We started taking cruise vacations 30 years ago. And while we enjoy all types of travel adventures, cruising just seems to be a great combination of relaxation, fun and value.
We will post our experiences and suggestions in the hope that you will find cruise travel to be fun for you and your family.
Why Take a Cruise?
For starters, it’s an all expense paid vacation. You pay your fees for your cabin selection, port fees and taxes, and usually prepaid gratuities. After that it is not necessary to spend additional money…although you probably will want to.
Your food in the almost never ending buffet as well as the Main Dinning Room (MDR) is included. Your entertainment in the way of stage productions, comedy shows, games and musical events is there for your enjoyment.
And everything is within a short walk from your cabin. After all, you’re on a floating village with a few thousand new friends enjoying time away from work, traffic and household duties (no grass cutting or dishes to wash on a cruise!).
Your First Cruise is often selected based on where the ship is going. The ports of call. It’s fun to visit new and exciting places. And where else can you travel to several different countries while someone else handles transportation, food and keeping your room clean? Cruising offers a great way to experience different cultures, food and see beautiful sites while being given first class attention.
People who have been on a few cruises often say they cruise for the ship. Just the enjoyment of the cruise regardless of the destination. There are several ports we have visited many times that still remain among our favorites and it’s fun to see how they have changed over the years. And of course visiting some favorite shops, restaurants and even some of the locals we’ve come to know.
In future post we will talk about the options of cruise booking, seasickness, room categories, documents you’ll need and much, much more. We hope you will ask questions and provide feedback from your cruise experiences to share with our readers.
Cruise Misconceptions
I’ll Get Seasick
Probably not. Modern cruise ships are incredibly stable. Unless you’re in rough weather, most people report little or no motion during their sail. But if you’re prone to motion sickness or want to take precautions , there are several options:
Book a cabin in the middle of a deck. This is the most stable area of a ship. While I prefer a balcony cabin, interior cabins are closer to the center of the ship.
Take medications. Over the counter medications, such as Dramamine and Bonine are available. You may want to start taking at least one day before your ship sails so that it’s in your system. Some people report success with ginger tablets. There are also prescription medications you can ask your physician about (the patch). As with any medication, be aware of potential side effects.
Sea-Bands are acupressure bands that fit around your wrist and applies pressure that seems to work for some. We’ve seen these at Target.
Get outside. Fresh air and having something to view may help with symptoms. Laying on a deck lounge or walking around the shops may be helpful by giving you things that will create a view of a horizon.
Bigger is better. Larger ships are more stable than smaller ones. Think about being on a boat on a lake compared with a large cruise ship. Larger means more stability.
Time of year. Weather is always unpredictable, but we know there are certain times in various regions when things can get rougher. Hurricane season runs from June – November for the Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico areas. We have sailed many times during the fall and have had no problem going at that time of year. The Captain will make adjustments if a storm is in it’s path, but at worst this may mean a missed port of call. Ships do not deliberately sail into hurricanes!
An advantage to sailing after Labor Day is reduced cost. Peak vacation times, such as summer and holidays, have the highest prices.
It’s Expensive
Here is a comparison I just ran for a week cruise out of Port Canaveral and staying at a Hilton in Daytona Beach for the same dates. I looked for a resort that was upscale as is a cruise.
Room only for Daytona with taxes and fees came to $1669.57. This did not include meals or any entertainment.
Current price for a cruise on the Carnival Breeze would run $1519.94 for two people for an inside cabin. This includes taxes and port fees. Obviously a balcony or suite would run more. In fact we are booked for this cruise. We decided on one of their few rear corner balcony with a wrap around deck. One of the largest decks available. Our cost with taxes came to right at $2000 with an on board credit of $100 (I’ll explain that more in a future post).
We get all our meals, entertainment and will visit three great ports of call. If you took the difference in cost and spread it out for food, the Daytona trip would allow you about $24 per day for food. You would probably spend that much and more for two people to have breakfast. And the food on a cruise is almost non stop…Warren knows about that.
We know that any vacation has things you will put extra money toward, such as drinks, gifts, tips and side trips. Same with a cruise. But for all you receive, a cruise is a great vacation value.
In a later post we will tell you how we save 20% on most of the cruises we book.
Your evening dining is with strangers.
Not necessarily. While there are a limited number of tables for two, you can request that. But we don’t recommend it. Even if you consider yourself a social butterfly, it is fun to meet people for dinner from different places and perhaps make new friends. And if for some reason you don’t click, you can ask the Maitre D to assign you to another table the next evening.
We have dined with those younger, same age and older than us and enjoyed the experience. Don’t be surprised if you end up swapping email addresses and staying in touch after your cruise. A few months ago we were to be in Tampa, Fl. for a couple of days. We contacted a couple from Tampa we had met and dined with a few years ago on a cruise who we had maintained a Facebook connection. We enjoyed a nice evening together and talked about possible future cruises.
I have dietary restrictions
Not a problem! You can communicate this to the cruise line before your trip and again to your waiter. They are great at making accommodations for your needs.
Recently on a RCL cruise, one person at our dinning table was vegan and requested gluten free foods. They were able to provide them with what was needed.
Won’t it be crowded?
Most ships have from 3000 on the mid size ships to 6000+ on the larger ones. Keep in mind that this is a floating CITY. Imagine living in a downtown apartment for a week in a small town where you can walk out for food, shopping and entertainment. Then go back to your room to relax and freshen up.
There will be moments of standing in lines, but that is the case at any resort destination. Also, the ships have many quiet spots like libraries, spas, bars and lounges that you can enjoy a time away from the busier activities and areas.
Most ships have an adults only area where you can lounge, get in a hot tub or have a cabana atmosphere away from the main pool and bar areas. A nice retreat on sea days or even if you choose to stay on board ship during one of the ports of call.
More Questions?
We will happily answer your questions. Simply put them in the comments section and we will get you the answer.
In future post we will talk about the options in booking a cruise, what documents are needed, how to select a cruise line, ship or ports of call.
Fill out our contact form so that we can keep you informed of new post.