Posts Tagged ‘Cruise Lines’

Experienced bargain cruise hunters know the value of showing some patience when it comes to searching for last minute cruise deals. If you have been thinking of taking that first ship holiday and have been told to book well in advance, then it may pay to check out the last minute deals on offer and take your holiday a little sooner than you anticipated.

You see, there is a little phenomenom in the sales world that seems to apply across most areas and that is the last minute rush for bargains. The cruise line industry is no different and savvy bargain hunters have snapped up some amazing deals late in proceedings. But be warned, you will require some patience and a little nerve as you seek out the late specials.

Where To Look For LasT Minute Deals

As companies attempt to fill their staterooms before their intended departure date and realize they aren’t going to fill them as anticipated then they may start to lower their prices. Bear in mind, last minute cruise deals can be booked up to 90 days in advance so if you have got some extra vacation time owing then it still gives you plenty of time to organize the time off from work.

Believe it or not, thousands have taken advantage of the last minute deal rush over the years and in dollar terms, the aggregate savings made would run into the millions. Has this hurt the cruise lines? Well undoubtedly they would like to obtain “full tote odds” for their staterooms but let’s face it, selling them at a reduced price and having them occupied would be a lot more beneficial for them than to have them sit empty.

The trick is finding these late minute bargains. Don’t expect to see them advertised en masse in the local dailys or electronic press. After all, companies need to protect their full-fare paying business. Travel agents are normally your first “port-of-call” when searching for a discount fare. But the internet has opened up a whole new world for the and there are some excellent sites specializing in deals. Do a search online for discount or last minute cruise deals and you’ll get wide selection of sites who have done the “hard yards” and “sniffed out” the bargains.

Cruise Specials Online

Another handy tip… some of these sites, particularly the higher ranked and more established ones offer a mailing service online where you can sign up to receive regular newsletters detailing holiday bargains in a whole variety of categories.

It is also a good idea to check out the various cruise line company websites. More often than not, last minute cruise deals will be featured here. Take it a step further and give them a call. Let them know you have some spare vacation time coming up shortly, how much you have to spend and of course, if they have any discounted specials available during the next couple of months.

Performing a little due diligence will pay off for you in the long run. Last minute cruise deals in most cases are like “little nuggets of gold:” you have to search for them.

Dean Caporella
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/how-to-find-a-last-minute-cruise-deal-72092.html

Technorati Tags: Bargain Cruise, Bargain Hunters, Business Travel, Cruise Bargain, Cruise Line Industry, Cruise Lines, Dailys, Departure Date, Dollar Terms, Electronic Press, Last Minute Cruise, Last Minute Cruise Deal, Last Minute Cruise Deals, Last Minute Deals, Minute Bargains, Minute Rush, Phenomenom, Port Of Call, Staterooms, Vacation Time

I’m planning on taking my wife and two kids (14 and 10 y.o.) to Bermuda for a week in July. Not sure about taking a cruise there or flying. I would appreciate comments and recommendations on cruises and hotels and things to do while there.

I have been to Bermuda by cruise ship twice, once on Norwegian and then on Royal Caribbean. There are several cruise lines that do cruises to Bermuda and from ports all up and down the East coast from Boston to Charleston, SC. My favorite cruise line and the one that I recommend is Royal Caribbean. That’s because RC has the most activities on their ships. These are the cruise lines that do Bermuda cruises.

