Cruise Vacation

There are many things that you get free on a cruise but there are more things on board a ship that cost money. For instance, you get free treatment when you fall sick on board a cruise ship. Most likely your morning cup of tea or coffee will come free, however the juice and the soft drink will not. Meals are also all-inclusive on cruises but not specialty restaurant fares (but do remember that if you have booked a package deal, which most people do, then there is already a pre-fixed menu, and when you order something outside this, you will need to make an extra payment). Infants cruising with parents are not charged for as also children occupying the same cabin with their parents. Knowing what comes with your deal and for what you need to pay extra is crucial as this helps you know how much money you need to carry along. Of course you can use your card to pay, which many do, but using a card so randomly can have you neck deep in debt. Even if you are paying using your card, then too, prior information is always useful.

In certain cases, air fares are included but it might be appropriate to check with the cruise line whether it is free or not with the package that you have booked – but in most cruise deals this is not what happens. In fact, there are so many variations with cruise lines about what they offer free and items that are charged for that it often becomes quite confusing. Cruise liners, as a rule, always say publicly that they do not have any hidden costs; nevertheless they do not declare also the items that are charged for.Here is a list of items that cost money on board a cruise ship.

• Bottled water: You can have the normal water free with meals but if you need bottled mineral water, you will have to cough up dollars for it. Of course, you can bring in drinking water by refilling your reusable water bottles, but then can you ever be able to bring enough water to last the entire cruise? Difficult, isn’t it? Also, you are more likely to forget about it at the last moment in anticipation of an adventurous cruise.
• Alcohol: You may be spared of this highly expensive issue only if you have booked an all-inclusive cruise that comprises alcoholic drinks too (but these are rare as most deals do not include alcoholic drinks. There is also the issue of personal choice as individual preferences vary a lot here, so what may be on offer may not be to your liking). Otherwise, be prepared to pay for every peg that you consume. And it may cost quite a bit for a bottle of Rye Whiskey on board a cruise ship. Veterans suggest sneaking alcoholic drinks on board, but it may lead you to endless trouble.
• Soft drinks: Soft drinks do not cut any soft corner with cruise lines. You will have to pay for all soft drinks that you are likely to consume on board a cruise ship. And the price of a bottle of coke may make you miss a heart beat.
• Gratuities: The service on cruise is considered superb even by many hard boiled eggs but you are indirectly induced to pay for it. Some cruise lines provide tipping rates ($70 per person per week) but you are free to pay more if you feel like. But the mere fact that this is their bread and butter usually makes a person generous.
• Shore excursions: The cost of this fairly interesting pleasure trip has the ability to drain your dollars much faster than the way it reaches your pocket. Knowledgeable cruisers, there, advises greenhorns to get this sorted out right at the beginning, preferably at the time of booking the cruise because some excursions are included and some are not. This way you can at least come to know how much it hurts your economy. Besides, it is cheaper that way as compared to ad hoc booking on board the ship.
• Special onboard restaurants: Though not an essential thing to indulge in on a cruise, taking someone special to an exclusive restaurant after a late night show has its novelty. So you might be willing to spend that extra buck for the experience.
• Cruise/ travel insurance: This is neither free nor essential. Yet this will protect you against unforeseen events so this is advisable.
• Laundry/ Ironing service on board a cruise ship could be fairly expensive. One way of skipping this cost will involve having enough clothing to last the cruise. Alternatively, wash undergarments in your bathroom and hang them there for drying. Hanging clothes in the bathroom while you shower can steam the wrinkles out of the clothes.

Although we are well aware of the fact that attires are made for men, not the vice versa but in real life things are often just the opposite. For attending a formal diner, one has to have a dark suit with matching ties and while attending the best friend’s marriage, a tuxedo suits the person best. If you have ever attended a court case, you cannot miss the dark gown of the lawman who is likely to be debarred from entering into the court room sans that loose-fitting high-flowing legal garb.

However, the dress in a ship will not raise any storm in the tea-cup although you may encounter a real one in the Mediterranean Sea if you happen to be cruising in summer. Since casual wear is the order of the day, shorts, tank top, sundress, etc for the ladies and polo shirts, T-shirts are OK in a cruise ship.

When you are thinking of what to wear on your cruise, you need to consider where you are going cruising in the first place. Of course what you wear on your Alaska trip would not be the same if you are sailing to Singapore or crossing the Suez Canal.

Dressing appropriately is very important on your cruise holiday

Nevertheless, most elegant cruise ships have an unwritten dress code that the captain expects the passengers to follow. Men should therefore, pack either a dinner jacket or a dark suit for the formal nights (often hosted by the captain – referred to as the captain’s dinner that is hosted either on the first night or the last night of the cruise vacation) while a jacket and a tie for the smart casual evenings will be alright. Of course, it does not matter much even if you forget any special attire since most big cruise ships have evening dress rental service. Moreover, cruise liners are usually provided with boutiques, selling varieties of ladies fashion wear if you indeed need to get some on your cruise holiday. By the way, do not forget to carry a wrap or a pashmina to keep you comfortable for the evenings in-door as most ships are ‘fiercely’ air-conditioned to resemble Alaska-type weather. Wear high heels if you must, but bear in mind that you are likely to walk fairly long distances on the deck of a big liner that is moving in the high seas.

