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1 Choose to cruise for VALUE. One price buys your cabin, dining, entertainment and more. 2 Choose to cruise for ROMANCE. Secluded beaches, en suite dining on a balcony overlooking the ocean and spa services for two are just some of the romantic pursuits available. 3 Choose to cruise for CUISINE. Tantalize your taste buds with gourmet fare that showcases exotic ingredients, old standbys like pizza and ice cream or spa cuisine for a healthy alternative. Depending on your mood, dine in a traditional ballroom setting, a small bistro or a casual eatery. 4 Choose to cruise for VARIETY.
With over 150 distinctive ships, 1800 ports-of-call and an unbelievable
array of places to see and things to do, there is a perfect cruise for
you. For even more choice, consider a pre- or post-land tour. 5 Choose to cruise for ACTIVITIES.
Fill your days with sightseeing, sports activities, cultural lectures,
educational tours led by naturalists and historians or simply lounge by
the pool and relax. At night, enjoy dance extravaganzas, 6 Choose to cruise for SIMPLICITY. Don't come back from your vacation needing a vacation. Planning a cruise is simple; We can handle all of the details. Once you're on board, nearly all expenses are pre-paid... talk about hassle-free. 7 Choose to cruise for NEW LIFE EXPERIENCES. Fall asleep in one destination and awake to a new one... and you don’t have to pack and unpack again! 8 Choose to cruise for FAMILY. Families love cruising. Children's programs, kid-friendly menus and tours of the ship will keep your children happy, while affording you some time alone. 9 Choose to cruise for PAMPERING. Regardless of your budget, all cruise lines pamper their guests with first-class service around the clock. 10 Choose to cruise for SATISFACTION. It's a fact that cruises have a higher percentage of satisfied customers than any other vacation experience. But most importantly choose to cruise for YOU. You can have the vacation of a lifetime, see the world, completely unwind, take a walk on the wild side, dance the night away, feast on fabulous cuisine, learn something new, make friends, bond with your family, steal quiet moments with your spouse. Whatever your heart desires is yours, when you choose to cruise. (Back To Previous Page) gTRUTH, FACTS AND LIES 1/ Who cruises? Every day, more and more people are discovering the all-inclusive pleasures of a cruise vacation. More singles, families, couples, honeymooners, second honeymooners and groups of friends are sailing away on the vacation of their lives. Last year alone approximately seven million people enjoyed a cruise vacation. So each ship will have passengers from all segments of life. So no matter how old or young you are; single or married; traveling with kids or grandparents; when you sail you will find people sharing similar likes and dislikes. 2/ Isn’t cruising expensive? Cruising is the best vacation value! There are cruise vacations to suit every budget. Your cruise fare includes meals, your stateroom, on-board activities and entertainment, plus transportation from port to port. You'll know what your vacation will end up costing you before you go. (Typically, your only extra expenses will be drinks, specialty restaurants, optional shore excursions, and personal services such as massage or hairstyling.) Do a cost comparison of a cruise to the total cost of other vacations. You'll be amazed! 3/ Motion sickness? Probably
not. Popular cruise itineraries sail some of the calmest waters in the
world. In addition, stabilizers on modern ships, availability of advance
weather information, and development of effective preventative medications
have, for the most part, eliminated the incidence of motion discomfort.
Keep in mind, that with the major cost of the new cruise ships, Captains
are sure to sail around any storms that could possibly damage the ship in
anyway. But if you find yourself feeling a bit ‘queasy’, make your way to
the purser’s desk. Some lines offer complementary seasickness pill but if
not they will direct you to the Doctor’s office who usually offers a pill
or an injection to eliminate your symptoms.
