First Time Cruising

I have been asked several times on how to decide whether to book in advance or wait for a deal in the last minute. The answer mostly depends on how flexible you are, how often the particular cruise you want takes place, and how popular it is. Here are some tips on deciding when to go after a last minute deal

Do you need your cabin to be in a specific location?

The longer you wait to book your cruise, the less control you will have on deciding where your cabin is located. Usually, most of the cabins available when booking a last minute cruise are guaranteed cabins. This means, they guarantee the type of room you request or better but you cannot choose the specific room or location, they pick it. So if you tend to get seasick and need a centrally located cabin, then book in advance when you still have a good selection on rooms to choose from. But if you don’t mind where your room is, you will have a much better chance in getting a good last minute deal.

Do you need a specific type of room?

When you book a guaranteed room, you may end up with a different type that you requested. For example, you book a guaranteed inside cabin. When the rooms are assigned and there isn’t an inside room available, they will put you in an oceanview or, if you’re lucky, in a cabin with a balcony. This may be a good thing since they always do the same or better than you booked, never worse. But if you’re set on a type, this may not be good for you. Also, keep in mind that some types of cabins sell better on some cruises than others. For example, it is not difficult to grab a good last minute deal on an Alaskan cruise unless you want a balcony or a suite. Balconies are very popular due to the spectacular views and abundance of wildlife sightings you experience on an Alaskan cruise. These sell out first and have the least of being drastically cut in price.

Is the cruise you want common?

If you find that the cruise you want is offered on several other dates you will have a better chance of getting a good last minute cruise deal. You will also have a better chance if other cruise lines are offering a similar cruise at similar dates. Good cruises to try for a last minute deal are the ones in the Caribbean, Mexico, and Alaska. Exceptions to these are cruises that take place during a holiday since less people have to work or go to school during these days.

How flexible are you?

If you can easily change your plans to go in a later week, you will have a better chance at getting a deal. Of course, this is easier if you are not restricted by work and if you live close to where the cruise is leaving from so you don’t have to look for a last minute flight. If you live too far to drive to port or take a train, sometimes the cost of a last minute flight outweighs the savings of a last minute cruise. So being able to change your date to be able to get a good price on your cruise and your flight is a big help.

A cruise is very different from any other type of vacation. If you’ve never been on one before, you’ll want to know what to expect and what to be prepared for. With a little knowledge on how to avoid hassles, a cruise can be the getaway of a lifetime.

The most important thing you should familiarize yourself with is every level of expenses. What is included with the basic charge and what isn’t. Some cruise lines will include free room service and other luxuries for free, so make sure you’re not missing out on anything. Also know what isn’t included, so you’ll know how much extra money to bring. All cruises have different policies so be sure to do your homework.

Another big thing to be ready for is sea sickness. This is especially true if you’ve never been on a ship before and don’t know whether or not you’re affected by sea sickness. There are many medicines for this and you can ask your doctor what would be best for you. One of the more popular options is a sea sickness pill, but one of the major side effects is drowsiness so be careful when you take it. Patches are also popular.

The weather will play a huge role in your cruise experience. This will depend entirely on where you cruise is chartered and what time of year it is. Most Caribbean cruises will be fairly warm year-round. Be sure to bring plenty of sunscreen and a pair of sunglasses. But a cruise to Alaska will be cool and sometimes downright cold. So pack accordingly.

Consider what kind of events you will be going to on the cruise when packing your clothing. Some cruises will have formal events, others won’t. You’ll want to know this in advance and be prepared for it.

Remember that cruise ships can be extremely crowded sometimes. Have designated times and locations where you and your group will meet-up later in the event that you get separated. Avoid areas that can become overcrowded easily, like elevators. Some cruise lines will have elevators that you can use to get from one level of the ship to another, but these are often so over-used that they take forever and should be saved for the older passengers.

Some cruise ships can be a pretty intense party experience, especially if you don’t have children in your group. Be sure to pace yourself when drinking. Getting drunk on a rocking ship can be a bad combo. Also, on the subject of drinking, be sure to check to see if your cruise line does automatic tips on the bill. Some cruises charge you a 15% tip automatically with alcoholic drinks, so don’t pay the tip twice by mistake.

