Choosing The Right Stateroom

by Chris Dikmen

After choosing your cruise line and ship, the next important task you have to accomplish when booking a cruise is selecting a room. To do this successfully, it is important to understand cruise line lingo.

French balcony

A stateroom and a cabin are the same thing, both being generic terms that refer to any accommodations aboard a ship. A balcony and a veranda are also the same thing. A French Balcony is, however, different. Typically, a "French balcony" is very narrow and is not large enough to accommodate furniture. This is sometimes referred to as a 'step-out" balcony. A Suite typically refers to a larger stateroom; however, this term can be somewhat misleading. Some ships refer to all accommodations as suites. Most cruise ship accommodations are defined by cabin (or stateroom) categories. The cabin category generally is defined by the type of stateroom, its location on the ship, and its size.

The Basics of Cabin/Stateroom Categories

Inside (Interior) Staterooms This refers to a room that is located in the middle area of the ship. These rooms do not have windows or balconies. Inside staterooms are almost always the least expensive rooms on the ship since most people prefer to have a view of the ocean. Inside staterooms also tend to be the smallest accommodations on the ship. There are, however, some little-reported advantages to an inside stateroom. If you like to stay up late and "party", you may also like to sleep late. If you don't turn on the lights, these rooms stay pitch dark all day long since there are no windows. Just hang the "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door and you can "sleep it off" until well into the afternoon. Another argument for booking an inside stateroom is the fact that many people are only in their room to change clothes and to sleep. So, if you plan to spend most of your day on shore or at the pool, why pay extra for a window or a balcony? Another advantage to an inside stateroom is that you are insulated from any noise coming from outside the ship.

The Carnival deck plan graphic below shows inside (interior) staterooms in light pink, oceanview are in gold.

Where are the elevators?

On the deckplan above, you will notice two banks of three elevators (six total). On large ships we have found that people tend to congregate around the elevator lobby, especially late at night, and engage in very loud and annoying conversations. Therefore, if you are a light sleeper, you may wish to select a stateroom as far from an elevator lobby as possible.

Oceanview Staterooms

Many people prefer to have a view of the ocean when on a cruise. The next step up from an inside stateroom is an "outside" or "oceanview" stateroom. Even though a balcony/verandah stateroom is, by its nature "outside", the term "outside" or "oceanview" typically refers to a a stateroom with a window or porthole only.

CELEBRITY CRUISES OCEANVIEW STATEROOM

Oceanview staterooms are generally considered preferable to inside staterooms and that is reflected in their price. On newer ships (built after 2000), there has been so much attention put on balcony staterooms that many ships only have oceanview staterooms on the lowest decks. Wonder why they don't put balconies on the lower decks? The reason is the ocean itself. Balconies that are too close to the water line will definitely get wet, especially if the ship encounters any swells or waves.

Oceanview staterooms have some advantages over their more expensive and sought-after balcony staterooms. Often times, an oceanview stateroom will be larger than a comparable balcony stateroom. In fact, to make the balcony, the cruise line has to get the real estate from somewhere, so they basically take an oceanview cabin and put a sliding glass door 6 or 8 feet from the side of the ship into the room! That's 5 to 8 fewer feet you have for a sofa or just to move around in. On newer ships, oceanview rooms are typically located on the lowest decks. What is a status faux pas for some can be a real boon to those who are sensitive to motion. Should the ship encounter any motion while at sea, the lower the deck, the less motion you will experience.

Booking an oceanview stateroom should come with a few warnings, however. Some oceanview staterooms are "obstructed view" rooms. This means that there may be mechanical parts of the ship that interfere with the view of the ocean. In many cases, this might be a lifeboat hanging right outside your stateroom window. Most cruise lines will identify "obstructed view" rooms in their literature and some even offer discounts for rooms with obstructed views. I had an obstructed-view oceanview stateroom on Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas years ago and the only obstruction was that it looked out over the top of a lifeboat. I could not see directly below my stateroom, but I had an excellent view of the ocean. This is where a good, experienced travel professional that really understands the ships can be a big help to you.

Balcony/Veranda Staterooms The hottest property on ships right now is the balcony stateroom. Imagine sitting on your own private balcony sipping your morning coffee as the ship pulls into port, or waving to people on shore as you leave Miami. Every new ship being built is emphasizing balcony staterooms. Regent Seven Seas Cruises even has two ships that are all balcony staterooms! Of course, you can expect to pay a little more for a balcony stateroom than you will for an oceanview or an inside stateroom.

As with every cabin type, there are pluses and minuses. Here are a few things you should be aware of when booking a balcony stateroom:

Smoking Policy - Some cruise lines allow guests to smoke on their balcony, some prohibit it. If you are sensitive to second-hand smoke, you should check with your travel agent about the cruise line's policy. I guarantee you that if you are sensitive to smoke, you WILL smell the cigarette or cigar smoke from a fellow passenger, even several staterooms away! On the other hand, if you enjoy a smoke, you need to make sure that your cruise line will allow you to smoke on the balcony.

Warning! You should NEVER throw cigarette or cigar butts overboard from your balcony on a ship. The wind can very easily carry that into another stateroom and cause a fire. Several cruise ship fires have been caused by passengers throwing cigarette butts overboard.

Balcony stateroom on QM2

Noise - Balcony staterooms have the potential to be noisier than inside staterooms or even oceanview staterooms. The noise can come from a variety of sources. One of our biggest pet peeves is the slamming balcony door. We prefer ships to have sliding glass doors opening to their balconies as they tend to be quieter. A typical hinged door, however, can be a nightmare. These doors are very heavy and are made to shut solidly so that they are not accidentally left open. If your neighbor slams the balcony door shut, it can rattle the walls in your stateroom. If your neighbor has kids, they seem to like to go in and out repeatedly. Another issue is when the door to the hallway is open and the balcony door is open at the same time. The AC system of the ship creates high pressure in the cabin that will slam a door like you cannot imagine. Until cruise ship designers come up with a way to address this engineering shortcoming, it is up to us as guests to be cautious when closing a balcony door.

Cruise Etiquette Tip: Be a good cruise neighbor when staying in a balcony stateroom. Be careful when closing your balcony door so that it closes quietly.

You may also be subject to noise that comes from outside the ship, especially if you like to leave your balcony door open. This will occur mostly when the ship is in port. Some ports are very active and may double as shipping ports. Depending on where your stateroom is located, you may be awakened by noise coming from outside the ship.

Everything considered, we still prefer a balcony stateroom to any other accommodation category (except for a suite, of course). The benefits of having a balcony far outweigh any potential negatives. However, where your balcony stateroom is located on the ship is a very important consideration.

Suites

Suites refer to the largest and most luxurious accommodations on board a ship. On newer ships (built after 2000), a balcony or veranda is implied when booking a suite. However, that is not always the case. We recently toured a new Medallion Suite on Silversea's Silver Wind that did not have a balcony, but was huge and beautiful nonetheless. We sailed in a Celebrity Suite on Celebrity Summit a few years ago that did not have a balcony. Instead it had huge panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows. Just to be safe, when booking a suite you should always verify with your travel agent whether or not the suite has a balcony.

ROYAL SUITE ON ROYAL CARIBBEAN HARMONY OF THE SEAS

As you might expect, suites are the most expensive accommodations on any ship and they come in all sizes and shapes. Some cruise lines now offer butler service in certain suite categories. There are other perks that often come with occupying a suite. On several cruise lines, suite guests enjoy access to a concierge lounge. Guests occupying the largest suites are often invited to dine with the Captain one evening, or with another member of the senior staff. The guests in the large suites often get free laundry service and ensuite afternoon appetizers.

Some upscale cruise lines, like Silversea and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, claim that all of their staterooms are suites. Having sailed with both cruise lines many times, I can say that their accommodations certainly meet my requirements to be considered a "suite". For one thing, a suite should have a separate sitting room and bedroom which can be separated by a curtain or a door. A walk-in closet is also something you should expect in a suite. On Seabourn Pride, our "suite" did not have a balcony, but it was very large, had a nice bathroom with two sinks, separate tub and shower and a huge walk-in closet.

Location, Location, Location

Perhaps just as important as the type of stateroom you book, is the location of the stateroom on the ship. The location of your stateroom, along with the size and category, will determine its cost. Generally speaking (there are always exceptions), cabins located toward the center of the ship (amidships) are more desirable, and therefore, more expensive than those located at the fore or aft sections of the ship. Also, the higher up on the ship a cabin is located, the more expensive. A balcony cabin on Deck 10 amidships will generally be more expensive than the same cabin on Deck 6 forward or aft.

Knowledgeable cruise enthusiasts are well aware of the art of selecting a good stateroom based on its location. Here are a few tips that might prove helpful:

Higher up is generally quieter, but subject to more motion - One reason that cabins located on upper decks are more expensive is that they are further away from the mechanical parts of the ship. The engine room, thrusters, anchors, main galley and crew quarters are all located on the lowest decks. Trust me, if you have never been awakened by the sound of an anchor being lowered at 6:00am, consider yourself fortunate! With only one exception that I can think of, a cabin on an upper deck (8,9,10,11) will generally be quieter than one on a low deck (1,2,3,4,5). The one exception would be a higher deck with a cabin located directly under the pool deck.

Booking a stateroom directly underneath the pool deck can present its own set of challenges. We have experienced a fair amount of noise early in the morning as the crew begins to arrange the pool deck loungers. The chairs, tables and lounge chairs on the pool deck are usually moved and stacked off to the sides of the pool deck each evening so that the crew can clean the deck, or perhaps for a dance or pool BBQ. Early each morning, say 5:00am or so, the crew begins unstacking all of the chairs and moving/dragging everything back into place. Trust me, this can be quite annoying if you are a light sleeper.

One of the disadvantages to being on a higher deck is the additional rolling (side-to-side) motion. On most modern ships equipped with stabilizers, you will rarely experience any rolling motion at all. However, if you do encounter rough seas, and if there is any side-to-side (rolling) motion, you will notice it more the higher up you are on the ship.

Lower decks are less expensive, but can be noisier - The lower you are on a ship, the closer you will be to the engine and mechanical noise and vibrations of the ship. This is the main reason that these decks are less expensive than the upper decks. However, on most modern ships, as long as there is a passenger deck between you and the crew decks, you will probably be okay.

TIP: If you book a stateroom on a lower deck, try to get a room near the center of the ship. Aft staterooms will have noise from the engines and aft thrusters, forward staterooms will have noise from the ship's anchors and bow thrusters. A stateroom on a lower deck, near the center of the ship will have the least motion and noise.

