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How to Cruise for Almost Free on Major Cruise Lines. Yes, Really.

Friday, February 17th, 2012

Oh Yes! It's Free!It’s not a big secret or very mysterious but a lot of cruisers still don’t know that there is one guaranteed way to cruise almost for free:  Simply put a group together.

If you reach the required number of passengers, for a group (which is set by the cruise line) then your personal cruise berth is free.

If you belong to any kind of club or organization, work at a sizeable company or have large circle of friends and relatives, then chances are that you have the foundation for a group cruise.

Generally, you will need to dig up 15 other passengers travelling in 8 staterooms on the same cruise. This is the general rule of thumb that covers most cruise lines. Once your group has paid in full the 16th berth (not cabin) is assigned at no charge and designated as the “tour conductor berth”.

You are not limited to just one berth, so if you have a large group you can earn multiple free berths. Keep in mind that while the actual berth may be “free” to you as the organizer, you will have to pay government taxes and port fees, pre-paid gratuities and other miscellaneous add-ons known in the industry as “NCF’s”. They can add up to a couple of hundred dollars.

What are some of the advantages of travelling as a group aside from the free berth potential and the fun of cruising with friends and family? In most cases all members of your group will receive a group rate that is lower than the regular rate for the cabin. This discount varies widely from cruise line to cruise line and from season to season. Count on a savings of at least 5% but it can go as high as 25% off “published fares”.

In addition, many cruise lines offer what are called “amenity points” to the group. These points can be traded for things like onboard credits, a group cocktail party or photo, shore excursions, specialty dining and more.

Sound like a lot of work? Well here’s some good news. Most large cruise travel agencies have a separate department dedicated to administering group cruises. More good news: they don’t charge you for their basic services as they get compensated by the cruise line for doing the work. They can examine several different cruise lines and make a recommendation for the group.

Once you decide on the ship and sailing date, they will block the space and handle all the payments from the group members. They can also assist in creating flyers and other things to help you meet your goals. Closer to sailing, they can arrange onboard parties, private shore excursions and other activities to make your group feel special.

Cruising for free is simple and every week hundreds of groups embark on ships around the globe. On most of these sailings, it’s easy to pick out the group member who sailed for free. They are the one with the biggest smile. So start planning today. You will likely need at least 9 to 12 months lead time.

Happy Sailing
The Cruise Professor

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Posted in Cruise 101, cruise industry, cruise travel, cruises, How to, travel | 1 Comment »

Cape Liberty (Bayonne, NJ): New Port Guide

Tuesday, February 14th, 2012

Ever live next door to neighbors that were always partying and making a racket?  These people didn’t ever seem to sleep and eeeverrrybody just looooved them.  Well this is how Bayonne, if not all of east New Jersey feels (allegedly.)  Good thing for us that are just visiting:  we don’t need to deal with the Jersey inferiority complex.  We can enjoy all the life, history and art of New York City and still get back in time to catch our ship sailing out of  Cape Liberty Cruise Port.

Just a few miles from New York City, Cape Liberty offers all of the access to wonderful cruising without the hustle and bustle of New York City, while still close enough to enjoy the Big Apple.  Transportation to and from NYC and Bayonne range from taxis, buses, trains and even ferries.  Getting to great New York attractions is easy, so don’t miss out on favorites like the Statue of Liberty, Times Square and all of that great food.

The town of Bayonne itself is small and largely residential, with fantastic views across the Hudson River of Manhattan. Major cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and Celebrity Cruises have several of their sailings originating from there.  Cape Liberty Cruise Port is home to Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas, Celebrity Cruises’ Summit and Silhouette.

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Watts Up With These Strange Plugs? Guide to Electrical Plugs For Your Next International Cruise

Friday, October 28th, 2011

Quite a few first time visitors to Europe are surprised when they try to use their home hair dryers and hand held appliances in Europe and other international destinations. Most modern cruise ships offer both U.S. style 110/120 volt power plus 220/240 European power so this is not a problem. But if your international cruise involves staying a few days in Europe or other international destinations, it is a good idea to insure you have the right appliances and plugs.

Here are a few tips to help you avoid frying your personal appliances:

1. Know before you go: Check the electrical current for the countries you will be visiting at http://www.voltagevalet.com/elec_guide.html

2. Dual voltage: If your hair dryer, flat irons etc. are not DUAL VOLTAGE they will NOT work on 220/240 current. Most dual voltage appliances have a button to move the current from lower to higher voltage. Make sure you do this BEFORE you plug it in. Otherwise it’s Snap, Crackle and Pop and I don’t mean cereal.

