Mary Hanna asked:


If you are a veteran cruiser or just curious about cruising, the year 2006 will be introducing many new cruise ships for you to consider when planning a cruise vacation. Call your travel agent and ask about the cruise lines and their new cruise ships and then book a cruise vacation. Here is a cruise review of the new cruise line additions.

Holland America is introducing the Noordam. This new cruise ship was launched on February 22 and has been getting very good cruise reviews. It will be the last cruise ship of Holland America’s Vista-class series.

However, it is the first to be designed for the cruise line’s “Signature of Excellence program.”

The Noordam can accommodate 1,848 passengers. For this new cruise ship, there have been some design changes to enhance the cruise vacation. The new designs were focused mainly on the public areas and staterooms, the meeting point of many cruise travelers.

They have made additions to the very popular Explorations Cafe. As veteran cruise travelers are well aware, it is a coffee bar/Internet cafe, game room, and library.

NCL America’s Pride of Hawaii is the newest cruise ship for 2006 by NCL America. It is the sister vessel of the Norwegian Jewel and offers an excellent cruise vacation.

For the cruise line, Pride of Hawaii marks the first new build from the hull up.

It launched was in June. This cruise ship will accommodate 2,224 passengers. It will be another cruise ship in NCL America’s “Freestyle Cruising” concept being offered for your cruise vacation.

The Pride of Hawaii’s interior decor will be, of course, Hawaiian.

This cruise ship will be departing weekly on Mondays for your cruise vacation and travel the islands, calling Honolulu home.

In December the Norwegian Pearl is set to sail in the Caribbean in the winter months and Alaska in the summer months for your cruise vacations. One of their innovations is the Bar Central concept. It features a martini bar, a champagne bar, wine bar, and a beer and whiskey pub all connected.

The Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas was launched in May in time for summer cruise vacations. Cruise reviews call it the most innovative cruise ship for RCCL so far.

This 158,000-ton cruise ship has a capacity of 3,600 passengers. It will actually be 10,000 tons larger than Cunard’s Queen Mary 2. It will be the largest cruise ship to be built so far.

The Freedom of the Seas has an added feature that other cruise ships do not. It actually has a place to surf on the top cruise deck. This is a new and unique amenity for RCCL’s Freedom of the Seas cruise ship. Other cruise lines have virtual golf or movies under the stars but no one has a surf park. The cruise line has built the largest rock climbing wall ever.

Following its launching, the Freedom of the Seas will sail seven-day cruise vacations to the Caribbean from Miami.

The Crown Princess, Princess Cruises christened in June. The Crown Princess is expected to accommodate 3,110 cruise travel passengers with 1200 crew.

Princess Cruises lines redesigned the Skywalker’s Disco, which gained popularity from cruise passengers on their cruise vacations. They also have the Lotus Spa which has been expanded on the Crown Princess.

New pastries and snacks will adorn the International Cafe. Crown Princess will have the first ever wine and seafood bar of the entire cruise line.

Expansions were made to other popular features like the Wheelhouse Bar, Sabatini’s Trattoria, and the Sterling Steakhouse.

Crown Princess cruise vacations will sail roundtrip from the Red Hook terminal in New York. This cruise vacation will make stops in the Eastern Caribbean, Bermuda and Turks and Caicos.

MSC will launched their new cruise ship MSC Musica on July 01. Musica is an Italian ship that will bring MSC into the ranks of big cruise ships. It is expected to accommodate 2,550 passengers.

One of its outstanding features will be that a full 80% of its 1,275 staterooms will be outside rooms. In addition, 65% of these staterooms will have verandas.

It will also feature a large spa area. The Musica’s cruise passengers will also have several dining options. They will enjoy a three deck high waterfall and many different entertainment venues.

Musica will sail the eastern Mediterranean from Venice.

The Costa Cruises’ new ship the Costa Concordia is owned by Carnival Corporation based in Miami, while Costa cruise lines is based in Italy.

This will be the largest cruise ship to join the Costa Cruises’ fleet. It will be launched late this year on July 14. It is expected to accommodate 3,000 passengers.

