GATHERING INFORMATION
NOW THAT YOU HAVE OUTLINED your requirements and preferences, compare them against the profiles of the cruise lines and ships described in this book. After you, or you and your travel agent, identify several lines that seem to meet your needs, obtain promotional brochures either through the agent or by contacting the lines directly, using phone numbers and addresses in the profiles. A travel agent specializing in cruises or selling them routinely can be a tremendous source of information. Many agents who have sailed repeatedly can provide firsthand information about ships and lines. Also, many will put you in touch with clients willing to share thoughts and opinions. However, always understand from a selfinterest perspective that cruise lines pay the agent a commission on every cruise the agent sells.
In addition to obtaining promotional materials, buy several Sunday newspapers: (1) one in a primary geographic market for the cruise industry, including New York, Chicago, Dallas, or Los Angeles; and (2) the paper of the largest city within 200 miles of your home. The travel sections in these papers indicate where the itineraries and deals are. If you live in a medium-sized city like Charleston, South Carolina, for example, you may uncover cruise deals in the Atlanta paper that beat anything in your local paper. Finally, here are some helpful magazines, periodicals, and Internet sites: www.cruisecritic.com, www.cruisemates.com, cruises.about.com, www.shipsandcruises.com, www.southerncruising.com, and www.cruise diva.comare written by veteran cruise writers. Their candid ship reviews are based on firsthand experience. They also have cruise line information, news updates, information on promotions, and best deals. Another Web site, www.cruiseopinion.com, offers lots of detailed ship evaluations written by passengers who submit monthly reviews. AnotherWeb site worth checking out is found at www.i-cruise.com, which has a “beat your best price” feature. The sites listed sell cruises in addition to providing comparative information. Also check www.cruise.com. All provide reviews, deck plans, tips for singles, and, of course, hot deals.
For those with an interest in the cruise industry as well as cruises, we recommend www.cruisenewsdaily.com, which publishes a daily newsletter that costs $47.95 for a semiannual subscription for new subscribers.
Cruise Travel magazine (P.O. Box 342, Mount Morris, IL 61054; #800-877-5893; www.cruisetravelmag.com) is unabashedly rah-rah cruising and contains no critical content, but it’s a good source of information. Its six issues a year contain ads from dozens of cruise discounters, consolidators, and cruise-specialty travel agents. Subscriptions run about $20 a year in the United States, $40 in Canada.
Cruise Week (Lehman Publishing, 502 Seafarer Drive, Carolina Beach, NC 28428; # 800-593-8252; fax 775-402-7614; cruiseweek@ aol.com; www.cruise-week.com), a two-page weekly industry newsletter available by fax or e-mail, is produced by an editor who has reported on the industry for many years. It’s directed to the travel industry, but consumers interested in tracking news about cruising will find it a timely resource. Subscriptions are $125 annually.
Ocean & Cruise News (P.O. Box 4850, Stamford, CT 06907; #203- 329-2787; www.oceancruise.com) reports on the industry and reviews a different ship in each issue. A much-publicized annual evaluation of lines and ships in the February issue is based on subscribers’ votes, which tend to reflect seasoned cruisers’ preferences for established lines. Subscriptions are $35 annually for 12 issues for U.S. readers ($40 elsewhere).
Porthole (P.O. Box 469066, Escondido, CA 92046-9066; #800-776- port; www.porthole.com) is by far the most attractive and lively magazine on cruises. It offers a range of interesting articles by knowledgeable writers, although criticism is rare. Subscriptions are $19.95, one year (six issues), U.S.A.; US $24.95, Canada; all other countries: first-class mail US $39.95, airmail US $79.95. TravLtips magazine (P.O. Box 580188, Flushing, NY 11358-0218; # 800-872-8584; info@travltips.com; www.travltips.com) is a good bet if you are interested in freighter cruising, expedition cruising, or bargain around-the-world cruising on conventional cruise ships; it’s published bimonthly. Subscriptions are $20 for introductory U.S. membership for one year, $35 for two years and include a special edition of TravLtips: Roam the World by Freighter & Small Ship. Canadian membership, $30 for one year, and $45 for two years. Call for overseas membership rates.
