Cruising 101 - Shore Excursions

In previous Cruising 101 posts, I’ve talked about selecting and booking a cruise.
Today I’m going to talk about shore excursions. 

One of the best things about cruising is pulling into a new port each morning and setting out to explore.  How you spend your time off the ship can certainly make or break your vacation.  There are three ways to approach shore excursions.

1.  Book directly with the cruise line

Each cruise line will have a long list of excursions for each port.  Once you’ve booked your cruise, go through the list to see all of the exciting ways to spend your time on shore.  They offer a large variety at various activity levels.

There are several Pros to dealing directly with the cruise line.  Everything is planned for you.  Just show up at the assigned spot, get your numbered sticker and off you go.  You’re typically dealing with reputable tour companies that have a professional relationship with the cruise line.  In addition, if there are any problems along the way it will be handled by the cruise line.  Most importantly, if the tour is delayed the ship will wait for you to get back on board.

But, there are some Cons also.  To be honest, Matt and I often scorn the massive, shuffling groups of “paddle people.”  The groups can be very large and plodding.  The cruise excursions offered by the ships are sometimes the most expensive option.  

We rarely go this route, but the few times that we have turned out fine.  On a Caribbean cruise, we booked a last minute Dolphin Experience for my birthday which was fantastic.  On my recent MSC Cruise, I was pleasantly surprised with our city tour excursions in Genoa and Aix-en-Provence.  The groups were a comfortable size and the tour guides were terrific.  We also will sometimes use the cruise line's airport transfers for convenience.  

2.  Book with a local tour company

A little more risky, but we’ve had great results with this approach.  The biggest risk is that if you’re delayed, the cruise ship WILL leave without you.  It’s great sport on a cruise ship to head to the upper decks and watch the stragglers run for the boat as the horn blares its imminent departure.   But cruise passengers are the bed and butter for these local tour groups.  They are well informed and will get you back to the ship in plenty of time. 

We love this option for several reasons.  We’re directly supporting the local economy.  The groups are usually smaller.  With a smaller group, you are able to make the most of your time.  In fact, we often go with a private tour with just us and a guide, offering flexibility and individual attention.  You would think this option would be the most expensive, but it’s usually not.  We’ve actually saved money this way.  This is what we did in St. Petersburg, Athens and Ephesus.

I don’t recommend just walking off the ship and going off with one of the last minute operators vying for your business in the port.  It’s critical to select a reputable and professional tour company with great word of mouth referrals.  CruiseCritic.com is the best place to start.  We always book online well ahead of time and take advantage of the protection that comes with using a credit card.

3.  Strike out on your own. 

Depending on the port this is a pretty easy option.  But typically the ports are some distance from the city, so don’t expect to be dropped of at the city center.  It’s important to research your transportation options.  Buses or taxis will usually get you from the port to the city.  Public transport might also be an option.

This one also requires research so that you spend your time wisely and are prepared.   And keep an eye on the time.  You don’t want to arrive back at the port to see your cruise ship sailing away.  If you’re using public transport, be sure to have a Plan B.  In Stockholm, we were depending on a bus to get us back to the port only to realize that the bus didn’t run on Sundays.  That was a long (and grumpy) walk back to the ship. 

Here are some questions to consider when you’re deciding which option to go with?

What is the size of the city? 

Is it walkable? 

How usable is the public transport?

How far is the port from the city?

How safe is the city?

What’s your budget?

How big is your group?

What are the ages and activity levels of your group?

How much travel experience do you have?

How much research are you willing to do?

How much risk are you willing to accept?

Different itineraries also lend themselves to a specific option.  In the Caribbean, we usually head to a beach on our own or pre-book a water excursion.   Each stop on our Baltic Cruise was a city that we could easily explore on foot or with public transport.  (The exception was St. Petersburg where you can’t leave the ship without being part of a tour.)  Our Med cruise ended up being the most expensive because we booked excursions at almost every port. 

Two last points. 

1.  Be sure to consider the additional expense of shore excursions when budgeting for your cruise.  Costs can add up very quickly and even double the price of your cruise. 

2.  Pay attention to transfer times.  That excursion may sound wonderful but if it means three hours on a bus, you might want to pass.  Shore time is limited so make the best of it.

