How to Book a Cruise Online
Posted on | December 7, 2009 | 9 Comments
CRUISE BOOKING – HOW TO BOOK A CRUISE Discount cruise vacations continue to be an excellent option for a relaxing and worry-free vacation. More and more people book a cruise online or take advantage of the numerous cruise vacation packages available. People of all ages enjoy visits to beautiful and exotic destinations, meet great new people, and participate in a wide variety of activities while they enjoy cheap cruise vacations. You need to determine which type of cruise is best for you in order to fully enjoy the benefits of cruising. You should analyze what aspects of a cruise interest you most. Once you identify your interests, you can search for cruise vacation packages that will meet your criteria. Many people become confused when it comes to cruise booking because there are so many cheap cruise vacations available. However, you can follow a few simple steps to ensure that you choose a cruise booking that is just right for you!
Step One: The first step of cruise booking involves deciding on your desired holiday destination. Search the internet and read reviews about the various cruise vacation packages and discount cruise vacations. The internet remains one of the most helpful resources when determining which cruise booking to choose. You can visit many sites that will provide detailed information on all aspects of cruise vacation packages. Many sites feature cruise reviews, cruise pictures, and additional information about particular destinations. You also have the option of contacting an online travel agent or cruise booking agent to gather as many cruise brochures as possible. Once you have found several suitable cruise ships, compare them and select the cruise line and destination best for you.
Step Two: Once you decide on the cruise ship, you can now determine the duration of your cruise vacation. Many cruise vacation packages last only a weekend and you may enjoy other vacation packages for two luxurious, fun-filled weeks or more. If you have a little more money and time to spend, you can even pick a cruise package that will last for nearly three full months!
Step Three: You need to analyze the budget of your cruise vacation. The price of discount cruise vacations can really vary depending on the particular cruise company, time of year, and your preferred destination. Many cruise packages allow you to pick the features you want to include. By choosing not to participate in some of the available activities or excursions, you can experience substantial savings during discount cruise vacations. Your vacation budget has a profound influence on your cruise booking. The amount you are willing to spend will determine the activities, duration, and destination for your particular cruise vacation.
Step Four: Once you decide on a cruise vacation package, you need to complete the actual cruise booking. However, before you actually book a cruise online, you should contact the cruise booking agents or cruise travel agent and obtain all the necessary information you require. You need to decide on several factors before you complete the final cruise booking. These include the availability of the cruise package, point of departure, size and location of your preferred cabin, cancellation fees, and any activities you wish to include with your cruise vacation package.
Step Five: Once you have gathered all the relevant information, you feel you need regarding the cruise package; you can complete the final step. This involves the actual cruise booking for the date, company and destination you choose. You have the option of using cruise booking agents or you can complete an online cruise booking from the convenience of your own home. If you are able to travel any time of the year, the best option is to book a cruise online or choose cruise vacation packages that occur during the off-peak season. Most cruise liners sail year round. You can often find amazing deals by performing a cruise booking during the off-peak season. Many more discount cruise vacations and inexpensive cruise vacation packages are available during off-peak season. The peak season for cruise booking occurs during the summer months and during school holidays. You will find that it is more expensive to take a cruise during these busy times. If you plan your cruise, you are certain to find a cheap cruise vacation package that fits within your budget.
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9 Responses to “How to Book a Cruise Online”
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December 7th, 2009 @ 10:13 am
If it's your first cruise, you should probably use an experienced travel agent, preferably one who is knowledgeable about cruises.
If you're going through Carnival and have a "Carnival agent", I don't think it would matter whether you use phone or on-line, although on the phone you can ask questions and get an answer immediately.
Just a couple of things to consider if you book directly with Carnival. They will undoubtedly try to sell you cruise air. This may or may not be a good deal for you, but the flights won't necessarily be convenient for you [e.g. very early flight times, odd routing] plus you probably won't be able to fly in the day before, which is always advisable to do [just look at the current mess in air travel for a reason why]. They will also sell you cruiseline transfers to/from port, which will not be the best [or even cheapest] way to go. If you get your own cab [or perhaps even a free shuttle from your hotel if you go down the day before!] you go when you want to go and you don't wait for a bus to fill up and then arrive with that entire busload of passengers. When you debark, you want to get your luggage and tip a porter to get you a cab so you can get the heck out of all the confusion, not wait around again for a bus to fill up and deposit you at the airport with a busload of people.
They will also try to sell you insurance, which is a very good idea, especially if you're going to travel in hurricane season. But the cruiseline isn't always the best place to buy it. There are several reliable places to get trip insurance – do a search or get info at CruiseCritic.com. Click on "Boards", then do a search on cruise insurance.
This is more information than you asked for – sorry! But hopefully you'll find something useful. Have a great trip!
December 7th, 2009 @ 11:02 am
Book straight through the cruise line.
http://www.carnival.com
Your invited to Join the best cruise group on yahoo..
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Cruiseaddict/
December 7th, 2009 @ 12:55 pm
December 7th, 2009 @ 7:56 pm
I don't know what how you define celebrity, but let's say that it is someone quickly recognized by the general public. In cases like that, you can use the pictures, whether you make money from them or not.
Take for example the paparazzi. They stalk celebrites in an effort to get pics and then sell the pics to magazines, etc.
What you cannot do is use the images of private people. You cannot post them without permission from the people in the photos.
What you propose: to assemble a book of memories of your cruise is perfectly legal.
You cannot, however, use photos of them that are copyrighted by another individual or entity.
