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Picking the Perfect Cruise
In October, Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas will begin using San Diego as a year-round home port —the first ship to do so in more than a decade. On December 30, the MS Deutschland, flagship of the Peter Deilmann premium line, will stop here as part of an eight-segment global voyage from the Barbados west to Greece.
San Diego generally hasn’t had many ships docking here in summer because the lines schedule routes to follow the sun. Our cruising season typically extends from September through May, as big-ship lines like Holland America, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean run regular round trips to such locations as Hawaii, the Mexican Riviera and the Panama Canal. Other excursions go through the canal to Florida or Texas, with flights back.
Those options are expanding as cruising becomes more desirable. But as the selections widen, picking an optimal excursion becomes more difficult.
Cruising’s reputation as a mode of travel, unfortunately, often hinges on the quantity of food on board. The standard joke: People get on as passengers but leave as cargo. The joking has a basis, since most cruises allow you to have meals or snacks 16 or more hours a day.
But a smooth voyage involves much more than easy access to calories. As in making any major investment of time and money, you should consider many factors. How you rank them will determine your ideal cruise.
Price is foremost. There are mass-market lines like Carnival, Holland America, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean (pre-discount per diem rates about $150-$300 per person) and upscale lines like Crystal, Silversea, Radisson Seven Seas or Peter Deilmann ($300-900).
Budget $25-30 extra per person per day for incidentals. Many cruise packages say prices are all-inclusive, but don’t take that literally. Alcoholic beverages often cost extra. Although tips are said to be included, you’ll probably want to reward those who give sparkling service. Some lines automatically add tips to your daily on-board account, but they usually let you adjust that amount.
Remember to allot funds for on-shore tours not included in the package, and for on-board activities like shopping or gambling. Cruise packages often include airfare, but if you head east, you’ll probably have to pay extra. And when comparing fares, note whether government and port fees are additional. They can add hundreds to the cost.
Touring by ship has the big advantage of letting you see several cities, countries or islands without having to schlep luggage or deal with heavy traffic or airport security. Sometimes, as with the natural beauty of the Inside Passage to Alaska, the route itself is as desirable as the stops. For some popular destinations, like the Caribbean, your decision about ship size will determine which ports or islands you can visit.
Consider where you want to go, and note the points between start and stop. Are they places you want to visit? How long does the ship dock there? Most port stops are morning through evening, but larger cities sometimes warrant two days.
Maybe you’re the type who enjoys the life on board so much you don’t want to stop anywhere. If so, many lines offer “cruises to nowhere,” in which you just sail out—usually in calm waters—then back. Another variation, if you have the leisure and the lucre, is a personalized tour. Silversea, for instance, lets you choose, from its ships’ itineraries, where and when you want to embark and disembark.
Even more than destinations, however, think about your time aboard, since that will constitute the major portion of your trip. In cruising, getting there had better be more than half the fun. As Larry Pimentel, president and CEO of the deluxe line SeaDream Yacht Club, puts it: “You should dress yourself in the experience.”
What type of holiday do you want, and whom do you want as fellow passengers? The old impression of cruise ships being populated solely by retirees spending their nest eggs has faded. Surveys show the average age of today’s passengers is about 45.
Whatever your interest, age group or sexual orientation, there are cruises customized to fit. You can, for example, go on singles sailings or golf cruises. You can mix relaxation and learning by taking (or teaching) classes in subjects like languages or computers. Or you can be completely indulgent and take a cruise tailored to bodily pleasures like food, wine and spa treatments.
After all, food does matter on a cruise, and you may want quality to match the quantity. Check out the ship’s chef, menu and reputation. Luxury lines like Silversea and Crystal offer food-and-wine sailings, where the fine on-board fare gets complemented with shore excursions to noted restaurants, wineries and other flavorful locations.
Some ships, or cruises, are smoke-free. If you feel strongly one way or another, be clear on the policy for your line and ship. Most lines restrict smoking, usually confined to the casinos and certain bars but sometimes with smoking sections in the dining room.
If you like a variety of things to do, you’ll be better off on one of the bigger ships. They have large swimming pools, dance halls, fitness centers, tennis and shuffleboard courts, mini-golf courses and such, plus areas for the more passive pursuits—stage showrooms, movie theaters, libraries, art galleries and, of course, shops and casinos. You’ll also have a wider selection of places to sip and sup.