 So much to consider, isn’t it?  But, I promise it’s worth it.  

 

What about you?  How do you approach shore excursions?

TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | SUBSCRIBE | BLOGLOVIN

Cruising 101 - The Pilot Boat

Next time you're on a cruise ship entering or leaving a port, go outside and look over the railing.

You might be lucky enough to see the Pilot Boat ferrying the local pilot.

Each Port has licensed pilots that will board a cruise ship to help the captain safely navigate the local waters.

He or she will know all of the secrets of the tides, sandbars and local conditions for that port.

And he is most certainly a daredevil.   Take a look at this series of photos.

In a matter of minutes, the tiny Pilot Boat pulls up along the massive cruise ship,

the pilot jumps onto the ladder and then the boat speeds off into the sunset.

Pretty cool, huh?

Have you ever spotted a Pilot Boat?

TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | SUBSCRIBE | BLOGLOVIN

Cruising 101 - Booking Your Cruise

It's time to talk about cruising again!
Even though we don't currently have one booked, a cruise is never far from my mind.

So far in my Cruising 101 Series, I've given you some enticing reasons why you should cruise.
We've talked about Brits and cruising. I've given you some basic things to consider when selecting a cruise.

Matt has talked to you about solo cruising and I've compared a US cruise line with a European cruise line.

Now that you're convinced that a cruise is for you and you've selected the perfect cruise,

it's time to take the big step of booking that cruise!

There are a few things to consider when it's time to book that cruise. 

The first is should you use a travel agent or just book online?  

For my first cruise, I was booking for a family group of six and I was pretty clueless as to how it all worked.  A trusted travel agent that specialized in cruising was immensely helpful in figuring out all of the details.  She got us the best rates, made sure we took advantage of a last minute price drop and helped us with travel insurance.  I would recommend finding a Cruise Specialist with a really solid, word-of-mouth reputation and letting them help you out, especially with that first time booking. 

Another option is to book through a third party discount cruise website.  I've never actually tried this, but if the deal is right, you can check out the reputation of the company and you read the fine print, it might be a good option. 

 

Since that first cruise, I now book everything directly with the cruise line's website.  Once you are booked, you can log in to the passenger section of the website to complete all of your pre-cruise paperwork, find answers to frequently asked questions and get information about extras and excursions (which we will talk about next time.)  Between the booking and the cruise, there are often phone calls to customer service with various questions and I've had really good luck with the customer service.

When should you book?

If you've picked out your cruise, it's best to book as early as possible as they do often sell out.  (Last minute bookings are for people who can be a little more flexible and chase the bargains.)  Typically, a 10% deposit is required to book a cruise with payment in full about 90 days out.  The further out you book, the more time you have to make payments.  

Be sure to read the cancellation policy for any cruise that you book.  And consider cruise insurance, should anything go wrong with the booking.  Once I'm booked, I monitor the prices for any drops or deals that I might be able to take advantage of prior to the cruise.

You also have some very important decisions to make at the time of booking involving eating and sleeping.

Two of my favorite things to do on a cruise.

What time would you like to have dinner each night?

Many cruise lines offer two dinner seatings in the main dining room(s), early or late seating.  The nightly shows are scheduled around these seatings.  So you may eat first and then go check out the show or eat after the show.  It's purely a matter of personal preference.  We usually pick the late seating as it gives us time to get back on the ship after a long day in port with plenty of time to relax and get ready for dinner.  If you don't get the seating that you requested upon booking, or if you change your mind, a visit to the Maitre d' will often solve the problem.

Most cruise lines are also now offering a more flexible dining option where you select the time that is best for you.  Then you just reserve a table the night before.  We tried this on our Baltic Cruise and were happy with it.  Although, we did kind of miss having a set table, wait staff and companions for the entire cruise.  It's part of cruising that we really enjoy.  We are still in contact with dinner mates that we've met while cruising and we enjoy the social aspect of a scheduled dinner seating. 

Which cabin will be your home for the cruise?

There are basically four types of cabins:  inside cabin with no view, outside cabin with a view (window/porthole), outside cabin with a balcony or a suite.  I've never stayed in a suite, but I have stayed in the other three types.  Obviously, a balcony is always my first choice.  It just depends on the prices.