Norwegian cruises:

http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/cruisesearch/c…

Royal Caribbean cruises:
http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruis…

Carnival Cruises:

http://www.carnivalcruiselines.com/find_…

All of these cruise lines have programs for kids and I know that Royal Caribbean has a special area on its ships for kids called Adventure Ocean, plus a place for teens to hang out called Fuel (all of these are supervised areas). But what set Royal Caribbean apart is its ships generally have more on-board activities than the other cruise lines. I also recommend that you take your cruise on the Royal Caribbean ship, Explorer of the Seas, which goes to Bermuda out of Cape Liberty, NY (near NY City, use the Newark airport). That is one of RC’s Voyager Class ships (I have been on two of them) and it has on it the rock climbing wall, a mini-golf course, an ice skating rink, an in-line roller skating track, a ful sized basketball/tennis court, plus the over sized chess and checker sets to play on the deck, along with shuffle board, and a game room. Take a look at the ship’s features:

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruis…

A 5, 6, or 7 day cruise to Bermuda is plenty enough time to enjoy it. You may want to read below what I have written about what’s to do in Bermuda to help decide how many days to go for. Note also from the links that the price varies according to the date that you select. So if you are looking to save money go when the price is the lowest; its the same cruise. Also, The prices shown are for each person based on double occupancy so while the cruise lines do not give a discount for kids, the prices for your kids will be less if they are staying in your cabin; generally about 50% less.

ABOUT BERMUDA:
In my two visit it seemed to me that the majority of the people visiting the island were those on the two or three cruise ships which docked there during my stay. There are a few hotels in the town of Hamilton and about a dozen other properties/beach hotels, but they are nice. There are NO slums and ghettos in Bermuda like you may see on other islands like the Caribbean. It’s a very safe island to travel around, even on the buses. All of the houses are well maintained and painted in pastel colors. All of the public beaches are great. Be sure to go to Elbow Beach and Long Bay Beach. When you cruise there its less expensive than flying and staying in a hotel because, you stay and eat on the ship. We ate on ship and that was good because meals (and everything else) are expensive since everything has to be imported. In fact Bermuda is an expensive place for about everything.

There is not a lot to do in Bermuda other than water sports and golf. There are two main towns Hamilton, the largest (where most cruise ships dock for at least a day) and St George (also a port stop) which is like a small town.

St George is like a small new England town with a small town square and a few shops. But it has bus service that will take you anywhere on the island, and since the island is pretty small (about 22 miles long) it only takes a few minutes to go other places. You can visit one of the many forts on the island like Fort St Catherine , its walking distance from St George also. If you want to the beach from St George you have several options within walking distance of St George and if you want to snorkel, the Tobacco Bay Beach near the town of St George is great, and its walking distance (about 3/4 mile from town).

The third place ships may dock while there is The Kings Dockyard.. The Dockyard is on the far end of the 22 mile long island and has a small mall with shops and a museum. It also has a new attraction called Snorkel Park Beach. The Crystal Cave and Fantasy Caves are worth visiting as a tour, or on your own. I also visited one of the lighthouses.

In the town of Hamilton we took a walking tour from our ship which took us to the Cathedral of the Most Holy, a maritime museum and a nice garden/park a few blocks from the port. There is shopping in Hamilton and restaurants, but not much else.

The best way to get around in Bermuda is to buy a transportation pass (sold in stores and the bus station) which will let you take the buses, and the ferry, all over the island. We bought our bus pass at a store in St George, near where the ship docked. There is a big bus depot just a couple blocks from where ships dock in the town of Hamilton. You can take the buses to the beach, they are not very far away and easy to get to from the bus stop. You want to go to Elbow Beach and Long Bay Beach, both open to the public. You can rent a scooter but remember that they drive on the opposite side of the road so unless you are used to that it can be dangerous, especially in turns and circles.

I would cruise to Bermuda again and probably will because its a lovely place and a nice cruise too.

Technorati Tags: Bermuda Cruise, Bermuda Cruises, Carnival Cruises, Checker Sets, Class Ships, Cruise Line, Cruise Lines, Cruise Ship, cruise vacation, Explorer Of The Seas, Liberty Ny, Mini Golf Course, Newark Airport, Norwegian Cruises, Rock Climbing Wall, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Royal Caribbean Ship, Royalcaribbean Com, Shuffle Board, Skating Rink

Each year, a eminent comprise of people introduce the adjustment to rake-off a cruise. Cruise ships are a piked location to have your next vacation. If given the opportunity, many parents would choose to take a cruise alone. This isnt because of a lack of love, but because of a common misconception among parents and cruise ships. Many individuals, including parents, believe that cruise ships are not designed for children, but that is simply not true.