3. Lots of plug types: In most 220/240 countries there are a variety of plugs and pins that fit the sockets. It is best to carry a variety of these if you are staying (on land) in various countries. For example, a plug for the U.K. is much different than Western Europe plugs and they are not interchangeable.

Types of Electrical Plugs

Types of Electrical Plugs

4. Hotels: Most 3 to 5 star hotels in Europe have hair dryers built into the bathroom or in a drawer in the room. Sorry ladies, but flat irons are generally unavailable at the hotels.

5. Laptops: For mobile devices and laptops the transformers that come with the unit is generally dual voltage and this is usually printed right on the transformer itself. (But remember if it is has a U.S. style plug on the end it will do you no good if you don’t have the right international plug.) I would also recommend that you back up your entire hard drive if you are taking your laptop overseas, just in case.

6. Outlets: If you are taking a lot of devices that need power or charging on the ship, it is a very good idea to take along a small power strip or 3 way plug. Why? Because, while most cruise ships offer 110/120 power, the cabins generally don’t have a lot of outlets. So, bringing a power strip can avoid having to switch out devices constantly. And don’t ask me why, but sometimes the outlet in the cabin is located in the strangest place. Remember, the same caveat goes for the ships. Don’t plug your regular appliances into the 220/240 outlets even if you have the right plug. You may just plunge all of Deck 9 into darkness. (I did this many years ago on a cruise ship called the “Navarino” in the Greek Islands. This ship eventually became the “Regent Sea” for Regency Cruises.)

With a little advance planning can insure you have an electrifying time on your cruise or land vacations even if you avoid shocking results!

Happy Sailing,
The Cruise Professor

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Posted in Cruise 101, cruise travel, cruises, Mediterranean, travel | 1 Comment »

Falmouth, Jamaica: Building on History

Monday, October 3rd, 2011

Jamaican SunsetFalmouth, Jamaica is the newest port in the Caribbean.  Built by the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line for a reported $170 million dollars, it is located on the north side of Jamaica, centered between the tourist towns of Montego Bay and Ocho Rios.  Long a hub for the shipments of sugar, molasses, rum and coffee from the island, Falmouth has a few interesting historical notes attached to it.  As with many of the Caribbean islands, Jamaica was integral in the slave trade, but it was in Falmouth that the abolition of slavery started to take root in the early 1800′s.  Although still under construction, the Port of Falmouth has much to offer in the way of history, shopping and fantastic nearby attractions.  Read Port Guide →

 

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Posted in Caribbean, cruises, Theme Cruise, travel | 2 Comments »

Jacksonville: Gateway to the Get Away

Wednesday, September 21st, 2011

Jacksonville is the biggest city in America (by land area). I bet you didn’t know that. Heck I didn’t know that a week ago. Did you know that it is known as the “First Coast”? Yeah, I didn’t either.

Well… what do you know about Jacksonville?

Jacksonville may just be the biggest city you know nothing about. It is a lot like the itineraries that leave its port: not extravagant, but convenient and fun. With 20 miles of beaches, a nice downtown, nearby historical and nature attractions, Jacksonville offers a great place to start and end your cruise. Carnival is the only cruise line operating out of Jacksonville, but that is not to say that there isn’t much cruise activity. Three, four and five day cruises to ports in the Bahamas and Key West are plentiful and did I mention fun?

Learn more about Jacksonville on the latest MeetOnCruise Port Guide. For those of you who are very familiar with Jacksonville share some quick tips, so we can find all the best in Jacksonville.

 

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Top 10 Tips for Solo Cruises

Friday, September 9th, 2011

Why would anyone want to travel solo?  There are many good reasons: Doing the activities you want to do and when you want to do them, waking up and going to sleep on your schedule and meeting new people. These reasons work really well if you are traveling through Europe, but do they translate to cruises?

Well, yes they do. A cruise is like being on a floating city that visits other cities. It offers the ability to form a real sense of community and form real friendships with others as you share the journey. On a cruise, you can travel by yourself, but never have to be alone.

Thinking about taking the plunge? These 10 tips will help you plan and take a solo cruise.