The Baltic Cruise that we went on was more expensive so we opted for an outside cabin with a window and were completely happy with that.  The inside cabins are the same size and just as nice, but you never know what's happening with the weather and sea conditions outside.  And I want to experience the ocean as much as possible on a cruise.  But, if that's what I can afford then that's what I'm taking.

Each cruise ship then has a larger variety of cabin categories based on the room type, size and the deck where they are situated.  You can make a decision on the category of cabin that you want and book a "Guarantee."  This means that you will at least get a room in that category (or you may even get really lucky and get an upgrade.)  But, the cruise line will select the location of your cabin and you don't have any say in where you will end up on the ship.

This was the option that I picked for that first cruise.  I ended up in the very front tip of the ship at the lowest passenger level, which meant three things.  I really felt the movement of the ship.  I heard the constant loud smack of the water against the hull of the ship as it sliced through the water.  And each morning when we docked, I was awoken very early with the sound of the massive metal anchors sliding to to the seabed on their massive chains.  Do you know how long it takes them?  It seemed like forever.  Don't get me wrong, I had an amazing cruise.  But, since then, I've selected the actual cabin that I will be staying in for the cruise.  

I study the deck plans, compare pricing and book a specific cabin number.  I prefer to be mid-ship, mid-level which is where I feel the least movement.  (I've only experienced seasickness once during really rough seas, but I still prefer to be in a more stable area of the ship.)  I also look at the deck plans to see if I'm over or under a nightclub or dining room that might affect the noise levels.  And I chose a cabin that is close to a set of stairs and bank of elevators which makes getting around easier.  Some of those long hallways can seem endless.

We always use the cruise line website to book a specific cabin.  But, you can also do this if you book over the phone.   They will tell you which cabins are available and you can cross reference with the deck plans to make the right choice.  

If you go this route be sure to pay close attention to the details on the deck plan.  Does the room have an actual window or it just a porthole?  Is there an obstructed view?  Is it a family room with pull-down beds?  Is it adjoined with another room?  There is a chance that you could be asked to switch if there is another passenger that needs that specific type of cabin. 

 I guess, it all boils down to how much control you want to have.

(I've never denied having control issues.)

You can relax, make some basic decisions and just go with the flow.

Or you can do some research and make some more specific choices.  

 I'm a big researcher and I find that the more I know ahead of time,

the more relaxed I am during the actual cruise. 

If you are considering or planning a cruise, I can't recommend www.cruisecritic.com enough.

You can find out more than you will ever want to know about cruising.

You can even ask about a specific cabin on the forums to see if anyone can send you pictures.

It's been invaluable to us.  (They are in no way endorsing my recommendation,

I just really think it's a great website.)

My next post in the Cruising 101 Series will cover some of the extras that come along with a cruise

such as drinks packages and excursions.

I'm also going to put together a post of Best Tips.  So if you are a cruiser,

I would love to include your tips in that post.  Send me an email at selena_jones@me.com.

 

Do you have any tips or questions for booking a cruise?

TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | SUBSCRIBE | BLOGLOVIN

Cruising 101 - American versus European Cruise Lines

We've cruised with both Carnival and Royal Caribbean,
but we're anxious to expand our horizons and try some other lines to see what they have to offer.
Matt has his eye on several interesting MSC itineraries.
So, I was thrilled to be invited aboard the MSC Splendida to get a taste for Europe's largest cruise line.  

We've read a lot about the differences between American and European based cruises
and I wanted to get a feel for the distinctions.  It seems to bring up some very interesting discussions.

MSC is a family owned cruise line that offers "Italian Service, Italian Style."
A shipping company founded in the 70's, they started really focusing on cruising in the late 90's
and they are now one of the most popular European cruise lines.

MSC offers a mainstream European cruise experience that I found very comparable to Royal Caribbean
but with some noticeable differences in style, food and language.
I also noticed a few more differences that have to do with cultural nuances. 

