Here’s what to consider when selecting your cruise.
By Anita Dunham-Potter
Travel columnist MSNBC News
updated 9:20 a.m. ET Oct. 20, 2008
It’s a blissful thought: sailing off into the sunset on a cruise vacation. Cruising can be an exciting and affordable vacation option. Of course, it’s important to find the right cruise at the right price for your getaway. After all, there are more than 160 ships in the fleets of the 24 major cruise lines and thousands of itineraries worldwide.
Style of ship and cruise line
Cruise lines have their own distinct personalities and ships that reflect them. The size of a ship really does matter. Large ship cruise lines Carnival Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean International provide a party atmosphere with glitz and high energy. Small ship operators like Silversea Cruises and Seabourn focus on quiet luxury and a more refined experience.
Where to go
Cruise ships can take you almost anywhere on the planet, from the Caribbean or Europe to Asia or Antarctica, so explore a range of possibilities before settling on a preferred route. When you’ve found a trip you love, go over the schedule carefully. If traveling internationally make sure you have valid passports, visas, and any required immunizations.
When to go
The holidays, spring break and summer are high season and that usually means higher prices. The shoulder seasons of mid-fall and early spring offer great cruise deals, and may be even more appealing than high season. An Alaska, European or Caribbean cruise in May or September, when the kids are in school, translates into fewer people in port.
Pick a stateroom
Consider your itinerary when reserving a stateroom. If you can afford to splurge, a balcony stateroom provides you a private space to relax and get away from the crowded decks. Still, not all cruises are ideal for balconies. A trans-Atlantic crossing doesn’t make a lot of sense for a balcony since the ship is at sea for days and the weather is often cold or too windy to enjoy the space. On the other hand, the appeal of a balcony on an Alaska, Caribbean, European or South American cruise offers amazing scenery that should not be missed. Smaller inside staterooms are adequate for budget-minded cruisers who seem more likely to spend most of their time utilizing the ship’s public spaces.
Getting the best price
Cruise lines offer travelers a host of discounts, so consider every source when looking for a deal. Check out your credit card as many offer discounts or points towards cruises. Look at all the clubs you belong to, from AAA, airline frequent flier programs and college alumni associations, to union memberships — see if they offer any deals or special rates for members. Also, if you’ve previously cruised with a cruise line you may be in for a repeat cruiser discount.
Read the FULL Article
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
Searching for Cruising's Best Bargains
Smartertravel.comby Erica Silverstein, Cruise Critic - December 9, 2008
Predicting where—and when—the savvy cruise shopper is most likely to find that dirt-cheap seven-day Caribbean cruise, the usually elusive five-category upgrade or a truly generous onboard credit perk requires a crystal ball. And while travel agents can't see into the future of cruise deals, they do have a few tricks up their sleeves about where and when to look for the best prices. We pumped a couple of knowledgeable cruise sellers for their best tips on finding low cruise fares. So put down your tarot cards, step away from the Ouija board, and listen to some real-world advice on searching out cruising's best bargains.
If You Have the Means, Book Now
"Right now, we are seeing the cheapest deals we've seen since 9/11," says Anthony Hamawy, president of Cruise.com. As the economy has scared many travelers into cutting back their vacation plans, cruise lines are scrambling to fill empty cabins on late 2008 and early 2009 sailings, as well as hedging bets for spring and summer 2009 sailings.
The deals appearing now are incredible—seven-night cruises for $199, anyone?—but travel agents don't think they'll last. "Right now, there are good deals for summer and winter 2009," says Hamawy. "Will the inventory remain? I'd be very surprised if there was space left 30 days out." So if you've got your eye on a 2009 cruise, put a deposit down now to lock in the sale fares. You won't be taking too much of a risk, especially if you can take advantage of the reduced deposits or extended no-penalty cancelation periods currently on offer.
If You Can Be Totally Flexible Don't Plan Too Far Ahead
The concept of last-minute booking continues to evolve, but travel agents basically consider last-minute to be any date beyond a cruise's final payment deadline (60 to 90 days before departure). Because some people put down a deposit to hold space on a cruise and then cancel their sailing before ponying up the rest of the money, the cruise lines don't have an accurate picture of how many cabins have truly sold on a cruise until after final payment is due. At that time, the cruise lines can see how much space is left on a given sailing and how hard they need to work to sell it.
