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How to Plan a Cruise Vacation

guider — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 09:29:33 +0000

As great as taking a vacation on cruise ships may seem, you still need to know how to plan a cruise ship vacation properly so you have the perfect cruise experience. You need to know about the different types of packages the cruise lines offer.

When planning a cruise ship vacation you need to know how to choose one that will meet your expectation or tailor to your needs. Here are some guidelines that you can follow to plan your cruise travel and enjoy the perfect cruise experience:

Think of who you want to take with you on your cruise vacation. There are many different packages offered by cruise lines. There are packages for the whole family and there are packages for single travelers.

Will you be taking the cruise vacation with children? Maybe you will take your significant other for a romantic getaway. There are cruise ships that are tailored for children and there are cruise lines that cater to single cruisers and honeymooners. There are even some ships that offer wedding services. What could be better than to get married on the ship and have your honeymoon built in?

Decide how long you want to cruise. If you just want to try it out, opt for a three day cruise. Normally, cruises start at three nights and can go anywhere from seven to fourteen days. But there are also world cruises that can last as long as three months. My advice is if you are going to cruise in Europe you should pick a fourteen day cruise because of the expense and long plane rides to get to your port of embarkation. If you live near a port and you just want to take a long weekend choose of three or four day cruise. Decide what cruise travel is best for you.

Choose the perfect destination for you and your family. Alaska is beautiful but can only be cruised in the summer months. If you live in the colder climes you may want to take a mid winter cruise to the Caribbean or even South America. If you want your cruise travel to be in the Caribbean and you want to spend two weeks on your cruise vacation, choose a line that alternates between the Eastern and Western Caribbean. This cruise vacation takes you to many different islands.

The cruise lines have a variety of destinations to choose from. Visit your cruise travel agent to go over the different itineraries or check out the individual websites of the cruise lines.

Consider the port of departure. Since 9/11 cruises have been emphasizing home port cruising. Now there are many cruises that depart from Bayonne, New Jersey, Galveston, Texas, or Seattle, Washington, not just Miami and Fort Lauderdale.. Depart from the one closest to you and you will save money on expensive airfare.

Speak to a knowledgeable cruise travel agent. Make sure they have personally sailed on many different cruise ships so they can give you an honest opinion on what each cruise line has to offer and which would give you the perfect cruise experience.

A cruise travel agent will also be able to supply you with cruise tips. Scour the cruise reviews for additional cruise tips.

Large cruise lines have a variety of activities and facilities that you can use on the ship. If you like to gamble then choosing a cruise ship with casinos is probably right for you. Or if you are taking your kids with you, a cruise ship that offers activities and facilities for children would be the best choice for your cruise travel. For instance, Disney is, of course, geared toward children but they do not have casinos. So if you are taking the family but you want to gamble steer away from Disney and choose one of the other major cruise lines. Almost all of them have children’s programs. If you don’t want to be on a ship with children sail on one of the fancier lines that don’t cater to children. Here, again, it pays to read as many cruise reviews as you can to pick up additional cruise tips.

Cruise vacations do not necessarily mean that you have to spend all your vacation time onboard. All the cruise ships offer land and shore excursions. The cruise lines offer pre and post cruise land vacations usually for two or three days.

Should I let the Cruise Line Make My Airline Reservation For My Cruise Vacation?

guider — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 09:41:04 +0000

When considering a cruise vacation this is a very good question. The Cruise lines pre-book massive amounts of airline space. That allows you better access to flights, and many cruise lines pass on their reasonable prices to passengers whose travel agents book through them.

If you choose to make airline reservations on your own please select flight schedules that allow you enough time to get to the pier in time for the ship’s departure on the day of your cruise travel. That applies in reverse, leave enough breathing room to get to the airport with time to make your return flights after your lovely cruise vacation.

Two advantages of using cruise line provided airfare are:

By purchasing cruise line airfare, you also receive transfers to and from the airport to the pier.
If your flights are delayed and arrive past the time of the ship’s departure, the cruise line assumes responsibility for either delaying the ship’s sailing or getting you to the cruise ships first port of call.

You should let your travel agent book the Airline Reservations through the Cruise Line for safety reasons. This basically makes the Cruise Line responsible in the event of a flight or sailing delay or cancellation. Here’s a cruise tip, for a small additional “air deviation” fee, most cruise lines will attempt to book you on the airline or flights of your choice.

