As you can imagine, the cruise lines want to be sure that early bookers are rewarded rather than punished. It is always their mission to offer the lowest fares early and raise them as supply and demand allows. Sometimes there are promotions and last minute specials that will lower a cruise cost to a level below a previous booking. However, as long as you have booked your cruise with as astute professional (such as us), you will be lowered into the lower offering when applicable. Moreover, last minute specials are often tied to restrictions including capacity, lack of air options, lack of preferred dining options, and other elements that can be undesirable. We certainly book travelers on last-minute trips on a regular basis, and we receive literally hundreds of specials from various vendors on a daily basis. But we highly recommend booking as early as you feel certain of your most preferred sailing or tour

Travel vendors are well aware of the fact that travel professionals are worth the built-in fees that we are paid by all major travel vendors, such as the cruise lines, tour companies, etc We provide the local presence of a knowledgeable professional to help potential clients sort through the maze of options. Our people are all highly experienced and possess a great deal more knowledge that most reservation agents for a cruise line, for example. We also serve as a valuable advertising and marketing arm. Additionally, we are much better positioned to form and manage large groups. Thus, our vendors are very careful to never allow a transaction to be any less money when booking direct than when booking through a professional.

Most cruise lines offer you the ability to make your reservations through the cruise line, but there is an add-on charge of $30 - $50 in order to allow the traveler to choose their own flights rather than leaving the flight itinerary up to the cruise line.

We mention the term “most cruise lines” several time throughout this Q&A information. This is because although all major, large-ship cruises adhere to many common principles and procedures, many luxury, specialty, or adventure cruises; some of which are among our highest recommendations, deviate a bit on both ends of the pendulum

Prior to final payment, you may perform all of the processes listed above as long as the options are still available. However, circumstances may prevent some things, and name changes are never allowed on the major airlines unless the flight was purchased by a wholesaler in a category titled “bulk” air

Normally, you can board the ship 4-6 hours prior to departure. Food, beverages, and most other onboard amenities are also normally available. Your first full service meal is usually dinner on the day of departure

Most ships have faxing and/or internet services available in addition to the ability to make emergency phone calls from the ship. Cell phones will usually work on board from the US ports of call. In other countries, local cell phones are often available for purchase and/or use at a reasonable price.

In addition to having internet cafes, many ships are now offering wireless internet access that can be accessed from your own laptop from various hotspot locations throughout the ship.

Most cruise lines offer 110 volts (US default), 220, and others. We do recommend bringing adaptors when sailing on cruise lines that do not market heavily to the US market . Depending on the cruise line, hair dryers are often supplied

The vanilla version of all-inclusive means all you can eat and drink, as well as entertainment, beach toys, etc. Most cruises do not include alcoholic or soft drink beverages, gratuities, shore excursions, or many other onboard purchases that you may choose to make. All things mentioned above are reasonably priced on the ship, and everything absolutely necessary to have on a cruise is included except for gratuities. The average amount of money spend on a week long cruise including gratuities, drinks, excursions, and other offerings ranges between $300 - $400 per person per week. This does not include clothing or other personal items purchased on or off the ship, and it also does not include what people choose to donate to the casinos

Most ships have faxing and/or internet services available in addition to the ability to make emergency phone calls from the ship. Cell phones will usually work on board from the US ports of call. In other countries, local cell phones are often available for purchase and/or use at a reasonable price.

In addition to having internet cafes, many ships are now offering wireless internet access that can be accessed from your own laptop from various hotspot locations throughout the ship

Beverages usually have 15% added right on to your bill at the time of serving. Other than the automatic gratuities, you will not be expected to tip any onboard staff member until the end of your cruise. Off the ship, tipping excursion guides is typically deserved and expected. Staff members that are accustomed to gratuities include the dining room maitre d’, server, server assistant, and cabin attendant. Many cruise lines are now adding gratuities onto your ship charge because you do not always have the same servers with open seating. However, you still reserve the right to deduct from this charge if you feel that your service did not merit the gratuity. Cabin attendant gratuities are recommended to be $5-$7 per person per day

Dietary restrictions are often fully accommodated. Most cruise lines have excellent medical facilities including an MD and RN on call 24 hours a day. Many land resort areas also offer good medical and dietary accommodations- based on location. Handicapped persons will find that cruises are among the most accommodating ways in which a handicapped person can travel as most cruise lines have rooms built for persons with wheelchair needs.

Modern, large ships have several different forms of live entertainment going on simultaneously in several different areas including rock, jazz, country, stage entertainment, and many other varieties. Additionally, there are theme cruises that highlight specific areas of interest and include world-renowned celebrities in specific fields, such as sports, ballroom dancing, opera, etc. Theme cruises take place in ships of all sizes. In working with groups on small ships, we have served as the catalyst for creating specific themes

This is another area where it is much easier to lump the major cruise lines together, but not as easy to generalize with land offerings.

Both you and your children will be very pleasantly surprised with the many things to do onboard cruises including the programs designed especially for children of all ages and teenagers. There are rooms and activities sectioned off for various age groups. The only problem that you will likely have in this area is that your children will want to spend most of their time with their newfound friends. Many land resorts’ children programs are at least as good as the cruise programs

There are certainly some choices that we recommend that you do not use for various reasons; some specific to individual desires. Beyond that, we will help you as much or as little as you desire in matching your needs and interests to specific offerings that are good values and matches to the information that you have provided us with. One of the most satisfying elements of the travel profession is when we present an option to a client that he hadn’t thought of, and they go with it and return home feeling very grateful for our suggestion