Planning the cruise:

1. Look for ships that don’t charge a single supplement. The supplement typically doubles the quoted fare since the cabin is made for double occupancy. A few cruise ships have set aside special rooms and prices for solo travelers including Norwegian Cruise Line’s Epic and P&O Cruise’s Azura. Some lines such as American Cruise Lines include singles rates on every cruise, while other lines will run special promotions that reduce the single supplement (e.g. Holland America typically charges 150% supplement). Find a knowledgeable travel agent to help you sort through all of the options.

Solo Studios on NCL Epic

Solo Studios on NCL Epic

2. Find a roommate! If you don’t mind sharing a room, this may be a good option to bypass the whole supplement issue. Use cruise-focused social networks (e.g. MeetOnCruise.com), or general social networks, such as Twitter and Facebook, to see who might be interested in going. Also, ask your travel agent or the cruise lines to help find you a roommate. For example, Holland America Line will help match you with a roommate of the same sex, upon request.

3. Go on a theme cruise. Interested in Poker? Dance Music? A fan of the New Kids on the Block? Or want to be around fellow gay travelers? There is a theme cruise for just about any interest and passion out there. The biggest benefit of a theme cruise is you will be traveling with others who without a doubt have at least one thing in common with you. Check out ThemeCruiseFinder.com which lists hundreds of these cruises. Trust us, whatever hobby you are in to, there is a theme cruise for it! Another advantage is that the travel agencies that produce these theme cruises will help you find a roommate if you need one. For example, SinglesCruise.com will “match singles with roommates of the same gender and similar age,” upon request.

Annual Paranormal Cruise

Annual Paranormal Cruise

4. Meet your shipmates online on cruise roll calls! Cruisers typically book 6 months in advance so there is plenty of time to get to know folks online before your cruise. Find your cruise, sign up for the roll call and chat with others on your cruise. Obviously, here on MeetOnCruise you’ll find hundreds of active roll calls at any given time. Pro tip: Be friendly, courteous and have a nice or interesting profile picture!

Taking the cruise:

5. Tip the maitre’d. Dining alone can be one of biggest hurdles people have of cruising solo. There is a simple fix, which I myself used on a Bahamas cruise several years ago: On the first day of the cruise, I went to the main dining room a few hours before dinner and asked the Maitre’d to seat me at a large table with other solo (or single travelers). I gave him $10 as a token of my appreciation and it was done! He found me a table of 10 with a few couples, singles and other solo travelers. Each dinner had lively conversation and several of us continued the conversation into the piano bar. Even if you don’t tip, simply request to be seated at a table with others and you will find cruise staff to be very accommodating.

Don't be afraid to tip the Maitre'd

Don't be afraid to tip the Maitre'd

One additional note on dining: I’ve heard stories of solo travelers not being treated well by their dinner mates. What’s the best way to handle this? You should have zero tolerance for this as there are many other people who would enjoy having solo travelers at their table. Immediately go talk to the Maitre’d and asked to be seated at a new table and/or a new time. They want you happy (their tips depend on it!) and will find you a new table. Don’t want to be social? No problem, simply order room service (included in the fare of your cruise) and relax in your cabin.

6. Book a group shore excursion. Whether you are into adventure, such as ziplining or scuba diving, or a simpler excursion like a walking tour, you’ll be with a group with a similar mindset. Better yet, assuming you’ve met some people on the roll calls, offer to take the lead and arrange an excursion. Find a tour operator, which will do most of the work, and invite your new roll call friends to join in on the excursion.

7. Hit the dance floor. The bars and clubs are a magnet for single and solo cruisers. On Cunard Cruise Line they will even provide male dance partners for female passengers upon request.

8. Bring an iPad, Kindle or a book. This goes without saying. You’ll be spending a fair amount of time by yourself, so why not catch up on your reading while you enjoy your meals or out on the sun deck. Prefer to browse the web? No problem, most modern ships have Wi-Fi (although it’s not cheap).

9. Attend the meet & greets. Cruise lines typically hold a meet & greet for singles on the first or second day of the cruise (check your cruise calendar when you board). Even if you are not single, this is a good way to just meet other friendly folks who are typically traveling solo.

10. Sign up for onboard classes. Many cruise lines will offer computer classes (Celebrity Cruises’ iLounge) or cooking classes (Holland America). Sign up, learn a new skill and meet other similar minded folks while learning. This is a great option for those who may be a little on the shy side.