If you have frequent-flier miles be sure to book your flights well in advance to ensure your arrival on time. When scheduling your flight home after the cruise, be sure to take into account disembarking time from the ship and local transportation time to the airport. Leave plenty of time because some local airports may not be as sophisticated as those you might be used to. And in today’s world, security will make it even longer to board your flight for your cruise travel.

You should arrive at least a day before the cruise vacation, especially if you are flying a long distance to pick up the ship. That way, you can rest up and be ready to enjoy every moment of your cruise. You get the added benefit of not having to worry about a delayed or cancelled flight, causing you to miss the cruise. This was the best cruise tip I have learned over the years.

When you are flying to your cruise vacation you will have to consider baggage weight. Generally there are no restrictions on how much luggage you can take aboard ship, but do remember that if your cruise vacation involves a flight, airlines have their own baggage allowance restrictions. These vary on scheduled flights, depending on airline and route. Please note that the allowance may be less on international flights. When flying from New Zealand back to Miami after our millennium cruise vacation, Quanta’s airline was very strict about weight and charged us because we were over.

The cruise lines will generally supply you with its luggage tags which will be in addition to your personal ID tags. The luggage tags will be included with your cruise documents which normally arrive 2-3 weeks before your cruise vacation.

Here are some cruise tips we have learned through our cruise travel.

It is strongly suggested that you remove old airline flight tags to eliminate ANY possibility of confusion on the part of the airline.

An extra folded flight bag takes up very little room and it can be handy on your way home when you have more to carry then can be placed in your original luggage.

Be sure to keep your travel documents, identification documents, medications, valuables, a set of clean underwear, credit cards, cash and travelers checks on your person or in your carry-on luggage. Horror stories concerning lost airline luggage are well known.

When traveling outside the United States to pick up your cruise ship, make photocopies of your passport and cruise itinerary, place one set in each bag prior to checking them with the airline. This will ensure you that your luggage will catch up to you at some time during your cruise vacation.

When waiting in line or sitting in an airport, always have the strap to your carry-on luggage wrapped around an arm or leg, then it won’t disappear without your knowledge.

Be very careful using your telephone card in airports. People will stand behind you and watch as you tap in the numbers. And much to your dismay, a month after your cruise travel, you get a huge telephone bill. I know it happened it me. I was not responsible for paying the bill, but it was a hassle.

It is useful to take an overnight bag for the last night of your cruise vacation. Your cabin steward will be collecting all checked bags the night before disembarkation, sometime around midnight. If you have this small overnight bag you can use it for the clothes you wore the evening before. And as mentioned, it comes in handy for packing all the mementos you picked up along the way.

The most important cruise tip is to relax and enjoy your cruise vacation. You deserve it.

Happy Cruising!

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Tips for Budgeting a Vacation for the Entire Family

guider — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 09:38:57 +0000

Vacations can be expensive, and if you are on a limited budget, it may seem impossible to take your family on an enjoyable vacation. There are a number of ways that you can make a great family vacation affordable. These can allow you to treat your family to the vacation that they deserve without having to break the bank to do so. Here are a few ways that you can take a family vacation while staying within your family budget.

One of the most basic tips for planning a vacation is to introduce a vacation fund into your family budget. Even if you only give $10 per week to the fund, you still have $520 at the end of the year. This allows you to slowly accumulate money that would otherwise be unavailable for a vacation. You may choose to supplement the vacation fund with money from income tax returns or other money that would not normally be a part of your weekly income. This provides more opportunities for adding to your vacation fund.

Research your destination and discover the best time for traveling. There may be discounts available if you are flexible about when you would be leaving. This allows you to travel to your destination without paying full price. This can often save you quite a bit of money when you consider how much full admission prices can be for your entire family. Along the same lines, check to see if there are any airlines or hotels running specials that you can take advantage of to save money on your travel and lodging expenses as well.

Another option to help keep your family vacation within the confines of your budget is to choose a vacation destination that is not going to be exceedingly costly. Visiting state parks, beaches, and other public areas can allow you and the family to have fun and enjoy the time spent together without the added costs of amusement parks or other attractions. Be sure to consult both your spouse and your children when trying to come up with vacation ideas so that you know everyone can be excited about the trip.

