Cruise Buzz

Ever wondered how to get started on planning your cruise? Look no further, here is my handy list.

Finding the right vacation, a cruise or a land vacation, can be a challenge. To help narrow the choices and allow you to sit back and enjoy the ride, Cruise Holidays & Vacations has compiled some tips for you to get started. Remember, your cruise concierge is a call away if you would like to have human interaction. We are available to answer your questions at 949-215-6700 or toll free at 888-203-3012.

Step 1. Figure out where you want to go.
The first thing on your to-do list is decide where in the world you want to go.

Step 2. When and how long do you want to go?
The spring or fall is the perfect time for those planning a romantic getaway for two. Summer holidays are the time when you’ll find many families with children onboard, along with a wide range of fun-filled activities, specially created just for them.

Luckily, cruise companies cater to your schedule. A mini-trip may be three or four days, while an around-the-world odyssey can last three to four months. However, the average cruise falls in the seven- to 10-day range.

Step 3. Fine-tune your plan by learning about the cruise lines.
Different cruise lines target different types of passengers, as well as different age groups. Oceania Cruises’ two mid-size ships offer luxury without the formality. While Regent Seven Seas and Crystal Cruises offer refined elegance to a well-traveled crowd that appreciates days at sea as much as time in port. Princess and Disney provide unbeatable family programs, so expect to be cruising with kids. Holland America Line features a more traditional ambiance.

Step 4. Get Real. What are your service requirements?
If you love creature comforts, there’s nothing like a suite with your own private balcony with front-row seats on the passing scenery. For personal pampering, the butler service on Regent, Crystal, and Celebrity can’t be beat. If computer connections are more essential, be sure to check out the large cruise lines’ high-tech facilities-from Internet cafés to in-cabin data ports. All offer a variety of shore excursions from High Renaissance art to high adventure. Your travel agent will have all the latest information.

Step 5. How much do you have to invest in the trip?
Your cruise concierge can help you decide what a realistic amount is to budget for your trip. An all-inclusive cruise may cover your drinks, meals in specialty restaurants, computer classes, gratuities, and shore excursions. On large mass-market ships, however, each of these might carry a separate fee. Depending on your lifestyle, the all-inclusive route, which at first seems more expensive, may actually be a better value.

Wherever you decide to cruise, it can become addictive. And once you’ve discovered the joy of cruising, you’ll be asking your Cruise Holidays travel planner to book another adventure at sea. And make it soon.