HOW TO READ A CRUISE LINE BROCHURE
CRUISE BROCHURES ARE VERY ELABORATE. Because they contain so much information, we offer a systematic approach to evaluating and understanding their contents.
Look at the Pictures
All photos in the brochures have been carefully chosen to excite the people for whom the cruise line tailors its product. If you identify with the activities depicted, this may be a good cruise line for you. Pay attention to ages of the people shown. Do you see yourself in the activities?
Sizing up the Ships
Look at the ships. Are they too big, too small, about right, or you don’t care as long as they float? Talk to a travel agent about your vacation style. A good agent can help you make the right fit with a line and ship. Most brochures also contain a deck-by-deck schematic of the ship. Concentrate first on the ship’s layout, looking for features important to you. If you work out, look at the relative size of the exercise room and try to find a photo of it so you can check the equipment. Ask about exercise classes, the spa, and such features as a jogging track or lap pool. If you have mobility problems, look for elevators. Because upper decks offer the best views at sea, note inside and outdoor public areas, particularly on the top two and promenade decks.
Itineraries
Read the itineraries, making preliminary selections on where and how long you want to cruise. On what days and at what times does the cruise begin and end? Do these work for you? Focus on a couple of cruises. Read the itineraries, observing how much time the ship spends at sea and in port, how much cruising is during waking hours, and whether the number of ports and the time allowed to see them suits you.
For practice, let’s look at a ten-day itinerary from Copenhagen to London/Tilbury.
The cruise sails at 6 p.m. Sunday, allowing several options. Because most flights from the United States to Europe depart in the late afternoon and evening, a person living in the eastern United States could work most or all of Friday and catch an evening flight to Copenhagen, arriving Saturday morning. He would have until about 3:30 p.m. Sunday to rest and see Copenhagen. Alternately, he could fly out Saturday evening and arrive in Copenhagen on Sunday morning with four or five hours at his disposal before boarding, although we do not recommend this. Remember, flights do cancel or have serious delays at times. Come in the day before. Why take a chance of missing your ship? A third possibility, of course, would be to arrive before Saturday and enjoy a leisurely weekend. The first day (Monday) at sea is a wonderful start, providing a chance to catch up on jet lag and explore the ship. This cruise calls on four ports, not counting ports of origination and termination. This is fewer than average for a ten-day cruise, but all are major cities. The itinerary gives lots of time in each port. In St. Petersburg and Stockholm, the ship anchors overnight. If you’re interested in St. Petersburg and Stockholm and a lot of sightseeing, this works well. If not, it’s a long time in port. Full days (8 a.m. to 5 or 6 p.m.) are planned in Helsinki and Oslo. In total, the cruise is 229 hours, of which 153 hours (67%) are at sea and 76 hours (33%) are in port. However, only 71 hours of the 153 hours at sea are during waking hours (7 a.m. to 10 p.m.).
DAY DATE PORT ARRIVE DEPART Sunday June 4 Copenhagen 6 p.m. Monday June 5 Cruising Tuesday June 6 Helsinki 8 a.m. 6 p.m. Wednesday June 7 St. Petersburg 8 a.m. Thursday June 8 St. Petersburg 6 p.m. Friday June 9 Stockholm 4 p.m. Saturday June 10 Stockholm 3 p.m. Sunday June 11 Cruising Monday June 12 Oslo 8 a.m. 5 p.m. Tuesday June 13 Cruising Wednesday June 14 London/Tilbury 7 a.m.
Rates
Flip to the rate charts to determine whether the cruises you like fall roughly within your budget. We do mean roughly: you should anticipate paying 10% to 50% less depending on the line, ship, itinerary, season, and market condition. We describe available discounts in “How to Get the Best Deal on a Cruise.”