Language

MSC caters to the European market offering a multi-lingual approach.  This means that you will hear everything in five languages, Italian, French, Spanish, German and lastly, English.  English speakers are the minority particularly on their European sailings.  My daily schedule was in English and everyone on the staff communicated with me in English so I didn't really find it a problem.  I just wasn't able to eavesdrop on many of the conversations going on around me.

This also means that you don't get regular announcements over the intercom.  On other cruises, we were fed details of the sailing from the captain or enticing reminders from a chatty cruise director.  I really missed the morning "Bing-Bong."  For some, it's cheesy and annoying but I consider it part of the novelty and excitement of cruising and I missed it on the MSC Splendida.  But, listening to each announcement in five languages would get old pretty quickly.

Style

The MSC Splendida is one of their largest ships.  This Fantasia Class ship was launched in 2009 and it notable for it's beauty and elegance.   The modern style is different from some of the fantasy-themed interiors we've experienced on American based ships which can seem a bit garish in comparison (especially on some of the older ships.)

I also noticed a difference in the style of entertainment on offer. Again you have everything repeated in a variety of languages.  It featured jugglers, dancers and acrobats.  The European audience seemed to absolutely love it, but it just wasn't to my taste.  But, I love the cheesy, over-the-top Broadway type shows on the American lines and consider it part of the fun of cruising.  The shows on MSC seemed much more serious.  The overall feel on the ship was a bit more understated than we've experienced previously.

Food

Two words.  Pasta.  Course.   The offerings were maybe a bit more interesting than I've experienced in the past and I loved the addition of the pasta course.  The food was good, but I really didn't note much of a difference in the food quality or service.  I found it very comparable to Royal Caribbean with MSC slightly ahead in the main dining room.  I didn't notice much of a difference in how people dressed for dinner or interacted while dining.   I was surprised by how crowded the buffet was each day that we were in port.  It seemed like more people came back on board to eat lunch or just didn't leave the ship at all.  

Cultural Comparisons

I've read a lot about the differences between a European based cruise and an American based cruise.  Some of the cruising forums have some pretty negative takes on European cruise lines. These comments (almost exclusively from American cruisers) usually focus on smoking, the rude behavior of fellow cruisers and poor customer service.  So, I was on the lookout for some of these things that can get people so riled up.  Here is what I noticed.

Smoking is one of those things that really drives me crazy.  I really hate having to breathe in second hand smoke.  I've noticed in the US, that smoking is really on the decline.  You can't smoke in public places or even in doorways.  It's much more common in the UK and Europe.  I've had to duck under clouds of smoke to get into a restaurant.  I often have to cover my mouth when walking through a crowd.  It drives me crazy.  Smoking has been allowed on every ship that I've cruised on.  It is usually allowed on the top decks restricted to one side of the ship, on balconies, in one side of the casino and in the Cigar Lounge.  I just avoid those areas.  I didn't notice that this was any worse on the MSC Splendida.  

I cringe when I read comments about "rude Europeans" as much as I cringe when I read about "obnoxious Americans."   I've found that people from every background can be rude and obnoxious, just like they can be friendly and gracious.  This is really a non-issue when it comes to comparing US vs European based cruising.  You'll always run into kids that want to push all of the elevator buttons, couples fighting in public, loud complainers, chatty families, obnoxious laughers and tipsy loud dingbats.  If you don't want to deal with people then you should probably just stay home.  I will admit that my newly tuned UK sensibilities about queuing/lining up are always challenged in Europe.  But, I didn't really experience this on board.

Customer service is definitely a big topic when comparing the two experiences and I did notice a distinct difference in this area.  The US is known for having really friendly customer service, enough that it can put Europeans off as being disingenuous and annoying.   Customer service aboard the MSC Splendida did feel very different.  The attitudes were much more low-key, lacking a broad smile and piercing eye contact.  You state your business, they do what they can to help you.  Most of the time it was very efficient and problems were addressed.  I may have waited for service at a bar longer than I'm used to and there wasn't much of the friendly chatter that I've experienced on other ships.  There were two occasions when I felt the service was just rude.

The nationalities of the staff on board a cruise ship is varied, the staff is from all over the world.  That is no different on the MSC Splendida.  It must be more about the corporate culture of the cruise line.  I'm sure there are a variety of reasons (i.e. tipping habits) that contribute to the differences, but customer service in Europe is very different from what you will experience in the US.  I also found this to be true on the MSC Splendida.