Another important expense to note is phone calls. Your best option is to wrap up all your business, both professional and personal before you head off on your cruise, so you’ll have no need to call back and check-up on things very often. Cells phones will not work on some cruise lines. You will likely have a phone in your room, but it can actually cost up to fifteen dollars per minute to talk to someone back on land. If you must make phone calls, make them when the ship stops to make port.

To those of you who have already caught the cruise bug, congratulations! You have already experienced one of the best ways to travel, and no doubt you will be back to cruise again some day. For the rest of you – those who have not yet cruised before – this article is for you.

I have been on several cruises, the most recent being the Allure of the Seas this year. Cruises have it all – fun, food, excitement, food, romance, food… and did I mention the food?

When you travel, you normally have to pick a destination and then decide when to go and how to get there. With a cruise, you still do that, but a typical 7 day cruise will stop in at least three ports of call, meaning you get to see several exciting destinations, not just one. When you start looking around, be sure to sign up to get automatic notifications about cruise deals from several cruise lines, and perhaps even some notable travel sites such as CruisesOnly, and Travelzoo. Cruises very often do not fill up, and you can get some great deals if you are willing to wait for last-minute pricing. These days, there are a wide variety of departure ports too. Not just Florida and California, but also Texas, Louisiana, Seattle, New York, and even Boston. You’ll want to check all of these to decide where you want to go, and how long of a cruise you want. They usually range from 3 to 7 days.

Nervous about getting seasick? Don’t be. Most of today’s cruise ships are so large, you can hardly even feel the boat rocking. If you think you are prone to motion sickness, do yourself a favor and take a gulf tour. For example, the cruises to the Western Caribbean are much smoother than the Eastern because the boat is in the calmer Caribbean waters, not the Atlantic. And there are many brands of motion sickness meds, including the patch that works wonders.

So you made your reservations, got to port, and now you are on board – what do you do? Have fun! Cruise lines are spending more and more money these days to make sure there is plenty to do on board so that nobody gets bored! Take the Allure of the Seas (Royal Caribbean) for example. This ship has over 2,700 stateroom, and nearly one staff member for every two guests. There are multiple on-board restaurants, including Johnny Rockets and Starbucks. There is also a full-sized carousel, two rock climbing walls, and two wave zones for learning how to surf or boogie board. There is a zip line towering 9 stories above the boardwalk, as well as a 9 hole mini golf course. There are several theaters, an ice skating rink, casino, more than 5 pools, 8 whirlpools, a gym, ping-pong tables, bingo, shopping, movies…

You get the point- there is a TON of stuff to do! For those traveling with children, there is a kid’s zone on every ship where they can meet other kids their age and have fun while the parents are off exploring on their own. And, there are enough kid-friendly activities that the whole family can stay entertained together if you choose.

The meals are worth discussing also. On most ships, you can choose an early or late seating, and your dinners are usually at the same place each night. These range from casual to formal meals, and are full of exquisite menus. Expect three course meals ranging from lobster to filet mignon, with options for the kids. If you decide you want something a little more casual, most ships also have buffet-style cafeterias which serve everything from chicken nuggets to hamburgers and hot dogs. There is usually a pizza place on most ships too. Expect to eat well on a cruise. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and cruise ships understand that, with a wide variety of eggs, meats, breads, and fruit to get your day started right. Feeling like relaxing? Call room service- they’ll bring whatever you’d like to the room at no charge! It’s all part of the meal package.

Finally, there are the ports of call. At each stop, there will no doubt be plenty of suggestions for things to do such as excursions, shopping trips, beach days, boat rides, snorkeling tours, etc. You do not have to go on an official tour when you reach a port. In fact, you don’t even have to get off the boat if you don’t want to. Some take advantage of an empty boat to schedule a relaxing massage. However, if you do go on land, make sure to bring your passport and cruise ID so that you can get back on board. And whatever you do – don’t be late! The captain must depart on time, and if you are even a few minutes late, they get a hefty fine so they can’t wait for you!