Choose the Right Cruise Line for You
One important thing is to keep your target audience in mind. Some lines, such as Disney, are geared toward families with active children, while others may be full of senior citizens or hordes of rambunctious college kids during spring break.To decide which of the three categories is ideal for you, Mr. Lee suggested working with a travel agent “who can match your budget, personality, and preferences to the perfect cruise experience.” But before you do that, read on for a breakdown of each of these three categories and what they offer.
Ocean Liners: If You Want to Get Away
“These big ocean liners are great for families or those who just want to get away from it all,” Mr. Lee said. “The draw for these ships are the ships themselves and the experiences while traveling, rarely the destination. If you are looking to relax by the pool, see some Las Vegas-style shows, and dine at great restaurants, you'll probably want to cruise on a ship from Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, or Disney.”Each cruise line has some sort of specialty, Mr. Lee told The Epoch Times, for example: “Royal Caribbean combines the fun of a resort and a night out in Vegas. They have shows for all ages, jazz bars, karaoke, aquaparks, and specialty dining. They are great for people of all ages.”
Small Yachts: If You Want Luxury
If you want an upscale experience, Mr. Lee said: “Luxury cruises like Tauck only allow a limited number of guests, and some even supply each room with a personal butler to take care of the passenger’s needs. These cruises focus completely on luxury.”Tauck’s ships are smaller than those operated by “large” firms such as Carnival or Virgin, accommodate fewer than 300 passengers, and are able to explore exotic, off-the-beaten-path ports such as the Galapagos Islands, the Great Lakes, and Alaska’s Inside Passage. Their intimate river boats ply the Mississippi, Danube, Rhine, and other rivers, with accommodations at 5-star hotels along the way.
These lines pride themselves on fine dining, educational seminars appropriate for the ports visited, and intimate shore excursions led by experienced local guides.
River Cruises: If You Want Sophistication
“If you want to explore a country but don’t want to worry about transport, river cruises are perfect,” Mr. Lee said. “They tend to be more luxury-focused, but aren’t an ideal setting for families with active children. The majority of the customers on river cruises are 40 to 70 years old.”“These ships tend to be much smaller than typical cruise ships, so you don’t have to wait a few hours to embark or disembark to explore the new location,” he said. “You can find river cruises in the United States on the Mississippi River, South America cruising the Amazon River, all across Europe, as well as Asia visiting the Mekong River, the Nile in Africa, and many more.”
“These cruises are ultra-luxurious, pricey, and as such, are not a good choice for the passengers seeking the traditional boisterous cruise ship experience,” he said. “These smaller ships often have Michelin-Star chefs, private butlers, and can even have a personalized itinerary. In my opinion, they represent the ultimate in cruising.”
Act Quickly When It Comes to Dining, Drinking, Excursions
Regardless of the cruise you choose, there are some universal elements to consider, starting with booking.“Book excursions and specialty dining well ahead of time, as they can fill up quickly,” Mr. Lee said. “As the cruise date approaches, work with your travel agent to make sure the moment popular excursions, special dining deals, and tickets for quickly sold-out entertainment become available they can lock it in through their cruise line app.”
He also suggests planning to use your cellphone as a portable hotspot during the voyage to avoid being charged for the ship’s Wi-Fi.
Mr. Lee offered a few tips for cruise newbies: “There are specialty dining options and standard dining options. Every passenger has access to the standard dining options, but for most cruises, specialty dining is an extra cost. The exceptions to this rule are small-ship cruises like Viking, AmaWaterways, Avalon, etc. With these cruises, specialty dining may be included, but for all dining options you’ll need to make a reservation beforehand, including the standard dining.”
The same goes for drinks. If you enjoy alcoholic drinks but don’t like the high prices that the ship charges, ask your travel agent to find out when the free drink package promo will become available. In years past, many cruise lines launch this kind of promo in July.
Excursions are another thing to think about ahead of time. “Each cruise line has excursions available for clients to enjoy,” he said, “however, most cruise lines offer limited spaces for the excursions, so it’s a first-come, first-served type of deal. For carriers like Viking, the type of cabin booked dictates when you can book your excursions. Those in suites can book sooner than those in a standard cabin.”
Tip Like a Seasoned Cruiser
For many who are new to cruising, knowing how, to whom, and when to tip—or whether to tip at all—is a mystery.According to Mr. Lee: “Cruisers are typically billed by the cruise line at the end of their vacation. While most mainstream cruise lines have raised their tipping to $18 per person per day for standard cabins, Norwegian Cruise Lines raised their tipping to $20 per person per day for standard cabins. Some luxury cruise lines include tips in their price, like Seabourn, Regent, and Silversea.”
Normal tipping protocols apply for food and drinks. Even when enjoying “free” drinks, don’t forget to tip the bartender or server.
Before You Cruise, Book a Flight
Many cruise lines allow you to purchase flights with the cruise, but with some lines, you won’t be given flight details until 30 days prior to departure.“This means it is possible you may not be able to book a seat next to your companion(s), or bring extra luggage,” Mr. Lee said.
Cruise lines may offer earlier access to flight information and special discounts on flights, for a fee.
“In my opinion,” he said, “it’s worth the cost.”
Booking a flight that you’re comfortable with is important.
Buy Travel Medical Insurance
Cruising is all about relaxing, but passengers need to be aware that a medical emergency can transform a dream vacation into a nightmare.“In one recent example, a couple was vacationing in Punta Cana when the husband had a stroke,” she said. “He was medically evacuated to North Carolina, which cost him $40,000 out-of-pocket. If he had purchased a short-term membership plan, his membership cost would have been $198, and his medical transportation would have cost him [nothing].”
The bottom line? Do a lot of research on cruise lines and upcoming trips, work with a knowledgeable, experienced travel agent or cruise consultant, and don’t forget to pack lots of sunscreen!