The Costa Concordia will have an European theme for its interior decor. All the room’s names will be European inspired. They will have the Grand Bar Berlin, Cafeteria Helsinki, and the Milan and Rome dining rooms.

A unique amenity to the Costa Concordia is a Formula 1 driving simulator for cruise passengers to enjoy on their cruise vacation.

This new cruise ship will sail year round in the Western Mediterranean. For those taking their cruise vacation on this ship, they will make ports of call in Spain, France, Italy, Gibraltar, and Malta.

So much to choose from! Check out other cruise reviews of these new cruise ships to find out on which cruise ship you will spend your 2006 cruise vacation.

Happy Cruising!

Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.

This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.

Mary Hanna has traveled the world by Air and Ship while writing eBooks, Software Reviews and Practical Articles on Internet Marketing, Cruising, Gardening and Cooking. Visit her websites at: http://www.CruiseGold.com

http://www.CruiseTravelDirectory.com

and http://www.CruisingTips.com



Lydia

Mary Hanna asked:


Most of the newer ships offer wheelchair assessable state rooms and can provide dining room seating arrangements to avoid stairs and raised areas. Just be sure your travel agent notifies the cruise line of your wheelchair usage and any other special needs prior to sailing when making your cruise vacation reservations. Cruise travelers with physical challenges should check with the onboard tour office to ensure that all pre-reserve tours can accommodate their needs.

Cruise travel may be the ideal vacation for an individual using a wheelchair, since it provides the opportunity to visit a number of destinations in a relatively short time. A cruise vacation provides effortless travel between locations without the inconvenience of packing and unpacking. You’ll appreciate the choice of experiencing the ship’s destinations or relaxing and enjoying the comfort of being pampered at a “resort at sea.”

Is important that if one of your party uses a wheelchair you want to ask the following questions:

* How many wheelchair accessible cabins on the cruise ship?

* Are the doors to the rooms and elevators wide enough to accommodate a regular wheelchair?

* Can I get my wheelchair out on deck and into the public rooms during my cruise vacation?

* Will I be able to access the dining areas?

In some ports of call, where the ship must anchor, access via wheelchair may not be possible.

Ships generally stock a limited number of wheelchairs but please be aware they must be pre-reserved at the time of your booking.

Due to S.O.L.A.S. (Safety of Live At Sea) Regulations, physically challenged passengers must have partial mobility, and a traveling companion who can assist them, should an emergency arise.

You’ll find that the newer, larger cruise ships have been built with the goal of full-accessibility. A new ship will have wider corridors, more spacious cabins, more, and larger, elevators and ramps where needed. In addition, the designated “accessible” cabins on newer ships are outfitted with many of the following features that will make your cruise vacation a more comfortable experience:

Stateroom and cabin doorways wide enough for wheelchairs (at least 30″) Stateroom dimensions and floor space for maneuverability and bathroom dimensions adequate for maneuvering No “lips” or sills into bathrooms Sink positioned so wheelchair can roll under it Roll-in shower wit a fold-down stool in shower with detachable showerhead Bathroom walls with handrails Raised toilet seat, at least 17″ inches high Pull-down clothing racks Light switches at wheelchair level Adjustable mirror above sink Portable telephone Blinking lights in staterooms for the hearing challenged

In some ports, ships must anchor offshore due to size of the port or because of extreme weather (if the weather is too extreme they won’t stop at that port at all). They “tender” guests to shore with small boats that may not be accessible to guests in wheelchairs. You’ll want to check with the shore excursions department to determine which shore excursions are most suitable for you. In some destinations, particularly those outside of the United States, you will not always find accessible transportation and facilities.

Some of the Princess cruise line ships have hoists by the pool so a physically challenged passengers can enjoy the pool. Some of Holland American ships have the ability to tender wheelchairs into ports where they do not dock. Ask your travel agent to inquire with those lines to find the ship that is suitable for you.

There is no reason that anyone who is physically challenged should avoid a cruise vacation. Just remember when you are looking into cruise travel that you have your travel agent find the cruise ship that caters to your needs.

Now that you know that a cruise vacation may be perfect for you, call your travel agent and start packing.

