Today is wrap up day for the cruise I have been talking about in my last few blogs. I thought it might be a nice end to this particular journey to talk a little about cruising in general and go over some frequently asked question that I have received.
Assuming that you know where you want to go, the next step is looking at the various ships going to your chosen destination and figuring out what line to sail on. You'll find a lot of simular itineraries, so you'll need need to narrow it down. If you have a cruise ship line that you like, start there.
Picking the right cruise ship for your trip. There are cruise ships of all sizes. Many companies- how does one choose? From my experience, it helps to know a little about each cruise company. Many companies have multiple different Cruise Lines, and you may not be aware of it.
For example:
Carnival owns the following lines: Carnival, Costa, Cunard, Holland American, P&O, Princess, & Seabourn. Royal Caribbean is the parent company of: Azamara, Celebrity, Pullman, Royal Caribbean & TUI out of Germany.
Cruise ships come in all sizes from Royal Caribbean's The Oasis of the Seas, is the largest ocean liner in the world. Twenty stories tall and nearly four football fields long, the Royal Caribbean ship can carry 5,400 passengers and 2,165 crew ---- to the Windstar sailing ships that care 148-250 passengers. There is also the luxury line of smaller ships like Seabourn & Silver Sea's, usually 300-600 passengers.
Now keep in mind, that the following is simply my opinion based on my personal experiences. And I will tell you up front, that I have not been on every type of cruise line there is, but I have been on a few, so I can tell you what I enjoy. Here are the lines I have sailed with: Windstar, Celebrity, Holland American, Princess, Norwegian & AMA Waterways.
I think Celebrity & Princess have some nice medium size ships that offer great value as well as comfort. The Celebrity Century carries 1,814 passengers and their Millennium class ships carry 2158 passengers. I know that sounds like a lot, but it really isn't. If you can stay around 2000 passengers or less, that is the size I prefer. It's like staying in a larger hotel, you do not feel crowded. I've taken two Celebrity Cruises and I really enjoy their service.
The most recent cruise I took (The Venice to Rome trip I just wrote about) was on the Crown Princess. Which was just over 3,000 passengers. I was very concerned about the size, but ended up enjoying it very much. It never felt crowded, and we had no trouble getting around the ship an off on our shore excursions. I think Princess does a great job, and I actually have my next cruise booked on the Pacific Princess. (and the Crown Princess had a fantastic itinerary with 10 stops in 12 days!)
However my favorite cruise line is the Oceania line of vessels. If you have the opportunity to sail Oceania, go for it! Their ships are called 'Mid-sized' -- around 650-690 passengers and really one of the best cruising experiences. They do not have all the 'amenities' of the large ships, (like giant pools and rock climbing) but you will not miss them! Sailing with Oceania is a delight! Mostly adult, non-smoking ships with friendly sailing companions. What more can you ask for!
I was also lucky enough to win a Windstar Cruise to the Virgin Islands, and it was beyond wonderful, but I do not kid myself about being able to afford to do a cruise like that ever again!
Once you have your cruise booked (again, I say, go to Vacations to Go to look for your perfect cruise) then you might have some questions about how to prepare for you trip and what to expect. Here are a couple of items that helped me when I first started cruising. (if you have any questions, please do leave them for me in comments -- I will do my best to answer you.)
Money: How much to take? Can I exchange money on the ship? What about ATM's? Well, this can get a little complicated if you do not plan ahead. Yes, you can use ATM's along the way -- find out from your bank before you depart what their fees are for this. It can be anywhere from a couple of bucks to $8.50! My plan of attack is to usually take about $100 in USD's, 500-600 in Euro's and the rest I do from ATM's. Yes it costs to use ATM's, but the convenience is worth it. I order foreign currency from my bank about 2 weeks before I travel. For places that are not on the Euro, if I am only going to be there for a day, I just get a small amount of local currency from an ATM or use my credit card.
Using Credit Cards: Yes, you can use your card, but there are usually fees involved -- call your credit card company to find out. Also while we are on the subject, let them know your travel dates (and your bank too) so they do not think someone has stolen your card and they block it. I had this happen to me on my first land based trip to Europe and it was a real bummer!
What to pack? It varies widely based on where you are going. Try to keep it to one medium suite case and one carry on. There is usually plenty of room in your cabin for your clothing, and the suitcases go under your bed. Most ships have a formal night. If you like this, take something to wear. If the thought of getting dressed up in the middle of your trip does not sound like fun - skip it. You can eat at the buffet in causal clothing, have burgers at the pool or even order room service.
Is there Internet on the ship? Yes there is, but it is usually really expensive. I find it less expensive to go in to port and find a Internet cafe (they are everywhere, easy to locate) or if you have an ipad or tablet devise, you can find free wifi everywhere.
How busy are the ports of call? This may not be something you've thought of if you have never done a cruise before. If the port of call is a popular one, you can research how many ships will be in port on the day your ship is there. When a port is crowded, you can encounter problems & delays when there are several ships in port. You can find out how many ships are schedule to be in port on any given day by going to www.cruisett.com.
Eating and picking a dinner time: most times the Cruise line will ask you if you want the late or early seating at dinner. I always choose the late seating - it's usually 8 pm or 8:15pm. This does not mean I have to go to the dining room every night. I can go if I feel like it or I can go to the buffet, or the private restaurant or the pool bar or Room Service. There are so many choices, do not feel locked in!
I hope my Cruising Blog has been helpful,
until next time, safe travels!
Great info. You have been very informative.
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