Cruises are generally viewed as the special abode of the rich and famous. State-of-the-art cruise ships, trained professional staff, and exotic locales add to this misconception. On the contrary, cruises are for everybody who loves to travel, to see places, to meet people, to experience life, and to go on a holiday. DiscountCruiseDeals can help you go on your dream cruise, and experience the fun and excitement of cruise travel. The cruise fares offered by DiscountCruiseDeals are affordable and, as an added value, Cash Rewards are available.

If you are on a tight schedule or tight budget, you can go on group cruises. There is strength in numbers, especially in traveling. Group cruises allow you to pool your resources, enjoy the activities together, visit places together, and meet new people together. Special discounts are given to groups. So, take advantage of these special rates and plan a cruise with your family or friends. DiscountCruiseDeals, through participating cruise lines, offers residents of selected states and/or certain age groups discounts on select cruises.

Discounted cruises are available for individuals and couples. If you cruise domestically, fares start for as low as $149 for a 3-night Pacific Coastal cruise and $649 for a 7-night Glacier Discovery Southbound cruise. If you want a cruise to the sun-lovers’ paradise of the Bahamas, cruise fares start at $199 for a 2-night cruise aboard the “Century” and as low as $329 for a 3-night cruise aboard the very popular “Monarch of the Seas”. If you want the sophistication of Europe, you can cruise Greece for $699, or tour the “Best of Europe” for $1,099. There are cruise fares for every travel budget.

DiscountCruiseDeals makes it easy for clients to choose their dream cruise by categorizing their available cruises into Top Cruise Picks, i.e., close to home, extended voyages, last minute, and sunny and warm; Top Cruise Destinations, i.e., Alaska, Europe, Mexico, Caribbean, and 17 Cruise Lines. The last feature is helpful as each cruise liner is described in detail. The name of the ship, its technical description, the individual cruise fares, the onboard amenities, the onboard entertainment, the cuisine, and the sailing calendar are all described. This way, you need not actually visit the cruise ship to see its features, saving you a lot of time and effort.

However, if you still feel overwhelmed by the choices, the Cruises Express Search is available for you. Just click your preferred destination, cruise line, cruise date, and cruise length, and the Express Search will give you the best fit for your preferences.

With cruise fares as affordable as those offered by DiscountCruiseDeals, a dream holiday can become a reality. And indeed, throw your cares to the wind, exchange the cold for the sun, and exchange your troubles for some love.

Desiring to take pleasure in the sun, feeling the wind on your face? Looking for a breathing space to relax at the same absorbing the sights and sounds and ocean adventures? Welcome aboard Thomas Cook Cruises or Cruise Thomson.

For the newcomer, cruises are pleasure trip aboard luxurious cruise ships. Life on board is very much what you want it to be. There is total quiet and peace, cool and the relaxation you always wanted to do. But cruises have also nightlife and entertainment. Here you relax in paradox. It is having the best of both worlds.

Dining at Thomas Cook Cruises is as special as their services. You can have a choice of fine dining, dining al fresco and ala carte. You have the options. As you can also have your choice of cuisine. From Mexican buffet to Italian pizza, it is yours for the asking. Although the right scope of dining options differ from ship to ship.

While in the British Cruise market, Cruise Thomson occupies a distinctive place. Since its inception in the 1990s as a budget cruise operator, Thomson has gradually evolved into more conventional in the cruise industry. It has progressed to improving its ships, amenities and facilities and diversified by widening its itineraries.

Both Thomas Cook Cruises and Cruise Thomson avowed to make cruise life a pleasure to indulge in. Give each ship a personality and particular atmosphere of its own.

Whatever your reason for celebration both cruise companies promise to make it affordable. Reasonably priced celebration of school graduation, honeymoon and anniversaries aboard the cruise ship is all-inclusive.

Onboard experience on Cruise Thomson lies between traditional and modern British cruise system. But the cruise company is predispose to the traditional cruise format very British in its atmosphere and ambiance. The on the ship experience can be overwhelming for first timers. It is like being transported to another age and place.

Thomas Cook Cruises boasts of being the largest cruise retailer in the UK. For the fact that it offers more cruises than any other cruise company. They propose more benefits for your money. They have big discounts, exclusive deals and freebies. Holiday cruise has never been more exciting and real. The cruise company made possible to cater to individual or family needs.

Cruise styles come in a varied of lifestyles. There is cruise style for the disabled, family, luxury cruises, romance cruising and a list of others. Upscale sea travel is a grandiose holiday cruise. But you get exactly what you paying for. Satisfaction to the max.