If you’ve never cruised solo, you should consider it. Hopefully these 10 tips will help you set sail and add another great solo travel experience to your belt. Bon voyage!

Have you cruised solo before?  Let us know in the comments below.

Editor’s Note:  This post was originally written for SoloFriendly.com (a great blog dedicated to solo travelers) and is now being posted here on the MeetOnCruise blog (with a few updates).  Be sure to read the great comments on the original post.

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Posted in Cruise 101, cruise travel, cruises, How to, travel | No Comments »

Contest – Win a One-year Subscription to Porthole Cruise Magazine!

Thursday, September 1st, 2011
Porthole Cruse Magazine July-August 2011 Issue

Porthole Cruse Magazine July-August 2011 Issue

In case you missed our latest newsletter this morning, today we announced a new contest that any MeetOnCruise member can get in on. Thank you to our friends at Porthole for sponsoring this contest.  Here are details:

The member that scores the most points on MeetOnCruise starting today through Thursday (midnight) will win a free one-year subscription to Porthole Cruise Magazine!  If you enjoy cruises, you’ll love enjoy the gorgeous pictures and in depth articles from Porthole.  Get to the #1 spot on the Weekly Leaderboard by next Thursday and you win.

So, how do you score points? Simple, do as many activities on MeetOnCruise as possible – add a cruise review, share a quick tip, comment on a roll call, upload your vacation photos and many more. Here’s the full list and the points for each:

Looks like a few people already have a nice headstart. We look forward to checking out your reviews, tips, photos, comments and more. Good luck friends!

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Posted in cruise travel, meetoncruise, New feature, Social Media, travel | No Comments »

Cruise Line Websites are Best Place to Check for Hurricane Irene Updates

Saturday, August 27th, 2011

Worried about whether your cruise will be affected by Hurricane Irene? Then you should head over to your cruise line’s website as that is where the most updated information is.

Here are the links to the Hurricane Irene updates for Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Princess and Norwegian.

Also, a great website to keep track of Irene is the National Hurricane Center, which overlays the forecast path over a google map of the Eastern US.

Know of other good links? Post them in the comments below. Stay safe folks!

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Posted in cruise travel, travel | No Comments »

Teen Helps Rescue Man Who Fell Overboard

Thursday, July 28th, 2011

Editor’s Note:  Stories of someone falling overboard, typically don’t have happy endings…which is why it was great to see this story.  Well done Alex.

16-year old Alex Giffel, along with the Norwegian’s rescue team, was recognized by Norwegian Cruise Line and the Port of New Orleans for his heroic actions on a July 12 cruise aboard the Norwegian Spirit.

The Baton Rouge native was aboard Norwegian Spirit when he saw a fellow passenger go overboard into the Mississippi River.  Jumping into action, he threw the passenger a life ring while his cousin Tyler Giffel, 21, alerted the ship’s crew.  The Norwegian Spirits rescue team was able to quickly respond and pull the man back onto the ship safely.

A ceremony was held for Giffel on Sunday with the Giffel family, representatives of the Port of New Orleans and the ship’s senior officers in attendance.

Captain Evans Hoyt thanked Giffel and presented him with the same life ring he threw to the overboard passenger.  He was then awarded with plaques of appreciation by both the line and the Port of New Orleans.

“Some of us train all our whole lives to respond in an emergency and others are thrust into the situation. In either case, it comes down to the individual having a moment to respond and make the right call,” said Captain Hoyt. “The Giffel family can be proud of the quick response by Alex and Tyler, just as the Spirit team is proud of all the responders onboard whose professionalism and quick response resulted in a life being saved.”

The ceremony concluded—and by what better way—with lunch at Cagney’s Steakhouse.

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Posted in cruise industry, cruise travel, travel | No Comments »

Meet (After) Cruise. Because you never know if that random couple on the bus will soon be your friends

Monday, July 25th, 2011

Editor’s Note:  It’s been a while since our last guest post, but this will be worth the wait.  The following guest post was submitted by Jodi Ornstein, the Managing Editor of the fantastic Porthole Cruise Magazine.  Making friends while on vacation is one of the best reasons to travel and this great story from Jodi, illustrates why.  Enjoy. (more…)

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Posted in cruise travel, Guest Post, Luxury Cruises, Mediterranean, travel | 1 Comment »

How to avoid a massive cell phone bill on your next cruise

Wednesday, June 29th, 2011

We’ve all heard the horror stories of people coming back from an otherwise blissful cruise only to find something not so welcoming in their luggage.  No, it’s not a leaky bottle of spray-on tanner.  It’s a four digit cell phone bill.  Ouch.

