Cruising: Your Questions Answered!

As the weather gets colder, the travel industry starts ramping up. One of the top options for winter travel is a cruise. It’s a great option for a family vacation, group get together, or just a couple’s getaway. However, cruising has a lot of different pieces that can make it very confusing for first time travelers. Don’t worry! That’s why we are here as travel agents to help put your mind at ease. Here’s some helpful tips to make you feel more comfortable with the cruising process.

1. The Right Room for You

​"What room should I pick?" This is probably the most popular question because there are two factors that dramatically change the price of the cruise. First factor is “Room Category.” This ranges from an interior cabin with no windows to fancy 2-bedroom suites. Most cruisers will decide between a standard balcony room or an interior room based on pricing and space. The balcony is a nice retreat away from the crowds. However, if you plan to be out of your room most of the time, an interior might be the most economical. 

​The Second Factor is “Room Location.” On a cruise, the closer to the middle of the ship, the more expensive it will be. This is also true for higher floors. The higher the room, the closer you are to the entertainment options. The closer to the middle of the ship, the less you will feel the ship rock back and forth on the seas. Sometimes you can feel it on the ends, other times you can’t feel it anywhere on the ship. It just depends on the weather and location. We work with our clients to find that happy medium between price and location.

2. Entertainment Options

Speaking of being closer to entertainment, what is there to do on board the ship? Honestly, there is usually a lot. Most ships have a theater with nightly shows, locations with live music, and usually a comedian on board. This is on top of the daily activities which can include dance lessons, cooking demonstrations, and trivia. The larger the ship the bigger the crowds, but the more options available especially for children or kids at heart! For example, Norwegian has released a ship with a go-kart track, laser tag, and virtual reality activities.  Royal Caribbean has ships with ice skating rinks, flo-riders, and high ropes courses. Some of these activities are free, other things you pay as you go. All ships are a little different and geared towards certain age groups so knowing the differences is key!

3. Excursion Options

​Excursions are experiences\tours you take off the ship at each port. They are an additional cost but can really enhance your vacation. Depending on where your ship stops, there will be options to snorkel, swim with dolphins, take a city tour, zipline through the forest, or relax on a private beach. Some stops I would argue do not need an excursion as it is free to get off the boat. For example, Old San Juan is a great town that is right off the ship. Enjoy the day walking around and wandering through the shops and streets. It all depends on what you are interested in.

4. Food Options

On board, there will be multiple options available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Most are included in your cruise package and a few are going to be an additional cost. The included options will be a buffet, some individual options like a pizzeria, burger joint, or taco stand. At night, there is a sit-down dinner available at no additional cost in the main dining room. Here you will order off a menu and the food will be brought to your table. Everything is free (unless it specifies an additional cost) so it’s okay to order a few extra plates to try and share! The additional cost restaurants are considered “specialty dining” and usually consist of at least a steakhouse, teppanyaki option, and probably a fancy Italian or French option.

5. Drink Options

Unless you bought a beverage package, alcohol is not included and neither is soda pop. What is included is usually juices, ice tea, and coffee along with filtered water. You can pre-order the beverage package or pay as you go on board and charge it to your room. If you wanted bottled water or soda pop in the room, you can pre-purchase it to be in your room when you arrive. Another option that some cruise ships allow is to bring on a bottle of wine or a 12 pack of soda pop (Not beer, sorry). This does vary by each cruise line (Norwegian only allows wine) but can save you some money with a quick stop at the gas station before boarding. 

6. Pre-Night

​Usually when booking a cruise, we recommend a pre-night at the departure port location. With crazy winter weather, we want to make sure you're down there a night early. If for some reason your flight gets cancelled, we can find another flight or option to get you to the port. If you fly out the day of, you could easily miss the ship if your flight gets delayed. Its just a good precaution that gives travelers a peace of mind.

7. Best Travel Locations

​With multiple options in the Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, and both coasts, the options would be endless. You can sail to the Caribbean and Mexico multiple times without duplicating a port. On top of multiple route options are the different types of companies and ships (enough material for another blog). I will not be able to give any constructive information under this topic because it really depends on each individual that is traveling. Some ships are more family friendly than others; some people prefer beaches while others prefer sightseeing. It all just depends! This is why we are here as travel agents to help you find the right place for you! Don’t forget, we work directly with the cruise companies, so we get the same prices you see online and don't charge a fee to book. We are just here to help!