These ships, especially in the lower price ranges, attract more young people and families, so weigh the potential for added noise aboard. Most lines, however, don’t tolerate unruly behavior, and Royal Caribbean even hands out a guest vacation policy telling passengers how they’re expected to behave. Violations can result in a range of punishments, including being put ashore at the next port of call.
Bigger ships also provide more of the basics, like televisions in each stateroom. But don’t count on 77 channels. When the weather and satellite positioning cooperate, you may get about 10-15 choices. Your mobile phone probably won’t work because cruise routes go out of roaming range. You usually can get e-mail, however, since nearly all vessels these days have some form of Internet access (which may cost extra).
Large ships carry large numbers of passengers, so if you prefer a more intimate ambience, look to small-ship lines like Clipper, Seabourn and SeaDream Yacht Club. Some luxury lines, such as Radisson Seven Seas, offer bigger ships but maintain a high ratio of space and staff to guests. Mass-market lines Celebrity and Royal Caribbean have programs where, after you’ve booked, you can register to communicate with other enrollees and set up a first-day party—a cozy island in a sea of 2,000 or more passengers.
Dress for a cruise, as in the rest of society, is increasingly casual. Check beforehand about the specific policy, but the tradition of black-tie dinners on the first and last nights is fading. Most lines, especially the upscale ones, still suggest dress-up nights, but even then, less-formal wear is generally acceptable. One of the loftier companies, SeaDream Yacht Club, discourages dressing up on its “resort cruises.”
You can, however, avoid the whole question of attire by going fabric-free on a nudist cruise, a phenomenon that’s apparently—ahem—taking off. Carnival, for instance, did one in February.
If you’re looking for something more traditional, book a cruise with a sense of history, like that Peter Deilmann voyage (the segment from San Diego takes 27 nights to reach Wellington, New Zealand). Farther afield, Cunard’s famous Queen Elizabeth 2 is in her final season of transatlantic crossings, to be replaced in January when the Queen Mary 2 makes her maiden voyage. And this July, the esteemed Crystal line launched its much-anticipated new vessel, Serenity, now cruising the Mediterranean.
For a last word: Research. Talk with travel agents and friends who have taken cruises, read the glossy brochures carefully to see exactly what your money buys, and go on the Internet. The more you know before you go, the more likely you are to have a high-seas high.
Better Safe than Sorry | ||
Cruising, like all forms of travel, has its downsides. The first worry about going on a cruise is a big one—that you don’t go. Most voyages require reservations well in advance, followed by early payment of all or a substantial part of the cost. That’s a major investment, and you know about those best-laid plans. To help protect against unexpected happenings that could cost you big bucks, get trip insurance. It’s available through most carriers and travel agencies. Don’t buy just any plan. Find out exactly what is covered, particularly in terms of illness. You don’t want to miss a trip because of sickness, then have a relapse when you don’t get a refund because your policy didn’t cover a specific ailment. Speaking of illnesses, there’s that old shipboard bugaboo—seasickness. If you tend to get motion sickness, pick a cruise that navigates tamer waters. And favor big ships, which have more stabilizers, and a cabin near the center of the ship. Seasickness medication has been steadily improving. Large ships have an infirmary, with a doctor or nurse, so very few people feel queasy more than a day. In rare cases of serious illnesses, airlifts are arranged. Claustrophobia isn’t technically an illness, but fear of confinement is cited as a reason for not taking a cruise. If you’re borderline, choose a larger ship and book a room with an outside view; some come with balconies. In recent months, cruise lines were hit by reports of widespread stomach ailments and diarrhea. Although one report was erroneous, the cruise industry takes the problem seriously. To see how a line is doing, check the reports by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which requires passenger ships to get semiannual inspections, at www2.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/vspmain.asp. SARS has been a major concern among cruise lines, especially those going to China and the Far East. Many scheduled voyages were canceled or rerouted. But governments seem to be getting the outbreak under control, and cruise lines have instituted such protective policies as increased screening of passengers and denial of boarding to those from designated “Areas of Special Concern.” Many cruise lines have posted a SARS policy on their Web sites. Security, of course, is an ongoing issue, underscored for cruise lines by scares like the recent boiler-room explosion on a ship (which injured no passengers). Before going aboard, passengers now must present travel documentation, a picture ID and, for international voyages, a passport. You are then issued voyage ID cards, which have to be presented, along with picture ID, when disembarking and reboarding. —D.B. | ||
| Carnival Cruise Lines | Royal Caribbean | |
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