NO WAY! Being at sea gives you a feeling of total freedom that no land-based resort can offer. There's plenty of room. And it will probably take you two or three days just to discover everything that's on board. Plus, you get the added adventure of exploring many exciting ports of call. Cruise ships are floating resorts with all the choices fine resorts have to offer. You can lie back in a lounge chair, breathe in the sea air, soak up the sun, read good books, or watch the ever-changing seascape. If you're more active, join in exercise or dance classes, and sports contests. Practice your tennis stroke or golf swing, or take some fresh air on the jogging deck. On some of the latest ships, you can ice skate, bowl or rock climb. Plus you can swim, stretch out in the sauna or work out in the gym. You can also see a feature film, attend an enrichment lecture by experts, play backgammon or play bridge. And that's just when you're on board! 5/ Aren’t all ships the same? Far from it! Ships range from intimate and yacht-like to vessels stretching longer than three football fields. You can sail with fewer than 100 fellow guests or with more than 4,000. Enjoy atmospheres ranging from casual to formal, contemporary to classic. You can even choose sail-assisted ships. Enjoy the endless activities offered on a contemporary resort-style cruise, or immerse yourself in the culture of a destination on a special interest cruise. 6/ Is this all too good to be true? Normally, if it sounds too good to be true, it is. BUT with cruising, it just seems to be getting better and better. Cruise Lines try to out-do each other in service, food and entertainment. The result is better food, service and entertainment on ALL the cruise lines; a no-loose situation for cruise passengers. The one complaint we hear time and again is that cruises end far too soon! Beyond that, it's hard to find any negatives. All you have to do is relax and enjoy your vacation. Most importantly, every crew and staff member on board is dedicated to making your cruise the best vacation of your life (until you top it with your next cruise!) (Back To Previous Page) gHOW TO FIND YOUR PERFECT CRUISE There are cruises designed to suit virtually every interest and personal preference. There are cruise lines that feature soft adventure expeditions to such unusual and rustic frontiers as Antarctica, the Amazon rain forest or African Serengeti. Or discover historical legacies closer to home with enlightening itineraries to New England, French Canada and the Colonial America coast. So initially, we suggest you make a list of your preferences – how do you want to spend your time: on beautiful beaches, shopping, visiting historic sites, museums, viewing wildlife? From this list we can determine some itinerary choices for you. Next, you will need to consider the type of cabin you would like to sail in. There are inside rooms that do not have windows; rooms with windows of varying sizes; ones with balconies and even suites with lots of luxury space and special features. If you are a person who will not be in your room much, it may not matter if you do not have a window. But this is a personal preference. When you call us, talk more with our cruise counselors about this. We were all first time cruisers once too. Our well cruised staff can provide the information to allow you to make an informed decision! BE SURE NOT TO PURCHASE ANY AIR TICKETS BEFORE YOUR CRUISE IS CONFIRMED. Space on both the ship and the airlines is constantly in flux. So it is imperative that you have your cruise space confirmed before you buy your air tickets. I can not tell you how horrible we feel when we have quoted (NOT confirmed) a cruise vacation and when people call back they have purchased their air tickets but the cruise space is gone. (Back To Previous Page) g WHAT TO DO BEFORE YOU SAIL The time between when you deposit on your cruise and when you sail will pass much more quickly than you can imagine. This is the time to make sure all your buoys are in a row!!! Make a list. Remember, anything you can do in advance of sailing day should be. Departure day is exciting. You don’t want it to get spoiled by last minute ‘stuff’. We feel the following items should make your check list. ~ Check all your confirmations to ensure all the information is correct. It is very important that names on your confirmation match EXACTLY the names on your passport. Any mistakes could cost you money to have them corrected if noticed in time OR cause you to be denied boarding if not caught until boarding time. ~ Locate your passport and ensure it will be valid for at least 6 months from the day you returned from your cruise. This is part of the new Home Land Security requirements. ~ The same way, check your documents as soon as you receive them for any mistakes. We double