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Cruise
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The Top 10 Frequently Asked
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All
cruises are the same, right?
No way! Today's cruise lines
and ships cater to different
kinds of travelers and it's
important figure out which
will suit your needs best.
There are three things to
consider before you book
your cruise.
First, think about if you'd
prefer a small, medium, or
large ship. Large ships can
hold from 2,000 to 4,000+
passengers and their biggest
selling point is: everything
under the sun. They boast
amenities like climbing
walls, bocce ball on real
lawns, boxing rings,
miniature golf courses,
specialty restaurants, water
parks, and lavish spas. But
big ships simply can't fit
into smaller ports and
sometimes crowds onboard can
be a problem.
Midsize ships hold
1,000-2,000 passengers and
advocates love them for
offering the best of both
worlds. Enjoy a pared down
list of activities and
amenities, personalized
attention, and more flexible
itineraries. Plus, both
midsize and large ships are
generally more affordable.
Small ships, those hosting
less than 1,000 guests, are
for people seeking a more
serene environment, luxury
accommodations, and
out-of-the-way experiences.
Many cruisers prefer the
relaxed onboard environment
with plenty of unscheduled
downtime for reading and
relaxing and are willing to
pay extra for perks like
butler service and
celebrity-chef cuisine.
After you decide what size
of ship, it's time to figure
out which cruise line is
right for you.
And the final step is
booking the perfect
stateroom. There are three
basic categories of cabins
(inside, outside, and
balcony) and each has its
own set of benefits.
From fantastic
kids programs
that keep the
little skippers
cheering to a
dueling piano
lounge for the
adults, today's
ships are
boatloads of fun
for the young
and young at
heart.
During the day,
keep your group
smiling with
onboard
activities like
climbing walls,
surf simulators,
water parks with
two-story-high
chutes and
racing slides,
miniature golf,
and more. In the
mood for indoor
fun? Try onboard
shopping, art
auctions,
cooking classes
with top chefs,
movie theaters,
and bowling
alleys.
When the stars
come out, the
fun really burns
bright. Let it
roll in the
casino, stroll
the mid-ship
promenade and
pick and choose
between theme
restaurants and
bars, sing along
to
Broadway-style
revues in posh
lounges, or
gather the whole
family together
to watch a movie
on the top deck,
drive-in style.
Just looking to
relax and unwind
this vacation?
Don't worry.
From adults-only
pool areas to
lavish lounges,
you'll have
plenty of "me
time" while the
rest of your
group laughs,
splashes, and
parties like
never before.
One of the most
popular spots to
unwind onboard
today's ships
are the lavish
spas. Soak in
the
Thalassotherapy
pool, indulge in
a sea salt body
scrub, pamper
yourself with a
sleek new cut
and style, or
just lose track
of time in the
eucalyptus-scented
steam room.
Discover the
most pampering
spa treatments
at sea.
With most of your costs bundled into one low price, cruises are an excellent vacation value. Cruise fares include your stateroom, meals, non-alcoholic beverages, room service, shows, nightclubs, and ground transfers. But the following are not typically included in the cost of your cruise: tipping (often included on luxury lines), alcoholic beverages (often included on luxury lines), shore excursions, specialty restaurants, and transportation to and from the departure port if necessary.
Cruising is an affordable and
easy way to explore a new corner
of the world. Step onboard,
unpack once, and relax as you're
transported from one country to
the next in high style. Choose
from destinations like wild
Alaska, majestic Europe, exotic
Asia, and the sunny Tropics, and
get ready for the adventure of a
lifetime.
Once in port, you'll have a
chance to explore the region
with expert help. Shore
excursions take the guesswork
and hassle out of sightseeing
and ensure you won't miss a
thing. Hop aboard a bus and tour
a vibrant city, soar through the
jungle on a zip line, whitewater
raft over class-IV rapids, or
helicopter to a glacier.
Cruising
Guide
and
Advice
Will I
get
seasick?
Do I
have to
play
shuffleboard?
Aren't
all
cruise
lines
the
same? If
you've
never
cruised
before,
you
probably
have a
boatload
of
questions.
That's
why we
created
this
indispensible
first-time
cruiser's
guide,
filled
with
useful
cruising
tips,
expert
advice,
and
more.
Find
answers
to your
most
pressing
questions,
get
advice
on how
to
choose
the
perfect
ship,
cruise
line,
and
stateroom,
use the
cruise
destinations
guide to
plan
your
trip,
and
learn
more
about
the
action-packed
activities
that
await
onboard.
Get your
sea legs
before
you sail
with our
first-time
cruiser
tips.
