Tips & Articles on Traveling, Aviation, Boating and Cruises
Cruises
Should I let the Cruise Line Make My Airline Reservation
May 22nd
Should I let the Cruise Line Make My Airline Reservation For My Cruise Vacation?
When considering a cruise vacation this is a very good question. The Cruise lines pre-book massive amounts of airline space. That allows you better access to flights, and many cruise lines pass on their reasonable prices to passengers whose travel agents book through them.
If you choose to make airline reservations on your own please select flight schedules that allow you enough time to get to the pier in time for the ships departure on the day of your cruise travel. That applies in reverse, leave enough breathing room to get to the airport with time to make your return flights after your lovely cruise vacation.
Two advantages of using cruise line provided airfare are:
1. By purchasing cruise line airfare, you also receive transfers to and from the airport to the pier.
2. If your flights are delayed and arrive past the time of the ships departure, the cruise line assumes responsibility for either delaying the ships sailing or getting you to the cruise ships first port of call.
You should let your travel agent book the Airline Reservations through the Cruise Line for safety reasons. This basically makes the Cruise Line responsible in the event of a flight or sailing delay or cancellation. Heres a cruise tip, for a small additional “air deviation” fee, most cruise lines will attempt to book you on the airline or flights of your choice.
If you have frequent-flier miles be sure to book your flights well in advance to ensure your arrival on time. When scheduling your flight home after the cruise, be sure to take into account disembarking time from the ship and local transportation time to the airport. Leave plenty of time because some local airports may not be as sophisticated as those you might be used to. And in todays world, security will make it even longer to board your flight for your cruise travel.
You should arrive at least a day before the cruise vacation, especially if you are flying a long distance to pick up the ship. That way, you can rest up and be ready to enjoy every moment of your cruise. You get the added benefit of not having to worry about a delayed or cancelled flight, causing you to miss the cruise. This was the best cruise tip I have learned over the years.
When you are flying to your cruise vacation you will have to consider baggage weight. Generally there are no restrictions on how much luggage you can take aboard ship, but do remember that if your cruise vacation involves a flight, airlines have their own baggage allowance restrictions. These vary on scheduled flights, depending on airline and route. Please note that the allowance may be less on international flights. When flying from New Zealand back to Miami after our millennium cruise vacation, Quantas airline was very strict about weight and charged us because we were over.
The cruise lines will generally supply you with its luggage tags which will be in addition to your personal ID tags. The luggage tags will be included with your cruise documents which normally arrive 2-3 weeks before your cruise vacation.
Here are some cruise tips we have learned through our cruise travel.
It is strongly suggested that you remove old airline flight tags to eliminate ANY possibility of confusion on the part of the airline.
An extra folded flight bag takes up very little room and it can be handy on your way home when you have more to carry then can be placed in your original luggage.
Be sure to keep your travel documents, identification documents, medications, valuables, a set of clean underwear, credit cards, cash and travelers checks on your person or in your carry-on luggage. Horror stories concerning lost airline luggage are well known.
When traveling outside the United States to pick up your cruise ship, make photocopies of your passport and cruise itinerary, place one set in each bag prior to checking them with the airline. This will ensure you that your luggage will catch up to you at some time during your cruise vacation.
When waiting in line or sitting in an airport, always have the strap to your carry-on luggage wrapped around an arm or leg, then it won’t disappear without your knowledge.
Be very careful using your telephone card in airports. People will stand behind you and watch as you tap in the numbers. And much to your dismay, a month after your cruise travel, you get a huge telephone bill. I know it happened it me. I was not responsible for paying the bill, but it was a hassle.
It is useful to take an overnight bag for the last night of your cruise vacation. Your cabin steward will be collecting all checked bags the night before disembarkation, sometime around midnight. If you have this small overnight bag you can use it for the clothes you wore the evening before. And as mentioned, it comes in handy for packing all the mementos you picked up along the way.
The most important cruise tip is to relax and enjoy your cruise vacation. You deserve it.
Happy Cruising!
Copyright 2006 Mary Hanna All Rights Reserved.
This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.
Scuba Diving During a Cruise Vacation
May 21st
Say you want to scuba dive but your significant other is not a diver and would rather do other activities like shopping. If you both decided to go on a Caribbean cruise vacation, is it still possible for you to go scuba diving? The answer is yes. This will be a big relief to all certified scuba divers who are going on cruises with itineraries that include such great scuba dive destinations as Cozumel and Grand Cayman. After all, as certified scuba divers, it would be a shame to go to these ports and not dive.
