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Cruises – Cruise Misconceptions

by admin on January 4th, 2011 in ,

There are a number of views commonly held by those who haven’t actually been on a cruise. Those views may be keeping them from even exploring the possibility of taking one. So, exposing some of those misconceptions may help.

Lots of people, not unreasonably, believe that cruises are dominated by the elderly or late-middle aged. While it’s certainly true that many cruise goers have a bit of gray in their hair, today all different ages go on cruises. Family trips are increasingly popular and kid-specific facilities and activities are offered by all the lines now.

Teens and 20-somethings form a larger percentage of cruise goers than in the past. With a booming economy, more have the funds from generous parents and their own savings and they’re taking advantage of discounts and shorter cruises. Retired individuals often have more free time and spare income from years of saving. But they are no longer the majority of passengers.

Cruises in the past sometimes had very set schedules, for eating and recreation or entertainment. All that has changed. Though major meals do occur between certain hours, there are lots of alternatives today. There are in-between meal buffets, alternative restaurants and others.

Entertainment of certain kinds, like musical or theatrical performances, of course, have to start at a given time. But today there are so many alternatives for entertainment that you can amuse yourself a dozen different ways at any time of the night or day. Bowling, deck tennis, computer games, card games… the list is endless.

A similar objection to cruises is sometimes raised: that there is too narrow a choice of activities. That, too, is no longer the case. The entertainments mentioned are only a few examples. In times past a walk around the deck, a little table tennis, or a good book may have been about the range.

Today, there are more things to do on board than any one person could enjoy in 10 cruises. Whether your interests are dancing, exercise or physical enjoyment there are choices galore. If you prefer something a little more sedate, there are a dozen choices there as well. Of course, if you prefer to simply lie around and soak up sun or read a book, there are lots of ways to do that, too.

Some people think they’ll be bored on board, with nowhere to go. Even apart from all the fun and interesting activities, the ship itself has fascinating things to see. Touring most of these behemoths that sail the seas today would take a good two days or more all by itself. By that time, with the exception of some U.S. to Europe cruises, you are rarely confined on board for more than a few days.

You’ll find that by the time you long to go ashore to explore new lands, you’ll have that chance. By the time you’ve become worn out with tourist hopping around new cities, you’re ready for some relaxing time on board ship.

Cruise ships have long been floating hotels, but today they are more like floating cities. As such, they have all the exciting things to do that any great city will have all within easy reach. Plus, you have the chance to see foreign cities as well.

It doesn’t get any better than that!

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Cruise Planning 2011 part 3

by admin on January 3rd, 2011 in ,

When considering when to book, which can be a tricky choice, there are a few specifics that can guide your planning.

Trips to Bermuda are popular for a number of reasons. It’s a great island to visit and the trip from Florida is short, making for a great two or three day cruise. As a result, prime cabins in the summer months of July and August will sell out six to nine months in advance.

But, fortunately for cruise-goers, the weather in April-May and September-October can be great. Those off-peak months give travelers many more options. Still, keep in mind that hurricanes, or at least heavy storms, can affect travel near the end of October. Be prepared to be flexible.

Cruises from New York (and other points) to Europe are still some of the best, 100 years after they first began. Cruise lines have responded by offering more trips but demand still presses on supply, keeping the price high.

As with Alaska cruises, balcony cabins sell out first. Though more expensive, the demand from those who can afford it is still high enough to make booking far in advance a necessity. Since the economy has been fairly robust for the last few years, this trend has continued.

Others, such as 7-night cruises to the Mediterranean, continue to do equally well. The Baltic remains a popular destination. As with other European trips, plan to book a year in advance to get the type of voyage you want.

You’ll have more options, with shorter booking times, by selecting an older ship or a less popular destination. Luckily, cruise ships have become so advanced that even older ones are still floating palaces. Though it was exceptional, the Normandie, for example, was as fine as the finest hotel 70 years ago and things have continued to improve since then.

Though most people fly, Hawaii is still a desirable voyage for many. Trips to Australia will require booking far in advance at almost any time of the year. When it’s winter in the U.S. it’s summer there and vice-versa. South America is still a hot destination, in more ways than one.

There are even cruises up and down the two coasts of the U.S. and U.S. to Mexico, from San Diego to Cabo, and New England to Florida. Though not as glamorous perhaps as a European cruise, the ships are still first rate. You’ll have a great time on board and there are, in fact, several excellent stops on the way.

Booking for those is often less intense and less expensive. You may still want to take advantage of early booking discounts. If you see a better deal a couple of months before departure, you can sometimes get it by working through a travel agent. Cruise lines try very hard to accommodate all requests in order to keep customers happy. They know those return and recommend them to others.