Read FULL ARTICLE
Predicting where—and when—the savvy cruise shopper is most likely to find that dirt-cheap seven-day Caribbean cruise, the usually elusive five-category upgrade or a truly generous onboard credit perk requires a crystal ball. And while travel agents can't see into the future of cruise deals, they do have a few tricks up their sleeves about where and when to look for the best prices. We pumped a couple of knowledgeable cruise sellers for their best tips on finding low cruise fares. So put down your tarot cards, step away from the Ouija board, and listen to some real-world advice on searching out cruising's best bargains.
If You Have the Means, Book Now
"Right now, we are seeing the cheapest deals we've seen since 9/11," says Anthony Hamawy, president of Cruise.com. As the economy has scared many travelers into cutting back their vacation plans, cruise lines are scrambling to fill empty cabins on late 2008 and early 2009 sailings, as well as hedging bets for spring and summer 2009 sailings.
The deals appearing now are incredible—seven-night cruises for $199, anyone?—but travel agents don't think they'll last. "Right now, there are good deals for summer and winter 2009," says Hamawy. "Will the inventory remain? I'd be very surprised if there was space left 30 days out." So if you've got your eye on a 2009 cruise, put a deposit down now to lock in the sale fares. You won't be taking too much of a risk, especially if you can take advantage of the reduced deposits or extended no-penalty cancelation periods currently on offer.
If You Can Be Totally Flexible Don't Plan Too Far Ahead
The concept of last-minute booking continues to evolve, but travel agents basically consider last-minute to be any date beyond a cruise's final payment deadline (60 to 90 days before departure). Because some people put down a deposit to hold space on a cruise and then cancel their sailing before ponying up the rest of the money, the cruise lines don't have an accurate picture of how many cabins have truly sold on a cruise until after final payment is due. At that time, the cruise lines can see how much space is left on a given sailing and how hard they need to work to sell it.
Read FULL ARTICLE
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Planning a Family Cruise
Planning a family cruise
By Arline and Sam Bleecker | Special to the Tribune
November 30, 2008
You might, like us, wonder if sailing over the blue horizon as a family group is a good idea, especially as the holidays near.
Earlier this year, we weighed the advantages of holding a family gathering at sea versus, say, a week at a land resort or mountain retreat. There was much to consider, including cost. We are an aging group of four couples—sisters, brothers and their spouses—all sixtysomethings or older, each with diverse interests and physical limitations to consider.
It had been years since all of us had spent that much time cheek by jowl. A friend had once tried to assemble a family reunion for as many couples and remarked that the effort nearly turned her hair gray trying to meet everyone's needs.
In our family, for instance, one member is an amateur singer, gregariously funny, with a 9-to-5 job from which she really needed a vacation. One member of the group loves to golf, while others love to read and relax. Yet another and her husband deal with disabilities that make getting around difficult.
FULL STORY
By Arline and Sam Bleecker | Special to the Tribune
November 30, 2008
You might, like us, wonder if sailing over the blue horizon as a family group is a good idea, especially as the holidays near.
Earlier this year, we weighed the advantages of holding a family gathering at sea versus, say, a week at a land resort or mountain retreat. There was much to consider, including cost. We are an aging group of four couples—sisters, brothers and their spouses—all sixtysomethings or older, each with diverse interests and physical limitations to consider.
It had been years since all of us had spent that much time cheek by jowl. A friend had once tried to assemble a family reunion for as many couples and remarked that the effort nearly turned her hair gray trying to meet everyone's needs.
In our family, for instance, one member is an amateur singer, gregariously funny, with a 9-to-5 job from which she really needed a vacation. One member of the group loves to golf, while others love to read and relax. Yet another and her husband deal with disabilities that make getting around difficult.
FULL STORY
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Bumped from your cruise? It CAN happen!!
Travelers discover cruise is cancelled to make room for charter group
By Anita Dunham-Potter
Travel columnist
Nov. 7, 2008
Last June, Beth Lawless-Walsh and her friend were looking forward to escaping the rainy Pacific Northwest on a seven-day Carnival Cruise Lines’ cruise in the Caribbean. Lawless-Walsh booked the cruise through a Florida-based online cruise booking site called Winston and Sons Cruises, a Joystar-affiliated agency. Lawless-Walsh had worked with the agency before and felt comfortable booking with them again. The friends opted to book their own airline tickets separate from the cruise — Lawless-Walsh cashed in frequent flier miles and her friend purchased tickets through Orbitz.
A few months after booking the cruise vacation her travel agent left the business and transferred her reservation over to another Florida-based online agency, DrewsCruise.com. Everything seemed to be taken care of, or so she thought.