check them in house but ‘to err is human’ so be divine and check them again. ~ If you have booked your air through the cruise line, you can call for your flights about 30 days before you sail. At that time, it is important to call the airline directly to book your seats if they are available. ~ All cruise lines require pre cruise registration done either via a completed long form or on-line. If you have the on-line capability, it is much easier to go on line and have it done with. If not, you will receive a form from us to complete and either mail or fax into the cruise line directly. This registration MUST be done at least 3 weeks before boarding or you may be held up at the pier completing another form. ~ When you receive your documents, you will receive emergency contract information to be left behind. Find it and make extra copies. As you get closer to sailing, you will realized you want to leave this emergency information with more people than you originally thought. You don’t want to be searching for it at the last minute. ~ Get directions to the pier or airport so you can calculate the time needed to get to the port or the airport. Remember security has increased the time needed to process through lines so be sure to leave yourself enough time to avoid problems and high anxiety. ~ Once you have deposited, you can begin investigating the shore excursions that are offered at the ports you will be visiting. A complete list is offered on the Cruise Lines web site. Most Cruise Lines do not allow you actually book excursions until 60-30 days prior to sailing BUT this varies by Cruise Line and itinerary. With so many options to choose from, it is wise to begin exploring your choices early. (Back To Previous Page) gSAILING DAY / EMBARKATION DO NOT MISS THE BOAT. There are so many variables in life, be sure to plan for the unexpected on sailing day to ensure your arrival at the pier in plenty of time to board. Leave enough time to travel in a relaxed state of mind and when traveling – earlier is always better. Do not pack your paper work. It sounds silly but you cannot imagine how many people do it when packing. At the last minute they end up putting their documents in a safe place which ends up getting checked in as luggage. Not good. Your luggage will be delivered to your room or left just outside your door by the ship porters. When you find it has arrived, bring it inside your room but leave the unpacking for later – there is so much more important things to do and explore right now. If you have not already booked your shore excursions, once on board, go to the shore excursion desk to book those excursions you know you want to choose. Some tours do sell out so if you have your heart set on a special snorkeling tour, or sunset sail, book it sooner rather than later. With so many dining options, if you know you would like to celebrate a special night dining in a specialty restaurant, now is the time to book it. These restaurants do book up. To avoid disappointment, make your reservations as soon as you can. Sometimes, due to the lack of demand on the first night at sea, the restaurants offer a ‘special’ rate. So, if you are interested, go to the restaurant of choice and ask. The same holds true for spa and salon appointments. Book early to get your preferred treatments and appointment times. Your first day on board is a day of discovery. You will be sure to find a spot created just for you. But as you discover the ship, be sure to take note of the MANDATORY Muster Drill. You must go to your cabin for your life preserve then make you way to your appointed Station. Attendance is mandatory and will be recorded. If you miss it, you will be required to take the second drill, usually very early in the morning on a day in port. Finally do not miss the sail away. Nothing compares to the feelings you get as the horns blow, people party and you sail away from your port. But I must admit, sail away is best experienced while sipping a glass of champagne!!! (Back To Previous Page) gLIFE ABOARD Cashless Community: you may have heard the term before but on the ship it is a reality. You receive a card upon check-in that doubles as a door key. You use this card to charge anything you purchase while on board from souvenirs in the shops, treatments at the Spa , shore excursions, to, as noted before, all drinks. Most cruise lines ask you to register a credit card when you complete your personal information form specifically to make this cashless society work more smoothly Added Expenses: Cruises are advertised as ‘all-inclusive’ although there are some added expenses you should expect and be watchful of to avoid an excessively large bill on your last day. Alcohol and most soft drinks – Some of the luxury lines
include alcohol as part of your cruise cost but most cruise lines do not.
