a varied selection of entrees (appetizers, salads, soups,
vegetables, and desserts, too), and each day the selection will be different. If
you've ever wanted to experiment with a cuisine or try a dish you can feel free
to order more than one entrée or appetizer
(or dessert!). Just because your cruise ship offers plenty of delicious food,
doesn't mean you'll come home out of shape. You can choose low-cal, spa,
vegetarian or fitness menu selections that are just as tempting as the regular
menu. Best of all, the one thing you'll never see on a cruise ship menu is a
price. That's because your meals are included!
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Can
I get a special diet?
Most ships can accommodate salt-free, low-carbohydrate, low cholesterol,
Kosher, or other diet preferences. However, this request must be made in
advance, so be sure to advise your Cruises of Paradise travel specialist when
you book your cruise.
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What
about dining companions - can I sit with my spouse and friends only, or will I
have tablemates?
Experienced cruisers say they prefer sitting at a table with several
other diners; some lifelong friendships have been made this way. However, the
cruise lines are geared to accommodate each guest's wishes, and it is possible
to request a table for two or four. In the unlikely even that you do wish to
change tablemates, speak with the maitre d', who will make every effort to seat
you with more compatible dining companions...discretely and politely.
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Are
there non-smoking areas?
Virtually all ships have smoking and non-smoking sections in the
public rooms and on deck. In fact, many dining rooms, and even some entire
ships, are now totally smoke-free, reflecting passenger requests. If you want
your dining table in a non-smoking area, just tell your Cruises of Paradise
travel specialist. On board, you can advise the maitre d'.
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Can
we celebrate a special occasion?
Absolutely! Most cruise lines will even treat you to a complimentary
cake and a chorus of "Happy Whatever" to honor the occasion. Your birthday or
anniversary can be more festive with champagne, flowers of canapés. you can even
arrange for a special private party. All you have to do is advise your Cruises
of Paradise travel specialist in advance.
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Is
cruising right for honeymooners?
Without a doubt. Cruising offers an atmosphere that's just right for
romance...cozy dinners for two, strolling on deck at sunset, dancing the night
away (even under the stars). Most lines provide special services-from Sunday or
Monday departures to champagne and breakfast in bed. For more details just For
more details view the Cruise Guide for
Honeymooners. Also some ships offer
special programs for performing a marriage ceremony or renewing marriage vows.
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Can
we stay in touch with the outside world?
Quite easily. Most ships have a daily newsletter with news,
headlines, selected stock quotes and sports scores. Most staterooms are equipped
with televisions and have satellite or cellular telephones. you can also call
someone on shore through the ship's radio officer while at sea. In addition,
most ships have fax capabilities and a growing number have computer cafes with
Internet access for e-mail communication.
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What
about tipping?
Tipping is a matter of individual preference. A general rule of thumb
is to plan for about $3.00 per person per day for your cabin steward and dining
room waiter, and about half that amount for your busboy. Other shipboard
personnel can be tipped for special services at your discretion. (A few cruise
lines include tipping in the price and will so inform you, while others maintain
a no tipping policy.)
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Are
there medical services on-board?
While cruise ships are not comprehensive medical facilities, cruise
lines understand that some people may have health needs during a cruise. Thus
they are committed to providing first response and emergency care to guests
until they can be transferred to a shore side medical facility. Most cruise
lines have 24-hour medical services and staff operating under guidelines
developed in conjunction with the American College of Emergency Physicians
(AECP). Cruise lines and travel agents encourage vacationers to obtain medical
insurance, travel with adequate supplies of medical prescriptions and devices
and to disclose pre-existing medical conditions before sailing.
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Are
there laundry services aboard ship?
Almost all cruise ships have laundry facilities and many provide
dry-cleaning services. There is, however, an additional charge for professional
laundry and dry-cleaning services. Many ships also have self-service
launderettes.
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Do
cruise lines accept group bookings?
Most lines welcome groups-often at special rates, depending on how
many people are involved. Policies vary from company to company and sometimes
during certain times of the year,. Just consult your Cruises of Paradise travel
specialist for details.
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Are
there meeting rooms on-board?
Just about every full-size ship has public rooms or a conference
center to offer as meeting space for private or corporate groups. Many feature
dedicated meeting facilities. If you'd like to make meeting or incentive travel
arrangements, ask your Cruises of Paradise travel specialist to contact the
cruise line's group sales department to coordinate schedules and arrange for any
special needs. your ship may also be able to offer audiovisual equipment,
communications, meeting coordinators, secretarial and printing services and
more.
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Can
I extend my cruise vacation?
Cruise lines feature special pre- or post-hotel packages that allow
you to extend your vacation in either your port of embarkation or debarkation.
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Is
motion discomfort a problem?
rarely. Popular cruise itineraries ply some of the calmest waters in
the world. in addition, stabilizers on modern ships, availability of advance
weather information, and development of effective preventative medications have,
for the most part, reduced or eliminated the incidence of motion discomfort.
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Sounds
too good to be true! Is it?
The one complaint we hear time and again is that cruises end far too
soon! Beyond that, it's hard to find any negatives. All you have to do is relax
and enjoy your vacation. Most importantly, every crew and staff member on board
is dedicated to making your cruise the best vacation of your life (until you top
it with your next cruise!)
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Who
should I see if I have questions that haven't been answered?
Ask your Cruises of Paradise travel specialist.
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