Most lines present their fares in a chart like the one on page 71 for Princess Cruise Line’s Grand Princess on a seven-day western Caribbean itinerary in November. The fares are per-person at the brochure rate, based on two persons sharing a cabin (double occupancy). If the per-person fare for a cabin on the Lido Deck, category BA, with private balcony and two lower beds is $1,569; you and your traveling companion would pay $3,138 ($1,569 x 2) for the cabin. For singles supplement, see “Singles” in this chapter for a rate explanation. As many as four persons may share a cabin, depending on its configuration. Rates for the third, fourth, and fifth persons are deeply discounted, sometimes as much as 66% off the double-occupancy fare. Let’s say Tom, Ed, John, and Earl are willing to share a Dolphin Deck, Category AC cabin that goes for $1,749 per person double occupancy. The line charges the double-occupancy price ($1,749) for two of the four men, and the third/fourth person rate of $399 for the remaining two. Thus, the tab for all four:
PERSON 1 $1,749 Cruise Only PERSON 2 $1,749 Cruise Only PERSON 3 $399 Cruise Only PERSON 4 $399 Cruise Only TOTAL $4,296
Usually, for cruise lines that bundle airfare to the port into the total price of the cruise (as part of an air/sea package), the airfare is normally included only for the two persons paying the double-occupancy rate. The cruise line will arrange airfare, often at a discounted rate, for the third and fourth persons. If Tom, Ed, John, and Earl want to split the cost of their Princess cruise equally, here’s the way the finances average out: Cruise fare for all four guys $4,296 Final cost per person $1,074
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Almost no one pays the brochure rates. Brochure rates are helpful only in providing a base for calculating discounts.
Because standard cabins on almost all cruise ships are small with tiny bathrooms and little storage, we do not recommend cruising with more than two persons in a cabin unless, for budgetary reasons, there’s no other choice. If you do elect to cruise with extra people in your cabin, select your roommates with care. Make sure everyone is compatible regarding smoking, snoring, and sleeping hours. Most of all, be tolerant and bring your sense of humor. Start with a cruise in a warm clime, when you can spend more time on deck than in your cabin. In the Caribbean, you might find yourself doing little more than sleeping and changing clothes there.
Most newer cruise ships are distinguished by the number of cabins with private balconies. These cabins become more affordable year by year and are highly recommended for those who want a quiet, private space to relax.
Sailing Dates
Check the sailing dates of cruises that interest you, looking for those compatible with your schedule. Check dates around these to see if a slight shift puts you into a lower-priced season.
Cabin Category and Ship Deck Plans
Now look at the types of cabins available. Many brochures include floor plans for several types of cabins showing their size, configuration, and placement of furniture and fixtures. Some brochures include color photographs of cabins.
Although some upscale lines offer only suites, most ships provide a choice of cabins. The top of the line—usually on the top decks— are the palatial owner’s suite or royal suite, comparable to the presidential suite in a good hotel. Next are a small number of one- or two-bedroom suites, followed by a larger number of minisuites. After these deluxe accommodations come standard cabins, which account for about 85% of accommodations on most ships. Now, on more of the new, large ships, many standard cabins have verandas. In fact, on some ships 60% to 80% of all accommodations feature these balconies, which are becoming a must-have amenity for many guests. Outside standard cabins with a window are generally preferred to inside standard cabins without windows, but they are more expensive. Usually, the higher the deck, the higher the cabin’s price. For outside standard cabins with windows, many cruise lines offer different categories and rates for windows with an unencumbered view, example.
Standard cabins on ships built since 1988 generally are the same throughout the ship. Windows may decrease in size as you descend from deck to deck. If the window view is obstructed, this information should be indicated on the rate charts. If not, ask. Cabins toward the middle of the ship are considered more desirable than cabins on either end, because center cabins are closer to stairs and elevators and are less affected by the ship’s back-and-forward motion (pitching).
