Thursday, November 27th, 2008

3 Traps to Avoid when Choosing All Inclusive Cruises

All inclusive cruises are vacation voyages on a cruise liner where everything - accommodation, meals, and entertainment - is included: The ideal holiday for many vacationers, not the least people with low mobility, families, people on a budget, and even some luxury travellers!

But not all all inclusive cruises are the same

Trap #1: Make Sure You Get What You Pay For

There’s a big difference between luxury cruise ships, and traditional cruise liners.

In luxury cruise ships, there are often casinos and movie theatres that you are granted exclusive access to as part of your fare.

Also, be careful about alcohol as an inclusion in your fare. Alcoholic beverages are SOMETIMES, but not always included in all inclusive cruise packages - so if you’re planning to drink and sail, ask the question before you board - or be prepared for high liquor prices on the high seas!

Trap #2: Late Flights

Flights to cruise destinations are notorious for running late - and this can cost your place on the ship.

Before you cruise, make sure you confirm your flight booking - ideally the night before. And arrive a night early to your point of departure just in case.

Many cruise liners are “forgiving” and allow you to reschedule your departure date via the internet with at least 24 hours notice.

In some cases, travel insurance does not pay for missing the departure of a cruise because of a late plane - and this can be a big cost, and a big disappointment.

Trap #3: Keep your travel documents close

If you’re cruising the Caribbean, South East Asia or South Pacific, no doubt you’ll want to go island-hopping or shopping on your trip, and disembark from the boat for some tourist action.

So keep your travel documents in your backpack to save time and hassles later (Passports, Visas [if necessary], etc).

If you’re on an Alaskan cruise, or an Antarctic cruise (departing from Argentina), it’s still wise to follow this protocol - but not necessary given the likelihood of stepping onto foreign soil during your cruise voyage.

Taking simple steps to ensure your all inclusive cruise is smooth sailing will help you to ensure that this is one of the most relaxing, fulfilling and freedom-giving adventures of your life.

Looking for more advice on all inclusive cruises, these articles will help you out:

  • All-inclusive Cruise Vacations - There are also a few areas that can go either way with all-inclusive cruises packages. For example: on some cruise lines snacks are included in the all-inclusive price, on others snacks are not included. …
  • Cruise Ships: Benefits And Drawbacks Of All-Inclusive Cruise Travel - So, what are the benefits of all-inclusive cruises? The greatest advantage of a cruise that includes it all, as perceived by most travelers, is the ability to fully estimate the cost of a vacation, including food and drinks, …
  • All Inclusive Cruises - All inclusive cruises give the freedom to enjoy a cruise without the worry of ‘over spending’. Many different cruise companies, including Thompson Cruises, offer all inclusive cruises, or give the opportunity to upgrade to all inclusive …
  • All Inclusive Cruises - 7 Tips For Smooth Sailing - And all inclusive cruises can save you even more money and your choices are almost limitless. There are all inclusive Caribbean cruises, all inclusive wedding cruises, all inclusive Alaskan cruises, and more. …
  • Edmonton Travel Agents Offer Discount Vacations - At World Resort Vacation, you will be able to choose from over 20000 itineraries for all-inclusive cruises and travel packages or you can just get the bare bones flight/hotel deal. Your Edmonton travel agents are like a friend who has …

Technorati Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Sunday, February 8th, 2009

What cruises are luxury cruises?

thanks for any help

A luxuty cruise is considered to be a cruise on one of the luxury cruise lines.

Crystal Cruises http://www.crystalcruises.com/
Cunard Line http://www.cunard.co.uk/
Regent Seven Seas http://www.rssc.com/
Seabourn Cruise Line http://www.seabourn.com/
SeaDream Yacht Club http://www.seadreamyachtclub.com/
Silversea Cruises http://www.silversea.com/
Windstar Cruises http://www.windstarcruises.com/cruises-home.asp

Seadream Yacht Club is considered to be the most luxurious cruise line and has consistently won awards for being the best.

"Exclusive" above Luxury – Berlitz Ocean Cruising and Cruise Ships 2008
"World's Best" Travel + Leisure 2007
"World's Best" Top Scoring Cruise Line - Condé Nast Gold List 2007
"World's Best Small Passenger Shipping Line" - Condé Nast Traveler Reader's 2006

powered by Yahoo answers

Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009

What would be the best all inclusive vacation package?

I’m single parent looking to escape the kids for about 4 nights. I woulld like ideas for a vacation where there is no kids, warm sun, and good drinks and food.

