|
|
|
|
| Should You Use A Travel Agent/Booking Online? If this is your very first cruise, it may be wise to work with a travel agent. They can advise you about such things as how to secure your travel documents, when your money is due and the best deals for cabins and upgrades. But, not all travel agents are equal!! ...(read more) |
|
|
|
|
| Trip Insurance. You should definitely ask your travel agent about whether or not you need to get trip insurance. Yes, it might be wasted money, but if for any reason you need travel insurance, it will be the smartest money you will spend... (read more) |
|
|
|
| Travelling to Your Cruise Port. If you are not traveling as part of a group, then you have options as to how you’re going to get to the port city and when you’re going to arrive. (If you’re with a group, the group usually dictates all of that.) The two basic options are to fly or drive. Each has its advantages and disadvantages.... (read more) |
|
|
|
| Can You Bring Alcohol On Board. The official policy of all cruise lines is that you cannot bring alcohol on board except that wine enthusiasts may bring fine wine or champagne on board at the beginning of the cruise. Officially, all other liquor and excessive quantities of wine will be confiscated and discarded without compensation. But for those who are willing to be a bit creative and discreet, you might just succeed in supplementing your beverage intake... (read more) |
|
|
|
| Is A Balcony Worth The Extra Cost? If you are taking a longer cruise, say 7 days or more, we definitely recommend considering a balcony, or at least an Ocean View cabin. But for the shorter journeys, it really doesn’t take much away from your cruise experience to be in an inside cabin. And the extra money you'll spend for a balcony (as much as double the price of an inside cabin), may be better used to pay down your bar tab or swim with the dolphins... (read more) |
|
|
|
| What's The Best Cruise. We get asked that question a LOT! But, it’s kind of like asking “What’s the best beer?”, or “What’s the prettiest color?”. When you consider the dozens of cruise lines and the hundreds of ships serving hundreds of ports, well, you’re talking THOUSANDS of options to choose from... (read more) |
|
|
|
| Types of Shore Excursions. Regardless of where you go, or how long you are gong to be in port, there are basically six categories of shore excursions that every cruise line offers. But, advertising is alive and well even in the Caribbean and so, not surprisingly, each excursion is described in the most wonderful, enticing language possible. Excursions can be one of the most fun parts of a cruise, but you want to do a little bit of research before hand. (read more) |
|
|
|
| Booking Shore Excursions. The big question about shore excursions is should you book them through your ship or should you go off the reservation and book them yourself. It's true, you can find some fantastic adventures and great deals by doing your own research and booking your excursions directly with the vendor. But there are also some important advantages in using the ship's vendors... (read more) |
|
|
|
| The Myth and Reality Of "Duty-Free" Shopping. One of the charming aspects of cruising is the ritual of visiting the local markets and shops. This is truly a fun experience and you can find all manner of unique and special items, but you probably won’t find any real bargains. There are bargains to be found, but you really need to know what you’re looking for and what it’s worth in the US. Now, don’t go and get all cynical about it. That’s just part of the experience... (read more) |
|
|
|
| Top 5 Reasons Why You Might End Up At The Ship's Infirmary (and how to avoid it). Unless you just want to check out the ship’s infirmary for the sheer fun of it (like, maybe you’re an ER nurse or something like that) it’s a yucky way to spend your cruising time. You may not be able to avoid all mishaps, but it’s well worth it if you can avoid the time and cost of a visit to the ship’s doctor. By the way, all of this applies double if you’re traveling with kids! (read more) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Money Matters. One of the charming aspects of cruising is the ritual of visiting the local markets and shops. This is truly a fun experience and you can find all manner of unique and special items, though you probably won’t find any real bargains. Don’t expect to save money “in town”, and do pay attention to how you handle your money. It's not that the locals are trying to rip you off (though some are!), but they are completely willing to benefit from your lack of knowledge about such simple concepts as conversion rates and gratuities. (read more) |
|
|
|
|
|
Days At Sea. These are what cruise ships do best. Sea Days are the quintessential lazy day. Bask in the sun, watch the antics of “Mr. Legs” or “Miss Mermaid” or “Belly Flop” contests by the pool, go to the Art Auction (a very cool thing to do, even if you don’t buy anything. But you may be surprised at what you can get if you like art.). Chill, chill, chill... (read more) |
|
|
|
|
|
The Last Night of Your Cruise. Sooner or later (it will seem much too soon), your cruise will come to an end and you’ll have to return to the land of making your own bed and cooking your own food. The last night of your cruise is a combination of “hating to see it end” and “giving it all you’ve got”. If you plan for the transition, your departure from the warm sun and glistening water of the Caribbean will be a fond farewell rather than and bittersweet bummer... (read more) |
|
|
|
|
|
Final Preparations on Getting Ready For Your Cruise. All of these suggestions are just that – suggestions. None of them are necessarily essential to your cruise, but any one of them can make the difference between having a great cruise and having to deal with a frustrating breakdown... (read more) |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
Articles we've written about
Cruising In The Caribbean |
|
Ten Mistakes When Taking A Cruise - It’s a shame to lay out
$250 - $2,500 on a dreamy
cruise vacation only to encounter unnecessary mishaps and
inconveniences. So, in an effort
to minimize the likelihood of a
bump in the road to your perfect
vacation, here are some common
potholes that can tarnish your
experience.
|
|
|
|
Eleven Expert Cruising Tips - Some useful,relevant tips and
ideas, and other neat stuff you
can use to make their cruising
experience better.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hooked On Cruising (And I Like It!) - It's official! I have a
condition, a disorder by some
people's assessment. It's called
"Caribbean Obsession Disorder",
and there really is such a thing.
Imagine that!
|
|