Many cruise ships offer scuba diving as part of their available shore excursions. Some ships even have small dive centers on board for those who want to take introductory sessions in the ship pools. These cruise lines will often have business contracts with local dive operators at each port that has scuba diving. These local dive operators will take certified scuba divers on boat trips on behalf of the cruise lines. Booking and payment will be through the cruise ships rather than the local dive operators. The cruise lines claim that if for any reason the scuba trips run late, the cruise ships will not leave port until all passengers from these cruise ship organized excursions are back on board. They wont wait around for passengers who decide to take their own excursions not booked through the cruise ship. This is how the cruise ships try to convince divers to take their excursions even if the cost is usually at a premium compared to what local dive operators would normally charge directly.
Another way to get some scuba diving in during a cruise vacation is to make arrangements and book in advance with local scuba dive operators at each port you are interested in diving at. Although there is always some risk in missing your port departure if your own outing runs late, just make sure you plan your own dive trips so that you are back on the ship well in advance of port departure. Usually if your cruise ship arrives at port early in the morning, you could book the morning dive trips with the local operator and still have the rest of the afternoon to shop or do other sightseeing. For later arrivals where you would miss the morning dive trips, it is still possible to take the local operators afternoon dive trips but in this case, it is very important to make sure that you confirm what the estimated time of return to the docks are. If you can return to the docks at least two hours before the cruise ships scheduled time of departure, than you will have ample time even if the dive boat returns a bit late. It its only an hour or less, the timing may be too tight. See if the dive operator has a shorter single tank afternoon trip which might get you back to the docks earlier.
Some local dive operators even have special pick up and drop off services to and from the cruise ship terminals to their dive shops. These dive businesses are obviously making an effort to take some dive business away from the cruise ship organized excursions. These particular local dive operators would be ideal if you could find them before your cruise vacation. Otherwise, you may have to take a local taxi to the dive shop if it is not within walking distance of the cruise ship terminal. Of course, this is usually not a problem either and even with the added cost of taxis, the overall cost of going with a local dive operator may still be lower than the cruise ship organized dive excursion.
Some cruise ship passengers have successfully gotten on local dive trips without any advance booking. These divers just walked into a local dive operator once at port. Although this is certainly feasible, it is not recommended especially in a destination that fills dive trips up quickly. With the internet, it is quite easy to make arrangements with many local dive operators in advance of your cruise vacation. Tell them which day your cruise ship will be coming in and the expected time of both arrival as well as departure. Some ports like Cozumel have more than one cruise ship terminal so its important to let them know if possible which one your ship will be docked in. They will then give you your best options for some scuba diving for that particular day.
Royal Caribbean Review
May 21st
Why Take a Royal Caribbean Cruise Vacation? Well, with all the different cruise ships in their line, all the destinations,and the affordable price range, there are cruises to please every traveller, no matter how jaded.
In our fast-paced society, Royal Caribbean offers a very cost-effective and time-efficient way to take a holiday. Think about driving all day through holiday traffic to a far-away destination, packing and unpacking at every hotel, and trying to find restaurants and personal services. On a Royal Caribbean cruise you dont drive anywhere for weeks at a time. Even on a tour bus , it’s you personally who must handle all the luggage and repack at each new destination. On a cruise, your bags arrive with you when you check in and the staff transports them to your cabin, stateroom, or suite. You are at home immediately and don’t have to move until the cruise ends. And cruise ship cuisine is legendary in both quantity and quality. Each Royal Caribbean ship has world class restuarants staffed by award-winning chefs, and the cruise price includes the cost of the food. At every port, guided tours are available so you won’t miss any of the spectacular attractions. You can take a holiday from parental duties as well, since supervised activities and games are available to keep children occupied. And at the end of your holidy staff will arrive to pick up your luggage and take it to the intended pick-up point. Cruise ship facilities free you from so many of the worries and strain associated with traveling, and allow you to relax and actually enjoy your vacation time.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines offers the some of the best deals in the travel industry. Conde Nast Traveler consistently rates Royal Caribbean Cruises as one of the world’s best cruise ship lines. Services include informative lectures about your location, upscale boutiques, and Broadway-style entertainment. Some ships even have facilities for ice-skating shows. Try your luck in the Casino or even collect fine art at the onboad auction. Enjoy exotic nightlife at clubs with various themes.
You’ll never feel neglected at the onboard spa. Try a deluxe manicure and pedicure, a luxurious facial or even a relaxing massage. You’ll leave glowing and invigorated.
But Royal Caribbean isn’t just for the adult traveller. Royal Caribbean features an Adventure Ocean Youth Program and Fisher-Price Aqua Babies and Aqua Tots to occupy younger passengers. When the ship reaches port, adults have the opportunity to take cultural tours by themselves without hauling along bored and unwilling children . And the the younger set can enjoy vigorous, noisy activities such as a rock-climbing wall without wearing out the parents. One ship under construction, Freedom of the Seas, is being equipped with onboard surfing!