While on vacation, consider packing sandwiches or supplies for making your own meals instead of stopping for every meal at a restaurant. Preparing your own meals can help you save a lot of money because restaurants become expensive after a while. This also provides your family with extra money for other amusements. If you still insist on eating your meals at the local restaurants, you can use the food you brought with you for light lunches or travel food. This can still help you save quite a bit of money in comparison to the cost of eating out for every meal. An added advantage is that certain foods such as fruits and bread do not go bad while you are away from home; by packing them for your vacation, you can avoid wasting food while you are away.

Depending on the vacation that you want to take, you might find that you do not have enough money to be able to afford everything that you need. Should you have enough room in your family budget to be able to add another monthly payment, you might consider taking out a small personal loan to help pay for your vacation expenses. Before you do this, however, you should make sure that you can afford the loan payment and that you are not going to be overextending your finances by trying to pay it off on time.

Shop around for quotes from different lenders so that you can get the best deal on the money that you borrow and compare the repayment terms carefully to find the loan that best meets your needs. Save this as a last resort in case the vacation you are planning is very important to the family, since borrowing money is a serious responsibility and can lead to major credit problems if you are not able to repay what you borrow. If you can afford to add the loan payment to your monthly budget and are able to repay the loan in a respectable amount of time, it can be perfectly acceptable to borrow a little bit of extra money to help make your family vacation dreams come true.

A vacation is a great time for a family to spend time together. Vacations are possible no matter what your budget is. When you are planning your vacation, try to put a few dollars aside each week. This helps you accumulate money over time that can be used towards you family’s vacation. When you leave for your vacation consider packing sandwiches and other snacks. This can save you money since you do not have to eat at a restaurant for every meal. These tips can help your family plan a much-deserved vacation even on a tight budget.

Tips for Giving Your Mom a Cruise Vacation for Mother’s Day

guider — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 09:29:01 +0000

Shopping for a Mother’s Day present is never easy, but it is particularly difficult for people who want to give their mothers or other special ladies in their life something very special. Cruises are a great way to give your mom Mother’s Day memories she’ll cherish forever. What’s more, they’re surprisingly affordable.

A cruise is best considered as an all-in-one vacation package. If you want to comparison shop, your cruise fare equals hotel accommodations, meals, transportation, and entertainment. It does not include alcohol, special amenities (like spa services or casino gambling), or shore excursions, which are optional.

One other factor that influences the total price: you have to get to port city on your own dime, too.

Giving your mother a cruise vacation is a great idea because it is not only an inclusive vacation that most people really enjoy (most people who cruise once become fans and cruise again), it is also a very easy way for you to set up a family get-together or reunion. These group cruises are increasingly popular and most cruise lines encourage them.

In fact, calling a cruise line representative is a good step to see what a particular cruise might be able to offer you for a group package.

There are four ways to give your mom the present of a cruise vacation.

The first method is to let your mother pick out the cruise vacation she wants and then let you come back and buy it for her. This is a bit complicated logistically since there are many cruise lines with many more offerings, and there is no “gift card” option that will let her shop around. About the best gift card you can get is one through a credit card which all major cruise lines accept. The problem with that is that cruise packages can vary a lot in price. Another way to give her this kind of gift is to offer to pay for the cruise she picks out–but your mom might spend more or less than you’d like!

The second choice is that you can be bold and pick a cruise for your mom, pay for it, and give it to her.

Cruises have the “Noah’s Ark Syndrome,” which mean they want everyone to get in the boat by pairs. Cruise fares are always stated for double occupancy (although you can make arrangements to sleep three or four to a state room, too). Besides, cruising alone is no fun. So book your parents a cruise or, if your mom is alone, get her a cruise with a family member or friend.

The third method of getting a cruise for Mother’s Day is a fabulous idea. You pick the cruise and buy it, only you go along with her. Depending on your family structure, it may be just you and your mom or it might be several couples (parents, you and your spouse, maybe a sibling and spouse and so on). These are fabulous adventures and a gift that everyone will always remember. Cruising in a group heightens the enjoyment. Your family can dine together, explore the ports together, take in shows or stroll the ship together, all while somebody else cooks, cleans up, and drives!