In my experience, there are differences between a US and a European based cruise.

I think it's important to be aware of them, but don't let them deter you.

It makes perfect sense that if you want to experience Europe and visit Italy, Spain and France

then why not experience it aboard a European cruise line.

Each time you travel, you should keep an open-mind and remember that different isn't bad.

It's just different.  We will definitely cruise with MSC again.

Tomorrow, I'll share with you more about the beautiful ship.

Have you noticed a difference in customer service in the US vs. Europe?

TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | SUBSCRIBE | BLOGLOVIN


 *I was a guest of MSC Cruises for a three night #MSCBlogCruise for the purposes of review.
All photos, writing and opinions are my own.
As always, I promise to be open, honest and transparent with my readers.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Cruising Solo

 Matt is on the blog today talking about cruising solo.

Many people won't even consider a cruise, but cruising alone?  Out of the question.

But, Matt has cruised solo several times and I know many other people who enjoy cruising alone.

I've even tried it and loved it!  (Remind me to tell you about the time I joined a Singles Cruise.

I had the absolute time of my life and would highly recommend it if you are newly single.)

But, that's another story.   Here's Matt...

Before I met Selena, I’d cruised on my own.  Alone.  I know!  Crazy, eh?

After I revealed my plans to my friends, and I’d weathered their gentle questioning as to whether I was completely mad, I signed up with Carnival for a week around the Caribbean.  And I had a blast – so much so that I did another solo cruise the next year!

You’ll always remember your first cruise.

I consider myself to be a traveller, and for the people that knew me well, that compounded their confusion as to why I wanted to cruise.  Unlike most people who think the boat is the point of the cruise, I’d long considered cruising to be a great way of travelling to interesting places.  Unpack once, and every day a new port is presented to you.  So I selected an itinerary which featured a port on every day, in case I found I didn’t enjoy the cruising part.

As another precaution in case I hated the ship experience, I invested in a large room with a balcony, so I’d have a comfortable refuge if I wasn’t interested in deck shuffleboard or ballroom dancing.  And that presented the first major challenge to cruising alone – the cost.

 My refuge

Almost all cabins are designed (and priced) for double occupancy, so by taking a cabin for just yourself, you’ll end up paying twice the headline quoted rate.  You’d expect some discount, as you’d only be eating for one, using half the towels, and so on.  But, no - my experience was that the quoted price was simply doubled when I clicked the “single occupancy” button.

But I was very happy with the price I paid.  Remember, I was thinking like a traveller, so comparing what I paid to the cost of creating an independent itinerary that took in 7 Caribbean countries in 7 days (with airfares, accommodation, food, transfers, etc, not to mention the hassle involved in the planning), it felt like a very good deal.  If I’d taken an internal cabin it would have represented outstanding value for the travel opportunities presented.

Going to Antigua for a day?  Probably costs the same as a week’s cruise.

The second challenge was, well, being alone.  I’ve travelled a lot as a single traveller, so I was not at all daunted by the prospect of being thrown into the midst of 2,000 merry holidaymakers without knowing a single person.  I can understand how that might be a major challenge for some, but don’t worry, there are plenty of opportunities to meet people and make friends.

 There were 2,000 people on this ship.  Honest!

Dinner is the first.  You might be tempted to avoid the awkwardness of being alone by eating at the buffet, but if you ask to be seated at a large table in the dining room, you’ll quickly make friends among your dining companions.  I would recommend a fixed dining time so you get to know your companions over several nights – if you hate them all just ask the maître d’ to move you to a different table!

There will also be mixer events organised for singles.  There will be plenty of other singles on the cruise.  Even if there are relatively few that are travelling alone, plenty of single people will be sharing cabins with friends or relatives.  A formal singles mixer isn’t really my thing, so I didn’t attend, but there’s no downside to dropping by and seeing who’s there.

