Cruises – Tips & Tricks
Image via Wikipedia
Finding The Perfect Cruise
Cruises used to be strictly the domain of the “comfortably retired”, you know, those who had received a golden handshake – thank you very much - cashed in a business that they’d spent a lifetime in building or just been very careful at squirreling away the cash. They could splash out and spend a few months sailing around the world on a floating hotel filled with other comfortable retirees, “last year we went on a World cruise, but this year we fancy going somewhere different” – “what, like the moon”? Well that was then, and this is now. Cruising is now one of the fastest growing sectors in the travel industry, and everybody is at it, even families with young children.
Cruise ships are packed with entertainment and activities which the whole family can enjoy, you can even go ice-skating or rock climbing on some of todays cruisers, how weird is that? Anyway, with a host of new themed and family friendly cruise ships, new routes, new exciting itineraries, no wonder cruising is on the up.
Whatever floats your boat . . .
When To Book Your Cruise
It’s the same old question really, should you book your cruise well in advance, or should you try to find a last minute cruising bargain. This last minute option might be your only option, if you only decided to take, or had the opportunity to go on a cruise at the last minute. Bargains can be found at both ends of the booking spectrum. Many people book their cruises well in advance (gives them time to save up), but we all like a last minute bargain too, and it can be really annoying if you end up cruising the Caribbean for 14 days after spending months of saving and planning, only to find that your “neighbors” booked the week before and saved a few hundred dollars, and remind you at every opportunity.
- If you have a very particular idea about the cruise you want, then you need to book it well in advance. Summer cruising is popular so if you fancy a nice summer cruise then bear in mind that these trips often sell out well in advance. Booking a cruise is different to booking a particular vacation destination where you have lots of accommodation choices . . . once the ship is full, it’s full. You might have to book a clear eight months in advance to make sure that you can enjoy the cruise of your choice.
- If you have a more flexible approach to your cruise and don’t mind cruising off-season, then you can leave it much closer to the date of departure before booking your cruise. You might even be able to find a real last minute bargain if you’re not too fussy about where you’re going. Do bear in mind though that you won’t be able to book it and go within 24 hours - federal law means that cruise ships must submit their passenger lists a full 96 hours before departure (that’s 4 days according to my calculator), so at least you’ll have a little bit of time to pack.
Cruising Tips & Tricks – Making The Most Of Your Cruise
Once you’ve chosen, booked and paid for your cruise you might think that your paying days are over, but check it out because you might be in for a costly surprise. Cruising used to be all-inclusive packages, but things have changed and it’s important that you know just what you’ve paid for and what you haven’t – depending on what you’ve actually bought with your ticket. The “all-inclusive” part of your cruise might simply mean that your accommodation, food, transport and entertainment are included in the price of your ticket, but not necessarily drinks, group classes etc . . . which can all add up (I mean the drinks, not necessarily the classes – but check it out).
Shore excursions, port charges, tips, fuel surcharges – all of these things can end up costing you a few hundred dollars more than you originally anticipated on the price of your cruise. You need to budget for your daily cruising expenses, just like you would for any other type of vacation.
He’s certainly got plenty of handy cruising tips & tricks don’t you think . . . sneaky little devil.
