Crossings
These cruises (normally on an ocean liner, cruise ship or freighter)
typically
take you from one side of the ocean to another, and may stop at a port
or two enroute.
Standard Cruises
This most common cruise might be in the Caribbean, Mediterranean,
Mexican
Riviera or Orient. This can be a round-trip or one-way cruise,
and
can last for one day to several weeks. Sometimes this is referred
to as a "mass-marketed" cruise, and is chosen on the basis of
itinerary,
accomodations, amenities and season traveled.
Trans-Canal or River Cruises
You will choose this cruise based heavily on scenery and ports as well
as amenities. Verandah cabins are a plus.
Day Cruises
These mostly go nowhere and are suitable for partying or gambling
junkets.
This can be helpful if you want to try out cruising before you commit
to
a more costly trip. Unfortunately these cruises can turn out to
be
"cruise-and-booze" cruises, which might not be a flattering example of
cruising as a whole.
Honeymoons
There is nothing more romantic than balmy
nights
and warm sunny days in the tropics, especially if your wedding in the
winter.
Your cabin is your honeymoon suite, and you don't have to leave unless
you want to explore the ship or the islands. Unpack only once, and
still
visit a number of exotic places. Sometimes you can even get a
table
for two in the dining room, a bottle of champagne, flowers, a cabin
upgrade,
or some other perks.
In General
- The shorter the cruise, the younger the crowd.
- Shakedown, Inaugural or Maiden Voyages are during that
"breaking it in"
period where it's possible that you may experience failures in plumbing
or air conditioning, or have slow service due to the new procedures in
the kitchen or housekeeping which may be annoying.
Cruising Seasons
Africa (North) Year-round, but mainly May thru
October
Africa (East / South) November thru April
Alaska May thru September
Asia & the Orient October thru March
Baltic May thru October
Bermuda May thru October
Black Sea April thru October
Canada May thru October
Caribbean Year-round
Hawaii Year-round
India & Southeast Asia Mostly November
thru
April
Mediterranean March thru November
Mexico Year-round
New England May thru October
Panama Canal September thru May
South America (North Coast) Year-round
South America (other areas) September thru
April
South Pacific Mostly November thru April
Whats so bad about Christmas Cruises?
As posted in CruiseCritic by Philip 12/31/2004
I work in the cuise industry. I posted this list a few days ago. Sound a bit familiar?
1. Highest prices of the year for airfare.
2. Airplanes overbooked.
3. Airline staff stressed out and overtaxed.
4. Many flights cancelled.
5. Many bags lost.
6. Most airline offices closed or barely manned for the holidays. No problem-solving ability.
7. Highest prices of the year for a cruise.
8. Ships fully booked. No emergency cabins in case yours is flooded or your aircon is not working.
9. Cruise ship staff wants to be home for the holidays. Not very jolly.
10. Cruise line staff overtaxed and stressed out.
11. Long lines for anything and everything on the ship.
12. Unsupervised children running everywhere.
13. Cruise line offices closed for the holidays. No problem-solving ability.
14. Christians complaining about not enough xmas decorations; non-christians complaining about too many xmas decorations.
15. Christmas cruise seemed like a good idea last august. Now you miss
the sights. smells, sounds, family, friends at home at Christmas.
16. The German chefs version of Christmas dinner doesnt taste the same
- or as good - as the one your mother/wife/girlfriend makes at home.
17. Many shore tours, shops, museums, banks, and tourist sites are closed for the holidays and you cannot visit them.
18. All rental cars are already booked.
19. The worst weather of the year is usually this week - even on a ship in the tropics.
20. The highest number of complaints is always received on the Christmas cruise. Do you want to listen to this for 7 days?
21. Customs and Immigration officials are not too happy about working on the holidays. They are surly and slow.
22. If the ship runs out of something (guaranteed), they cannot get any more this week.
23. Want to change your air tickets? Forget it. Not a chance.
24. If your bags were lost enroute to the ship (very good chance), they will stay lost until the end of the cruise - and beyond.
25. Ususally a high number of "domestic disputes" on Christmas cruises.
But no spare cabins available to separate the warring spouses.
26. Influenza and noro-viruses are usually running rampant on the ship this time of year.
27. Bored teenagers form gangs by the end of the cruise and start
looking for trouble. Their newest game involves going through your
unlocked suitcases after you put them in the corridor on the last night
of your cruise. You do not find out what was stolen or destroyed until
you get home, and then blame the cruise line, airline, TSA, Bagage
Handlers, Bus Drivers, etc.
These are my experiences on the past 24 Christmas Cruises on several
mass-market cruise lines. THIS IS NOT EVERY CHRISTMAS CRUISE ON EVERY
SHIP. A few get lucky and have a great time. I even had 2 very good
Christmas Cruises out of the 24 I have worked.
But do you want to take a gamble like this if you dont have to?
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