How can a cell phone bill get so expensive, you ask?

Roaming charges, it’s that simple.  On cruises ships, satellites automatically activate Cellular at Sea if your cell phone is turned on; which carries expensive international roaming fees.  Your phone racks up these charges by just being turned on even if it’s not being used.  As explained by this very good post on Cruisemates: Cellular @ Sea Can Be A Rip Off.

The cellular service you’re using at sea, though routed through your cellular service provider, is actually being provided using the ship’s satellite equipment, and you will be charged extra for that service, no matter what type of plan you may believe you have with your cellular service provider.

So for every voice mail, text message, video message, picture and data transmissions including tweeting, facebooking, web browsing and emailing, you’re going to be charged extra fees under the Cellular at Sea service.  And yes, even if you are just checking your voice mail.  Most people are totally unaware of this until they receive their phone bill upon returning home.

How expensive is Cellular at Sea?  It varies based on where the ship is, but expect to be charged anywhere from $2-5 per minute for voice calls.  You’ll pay a lot less at that internet cafe on the island (see our port guides for info on where you can find an internet cafe on your port of call).

So, how can you avoid these expensive Cellular at Sea charges?  We’ve got you covered.  At least those of you with iPhones, Blackberries and Android phones.  Here’s what you need to do:

iPhone Users:

  1. Click on Settings
  2. Select General
  3. Select Network
  4. Turn Data Roaming OFF

Another safe bet, click on Settings and turn on Airplane mode.  This means no incoming or outgoing signals – no charges.  Note, this also turns off Wi-Fi.

turn iphone data roaming off

turn iphone data roaming off

Blackberry Users:
  1. Go to Mobile Network
  2. Under Data Roaming select off or turn off Data Service altogether
  3. Hit the menu key and save your settings

turn iphone data roaming off

Droid Users:  Disable Mobile Roaming
  1. Go to Settings and click on Wireless & Networks
  2. Click Mobile Networks and select System Select
  3. Click on Home Only

Droid:  Disable Data Roaming

  1. Go to Settings and click on Battery and Data Manager
  2. Select Data Delivery
  3. Uncheck Background Data and Data Roaming

turn iphone data roaming off

Nowadays, staying connected to friends and family while on a cruise is simple.  Just know, that it comes with a high cost.  Which you may be ok with – especially if the boss is paying :) .  The rest of you, follow the steps above before you embark…and then relax. You are on vacation!  Can you hear me now?
Editor’s note: This article was drafted by Khondos (a summer intern with MeetOnCruise) and edited by Farazq.

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Posted in Cruise 101, cruise travel, cruises, How to, travel | 1 Comment »

Guest Post: Alaska 2011 Kicks Off

Tuesday, April 19th, 2011

Editor’s Note: It’s mid-April and in the cruise world that can only mean one thing – Alaska is open!  Guest author Aaron Saunders tells you about all of the ships beginning their Alaska voyage out of Vancouver, BC this season.  This article originally ran on Aaron’s blog, From the Deck Chair, on April 13th and has been reprinted here with his permission.  Enjoy.

Beautiful Wrangell, Alaska is well known for its historic Petroglyph Beach.

Beautiful Wrangell, Alaska is well known for its historic Petroglyph Beach.

Mark your calendars: Sunday. April 17th marks the official start of the 2011 Alaska cruise season in Vancouver. To kick things off, Crystal Cruises’ (www.crystalcruises.com) Crystal Symphony will sail under the Lions Gate Bridge and tie up alongside Canada Place for the first time in six years.

Crystal last operated Alaskan voyages in 2005; and while Crystal Symphony won’t be operating a turnaround here (that is, taking on new passengers; Vancouver is just a port of call for the luxury ship), her return is an indication of a better cruise season to come.

The following week, Holland America Line (www.hollandamerica.com) brings the elegant Zaandam to Canadian waters once again, docking at Canada Place on Sunday, April 24 from 7:00am to 5:00pm. Along with Princess Cruises (www.princess.com), Holland America continues to offer more departures, itineraries and ships than any other cruise line in the region. They also do a heck of a good job: warm wool blankets, hot chocolate and split pea soup are a few of the complimentary amenities handed out while viewing the magnificent glaciers in Glacier Bay National Park.