Did you ever wonder why most ships place their main dining rooms on the lowest decks? Have you noticed where Royal Caribbean locates the ice skating rinks on its Freedom-class and Voyager-class ships? Low and in the middle. The biggest advantage of booking a lower deck, other than the cost savings, is the reduction in rolling motion should the ship encounter any rough seas. So, if you are prone to motion sickness, you are going to be better off on a lower deck.

So where is the best stateroom location? Everybody has their favorites, and it really depends on the individual. Also, every ship is different.

Budget Minded: If you are not concerned with motion or noise, you will get your best deal booking low and forward or low and aft. Cabins located forward are more likely to experience the sound of anchors being raised and lowered, while cabins located aft are more subject to the sounds of the engine and propulsion systems.

Budget but sensitive to motion: If you are concerned with motion, but want the best bargain, book amidships and low. You will also avoid much of the noise by being away from the aft and forward sections of the ship.
Money is no object, but sensitive to motion: If you are going to be on one of the upper decks, you will get less motion the closer you are to the center of the ship.

Advice For Selecting The Best Stateroom

Use a travel professional - The best advice is always to consult with a travel professional before booking a cruise. Make them aware of your concerns and requirements so that they can help you select the best stateroom.

Book far in advance - You will always have more choice in staterooms the earlier you book. If you wait until 30 days before the cruise, you are going to be choosing from what is left.

How To Keep From Getting Sick On A Cruise

How many news stories have there been in the past three years about hundreds of passengers on cruise ships getting sick on a cruise ship? The most common culprit? The Norovirus. And now, in 2020, it’s Covid-19, or Coronavirus. Are there ways you can prevent getting infected?

Here is what the CDC website has to say about Norovirus:

"Norovirus is a very contagious virus that can infect anyone. You can get it from an infected person, contaminated food or water, or by touching contaminated surfaces. The virus causes your stomach or intestines or both to get inflamed. This leads you to have stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhea and to throw up."

If your only awareness of Norovirus is from the mainstream media, you would probably believe that this mysterious culprit is exclusive to cruise ships. But, you would be wrong. This virus can appear anywhere at anytime. You only hear about it when it rears its ugly head on cruise ships because that makes for a sensational story. Granted, a cruise ship is a rather confined environment, so the virus has the potential to spread from one infected person to another very quickly. So, is there anything you can do to prevent yourself from becoming infected with the virus? Yes, in fact there are several measures you can take.

One of the most common ways the virus spreads from person-to-person is by coming in contact with surfaces that may have the virus, then putting your fingers in your mouth. For example, let's say an infected person grabs a handrail on a cruise ship, leaving traces of the virus on the handrail. You come along and use the same handrail, then you go eat lunch and use your hands to eat a hamburger. The virus has gone from the handrail, to your hands, to your hamburger, to your mouth.

Your hands become the most common form of viral transmission. Therefore, anything you can do to keep your hands clean and free from the virus will go a long way to preventing the virus from getting inside your body. When you think about all of the surfaces on a cruise ship that your hands come in contact with, you begin to see how easily the virus can spread quickly through the population.

For years, cruise lines have implemented measures to prevent the spread of the Norovirus. Reputable cruise lines regularly disinfect surfaces such as handrails, food service areas, etc. If a guest or crew member is diagnosed with a viral infection, they are typically quarantined to their stateroom for at least three days to prevent the spread of the virus and kept under medical observation. However, there is only so much a cruise line can do to protect you from becoming infected.

Here are some tips on how to protect yourself:

Wash Your Hands, frequently - This is the number one tip to protect yourself. Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water, especially after using the restroom. And, it does not do any good to wash your hands in public rest room, only to grab the dirty door handle when you leave the restroom. So, use a tissue or napkin to open the door handle.

Silversea reminds guests to use a tissue (which are provided) to open the door

Silversea reminds guests to use a tissue (which are provided) to open the door

Hand Sanitizer Stations - Most cruise ships now have hand sanitizer dispensers outside of every dining area. USE THEM. These stations work by placing your hands underneath where a sensor will detect your hands and dispense a dose of the alcohol-like substance. Note: hand sanitizer is not a substitute for washing your hands regularly.

Hand sanitizing stations are commonplace outside restaurants and lounges

Handrails - Guests frequently use handrails on a cruise ship, especially if there is any motion. And, that is a good thing. However, handrails can become a surface where a virus lives. So, try steadying yourself without "grabbing" the handrail with your fingers. I will make a fist and use my wrist to steady myself using the handrail. Sometimes, this is not possible, and you don't want to risk losing your balance, but you get the idea. Another little trick is, if you have on a long-sleeved shirt or sweater, to pull the sleeve down and hold it between your hand and the handrail. Or, wrap a tissue around the handrail and grab that instead.

Buffet utensils - One of the most obvious places where you use your hands, as does everyone else, is when you are shoveling food from a buffet to your plate. Each one of those serving spoons could potentially be infected with the Norovirus. For this reason, some cruise lines even have staff serving the food to you during the first couple of days of the cruise. Personally, I wish they would do it all the time. We keep a small bottle of hand sanitizer with us at the table and use it before we eat. You can also use a paper napkin or tissue in your hand to prevent your skin from coming on contact with the surface of the utensil.

You can purchase small bottles of hand sanitizer (see below) at any Walmart or drug store. Keep one on you at all times and use a dab on your hands before eating. Especially if you eating on a buffet.

Internet Cafe - How many people have used that computer keyboard and mouse before you? Some cruise lines will even provide sanitizing wipes next to computer terminals. If so, use them. If not, this is another reason to always have a small bottle of hand sanitizer with you at all times.

Use hand sanitizer after using Internet Cafe keyboard & mouse

Door handles - Get in the habit of opening door handles with your wrist or using the sleeve of your shirt or sweater. We do this wherever we go, not just on cruise ships.

Use the back of your hand to open door handles

These are just a few of my tips on how to prevent exposure to Norovirus when on a cruise. If you have some of your own tips and ideas, please feel free to share them below.

Don’t Shake Hands - It may seem ruse when someone extends their hand, but offer a fist bump instead. And, let them know, “just trying to prevent potentially spreading any germs” and they should understand.

Don’t Touch Your Face - Viruses enter your body through your mouth, nose and eyes. Typically, the virus will be picked up on your hand, and then when you place your hands on your face, that’s how the virus gets in. Avoid touching your face!

Sanitize Your Stateroom - Every time you return to your stateroom you should use a Lysol or Clorox towelette on all door handles, remote controls or other surfaces you will touch with your hands. Just make it a habit! We even put our remote control inside of a Ziplok bag!

10 Tips For Maintaining Your Low-Carb Lifestyle On A Cruise

Just because you are on a low-carb diet does not mean you have to avoid taking the vacation of a lifetime. In fact, I am convinced that a cruise is the best vacation for low-carb dieters. I have been cruising "low-carb" style since 2003.

Unfortunately, Americans equate cruising with gorging. Most people think that gaining 7 to 10 pounds during a cruise isnormal.For years the cruise industry has attracted passengers to its ships with promises of 7 meals per day or more. Certainly, the temptation to overeat and overindulge is amplified on a cruise. Not only is food available 24 hours a day, but it is included in the price of the cruise. Some people feel ‘cheated’ if they do not eat themselves into a coma at every opportunity; otherwise, they paid for something they did not get.

Therefore, to enjoy your cruise without sabotaging your weight management/loss program requires a completely different frame of mind. Fortunately, you have probably already undergone a significant change in thinking by committing yourself to a low-carb lifestyle. So when preparing for a low-carb cruise, there are really two things that you have to keep in mind:

Accept that cruising without carbs can be enjoyable

You don’t have to have the pies, cakes and breads to have a great time on a cruise. Look at it this way, it is better to be on a low-carb lifestyle and on a cruise than on a low-carb lifestyle and be at home!

It is actually very easy to limit carbs while on a cruise. Since starting the Atkins Diet in July of 2002, I have been on more than 120 cruises. During that time, I have been able to successfully lose more than 50 pounds and keep the weight off. The great thing about a cruise is you have so many choices of proteins and vegetables that it is actually easier and more enjoyable to adhere to a low-carb regimen on a ship than on land.

Tip 1 - Plan Ahead - Pack Low-Carb Snacks

There are so many great low-carb snacks available on the market now, especially the candies and breakfast bars. I always pack Atkin's Advantage™ "Meal" bars for every cruise (Chocolate Peanut Butter is my personal favorite). I typically will eat these for breakfast each day with coffee. The Atkin's Snacks are easy to pack and make a great mid-day treat to satisfy a sweet tooth.

Tip 2 - Eat Breakfast in the dining room and skip the buffet

Rather than going to the breakfast buffet on the Lido Deck, try going to the main restaurant for breakfast. Here you can order from a set menu and just about every cruise ship will offer you a fresh, delicious omelet made-to-order. Go ahead and pack it with ham, onion and cheese if you want, it is alllegal!A side order of bacon or ham is also a delicious addition. Remember, it is all paid for, so enjoy. If you love Eggs Benedict, GO FOR IT. Just don’t eat the English Muffin. The eggs, Hollandaise sauce and Canadian bacon are allOK. On many cruise lines you can even order a breakfast steak or baby lamb chops to accompany your omelet.

Tip 3 - Save The Buffet For Lunch

Most ships offer a buffet lunch on the Lido Deck (near the pool). There are all kinds of low-carb items you can enjoy on the lunch buffet. There are lots of salad options, just avoid the pasta salads and fruit salads which tend to be full of carbs. There is almost always a carving station with roast beef, lamb, turkey or pork. There will also be a selection of green vegetables.

Things to look for:

• Carving Station 

• Green Salads 

• Green Vegetables (spinach, green beans, etc.) 

• Whole Grain Rolls or Bread 

• Bouillon or Broth 

Things to Avoid:

• Croutons 

• Sweet dressings like French, 1000 Island, etc. 

• Pasta Salads and Pasta in general 

• Potatoes 

• Desserts 

• Breads other than Whole Grain 

• Creamy soups 

• Pizza & Pasta 

Low-Carb Tip!If a food item is white or yellow, it is probably full of carbohydrates. White flour, bread, corn, potatoes, sugar, yellow squash. As a rule of thumb, substitute something green for something white or yellow!

One misconception about a low-carb diet is that you can eat all the steak, butter, cheese and eggs you want and still lose weight. While that is true in theory, it is not ahealthylow-carb lifestyle. If you want to load up on large quantities to satisfy your hunger, do it with green vegetables and salads, not fatty beef and eggs. It is better to have a 8oz Rib Eye with lots of salad and green beans than a 16oz. Rib Eye and no vegetables. A great cruise lunch might be a huge chef's salad with lots of lettuce, cheese, eggs, ham and turkey. Top it off with a balsamic vinegar and oil dressing, (or bring your own low-carb dressing) and you have a filling and satisfying lunch!