The side-to-side motion (rolling) is more pronounced the higher you go and is felt least on lower decks. But the fact is, on large cruise ships, you will feel very little motion of the sea, except perhaps on the highest decks. Before selecting a cabin category, study the ship’s deck plan. Normally, the schematic is near scale and is color-coded for cabin category. Checking the Princess Cruise Line rate chart with the ship schematic for the Grand Princess, the most expensive accommodations are on the Lido, Baja, and Caribe Decks, the first, third, and fourth highest decks respectively with passenger accommodations. All three decks are removed from noise of the galley, engines, lounges, pool area, and showroom.
Check the drawing for decks where passengers walk or jog. Avoid cabins beneath jogging tracks or promenades. Similarly, avoid cabins where the window overlooks a track or walkway. Pinpoint lounges, showrooms, the casino, discos, and other potentially noisy, late-night areas. Avoid cabins directly above or below them. Engine noise may be audible in lower-deck cabins toward the stern. Although private verandas, or balconies, have become increasingly popular and affordable, not all balconies are created equal. When shopping, always ask about balcony size and configuration. Some are barely large enough for a chair, while others can accommodate a chaise lounge, a couple of chairs, and a table. Some balconies are covered, providing both shade and privacy, but others are open to the weather, perfect for sun bathing, but also subject to the nosy gaze of passengers on higher decks. Balconies on the bow face forward and are often subject to a great deal of wind when the ship is under way. Stern balconies, on the other hand, offer more protection and additionally provide sweeping views to either side of the ship.
STATEROOM LIST PRICE EARLY BOOKING PRICES CATEGORIES PER PERSON STARTING FROM 3RD/4TH GUESTS Suite/Minisuite $499 $499 Balcony $399 $399 Oceanview $299 $299 Interior $199 $199 Rates include port charges. Air transportation and certain taxes and fees are additional. All rates quoted in U.S. dollars, per person, double occupancy.
Grand Princess Rate Chart (continued)
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The most stable cabins are at the waterline near the center of the lower passenger decks—the best cabins for travelers prone to motion sickness.
Large bedroom with twin beds, which make up into a queen bed. Sitting area with sofa bed and desk. 2 TVs, walk-in closet, refrigerator. Bath with tub and shower.
Two lower beds, which make up into a queen bed. TV, closet, refrigerator.
Bath with shower. Outside staterooms have a picture window. (Categories E–HH obstructed.) Two lower beds, which make up into a queen bed. Many staterooms with two upper berths. Television, closet, refrigerator. Bath with shower.
(Categories AA, AB, AC, AD, and AE) MINISUITE WITH PRIVATE BALCONY OUTSIDE DOUBLE WITH PRIVATE BALCONY OUTSIDE OR INSIDE DOUBLE (Categories BA, BB, BC, BD, BE, and BF) (Categories C, DD, D, EE, E, FF, F, GG, G, HH, II, I, JJ, J, K, L, and M) Plaza Fiesta Promenade Emerald Dolphin GRAND PRINCESS SHOPPING FOR AND BOOKING YOUR CRUISE 75 Caribe Baja Aloha Lido Sun
Even veteran cruisers have difficulty gleaning this information from a deck plan, but a knowledgeable travel agent knows how to check out these details when you ask. Analyze what you get for a few dollars more or less. In the chart above, for example, a balcony cabin on Baja Deck is only $20 more than an oceanview (no balcony) cabin on the higher Lido Deck.
Be aware that the newer megaships are very long indeed. The Grand Princess is 951 feet long, more than the length of three football fields. If you have a cabin toward the stern, it’s quite a trek to the ship’s main theater near the bow. One round-trip would be roughly a half mile. With the way the public areas are distributed throughout the ship, it’s easy to log upward of four miles of walking on an average day.
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