December 7th, 2009 @ 10:00 pm
NO! no passport information need when booking. After your booking is complete you will be requested to go back online at some point and enter a bunch of personal information including your citizenship and passport number. BUT, you have up until about 3 days before the cruise to complete all of this precruise information.
If you do not complete the pre-registration information they will request that you be at the cruise port at least 3 hours before departure time so that you can complete it. The reason for this is that all cruise lines must now provide to the Homeland Security office (Immigration) a complete listing of all passenger. and this must be provided to HS at least an hour before the ship set sail.
As a guide, here's what's on Royal Caribbean's web site about the registration information:
"When you check-in online, it saves time. You won’t have to fill out any forms at the pier. When you and your party arrive, you’ll just need your signed SetSail pass, identification documents, and credit card that you register online.
First, gather the following information for all the guests you’re checking in:
Ship, sailing date and Royal Caribbean reservation number
Passport or appropriate proof of citizenship and identification
Home address
Emergency contact name with phone number
Travel plans before and after your cruise
Credit card for the Onboard Expense Account"
December 8th, 2009 @ 4:25 am
My advice to to go to the web site and get a price based on your repeat customer status and the date. Using that price check with them on the phone and a travel agent. Many agents have the ability to give you part of their commission, bon voyage gifts, or upgrades.
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December 8th, 2009 @ 11:02 pm
I cruise quite a bit, usually 2 or 3 times a year and I also watch closely my budget and what I spend. So here's my list of what charges to expect and how to control your spending.
Regardless of the cruise line the price of your cruise includes your cabin, all meals including breakfast, lunch dinner, snacks and free room service, free admissions to the disco, all shows and entertainment, and free kids programs, use of all facilities on ship like the pools, hot tubs, gym, and recreation activities. The additional things that you will have to pay for after you book are:
GRATUITIES: They will amount to about $10 to $11.50 per person in your cabin per day, depending upon the cruise line. When you check in at the pier they will set up an on-board charge account for you to cover any and everything you may buy on ship. They will issue you a "cruise card" which will also serve as your room key and pass to get on and off the ship. At the end of the cruise they will add the gratuity to your tab and you can pay with a credit card or cash, your choice. So everything on ship except the casino is cashless; everything you buy goes on your account.
ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND SOFT DRINKS: Coffee, tea (hot and cold), milk, juice, and lemonade and punch will be provided FREE but you must pay for soft drinks and alcoholic beverages and they will add a 15 percent gratuity to each alcoholic drink and soft drink order. Drinks of cruise ships are generally in the range of $7 to $9 including the 15 percent gratuity that is included in each tab. Beer and wine are slightly less, maybe $6 to $7. The cruise lines do sell a soft drink card that allow you unlimited soft drinks for the duration of your cruise. These you must buy the first day of the cruise and they generally cost about $6.00 a day for adults; $4.00 a day for kids. The cost of the soft drink card also goes on your on-board tab. But if you want you can take on board with you a six pack of soft drinks and/or bottle water to help cut your costs; take them in your carry-on bags. Also, if you buy drinks ask for them in a plain glass rather than the souvenir glasses because they cost about $1.50 more in the souvenir glass. Also, buy the daily drink special which is generally about $1.00 less than other drinks.
PHOTOGRAPHS: Cruise ship employees will take plenty of photographs of you all over the ship, in the dining room, and as you exit the ship in ports. These will cost a lot, about $15 to $25 for most and the cost of them goes on your on-board tab. Take your own photos and ask other passengers to take photos of you rather than buying the ship's photos. Other passengers will always help you with this if you ask; or ask the wait staff also.
TOURS/EXCURSIONS: You are not required to book any tours and you can get off and on in the ports as much as you want. But the cruise line will offer a lot of tours and these are NOT included and are expensive.
SOUVENIRS: Anything you buy on ship from a gift shop or duty free shop goes on your on board account.
CASINO: If you plan to gamble on ship you will need cash for that.
OTHER: All ships have what they call "specialty" restaurants where there IS a gratuity/service charge of between about $5. and $25. All other food on board is free and its not really necessary to budget for food; you cannot eat all of the great FREE FOOD that will be available, so skip the specialty places.
SPA SERVICES: If you want/need to have your hair done, get a massage or wrap, or any services from the spa, you will have to pay for them. You can use the gym free but the spa stuff cost big bucks.
INTERNET SVCS: Ships now have internet cafe and some have WiFi but the there is a fee for internet access and it is very expensive. I always recommend that you skip the high priced internet on ship and wait for port stops where you can usually find an internet cafe where the charges are about $3 to $7 an hour. Just ask the cabin steward and/or your wait staff; they know because they use them when they can get off the ship.
ROOM SERVICE/MINI-BAR: You cabin will likely have a minibar with soft drinks and munchies; you have to pay for anything you take out of the mini-bar. But the room service (24/7) is always free.
These are the charges that you may have but the only one of these that is pretty much mandatory is the gratuities. All of the others are optional and completely under your control.
December 9th, 2009 @ 8:36 am
It is cheaper to book directly from the cruise line that you plan to sail with and generally the price drops as the availability of staterooms drops. In other words, fewer choices available, better prices.
A deposit is taken when you book, and final payment is due about three weeks prior to departure. If you change your mind about the chosen trip, you can usually switch your down payment money to a different itinerary with the same cruise line.
December 9th, 2009 @ 3:02 pm
Wow, the percentage of correct answers on this question is embarassingly low.
NO, tips are not included. Your first instinct was right. Although some lines allow you to pre-pay tips (an interest free loan to the cruise line), if you buy a trip through cruises.com or another travel agent, you will still need to pay your tips onboard.
Good luck and enjoy your trip!