Tip 4 - Meet with the Maître' d For Special Requests

You might be surprised to learn that cruise lines are generally very willing to fulfill special requests in the dining room. This is something I take full advantage of, especially in the dining room each evening. Every cruise line dining room has a Maitre D or Dining Room Captain and they are a low-carb dieter’s best friend. Take a few minutes to meet with the Maître D when you board the ship (check your daily cruise program for time and place) and mention that you do not eat starchy vegetables and would like to have green vegetables each evening. In some cases, they may not be able to fill your request the first evening, but should be able to do so every night thereafter.

Even on large cruise ships, I will have creamed spinach every evening. On some of the smaller ships, I have even been able to get even more specific about how I like the spinach prepared with garlic and mushrooms!

On the larger ships with assigned seating, your waiter is your ally. He knows that his gratuity is based on how satisfied you are when you leave the table each evening. If you tell him what you want, he or she should work extra hard to make sure your wishes are met. If he or she does not, ask the head waiter to move you to another table. Cruise lines, by and large, want to you to be a satisfied customer, but they are not good at reading your mind. Don’t be afraid to ask for something!

• Request green vegetables each evening from your waiter or Maître D 

• Order a Caesar salad each evening 

• At the pool grill, ask for two hamburger patties with no bun (and skip the fries!) 

• At the bar, ask for Michelob Ultra (low-carb beer) or Miller Lite 

Tip 5 - Watch what you drink

I always drink more alcoholic beverages on a cruise than I do normally. I think this is partially because I do not have to drive home from the bar! However, some drinks can be loaded with carbs. Avoid all frozen drinks such as Margaritas, Pina Colada, Daquiri, etc. Even a Mojito has a lot of sugar in it. White wine is better than red and even a glass of champagne won't completely blow your regimen. Hard liquor has no carbs, but I don't know of any diet that recommends excessive amounts of hard liquor.

A Piña Colada can have more than 30 grams of carbs!

Drinks to avoid:

• Frozen drinks 

• Mojito 

• Tonic drinks (Gin & Tonic, Vodka Tonic, etc.) 

• All soft drinks with sugar 

• Lemonade 

• Bailey's, Sambuca, Kahlua, or any 'dessert' drinks (they are pure sugar) 

Drinks to enjoy:

• White wine 

• Champagne (in moderation) 

• Hard liquor (scotch, vodka, gin, etc.) 

• Diet soft drinks 

• Diet or sugar-free tonic 

• Club soda 

• Water 

• Ice tea 

If you enjoy mixed drinks with tonic (i.e. Gin & Tonic or Vodka Tonic) ask the bartender if they offer diet or sugar-free tonic. Regular tonic is full of sugar and has a very high carb count. You may even consider bringing a 6-pack of diet tonic onboard with you. You should not have any problems getting this through security. If they say anything, tell them that it is a dietary requirement.

Tip 6 - Enjoy Low-Carb Snacks

Another thing I enjoy is having a before-dinner snack around 4:30 each afternoon. This is especially important if I am dining later than 7:00pm. Just about every cruise line offers a cheese and cracker plate from room service. The cheese makes an excellent low-carb snack to tide you over until dinner. Sometimes we will take our cheese plate and a glass of wine out on our balcony to enjoy each afternoon.

On the luxury lines, you can get your cheese plate delivered just about anywhere on the ship. Get to know your bartender at your favorite lounge and let him know that you want a cheese plate every afternoon when you come in for your favorite beverage. Silversea, Seabourn, SeaDream, Crystal and Radisson Seven Seas are all great with these types of requests.

Tip 7 - Beware of “no sugar added” desserts

Don't be suckered in by the 'no sugar added' or "zero-zero" claims on desserts. Don’t assume that these desserts are low in carbs. Just because the galley does not add sugar does not mean that there is no sugar in the dessert. If you are really disciplined, you could order a “zero-zero” ice cream and eat about two or three bites and push the rest away, but why play with temptation? A good dessert alternative is a decaf Cappuccino (if you like coffee). A better choice is to bring your own low-carb candy to dinner with you each night to enjoy with coffee.

Tip 8 - Use the fitness center

One of the best features of virtually every ship sailing today is the fitness center. Most ships offer lots of cardiovascular equipment, fitness classes, weight machines and free weights. By exercising just 30 to 45 minutes every day during your cruise, you can stave off a lot of your hunger pangs and feel better about yourself to boot. Regular exercise is a vital part of a healthy low-carb lifestyle (or any lifestyle for that matter).

Tip 9 - Treat Yourself One Night

If you are tempted to blow it, pick one night late in the cruise itinerary and designate it as your "night to celebrate". Perhaps the last formal night would be a good choice, when the Chef will most likely prepare his most elaborate dishes. If you are going to blow it, you might as well enjoy a chocolate soufflé or cherries jubilee, right? 

The logic behind selecting a night near the end of the cruise (perhaps the last formal night) is that there is not much time left in case you become tempted to blow your diet for the rest of the cruise!

Tip 10 - Set A Goal To Cruise And Lose

You might be surprised that you can enjoy a substantial amount of food on your cruise andactually lose weight!Imagine how good you will feel when you get home from your vacation and you are not carrying an extra 7 to 10 pounds. You won't have to look far on a cruise to find inspiration in all of the overweight people who are unable or unwilling to control their carb intake.

Disclaimer

Chris Dikmen is not a medical professional and does not intend any information in this article to substitute for the advice of your doctor. Anyone altering their diet and exercise should consult with their physician before doing so.

Chris Dikmen is the Managing Editor of CruiseReport.com and President of PITA, LLC.

Passport Requirements

by Rickee Richardson, Senior Editor 

If you are taking a cruise, proper travel documentation is your responsibility. Appropriate valid travel documents such as passports, visas, inoculation certificate and family legal documents are required for boarding the ship and for re-entry into the United States and other countries.

The documents issued to you by the cruise line prior to sailing will include current policies for travel identification documentation requirements, including proof of citizenship and proof of identity. Guests traveling without proper documentation will not be allowed to board and will not be refunded the cruise fare. A passport is highly recommended as it will speed-up your ship check-in formalities.

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) when fully implemented on June 1, 2009 will require all travelers to and from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda to present a valid passport or other approved document that establishes the bearer's identity and citizenship in order to enter or reenter the United States. Other WHTI-compliant documents for entry or re-entry into the United States include:

• The Passport Card: The passport card is only valid for land and sea travel between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean region, and Bermuda. 

• WHTI Compliant Travel Documents for U.S. citizen travel via land and sea, as of January 31, 2008:
  - Trusted Traveler Cards (NEXUS, SENTRI, or FAST) 
  - State Issued Enhanced Driver’s License (when available) 
  - Enhanced Tribal Cards (when available) 
  - U.S. Military Identification with Military Travel Orders 
  - U.S. Merchant Mariner Document when traveling in conjunction with official maritime business 
  - Native American Tribal Photo Identification Card 
  - Form I-872 American Indian Card

Please Note: Children under age 16 will be able to continue crossing land and sea borders using only a U.S. birth certificate (or other form of U.S. citizenship such as a naturalization certificate.) The original birth certificate or a copy may be used. Also, the passport requirement does NOT apply to U.S. citizens traveling to or returning directly from a U.S. territory.

According to Royal Caribbean, U.S. citizens on closed-loop cruises (cruises that begin and end at the same port in the U.S.) will be able to enter or depart the country with proof of citizenship, such as an original or certified copy of a birth certificate, a certificate of naturalization and laminated government issued picture ID, denoting photo, name and date of birth. A U.S. citizen under the age of 16 will be able to present either an original or a certified copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad issued by DOS, or Certificate of Naturalization issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

International Travel 

A valid passport is required; visas are required where they apply. This includes Europe, Asia, Central and South America.

For additional passport information visit U.S. Department of State. 

Need a Passport?

A passport is an internationally recognized travel document that verifies the identity and nationality of the bearer. A valid U.S. passport is required to enter and leave most foreign countries. Only the U.S. Department of State has the authority to grant, issue or verify United States passports.

Each person, including children (regardless of age including newborns and infants) must have their own passport. Passports must be presented at the time of embarkation and don't be surprised if the cruise line keeps your passport for the duration of the cruise. In certain ports, Customs officials will board the ship (sometimes in the wee hours of the morning) and request to see the passports of all guests and crewmembers. Since the cruise line already has your passport in their possession, you don't have to be inconvenienced. Be aware that most cruise lines require that your passport be valid for at least six months from the completion of your travel. It is also required that the name on your airline and cruise tickets match the name on your passport exactly.

It is a good idea to make a copy of the main page of your passport and keep it in your stateroom safe. In certain countries, it is suggested that you have a copy of your passport with you when going ashore. You should also leave a copy of your passport at home.

For information on how to apply for, renew or replace a lost or stolen passport and downloadable forms go to www.travel.state.gov/passport.  Passport demand goes up between January and July. Apply early to avoid the rush.

19 Essential Tips For Travel To Europe

A cruise is a great way to experience Europe, and one of the most enjoyable vacations you can have. However, if you have never been to Europe, there are a few things that you might want to know before you go.

1. Carry some local currency

When you visit European cities, it is always a good idea to have some local currency. On the European continent, many countries now accept the Euro which makes traveling between the countries much easier than it was in the past. In Great Britain, they still use the British Pound, so Euros will be of little use. Unlike cruising in the Caribbean, where the US Dollar is widely accepted regardless of the local currency, European businesses often only accept their local currency.

When we travel to Europe, I always like to have between 50 and 100 Euro on me when we are out and walking around. That way, we have enough for lunch or souvenirs. Large purchases can be made with a major credit card.

Euro denominations are similar to what we have in the USA with the dollar. Paper bills are 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 Euro. There is no 1 Euro note. There are 1 and 2 Euro coins, identified by a copper center with a silver outer ring. The 2 Euro coin, about the size of a US quarter, is larger than the 1 Euro coin, which is about the same size as a US nickel. There are also smaller coins (2 cents, 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents and 50 cents). Intelligently, the paper money is sized differently for each denomination (a 100 Euro note is larger than a 5 Euro note) and they are different colors. As you make purchases, you will most likely end up with many coins.

We like to use up the coins when we buy postcards at local souvenir shops. Postcards can usually be purchased for 50 cents to 1 Euro each.

2. Use an ATM for cash

We never use the money exchange services when traveling. You will see these in every airport and throughout the streets of European cities. These companies will change your US Dollars for the local currency, but they charge a hefty commission fee for doing so. Plus, you don't get as good of an exchange rate as you will from your bank (credit card). Don't get suckered in by signs that claim "no commission" or "no charges", they will make up the difference by giving you a lousy exchange rate.