Where you live would make a difference on where I suggest to you. I suggest you check with your local travel agent for the best info.

If you are East coast…Bermuda…Bahamas..

If you are West Coast
Cabo San Lucas

if you are Texas..Cancun..

There are tons of choices….wonderful all incusive places or just plain great properties.

Forget Club Med. What the first person said is not true.
Most of them are now old and dumpy.
They also are not all adults only. Many are families.
Adults only does not mean a good vacation. It may mean it is tackier and more swinging than you want.

Speak with your travel agent.

Saturday, January 31st, 2009

How to Plan a Cruise Vacation

As great as taking a vacation on cruise ships may seem, you still need to know how to plan a cruise ship vacation properly so you have the perfect cruise experience. You need to know about the different types of packages the cruise lines offer.

When planning a cruise ship vacation you need to know how to choose one that will meet your expectation or tailor to your needs. Here are some guidelines that you can follow to plan your cruise travel and enjoy the perfect cruise experience:

Think of who you want to take with you on your cruise vacation. There are many different packages offered by cruise lines. There are packages for the whole family and there are packages for single travelers.

Will you be taking the cruise vacation with children? Maybe you will take your significant other for a romantic getaway. There are cruise ships that are tailored for children and there are cruise lines that cater to single cruisers and honeymooners. There are even some ships that offer wedding services. What could be better than to get married on the ship and have your honeymoon built in?

Decide how long you want to cruise. If you just want to try it out, opt for a three day cruise. Normally, cruises start at three nights and can go anywhere from seven to fourteen days. But there are also world cruises that can last as long as three months. My advice is if you are going to cruise in Europe you should pick a fourteen day cruise because of the expense and long plane rides to get to your port of embarkation. If you live near a port and you just want to take a long weekend choose of three or four day cruise. Decide what cruise travel is best for you.

Choose the perfect destination for you and your family. Alaska is beautiful but can only be cruised in the summer months. If you live in the colder climes you may want to take a mid winter cruise to the Caribbean or even South America. If you want your cruise travel to be in the Caribbean and you want to spend two weeks on your cruise vacation, choose a line that alternates between the Eastern and Western Caribbean. This cruise vacation takes you to many different islands.

The cruise lines have a variety of destinations to choose from. Visit your cruise travel agent to go over the different itineraries or check out the individual websites of the cruise lines.

Consider the port of departure. Since 9/11 cruises have been emphasizing home port cruising. Now there are many cruises that depart from Bayonne, New Jersey, Galveston, Texas, or Seattle, Washington, not just Miami and Fort Lauderdale.. Depart from the one closest to you and you will save money on expensive airfare.

Speak to a knowledgeable cruise travel agent. Make sure they have personally sailed on many different cruise ships so they can give you an honest opinion on what each cruise line has to offer and which would give you the perfect cruise experience.

A cruise travel agent will also be able to supply you with cruise tips. Scour the cruise reviews for additional cruise tips.

Large cruise lines have a variety of activities and facilities that you can use on the ship. If you like to gamble then choosing a cruise ship with casinos is probably right for you. Or if you are taking your kids with you, a cruise ship that offers activities and facilities for children would be the best choice for your cruise travel. For instance, Disney is, of course, geared toward children but they do not have casinos. So if you are taking the family but you want to gamble steer away from Disney and choose one of the other major cruise lines. Almost all of them have children’s programs. If you don’t want to be on a ship with children sail on one of the fancier lines that don’t cater to children. Here, again, it pays to read as many cruise reviews as you can to pick up additional cruise tips.

Cruise vacations do not necessarily mean that you have to spend all your vacation time onboard. All the cruise ships offer land and shore excursions. The cruise lines offer pre and post cruise land vacations usually for two or three days.

Monday, January 26th, 2009

Here Is How To Find A Cheap Cruise

One of the best choices when it comes to vacations is to take a cruise. There are many reasons that a cruise is so appealing, but the main one still remains that they are so much fun. A cruise combines an exotic locale with the convenience of an all-inclusive price. Choosing a cheap cruise makes it even better.

The first thing you need to do when you decide that it is time to take a cruise is decide on a destination. There are cruises that will take you along the chilly Alaskan coastline or cruises that are designed for people who love the charm of the Caribbean. If you have never been on a cruise deciding where to go can be the most difficult part. If you have small children consider taking a cheap cruise around Florida. This is a great choice because not only will you get to enjoy all the amenities that the cruise ship affords you but you will be stopping to visit some of the most popular theme parks in the world.

