Is cruising affordable and a good vacation value?

Cruising is the best vacation value! There are cruise vacations to suit every budget. Your cruise fare includes all meals, your stateroom, onboard 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, optional shore excursions, and personal services such as massage or hairstyling.)

How long are cruises?

As long or short as you want. Cruise lines offer itineraries from three days to three months.

Where can I go?

Wherever you want! Cruises visit over 1,800 ports worldwide and practically every destination accessible by water.

Are all ships fairly similar?

Far from it. Cruise lines' 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 2,600. 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. Learn more about specific cruise lines

Are there different types of cruises?

There are cruises designed to suit virtually every interest and personal preference. The choices include: boutique, luxury cruises with globetrotting itineraries; large, contemporary ships with a fantastic array of recreational facilities. 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.

For experienced travelers, destination-focused cruises specialize in premium, culturally-rich ports of call with itineraries dedicated to illuminating such historic, world-class treasures as the antiquities of classical Greece, the Polynesian paradise of Hawaii or the fabled splendor of Norwegian fjords.

For many, the perfect vacation includes the non-stop fun and sun of a tropical resort-style cruise to the Caribbean, where you can sample a variety of island cultures and cuisines while working on a terrific sun tan.

Plus, many cruise lines create special "themes" on-board, with entertainment ranging from jazz festivals and classical music concerts to golf clinics and murder mysteries at sea!

Do I need a passport?

This depends on the type of cruise and your destination. You will need some proof of citizenship and identification. You'll receive complete information on required documents well in advance of your departure.

Are there different classes of service?

Today's cruise ships are "one-class." Everyone can use all of the ship's facilities. The price of a cabin is based primarily on its size and location. Regardless of the category you book, you'll enjoy the same courteous service, menus, activities, and entertainment as everyone else on board.

Will I get bored? Feel confined?

Hardly! 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. Or you can swim, stretch out in the sauna or work out in the gym.


What can I do in port?

So much you'll have a hard time choosing! You can explore on your own or take a guided tour (referred to as shore excursions). Search ancient ruins or hunt for shopping bargains. Ride a raft over river rapids, or a horse across miles of hills and beaches. Climb a waterfall or pyramid. Follow the footsteps of history or the wake of a waterskiing boat. If there's still time, play golf or tennis. Learn how to windsurf. Sun and swim at some of the world's best beaches. Catch a record marlin. Sail, snorkel, or scuba dive. Take a cable car to the top of a mountain. Explore dark catacombs. In short, cruising is the perfect way to sample a number of new destinations and try all the things you've ever dreamed of doing, while never having to pack and unpack!

Do I have to participate in the activities?

On a cruise, you do what you want, when you want. You can do everything or do absolutely nothing. It's your vacation!

Is a cruise suitable for families with kids?
Not just suitable, they're perfect! Large cruise ships are now designed with kids-only facilities, counselors, daytime activities and nighttime baby-sitting. Children of all ages are welcome on most ships. Your cruise counselor can advise you of the dwindling number of ships that are not kid-friendly.

What's there to do at night?

When the stars come out, a cruise ship really turns on. There's dancing, live entertainment, nightclubs and lounges, feature films, and parties with all your new friends. Most ships also have casinos. What's more, there are many special events like the Captain's Cocktail Party, Passenger Talent Night, Broadway-style shows and Las Vegas-type revues.

Is there a charge for entertainment?

Never. On a cruise vacation, the entertainment is on the house. The shows are live, films first-rate and all included in your cruise fare.

Will I need a tuxedo?

Many cruise lines now feature a more relaxed and casual approach to dress throughout the cruise -- while on others, formal dinners or parties are part of the fun. Even on the most formal of ships, a dark suit and tie are fine for the dressiest occasions.

Can singles have fun on a cruise?

Cruising is ideal for people traveling alone, because it's so easy to meet other people. In fact, most ships have parties for singles -- early on, so you can get to know people right away. Many ships even offer gentlemen hosts who can be dance partners, dinner companions or a fourth at cards.

Can I use my hair dryer or shaver?

Most ships have 110-volt outlets in the staterooms.

What about meal times?

There are choices and more choices. During the day, there are many different places to eat - in the formal dining room, on deck is a casual setting, in a pizzeria, at an espresso bar, to name a few. At night, most ships offer several venues. Many ships offer you a choice of several eating times, and others encourage you to come to dinner whenever you like.

More traditional ships have two seatings in their formal dining rooms, which differ only by time: typically 6:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. To choose, just decide whether you prefer to dine early or late--and request your preference when you book your cruise. You can also chose to dine at night someplace other than the formal dining room, such as in an speciality restaurants that features, for example, Italian, Chinese, Japanese or Southwestern cuisine.

Can I get a special diet?

Most ships can accommodate salt-free, low-carbohydrate, Kosher, or other diet preferences. However, this request must be made in advance, so be sure to advise your cruise consultant when you book your cruise.

Is cruising right for honeymooners?

Without a doubt. Cruising offers an atmosphere that's just right for romance... cozy dinners for two, strolling on deck at sunset, dancing the night away (even under the stars). Most lines provide special services -- from Sunday or Monday departures to champagne and breakfast in bed.

Can we stay in touch with the outside world?

Quite easily. Most ships have a daily newsletter with news, headlines, selected stock quotes and sports scores. Many staterooms are equipped with televisions and have satellite or cellular telephones. You can also call someone on shore through the ship's radio officer while at sea. In addition, most ships have fax capabilities and a growing number are adding computer cafes with Internet access for e-mail communication.

What about tipping?

Tipping is a matter of individual preference. A general rule of thumb is to plan for about $10.00 per person per day for your cabin steward and dining room waiter, and about half that amount for your busboy. (A few cruise lines include tipping in the price and will so inform you.) Other shipboard personnel can be tipped for special services at your discretion.

Are there medical services onboard?

Virtually every cruise ship (except for some smaller vessels operating in coastal waters) has a medical facility and health care professionals on staff to handle almost any emergency. If you have a medical condition that might put you at risk, discuss it with your doctor and inform the cruise lines at the time of booking. And, whenever you travel, check to see what your health insurance covers.

Are there laundry services aboard ship?

Almost all cruise ships have laundry facilities and many provide dry-cleaning services. There is, however, an additional charge for professional laundry and dry-cleaning services. Many ships also have self-service launderettes.

Is motion discomfort a problem?

Rarely. Popular cruise itineraries ply 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.

What's a shore excursion?

That's a term that refers to anything you do off the ship, in port. At every stop, you'll have the option of exploring the area on your own or as part of a group with a planned itinerary. You might hike a tropical rain forest in the Caribbean, fish for king salmon in Alaska, tour Mayan ruins in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, or take a sightseeing tour.