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If you're delayed in your arrival at the port, the ship will not wait for you. This fast-growing line has dominated the world of river cruising for North Americans for years, and in the last few years, it's become a significant player in upscale ocean cruising as well. Viking's 80 river ships operate on just about every major river in the world, and its 10 ocean ships (up from just one in 2015) can be found in a growing number of destinations, too.
Board Your Ship As Soon As You Can on Embarkation Day and Take a Ship Tour
Wet seasons and dry seasons are changing in parts of the world where cruises frequently travel, like Mexico, and extreme temperatures are becoming the norm especially in summer months. If it's a port-intensive week in the Mediterranean, don't exhaust yourself by booking one tour after another. That doesn't mean you should board your ship without doing some research on your own ahead of time. Popular cruise destinations like the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Alaska, and the South Pacific allow you to explore breathtaking landscapes, immerse yourself in different cultures, and create lasting memories. Whether you prefer lounging on pristine beaches, embarking on thrilling adventures, or discovering historical landmarks, there’s a cruise destination that will captivate your imagination.
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Add to that gratuities, which run about $15 per person, per day. Combined, these fees can add considerably to the cost of your cruise. While every cabin has air conditioning, they don’t have fans of any kind. That’s not an issue if you have a balcony and open your door, but any interior room is going to get a little stuffy — especially if you’re the sort of person that’s used to airflow.
Silversea Cruises
In addition to all of those, the staff puts on activities throughout the day. These range from trivia contests to dance parties and everything in between. You’ll get a daily schedule of everything going on delivered to your stateroom the night before or you can view it on the phone app for your cruise line. Your CabinWhile on the ship, the cabin on the ship is your home away from home. First-time cruisers are always surprised at the size of a cruise cabin.
Many Hotels Have Free Cruise ParkingOne of the big attractions to cruising is that many people live within driving distance of a port. Instead of having to fly for a Caribbean vacation, you can drive to the port and then hop on a ship. We have dozens and dozens aimed at first-time cruisers here. When you enter the port terminal, the first thing you’ll do is enter and show your boarding pass and ID. Cruise ship security is similar to going through an airport, but not as invasive. After having your documents checked, you’ll place your carry-on bag on an x-ray machine and then pass through a metal detector.
Celebrity Cruises
Disney cruise food: The ultimate guide to restaurants and dining on board - The Points Guy
Disney cruise food: The ultimate guide to restaurants and dining on board.
Posted: Thu, 18 Apr 2024 16:06:05 GMT [source]
If you think that bottle of tequila you just bought in Cozumel will make for a fun evening, think again. Just like on embarkation day, you can’t bring on bottles of booze from ports. Anything bought in port will be held on the ship and delivered back to your stateroom the night before you leave. Your first thought when you see the prices of shore excursions is that they are expensive. It’s not unusual for a shore excursion that is just 3-4 hours run more than $100 per person. Even if you are headed to the sunny Caribbean, it’s still a good idea to bring some warm clothes.
The pros and cons of cruises, recapped
A second, bigger ship called Ilma that's already open for bookings debuts later this year. Princess Cruises' customers also like its wide range of itineraries, including voyages in Asia and Australia, as well as closer-to-home places like the Caribbean. It's long been one of the dominant lines in the Alaska cruise market. Operating a fast-growing fleet of tough but upscale expedition ships (none carrying more than 264 passengers), Ponant is known for voyages to places like Antarctica and the Arctic.
Formal night is still a thing.
Book directly with the cruise line to cut out the middleman in case there is an issue with your reservation. If you don’t know what cruise line you want to sail, then an aggregator like Expedia can search multiple lines at once. With everything seemingly so perfect on the ship, it can be easy to think that ports of call are perfect as well. To be fair, ports you visit will be pretty safe, especially in the tourist areas. Venture outside of these spots, however, and it’s just like any other place. There are good parts of town and places where you don’t want to venture.
Plus, there will be a restaurant manager and often deputy managers who hover in the background to make sure everything is just right. It's like a small army of service staff there to make sure you have a perfect experience. Even on the most mass-market, lowest-cost cruises, you'll have a room attendant who is likely to get to know you by name and offer help with anything you need on board. She or he typically also will make up and clean your room at least once and sometimes twice every day — unless you request otherwise.
This is especially the case if you’re the sort of person who likes to take your time getting ready in the morning while sipping on a cup of coffee or just having your own private space to take in the view. Having the fresh air — and the million-dollar views — from your balcony is worth the extra cost if you want to pay a little more for your trip. As we just said, interior cabins are great for first-time cruisers who are usually out around the ship the entire trip.
The way to do this is to tie a credit card that offers extra points for travel purchases to your onboard account. This could be the Chase Sapphire Reserve, which offers 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on travel and dining (excluding the annual $300 travel credit). There's also the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, which brings 2 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on travel and 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on dining. Some of the biggest cruise ship horror stories you'll find on the internet are tales of cruising newbies who racked up thousands of dollars in cellphone charges while on ships. This can happen when you leave your phone turned on and, say, watch videos on the internet. Many first-time cruisers assume they can't bring their own drinks on board a ship.
You often can find a package deal from even mass-market lines where many of the "extras" on your cruise are included in the price you pay up front. On traditional ocean-going ships, many ship-organized shore excursions will be group outings where you will join as many as 30 or 40 of your fellow cruisers with a guide. Often, these tours involve traveling with your group on a motorcoach to reach whatever sight or sights you are touring. Just how much of a group-tour feel your cruise has will depend a lot on which ship you are on and how you arrange your port activities.
Don’t forget that many travelers are looking to use leftover credits they have from the pandemic, which further compounds the demand. A week or so is the sweet spot for most first-time cruisers, which will offer three to six ports. Three-day sampler itineraries won’t allow you to explore more than one or two destinations, and you can’t decompress as thoroughly, either. Still, Leppert suggests a weekend trip could be enough for those that just want to try out cruising for the first time to see if you like it. You also won't find snack vending machines onboard your ship, but you can hit up some of the shops for a junk food fix. Or bring along your favorite salty or sweet snacks from home to keep in your cabin.
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