We always use a bank-sponsored ATM to get local cash using our credit card (or debit card). The fee for using an ATM is much less than the commission at an exchange shop and you will get a better rate of exchange. ATMs are readily available throughout European cities and they function just as they do in the USA.

3. Inform Your Credit Card Company Of Your Travels

It is always a good idea to let your credit card company know that you will be traveling outside the USA. If they suddenly see charges coming through from another country, they may not authorize the charges, which could put a crimp in your travel plans. Capital One allows you to use their website to inform them of your travel dates and countries you will be visiting. Check your credit card issuer's website for more information.

4. Reading prices In Europe

When you are shopping in Europe, you will notice that prices are formatted differently than in the US. A comma is used instead of a decimal to separate whole Euros from cents. For example, in the USA we would show an item that costs one dollar and fifty cents as $1.50 whereas in Europe, it would be displayed as €1,50 (meaning 1 Euro and 50 cents).

Also, a number "7" in Europe may have a horizontal slash through it (see example below), whereas a number "1" may be written to look like a 7.

5. Converting Euro or Pounds to Dollars?

When shopping overseas it is always a challenge to try to mentally convert the local currency into dollars so you know what something actually costs. Exchange rates change on a daily basis. At the time of this article, the Euro to Dollar rate is 1.12. That means, every time you spend a Euro it will actually cost you $1.12. A few years ago, the exchange rate was about 1.37, so every Euro spent was costing $1.37! So, right now, Europe is a bargain compared to a few years ago because the US Dollar is stronger against the Euro.

If you have a smart phone or iPad, there are several free apps that will do currency conversion.

6. Tipping

Waiters and waitresses are paid more in Europe than in the USA, therefore, tipping is usually included in the price of the meal and is not expected. You will notice that the cost of eating out in Europe is much more expensive than back home as a result. After all, the consumer always ends up paying for the higher wages in the end. Also, be sure to look at your restaurant or cafe bill carefully. Sometimes, a "service fee" is automatically added which is really the tip.

For taxi drivers, I will usually round up to the nearest Euro. If the fare is 9 Euro, I will give the driver a 10 Euro note.

7. Using your credit card

Your credit card (Amex, Visa, Mastercard) should work fine in Europe, with a few exceptions. In Europe, credit cards have a security chip instead of a magnetic strip. I am not sure why American credit card issuers are slow to provide these chips in their cards, but for whatever reason, they are. Eventually, all credit cards will have these new chips. In spite of this, your magnetic strip card will still work in Europe at most shops and restaurants. You may need to tell the clerk "swipe" when you hand them your card so they know the card does not have a chip. The credit card machines they use will have a slot for the cards with chips and a groove on the side to process the "old-style" magnetic strip cards.

New Amex cards have the chip in them

At most restaurants in Europe, your waiter or waitress will usually bring the credit card machine to the table so your card never leaves your sight. I wish restaurants in the US did this!

It is a good idea to inform your credit card company of your travel plans before you leave the USA. Many credit card issuers have a web page where you can let them know which countries you will be visiting and on what dates. If you do not notify them, they may refuse a charge coming from a foreign country.

8. Choose Credit Card To Be Charged In Local Currency

When making purchases in Europe you may be asked by the merchant if you wish to have your credit card charged in your home currency (US Dollar, for example), or in the local currency (eg. Euros). By choosing the local currency you will avoid paying a processing fee in addition to taking a hit on the exchange rate. If your credit card is charged in the local currency, you will benefit from the exchange rate offered by your credit card issuer, which is typically much better.

9. Eating Out In Europe

We have never had any problems eating in Europe. Even the water is drinkable in just about every country you visit. For convenience, we usually drink bottled water, but tap water in restaurants should be safe. You will notice that the custom in Europe is to have drinks served with only one or two cubes of ice, or no ice at all. You can always request more ice from your waiter/waitress.

Service in Europe may seem slower than in the USA, but, that is not a sign of poor service, just indicative of a more relaxed dining culture. Europeans routinely take longer to dine. When you go to dinner in Europe, the restaurant expects you to occupy the table for the entire evening.

I recommend avoiding the touristy cafes and restaurants. Not only are they more expensive, the food is usually uninspired. Check your guide books or online websites for recommended cafes and restaurants in the cities you will be visiting. These sources can prove to be invaluable for providing local information. On a recent trip to Amsterdam, I researched online and found an Indonesian restaurant with rave reviews. We took the local tram to the restaurant and had one of the best meals we have ever had!

Kebab joints are in every European city

Even the "street food" in Europe can be quite good and very reasonably priced. I never visit Europe without making at least one stop at a local kebab/shwarma joint. For less than $10 you can get a huge sandwich with lamb, beef or chicken, fries and a drink. Delicious!

It should be illegal for Americans visiting Europe to eat at a McDonalds, Burger King or KFC. You will find these in most European cities. But, if you are going to eat there, why leave home?

10. Avoid trains if you are traveling with large luggage

If you are on a cruise, you are most likely only going to be in a city for one or two days at most. However, if you plan on touring Europe as part of a pre-/post-cruise vacation, you may be tempted to use Europe's excellent train system. Traveling through Europe by train is affordable and fun. However, it is not advisable if you are traveling with a lot of luggage. Train connections can be short and running through a train terminal with large luggage to catch your next train is no fun. My suggestion? Ship your luggage to the cruise ship, and do your pre-cruise European touring with a large backpack than can hold enough for a few days. Rick Steves has some good information on packing in his guidebooks and videos.

11. Need a Restroom? Look for WC

The European sign for a restroom is WC (water closet). You can always ask locals for "toilet" and they will point you in the right direction. Most restaurants will have a WC, but only for patrons who are dining there. There are public WCs in many cities and there may be a 1€ charge to use these facilities.

12. Tourist Information Centers

No matter where you go in Europe, you will find tourist information centers. These are typically identified by an "i" sign out front. You will usually find these within walking distance of a cruise ship port or tour bus drop-off point. It should be noted that while many of these places are run by the local government tourism office, some might be privately operated. The privately-run facilities are more interested in selling you tickets to tours and events than answering questions. But, they are still a valuable source for local maps and other information. Many of these information centers will also offer free Wi-Fi. Some sell postcards and stamps, or can tell you where you can buy them.

A tourist information center in Torshavn, Denmark

13. Overcoming jet lag (don't take a nap!)

Most flights from the USA to European cities are overnight flights. Typically, your flight will arrive early in the morning. If you have difficulty sleeping on airplanes, then you will most likely experience the joy of jet lag. Not only have you been up for most, if not all, of the night, but you are now also 5 to 8 hours ahead of your time back home. If your flight lands at 9:00am, your body still thinks it is 2:00am (assuming you came from the Central Time Zone). It may take a day or two for your internal "clock" to adjust to the new time.

Even though the tendency is to go to your hotel and crash, the best course is to avoid taking a nap and thereby force your body to adjust to the new time by staying awake until time to go to bed the first night. If you are staying in a hotel, the odds are your room will not be ready until 3pm anyway, so use this opportunity to take a local tour of the city before you check-in. You should be able to drop your luggage at the hotel's concierge until check-in time. Start adapting your schedule to local time as far as dining and taking medications.

14. Beware of bicycles

Many European cities are more bicycle-friendly than what you may be used to in the US. Most notably, Amsterdam comes to mind. In many cities, bicycles, not pedestrians, have the right-of-way. Before stepping out into the street to cross, look both ways to make sure no bikes are headed your way. Also, make sure that you are not walking in a bicycle-only lane. These lanes are usually marked with a picture of a bicycle painted on the path.

Bicycles have the right-of-way in Amsterdam

15. Mailing postcards

If you are like us, you like to send postcards to people back home when you travel. Postcards are available at souvenir shops everywhere and at some information centers. You may also be able to purchase postage at souvenir shops and information centers. Just make sure to ask for postage to the USA so they give you the proper international stamp. A stamp to the USA will cost anywhere from 1 to 2 Euro.

POST boxes are usually yellow or red

Most European cities will have POST drop boxes conveniently located throughout tourist areas. These are usually bright yellow or red, depending on the country. When you purchase your postcards and stamps, ask the clerk where the nearest POST box is and they will direct you. Some information centers will have a POST box outside. We have had very good luck mailing postcards from Europe. In fact, in 14 years, I cannot think of one instance where the postcard did not eventually make it to its destination. It can take a week to 10 days for the postcard to reach a US address.

16. Power outlets

When visiting Europe, you will most likely be traveling with several electronic gadgets. Devices such as cell phones, computers, cameras, etc., all have chargers and power plugs. Whether in an airport, hotel or local cafe, you will be able to locate power outlets for your gadgets. However, you will need plug adapters to fit the European outlets which are 220-240 volts, not 110 like the US. Nevertheless, most of your electronic gadgets will have universal power chargers that will work on anything from 110-240 volts with no problem. You will just need to have the correct plug adapter.

Almost all modern chargers will work with a range of voltaages

You should carry 2 or 3 US-to-Euro-style, 2-prong adapters (see photo below). These are very inexpensive and can be purchased at most electronic stores and airports. You do NOT need to travel with a power converter (220 to 110). However, some electronic devices such as curling irons and hair dryers may be 110-volt only. Basically, any device that heats up may not be compatible with 220-240 volts.

US-style to British (left) or Euro-style (right) plug adapters are cheap and readily available

17. Pharmacy

If you find yourself in need of a pharmacy when traveling, look for a green PLUS sign. Pharmacies may be called Farmacia in Italy, or Apotheke in German. Regardless of the name, the green PLUS sign is pretty universal throughout Europe. Unlike the USA, pain medication, such as Advil, may not be displayed on a shelf so you may have to ask one of the clerks for it. You should also ask by the generic drug name as opposed to the brand name. For example, if you need Tylenol, you would ask for Acetaminophen. Advil would be Ibuprofen, and so on. They may not have the same brands in Europe that you are accustomed to in the US, but the drug itself will be the same.

You can also purchase some pain meds in Europe in much higher doses than what are available in the USA. Every time we travel to Europe we look for 400mg Advil, double the dose of what is available here.

18. Hop-On/Hop-Off

We are huge fans of using the Hop-On/Hop-Off tour buses when visiting European cities. You can purchase tickets at most hotels, or from the drivers themselves. The HoHo is a great way to see a new city for the first time, and not a bad way to get from one interesting area to another very affordably. HoHo buses usually stop every 15 to 20 minutes, so you never have to wait long to get back on another bus. These buses operate in virtually every city in Europe and are a great value.

Some Hop On/Hop Off buses are even equipped with free Wi-Fi!

Hop On/Hop Off buses are a great value and a lot of fun, too!

