DEL.ICIO.USAJC.COM CRUISE GUIDE
Experts' tips for cruisingFor The Journal-Constitution
Published on: 02/11/05
TIPS: Finding Deals | Flying | Excursions | Travel insurance | Tips for the crew | Picking a cabin | Boarding and deboarding | Budget on board | Safety on board | Life on board
Now is a great time to go to Europe — if you're on a cruise ship. "By paying your fare in America, you are insulating yourself against the effect of the Euro," Bob Sharak, executive vice president and chief marketing officer of Cruise Lines International Association. You're paying your hotel, air fare, food and entertainment in advance but can still take in all the sights.
September to December is generally a cheaper time to cruise. However, hurricane season does run through Nov. 30 and travel insurance doesn't generally cover acts of God, according to Allan Jordan, a New York-based cruising expert and historian who writes, lectures and consults on the topic.
Aimée J. Ricca, owner of Bonne Amie Travel in Rockport, Maine, and one of the experts featured on the Travel Channel's Vacation Challenge, takes most of her cruises in November. It's a cheaper time to travel and you rarely hit a hurricane.
May and September are good times to get senior (55 and older) specials to Alaska and Europe.
Look for cruise lines or ports that are new that might be trying to fill ships. (Costa, which is actually an old Italian line, but was acquired by Carnival, has been offering a lot of amazing deals lately.) You can ask agents and online sites for "regional deals." Also ask about ships traveling from one port to another. There were some great deals on state–of-the-art ship out of Jacksonville last year because the ships were changing locations.
Many people think that if they book their air through the cruise line, the ship will wait on them if there are any delays. Ricca says this isn't true and would probably only happen if there was a large group on board one plane. Check the fine print to know if you are protected.
If you are booking your own flight, try to fly in at least a day ahead, especially in the winter. Bad weather in other cities can mess up your flights starting in Atlanta. If you cannot fly a day ahead, take the first flight out and fly direct. Also try to have back-up flights available to still get there in time.
Orbitz advises to be in the port no later than two hours prior to departure. Your return flight should depart no earlier than 6.5 hours after your cruise arrives back in port.
It's a good idea to buy air/cruise packages during the holidays and when school is out. Those are generally high travel times and air fares rise accordingly. Generally air fare offered through cruise lines stays the same no matter what the season. It is also a good idea to use the air/cruise package when the cruise begins in one port and ends in another, such as in Alaska or Europe. Cruise airfares can be cheaper when the lines are having trouble filling the ship, such as in Hawaii. They're willing to take a hit to get you to the port.
Buying the cruise lines transfers are a good idea if the port is far away from the airport, if you're in a foreign country, having to use a foreign language or if you have a large group. It also depends on how comfortable you are hailing a taxi.
Do buy excursions through the cruise line. They may be a little more expensive, but if there is a hold up while you're ashore they will be in communication with the ship and you won't get left behind.
Always bring some proof of American citizenship (passport or birth certificate) with you when you get off the ship in a foreign port. If you're uncomfortable bringing the real document because you'll be snorkeling or away from your bag, at least bring a copy of it. Ricca says it is up to the discretion of the country's officials whether to accept it as proof. It is important to have these documents in case you do get left behind and have to fly home. (If you are going snorkeling, Ricca recommends buying an waterproof wallet so you can bring your money and passport in the water with you. There are multiple companies online that offer similar wallets.)
Since we've had kids, I have routinely taken trip insurance without telling my husband. (Surprise!) It makes me feel better to know I will get my money back if we get sick or the kids get sick, and we can't travel. Travel insurance usually also covers: Medical, dental and evacuation while at sea or in port. For our cruise it was about $30 for each of us. For a 7-night trip, cruise line offered insurance generally ranges from $59 to $79 a person. Ricca says you have to evaluate how likely you or one of you party is to get sick. You should also investigate whether your medical insurance at home covers you when you are abroad. Medicare and Medicaid generally don't cover anything overseas.
You can purchase travel insurance through the cruise lines or a third party (the travel agent can set this up). If purchased through the cruise line, the price is generally based on the number of days on the trip. If booked through a third-party it is generally based on your age and the cost of the trip. Ricca advises that the cruise line insurance is usually less comprehensive.