Happy Cruising!

Copyright © 2006 Mary Hanna All Rights Reserved.

This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.

About the Author

Mary Hanna has traveled the world by Air and Ship while writing eBooks, Software Reviews and Practical Articles on Internet Marketing, Cruising, Gardening and Cooking. Visit her websites at: http://www.CruiseGold.com http://www.CruiseTravelDirectory.com and http://www.CruisingTips.com or contact her at mhanna@cruisepublishing



Micheal

KJ Ross asked:


When many people hear about Alaska cruise vacations, they likely think of a 2000-passenger packed ship, 7 or 8 stories tall. Or maybe you think of shopping centers, movie theaters, and even casino gambling. In fact, you would be right to an extent. In addition to Alaska cruise vacations that have all the previously noted features, numerous other cruising possibilities exist.

There are lots of Alaska cruise vacations that take place on smaller ships, which offer more intimate cruising facilities and accommodations. These can offer the rare opportunity to be both more affordable and enjoyable. It simply depends on what you have to spend and the kind of experience you want to have. Each type of cruise vacation to Alaska has something unique to offer. If you have a large travel budget, an Alaskan cruise package on one of the big ships might make sense for you.

But a cruise to Alaska on one of the smaller vessels is the right choice if you want to get close to nature and you also have a limited budget. Cruise vacations to Alaska on smaller ships will give you a very special experience with lots more personal attention. They bring you much nearer to shore so you can get closer to the wildlife. The smaller ships have access to smaller docks, unlike the bigger ships which are prohibited because of their size. On shore trips are included in the basic charge with these kinds of Alaskan cruise packages.

The smaller ships wont offer the shopping, gambling and movie cinemas of course. But if you’d enjoy a more romantic vacation with personalized service, try one of the smaller vessels that offer Alaska cruise tours. Of course, most Alaska cruise vacations aboard a large cruise ship will cost a lot more. It will not allow you to view wildlife close at hand. The most you can look forward to is seeing is some bald eagles and perhaps a few humpback whales.

Cruise packages for Alaska on the big ships don’t include onshore excursions, so you’ll have to pay extra for these kinds of things. You might not realize this until after you’ve gotten your final bill. You will realize that all the little things added up to be a large cost.

But one must admit that cruises to Alaska on the luxury liners are a very grand affair and offer amenities you won’t find on smaller vessels. They offer every conceivable amenity, like spas, casinos, nightclubs, movies, even shopping malls.

You can enjoy a private deck and lounge, and they have swimming pools also. So, it really boils down to what your idea of the perfect vacation to Alaska is. People who take Alaska cruise tours will find that the smaller ships allow them to reach places that they have no hope of ever visiting if they had chosen a big ship. But small ships only carry about 100 passengers compared with about 2000 on a large ship, so they fill up fast. Therefore, you should book Alaska cruise vacations as soon as you can.



Ted

Cindy Heller asked:


The best part of a cruise vacation is being able to relax because almost everything is planned for you. Imagine being pampered with 5 star service with all sorts of entertainment and recreational facilities available. Plus the thrill of visiting interesting tourist destinations. No worry about food for those with special diet need, the children or the plain choosy eaters. All these details are thoroughly studied and catered for by the cruise lines. Some cruise ships have enough restaurants and eating places that you can eat at a different outlet for every meal for the entire trip.

You need not worry about bring your children as many cruise ship are family friendly with great children activity programs. However be sure to check this out before booking. Perhaps the best holiday many young parents can get is simply time away from their children, to be spent renewing their bond as a couple. Some cruise ships have chaperons or special children program run by trained professionals.

If you are going on a cruise vacation as a romantic getaway, you will not be disappointed. The romantic atmosphere of sunrises or sunsets over the sea is something special to share quietly with your love one. Of course, playing and exploring new places together will help to cement your bond as well.

Many cruise ships are targeted at specific group. So do check before booking. Some are ideal for singles while others are for the young family with kids in tow. Some will have parties and 24hrs entertainment. Some of targeted at the highrollers with their casinos. Some are for the adventurous while others are suitable for the aged. Whatever it is, there is something for everybody in a cruise holiday.