19. Security and Safety

While violent crime is relatively low in Europe, pickpockets can be lurking in popular tourist destinations, but you can take measures to protect yourself. Here are a few simple suggestions:

• Carry your wallet in a front pocket, or

• Carry cash and credit cards in a money belt worn under your shirt/pants and out of sight

• Carry a photocopy of your passport and leave your original passport locked in the safe on the ship or in your hotel room

• Only carry one credit card when you are walking around town and leave others at your hotel or on the ship

• Don't wear expensive, or expensive-looking (flashy) jewelry or (including earrings) when walking around

• Leave your purse on the ship or at the hotel as an over-shoulder strap can easily be cut or ripped away

You should know that pickpockets are hard to spot. They may work in groups and while one person tries to distract you, another will come up behind and pick your pocket or take your purse.

Generally, it is best to try to NOT look like an American tourist. Americans are targets for pickpockets because they know we have all the goodies. After you travel to Europe a few times, you will learn how easy it is to spot an American in the crowd. Shorts, t-shirt, ball cap, sneakers and a camera hanging around the neck is the standard issue uniform of the American tourist. Admittedly, I do walk around Europe with my camera around my neck, but I ALWAYS keep one hand on the camera at all times.

Summary

Europe is an amazing destination filled with history, culture and friendly people. With a little planning and preparation, there is no reason why you should not feel comfortable exploring Europe, whether on a cruise or on your own.

Originally posted on: 6/1/2015

How To Get The Best Deal On Your Next Cruise

Nobody likes paying retail for anything, least of all a cruise vacation. It is safe to say that, with a few exceptions, you should rarely have to pay the rate shown in the brochure for your next cruise. There are, of course, exceptions to this rule. But, before we get into price, let's define "Best Deal" in broader terms.

It is possible that you could get the cheapest cruise and save lots of money, but end up with a lousy cabin on an old, dirty ship with terrible food. Would you consider that a "Good Deal"? I don't think so. Hopefully, what you are looking for is the best "Value". In other words, find the best cruise available within a budget that you feel comfortable with.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT CRUISE LINE

This can be a difficult task unless you are a knowledgeable cruise enthusiast. This is where a qualified travel agent can offer a lot of assistance. Some cruise lines tend to target specific demographic groups, such as senior citizens, young couples, families, adventure seekers, etc. Most of the large "mainstream" cruise lines (Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, NCL, Princess) have a very broad appeal to a larger number of passengers. In other words, there's something for everyone.

The larger mainstream cruise lines tend to sail the largest ships and, consequently, tend to offer the lowest cruise fares. It is simple economics: a ship carrying 3,000+ guests can offer a lot of services for less cost than a ship that only carries, say, 300 guests. If you are on a strict budget, you may want to stick with the major mainstream cruise lines to get the best price.

However, even within the larger cruise lines, there are subtle differences. Carnival and Royal Caribbean have excellent reputations for their Broadway-style entertainment while NCL's ships have nine or more restaurants. Celebrity tends to appeal to a slightly more mature audience with less emphasis on children's programs than Carnival, NCL or Royal Caribbean. This is where you simply have to do some research by reading cruise reviews from other consumers who have actually "been there and done that."

The larger the cruise line/ship, the lower the cost.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT STATEROOM

We have an entire article dedicated to this one subject. Your best value will be on a lower deck toward the front or aft end of the ship. The cheapest staterooms are usually at the far front or far aft section of the deck. However, you can often find a stateroom that is 1/3 of the way from the front or aft section and get close to the same rate as someone at the very front of aft. If a balcony is not an absolute necessity for you, consider an oceanview stateroom with a window. You will save a fair amount of money. You can save even more if you get an inside stateroom with no window!

The lower the cabin is on the ship, the better the price

ARE YOU TRAVELING ALONE?

If you are a single traveler, you should be aware that most cruise lines charge what is referred to as a "single supplement". Cruise lines base their rates on two people staying in each cabin. If you are going to travel by yourself, they will charge you a supplement fee. Some cruise lines will charge as much as 200%, so you are basically paying for the other person. The single supplement rates will vary from one cruise line to another, and from one sailing date to another. A good travel agent can be an invaluable resource, especially if your travel dates are flexible. If your travel dates are rigid, then ask your travel agent to compare the single supplement for three different cruise lines on the same date. One cruise line may have a slightly higher fare, but if they are offering a 125% supplement instead of a 150%, that could end up being a better deal. Some cruise lines will even waive the supplement fee altogether on some sailings.

CONSIDER A REPOSITIONING CRUISE

A "repositioning" cruise takes place when a ship is moved from one part of the world to another, generally on a seasonal basis. For example, many cruise lines will position ships in Alaska in the summer months when the days are longer. In September or October, they will move those ships back to the Caribbean. You can often find some pretty nice rates on these repositioning cruises, so make sure to ask your travel agent about them.

CHOOSING THE TIME OF YEAR

If you have some flexibility as to when you are able to travel, it can make a big difference in your cruise fare. Holidays are always more expensive. Spring break can be very expensive, also. If you are planning a Caribbean cruise, consider a September/October time frame as kids are back in school and it is hurricane season. Don't be too concerned about hurricanes. Let everyone else's fear get you a better deal.

USE A TRAVEL AGENT

The best way to insure that you are getting the best deal is to use the services of a good cruise professional. It may be tempting to go online and simply book your cruise directly with the cruise line, but you may not get the best deal by doing so. You may also think that by booking your cruise directly with the cruise line you will get a better price. However, this is not necessarily the case. Cruise lines, for the most part, will not undercut the price at which a travel agent can sell the same cruise. If they were to do so, travel agents would simply stop selling that cruise line's product.

Using a travel agent also gives you an advantage in the event that a problem may arise. The travel agent can act on your behalf as your advocate to resolve any issues. Your travel agent my do hundreds of thousands, or even millions of dollars in business each year with a cruise line, so they will have more leverage than you will on your own.

You are almost always better off using a good travel agent to book your cruise

PLAN AHEAD

Another common myth is thinking that you will get a better deal by booking a "last minute" cruise. However, cruise lines offer the best rates to customers who book a year or more ahead of time. Even if the cruise line drops their price 60 or 90 days before the sailing, most will honor the new rate on your purchase. However, the biggest benefit to booking in advance is you get a better choice of cabins. If you wait until the last minute, you are basically running the risk of getting a cabin that nobody else wanted. When you book your cruise six months or a year in advance, you are only required to put up a deposit to hold the cabin. Note: you should always put your cruise deposit on a credit card. Never pay by check or cash.

You get the best deal by booking in advance

USE YOUR CREDIT CARD BENEFITS

Some credit card companies have special offers tied to specific cruise lines. You should check with your credit card company to see what they offer in the way of shipboard credits by using their card to make your cruise purchase.

ASK ABOUT SHIPBOARD CREDIT

Cruise lines will sometimes offer $100 or $200 per person/cabin in shipboard credits on certain sailings. You should ask your travel agent about these offers. You will be amazed at how quickly you can rack up $100 to $200 in spending on a cruise. Remember, on most cruises you will be paying for your drinks (sodas, cocktails, beer & wine), any shore excursions/tours, spa treatments and gratuities. Having the shipboard credit can help to offset those expenses.

BUY TRIP INSURANCE

An important part of getting a good deal is protecting your investment. We are big believers in trip insurance and we never go on a cruise without buying a policy. We have been using 3rd party insurance for the past 7 years and have always had a good experience. We prefer the 3rd party insurance plans as opposed to the insurance offered by the cruise lines. A typical cruise line insurance policy only protects you if the cruise is canceled or in some cases, if the cruise line goes into bankruptcy. The insurance we purchase covers that plus provides protection from airline delays, lost or damaged luggage, and medical services. On one of our cruises, I required the services of the doctor on board the ship. The bill from the cruise line was $750! (yes, they do charge for medical services on the ship) When we returned home, I sent my documentation to the insurance company and received a check for the entire amount within three weeks.

There are so many cruise lines and so many new ships being built that it is easier to get a good deal on a cruise now than ever before. The value of a cruise vacation is better than it has ever been. So why wait? Call your travel agent today and book that cruise! 

Cruising For The Physically Challenged

by Vincent and Mary Finelli

After my fourth back surgery I was left with nerve damage. As a result, we have learned several lessons in traveling for the physically challenged. It is only recently, during the last five years, that we have needed wheelchair assistance. First, Mary had surgery on both knees, and then I had my fourth back surgery, which left me with nerve damage resulting in a walking impairment. Before these surgeries, we were both extremely active university faculty who traveled extensively. In the last few years we have learned several lessons in traveling for the physically challenged.

Enjoyable cruising can be done on most cruise lines with a bit of preparation and planning. First, provide your travel agent with medical proof of limitations (this can be placed on file and only done once). Second, book your cruise as early as possible since there are a limited number of wheelchair-accessible staterooms. Older ships have fewer of these special needs cabins: for example, Regal Princess, like other ships of its vintage, has only six inside and four with obstructed view (10 total), while newer and much larger ships have 20 or more, like Grand Princess with six inside, four outside with obstructed view, and 12 with balcony (22 total). This holds true for Royal Caribbean International (RCI), as well. On its Voyager Class ships, there are a total of 25 wheelchair-accessible cabins available in most categories. Thus, across the lines, there is an average of between 14 and 25 special needs cabins on each ship. These larger cabins provide special baths with safety rails, ramps to balconies and, only on RCI, automatic door openers. Among all cruise lines, we have found that Royal Caribbean and Princess cater more to cruisers with limited mobility.

Embarkation for all the lines that we have used (Carnival, Celebrity, Costa, Holland America, Norwegian, Princess and Royal Caribbean International) has been assisted. Upon request, ships will provide wheelchairs for embarkation and debarkation procedures. There may be a slight wait for the chair; however, priority boarding will be given. We bring our own companion chair, and electric scooters can be rented in ports. Recently, a passenger rented a scooter in Vancouver, Canada, for $300 per week, left it on board when he disembarked in Anchorage, Alaska, and Princess returned it to the rental company in Vancouver. Even though passenger assistance is given at embarkation, tendering and debarkation, during the cruise passengers are expected to be on their own.

While cruising, choose the appropriate dining times to avoid crowds. Speak with the Maitre D' about being seated at a table near the entrance to avoid having to thread a path between the tables. He can also assist with special dietary needs such as the following: sugar free, lactose free, vegetarian, Kosher, etc.; however, to avoid surprises, be sure to make special dietary requests at the time of booking. At the buffets, there are crewmembers who will help with both serving and carrying trays. At the theater, either arrive early for seats down front, or utilize the reserved seats at the rear. In the solariums of Princess and RCI, "Oxford Dippers" are available for lowering handicapped swimmers into the pools.

