First Time Cruisers
THE SHIP IS YOUR HOTEL
You will be transported from one exotic port-of-call to another on board your cruise ship, and you only have to unpack once! The ship will act as your hotel for the duration of your cruise. While visiting each port, you may come and go as often as you like from the ship. You might choose to have breakfast on board, then go shopping, return to the ship for lunch, then go snorkeling. Or you may elect to grab a bite of local cuisine, instead of returning to the ship until your day ashore is complete. Just like a hotel, your ship will have a front desk, where trained professionals will assist you with information, cashing traveler's cheques, customer service issues, and they might even sell you a postcard and a local island stamp to mail it back home. There is generally a Hotel Manager onboard, to oversee every aspect of the customer's experience. The Purser's Office usually acts as a combination front desk, bank and switchboard, sort of the Central Nervous System of the ship.
WHAT'S INCLUDED IN A CRUISE?
A lot! Just about all entertainment is built into your cruise fare, from nightly professional shows (singers, dance troupes, comedians, and variety acts such as magicians, jugglers and Broadway reviews) to live dance music, lectures, art auctions, wine tastings, pool games, card games, ice carving demonstrations, and much more! Some of the larger ships today have specialty entertainment as well: basketball courts, video arcades, rock-climbing walls, ice skating rinks, movie theaters, 2-story waterslides, golf simulators and putt-putt miniature golf courses, not to mention old standbys like shuffleboard, ping pong and swimming pools. Want to work out? How about a fitness spa, with whirlpool baths, stair-climber machines, free weights, Universal-type exercise equipment, treadmills, aerobic classes, and jogging tracks? There is music from a variety of skilled musicians on board, and a disco that plays today's hits until the wee hours of the morning. All free.
If you're traveling with children, you'll be glad to hear that almost every
major line has a kids program, with a full assortment of organized and
supervised children's activities throughout most days. Baby-sitting is generally
available at night, either individually or in groups, though there is a fee for
that service. Check with the front desk upon boarding for rates and availability
of sitters. During peak travel times (summer months when school is out, Spring
Break, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, and other holidays), youth
activities programs are expanded, and extra counselors are added.
By the way, expect to pay higher rates during peak travel times as well. When your kids are out of school, the world’s kids are out of school (along with their teachers, professors, school administrators, etc.).
As for food, your breakfast, lunch, dinner, buffets, snacks, coffee, tea, milk and juices with your meal are also included in the cruise price. Even room service is available 24-hours a day without charge (although they do recommend you tip the server, as you would at a hotel).
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE?
Most cruise lines still hire staffs at a minimal wage, and passengers tip the service personnel, based on the level and frequency of the service rendered. Tipping guidelines vary from cruise line to cruise line, but your vacation specialist can advise you of approximate figures based on the one you select. In most cases, alcohol and soft drinks are additional. Expect prices similar to what you'd find in your local restaurants or nightclubs. Service providers such as massage therapists, beauticians, and doctors will be at an extra cost.
In each port-of-call, you can use your boarding pass to come and go freely from the ship, and sightsee on your own. If you wish to take an organized tour or excursion, set up and sold on board through the cruise line, though, you can do so at an additional cost. You can make phone calls if you must, but expect a per-minute charge similar to calling from an airplane.
Additionally, email is available aboard most ships, though there is a charge for your computer time. As indicated before, prepared foods are included in almost all cases, but if you have a craving for a candy bar or a bag of chips, expect to pay gift shop prices. And yes, there is casino gambling on board, and yes you have to use your own. The same goes for other gambling forms such as bingo, horse racing, and lotteries. But you're never required to gamble. Some of the modern ships have specialty restaurants where you may elect to dine for an added fee.
These tend to be very upscale, smaller rooms with highly specific menus. But again, you don't have to use those areas, as your cruise price includes standard meals. The regular passenger dining areas are beautiful, bountiful and offer a thoroughly pleasing dining experience.
WHEN’S THE BEST TIME TO CRUISE?
To answer that, we would need to know your reason for asking. Are you
asking what is the least expensive time to cruise? When is the temperature best?
When is hurricane season? When is it least crowded? When can I be sure my kids
will have plenty of playmates? When is the water temperature best for diving and
snorkeling? As you can see, the answers to that generic question can go a lot of
different directions. Here are some basics:
- If you're traveling with children, or looking to avoid children, you can bet on finding large numbers of families onboard during summer months and holidays. Cruise lines are aware of school schedules, and they price cruises similarly, based on supply and demand.