As for protecting your top and bottom, what you need is comfortable shoes for sight seeingand rubber-soled shoes like deck shoes for ‘mooching’ around on board. And if you are used to wearing hats, make sure that they do not blow away on the windy deck (remember you are on the sea where it can be quite windy even when the weather is perfectly normal). If you are planning to use the pool during the cruise, you will of course need to bring your swim suit. Yes you can buy one, but you should be warned that it may cost quite a bit in a cruise – so it is best to bring your own. Also, carry anything appropriate to slip on over your swimsuit to help you moving from the poolside to the lunch buffet without causing embarrassment to others.

When going ashore and visiting churches or temples, make sure that you do not wear fashionable dress or too many trinkets that may make you look like a Christmas tree! Wearing simple and casual outfits is the key issue that may guide you on such religious roams.

‘Smart casual’ or ‘formally informal’ apparel can save you from many a disaster on that cruise ship. A good pair of simple black or white trousers with a dress shirt for men is acceptable anywhere aboard a ship as also when ashore. Similarly, pants and colored silk tops for ladies is considered adequate for any occasion.

Here is list of dress codes for some common cruises expressed for the benefit of persons taking their first cruise.

Casual Dining Code for men consist of khakis, sport slacks, jeans without cut-offs, shorts, collared shirts (sport) while ladies may wear pants, casual skirts and blouses, Capri pants and dress shorts. It may be noted here that gym shorts, basketball shorts, cut-off jeans, bathing suit attire and beach flip-flops are not allowed in the dining rooms during the casual dinners.

Elegant Dining Dress Code for gentlemen includes shirts and slacks, probably with a sport coat. One may also wear suits and ties or a tuxedo. For ladies- they are supposed to wear cocktail dresses, pantsuits and elegant skirts and blouses or an evening gown.

For Canada/New England/Alaska cruises people should wear sweaters, lightweight jackets and carry raincoats. Extra heavy woolens are needed for people traveling to the glaciers.

If the question is, “where can I go on a cruise vacation”, the answer would be anywhere under the sun almost, provided of course there is water there. There are cruises galore for you to pick up from. You can take a boat to Australia to see the coral reef or visit the Mediterranean to taste a bit of Europe. If I were you, I would have preferred a voyage through the Nile and ask the sphinx what they had been doing all through the millenniums sitting smug among the pyramids. Or better still, sail through the Amazon and have a twist with an Anaconda for a change. Yes, a cruise holiday can be on the sea or it can be on the river too. Cruising can be great fun when you have carefully selected from the many cruise packages that are out there.

But first of all, ask yourself if you have adequate time in your hand for a cruise through the open sea. This is no drive through the freeway at 100 mph or over to reach a destination which you know would not take more than a few hours. Besides, you can always take a U-turn to go back home if the person on the other end of your cell phone tells you to do so. But you can’t persuade the captain of your luxury liner to take you back to your port of embarkation when the ship hits the high seas. So, before you consider about ‘where can I go on a cruise vacation’, devote some time to find out how much time you may be able to spare on a cruise because your entire itinerary depends on that.

And of course the cruise destination you select will depend a lot on the kind of place you want to visit. Perhaps you have always wanted to visit Alaska or the Mediterranean. You are in luck because there are many hugely popular cruise lines that take people to many ports of call in these places. There are off shore expeditions too in these vacations. If you are going to Alaska then you can take a sled ride or visit the Denali National Park to come close with Mt. McKinley. On the other hand if you are on your Mediterranean cruise, then you can visit Greece and Rome. There are many other cruising attractions as well. The where to go decision is your and it is best taken based on your preferences.

The next significant issue does not concern the climate of your preference but the amount of money that you intend to spend or rather you can afford to pay for the cruise. You need not have to be specific but think in terms of a reasonable range. The fact is, your budget for the cruise may be just a few hundred dollars or it may runs up to even $4000 or more. In that case, take 25% off as overhead costs that cover visas, taxes and onboard expenses. Take note, some of the extras on your cruise vacation may be quite costly.

That much settled, hunt for the cabin next. But beforehand, feel the pulse or the purse first. Smaller, no-balcony, innermost cabins cost less but they are mostly decorated dungeons meant for spending the night at a minimum cost on board a ship. Next come cabins with balcony and on an upper deck where you can just sit in your privacy and enjoy the sea even if you do not want to be a part of the activities on the ship. Of course, the best cabins are located outside providing a 24-hour sea view. And then there are the state rooms with large windows and almost all the privileges that a cruiser can ever hope to enjoy.

Now that you know your parameters, check online with various cruise sites to find out if any off-season rebate or discount is available with short-term cruises. In the event of any cruise line offering the same, register your name and ask for a free quote (in many places you will find the price mentioned). If this is your first cruise, go for a Caribbean voyage that may prove interesting as well as cost-effective from all points of view.

Most Caribbean cruises are 7-night affairs departing from the East Coast and sailing to the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Southern Caribbean Cruises are port-intensive ‘island-hopping’ types that spend more moments in port than at sea. Departing usually from Puerto Rico, they visit exotic ports of the deep Caribbean. Western Caribbean Cruises on the other hand, depart from Florida and the Gulf States, visiting Mexico, Caymans and Jamaica, providing a rich admixture of culture with a Mayan touch. These cruises are perfectly balanced in the sense that they spend as much time in ports as on the sea. Caribbean Cruises are best known for the innumerable beaches they lead into and the Duty Free shopping which is almost a part of the deal.

But this is just one option among many. There are so many cruise vacation options that it can become difficult to select one from them.