If you are the originate of a lad unbefitting the progress of twelve, you may be marveling whether or not they should mate you on your ulterior cruise. If you are able to financially afford an additional ticket, you are encouraged to consider bring your child along. Not only will a cruise be memorable to your child, but it will be exciting. That is because a large number of cruise lines have tailored their cruise ships to children of all ages, including those under the age of twelve.

If you have yet to give up your cruise craft reservations, you are positive to keep cruise keel activities in mind. The activities for children, below the foster of twelve, will vary from ship to ship. That is why it is important that you examine each ship before making a final decision. Despite the fact that activities will vary from ship to ship, there are many activities geared towards children, under the age of twelve, which can be found on almost all cruise ships.

One of the manifold popular activities get going aboard a cruise vessel is a gaming. Arcade quarters are frequent on abundantly cruise ships. They offer children, under the age of twelve, a safe place to have fun and be a child. Many cruise ship arcade rooms are staffed with cruise ship employees, but this should not deter you from keeping an eye on your child. When leaving them alone in an arcade room, you are encouraged to use your best judgment.

Another witty turmoil for children, below the enroot of twelve, includes swimming. All weekend cruise ships are know onions with a swimming pool. In addition to an adult sized swimming pool, wading pools can often be found aboard a number of popular family themed cruises. As with the arcade room, you are encouraged to use your best judgment when allowing your children to swim unattended. Lifeguards will be on duty; however, they cannot always guarantee the safety of your child.

In adjunct to a upscale trust and an arcade room, powerfully cruise ships have an onboard movie theater or a routine stage. A alpine accommodate of cruise lines offer family friendly movies, plays, and other performances. Children, under the age of twelve, may find these performances and movie showings fun and exciting. To determine if movie showing and performances are targeted to those under twelve, you are encouraged to check a cruise ships itinerary. A ships itinerary can be viewed with or without previously booked reservations.

Cruise bottom restaurants and at variance dining facilities are prospective to favor to children, underneath the enroot of twelve. Many restaurants mention childrens menus. These menus are likely to include tasty, but kid sized meals. The cost of your kids meals will vary from ship to ship; however, many cruise ships offer discounts on meals for children under the age of twelve. The author writes about a number of different topics visit : http://www.reviews3.info

Cruise boat childcare centers are facilities that abetment both parents and their children. While on a internal vacation, smooth you need a break. For gratis or a runty fee, you should be able to leave your children in the care of a trained and experienced childcare worker. Since a cruise ship is likely to have passengers of all different ages, many childcare facilities are grouped together by ages. As with most other services, you will find that a cruise ships childcare policy may vary form anothers.

The senior mentioned activities, services, and facilities are correct a few of the copious that are targeted to children, patriarchal twelve and under. If you are convivial with the senior mentioned services, facilities, and activities, you may wish to consider scheduling your next family vacation aboard a cruise ship.

Review Host
http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/cruise-ship-activities-for-children-underneath-twelve-128087.html

Technorati Tags: Arcade Room, Arcade Rooms, Common Misconception, Cruise Activities, Cruise Cruise, Cruise Lines, Cruise Reservations, Cruise Ship, Cruise Ships, Cruise Vessel, Final Decision, Gaming Arcade, Judgment, Keel, Lad, Parents, Quarters, Safe Place, Ship Activities, Turmoil

Occasionally there are drawings for a free cruise sponsored by the cruise lines. I see them pop up every so often on emails. The other way is by credit card points, but then again you are not really getting it for free.

Technorati Tags: Credit Card, Cruise Lines, cruise vacation, Drawings, Free Cruise, Win A Cruise

Onboard expenses can quickly mount up when you’re at sea. So unless you want a nasty surprise before you disembark at the end of your cruise, here’s how to reduce your costs without reducing the quality of your vacation.