Information is gathered for your convenience to be able to take a look see at the places in your dream destinations. Activities you decide to do in a particular region. At the same time what kind of cruise ship you are planning to take in your holiday cruise to Asia/Pacific or Europe.

Whenever you need ideas or still o the planning stage of your holiday cruise let the cruise companies help you. Not only the region where you want to go, activities you decide to do, lifestyle you want to celebrate in but more so they will consider the value of your dollar.

What are you waiting if you’ve never been on a Caribbean cruise vacation? Imagine being served on hand and foot only to find you in the most tropical of lands, spending time in true paradise. This is how it’s like on a Caribbean cruise vacation. There’s nothing else like it in the world. When it comes to taking a Caribbean cruise vacation, there are all kinds of special deal. Look around for the best deals and either travel by yourself, bring your family or just have that special someone. There’s so much to do on a Caribbean cruise vacation that you’ll likely find that you don’t have enough time to do it all no matter who you’re with.
1. Go Ahead And Bring The Kids
Don’t worry about bringing the children on a Caribbean cruise vacation. There are activities for them, too. Your never have to worry about then being bored. To keep their overactive minds busy they have all kinds of activities while the adults do whatever they wish. The staff of the Caribbean cruise vacation employees will take good care of the kids so that you can do what you wish and be rest assured that they are properly occupied.
2. Couples Cruises
You won’t be disappointed if you are taking a Caribbean cruise vacation as part of a romantic getaway. The sunsets and sunrises that you’ll see over the ocean will be enough to take your breath away. And there’s nothing better than a tropical paradise, such as the one you’ll experience on your Caribbean cruise vacation, to bring two people closer together. To make your bond one that will stand the test of time, a romantic getaway may be just what you need.
3. You Can Even Bring The Entire Family
Whoever you wish you can even bring the whole family, aunts, uncles, grandma and grandpa. There’s something to do for everyone. Nobody will ever be bored, with shows and music and entertainment, plenty of food and drink as well as other activities aimed at every taste. You know that everyone will be pleased as a Caribbean cruise vacation is the perfect vacation to bring the family.
You are taken care of by the staff, well fed, and entertained. What else could you ask for in a Caribbean cruise vacation?
Guide to Choosing the Right Caribbean Holiday Cruise For You
In order to accommodate the large amount of people wishing to take a cruise, the cruise industry has expanded over the years. However, we are different and have different likes and dislikes which we usually want to take into consideration when taking a vacation because vacations are meant to relax, have fun and rejuvenate.
With that in mind, different cruise companies along the years targeted different group of people in order to make cruising more enjoyable achieve what we all want from a vacation. Every day there are no less than half a dozen ships leaving for the Caribbean. They are from different cruise companies with a completely different sort of crowd on each one of them; here is how you can learn which cruise ship is right for your Caribbean holiday prior to you getting on board.
Know A Bit About The Cruise Industry
In order to be able to provide the desired activities, food and entertainment for instance, each cruise line targets a different type of crowd. Carnival cruises are recognized as the ‘fun ships’ for the reason that they target the younger generation, teenagers and young families and for that reason, you will find many parties, 24 hour fast food counters and many reasonably priced cocktails.
Chat with your travel agent and let him or her know what your preferences are in order for him or her to suggest the perfect cruise ship for you, the best way to choose the right cruise ship company for you, which offers what you want from a Caribbean holiday cruise.
Caribbean holiday cruises travel on the eastern and western and southern Caribbean and each journey will differ greatly in prices depending on the ports of call and the time spent at sea. Caribbean holiday cruises are for 3, 5, 7 and at times even 10 days; the most popular Caribbean holiday cruise is seven days because it is made of the right sum of days in port and at sea in order for you to travel around and have fun as well as unwind and revitalize before getting back at work.
Helpful Tips
In order to find out which one will suit you and your requirements best or on the particular cruise liner’s website, you can do some research online and read passengers reviews and comments before picking a Caribbean holiday cruise. The only way to get the best deals for any cruise at any time of the year is to book your Caribbean holiday cruise through your travel agent.