Travel agent mess
In late October, six months ahead of the sailing, Lawless-Walsh signed on to Carnival’s Web site to fill out customs forms and discovered some shocking news: The Carnival Victory cruise had been canceled. Upset, she called her new travel agent to find out what happened. The agent was just as perplexed as Lawless-Walsh because there had been no record of a deposit refund to Lawless-Walsh’s credit card.
FULL STORY
By Anita Dunham-Potter
Travel columnist
Nov. 7, 2008
Last June, Beth Lawless-Walsh and her friend were looking forward to escaping the rainy Pacific Northwest on a seven-day Carnival Cruise Lines’ cruise in the Caribbean. Lawless-Walsh booked the cruise through a Florida-based online cruise booking site called Winston and Sons Cruises, a Joystar-affiliated agency. Lawless-Walsh had worked with the agency before and felt comfortable booking with them again. The friends opted to book their own airline tickets separate from the cruise — Lawless-Walsh cashed in frequent flier miles and her friend purchased tickets through Orbitz.
A few months after booking the cruise vacation her travel agent left the business and transferred her reservation over to another Florida-based online agency, DrewsCruise.com. Everything seemed to be taken care of, or so she thought.
Travel agent mess
In late October, six months ahead of the sailing, Lawless-Walsh signed on to Carnival’s Web site to fill out customs forms and discovered some shocking news: The Carnival Victory cruise had been canceled. Upset, she called her new travel agent to find out what happened. The agent was just as perplexed as Lawless-Walsh because there had been no record of a deposit refund to Lawless-Walsh’s credit card.
FULL STORY
Friday, September 26, 2008
Best Cruises for Seniors
Smarter Travel
What exactly is it that seniors want in a cruise?
We want a comfortable experience. We love to visit several ports without the hassles of having to pack and unpack at different hotels in different cities. And we want to be pampered a little bit more—with good food and service, great entertainment and activities, and a good value for our vacation dollars.
Many of us look for stimulating enrichment programs as food for our minds while we seek menus with healthy selections for our bodies. Despite popular notions, there are actually a slew of us seniors out there who aren't crotchety busy bodies; instead we like to be active, and we'd prefer to learn about the culture of the Asian port at which we are about to dock or take those tango lessons before we actually land in Argentina.
Perhaps more so than the majority of travelers, some of us have accessibility issues. In this regard, ships built in the last half dozen years generally follow Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) recommendations for passengers with mobility problems. Some lines go the extra mile when it comes to accessibility; two examples are Holland America's wheelchair-accessible tender transfer system and Royal Caribbean's hydraulic pool chairs that enable passengers with mobility issues to use the swimming pool.
FULL ARTICLE
What exactly is it that seniors want in a cruise?
We want a comfortable experience. We love to visit several ports without the hassles of having to pack and unpack at different hotels in different cities. And we want to be pampered a little bit more—with good food and service, great entertainment and activities, and a good value for our vacation dollars.
Many of us look for stimulating enrichment programs as food for our minds while we seek menus with healthy selections for our bodies. Despite popular notions, there are actually a slew of us seniors out there who aren't crotchety busy bodies; instead we like to be active, and we'd prefer to learn about the culture of the Asian port at which we are about to dock or take those tango lessons before we actually land in Argentina.
Perhaps more so than the majority of travelers, some of us have accessibility issues. In this regard, ships built in the last half dozen years generally follow Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) recommendations for passengers with mobility problems. Some lines go the extra mile when it comes to accessibility; two examples are Holland America's wheelchair-accessible tender transfer system and Royal Caribbean's hydraulic pool chairs that enable passengers with mobility issues to use the swimming pool.
FULL ARTICLE
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
The slickest suites at Sea
MSNBC
Even the hard-to-impress will be wowed by these super-swanky rooms
If you're like us, you get slightly seasick at the idea of spending a week inside a tiny cruise-ship cabin, with those tacky round portholes and bunk beds with lumpy mattresses. OK, maybe they're not like that anymore, but we'd rather not take chances.
When we set sail, we'd much prefer, say, a private butler at our disposal. Or a private terrace large enough to ballroom-dance upon. Many of the better cruise lines now have at least one truly impressive suite onboard, the kind of room that would wow you even if you found it in a swank hotel. Some suites are a good bang for the buck, others cost a whole lot of bucks—but you won't feel cramped in any of them.
And if you want to see what you're missing by not booking a crowded little cabin, you can always lock yourself in the walk-in closet.