Shore excursions should be reviewed carefully since there may be some that are not appropriate for those with limited mobility. Read the brochure descriptions and avoid those excursions identified as requiring stair climbing or with an emphasis on walking. Ask at the Tour Desk about the feasibility of specific tours but, in the final analysis, each person knows his/her capabilities.

Each cruise will be unique, but depending on individual taste, one ship may be preferred over another. The cuisine, the amount of carpeting (which makes it difficult to wheel around the ship), the ship size or the proximity of wheelchair-accessible cabins to elevators, and placement of restaurants and theaters are all important to people with limited mobility. We have observed that some cruise lines, like Costa, have more marble and tile flooring in public areas making wheelchair maneuverability easier.

When booking a cruise, ask for the ship deck plans, so that the proper cabin can be reserved. Choose accommodations near the elevators and near the venues accessed daily. We have traveled from Alaska to the Caribbean; we have cruised the Mediterranean and the Baltic seas and taken our dream cruise to South America around Cape Horn, through the Magellan Strait. We believe most physically-challenged passengers will have a wonderful experience when sailing. Cruising is our preferred style of vacation, because it is user-friendly for those with limited mobility. The ship can be a destination in itself, or it can be a platform to view exotic destinations.

Other articles you may find interesting:

Cruising for seniors

10 Reasons To Sail With Silversea Cruises

A cruise with Silversea is always a special event. I was trying to express this to another cruise enthusiast recently and it caused me to reflect on why we always look forward to sailing with Silversea. Here are 10 reasons why everyone should consider sailing with Silversea.

Sunset aboard Silver Spirit

1. Refined Personal Service - From the time you step aboard a Silversea vessel you are made to feel special. The truth is, you are special. Silversea delivers the kind of service that can only come from years of rigorous training and a commitment to maintaining the highest standards. If you want to be pampered and catered to in an unobtrusive manner, Silversea delivers.

2. Comfortable Small Ships - All Silversea ships are "small" ships by comparison. With 100 to 540 guests, every Silversea ship delivers an intimate, uncrowded experience. Even the largest ship, Silver Spirit, feels much smaller than it is. And, small is good.

3. The Suites - Silversea accommodations are large and extremely comfortable. Many have large walk-in closets, separate living rooms and private balconies. The beds are outfitted with the finest linens. The bathrooms are stocked with high-quality amenities.

4. Butler Service - All Silversea guests now enjoy the services of a butler. Your butler is available to tend to your every need. From unpacking your luggage, to polishing your shoes, to making dinner reservations, your butler becomes your personal assistant, making sure you have an unforgettable experience on Silversea. 

5. Dining - Who doesn't love good food? Silversea excels in the preparation and presentation of every meal. And if you would like a special dinner, just ask your butler to arrange it with the Maitre 'd. And don't forget room service. On Silversea, your butler will deliver course-by-course meals in your suite from the evening's Restaurant menu.

6. Destinations - Silversea's itineraries are second to none. There is an emphasis on unique and exotic destinations around the world. And, because their ships are smaller, you are able to visit ports that the larger ships simply cannot get to because of their size.

7. Shore Excursions - Once you arrive at an exotic destination, Silversea's shore excursion team will make sure you have the best experience possible. Silversea uses only the best local guides, comfortable motor coaches, and complimentary bottled water is always available. Private tours can also be arranged.

8. "Never-Say-No" Attitude - I remember making a special request early one evening from the pool bartender. I asked if it were possible to have a plate of cheese and crackers delivered to the pool so we could enjoy it with our drinks before dinner. It was obvious he had never had such a request. He looked a little puzzled at first, like he was not sure how to react, then his training kicked in. He said "of course, whatever you wish." Ten minutes later, a cheese and cracker plate appeared before us.

Enjoying a drink in The Bar before dinner

9. Inclusive Value - On a Silversea cruise, your gratuities are included in your cruise fare. Cocktails, wine, beer and bottled water are also included. You never have to sign a check for a drink*. The inclusive nature of the Silversea experience makes it a great value.

10. Entertainment and Activities - Even though the ships are small, there is always something going on. Days at sea are filled with a variety of onboard activities, or you can enjoy soaking up the sun at the pool as deck servers tend to your every need. Live music and dancing are available after dinner as well as a variety of entertaining shows in the ship's theater. The ship's spa offers a retreat with a variety of massage treatments that will leave you feeling relaxed and refreshed. And, if you just enjoy retreating to your stateroom, your suite's television offers a choice of movies and other satellite programming.

I am sure I could think of a dozen more reasons to sail on Silversea, but these are the first ten to pop into my head. No wonder we are looking forward to our next Silversea cruise with anticipation and enthusiasm.

*Some premium brands and specialty wines are at additional cost.

These are some of my favorite things about Silversea. What are yours? You can enter your comments below.

Tips For First-Time Cruisers

So, you want to go on a cruise? Where to begin? There are so many choices, so many cruise lines, so many destinations. The cruise industry has exploded over the past 20 years. Cruising is growing in popularity because it is a safe and affordable way to enjoy a vacation. Of course, the main reason cruising is so popular is because it is fun! However, before you rush out and put down a deposit on that great Internet special for a 7-night cruise, here are a few things you need to know.

Tip One: Book your cruise through a cruise professional/travel agent

This one piece of advice can help a new cruiser avoid a lot of mistakes. First, it does not cost anything to use a travel agent to book your cruise. Travel agents are paid a commission by the cruise line. And, if you think that booking your cruise directly with the cruise line will save you money (because they won't have to pay the commission) you would be wrong. The commission saved by the cruise line will drop to their bottom line, not yours.

A travel agent will have first-hand knowledge of the various cruise lines, ships and destinations available. They can help you to select the right cruise to fit your lifestyle and vacation interests. Travel agents also are aware of special deals and discounts that are often not available to the general public.

Tip Two: Get a passport

Most cruises will visit ports that are outside of the USA. You will be required to show a valid passport before you are allowed to board the ship. Read the article on passports for more information. Also, don't be alarmed when the cruise line asks to hold your passport during the cruise. This is normal. Ships often arrive in port early in the morning, before the guests wake up. Customs and Immigration officials board the ship and go over all of the passports. Once the ship has been "cleared" by Customs, guests can go ashore. Your passport will be returned to you on the day you disembark the cruise.

More information on passport requirements

Tip Three: Make a photocopy of your passport

Since the ship may hold your original passport, we recommend that you carry a photocopy of your passport photo page when we leave the ship in a foreign port. Just in case of an emergency, which is extremely rare, a photocopy will help in identification purposes with a US Embassy in a foreign country.

Also, we have scanned our passports and emailed them to our Hotmail accounts so that, from anywhere in the world, we can access and print our passport photo pages. Important! You should have a very secure password on your Hotmail account before you store personal information like passports or credit card numbers.

Tip Four: Don't overpack

Most people pack far too many clothes when they go on a cruise. Remember that a cruise ship cabin is relatively small and there is not a lot of closet and/or storage space. Also, there is limited space, usually underneath the bed, where your empty luggage will have to be stowed during the cruise. Most ships have laundry facilities on board, either self-serve or for a fee by the ship's laundry personnel.

Read the article on Packing Tips.

Tip Five: Buy 3rd Party Trip Insurance

We never go on a cruise without a travel insurance policy. We always buy 3rd party travel insurance. We have been doing so for years. You should be aware that if you require medical treatment on board a cruise ship, you will be charged a fee by the ship's doctor. Medical treatment is not covered in the cost of your cruise. Also, most healthcare insurance plans do not provide coverage when you are traveling outside the USA. Check with your health insurance company to make sure. In any case, the cost of medical evacuation when in a foreign country can be outrageously expensive. I have been on cruises where passengers had to be air lifted off of the ship (via helicopter) to shore for treatment. Helicopter evacuation can cost $25,000 or more!

Example: I got very sick on one cruise in the Middle East. I had to go to the ship's doctor and get an IV and a shot. The cost was $750! Our insurance paid the entire claim, no questions asked! It was well worth the $200 I paid for the policy.

Avoid the cruise line insurance plans - Often they only protect you if your cruise is cancelled. They may not provide coverage for medical emergencies, lost luggage, missed airline connections, medical evacuation, etc.

Tip Six: Let your CC company know you are traveling

Make sure to contact your credit card company to let them know you will be traveling outside of the USA. Many CC companies allow you to do this from their website. Otherwise, they may deny charges when they see them coming from a foreign country.

Tip Seven: Carry Cash

Even though you will likely have your credit card with you, it is a good idea to carry some US dollars with you when you get off the ship. Small purchases, like souvenirs, are best made with cash. Make sure you have plenty of small bills ($1 and $5), otherwise, you might end up with an excessive amount of foreign currency. In some countries, they will accept US dollars for purchases, but give back change in the local currency. Always ask first. For any purchases over $20, use your credit card. When traveling in Europe, you can obtain Euros at the ATM.

Tip Eight: Never Use Foreign Currency Exchange Services

Use Foreign Currency Exchange services as a last resort, or in an emergency. You will get a much better exchange rate by using your credit/debit card at an ATM. Plus, most credit card banks do not charge a commission. You will find ATMs in cities that are visited by tourists. Look for a bank and there will generally be an ATM there.

Tip Nine: Expect to pay for extras

Your cruise is most likely not "all inclusive", so, be prepared to pay extra for alcoholic beverages, soft drinks and bottled water. Drink prices are usually about what you would pay at a bar on land. And, don't forget about gratuities! Many cruise lines today will automatically place a service charge on your stateroom account. This can range from $12 to $16 per day/per guest and covers all gratuities for wait staff, room steward/ess, etc. Drink purchases will usually have a 15% gratuity added on for bar staff. Most cruise lines will allow you to modify the daily service charge to your account by visiting the Reception desk. You will also have to pay extra for shore excursions, and some ships have alternate dining venues (restaurants) that impose a service charge. Of course, dining in the ship's main dining room is always complimentary and included in your cruise fare. Check with your travel agent for a complete breakdown of what is, and is not, included in your cruise fare.

Tip Ten: Beware of misleading cruise prices

Often the 'advertised' price for a cruise is not what you will end up paying. Many cruise lines will advertise the lowest cost cabin on the ship, located on the lowest deck and perhaps at the very back (aft) or front (bow) of the ship. An advertised price may also be for a specific sailing date that may not coordinate with your vacation plans. Advertised prices do not include the cost of shore excursions, drink, spa treatments, gratuities, etc. Some cruise lines may offer all-inclusive packages as a bonus for booking early or prepaying for services.