Iced tea, tea and coffee are normally offered complementary in the dining
room and at the buffet areas. On the new modern ships, coffee and tea
plus delightful snacks of sandwiches and cookies are available 24 hours a
day. Be watchful as you can be caught off guard. Sometimes, the ‘drink of
the day’ is offered in a unique Souvenir glass. Find out the cost
difference- you are paying
Shore excursions are additional except on most European Riverboat cruises. These, sometimes unique and sometime ordinary, tours can add up especially on port intensive or exotic itineraries. Destinations like Alaska or Europe almost require the purchase of shore excursions to ensure you capture the most of the adventure as possible. In all probability, you will not be returning to these ports again so you want to see and do as much as possible. If you prepay the excursions, some cruise lines apply the cost to your credit card but most times, this charge is applied to your shipboard account to be settled at the end of your cruise. Tipping: to again, avoid the use of cash (and I am sure to allow the cruise lines to keep better records) the cruise lines charge tips to your account each day. When purchasing a service or drink, a 15 % gratuity is automatically added to your bill when you sign for the charge. Even gratuities for you room steward, dining room server and assistance are now being automatically charged to your shipboard account. The charge is normally $10 per person per day but fluctuates based on the ship and the type of accommodation you have purchased. Some cruise lines provide envelopes at the end of the cruise for you to give the respective crew member. Be sure to know the policy before you sail so you can plan accordingly if you need cask for the envelopes Laundry: if you ask to have laundry or pressing done by the ship’s staff, there will be a fee. A few ships (Holland America & Princess) offer self-service laundry facilities but it seems to be a thing of the past. People are just packing more in case they spill on their favorite blouse or shirt. (Back To Previous Page) gLAST PORT (disembarkation) The day you have been dreading is here and you have to leave the ship. Just a few tips to make the day go a bit easier Packing & Luggage handling: most cruise
lines require you to pack your bags the night before you disembark and
place them outside your stateroom by a specific time. Porters then
collect then and store them in a place convenient for moving them off the
ship quickly in the morning. They will be waiting for you on the pier.
This process helps quicken disembarkation BUT, in your hast, do not forget
to o leave out items and clothes you need for the morning. I have seen
people who forgot and had to disembark in their pajamas!!!! Tipping – if the cruise line has included the gratuities in the cost of the cruise or they have been added to your shipboard account, you are all set. If not, be sure to have envelopes and cash ready to distribute before disembarking the ship. Settling your account – on the last night of your cruise, you will receive an itemized bill of your week’s charges. Take time to look it over. If you have a dispute, contact the purser to hotel desk about making changes. If you do not have a dispute, keep the bill as your receipt. The total will be charged against the credit card you have already registered via your Personal Information Form Disembarkation process – every cruise line, ship and port has a different disembarkation process simply because of the different physical structure of each. To address this, the cruise director will offer a talk the day before to explain the disembarkation process and procedures. We highly recommend that at least one person from every party attend this talk as details do change. For your convenience, the talk may also be offered continuously on the TV that day so you can view it in your stateroom. (Back To Previous Page) gTRAVELING WITH CHILDREN DOCUMENTS
WHAT TO BRING TRAVEL DOCUMENTS • Airline Tickets or e-ticket confirmation  • Cruise Line Documents • Passports and Visas or proof of citizenship • Vaccination Certificate (if required) • Driver’s License and Auto Insurance Card – for rental cars ashore • Medical Insurance Cards and Medical History • Some form of picture ID or other form of identification required by cruise line • ATM cards, prepaid phone cards, Cash or Traveler’s Checks (Back To Previous Page) g WIZARD TIPS  • Beach towels are not needed, as they are provided for use onboard the cruise ship as well as at ports-of-call.• Carry one dollar bills to tip. General rule for tipping is one dollar per bag. • Tie a bright strip of fabric or ribbon to your luggage for easy identification at the airport or pier. • Keep important documents together and close at hand. Make copies of everything (documents, photo id, passport, etc.). Keep one copy at home with someone and the second in your carry-on. • Check with the cruise line/ hotel before packing a port-a-crib. Most offer them to you, generally at no additional charge.Most ships have hair dryers. Do not pack your medication in your luggage, place it in your purse or carry-on bag. (Back To Previous Page) g DINING There are several dining options when you are cruising. As a rule of thumb, Early Dining means you'll have dinner between 6:00 pm and 6:30 pm. Late Dining means you'll have dinner between 8:15 and 8:45 pm. There are many reasons why one dining may be better for you than an other. You may want to look at your itinerary and see how late the ship will be in each port, as that may affect which dining time you would prefer. Several cruise lines are also now offering an "anytime dining" option where you can go to the main dining room at your leisure between 5:30pm and 10:00pm. This gives you the flexibility to eat when it is convenient for you and not have to worry about rushing back to the ship to make your scheduled dining time.  