Vacations are generally fairly expensive and many families budget all year for that special two week getaway. Finding a cheap cruise can save a substantial amount of money. There is a bit of legwork that is required for finding any type of discount travel deal including cheap cruise packages.

There are several online sites that offer customers the chance to purchase travel deals. This includes airfare, hotel accommodations and cheap cruise packages as well. You can usually find several different cheap cruise offers on these sites. Although it is not a steadfast rule you will find that purchasing a cruise from a travel broker site will cost you considerably less than if you were to go to the cruise lines website.

The time of year that you want to travel will also have an impact on the price. Many people wait until their children are out of school before taking a vacation. Although this certainly helps with studies it can raise the price quite a bit. If you plan on going sometime during the school year you are much more likely to find a cheap cruise deal.

The winter holidays and spring breaks are also times when many people plan on getting away. The problem with this is that many others are also planning on doing exactly the same thing. It is great to plan an escape from the snow and sleet but why not consider taking the cruise in January or February? You are sure to find cheap cruise packages during these times.

Planning any vacation takes some time. A good rule of thumb is to start looking for cheap cruise deals months before your planned departure. You will be able to keep track of when the least expensive times to travel are and you will save yourself a good deal of money that you can save for some fun and memorable souvenirs.

Thursday, January 15th, 2009

Experience Luxury And Elegance With Silverseas Cruises

Cruising is a fast growing industry that has expanded vastly in the past decades. You can find almost any type of cruise you have in mind at any budget; from lunch and dinner cruises to around the world cruises, which can last up to six months at a time.

Today, there is a cruise for everyone, however, if you are looking for an exquisite experience where attention to detail is on the daily agenda, you need to take a closer look at Silverseas Cruises.

A Cruise Line That Makes You Feel As Special As You Truly Are

Silverseas cruises are made of four luxury yachts, Silver Cloud, Silver Wind, Silver Whisper and Silver Shadow; they are the true form of what is known as luxurious cruising on the high seas. All the Silverseas yachts are large enough not to make the passengers feel crowded but, are small enough to make it to some of the most exquisite ports of call where large cruise liners cannot fit to dock.

Attention to details is what makes Silverseas cruises one of the world’s best luxury liners such as daily written menus, fresh food that is delivered to the ship on daily basis and is inspected for quality by the Executive Chef in order to by brought on board; fresh fruit and vegetables as well as catering to every taste and needs of every single passenger in part, all you have to do is let them know before you even get on board what your likes and dislikes are and they will all be waiting for you as requested.

Silverseas cruises boasts to carry abroad some of the world best wines and champagnes, which are for the most part offered complimentary only with a few exceptions. A cigar and cognac bar awaits those who have a taste for the same every evening and here too most of the beverages and spirits are offered complimentary with the exceptions of a few.

Entertainment On Silverseas Cruises

Fine dining and duty-free shopping, a casino and a world class Broadway show are only some of the daily entertainment that awaits you on Silverseas cruises. Dancing, games, golf and lectures will keep you busy on board while tours that can be booked in advance onboard in the places of interest ashore will assure you have covered the port of call efficiently in the time provided.

Every guest is special on Silverseas cruises and you will feel so from the minute you step aboard; smiling faces who address you by your name welcome and cater to your every need and whim. If you are looking to experience a true luxurious cruise where the sky is the limit when it comes to pleasing and attending to the guest’s comfort then Silverseas cruises is the cruise liner for you.

Friday, January 9th, 2009

How many people fall overboard cruise vacations and are any rescued?

Yes people do fall/jump overboard

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYBRuTmLv3Y

Monday, January 5th, 2009

Which vacation should I do, a cruise or all-inclusive resort?

I have been to an all-inclusive resort but never a cruise. I can't decide if I want to cruise or not. Please give me pros and cons. Thanks

I have done both and enjoy both pretty much equally. Both have their advantages….
Cruise: better food, more activities, you get to visit many places without unpacking and repacking, you can drive to many of the ports and save money on airline tickets
All Inclusive: booze is included in price, airfare is included in price.

You would have to try a cruise and decide for yourself. Find a short cruise for a lower price and see if you like it. Most likely, you will become a cruise addict after you try it.

powered by Yahoo answers

Saturday, December 27th, 2008

Let Yourself Be Pampered On Luxury Cruise Lines

No matter which cruise line you sail on, you can find a luxury cruise experience. Most cruise lines offer some luxuries for just about any budget, so you don’t necessarily have to spend millions of dollars or be rich to enjoy one. Of course, every cruise has various pricing packages and if you want a larger stateroom rather than a cabin, you’re going to pay more. The same goes for amenities.