- Hurricane season is virtually half the year, June to December, with the
highest concentration somewhere in the middle months. But today's vessels
have state-of-the-art tracking equipment, and the cruise lines have
statements in their brochures indicating the Captain may elect to alter
itineraries at any time to provide for the safety and well-being of
passengers and crew. In a nutshell, that means they aren't going to
purposefully run you head-first into a storm. They would much rather turn
and go somewhere else whenever possible.
- Low season is usually those times when it's tough to fill the ships,
such as September through mid-December (schools just started back, and
hurricane season is in full swing). The cruise lines will make it
financially worth your while to travel during such off-season times. Winter
months tend to be mid-to-high season. The people who set cruise prices at
each line know it can be 15 below zero in Minneapolis or Chicago in
February, and they know people will pay whatever it takes to get warm. When
you call us, feel free to ask our vacation specialists for further
information on seasonality.
- The Caribbean, America's most popular destination, can be summed up in
one word for almost the entire year – HOT! Getting closer to the Equator,
many islands range from 80-90 degrees nearly year-round, with water
temperatures 70+ any time you want to travel.
- The Myth exposed: Years ago, you could wait until the last minute to find the best prices on cruise ships. Any unsold space could be had at bargain prices. But with today's newer, grander ships, many are sold out months in advance (especially special needs cabins such as those that can accommodate families of 3, 4 or 5), so waiting until the last minute means you may be staying home this year. Holiday sailings can easily fill up 6-12 months in advance. So don't wait. Once you do your homework, make a purchase based on value and you'll always get your money's worth. Another note: even if space becomes available last-minute, the cabins may be leftovers, in odd locations that are hard to sell, and you may miss out on other things you'd like (such as a preferred dining time, good flight schedules, etc). Also, cabins that open up can be significantly higher in price than if you booked and paid the best early-booking rate.
WHAT KIND OF CABIN SHOULD I GET?
This is an area where ships differ from hotels. First-Time Cruisers often think their cabin is going to be the size of a regular hotel room, when in reality standard ship cabins tend to be smallish, while maintaining convenience. There are also higher priced, larger cabins and suites that are world-class. There’s definitely a budget for everyone at sea. Many of the older ships still maintain a handful of economy-style cabins with bunk beds. While not the most romantic notion, it's financially workable for some. On the newer ships, however, almost every cabin has 2 oversized twin beds that can either be left apart, or pushed together and locked in place to form a queen or king. There are cabins for families that have additional sofa beds or bunk beds (or even rollaways in some cases), and as indicated before those cabins are at a premium because of supply and demand! Nearly all newer ships have balcony or verandah cabins you can upgrade to, and suites that offer extra amenities such as butler service, in-room meals, whirlpool baths and more. The words "you get what you pay for" are never more evident than in cruising. You might hear the term inside cabin as you research your cruise. That means a cabin on an interior hallway, with no view. The words outside or oceanview describe cabins that have portholes or full picture windows (or balconies) that face the water. Those price higher, but tend to give you a more open feeling, and are well-suited for anyone who even thinks claustrophobia might be a problem. In modern cruising, don't worry that your cabin is below the water level. The crew stays down below, but all paying customers are above the waterline on any ship built in the last 40-50 years, usually at least 15-20 feet above even if you're on the lowest passenger deck. Here's a tip for you when choosing a cabin: When a ship moves through the water, the smoothest ride is usually in the mid-ship area or slightly towards the back, which is the balance point. Being too far forward or aft (back) you may feel the motion of the ocean a little more. But today's ships also have full stabilizers, gyroscopes, and underwater thrusters which help to maintain smooth sailing and a comfortable ride. Another tip, especially for First-Time Cruisers: our experienced vacation specialists are trained to find the best cabin locations for you, as well as best overall price value. So feel free to call and ask for agent assistance!
THEY DON'T STAY IN PORT LONG ENOUGH TO SEE EVERYTHING!
That's cruising! To paraphrase Forrest Gump, "Cruising is like a box of chocolates." Sort of like a candy sampler box, cruising gives you a glimpse of each island, a taste of the culture, and allows you to visit multiple exotic destinations in a very short timeframe. As an example, you may select a cruise that hits Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Mexico, because you've always dreamt of the Cayman Islands. After cruising, though, you may find you actually fell in love with Jamaica, and now want to fly there for a week on your next trip. Most travelers fall in love with CRUISING itself, and keep re-booking to new destinations around the world. So instead of saying "We didn't stay very long," think positive – "Just look at all the great places we stopped!"
WHAT ABOUT GETTING SEASICK?