Bon Voyage!

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Cruise Planning 2011 part 2

by admin on January 3rd, 2011 in

When considering when to book, which can be a tricky choice, there are a few specifics that can guide your planning.

On Alaska cruises, for example, balcony cabins on newer ships usually sell out long before less desirable accommodations. Though these are more expensive, the demand is still high enough (and the supply small enough) that getting in early is a must.

Route matters, too. The Gulf Route between Vancouver and Anchorage is the most popular choice for Alaska cruises. Several lines offer on shore excursions as part of a package deal. Book as far in advance as possible, certainly no later than six months ahead for May-September departures.

Round Trip cruises beginning at Vancouver often have more spaces closer to the departure date. Booking for May or September will give you more choices, too. In every case, unless you just get lucky, you can expect to pay $100 (and up) more for a ocean view cabin than for an interior one.

You’ll find you have a lot of factors to weigh as you do your research. Having a checklist of your wishes, your budget and a table of options in a spreadsheet will help you decide.

The Bahamas/Caribbean cruises are slightly different. Though they too require planning in order to get a good deal, there are so many lines going so often you have much more choice. Also, the weather is less of a consideration.

Holidays, not surprisingly, sell out first. Spring Break week (when college students flood every tourist destination), the Christmas-New Year week, and of course July and August are the most desired times. Even with all the options to the Caribbean, demand is so high that you’ll need to book almost a year in advance to get a good cabin on a nice voyage.

Increased demand in the face of limited supply leads to a higher price. (There’s no escaping basic economics!) Summers are, of course, more common vacation times for families traveling together. Book accordingly.

The late winter/early spring months (in the Northern Hemisphere) of Feb-April will start to book up next. By then, many living in sections of the U.S. that get cold in winter are looking to find relief from the cold. Even though they won’t leave for months, the act of booking seems to provide some relief from the winter doldrums.

Bargains abound for September-early December and you may find a good cabin available as short as 60 days before departure. If you can, take advantage of that, since the weather can still be pleasant. Take account of the possibility of hurricanes during that time of year, though. Be prepared to be flexible.

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Cruise planning 2011 part 1

by admin on January 3rd, 2011 in ,

Cruise planning may not be rocket science but it can be complicated. One of the more difficult factors to nail down is when to book your cruise. Should you book a year in advance to lock in just what you want, or hold off as long as possible in order to get the best price?

There is probably no single best answer, given the variety of cruises, changes in company policy and marketing practices, political events and other factors. But there are some guidelines that can be helpful.

First, you should definitely shop around. No two cruises offered are exactly alike, but there are so many good cruise lines today that you can get an excellent voyage on several different ones. Also, since the Internet has made researching them not only infinitely easier but even fun, you’ll find more choices than you could possibly investigate.

After you’ve done some initial research to get the range of prices for the season and destination of your choice, you can start to zero in.

If you have to take your vacation on specific dates, you are limiting your choices. Just as with the airlines, if you are flexible on your departure/return dates you will be on track to getting a better price. If you’re locked in for whatever reason, be sure to book as early as possible – preferably at least six months in advance.

You won’t usually be able to take advantage of the absolute best possible price by booking early. Some companies are not accommodating when it comes to changing dates, though you may be able to get an upgrade to your cabin. But you will have a nearly-guaranteed reservation. No company can fully guarantee any specific departure date or cabin, though most have an excellent record.

Being flexible allows you to take advantage of the deals that do pop up from time to time. You may be able to book a superior cabin on a stellar voyage with little notice that way. But you need to be prepared to act quickly. That means you need to have a passport and other documentation already in hand and be ready to leave home on short notice.

Naturally, if your destination is less popular or if you choose to go during the off-season, you’ll have more options. You’ll have a better chance to get a great price for a good cabin.

The Alaska season, for example, runs from May through September. That isn’t just because people prefer to travel during summer months. Alaska can become horrendously difficult to travel to during the winter. Modern technology hasn’t completely conquered the weather, yet.

As a result, peak sailing dates between July and August sell out around 9 months in advance. Booking for early in May will give you more choices, but keep in mind that the weather that early can be challenging in some years.

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Freedom Airport Services Launches a Secured Online Booking Facility

by admin on January 3rd, 2011

Freedom Airport Service is a well known London airport transfers service providers. They are now offering State of the art Online Booking engine Full online Booking with Electronic Receipts, 256 EV SSL Highest level Security, Customer Login to manage Bookings, Free Flight Tracker, No Credit / Debit Card Fee. They are also offering Affiliates and Travel Agent services in London.

For full story please visit prweb

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