This year also marks several firsts for both the port of Vancouver, and the Alaskan cruise industry as a whole.

The biggest news is Disney Cruise Line’s (http://disneycruise.disney.go.com) first foray into northern waters with the 1999-built Disney Wonder. While families are the main draw here, don’t underestimate The Mouse: Disney’s onboard experience is so well-executed that even adult couples have been known to sail with the line. Starting May 3, the line will offer a series of weeklong departures calling on Tracy Arm, Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan.

If you’ve always dreamed of sailing from Vancouver to Alaska aboard a Disney Cruise ship, run to your travel agent and book it now. At a press conference in New York on Wednesday, Disney announced it would redeploy Disney Wonder to Alaska again next year – but out of Seattle instead of Vancouver. While the line didn’t rule out the possibility of a return to Canada Place at some point, the news still serves as a bitter reminder about the extremely mobile nature of the cruise industry.

Upscale line Oceania (www.oceaniacruises.com) also launches its maiden Alaska season from Vancouver. Having won numerous accolades for their fleet of midsize, club-like ships, Oceania has some of the most diverse itineraries available this season, like their 10-day roundtrip voyage departing June 7 and calling on Sitka, Icy Strait Point, Hubbard Glacier, Kodiak, Wrangell, and Ketchikan.

Celebrity Cruises (www.celebrity.com) shakes things up a bit this year by deploying their midsize Celebrity Century here for the first time, sailing weeklong Inside Passage cruises from Canada Place. The line’s Celebrity Millennium also returns, operating weeklong “one-way” cruises between Vancouver and Seward.

Royal Caribbean (www.royalcaribbean.com) brings its popular Radiance of the Seas back for another Alaskan season. Sporting floor-to-ceiling glass windows in almost every public room, she sails “one way” voyages between Vancouver and Seward.

Holland America’s Zuiderdam returns to Alaska and Skagway in 2011. Photo © Aaron Saunders

Holland America’s brings their popular dam-ships, with their navy-blue hulls and white superstructures, back to Vancouver once again. Volendam and Zuiderdam sail week-long Inside Passage cruises roundtrip from Canada Place, while Statendam and Zaandam sail the one-way Glacier Discovery voyages between Vancouver and Seward. These week-long cruises can be combined into one fourteen-day voyage, leaving roundtrip from either port.

Princess Cruises also returns, with Coral Princess, Diamond Princess and Island Princess sailing week-long voyages between Vancouver and Whittier, Alaska. As with Holland America, these voyages can be combined into a fourteen-day, roundtrip sailing if guests wish to do so. The advantage of these north and southbound sailings is the ability to take passengers farther north than the average weeklong roundtrip sailing.

On the ultra-luxury end of the scale, Regent Seven Seas Cruises (www.rssc.com) brings back its Seven Seas Navigator, while Silversea (www.silversea.com) returns with their elegant Silver Shadow, which was recently given a complete makeover during a drydock in Singapore. Cruisers who like their Alaskan voyages to be as elegant and comfortable as they are scenic won’t go wrong with either line.

If you are a ship buff, you’ll definitely want to be down at Canada Place to catch these rare or maiden calls: (all times are approximate and subject to change)

  • Sunday, April 17 – 7:00am to Midnight – Crystal Cruises – Crystal Symphony
  • Tuesday, May 3 – 7:00am to 5:00pm – Disney Cruise Line – Disney Wonder
  • Sunday, May 22 – 6:00am to 4:30pm – Celebrity Cruises – Celebrity Century
  • Monday, May 23 – 7:00am to 4:00pm – Oceania Cruises – Regatta
  • Monday, May 23 – 7:00am to 4:00pm – P&O Cruises UK – Arcadia
  • Friday, July 15 – 6:00am to Midnight – Hapag-Lloyd Cruises – Bremen

Sunday, September 25 will be the busiest day of the season, with five ships docked in Vancouver: Zaandam, Westerdam and Statendam at Canada Place, and Norwegian Pearl and Golden Princess at Ballantyne Pier. The season comes to a close on Tuesday, October 4 with the arrival of Holland America Line’s West Coast favourite, the 2003-built Oosterdam.

If you’ve never sailed to Alaska, there’s never been a better time than now to go. This year boasts an incredible variety of ships and itineraries leaving conveniently from Canada Place. Alaska is truly one of the most spectacularly scenic cruises you can take anywhere in the world, and it exists right in our own backyard.