Tip Eleven: Cruise Itineraries can change

Cruise lines reserve the right to alter their planned itinerary. Weather conditions can cause a cruise line to skip a port if the Captain is concerned about safety. In some cases, this may result in an addition day 'at sea', or a visit to an alternate port. If you have pre-booked your shore excursions the cruise line will refund the fee if a port is missed. However, if you book an excursion independently, you will need to contact the provider yourself to arrange a refund.

More Helpful Resources

Here are some other articles on CruiseReport.com that you might find helpful.

Choosing the right stateroom

Family cruising (with kids)

10 Tips For Having The Perfect Cruise

Cruising for the physically challenged

Senior cruising

10 Things We STILL Wish Cruise Lines Would Do

Here are 10 things we wish cruise lines would do

ONE: Install stateroom doors that won't slam shut. There is nothing worse than being awakened at 2:00am when your neighbor comes back from their night of drinking and partying. 

TWO: Improve Internet service. I originally posted this article back in 2014, and while we are seeing some improvement in Internet/WiFi service, it is still woefully slow. Should it really take 3 minutes to send an email? Princess has the best Internet we have seen so far. Fast connections and fair pricing. Some cruise lines are now including FREE Wi-Fi, a practice that is long overdue. After all, you can get free Wi-Fi at Holiday Inn Express!

THREE: Have staff serve food at buffets. Every time I have to grab a serving spoon that 500 other people have touched, it really grosses me out. At least have some kind of disposable plastic mitts that you can wear while grabbing the spoons, then throw away at the end of the serving line

FOUR: Install lighted makeup mirrors. Every woman on Earth expects a lighted makeup mirror. Some of the high-end cruise lines (e.g. Crystal Cruises) have done this. However, even mid-level hotels have makeup mirrors in their rooms.

FIVE: Ease up on the in-room liquor policies. If guests want to consume their own liquor in their stateroom, let them! At least allow them to consume liquor that they purchase in the on board duty liquor store. Maybe add a $10 per bottle surcharge for on board consumption. We pay for that beautiful veranda, yet have to go to a bar to enjoy a cocktail

SIX: Modify Dress Code Enforcement. I am not big of formal nights. I would be OK with NO formal nights. That said, I agree with Tom (see below) that dress codes should be enforced more vigorously every night, especially in the restaurants. NO shorts, NO t-shirts, NO swimsuits, NO sandals or bare feet. The last thing I want to see when eating is someone's bare feet! Also, make it very clear what areas of the ship require adherence to the dress code on formal nights.

SEVEN: Go with digital photos instead of prints. Again, this is a throwback to the 60s. I can't tell you how many cruise ship photos I would have gladly purchased if I could have had the hi-res digital photo on a thumb drive. Better yet, post them to a website where we can check in after we get home, review the photos, and purchase/download the photos. The photography vendor would save a fortune on prints that get thrown away and they would make more sales.

EIGHT: Get rid of auto-gratuity. First of all, that's not a gratuity, it's a cover charge. It's offensive and borders on a deceptive trade practice. If you want to make it an option for guests, that's fine. How about a system where guests can choose to pre-pay, or not, before they board? Selling a cruise for one price, then tacking on additional "surprise" charges to the bill is bad business.

NINE: Back off on the PA announcements. Limit announcements to arrivals in port, sail-aways and a morning greeting from the cruise director. I don't need to be reminded of Bingo at 3pm, or first-seating dinner. I have a newsletter in my stateroom with all of the times, and many of the new ships have intranet information.

TEN: Implement a LAN based website. Most guests today have smartphones or laptops with them when they travel. Have a ship-wide website where guests can log in for free and check their bill (like some ships already do on the stateroom TVs), dispute charges on their bill, make dining reservations, check the daily schedule, view and/or order digital photos from the ship (see #7) and maybe even post their own photos. Princess Cruises, Carnival and Silversea have very nice systems.

What's on your list? Add to the comments section below!

Crusing Tips For Seniors

It was not that long ago that cruising was dominated by senior citizens. A cruise was considered a "trip of a lifetime" and could only be enjoyed by those with the money and the time to travel. A cruise passenger "back in the day" also had to be able to go on vacation "disconnected" from their world. There were no telephones, no television and certainly no Internet or email on cruise ships. In fact, the Internet did not even exist. 

Today, cruising is available to everyone, regardless of age or income. A 7-night cruise in 2010 is much less expensive than it was back in 1978 when I went on my first cruise. I remember paying $1,000 for an inside cabin with a bunk bed! The economies of scale with the huge cruise ships, combined with the availability of massive amounts of credit, have made cruising within the reach of virtually everyone. 

Even though cruising has a much broader appeal than in the "old days", it remains a very popular vacation choice for senior citizens and retirees. Seniors continue to make up a large segment of the cruising population. For one thing, there are lots of "baby boomers" that are now at retirement age. They have money to spend and the free time to travel the world. 

WHY IS CRUISING SO APPEALING TO SENIORS?

In many respects, the appeal of cruising over other forms of travel is universal. The convenience of only having to unpack once, knowing where you will be dining each evening, regardless of what country or port you visited that day, and the myriad of onboard activities and entertainment available are all enticing features. For seniors, however, the value of a cruise compared to other forms of travel is of special interest. Many seniors are on fixed incomes and there simply is no better value in travel today than a cruise.

Wayne Hagadone, President of Cruises for Seniors says, "Many of our clients are interested in the ship's enrichment activities, ranging from lecturers in culinary arts, computers, photography, to history, and archaeology." He continues, "In fact, some may not even get off the ship. For these folks, shipboard amenities such as a spa, fitness facilities, the casino, interesting enrichment courses and evening entertainment are the most important features they look for."

A RANGE OF ACTIVITIES IS IMPORTANT TO SENIORS

Cruise lines have dramatically expanded the scope and variety of shore excursions over the past several years. Unusual and interesting excursions are of particular interest to senior citizens.

As Mr. Hagadone previously mentioned, seniors have a particular interest in a ship's quality and quantity of enrichment programs. For example:

• The Queen Mary 2 offers enrichment classes and even has its own planetarium

• Holland America has partnered with Microsoft to offer a variety of computer workshop

• Silversea Cruises, Seabourn and Regent Seven Seas have excellent guest lecturers

• Most cruise lines offer wine tastings, cooking demonstrations, galley tours, etc.

"Most seniors enjoy quality entertainment whether by multiple entertainers or a floor show," says Mr. Hagadone. "We routinely recommend Royal Caribbean and Princess ships to our clients since they do a consistently good job in this area, as does the luxury cruise line, Crystal Cruises."

And, while not exactly considered an "activity", dining is an important part of any cruise. For some seniors, the quality and variety of a cruise line's restaurants is of supreme importance. Most ships now offer a variety of dining venues and are able to accommodate any dietary requirement that a senior my have.

WHAT SHOULD SENIORS CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A CRUISE?

Seniors may wish to consider limiting their choices to cruise lines that tend to cater primarily to seniors or older adults. The assistance of a good travel agent can be invaluable when making these kinds of choices. When you choose to cruise can also make a difference in the average passenger age. During Spring Break, you may find a lot of college-age "party animals" on the larger cruise ships. Cruising in the summer months will attract more families with children and also younger adults.

"Those with stamina or mobility problems should consider a cabin located near an elevator." says Hagadone. "You should also be aware of which ports require the use of the ship's tenders (smaller lifeboats used to take passengers ashore) as opposed to docking."

Cruise lines recognize the importance of seniors to their business and offer discounts accordingly. For many cruise lines, folks 55 and above can qualify for senior discounts when offered. Each cruise line has a different policy regarding discounts so you should consult with your travel agent before booking. In most cases, as long as one person occupying the stateroom is at or above the qualifying age, the discount will apply. However, senior discounts may not be offered until "close-in" to the sailing date, perhaps 4 to 7 months from sailing.

If you are traveling alone you should also be aware of the single supplement policy. Cruise lines base their fares upon two passengers per stateroom. If you are sailing by yourself, you may have to pay the extra charge. Single supplements will vary from 125% to as much as 200% of the per person cruise fare. If you are paying 200%, you might as well take a friend with you because you are basically paying for the second person anyway. Single supplements vary from one sailing to the next. If a cruise line is having trouble filling a ship on a certain date, they may waive the single supplement altogether. Again, a good travel agent can watch for these specials and alert you when they become available.

SMALL SHIPS ARE VERY POPULAR WITH SENIORS

I was on a small ship several years ago cruising the Alaska inland passage with about 60 passengers. I asked several passengers (they were all seniors) why they chose a small ship, especially because the large ships were considerably less expensive. I didn’t reveal that I was a travel agent. Their unanimous answer was that they liked the intimacy. When we arrived in port, there were the large ships with 2000 to 3000 persons waiting to get off their ship and we leisurely walked off our ship in less than five minutes. When our captain saw a pod of whales, he stopped the ship for two hours (big ships can’t do this) so that we could take pictures of the whales breeching. One well known small ship line uses two pictures about viewing a bear in their ads. The ad was contrasted 'our bear' with a very viewable image with 'their bear' with a very distant, faint image of a bear. Their slogan was up close and personal."

Wayne Hagadone
Cruises for Seniors

Small ship cruising is one of the fastest growing segments in the cruise industry. It also happens to be a segment that is of particular interest to senior citizens. More importantly perhaps, is the lack of interest that younger cruisers and families have in this type of cruise.

Small ships include:

Open-Water Small Ships

An open-water ship that may hold from 60 passengers up to a little over 200 passengers. There are cruising opportunities for this type of ship all over the world. Another type of small ship is an expedition ship which will involve more strenuous activities on the part of the passengers. Greenland, the Arctic, Antarctic, and Galapagos would be a few examples of expedition-type cruise destinations.

River Cruises

The second and fastest growing small ship category would be the river cruise. River cruises are available throughout Europe, Russia, England and Ireland along with the Nile River in Egypt. More exotic river cruise destinations also include Australia, New Guinea, Burma, India, China, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. And don't forget the good 'ole USA. There are river boats that sail here too! These ships visit small and large cities and villages where the country first developed. They also dock at night at or near the city center, giving the passengers more time to explore the village or city. Most river ships hold between 100 to 200 passengers. A less well-known type of small ship is the hotel barge, holding from 6 to 12 passengers and cruising on both rivers and canals in Western Europe, England and Ireland.

Sailing Ships

Finally, there is the sailing vessel, which is of less interest to the senior unless they have experience with sailboats, enjoy the romance of the sea and would enjoy, when allowed, helping hoist the sails. Sailing ships cruise the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and certain areas of the far East.

Small ships offer some interesting advantages over their larger counterparts. Because of their size, or lack thereof, they are able to make calls at smaller ports rarely, if ever, visited by large ships. As a result, these ports are less crowded and easier to experience at a leisurely pace. Have you every tried to have lunch in Grand Cayman when five ships are there?