For those with money, there is the luxury cruise, which have as few as a hundred passengers and a high crew to passenger ratio. You can expect food from renowned chefs, cooked from fresh ingredients only, great wines and champagne, customized itinerary and generally, luxurious pampering and pandering to your every wish.

Whatever package you choose, a cruise vacation is a great way to unwind and relax. Do your homework before booking your cruise vacation. You can do your research online. Read the passengers reviews and comments before deciding on a cruise package. Check in with your local travel agent because he or she might be able to offer you a discount.



Juan

Maalru3 asked:


I am going to go on a sister vacation. away from our kids, just me and sis for first time. She is thinking Vegas, thinks we can get a good package deal. I am thinking more, warm beach tropical type. No cruise, ships scare me. Any good ideas from anyone who has been to a good place warm, that isn’t going to cost a rediculous amount of money. Not looking for luxury, just a nice enjoyable time with my sister in a beautiful tropical surrounding. Thanks a million.

Jeanette

Mary Hanna asked:


Cruise vacations are one of the most exciting and fun vacations you and your family will ever have. Planning your cruise vacation is the key to making the most of the cruise experience.

Cruise ships are floating hotels that sail through ocean while you enjoy all the hotel’s amenities provided. They have casinos, swimming pools, theaters, restaurants, shopping centers or boutiques, spas, gyms and more.

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.

Land excursions are a great way to explore different cultures and destinations when taking a cruise vacation. You can choose from many activities once you reach a port of call. You can go kayaking, scuba diving or go shopping in the markets of the ports of call.

Following these guidelines will give you some ideas on planning your cruise vacation properly. Proper planning will give you a more exciting cruise experience.

Happy Cruising!

Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.

This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.



Allan

Alex Stewart asked:


As a college student who pinches pennies and studies hard all year, you have earned a break - especially after the long, dark and harsh winter that was piled high with exams, mid-term papers and snow. So, why not take a cruise this year?

Typically, most students choose standard “Spring break hot spots” to visit, like Daytona Beach, Cancun in Mexico, South Beach or even Panama City. Granted, all these cities have buzzing night lives, sunny weather and expanses of beach. But, they’re also overcrowded and overdone. Spring break cruising is a great way to enjoy an all-inclusive holiday, hit multiple beaches on one trip, see more of the world and always be just “steps” from your hotel.

Most students might think of a cruise as something only for the elderly, the newlywed or families full of kids. But, as the market of young cruise travelers grows, cruise ship companies are responding with cruise vacations that are tailored specifically toward young adults and students who are looking to have fun and enjoy themselves during a break from schoolwork.

That said, to find the right cruise ship vacation - particularly one geared toward the “Spring break” market, you will need to do some research. Don’t worry, this research will be a lot more fun than the eighteen hours you spent in the library for your psychology thesis! The cruise line market has exploded during the past couple of decades, so the options are plentiful and the availability of their information is easily obtained on the Internet.

Start by looking at individual cruise lines and the homepage of their web sites. Are they geared toward seniors? Do they mostly advertise family vacations? Typically, a cruise line like Disney is going to offer exclusively family-oriented cruises. Meanwhile, other cruise lines like Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises and Oceania tend to offer youth-driven or adults-only cruises.

You will also want to review what some cruise lines consider to be the “adult age.” Some lines require that all passengers under 21 be accompanied by an adult over the age of 25, while other cruise lines require one adult for ever five minors, and others consider everyone over the age of 18 to be an adult. For example, Carnival Cruises typically requires every unmarried guest under the age of 25 to be sharing a room with an adult over the age of 25.

You also need to check the cruise ships’ alcohol policies. Some cruises allow a drinking age-of-majority of 18, while others are stricter and enforce a 21 and up policy only. The drinking age can also depend on the departing port, what port you’re docked in and the flag that your boat is flying. Be sure to verify all this before you book your trip, especially if you’re under 21.