 Don’t worry - the cabin attendants will also introduce you to new friends

Another way of breaking the ice is to check out the forums on CruiseCritic.com before your cruise.  Every major cruise has a forum, and by joining in the conversation prior to departure you’ll often meet like-minded souls before you even embark.  It’s very common for shore excursions to be organised this way, which can be a great way of maximising the time in port.  Most major cruise lines will host a Meet & Greet event on board for Cruise Critic members, which is a great way of meeting new shipmates.  (Selena and I still do this before each cruise.)

Didn’t catch a thing, but a bad day’s fishing beats a good day in the office, right?

Talking of shore excursions, I’d clung to my independent traveller roots by only pre-booking one shore excursion – a fishing trip in St Lucia – which I knew would be a difficult thing to organise on my own.  In the other ports on the first few days of the cruise, I just got off the ship and wandered around, avoiding the crowds as much as possible.  Bliss!  By the end of the week, I was organising trips with friends I’d made on board.

 Brimstone Hill Fortress in St Kitts

With a port on every day of the cruise, and with dinner and shows taking up most of each evening, this cruise provided relatively little time left to enjoy other on-board activities.  Be assured there is a lot more on offer than shuffleboard and ballroom dancing, although you could have done both if you’d been interested.

I recognise that cruising solo may not be for everyone.  You need to be independently minded and happy with your own company.  But the opportunities to meet people were certainly there – four years later I’m still in touch with many of the people I met on these cruises.  For me at that time in my life, cruising was a perfect holiday for me, although I’d have to say that the experience is even better now I’m able to share the experiences with Selena.

Okay, I made him throw in that last bit.

Cruising is something wonderful that we share but it's something that we both love individually.

Would you ever cruise solo?  Why or why not?

TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | SUBSCRIBE | BLOGLOVIN

Picking the Right Cruise

Time for the next post in my Series Cruising 101 with Selena!

Hopefully, I've convinced you that cruising is a great option

and Matthew has given you a British perspective 

Now it's time to take the next step and select the perfect cruise.

The options seem endless.  So many choices!

This step can certainly be the most overwhelming,

particularly if this is your first cruise. 

Not to mention the pressure to get it right.

You're spending hard earned dollars and valuable holiday time on this cruise.

This is a big decision.   So how do you pick the right cruise?  

This post will break it down to four easy variables that will help you

make this important and exciting decision. 

Who?  (Cruiseline)    What? (Ship)    When? (Season)    Where? (Itinerary)

Who shall we cruise with?

Consider the cruise line's niche, culture and price. Each cruise line is different.  The key is to pick the one that best matches your personality and interests.    What do you want?  Family Fun.  Gourmet Meals.  Great entertainment.  Laid back vibe or party atmosphere.  Each line has their own specialty.  It's also important to consider the culture of each  cruise line.  There is usually a different feel between a cruise line geared towards Americans versus Europeans.  Does this factor into your decision?   Your budget (which we will talk about in a future post) will also help you answer this question.  There is a very wide range of price points in cruising from budget to luxury.  

What ship do we want to spend our time on?

Each cruise line will have a range of ships.  They can vary greatly in age, size and amenities and each of these will lead to a very different experience on board.  What amenities are most important to you?  A stellar kid's program.  Modern spa and fitness center.   Adult's Only pool.   Each year another Mega Ship is launched with anything that you can imagine on board.   But a smaller ship can get into smaller and more interesting ports.  What is more important to you? 

When is the best time to go? 

This one can really trip you up if you don't do enough research.  Imagine taking your European family on a Caribbean Cruise to discover that you've gone during Spring Break Week when every US college student has headed south to get their drink on.   It's important to consider holidays, school schedules, and who else is likely to be on the cruise.   You should also consider weather and travel seasons.  Know that if you cruise the Med in July it's going to be frickin' hot. And if you cruise the Caribbean during Hurricane Season you might miss a port (or get two extra days in Puerto Rico.  Not that we complained.) 

Where do we want to explore?

I love this one!  Where shall we go?   Do we want to lounge on beaches in the Caribbean?  Shall we explore ancient ruins and drink wine in the Mediterranean?  So many options, so little time.  But selecting an itinerary isn't just about the ports.  Be sure to think about your departure point and consider any extra time and cost involved.  Don't forget to think about sea days vs. port days.  As well, as how much time you have.  Three nights?  Two weeks?  Three months?  Itinerary is an important one.   