Many of today's cruise lines including Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Holland America, Norwegian, and Princess are now offering alternatives to having dinner in the main dining room or room service. For example, Norwegian Cruise Line now has up to 10 "specialty restaurants" on their newest ships. These are separate a la carte restaurants that are generally open between 6:30 pm and 11:00 pm where you can go to dinner anytime you'd like. Some of these 'specialty restaurants' have a cover charge so again, check with your counselor when investigating your options. And, while many cruises have eliminated the Midnight buffets of the past, most offer a 24 hour 'cafe' area that serves coffee, tea, hot chocolate, iced tea and snacks ranging from cookies to delightful sandwiches. For breakfast and lunch, you can choose to eat in the main dining room with table service, or you can visit the lido area for a buffet meal. On many occasions the speciality restaurants will serve an a la carte lunch as an additional option. (Back To Previous Page) g SPECIAL SERVICES The cruise lines require all guests with special medical needs to submit this information to them prior to travel. This is to ensure that they have the necessary information to give you the proper care in the event of an emergency. Passengers who carry syringes for medical use must also carry a letter from their physicians indicating this.  The cruise lines will do everything possible to accommodate any special needs that you may have. Please advise your cruise counselor at the time of booking if you will require wheelchair assistance during embarkation and disembarkation. If you will need a wheelchair throughout the cruise you have two options. You can bring your own wheelchair onboard or you can rent a wheelchair and have it delivered directly to the ship. In either case you will need to advise your cruise counselor of your needs. You may need a wheelchair accessible stateroom with a larger entry way and a roll-in shower. Each cruise line offers accessible staterooms, but they are limited and should be reserved as far in advance as possible.Each cruise line can also accommodate many special dietary requests. Low-fat and vegetarian entrees are often offered at lunch and dinner. Low-sodium meals, kosher meals, and certain other diet-restricted meals can be made available. Dietary requests should be made at the time of booking to ensure that you are appropriately accommodated. In the event of an emergency virtually every cruise ship has a fully equipped medical facility and staff to handle medical emergencies. (Back To Previous Page) g CELEBRATIONS CRUISE SHIP ONBOARD ACTIVITIES The following are just a few of the highlights awaiting you aboard your cruise Spas and Beauty Salon Can you imagine your afternoon? Relax with a therapeutic massage while listening to calming music. Then head over to the salon to prepare for formal night with a hair appointment, manicure and pedicure. It is the life you have always dreamed of! Cruise Cuisine Pool, Sports, and Recreation
Enrichment Classes Live Entertainment One night, laugh along with a comedian. Watch the amazing acts of a ventriloquist or juggler. Listen to the beautiful sounds of a jazz musician or concert pianist. Dance to the music of a Calypso band. The live entertainment varies by the individual sailings. Casino Night Life Quiet Areas SHORE EXCURSIONS & PORTS OF CALL Shore Excursions Find your adventure with a shore excursion, a one-day tour offered in various port cities. Whatever your idea of adventure or entertainment is, there is something for you to do in each exciting port of call. An excursion is a great way to enhance your cruise experience and to see so much more of the ports during your cruise. The key to getting what you want is to book early! Some cruise lines allow for guests to reserve shore excursions online prior to departure. If you don’t or can’t book online, be sure to get to the shore excursion desk as soon as it opens on the ship. Popular shore excursions sell out fast! Be sure to read any fine print before signing up. Cruise lines vary on their policies of changing or canceling an excursion. Exploring on Your Own When exploring on your own you may miss the narratives of the history, culture, or interesting tidbits, but you may discover other attractions on your own. Touring alone allows you to connect with the destination in a more personal way. It is important to know exactly when your ship departs when going alone. You will be responsible for getting yourself back to the port. The ship will not wait for you! If you are on a shore excursion organized by the cruise line, they are responsible for getting back on time. Safety in Ports A few things to consider: Your cruise director will generally give a talk about each port prior to disembarkation. You will learn valuable information about everything from safety to shopping venues to great places to eat. Try to ensure that at least one member of your group attends this discussion. Don’t let fear of the unknown prevent you from exploring the exciting and interesting destinations of the world. Do your research and know about your destination so you can explore safely and with confidence. (Back To Previous Page) gLEAVE BEHIND INFO