1) Is
Cruising
Expensive?
Cruising is one
of the best ways
to stretch your
vacation budget.
Your
accommodations,
meals, child
care, and
entertainment
are all included
in one low
price. In fact
cruises can save
you $1,000 on
average compared
to a land-based
vacation. Plus,
you can
safeguard your
investment with
Travel
Protection and
have peace of
mind if your
plans change at
the last minute.
Read more about
what's included
in your cruise
price.
2) Will I be
bored?
Absolutely not.
But if you're
looking for an
action-packed
trip, be sure to
cruise on a
larger, newer
ship loaded with
the latest
activities,
shore
excursions, and
specialty
restaurants and
bars. Looking to
relax? Don't
worry. All
activities are
optional and
there are many
quiet corners
onboard where
you can tuck
into a good book
or work on your
tan. Read more
about onboard
activities.
3) Will I get
seasick?
Today's ships
feature the
latest
technology to
make sure your
journey is
smooth, even if
the seas are
not. But you can
take other
measures to
ensure a calm
voyage if you're
prone to motion
sickness. Learn
more about what
you can do to
prevent
seasickness.
4) Is
cruising safe?
During the past
two decades,
North American
cruise lines
have earned the
best safety
record in the
travel industry,
according to
CLIA, the Cruise
Lines
International
Association.
Your luggage and
carry-on bags
will be screened
before you
board, and
highly trained
onboard security
personnel
monitor the ship
24/7.
Heard about that
stomach bug
thing? The good
news is you're
more likely to
get the
norovirus on
land than on a
cruise ship.
Plus, cruise
lines have
worked closely
with the CDC to
develop
comprehensive
sanitation
programs for all
ships. Basic
hand washing and
healthy hygiene
habits should
prevent illness
from
interrupting
your vacation.
5) Do we have
to dress up?
Only if you want
to! On most
cruise lines,
casual clothes
are acceptable
throughout the
ship with the
majority of
guests changing
into pants for
dinner. Usually
there is one
"formal" dinner
during a
sailing, but a
tuxedo and ball
gown are rarely
required.
More Frequently Asked Questions
6)
Can
I
stay
in
shape?
There's
no
reason
you
can't
stay
in
the
pink
of
health--or
even
lose
weight--on
your
cruise.
State-of-the-art
gyms
are
now
standard
on
most
ships
and
many
offer
jogging
tracks,
boxing
rings,
skating
rinks,
and
climbing
walls
to
keep
you
moving.
Plus,
healthy
menu
options
abound.
7)
Do I
need
a
passport?
Not
always.
Cruises
to
U.S.
destinations
like
Hawaii,
the
U.S.
Virgin
Islands,
,
Puerto
Rico,
and
more
don't
require
passports
for U.S
citizens.
8)
How
do I
get
to
the
ship?
Home
port
cruising
is
the
most
affordable
way
to
sail.
There
are
more
than
20
departure
ports
that
may
be
within
driving
distance
of
your
home.
But
if
you
need
to
fly
to
your
departure
port,
you
can
reserve
a
flight
when
you
book
your
cruise
or
book
a
flight
separately.
If
you
book
a
flight
you
can
arrange
for
the
cruise
line
will
transfer
you
to
the
pier.
9)
What
will
the
other
passengers
be
like?
Will
there
be a
lot
of
seniors/college
kids?
There's
no
such
thing
as a
typical
cruise
passenger,
but
some
cruises
appeal
to
certain
age
groups.
If
you're
not
looking
for
a
party
atmosphere,
avoid
short
sailings
during
Spring
Break
to
tropical
destinations.
Additionally,
the
luxury
market
appeals
to
older
cruisers
who
prefer
a
quieter
onboard
atmosphere.
10)
Can
we
bring
our
kids?
What
if
they're
infants?
From
toddling
two-year-olds
to
free-spirited
teens,
kids
love
to
cruise--and
parents
love
to
see
those
smiles
on
vacation.
Cruise
lines
catering
to
families
have
free,
comprehensive
kids
programs,
many
of
which
begin
with
babysitting
services
for
newborns
(additional
fee)
and
go
all
the
way
up
to
high
school.
Read
more
about
family
cruises
and
learn
about
infant
cruise
fares.
Still
looking
for
answers?
Here
are
a
few
more
articles
that
can
help.
Say
goodbye
to
common
cruise
myths
and
read
tips
to
make
the
most
of
your
trip.
Save $1,000* or More Compared to a Land Vacation
Everybody loves to dine in chic restaurants, enjoy Broadway-style spectaculars, and watch the sun sink into the sea on their vacation. But lately it's harder to afford the luxurious escape you've been dreaming of. Don't settle for less--cruising offers all the pampering you love at prices everyone can afford.