Each year, many vacationers make the decision to take a cruise. Many of them who are parents are reluctant to include their children.
At first many parents believe that cruise ships are not designed for children. However, on modern cruise ships that is simply not true. A cruise ship is a great family friendly place to have your next vacation. Once informed of the facilities that many cruise ships have on-board designed especially for children parents who would initially choose to take a cruise alone often reconsider and plan a family vacation.
If you are the parent of a young child under the age of twelve, you may still wonder if they should accompany you on your next cruise. If you are able to afford additional tickets, you should consider bringing your kids along. A cruise will be memorable to your children as well as exciting. That is because a large number of cruise lines have tailored their cruise ships to children of all ages and there will be many fun activities for your children to participate in.
If you have yet to book your cruise ship reservations, you are encouraged to keep cruise ship activities in mind. The activities for children will vary from ship to ship. That is why it is important that you examine what each ship offers before making a final decision. Despite the fact that activities will vary from ship to ship there are many activities geared towards children which can be found on almost all cruise ships.
One of the many popular activities found aboard a cruise ship is gaming. Arcade rooms are common on most cruise ships. They offer children a safe place to have fun and to be a child. Many cruise ship arcade rooms are staffed with cruise ship employees, but you should still keep an eye on your child. Before leaving them alone in an arcade room, you are encouraged to use your best judgment.
Another fun activity for children of all ages includes swimming. All vacation cruise ships are equipped 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 guarantee the safety of your child.
In addition to a swimming pool and an arcade room, most cruise ships have an on board movie theater and a live performance stage. A large number of cruise lines offer family friendly movies, plays, and other performances. Children will likely find these performances and movie showings fun and exciting. To determine what ages these performances are targeted to you should check a cruise ship’s itinerary. A ship’s itinerary can be viewed without booked reservations.
Cruise ship restaurants and other dining facilities are likely to cater to children under the age of twelve. Many restaurants offer children’s menus. These menus are likely to include tasty kid sized meals. Most cruise ships offer discounts on meals for children under the age of twelve.
Cruise ship childcare centers are facilities that benefit both parents and their children. Even while on a family vacation parents need a break. For free or a small 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 child passengers of different ages, usually childcare facilities are geared to different age groups of children.
As with other services, you will find that a cruise ship’s childcare policy will vary from ship to ship but most cruises do consider the needs and care of children and some make a big deal of their facilities aimed for the entertainment and care of young passengers.
The above mentioned activities and facilities are just a few of the many that are targeted to children. You may want to consider scheduling your next family vacation aboard a cruise ship once you are satisfied with a ship’s facilities for children and the thought of a family vacation in a care free fun setting appeals to you.
A cruise ship is one of the best values for your vacation money so why not let the young ones join in the fun? You will enjoy seeing them living it up in a fun cruise ship environment.

To keep their customers coming back, the majority of cruise lines now offer some kind of customer loyalty scheme. These vary from each cruise operator and can include future booking discounts, invites to VIP parties, and onboard privileges such as priority embarkation. But is this enough to keep your loyalty? Or are you really looking for cabin upgrades and onboard credit?

Here is a summary of each cruise lines membership club and benefits to tempt you to come back time and time again…

Royal Caribbean International – Crown and Anchor Society

Membership to the Crown and Anchor Society is automatically granted after your first sailing. The club offers discounts and benefits according to the number of “cruise credits” obtained. These are calculated by the number of days at sea and the cabin grade you sail in. As their sister company, you will also receive equivalent recognition in Celebrities membership club. There are 4 tiers within the club escalating from gold to platinum, diamond and diamond plus. As a gold member, you can expect onboard bonuses such as complimentary wine tasting and a small commemorative gift, as well as online booking discounts. As your membership level increases you can look forward to priorities over other customers with check in, and waitlisted services such as spa treatments or shore excursions.

Celebrity Cruises – Captains Club

Celebrity’s 3 tier Captains Club offers a slightly more generous loyalty scheme which involves a one category upgrade at the most basic membership level, which is also applicable when booking your cruise through a travel agent.

The tiers range from Classic, Select and Elite, and loyal customers can expect invitations to onboard parties, behind the scenes tours and at the highest level, guests can take advantage complimentary use of the Thalassotherapy Pool, where available, and also a private departure lounge.

Norwegian Cruise Lines – Latitudes Program

As a past guest, NCL do offer some pretty good reductions when rebooking with them, aside from this, many of the benefits of their club, which ranges from bronze, silver, gold and platinum levels, are nothing to get too excited about! Whilst they offer the standard past guest party, plus priorities over other guests with check in, disembarkation, and reservation only restaurants, having completed 14 cruises, and earned your platinum status, all you really get is complimentary dining inthe “Le Bistro” restaurant, which would usually incur an additional charge. Oh and you get a latitudes ship pin…

Princess Cruises – Captains Circle

The Captains Circle club features gold, platinum and elite levels of membership with all levels receiving preferential pricing offers on selected itineraries throughout the year. Further standard membership benefits include, “exclusive events”, no doubt that will be another captain’s party then, and also a Princess Passport, a scheme whereby guests receive stamps, depicting the cruise destination which are then signed by the captain and displayed in a Princess Passport.