It's a lot to consider, isn't it?  But don't let it discourage you.

Some of these may have been decided before you even start this process.  Your dates might be limited by school holidays or your itinerary may be something that you already have your heart set on.  It's also important to note that each of these variables may hold different weight in your decision.  You want a cruise line that caters to families no matter where it takes you. 

So start by writing down these four questions and filling in the answers that have already been decided.  Then place them in order of importance for you and your fellow cruiser(s).  This is where the real fun begins!   I hate to even call it research, because it is so much fun.

Recommended Resources  

Cruise Brochures  (Take note of who their target audience is.  Is it you?)
Blogs (That's a no brainer.)
Online Reviews and Forums
Cruise Magazines
Cruise and Travel Shows

 Cruise Critic

Cruise Critic is our number one resource when planning a cruise.  If you don't do anything else I've suggested, visit CruiseCritic.com for their reviews, cruise news, invaluable articles and the community forums.  I've spent countless hours there and not one minute was wasted.

Cruise Specialists

Lastly, don't be afraid to ask for help.  With the internet at our fingertips, many of us have started bypassing the experts.  (Don't tell me you haven't Googled your symptoms and completely skipped a trip to your GP.)  A Cruise Specialist might be a lifesaver, especially if this is your first cruise.  Find one that comes highly recommended and let them help you wade through all of the details. 
 
When I was planning my first cruise, I was so nervous.  Not only was it me but five other family members were trusting me with this decision.  I used both a Cruise Specialist and Cruise Critic while planning a week long Caribbean Cruise.   I will admit to one minor meltdown upon embarkation.  (Everyone was looking to me to have all of the answers and guide them through the logistics but I was as overwhelmed by it all as anyone.)  And we did miss a port because of high winds.  But, I we all had a blast  and I fell in love with cruising.  

Once you get that first one under your belt, it gets so much easier.  I promise.

And I highly recommend a Caribbean Cruise.

It's the perfect way to start your very own love affair with cruising.

Next in the series, we'll talk about booking that cruise once you've made your choice.


What's your top tip for picking the perfect cruise?

TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | SUBSCRIBE | BLOGLOVIN

Brits and Cruising

It's time for another installment of 

Cruising 101 with Selena.  

But I might need to change that badge,

because today's post is written by my husband Matthew. 

He is becoming quite a frequent "flyer" around here and we are working on ways to make him a regular contributor. 

I don't know how you feel about that,

but I think he is a wonderful addition to the blog.

He is, after all, one half of the 

"We" in Oh, the places we will go! 

Today he's going to give you a

British perspective on cruising.  

 

Selena blogged recently about Why You Should Choose to Cruise!.  She referred to a guy we’d met who felt that cruising was not travelling.  I’m with most of you in that I think he’s an idiot, but having been born and raised in the UK, I can understand some of the preconceptions he may have relied on in forming his opinion.

Preconception #1 - Cruising is for Old People

The British cruise industry during the 70s and 80s was all about transatlantic crossings on luxurious (and expensive) super liners.  The cost limited the clientele to those with pots of cash and who tended to be quite old.  As the North Atlantic can be inhospitable during deep winter (see the Titanic reference below), these ships spent the winter loaded with super-rich grave dodgers who could afford to spend £100,000 on a four month round-the-world cruise.

There still are a handful of noble ships which spend their year in this way, but these days the vast majority of cruise ships ply more fun, port-oriented routes.  You’ll find grey hair on most cruises, but overall there’s a much younger clientele cruising at a much more affordable price.

Spot the grey hair. 

Preconception # 2 - Cruising is Stuffy and the Opposite of Fun

The next perception was that cruising is an ordeal.  Having to dress like Carson from Downton Abbey for every meal.  The only dancing was ballroom (but don’t worry, if your husband or wife wasn’t a dancer there would be a staff member happy to accompany you around the dance floor).  Activities were limited to hare coursing, badger baiting or fox hunting.  Or if that was too energetic, you could just relax in the bar comparing jewellery with your neighbours.

I'd like a cheese omelette, please.  Via.