Some cruise lines offer an around the world luxury cruise. Now, these can cost twenty thousand dollars or more, but for many people who’ve saved up all their lives for the experience of a lifetime, money’s no object. Several different cruise lines offer more luxurious appointments than others, and cost will also depend on your departure and destination points, as well as your length of journey options. The Carnival Cruise luxury cruise line has very nicely appointed and offers fine services for the budget minded traveler, though some of their cruises aren’t much cheaper than those charged by a more elegant line. Holland-America and Crystal Cruise lines offer longer journeys and more exotic destinations, and sightseeing packages, and so are higher priced. But if you’re in the mood to be spoiled and pampered, remember that you get what you pay for.

A luxury cruise line sets sail to just about anywhere in the world. A popular luxury cruise line like Crystal Cruise and Holland-America offer passengers luxury accommodations both at sea and on land. Passengers can enjoy four-course dinners, highbrow entertainment and plush staterooms if they wish. This type of luxury cruise line also offers the causal traveler the option to hop aboard from a number of ports of call, and for a few thousands dollars, about the same that one would pay to sail from Los Angeles, California to Alaska, a passenger can enjoy the luxury not available to them otherwise while enjoying a week or so on one of the pricier luxury lines.

A luxury cruise line such as Cunard, which has been around since the early 1900’s, offers just as many amenities as the Crystal and Holland-America lines. Other popular luxury cruise lines include the Princess, Celebrity, Regent and Princess cruises. Passengers are able to choose exotic as well as more local destinations, such as Hawaii and Alaska for moderately priced voyages that don’t skimp on luxury. If you want high-class service, exotic destinations and ports of call that many cruise lines can’t access, check out the prices for various luxury cruise lines. They’re not really much more expensive than others.

When considering a luxury cruise, shop around for sailing destinations and schedules and then determine how much money you want to spend. There are over a dozen luxury cruise lines with reputations of excellent service to choose from. Remember that luxury is more than a soft bed and a fancy dinner. Luxury is an ideal, and everyone has his or her own idea of what luxury is. Taking a luxury cruise adventure to Alaska or Hong Kong can be the experience of a lifetime, and one that shouldn’t be missed if at all possible.

Sunday, December 21st, 2008

The Perfect All Inclusive Caribbean Vacation

There are many all inclusive Caribbean vacation packages that are available to tourists worldwide. The typical cost of an all-inclusive Caribbean vacation can range between $700 and $1000 per person for a four-day trip. There are many options that are offered by travel agents and you should browse your options thoroughly before making a decision.

All inclusive Caribbean vacation packages

Travel agents often perform many promotional activities in order to further their business, especially during holiday season when competition is highest, and it is this time that you can find the best deals for all inclusive Caribbean vacation packages. Since these packages are typically announced close to the holiday and fall seasons you really need to be careful with your planning so that you can get your tickets booked and everything mapped out in order to cover as many places as you can visit in the short duration of your all inclusive Caribbean vacation package.

Depending on the type of package that you opt for, there will be different kinds of concessions and facilities offered to you. For example, some packages might include sailing, kayaking, and tennis at the place where you stay. Some other packages would go a different way and offer more options for kids. Yet others would offer casinos, spas, health clubs, temporary golf memberships, and so on. And there are always the extra offers at an additional cost that might include water-sports, fitness centers, piano bars, and so forth. It should be clear that the greater the options provided within and all inclusive Caribbean vacation package, the higher will be its cost.

Fine Print

Most people just look at the broad details of all inclusive Caribbean vacation packages but that is a very bad idea, you should look at everything in detail, especially the fine print (or items that are followed by a *), because these are the hidden costs that no one will tell you about until you get the bill. You are going on a vacation for a pleasant time, so do not let something as silly as a hidden cost spoil your fun. Most packages will include the air fare and accommodation costs but you should read to be sure whether the meals are included or not and how much, if anything, you will have to pay for the local activities once you are on vacation.

Resort choices

Do not select an all inclusive Caribbean vacation package solely on the merit of cost and features. Check out all the facilities that will be available at the resort you will be staying and whether it measures up to your requirements. Different people have different needs. Some need fitness centers, beauty shops, sports activities. Families with children have different kinds of requirements so you should be sure that you will be comfortable where you are going.