As membership increases to platinum status, guests are entitled to priority boarding, free internet minutes and upgraded travel insurance. (If the basic level is purchased) Guests that reach their 16th cruise, or their 150th cruise day with Princess will be members of the elite club, where extras such as a complimentary mini bar, upgraded bathroom amenities and a 10% discount in certain onboard shops will be applicable.

Costa Cruises – Costa Club

Loyal customers will be pleased to hear that Costa offer one of the most rewarding loyalty schemes at sea. Whether you are a basic aquamarine member, coral member or their highest pearl member, you can receive a 5% discount on any of their cruises. In addition, guests at aquamarine level will receive a generous 20% discount on wine packages, mini bar drinks and laundry service, 10% off Costa merchandise, and a cocktail with the captain complete with a souvenir photo.

Membership to the club is achieved through earning points; these are accumulated through cruise days with Costa as well as onboard spending. At higher levels of membership, guests will qualify for priority boarding and disembarkation, a complimentary meal in the a la carte restaurant, a bottle of wine and welcome gift.

P&O Cruises – Portunus Club

Membership to the Portunus club is automatic after completing your very first sailing with P&O Cruises. Throughout the year, there will be selected Portunus sailings, which give members reductions on standard cruise prices.

At a basic level, ruby members are entitled to a 5% discount on onboard spend, this increases to 7.5% when you reach sapphire level of membership, and gold members can take off an extra 10%. At the highest level, gold members will also get a dedicated check in service and priority disembarkation.

Members of the Portunus club can also gain points from sailing on Ocean Village, Princess Cruises or Swan Hellenic.

Cunard – World Club

World Club has 4 levels of membership; silver, gold, platinum and diamond. Automatic membership is granted after your first sailing with Cunard. After this, members are entitled to a 5% discount of further sailings.

Further benefits for guests who have completed 20 days onboard include; a souvenir gold membership Cunarder pin, complimentary internet minutes, and cocktail party invitation. As guests reach platinum level, they can expect, in addition to lower level benefits, a 20% discount on dry cleaning and laundry service, 10% off White Star Luggage Delivery service, additional internet minutes and a platinum member Cunarder pin. Diamond members will also receive priority luggage delivery.

MSC Cruises – MSC Club

MSC’s loyalty club consists of 3 tiers; classic, silver and gold. Membership is awarded by a points system which accumulates with the number of cruise days taken with MSC.

At each level, members will receive a welcome cocktail, a 5% discount on excursions and 5% discount in onboard boutiques. As a classic member, you are entitled to a 5% discount on most cruises, silver members will receive 8% and gold can take off an additional 10% off their cruise cost.

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines – Oceans

Each night spent onboard a Fred Olsen cruise will earn you 1 point. Once you reach 30 points, you will qualify for their first level of membership. At this “blue” level, guests will receive 5% off both onboard spending and shore excursions booked prior to departure. As you reach 31 points you enter the silver level where members will receive a 2% cruise discount, Oceans cocktail party and usually priority embarkation. Once you have exceeded 100 days onboard a Fred Olsen cruise, you will be rewarded with a 4% cruise cost discount, personalized luggage labels, a welcome aboard gift plus a complimentary shuttle bus pass.

Carnival – Concierge Club

After your 10th cruise with Carnival, you will enter their membership club at the platinum level, then, those members who complete their 25th, 50th and 75th sailings will receive a shipboard credit representing 25, 50 or 75% of their cruise fare. Those who reach an impressive 100th sailing will earn a complimentary cruise of up to 8 days.

In addition, all platinum members are eligible for priority check in, disembarkation and dining waitlists.

So are the cruise lines really doing enough to keep you coming back? Priority check in, early disembarkation and a captain’s party invite is certainly better than nothing, but, as a loyal customer, would this sway you to rebook with them? Or do you feel that the cruise experience they offer is enough to keep you loyal?

If you have any views on customer loyalty schemes or any ideas on how the cruise lines could improve on them, get in touch. I’d be interested to hear your opinions.

Here at Inside Cruise we like to keep our members in the know with all the latest cruise advice. So here are some of our top insider tips to help you get the best deals when it comes to booking your next cruise.