The fourth way to get your mom a cruise vacation for Mother’s Day involves creating a family reunion group. In this scenario, you pick the cruise and pay for your mom and her traveling mate. You also arrange to travel with them. After that, you just need to tell the family about the plan to see who can join you. Invite relatives, even friends.

Family cruises of many couples are not uncommon on cruises today, and many cruise lines will work with you to help make the organizational chores of setting up this sort of thing as easy as possible.

If you opt for a large family reunion cruise, book it as far in advance as you can. By booking early, cruise lines will often offer you the very best prices and it gives the other people in your family time to make the necessary work, family, and financial arrangements they need in order to participate.

Picking a cruise can be tough these days because there are so many options. Here are afew different ways to approach it.

Some people pick a cruise by destination: Alaska versus the Caribbean or cities of the Far East versus Europe. Others prefer to pick a cruise by port. If you live at or near a cruise port city, this can drastically reduce your total expense. Still others pick a cruise by type. Some cruises call at many ports, others spend more time at sea. Some emphasize fine dining, formal events, and luxurious spas, others emphasize kid-friendly activity and super-casual fun.

Price is a bit more complex in that there are numerous price levels on any given cruise. Price changes on the type of cabin you want (bigger costs more and windows or even balconies, sometimes called verandahs, cost more) and optional excursions can also drive up the price.

The best place to shop is online, in that every major cruise line runs a great, user-friendly website that allows you to window shop and even compare prices. You can even get a sneak peek at cabin floor plans and find out about activities, ports, and excursions.

Although most cruise lines are online, it is best to book by phone by calling the number provided on the website. In fact, some cruise websites do not allow online booking.

Talking to a cruise representative is a great way to familiarize yourself with the many voyages and options available to you. A family vacation can be one of the most memorable Mother’s Day gifts your mom will ever receive!

Christmas Party Cruise

guider — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 09:25:49 +0000

If Christmas is not far away, you’re sure to be thinking of enjoying a white Christmas, filled with white, soft sand and a shiny, white cruise liner. If you want a restful and different kind of Christmas celebration, then perhaps a Christmas party cruise is a good bet.

But hurry, because holiday cruises are the first to be sold out, so if you’re sure you want this special holiday, get on to a good get=”_blank” href=”http://www.sydneyprincesscruises.com.au/”>Sydney Christmas party cruise organizer and you’re your holiday.

Here, you can get into the spirit of Christmas by enjoying the festive decor in all the public rooms. Plus, the cruise liner will also have fun and games for the entire family, kids included, to set the tone of the holiday spirit.

For instance, holiday music is so essential for everyone to have a good time. You can enjoy it in all the cabins and in the live entertainment areas. Your Christmas party cruise might also have special programs for kids, with themed crafts and a Christmas show for all kids to participate in. Apart from singing, dancing is also a popular activity for kids. The Christmas programs ends with gifts from Santa and a photo session with him.

Perhaps the Christmas party cruise you choose places a gift for in the stateroom. They might also have fun parades for kids and a model gingerbread house. All adults will have themed parties to celebrate the event with champagne toasts and all the season’s trimmings.

Another feature some ships include is to have a Rabbi on board and to complete the picture, you will be served kosher wine and potato pancakes, while kids will enjoy themselves making Christmas decorations for the trees.

There are so many Christmas party cruise organizers that on some you might also be witness to the ship’s captain hosting a Christmas tree lighting ceremony and you might even partake in singing carols and eating cookies and drinking hot chocolate. Kids are given many gifts from Santa on some of the better liners and continue to enjoy the Christmas mood by celebrating Boxing Day too.

And on American liners, the Christmas party cruise begins at the terminal where you see Disney characters all dressed up for Christmas. They greet you as you board the ship. On these ships, you will find a tree, three decks high with magic snow falls on it during the tree lighting ceremony. And there’s a lot of caroling by the crew and activities ranging from decorating the many gingerbread houses to falling prey to Goofy’s surprise visits to the kids. Santa makes a special appearance too, much to everyone’s delight.

And if you just want to relax without doing too much, why not settle down to seeing a few movies, or enjoy a Christmas show put up by the crew on Christmas Eve or get yourself ready for Santa’s visit-who knows, he might even come to you parasailing!

However he may arrive, laden with gifts, this holiday is the season’s best gift you could give yourself-a Christmas party cruise.