Overall, some of the best youth-drive cruises are those tailored toward adventure travelers. A boat that offers lots of shore excursions that are active - like scuba diving, rock climbing, parachuting and other extreme sports - is more likely to attract an adventurous, fun-loving and young crowd.



Leslie

Julie Palmer asked:


Shortly before midnight on April 14th, 1912, the largest, most luxurious passenger ship in the world, the Titanic, struck an iceberg and sank on her maiden voyage. The Titanic was built by England’s great White Star Line and was heralded as being “unsinkable.” What’s difference between the Titanic and today’s cruise ships? Everything! Unlike the Titanic, modern cruise ships are unsurpassed in design, safety features and emergency operations. Not only are they beautiful and luxurious, these ships have come a long way since 1912!

Cruise vacations have steadily risen in popularity since the 1960’s. Early ships carried between 600-700 passengers; today’s cruise ships carry as many as 5,000 passengers. They typically contain swimming pools, movie theaters, restaurants, live music and dancing entertainment, five-star cuisine, casinos, an ice rink, nine-hole miniature golf courses, beauty salons with spas, barber shops, and retail clothing and accessories stores. For the duration of your cruise you’ll find every luxury accommodation and service that you’d ever want!

In addition to elegant and safe designs, cruise ships today can take you to ports of call never imagined in 1912. World travel aboard these seafaring cities can take you to Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, South America, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Barbados, Costa Rica, Jamaica, South America, Mexico, Alaska, Central America and even Antarctica. Such excursions are not as costly as one might think; many cruise lines offer discount travel packages that are very affordable.

The best way to book a cruise is through a travel agent. The agent will describe cruise lines like Princess, Carnival, Royal Caribbean and others, plus all the amenities available to you on these lines. For example, the U.S. liner Queen Mary 2 is the largest of all cruise ships in length, width and height. In addition to other luxuries, this stunning ship has four outdoor swimming pools, an indoor pool, a 20,000 square-foot spa, and a six-story high atrium! Your travel agent will also explain pricing options, passport requirements, all ports of call, currency exchange, travel insurance, and many other details of your selected vacation.

When you think of the cruise of your dreams, imagine relaxing on an outdoor deck watching the azure sea roll by as the playful dolphins and the majestic whales surface alongside you. Imagine luxury accommodations, exquisite cuisine, all sorts of sports, entertainment and self-pampering. Most of all imagine the exotic and beautiful ports of call your cruise ship will visit. If ever there will be the premiere vacation of your lifetime, this is the one!



Heidi

Abhishek Agarwal asked:


sion is made on a cruise. All cruises provide useful facilities like rooms, airfare, meals, entertainment and boarding packages but the thing is which one suits you the best.

Many people have cruising vacation only because it provides them entertainment, relaxation and comfort and make the vacation a pleasant experience. So these are essentials that must be provided by a cruise line to its clients.

Some important factors and things that must be kept in mind while planning a cruise vacation are given below

• First and foremost decide on the destination to which your cruise should be headed and with that choose a cruise line. This will help and ensure maximum enjoyment. Different locations across the world are offered by cruise liners in various packages. Some of the popular places like Alaska, Panama Island, Mexico channel and Caribbean sea are the ones that are most favoured by vacationers.

• The number of people who are going to accompany you on your vacation also plays a major role in the selection of cruise lines as well as destination. Different ships are offered by various cruise lines for various purposes like honeymoons or family getaways. For example, for the whole family, there are family oriented ships, where adults and kids alike can enjoy. There are also romantically themed cruise ships in which there are activities like dances and romantic dinners meant only for couples to participate.

• The choice of a cruise vacation must be made, based not only on your budget. While choosing a cruise line, go for the best. Look for the best that is affordable by you and go for it. There are cruise lines that offer maximum excitement and fun for every kind of people and within their budget at that.

• Another thing that must be determined before the vacation is the duration of the cruise. Being in an island, instead of being at work, and worrying about what await you when you return will spoil the whole vacation. Cruise lines offer various sailing schedules that are a variety of lengths. Choose the one that suits your schedule best. There are cruises that offer 4 month world tours as well as those that offer a few weeks’ local tours.