1. Booking your Cruise

It may seem logical to book your cruise directly with the cruise line, but this isn’t always going to get you the best price. You may find a travel agent can offer a discounted price on the same cruise which means great savings for you. But don’t make the mistake of assuming you will get the best quote simply by walking into your high street agent, come on, you have to do a little work to save yourself some money! Which leads me to my next point…

2. Getting Quotes

Accepting the first price you are quoted wont always get you the best deal. The key is to get prices from a few different companies. Travel agents work hard to earn commission on each sale, and the more they have to discount for you, means less money for them. Again, this is where a little hard work now pays off later. It seems just about every travel agent promises to price beat, so, take advantage and hunt around for the lowest price. When you have it, why not go back to the most helpful agent, and see if they can beat it? It’s not always just the lowest price you’re looking for either, P&O, Princess, Cunard and Ocean Village for example will offer onboard credit to selected agents on different dates on many of their cruises.

3. Customer Loyalty

It’s sad but true; loyalty does not always pay off. You may have received a great deal on your last cruise and have gone back to your same agent expecting another. It is still important to be ringing around. As an existing customer, these travel agents know they already have your custom, they also know you are less likely to be ringing other companies for prices. Obviously, this isn’t always the case, some agents will genuinely reward their loyal customers, but it’s always worth checking.

4. Booking Onboard

We have all been there; 13 nights into your fortnight holiday, and it all feels like it’s over far too soon. And, if it’s been really good, all you can think about is when you can come back again. Well, good news – on many cruises you will be given the opportunity to rebook a cruise onboard with the purser or at the future cruise desk. They may be offering discounted prices, onboard spending money and lower deposits to secure your booking there and then. If you do rebook onboard, but feel discounts and onboard credit still isn’t enough, once you get home, why not check a few prices offered by travel agents? If they can offer a further discount, you may be able to get the booking transferred to them. The best part is, you still get to keep any benefits offered to you for booking onboard whilst taking advantage of the lower price.

5. Cruise Only

It is becoming increasingly popular to tailor make your own cruise holiday, this not only gives you the luxury of flexibility with your travel plans, but can be a more cost effective way to holiday.

It may be surprising to hear that when booking your cruise package (flights, hotel stays and transfers) with the cruise line, the flight can cost more than the cruise itself!

The idea is to get “cruise only”. This means you are just taking the cruise from the cruise line and will find alternative flights and hotels elsewhere. Your travel agent can then search around for you to find a suitable flight, transfer and hotel stay as required. This can save you a whole lot of money, and allow you to choose your preferred flight and hotel, too.

It isn’t always advisable to do this, particularly if it is your first cruise, or if you are going to a destination that you are unsure of, but for many popular cruise ports including Miami, New York, Barcelona and even Vancouver it is very easy to do yourself.

Importantly, by booking the flight through your travel agent, you will still be covered by their ATOL license which protects your travel plans, (something to check before booking) and, furthermore, they will be knowledgeable about transfer times and can book a flight that will get you to your destination in good time for your cruise.

6. Shore Excursions

My final tip is to do some research on the ports you will be visiting before you go. Yes, I’m afraid it involves a little work on your part, but its well worth doing.

It is easy to play it safe and go along with the sometimes pricy excursions offered by the cruise lines, and in many cases, an arranged excursion is a great, safe way to see places. However, often the destination is at the port, so you can explore yourself, or you may find it cheaper to hop in a taxi and head to places you really want to see and not the places the cruise lines want to take you. Also, be aware that if you pay for arranged excursions before you go, and they are cancelled, due to weather or a change in port of call on the itinerary, you may not be refunded.

Well there it is, enough inside information to make any travel agent squirm… So go out there, do a little work, and make sure you get the very best deal on your next cruise.

What type of cruise are you taking? Are you planning a week long voyage on the open seas upon one of the major cruise lines?
Who wouldn’t want to be sailing on a pleasure boat enjoying many of your favorite items all in one spot?
There is shopping, gambling, relaxing, sports and activities, great food, and different ports to venture off on. However, did you know there are other types of cruises you can enjoy on any vacation?
We are here to open your eyes to the various pleasure cruises you and your loved ones can sail off on. Are you curious? Well pack your bags, untie the ropes, and let’s venture off on the open water to see what fun we can have!!
Our favorite vacation cruises:
1. Luxury/Pleasure Cruise. A week or more on a giant cruise ship, enjoying luxury at its best. Caribbean, European, Hawaiian, Alaskan, or whichever cruise you take, you will embark on a journey that will take you places you’ve never been before.
Visit different ports of call, take in the sightseeing, shopping, food and more at any of the islands, relax or participate in as many activities as you can, or drink/eat your vacation away. It is all there and more when you splurge on a major cruise line and really treat yourselves to a life of luxury.
2. Theme Cruise. What about a Disney Cruise or company cruise? Your itinerary may be a bit different on a theme-type cruise. Great for family vacations, romantic vacations, honeymoons, or celebrations, a theme cruise can provide that little extra you may not find on a traditional cruise.
3. Gambling or Riverboat Cruises. If you are an avid gambler or love to take a weekend and hit up Vegas or any casino area, then a gambling cruise will whisk you away to do exactly what you love- play cards, take in entertainment, and enjoy great food on the open ocean. Why not add that extra enjoyment of a cruise?
4. Day Cruises. No matter what vacation destination you venture to, most tourist towns offer exciting day/night cruises. Fun for everyone to enjoy take your pick from dinner cruises usually with live entertainment, sightseeing tours, singles cruises, family cruises, and overall fun. You will see the sights, enjoy an array of activities, mouthwatering food, entertainment, and most importantly good company and miraculous views.
5. Barefoot Cruises. Instead of sailing off a huge liner, why not do a barefoot cruise on a sailboat. This type of cruise will offer an experience you’ll never forget. Gather with other sea lovers to lounge, sunbathe, read, socialize, dance and party from sun-up to sundown.
This is just the tip of the iceberg to give you an idea of how much fun you can have and what types of cruises you can enjoy. Whether you want to live in the life of luxury for a few days, hit the casinos to gamble, or spend a few days on land and a few days on the sea there is a cruise for singles to families alike.