With the price of airfare these days, a homeport cruise looks very appealing indeed.

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Posted in Alaska, cruise travel, cruises, travel | 1 Comment »

Crystal Symphony: Ship Tour

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011

Crystal SymphonyThe Cruise Industry is as successful as it is because it does not stand still (literally and figuratively.) New ships come into the industry every couple of months bringing new experiences, attractions, dining concepts and even an Ice Bar. Ships are being made for the young and the young at heart, providing maximum opportunity for fun at reasonable prices.

So what happens with the older ships? Do they just float off into the sunset, never to be heard from again? No, it’s make-over time! Refurbishing the older ships is extremely important to an industry that counts on it’s loyal return visitors. Changing carpets, remodeling rooms, re-working deck layouts are all important parts of a face-lift that keeps a ship in service. The Crystal Symphony was recently the recipient of such a face-lift and is now back in service. I was lucky enough to be invited to tour the new, old Crystal Symphony and have to say I was pleased, underwhelmed and blown away all on the same tour.Crystal Symphony Lobby

The tour was cut short by a little bit of bad luck. When we arrived, the Coast Guard was conducting a “routine” surprise inspection, which delayed the start of the tour by about 30 minutes. This delay had our tour guide press the fast fwd button on our tour, to the point that if you weren’t paying attention you might have gotten lost (OK, so I got lost, but I wasn’t the only one. Actually I was in pretty good company. Right, CLIA?)

As we walked in, it was clear that “fun” is not the object of this cruise ship; elegance is what they are shooting for here. Crystal hit the target, as elegance is evident within the first few moments on board. Classically played music from the grand piano, posh shops and even designer hand moisturizer in the restrooms give this quite a different feel from my last tour aboard NCL’s Epic (read Epic tour post.)
Crystal Symphony - Starlight Club
The Crystal Symphony is a “grown up’s” ship. There is no Disco, instead there is 1950′s style night club with a small amphitheater feel to it. It reminded me a little of Ricky Ricardo’s Copacabana on the “I Love Lucy” show, with it’s small stage in front of a dance floor and small cocktail tables past that. I kept thinking that if I stayed there long enough Henny Youngman would come out with a violin and tell a joke like: “A doctor gave a man six months to live. The man couldn’t pay his bill, so he gave him another six months.” There are no water slides on the ship either, as a matter of fact, Crystal Symphony - Trident Bar & Grillthey took out one of the two pools they did have to make an new deck with outside dining at the Trident Bar & Grill. Open air dining was an emphasis of the redesign.

Being a “grown up’s” ship has it’s definite advantages. The renovated rooms are luxurious, well thought out and spacious. It even took me a minute to realize that one of the suites we toured wasn’t a common lounge; it was a lounge inside a suite. Entertaining friends you met on the cruise in your suite means something completely different when you have a magnificent space like this. Another advantage is the dining experience, which blew me away. Crystal Symphony - SuiteDining aboard the Symphony isn’t a pizza bar and all the soft-serve ice cream you can eat (although these go very well with kids and those staggering out of a disco at 3AM on the not-so-grown up ships), this is a delight to all of your senses. The decor, the table settings, the course presentation, the wait staff, and the food are all expertly crafted and make this truly a dining experience.Crystal Symphony - Desert

The Crystal Symphony is not for everyone. By design and by price it is obvious that they know their market and don’t try to be all things to all people. As a smaller ship, they don’t have to cut corners to maximize capacity. Instead, they concentrate on their market and polish every corner. One day, when I grow up, this will be the perfect ship for me.

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Posted in cruise travel, Luxury Cruises, Ship review, travel | No Comments »

Can I Bring Alcohol on my Cruise?

Thursday, March 3rd, 2011

alcohol in carry on bag
Everyday, without fail, someone will find MeetOnCruise.com by asking/searching some version of the question – “Can I bring alcohol on my cruise?!”  You can substitute the word alcohol for beer, wine, champagne, liquor, booze…the question is essentially the same. Clearly, this is a popular topic:)

Additionally, yesterday I guest hosted a #Cruisechat discussion on Twitter and posted the following tweet:

Fact or Fiction: You can bring a bottle of wine on your #cruiseship. #cruisechat #cruise

The answer is – it depends. Every Cruise line has different policies on guests bringing alcohol onboard. So, to alleviate some of the confusion, we’ve summarized each of the Cruise Line’s policies here for you.