All cruise lines handle tips differently. Many are putting them on your onboard charge account. Some don't require tips at all, and some give away the gratuities to entice you aboard. (See Cost section for tips on how much to tip.)
Some lines give you the option of prepaying your tips before you even leave town. Ricca only takes that option if she is traveling with a group. "I would prefer to see the level of service I get," says Ricca. "Generally I wouldn't tip below but would tip above it."
My travel agent aunt, who is a very experienced cruiser, advises not to choose a cabin on the promenade deck or under the promenade deck. She says the jogging can be quite loud and at night people can see in your room despite the reflective coating.
If you are worried about sea sickness, you want your cabin to be lower and toward the middle. The larger ships have stabilizers to help prevent sea sickness.
The irony of this rule is the "better" cabins are on the higher decks where you will pay more and may feel worse.
Check out what your cabin is near: elevators and galleys tend to be loud. We chose to be on the second deck down instead of immediately under the galley and night club. The deck immediately under was considered a better deck, but we were worried about listening to songs from "Cabaret" at 2 a.m. We'll see if out theory pans out.
For about two years, the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service has asked every passenger to provide additional personal information 14 days before they embark on their cruise. Otherwise you will not be able to board your ship. Your travel agent can fill out the forms for you online, you can fill them out at your cruise line's Web site or the travel agent can mail you the forms.
Our travel agent did not make a big deal about this and acted like it was more of a convenience to already have the forms filled out. I found a blurb on this on www.cruise411.com
and it seemed very serious. Ricca says it has not been consistently enforced but to be on the safe side, just fill out the forms in advance. Cruise 411 has links to many of the forms on its site.
Many ships will let you on as early as 11 a.m. or noon even if you're not leaving until 4 or 4:30 p.m. Ricca finds the most crowded time to board between 12 and 2 p.m.
You have to give up your luggage when you're boarding the ship, and it may take some time for your bags to find your cabin. So my travel agent aunt advised us to take a small bag aboard (the size of airport carry on). You should obviously carry any essential, such as medicines, but also throw in your bathing suits. You can have a relaxing lunch and then change into your suits to swim, and you haven't wasted a day waiting on your luggage.
Generally the night before you disembark, you leave your luggage outside your door. Ricca says unless it's the size of a carryon, you need to give it up.
Your cell phone probably won't work onboard.
Don't pick up the telephone in your cabin. Ricca says it's usually between $8 and $20 a minute to call home. There is an emergency number for most ships just in case, but they're still going to charge you on both ends.
Budget your time on the Internet. It's generally 75 cents per minute. Sometimes ships charge per data transfer.
Ricca does advise people to use traveler's checks on board. Even though it's all inclusive she usually brings about $300 with her. You can cash the traveler's checks on board without a fee, but if you use the ATM there will be a fee.
If you do need cash, a tricky way to get it without getting charged a fee is to go to the casino and tell them you need cash for slots. They'll charge it to your cruise charge card and you'll have the cash.
According to Sharak, cruising is the safest mode of transportation available. He says the ships won't sink and terrorists won't get you either.
"The cruise industry was prepared on that day (9/11)," Sharak says. "It was applauded by a number of government agencies." All the luggage goes through X-ray machines, all the passengers are checked by the INS long before they ever get near the ship, there are dog teams searching the luggage, and security teams on the ships. Plus every passenger has ID card to get on and off the ship.
And as far as that nasty Norwalk virus goes, Sharak says you are far more likely to catch it going about your daily lives than you are aboard the ship. You catch the intestinal illness by coming in contact with an ill person. "It's not the ship; it's not the food or the water. Keep your hands clean."
My plan for our cruise: Pretend I'm on MARTA and act accordingly.
"You don't have to be the first person on or off," says Allan Jordan, a New York-based cruising expert and historian who writes, lectures and consults on the topic. "Relax and enjoy. Don't sign up for every shore excursion. It's your vacation. Don't feel obliged to do something."
The ships are nice and quiet when everyone else gets off to explore a port, says Jordan. They still serve lunch and dinner. Generally, the only parts of the ships that close while in port are the gift shops and the casinos.
When faced with group dining, choose the table for eight, says Jordan. You have a greater chance of finding someone you find interesting. Plus at a larger table it's easier to ignore the folks you don't.
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