How better can it be? Travel with your friends and sail for FREE. A group is defined as having a minimum number of double-occupancy cabins booked on the same ship and sailing. The usual minimum is 8 cabins ( 1 person travels free for 16 persons booked) but it can be lower depending up on the cruise line and sailing. The tour conductor credit is based on the cabin only and does not include airfare. The tour conductor is responsible for their air, port charges, government fees and any other personal charges incurred while sailing. Since most group rates offer the best value, you will be creating an even better money saving opportunity for your friends while ensuring free passage for yourself. There are usually no limits on the tour conductors so if you book 16 cabins, the 16th CABIN would be free. Book 32 cabins and you would earn two free cabins. You may also earn extra spending money. It can only get better with the more cabins you book so call us to find out all your options. If you already have a small group of friends who are interested in traveling together – call us to find the best rate and opportunity possible. With all the information, you can promote and build your group from there. We can support you with postcards, flyers or brochures to help you book additional cabins. But it starts with a call to us at 800- 547-4790. Let us help you set up the cruise of a lifetime – be it for business or pleasure. (Back To Previous Page) |
The choices include: boutique, luxury
cruises with globetrotting itineraries; large, contemporary ships with a
fantastic array of recreational facilities; classic vessels evoking the
time-honored traditions of cruising; special-interest or exploration
cruises specializing in unique destinations with an accent on cultural
enrichment.
Upon arrival at the pier,
there will be plenty of ship personnel as well as Port Authority people to
help you through the check-in process. There is normally some waiting
time involved. It is a fun people-watching time but if you tend to get
bored, you may want to bring a book, magazine or crossword.
If you are traveling at the last minute and booked your cruise just a few days prior to your scheduled departure, you may be required to do a "Pier Pickup," which means your documents will be waiting for you at the cruise terminal. You must show proper proof of citizenship and identification before boarding.
The following guidelines are suggested by the cruise lines: Stateroom attendant - $3.50 per person, per day. Head Waiter - $3.50 per person, per day. Assistant waiters - $1.75 per person, per day. Gratuities for the Headwaiter/Maitre D and other service personnel are at your discretion. For your convenience onboard the ship, a 15% gratuity is automatically included on all beverage tabs. In many cases, the cruise lines will now automatically add the recommended gratuities to your onboard account. 
When planning out a wardrobe, keep in mind the types of events that you will be participating in. Does the ship have formal dinners? Is a hike through the jungle on the itinerary as a shore excursion? Check the weather forecast of the destinations you plan on visiting to aid packing. Packing for a cruise might lead to additional challenges with the variety of outfits that are needed for a single day. Minimize what is packed by planning outfits that will look different by simply changing tops with a pair of black or khaki pants or by adding a sweater or wrap to a simple black dress.
California; Acapulco, Mexico; Juneau, Alaska; Barbados; St. Vincent; and Montego Bay, Jamaica. With these port weddings, couples are rarely married by the captain of the ship. Instead, the cruise line will arrange for a notary public or nondenominational minister to be the officiant, unless you personally arrange for someone else to preside over the ceremony.
Not really into getting wet? There is still plenty to do on the cruise ship! Work out in the fitness center or take a spinning class. Try your hand at bowling on the high seas. Play a round of miniature golf or scale the rock-climbing wall of the ship’s smoke stack. Brush up your golf swing on a simulator. Ice skating, basketball, volleyball, running, tennis… the possibilities are endless. (Activities vary by cruise ship.)
It is important to remember to leave contact information with your family members in case you need to be reached while at sea. You should leave your full day to day itinerary, your cruise ship, cabin number, onboard email address, and phone number to contact the ship if necessary. It will cost anywhere from $7.95 - $15.95 per minute to contact the ship, but in the event of an emergency your family can reach you even at sea. The most economical way to communicate with friends and family back home is via email. Many cruise ships offer internet service for a nominal per minute fee or in many cases you can also pre-purchase a block of time.