It started out as a simple week long cruise to Alaska.  My wife and I are avid cruisers…well my wife is and she drags me along. It may appear as though I am enjoying myself, but really I just want to get back to work.  My wife lets me work pretty much all the time, so I want her to enjoy the cruise.  For her to enjoy the cruise she has to think I am having fun too, so that’s why I pretend to enjoy myself.

 

Anyway, back to the Alaskan cruise…some people we met on a cruise were going to go, and so we were going to go along as well.  It’s always fun to cruise with people you’ve met before…assuming you like them of course. A couple of cruises back we went on a cruise to the Caribbean where a large number of people had been yakking at each other on the Cruise Critics message board for almost a year. People all going on the Caribbean cruise of course. It turned out to be a fantastic cruise.  We had so much fun with this huge group of people.  We referred to it as 62 best friends meeting for the first time.  We had some group party’s and a couple of blow-up dolls as mascots and we even had a Pirate theme.  It made the whole cruise far more fun.  Well for Kathy it was a lot of fun, I was just pretending of course.  There are a lot of pictures of the cruise, the group, and even the mascots at my cruisesrfun website.

 

But I digress…back to the Alaskan cruise.  Well, it turned out that a whole bunch of those folks that went on that Caribbean cruise decided to do another cruise together, this time to Acapulco Mexico.  The next thing I knew our Alaskan cruise had become our Acapulco cruise.  I much prefer hot weather to warm and warm to cold, so I had not been looking forward to the Alaskan cruise, but a cruise to sunny Mexico would be another story.  Er uh at least it would be easier to pretend to enjoy the cruise. 

 

One of the nifty things about this cruise is it stops at Zihuatanejo, which is where my step son and his wife got married on the beach. Actually, the beach was called La Playa Ropa, and the wedding was at a restaurant called La Perla.  Well…we thought why not invite our son and his wife and his sister and her husband to go along too.  They are great fun and our son’s wife is Mexican and speaks fluent Spanish…it makes her very handy when in Mexico. 

 

This cruise to Acapulco is at the end of October.  We will be on the ship for Halloween. You know what that means. It means that there will be a mandatory costume party. At least it will be mandatory for anyone married to my wife. Jeeze.  UPS has been making stops at my house several times a week lately bringing things like big fancy ear rings and costumes, and dresses…lots of dresses.  My wife Kathy really likes to dress up on these cruises. I pretend I don’t mind donning my tuxedo a couple of times each cruise.  Apparently I will also be getting dressed up as a Mexican Bandito…with bandoliers holding shot glasses instead of bullets, and holsters that hold tequila bottles.  Kathy is going to go as “Miss Piggy” dressed as “Big Bird”. Doesn’t make sense to me either, but check out our website in early November to see for yourself.

 

This cruise is aboard the Carnival Spirit, and we have never cruised on Carnival.  The last cruise I was on was aboard the HAL Oosterdam, a ship we’ve traveled on twice.  On that cruise I had my iphone, and I could check my email and visit my favorite websites from almost anywhere on the ship. I hope that’s the case with the Spirit.  As usual I will do a cruise review and post it on cruisesrfun.