FULL STORY
Even the hard-to-impress will be wowed by these super-swanky rooms
If you're like us, you get slightly seasick at the idea of spending a week inside a tiny cruise-ship cabin, with those tacky round portholes and bunk beds with lumpy mattresses. OK, maybe they're not like that anymore, but we'd rather not take chances.
When we set sail, we'd much prefer, say, a private butler at our disposal. Or a private terrace large enough to ballroom-dance upon. Many of the better cruise lines now have at least one truly impressive suite onboard, the kind of room that would wow you even if you found it in a swank hotel. Some suites are a good bang for the buck, others cost a whole lot of bucks—but you won't feel cramped in any of them.
And if you want to see what you're missing by not booking a crowded little cabin, you can always lock yourself in the walk-in closet.
FULL STORY
Monday, May 12, 2008
Cruise Industry Insider Reports the Best Time to Buy a Cruise
For years cruise lines and agencies have encouraged passengers to book a year or more in advance to get the best price. Today, CruiseFuse released a study preview that found booking early or at the last-minute does not always guarantee the lowest price.
After researching prices for over 5,000 cruises each week, the preview reports several patterns at many of the most popular cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Princess, Holland-America, Celebrity and NCL. The preview is limited to Suites, the largest and most expensive cabins, and offers several money saving tips.
The review indicates deals could be found at Carnival Cruise Lines during a short booking window about one month before departure. Thirty days prior to sailing, published double occupancy prices for Suites were $200 lower than last-minute prices and $55-110 less than prices two or three-months prior to sailing.
Carnival Cruise Line's highest prices were 14-days before sailing for cruises of 6-nights or longer and three to four-months in advance for 5-nights or less.
At Holland-America Cruise Line, consumers not able to book far in advance found some of the best cruise deals up to 60-days prior to sailing. After that point, average rates increased rapidly. The preview reports that Holland-America rates for 6 to 8-night cruises increased $737 from two months prior to departure up to sailing.
Similar patterns were found at Princess Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Lines where average prices remained flat up to three months prior to sailing. Within the last 90-days, average published fares increased over $750 at Princess and $500 at NCL.
CruiseFuse recommended buying Suites at Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and Celebrity Cruises as far in advance as possible. Average rates almost always increased as sailing dates approached. The report said booking at least six months in advance saved an average of $425 at Royal Caribbean and over $1600 at Celebrity.
The preview encourages passengers to book early. Early purchase ensures the best selection of cabins and prices that are almost always at or near the lowest rates. But the preview offered hope for deal seekers without the luxury of planning a cruise vacation far in advance.
According to the preview, average pricing patterns changed by cabin category. In most cases, the pricing for Inside, Oceanview and Balcony cabins did not follow the Suite category trends.
CruiseFuse encouraged customers that had already purchased a cruise to check for price drops. Many cruise lines offer price protection policies to make lower rates available to passengers that booked at a higher price.
After researching prices for over 5,000 cruises each week, the preview reports several patterns at many of the most popular cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Princess, Holland-America, Celebrity and NCL. The preview is limited to Suites, the largest and most expensive cabins, and offers several money saving tips.
The review indicates deals could be found at Carnival Cruise Lines during a short booking window about one month before departure. Thirty days prior to sailing, published double occupancy prices for Suites were $200 lower than last-minute prices and $55-110 less than prices two or three-months prior to sailing.
Carnival Cruise Line's highest prices were 14-days before sailing for cruises of 6-nights or longer and three to four-months in advance for 5-nights or less.
At Holland-America Cruise Line, consumers not able to book far in advance found some of the best cruise deals up to 60-days prior to sailing. After that point, average rates increased rapidly. The preview reports that Holland-America rates for 6 to 8-night cruises increased $737 from two months prior to departure up to sailing.
Similar patterns were found at Princess Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Lines where average prices remained flat up to three months prior to sailing. Within the last 90-days, average published fares increased over $750 at Princess and $500 at NCL.
CruiseFuse recommended buying Suites at Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and Celebrity Cruises as far in advance as possible. Average rates almost always increased as sailing dates approached. The report said booking at least six months in advance saved an average of $425 at Royal Caribbean and over $1600 at Celebrity.
The preview encourages passengers to book early. Early purchase ensures the best selection of cabins and prices that are almost always at or near the lowest rates. But the preview offered hope for deal seekers without the luxury of planning a cruise vacation far in advance.
According to the preview, average pricing patterns changed by cabin category. In most cases, the pricing for Inside, Oceanview and Balcony cabins did not follow the Suite category trends.