Food

If you want to go a la carte, it’s possible to spend vast amounts of money dining at the alternative onboard restaurants. But with a dining room and various buffets as part of your fare, you can eat virtually round the clock at no extra expense. If you want to experience the delights of alternative dining, why not treat yourself to it every three or four days instead of daily.

Likewise, it’s possible to spend a small fortune in select cafes and coffee bars. But most ships provide complimentary tea and coffee 24 hours a day.

Gratuities

Onboard tipping is rather a thorny issue. A number of cruise lines include tips and gratuities as part of the fare. Other companies don’t include tips, but strongly advise that you reward good service. And on many ships, the management suggest a daily gratuity level which may or may not be automatically added to your onboard account. If you don’t agree with this, take the matter up at the Purser’s Office.

Ultimately, it’s up to you. But I will say one thing; the staff on most cruise ships are low paid. Most of them rely on tips to supplement their income. If passengers don’t provide tips, many of the staff may leave and seek work elsewhere. And in many cases that will lead to a drop in the quality of service, or a rise in ticket prices (if the cruise lines have to pay higher wages to attract workers).

Internet

Internet access from ship to shore is normally expensive. It’s not unusual to see charges of up to $10 per minute. So if you have to use the internet make sure that you keep your eye on the clock. Alternatively, some ships provide each person with a set amount of minutes online as part of your overall fare.

If you want to keep in touch with people while at sea, email is cheaper then telephone, but the connection speed on some ships can be rather slow. So if possible, wait until you arrive in port. Either the price of the onboard connection will be cheaper or you can use one of the onshore internet cafes which are much faster and much cheaper.

Oh, and one final word on email. Most ships will provide you with an onboard email address. Don’t use this as it will be slow and expensive. Before you leave, set up a free web based email account. There are plenty to choose from, such as Yahoo, or Google’s Gmail, and they’re all free. They can be accessed from anywhere in the world and are generally much faster that your onboard email account.

Laundry

Most laundry services will be charged per item, at rates commonly applied in land based hotels, so your costs can rise quickly. However certain cruise ships provide a complimentary laundry service in the top rooms. But I guess if you can afford those rooms you won’t be too worried about a few onboard expenses.

So if you think you’ll need to do laundry while onboard, look for a cruise line that provides a low cost self service laundry facility. Alternatively, pack a bottle of washing liquid and hand wash essential items in your bathroom.

Medical Expenses

Injury or illness can happen to anyone at anytime, so it’s best to prepare for all possible eventualities. First check out the position from the point of view of your home country. For citizens of the US, medicare does not apply when they’re out of the country. Next, look at the medical insurance position. If you already have medical insurance, make sure it will cover you when at sea. If not, consider buying medical travel insurance to provide you with adequate cover. Even the cost of a simple visit to the ship doctor will account for the whole cost of a simple travel insurance policy.

Photos

Most ships will have a photographer who is willing to take a portrait photo of you and your travelling companions…for a price. So save money by taking your own camera and asking one of your fellow passengers to take a few photos.

Shopping

Onboard ships stock many exquisite items that will remind you of your days at sea forever. Everything from jewelry and ornaments to cigarettes and alcohol is available, but it will cost you dearly. So try to limit yourself to things that are necessary. And if you forget to pack anything, it can often be cheaper buying them at the next port of call rather than paying the inflated prices at the shops onboard.

Kristen Olsen
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/onboard-cruise-ship-expenses-how-to-keep-them-under-control-part-2-125032.html

Technorati Tags: Buffets, Cafes, Coffee Bars, Complimentary Tea, Cruise Lines, Cruise Ship, Cruise Ships, Dining Room, Ema, Gratuity, Internet Internet, Nasty Surprise, Purser, Quality Of Service, Small Fortune, Thorny Issue, Ticket Prices, Tips And Gratuities, Vacation Food, Wages