 

Kathy has been in near constant communication with one of that group of 64, Judy, who happens to be a Travel agent.  So now we’ve been moved around, up graded and God knows what else, but we apparently have the perfect state room…with a wrap-around balcony and plenty of room for that cocktail party.  On this cruise our group will be around 20 people, and I know Kathy and two of her friends are planning at least one cocktail party for the entire group.  A lot of the original group of 64 still chat on the boards, and of course this upcoming cruise has a message board at cruise critics site, and there is daily chatting.  I never get involved in that stuff; I leave it all to Kathy.

 

The cruise begins in San Diego, and we will be staying overnight in the same hotel as the last time we cruised.  Kathy has booked us a room where we can stand on the balcony and watch the ship dock early in the morning.  Last time it was at like 5:00 a.m. or something…I don’t really understand the attraction., but I am pretty sure that at some un-Godly hour I’ll be up watch the ship pull up to the dock.

 

We usually build web pages about our cruise as we go, and upload them to the CruisesRfun website from the ship.  This time we will be doing the same thing.  I have a new digital camera that takes nice movies, and I would really like to begin incorporating videos into my website.  If we can upload at a reasonable speed I’ll certainly have some cool videos posted on the site before the end of the cruise.  If I am really lucky I’ll be able to get some really embarrassing footage of my children for all of their friends to view.

 

On this trip at least, what happens in Mexico will definitely NOT stay in Mexico.  Vive la Internet!

Cruising is fun, convenient, a good value … and easy. Right? Well, cruising is meant to be relaxing, but there are certain things passengers can do to get the very most out of their cruise vacation experience. Here are seven proven tips to maximize your cruise experience (and they don’t cost a thing!)
First – Travel with a like-minded partner or friends. Most cruise ships are like Noah’s Ark: people get on in pairs or in groups. While cruise lines will gladly allow you to cruise solo, it is not the best way to enjoy a cruise. Not only will you sometimes feel awkward during dining or cruise ship activities, you also get slapped with a surcharge since all cruising is based on double (or more) occupancy rates.
Furthermore, travel with compatible people. If you like to party, don’t decide to go on a cruise with a tee-totaler or a recovering drinker. Whether you are a sun bather or a casino denizen, you are going to have your best time if you travel with people who share your interests and values.
Second – Board your ship as early as you can and take any tours of the vessel or facilities that are offered. Most ships allow you to board many hours before the ship sets sail and during that time you may be offered free tours of the ship, the spa, and so on. Although they aren’t going to be the highlight of your vacation, these tours help you get oriented and can give you a glimpse of facilities on-board that you may have not known about.
If you can’t get an official tour, try to walk through the ship systematically. This will help you get your bearings plus you may find out about lounges, snack bars, clubs, meeting rooms, or other areas that you might not have known about.
On a recent cruise, I found out on the tour that the cruise ship had a guarantee program for purchases made in port. If you bought merchandise from certain recognized stores, the cruise line would guarantee them providing you filled out certain paperwork and turned it in to the onboard shopper. It was a great tip, and I never would have known about it had I not taken the pre-sailing tour of the ship.
Third – Do everything. This may sound counterintuitive to most cruise fanatics, who seek unstructured time and the opportunity to just lounge around and do nothing. Actually, most cruise directors will tell you the best cruises are those in which you really attempt to try and do everything offered.
This means you should extend yourself a bit. Sample the dancing, casinos, the pools, on-board games, art auctions, spa services, bingo, shows, and fine dining. Even if you don’t normally do those things, the more you try to take advantage of all that is offered, the more fun you’ll have.
Fourth – Don’t overeat. While some people do take cruises to gorge themselves, this is usually a rookie mistake. It may sound counter-intuitive to avoid overindulging on a cruise ship, since most cruises really emphasize the wonderful food they offer. But here’s how to handle it.
Do enjoy yourself. Order what you love. Chances are that cruise ships will offer it, whether it’s steak or lobster, ice cream or pizza, eggs benedict at sunrise, or chocolate decadence at midnight. Do, by all means, eat the foods you love.
But don’t stuff yourself. You’ll wind up feeling miserable during the cruise and fat after you get off the boat.
When in doubt, pass on food. Why? Because on a cruise ship, you’re never more than a few minutes away from the next opportunity to eat. Do try to sample what strikes your fancy, but don’t overeat and don’t be afraid to say no to many of the things that are offered to you to eat or drink. You really won’t be able to eat and drink everything on board, so don’t even try.
You’ll wind up feeling fitter and stronger and you’ll really enjoy what you do eat.
Fifth – Drink water. That’s good advice anywhere, but most of us forget about it on vacation, particularly on a cruise. Furthermore, if you drink alcohol or spend a lot of time in a hot climate, your need for water increases so you need even more water to avoid dehydration.
Even mild dehydration can cause headaches, aches and pains, and digestive disturbances. Why ruin your vacation? Drink lots and lots of water. It’s available just about anywhere beverages are offered on a cruise ship and bottled water is typically brought every morning to your cabin.
Sixth – Protect your skin. Even if you cruise to Antarctica, you will still need sunscreen. The sun’s intensity is amplified by the water’s reflection, so ramp up your sunscreen protection for a cruise. Put on sunscreen when you go to the pool or beach or even if you’re just sitting on deck in the shade.
If you do get burned, use some of the after-burn products on the market. They should be available on board ship if you don’t bring your own. Whatever you do, protect any burned skin from further sun exposure. If you get a burn on top of an existing sunburn, you can do serious damage to your skin and may even require medical intervention.
Seventh – Don’t be cruise-stupid. That’s a term I made up for a behavior I frequently observe on cruise ships. For some reason, being on a cruise makes some people act foolishly or recklessly and do things they would never normally do. Maybe it’s the unreal experience of being on a cruise ship.
On a cruise ship, people wait on you. Everything is nice and clean. You don’t have to do any work at all. Everybody seems happy. You never have to worry about pulling out your wallet, cooking a meal, or even picking up after yourself. It doesn’t take long before the cruise experience literally becomes “another world.”
Some folks take that as a cue to start behaving irresponsibly and sometimes they get hurt. While I do not want to trivialize bad experiences or say that all bad events are deserved, we should also recognize the fact. People who start acting recklessly sometimes get hurt.
If you decide to pretend you’re a gymnast and balance on the guard rail, you just might fall off. If you leave your purse or wallet unattended in a public area, you can get robbed. If you decide to get roaring drunk in some foreign port of call and act like an idiot, you can wind up in a mess of trouble.
Observe the same good, common sense tactics you use on land or in your everyday life.