CruiseFuse encouraged customers that had already purchased a cruise to check for price drops. Many cruise lines offer price protection policies to make lower rates available to passengers that booked at a higher price.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Luxury cruising is the next big thing
Luxury cruising is booming. With nine new ships on order, the luxury lines are looking at 32 ships and 11,790 berths by 2012 — the largest capacity in the sector’s history. American Express Travel attributes the upswing to pent-up demand and to a wide range of new offerings aimed at upscale baby boomers, including new and exotic ports of call, butler service, gourmet meals, private shore excursions, golf and scuba outings, and customized cruise planning. Luxury cruise operators are betting that the enthusiasm for such offerings will be long-lived.
Holland America Around the World Cruises - available through World Travel Warehouse
Full Story
Holland America Around the World Cruises - available through World Travel Warehouse
Full Story
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Carnival becomes first cruise line to earn a security certification
MIAMI -- Carnival Cruise Lines became the first cruise line to earn a certification for its comprehensive on-board security programs from Lloyd’s Register, a leading ship classification society based in London.
The certification recognizes Carnival for its wide-ranging efforts in developing, implementing and auditing its security operations aboard its 22-ship fleet.
The certification, which included an independent audit conducted by Lloyd’s Register, also acknowledges that Carnival meets or exceeds all security standards mandated by various international maritime codes and organizations, including the International Ship Port Facility Code, the Maritime Transportation Security Act, and the Standards for Training Certification and Watchkeeping.
The certification was presented by Lloyd’s Register officials at Carnival’s annual security conference in Miami which brings together the company’s key shoreside personnel with chief security officers and staff captains, responsible for overseeing shipboard security, to participate in various security-related seminars and share best practice solutions throughout the fleet.
Carnival shipboard security team works in tandem with the company's shoreside security department which is made up of highly experienced former law enforcement professionals. Carnival’s shipboard security personnel are required to have previous experience in security, military or law enforcement and receive intensive, specialized training in a wide variety of areas.
Carnival is the world’s largest and most popular cruise line, operating 22 ships on three- to 18-day voyages throughout the Caribbean, Bahamas, Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, Europe, South America and other destinations. The line currently has three new ships set to debut between now and 2011.
For additional information and reservations, contact World Travel Warehouse at 1-866-994-9898 or visit www.carnival.com.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
13 ways to save money on a cruise
1. Buy early. When Jeff Cooper worked for a cruise line, the best deals came just before wave season. "The sailings prior to Christmas and New Year's were rarely at capacity," says Cooper, who now works as a hospital administrator. And while the bargains during wave period were good, these were better.
2. Skip the air-inclusive cruise. "Cruise air is usually the worst possible deal," says Amber Blecker, an agent for CruiseResource.com. "You get bad itineraries, multiple connections and higher prices." And, she adds, don't think for a moment the cruise line will wait if your plane is late. "That's a wives' tale," she says.
3. Find a preferred agent. There are travel agents, and then there are travel agents. "Find one that specializes in booking with your desired cruise line," advises Charles McCool, a consultant who specializes in finding travel deals. "Only a select few have preferred status. These agents and agencies offer better discounts and amenities, and the cruises cost between 10 percent and 20 percent less than cruises bought from other agents."
4. Think small, think shoulder-season. Crystal Griffith, a nurse from Baker, Florida, scored a deep discount on her Alaska cruise by choosing a September itinerary and picking a windowless inside cabin. "We rarely spent much time in the cabin, and used it mainly for sleeping," she says. "It saved us lots of money."
Read ALL 13 Tips
By Christopher Elliott
Tribune Media Services
2. Skip the air-inclusive cruise. "Cruise air is usually the worst possible deal," says Amber Blecker, an agent for CruiseResource.com. "You get bad itineraries, multiple connections and higher prices." And, she adds, don't think for a moment the cruise line will wait if your plane is late. "That's a wives' tale," she says.
3. Find a preferred agent. There are travel agents, and then there are travel agents. "Find one that specializes in booking with your desired cruise line," advises Charles McCool, a consultant who specializes in finding travel deals. "Only a select few have preferred status. These agents and agencies offer better discounts and amenities, and the cruises cost between 10 percent and 20 percent less than cruises bought from other agents."
4. Think small, think shoulder-season. Crystal Griffith, a nurse from Baker, Florida, scored a deep discount on her Alaska cruise by choosing a September itinerary and picking a windowless inside cabin. "We rarely spent much time in the cabin, and used it mainly for sleeping," she says. "It saved us lots of money."
Read ALL 13 Tips
By Christopher Elliott
Tribune Media Services
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