Age or disability do not hamper cruising. Modern cruise ships are specifically designed to accommodate the needs of aged and mobility-impaired passengers, and staff is always ready to help with the special medical needs of passengers. Nowadays most major cruise lines accommodates those who require dialysis or supplemental oxygen, and more medical services are available if requested beforehand. An emergency clinic with CPR equipment is available on each ship, saving you the trouble of finding an English-speaking doctor in a foreign country.
Dinner is a major form of entertainment on a cruise ship, a practice dating back more than a hundred years to the era when cruises were for nobility and the wealthy who expected elegant formal meals. With today’s laid-back lifestyle the old-fashioned elegance is optional, and for those who enjoy casual dining, meals can be obtained around the clock from room service and cafeterias. However, what is a cruise without glamour? It can be a lot of fun to go to a ritzy event where ladies show off their best attire and jewelry, and gentlemen wear tuxedos.
And don’t forget the cruise destination itself! Royal Caribbean docks at a different port of call every few days, depending upon distances and sailing time between local ports. Aside from the caribbean, these ships sail all around the world, to Hawaii, Mexico, the Panama Canal, New England, Alaska and many European ports. It’s up to you whether you want to explore onshore or lounge aboard the ship all day. You are free to investigate each destination on your itinerary as long as you arrive back at the dock in time for departure.
Optional activities are offered for a slight extra cost, and Royal Caribbean offers adventures geared toward the unique features of every destination. There are cruisetours, a combination land/sea package to further explore inland in Alaska, the Canadian Rockies, Whistler Resort and Europe.
With all these pleasing and unique services available at such affordable prices, why not think about a Royal Caribbean Cruise for your next sea vacation?
Royal Caribbean excellent way to travel
May 20th
Royal Caribbean is a cruse line that offers you many different travel choices, destinations and activities to make your vacation perfect. Whether you would like to travel with your family, take a slow and relaxing vacation, participate in new and exciting activities or explore the new places, cultures or countries, the Royal Caribbean will definitely satisfy all your needs and desires. You can even visit several locations and participate in a number of different activities in one single Royal Caribbean cruise. And in addition to all these benefits traveling with Royal Caribbean is one of the least expensive ways to travel. Royal Caribbean would be the best choice whether you are traveling alone or with family.
There are many different destinations where you can travel on the Royal Caribbean cruise. For example, you can take a Royal Caribbean cruise to Caribbean, Alaska, Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, Europe, Hawaii, Mexico, Panama Canal and other locations. You will travel in comfort. Your accommodations on the Royal Caribbean cruise ship would include all the necessities and amenities to make your trip the most enjoyable. You will have access to such equipment as radio, phone and TV. Royal Caribbean also offers you a broad selection of dining choices on the ship, including 24-hour room service, fine dining, restaurant and buffet.
There are many things to do on the Royal Caribbean cruise. Besides all the activities at the destination locations, you will have access to many activities on the ship to make your Royal Caribbean trip even more fun and enjoyable. For example, you can visit the onboard fitness center to participate in sport activities. You will enjoy the Royal Caribbean cruise by using a swimming pool, mini golf course, library, skating track and other onboard activities. Royal Caribbean also offers various entertainment options that include but are not limited to evening shows, live music, comedy shows and even onboard casino.
Find more information by clicking on the link in the resource box.
Royal Caribbean a vacation you waited for
May 20th
Taking a Royal Caribbean cruise is one of the best ways to spend your vacations. You will have multiple Royal Caribbean destinations around the world to select from. You will also have access to a wide variety of onboard activities and entertainment during the Royal Caribbean trip. Not matter what is the main purpose of your trip, the Royal Caribbean vacation will allow you to enjoy everything that you planned to do during the trip. Also, if you are traveling with kids, the Royal Caribbean offers many activities designed specifically for kids in addition to a ton of activities for adults (including shows, casino and sport activities).
You will have a lot of fun during your Royal Caribbean cruise vacation. If you would like to slow things down, relax and enjoy the trip views, you can do that. If you would like to take a yoga class, visit a spa or spend a few hours in the sport center – Royal Caribbean offers you that possibility. You can even go shopping while you are on a Royal Caribbean cruise. The Royal Caribbean dining is also worth mentioning. You can be sure that you will find any type of dining while you are on the cruise. Whether you would like a private dinner or a buffet style dining – Royal Caribbean offers this option to you.
The second part of the Royal Caribbean cruise includes the onshore activities that you can participate in when you will arrive to your destination. You will get a chance to visit new places, meet new people, take sightseeing tours, visit museums and historical monuments and find out about new cultures and locations. These are just a few examples. Through Royal Caribbean you can participate in all activities that are available in the destination port. You will enjoy your time on the shore as well as your trip onboard of the Royal Caribbean cruise ship.
Find more information by clicking on the link in the resource box.