• While choosing a cruise ship, consider the activities in a particular ship. Basic facilities like good accommodation along with a proper bath should be present. There should be various recreational activities like ice skating, rock climbing, scuba diving, swimming pools, gambling facilities, spas and gyms and others. Choose the cruise line that satisfies your needs as activities differ in each company’s ships.

• Also particular ships of companies must be considered. Its inauguration dates must be checked and details as to age of the ship must be collected. Go on a tour of the ship if possible and note how staff work and check if the staff practices cleanliness.

• Try to obtain an early reservation in a cruise line. It means less difficulty getting a cruise, wider variety and cheaper packages. If the reservation is done well in advance, you can avail a load of discounts. Visit any cruising line’s website for schedules of cruises. Online booking is also offered by many cruise lines. Knowledge of cruise schedule can also be obtained from travel agents who specialize in cruise vacation.

• Make a reservation as early as possible if you wish to have a shore excursion to avoid disappointment and frustration. These are great opportunities to visit and know about the culture of other countries. Also, best bargain shopping is available there.

These are just a few tips for planning a cruise vacation. The best deal available can be obtained by hiring a travel agent who specializes in cruise vacations for you.

Ask about particular cruises and the amenities provided by them to the travel agents, for they can be very good advisors.



Clara

Cindy Heller asked:


A Caribbean cruise vacation would be the ideal way to relax and rejuvenate oneself. Or to spend quality time with family and love one. All too often, the seemingly perfect vacation can quickly turn into disaster as unexpected problems crop up or somebody’s expectation is not met.

The Caribbean seas offer a variety of scenery, cultural experience, fun and excitement. It is a favorite area for many cruise vacationers. The combination of the sunny climes, beautiful white sandy beaches and exotic tourist attractions is heady. There are 3 main areas, which the major cruise lines ply, the Western, Eastern and Southern Caribbean. The Western and Eastern Caribbean are easily accessible from the USA while many will choose a fly-cruise package for the Southern Caribbean.

Firstly, consult all travelling mates to ensure that everybody has the right expectation from the trip. Some may be looking forward to an adventure while other are keen on the historical stuff. Whether they are adult friends or your young children, make them part of the decision process. You can start by gathering information on the cruise packages. Assign some of these tasks to the young ones, they will appreciate the responsibilities. Read up on traveler’s review, the cruise liner’s website and finally consult your local travel agent. Your travel agent will probably be able to give you a discounted package, as the cruise business is highly competitive.

The next thing to consider after deciding on your cruise destination is to buy an appropriate travel insurance. This will prevent headaches over lost luggage especially if you are making a connecting flight. That is sure way to derail your holiday plan before it even started.

Almost everything is provided or available onboard the cruise ships but it will be prudent to pack some emergency supply. Below is a list of things to consider:

a. Valid passport with at least 6 months validity

b. Appropriate visa for the country to be visited

c. Emergency cash (Do not touch for the casino or shopping)

d. Credit card with PIN

e. Local currency

f. Currency conversion chart

g. Prescription medicine

h. On the counter medication for minor ailment like headache, diarrhea and sea sickness

i. Bug spray

j. Sunscreen, moisturizer, hat and lip sun block

k. Photocopy of your passport (in case your original is lost, it will be easier to seek assistance)

l. A separate photo ID e.g. driving license

m. List of emergency telephone number (Local emergency number should be available from the ship crew when making port calls. Have your local embassy or consulate contact numbers handy.)

n. Suitable clothing including warm clothing for night out on the deck.

o. Rubber sole shoe (Non-slip sole for ship use and comfortable enough for walking especially if you are sightseeing during port calls.)

p. Sporting gear (e.g. swimming goggle, tennis shoes etc)

q. A reliable watch. Preferably with dual or world time. (To keep track of time during port calls. You do not want to hold up the ship on departure.)

r. Alarm clock

s. Electrical socket adapter (for handphone charging etc)

t. Spare batteries and memory cards or films for your camera (you may be surprise at the number of shots taken.)

u. A small flashlight

v. Luggage lock

w. Duct tape (for emergency packing if you over-shop and killed your luggage bag)



Ralph