Repositioning cruises are not a new phenomenon, they‘re just the best kept secret in the cruising industry.  Just like migrating birds, many cruise ships leave for warmer climates in the Autumn and return in the Spring.  Some sail south to the Southern Hemisphere for the winter months and then sail back to the Northern Hemisphere for the summer months, while other cruise ships sail cross the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans to “reposition” themselves in warmer weather.  Just like most vacationers, these fleets of ships are seeking seasons in the sun.

These specific one-way cruise holidays are offered at incredible discounts to attract new and seasoned cruise lovers alike.  No cruise line wants to ever have the expense of moving a huge ship across hundreds or thousands of miles of ocean without having any paying cruise passengers onboard.  This is an opportunity for vacationers to get a luxury dream cruise for a bargain basement price.

A repositioning cruise is not a stripped down version of a luxury cruise.  It is a luxury cruise!  All passengers enjoy the same meals, the same entertainment, and have the same onboard privileges.  And your deeply discounted ticket, sometimes costing as low as fifty dollars per day, entitles you to everything that is usually included in a luxury cruise.  

The main difference between a standard cruise and a repositioning cruise is that the latter is longer, usually lasting from two to four weeks, with more time spent at sea and fewer, or possibly no ports of call.  This means more relaxing days at sea and a less hectic itinerary. 

And on certain repositioning cruises some ships will drop anchor in very unique ports of call that are usually reserved for very expensive world cruise itineraries.

Usually these repositioning cruises take place in the months of September and October, and in March and April.  Some of the destinations in the Winter are Hawaii, the Caribbean, Mexico, South America including the Panama Canal, and Asia.  The destinations in the Summer are Alaska, Canada and New England, and Europe and the Mediterranean.

Depending on the season, vacationers can sail to or from Europe and North America; Alaska and British Columbia, and the United States southwest coast including destinations in Mexico; the East coast of Canada and northern United States, and a number of southern U.S. as well Caribbean destinations.  Some repositioning cruises sail to and from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

There are a few important things that you should consider if you want to go on a repositioning cruise.  First is booking an “open jaw” flight where you fly to the departure port of call and then fly home from the cruise ship’s destination port.  These air flights can be pricey compared to the usual return airfares that most travelers are familiar with.  Sometimes it is possible to book your flight through the cruise line, but not always.  Even with the usual extra cost for an open jaw ticket over a regular airline return ticket, a repositioning cruise is still an incredible value for your travel dollar.  However, if you are fortunate to live close by, or within driving distance of your departure port, then you would only have to book a one-way air flight back to your departure port and then drive back home.

If you think you would enjoy a long, relaxing, luxury cruise then you‘ll love a repositioning cruise which usually is not filled to capacity with passengers and spends more time at sea. 

P.S.  Don’t forget your camera and a wardrobe to reflect the possible weather conditions on your cruise.