Did you know that cruises cost $1,000* less than land-based trips? Plus, planning a vacation is easy with a cruise. Imagine jaunting from country to country worry-free without ever having to book a hotel or scramble to find the best tours.
Don't deprive yourself of a much-needed luxury getaway. Set sail to an exotic locale and enjoy more for less. Want to see the savings for yourself? Compare the costs of a traditional vacation to a cruise getaway below.
Cruises Offer Huge Savings
Sample Savings
|
7-Night Caribbean Cruise
|
7-Night Caribbean Land Vacation
|
| Cruise Stateroom/Hotel Room |
$1,819 - $2,019 |
$1,104 - $1,737 |
| Air Cost |
$538 |
$910 |
| Shore Excursions/Tours |
$480 |
$480 |
| Transportation |
$60 |
$356 |
| Meals/Food |
$0 |
$700 |
| Entertainment |
$0 |
$400 |
| Total Price: |
$2,897 - $3,097 |
$3,950 - $4,584 |
Total Savings:
|
$1,053 - $1,487
|
With a Cruise, the Fun is Included
Why not dance 'til dawn, then order room service? Go ahead, climb a rock wall, then attend an art auction. When you cruise, you'll be able to live it up at no extra cost because the fun is included. Check out these amazing complimentary perks:
- Delicious meals in elegant dining rooms, extravagant buffets, and 24-hour room service
- Broadway-style spectaculars, comedy shows, first-run movies, nightclubs, and lounges and bars, many featuring live entertainment
- Onboard activities like rock climbing, ice skating, miniature golf, water parks, and more
- Dance instruction, ice carving demonstrations, art auctions, fully equipped gyms, and kids' and youth programs
Incredible Deals on the Best Cruises
Double-booked days, working lunches, late nights--you need an escape, and now! Buy a last-minute cruise and have your spontaneity rewarded with big savings. We have a huge store of last-minute cruises at rock-bottom, final-closeout prices. Just shop below by price, destination, cruise line, and more for cruises departing in the next 60 days, and you'll get an incredible deal on a relaxing at-sea vacation. Book today--and soon you can be waited on hand and foot, frolic on a private beach, or take a moonlit stroll on the deck.
Skip the Flight and Save on the Fun
The Caribbean? It's practically in your backyard. Alaska? Just around the bend. Mexico? A stone's throw away. This vacation, skip the expensive flight and hotel stay and save with a home port cruise. Choose from over 20 departure ports in the U.S. or Canada that may be within driving distance of your home and use the pull down menu's below to discover the exotic destinations you could visit for less.
Exclusive Cruise Savings for Your State or Region
Looking for new ways to cruise for less? Here's a trip that even experienced cruisers may not know. Start your search for a low-cost cruise by researching resident rates. Where you live could entitle you to exclusive savings. Just click on your home state or region below to unlock special fares. Plus, while you're shopping, look for resident rate reminders under the price.
United States
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Canada
Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland
Nova Scotia
Northwest Territories
Ontario
Quebec
Saskatchewan
Yukon
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Cruise and Travel Sites To Watch
Lots of new ports of call and deep
discount cruise deals....
•
The Cruise Lines To Watch
For The Best Cruise Deals
Cheap cruises, deep discounts, deck
plans, photos, compare offers, cruise
deals, upgrades and more. More choices,
more places than anyone... Shop.
Compare. Save. Over 24 cruise lines.
12,000 sailings. Click on the link and
select your favorite cruise line.
•
The
Top 100 Cruise Deals for
2010
•
“What’s on your bucket list?”.
Here are some
must-visit travel ideas.
•
Websites that help you choose
the right
cruise line and
ship |
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30 Top cruises by Destination
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offering an unbiased cruise
guide, latest cruise news,
cruise reviews, tips, feature
cruise articles, and need to
know information about cruising.
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All
promotions/pricing and cabin space is subject to
availability at the time of booking and the
prices shown or quoted at this web site are for
reference purposes only. These rates are for
new, individual bookings only. The actual price
of your cruise may vary. Prices quoted and
availability
are NOT GUARANTEED until confirmed by the cruise
line AND a deposit or full payment if required
is made. Discounted savings off cruise fare
only. Port charges (NCF), taxes, airfare, air
taxes, transfers and any other costs associated
with your cruise are not discounted. Discount
limited to select cruises including holiday
sailings. Not every ship, not every sailing is
discounted. Call us to find out about your
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*Subject to availability at time of booking.
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