Obviously, this is nonsense.  You can take ballroom dancing lessons if you want, and there’s nothing wrong with dressing up a little for the occasional dinner.  But the range of activities available on even modest sized cruise ships should be enough to keep the most introverted people entertained.  And if you’re an extrovert, go wild!

 

Not a badger in sight.

Preconception #3 - Most Cruise Ships Sink

Obviously most ships don’t sink.  To be fair though, the few that do tend to stick in the memory.  Everyone will be familiar with the Titanic, although not so many people realise that a third of its passengers survived the sinking.  Brits will also remember the sinking of the Lusitania, from which 1,198 people died.  However, there were some particular circumstances to that sinking which are unlikely to be repeated today:  the ship was hit by a torpedo from a German U-Boat.

More recently, we’ve seen the sinking of the Costa Concordia, through which 32 people died.  But I’m threatening to depress myself – perhaps I’ll leave cruise ship safety to another post.  Let’s just say that the risk of drowning on a cruise ship is similar to the risk of dying from a lightning strike – not something you should spend a great deal of time worrying about.

Still Afloat.

 So if we can summarily dispel these myths, cruising is great fun.  However British cruisers do suffer a couple of handicaps that are real, although they can be easily overcome.

No man is an Island, but Britain is

Cruises originating in the UK do have a handicap, which is that Britain is an island in Northern Europe.  So get to anywhere exotic (sorry Jersey), you have to cruise for several days, which does rather eat into your holiday.  In my opinion, sea days are a bit of a waste of time if you are a traveller, but Selena doesn’t necessarily agree on this point.

 

Sea day or shore day.  Which do you prefer?

 You can either head North across the North Sea, which is big, prone to bad weather and so can be quite vomity.  (Is that a word?) And you’ll end up even further North than Britain, which reduces your chances of encountering good weather.  Or you can head South across the Bay of Biscay, which is also big, is also prone to bad weather and so can also be quite vomity.  (I've decided it is.)  But at least after 3 days sailing, you’ll be in Lisbon, which should be warmer.  Try not to think about the 3 days you’ll spend sailing back.

Obviously the solution to this is to fly to join your cruise there.  Book early enough and the additional cost of the flight will be very reasonable, and (in my opinion) you’ll have a better holiday as more of it will be spent exploring exotic ports, rather than wishing you’d bought that sea sickness wristband from that infomercial.

An exotic port.  Chania, in Crete.

European Cruising can be, ahem, a little demanding

Ryanair is often ridiculed for flying you to airports only remotely associated with the city they claim to represent.  Oslo’s Torp airport is 69 miles from Oslo, and Frankfurt’s Hahn airport is 78 miles from Frankfurt.  But European cruises often do the same thing.  Civitavecchia is 50 miles from Rome, Le Havre is 126 miles from Paris and Warnemünde is 150 miles from Berlin.  All 3 are stops on many cruise itineraries which are advertised as giving you a day in the European capital they notionally serve.

If your cruise takes you to “Athens”, you feel an obligation to actually visit Athens, even if you’ve actually docked in Piraeus and you need two hours on Google to work out how to actually get into the city.  Which can make a European cruise a rather stressful experience, if you choose to travel independently.  Joining an official tour offered by the ship is the obvious solution (which also removes the nagging fear of getting lost and missing the boat) but shuffling around in a large, organised group is not for everyone.

So my solution here is simple.  Fly to Miami and join a Caribbean cruise.  Okay, this is adding a little more cost, but Caribbean ports tend to be very close to the city centres, and even if they’re not, there tends to be a small tourist village adjacent to the pier where you can have a rum cocktail and legitimately claim to have visited the country!

Enjoying a beer cocktail in the Virgin Islands.

I can't tell you how excited I am to have Matthew working on this series with me.

We're lovin' the discussions that are happening in the comment sections.

Keep it coming!

In future posts, we'll be sharing tips on how to choose the right cruise, planning shore excursions and more.  If you have any questions that you would like for us to address, just comment below or send me an email.  And if you are interested in doing a guest post in the series, I'd love to hear from you. 

Do you think Brits and Americans feel differently about cruising?
What about you Canadians... how do you feel?

TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | SUBSCRIBE | BLOGLOVIN