Many of the new ships are nearly 900 ft. in length. To put that in perspective, you're talking about a structure 15-17 stories tall, weighing millions of pounds, that is as long as 3 football fields end-to-end. With all that weight and bulk, it's difficult for the sea to toss these mega-liners about, and with the stabilization equipment mentioned before, your sailing should be smoother than anticipated. Oftentimes you may be moving at 15-18 mph through the water and not even know you're in motion. On the long shot chance that you do have a problem, though, generic seasickness pills are given away free on board. And each vessel has a fully qualified doctor and nurse on board if you feel you need something stronger to knock out any illness. There is a charge for their services, but they are extremely well-versed in the art of fighting seasickness. Fully 98% or greater of all cruise passengers sail without incident. So don't talk yourself into it before you go.
DO I NEED A PASSPORT AS A U.S. CITIZEN?
Depending on what area of the world you travel, maybe. But there's an exemption when cruising in the Caribbean Sea, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Canada, Mexico and most sailings to Hawaii. For those ports, you would need either a passport OR a birth certificate (either original or a certified copy with a raised seal) along with a photo ID for anyone 16 or older. If you are sailing in a more exotic portion of the world, passports and possibly even visas are required. Speak with one of our agents regarding that. First-Time Cruisers should probably try something a little closer to home, to see if they enjoy cruising as much as they imagine. VERY IMPORTANT: if you fail to bring proper proof of citizenship, even though you've paid for your trip, the cruise lines have no obligation to board you. (It's not their decision; U.S. Immigration officials may deny you boarding, with no recourse for refund.) So don't leave home without them! Always ask your agent about passport requirements when making your reservation. Rules and laws change, and certain exceptions may apply.
IS IT CHEAPER TO DRIVE INSTEAD OF FLY?
Anytime you can travel without having to buy air tickets, it would certainly appear so. But if you are driving a far distance, say 1,500-2,000 miles roundtrip, you have to think of wear-and-tear, fuel costs, parking at the pier (generally about $10 a day on average), plus the hours spent on the road with meals and possibly even hotels thrown in.
CAN I USE AIR MILEAGE TO GET TO THE SHIP FREE?
In some cases that's true. In others, it could be far from the truth. Some seaports are nowhere near the airport. For example, Rome is in-land. It's seaport, Civitavecchia, can be 3 hours away in traffic and may be a $250-300 cab ride! In London, you're 2-2 1/2 hours from either Dover or Harwich, the main seaports. In Alaska, from Anchorage, Seward (the seaport) is 2 1/2-3 hours away, and accessible only by train or a single road. Even here at home, if you're sailing to the Bahamas from Port Canaveral, Florida, the closest air city is Orlando, about 1 hour and 15 minutes away. Also, frequent flier miles may only be available for selected flights that get you in too late to get to the ship on time, or too early on your return to make the plane. Suddenly what looked free has become the nightmare vacation no one saw coming. So be smart and see the big picture first whenever you consider this plan.
CAN THE CRUISE LINE FLY ME THERE INSTEAD?
Just about every major cruise line has an air-sea program in place, with a large number of major city gateways, where for a price they will fly you in, pick you up, take you to the cruise, and return you afterward for your flight home. It's easy, it's convenient, and we recommend it in most cases. Such a seamless package is highly advised for First-Time Cruisers.
WHAT IF I CAN'T GO AT THE LAST MINUTE?
We highly recommend purchasing trip cancellation insurance, which would cover you in case of serious sickness, illness, death in the family, or other circumstances. Insurance would never cover job-related things, or breakup of relationships, but those identified as acts of God would be covered, and you would get a refund of the monies paid for your trip. Speak with one of our agents for full details on this important issue. The cruise lines will charge a penalty for cancellations, anywhere from the basic deposit to the entire cruise cost, with no recourse if you do not purchase insurance. No one ever thinks they'll need insurance, but there are some sad stories we could tell you about people who lost thousands of dollars trying to save less than a hundred. It's your call, but it's the one area we feel strongest about recommending.
WHO YA GONNA CALL?
That one's obvious! Mann Travels is an American Express representative, and we've been in business since 1975. We have 10 offices, and are one of the largest American Express cruise suppliers in the USA! That buying power means 2 things: unmatched experience, and group rates on any sailings you desire. Even if you're just booking 2 people, we'll get you the same price as if there were 102 of you going! We understand cruising, and are Top Account award winners with virtually every major line in the world. We have a former Purser and Port Lecturer on staff, who spent 13 years living aboard various cruise ships, and who has trained our sales team to provide you the best value for the amount of money you wish to spend. We pride ourselves on asking questions and matching clients with the right product for them, instead of just selling you the catch of the day like some agencies.
Welcome to the wonderful world of cruising!