Note, finding specific information on cruise line websites can be like looking for a needle in a haystack  - trust us!  Which is why we did the homework for you and published FAQs (e.g. what is included in fare, gratuities guidelines, cancellation policy, etc.) on most of the major Cruiselines’ profile pages on MeetOnCruise.  For example, here is the FAQ page for Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, MSC and Disney.

Now, for the answer to the question – Can I bring alcohol, liquor, beer or wine on my cruise?

Cruise Line Policy
Azamara Club Cruises Yes, you may bring your own favorite liquor, beer or wine for private consumption in your suite or stateroom. If you wish to consume your liquor, beer or wine in any shipboard restaurant, bar or dining venue, each bottle is subject to a corkage fee of $10.  Note, wine at lunch and dinner is included in your cruise fare. More info here.
Carnival Cruise Line No beer or hard liquor may be brought onboard for consumption. However, one bottle of wine or champagne, per person, is allowed on embarkation.  $10 Corkage fee applies for consuming in the main dining room, $14 at the steakhouse.  More info here.
Celebrity Cruises No beer or hard liquor may be brought onboard for consumption. However, two bottles of wine per stateroom are allowed on embarkation, subject to corkage fees. More info here.
Costa Cruises No food or drink purchased on land may be brought aboard. More info here.
Cunard Line Guests may not bring liquor of any kind on board during embarkation. However, guests can bring liquor aboard that is purchased at ports. Also, one bottle of wine or champagne per person is allowed during embarkation. A corkage fee of $15.00 U.S.D. per bottle. More info here.
Disney Cruise Line Alcohol is permitted on board, but must be hand-carried on board in a day bag and/or carry-on bag, the dimensions of which cannot exceed 22″ wide, 14″ high and 9″ deep. Corkage fee of $15.00 per bottle applies. More info here.
Holland America No beer or liquor may be brought onboard for consumption. However, wine and champagne are allowed on-board. A corkage fee of US$18.00 applies. More info here.
MSC Cruises No, guests are not allowed to bring alcoholic beverages onboard. MSC offers several Champagne, Fine Wine and Beverage Packages. More info here.
Norwegian Cruise Line No beer or hard liquor may be brought onboard for consumption. However, wine or champagne is allowed on embarkation. Corkage fees range from $15-$30. More info here.
Oceania Cruises Yes, guests may bring aboard beer and liquor at embarkation (or from port of calls) , “but not encouraged”. Beer and liquor brought aboard must be consumed in the staterooms only. Guests are allowed to purchase wine at a port of call and bring it onboard, limited to three bottles per stateroom. A corkage fee of $20.00 per bottle applies for consuming wine in a public area. More info here.
P&O Cruises No beer or hard liquor may be brought onboard.  However, wine or Champagne are allowed on embarkation.  £10* corkage charge applies to consume in the restaurants.
The number of bottles you may take on will be at the port authorities’s discretion. More info here.
Princess Cruises No alcoholic beverages may be brought onboard.  However, passengers are permitted to bring one bottle of wine and/or champagne per person on embarkation. A $15.00 per bottle corkage fee applies for consuming in the dining room or restaurants.   More info here.
Regent Seven Seas Guests are allowed to bring aboard spirits, wine and champagne, however each guest gets two bottles of spirits in their in-room bar and wine is complimentary with supper as part of their cruise fare. More info here.
Royal Caribbean No. Guests are not allowed to bring alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages onboard for consumption or any other use. More info here.
Windstar Cruises No beer or liquor may be brought onboard for consumption while onboard.  However, guests may bring wine and/or champagne purchased from ports of call onboard for consumption. A $15.00 per bottle corkage fee applies for consuming in the bars or restaurants.

A few notes / caveats:  Many cruise lines have beverage packages (see this post: Drink packages on a cruise) that are worth looking into. Most of the luxury cruise lines such as Seabourn, Sea Dream, etc. provide complimentary spirits and soft drinks (included in the cruise fare).  And finally, this information is current as of 3 months ago when we researched each of the Cruise Lines’ websites.

What did you think of the above info?  Anything surprise you? Let us know in the comments below!

Bottoms up.

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Posted in Cruise 101, cruise industry, cruise travel, cruises, How to, travel | 7 Comments »

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