Since they carry fewer guests, small ships are more intimate. As a result, guests are much more likely to form friendships with each other and with the ship's crew. The pace is usually much slower and relaxed on smaller ships and there is generally an informal atmosphere.

River cruises have a special appeal to cruise enthusiasts who may be ultra-sensitive to motion. These long, flat-bottom boats provide a near rock-solid and stable ride. And, European river cruises often dock near the center of town. This makes it very easy to step off the boat and walk into town to explore on your own if you wish.

HOW BIG SHIPS ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF SENIORS, OR DO THEY?

Surprisingly, even the largest cruise ships are relatively easy to get around. However, hallways can be very long and may pose a problem for those with a lack of stamina or mobility issues. Newer ships will offer staterooms with handicap facilities, but you need to let your travel agent know in advance that this is a requirement. Also, it is a good idea to book as early as possible so that you will have a better selection of a stateroom located close to an elevator or dining room.

"Carnival is the number one cruise vacation choice for seniors, carrying more than 1 million guests over age 55 annually," says Vance Gulliksen, Public Relations Manager for Carnival Cruise Lines. "Carnival’s larger ships – which range in size from 70,000 to 130,000 tons – enable the line to offer on-board facilities and features that appeal to different age groups, including seniors. In short, Carnival's unique on-board ambiance, outstanding value and wide range of amenities makes a “Fun Ship” cruise an attractive vacation option for seniors."

One thing is for sure, you cannot beat the value of a cruise on a larger ship. With so much capacity available now, you can routinely find excellent bargains on the larger ships year-round.

WHICH CRUISE LINES ARE BEST AT CATERING TO THE NEEDS OF SENIORS?

You will find seniors on all major cruise lines. Holland America has always had a very solid reputation as a cruise line that understands the needs of older guests. Their older ships, such as Veendam and Volendam, carry a maximum of 1,300 guests, while their newer ships are much larger. They do offer better facilities for entertainment, a culinary arts center and the Microsoft Computer Workshops. Princess Cruises is another good choice even though their ships are much larger than Holland America. Celebrity Cruises tends to appeal to adults and prides itself on its food, spa and personal attention.

When it comes to the Premium/Luxury cruise lines, there are no bad choices. Silversea Cruises offers ships that carry from as few as 300 to as many as 550. Regent Seven Seas Cruises has the distinction of having two all-balcony/all-suite ships. Seabourn also offers a variety of "yachts" that carry from 200 to 450 guests in ultra-luxury. And, Silversea, Regent and Seabourn are nearly all-inclusive with no extra charge for cocktails, champagne, soft drinks or bottled water. For a larger Premium brand with great dining and entertainment, Crystal Cruises is a popular choice, with ships carrying up to 1,000 guests. And, somewhere between Premium and Luxury is the Queen Mary 2 which is a great choice for year-round Transatlantic voyages.

We recently sailed aboard the grand American Queen steamboat from Memphis to St. Louis. American Queen sails the Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio and Tennessee rivers. The steamboat experience is unique to America and is one very well geared toward seniors. The boat has elevators and wide promenades making it easy to move about. They also offer their exclusive "Steamcoach" service in every town they visit. This hop-on/hop-off bus is complimentary and they even have a coach equipped for those with mobility issues.

Gentlemen Hosts

Holland America and Silversea Cruises still provide gentlemen hosts for many sailings. Gentlemen hosts will often dance with single ladies traveling alone and may even provide companionship during dinner in the restaurant. However ladies, don't get too attached, there are strict rules regarding how much companionship a gentlemen host can provide to any one guest.

WHAT SHOULD SENIORS LOOK FOR IN A TRAVEL AGENT?

A working Knowledge of all cruise lines is a must, including river cruises and small ships. A good travel agent will ask you lots of questions and take the time to tailor some choices to your individual needs and desires. Often, a travel agent will suggest a cruise option with either lower cost or one that better suits your interests. Your agent should inquire about any health considerations or special needs. He or she should also want to know what you liked or disliked about your previous cruise(s). A good agent will monitor your cruise price periodically in case the rates drop prior to your sail date and they will seek out special senior rates. Upon the completion of your cruise, your agent should contact you for an evaluation of your experience.

WHAT SHOULD SENIORS BE CAUTIOUS OF WHEN BOOKING A CRUISE?

Wayne Hagadone, President of Cruises for Seniors, offers these tips:

• Seniors should consider their health condition before they book their cruise and, if this is their first cruise, they shouldn’t jump immediately to a long cruise until they determine whether they like cruising. I suggest they pick a cruise that is likely to have a number of seniors on it.

• Many ships have open-seating where you might be seated with different passengers each night. This may limit the possibility of making new friends. If this is a concern, choose a ship that has fixed seating times so there is no wait and you will have the same table members throughout the cruise. Request at least a table for 6 or 8.

• Make sure the ship knows in advance if you have any special dietary requirements.

• If you have any kind of medical concerns, check with your doctor before you book the cruise.

• If you lack the stamina for long walks or have mobility problems, make sure your cabin location takes this into consideration. The same consideration applies when selecting shore excursions.

• Make sure that your passport expires no less than 6 months after the end of your cruise, and if you’re going to any exotic locales such as Africa or certain Asian countries, be aware of any visa or immunization requirements.

• Do you get seasick? If so, talk to your doctor about what you should take just in case. All of these cautions or concerns should be reviewed by your agent, preferably before you book.

And, we would add one more item to Mr. Hagadone's list:

• Always purchase trip insurance! Make sure to get a policy that includes coverage for medical conditions and emergency evacuation services. We have always used TravelGuard and have been very pleased with the service, or you can check with your travel agent. Your health insurance plan may not cover the cost of medical treatment when you are outside the USA. And, cruise ship doctors DO CHARGE for their services. I required a shot on one ship and the bill was $750! Fortunately, my TravelGuard insurance policy reimbursed me the entire amount.

Regardless of whether you choose a small ship or one of the new mega ships, there are more choices and accommodations for seniors today than ever before.

Special Thanks

We would like to extend a special "thank you" to Wayne Hagadone, President of Cruises for Seniors for contributing to this article.

Other articles that you may find interesting:

Cruising for the Physically Challenged

How To Take Better Pictures On Your Cruise

Who doesn't want to have great photo memories of their cruise vacation? Everyone today has access to photo and video technology that[end] our parents could not even dream of. It was not that long ago that good photos required an expensive, heavy, and complicated SLR camera, not to mention fumbling with rolls of 35mm film. 

Tip One: Select The Best Camera For You

Surprisingly, this is probably the least important tip to getting good pictures. Even smartphones have built-in cameras with capabilities as good as what many cameras had just a decade ago. However, because of the tiny lenses used in smartphone cameras (including iPhone, iPod, iPad and others), there are limitations. These device cameras may be good for spontaneous snapshots, but for maximum photographic creativity, a stand-alone digital camera is highly recommended. And, while a DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) or Mirrorless camera with interchangeable lenses will give you the most horsepower, even today's modestly-priced point-and-shoot digital travel cameras can produce amazing photos.

More important than the camera you use is your knowledge of your camera's features and how best to utilize them. If you are looking for a good Internet resource to compare camera reviews, check out Gordon Laing's website CameraLabs.

Tip Two: Understand Lighting

The word "photography" comes from the Greek and actually means "drawing with light." Understanding light and how it impacts the quality of your photos is probably the most important aspect of good photography. You will get your best portraits (photos of people's faces) outdoors on a cloudy day, or under a shade tree on a bright sunny day. Taking a portrait outdoors in sunny conditions will most likely cause deep shadows to be cast under the subject's eyes. If you shoot a subject looking into the sun, you may get rid of shadows, but your subject will usually be squinting from the bright light. If the sun is behind them, you may end up with nothing more than a silhouette against a bright background. You can mitigate some of the shadow effect by using a fill flash when shooting in sunny conditions. It may seem strange to use a flash when shooting a photo on a bright day, but it is the best way to have the flash fill in shadows.

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Photos in bright sunlight can cause shadows

The best times to take photos are early morning (sunrise) and late afternoon (sunset). These "magic hours" are when the sunlight is diminished somewhat and casts long and dramatic shadows. Portraits taken at this time will be much "warmer" and more pleasing.

Tip Three: Reduce Blurry Images

One of the biggest complaints people have with their photos is blurry images. The main reason for blur is camera shake caused by the slightest movement of the camera when the photo is taken. Even taking a breath while taking the photo can cause the camera to move. If you understand what causes a blurry image, you can adjust your techniques to avoid it. As is the case with many factors of good photography, blur is also a by-product of light, or the lack thereof. The less light you have available, the longer your camera must keep the shutter open to let in more light to take a picture (assuming you are using the Auto or iAuto mode). This is referred to as a 'slow shutter speed', say 1/60th of a second or lower. Your camera may automatically adjust your shutter speed to compensate for low light conditions. Therefore, the lower the light, the longer the shutter stays open and the greater the camera's sensitivity to camera shake. On a bright, sunny day, camera shake is not much of an issue. However, try taking a photo indoors without a flash and you will see that you are more likely to get a blurry image.

Tip Four: Choose The Correct Mode

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Most cameras, even pocket digital cameras, allow you to manually select from a variety of shooting "modes". Modes are usually selected using a Mode Dial on top of the camera, or from a menu on the camera's screen. These modes will adjust your camera's settings (shutter speed, ISO, aperture, etc.) based on the type of photo you are trying to shoot. For example, in Sportmode (usually identified by a running man icon), the camera will use a very fast shutter speed in order to freeze the action and will also adjust ISO and aperture to compensate. In Portrait mode, the camera may adjust the aperture in an attempt to blur the background, making the person in the photo stand out. When you put your camera into Auto or iAuto mode, the camera will try to select the appropriate mode based on what it thinks you are trying to do. If you are in a hurry, or don't have time to select a mode, the Auto or Program setting is acceptable as a fallback, but you are always better off selecting the specific mode for the type of photo you are shooting. Take some time to familiarize yourself with your camera's modes. Read the manual that came with your camera and keep it handy for reference.

Tip Five: Rule of Thirds

Imagine that your picture is divided into thirds, horizontally and vertically. The rule of thirds suggests that we align our subject with one of the points where the lines intersect. That means our subject is one third of the way “into” the picture – from either the top or bottom, and from either the left or right. In other words, prevent the subject from being in the middle of the screen.

See how the lines intersect on the subject's eye?

I use the rule of thirds when composing a photo of a single subject, such as a portrait (like above). However, if you are composing a group photo, this rule becomes less important. Applying the rule of thirds makes photos less "static" and more pleasing to the eye. Now that you are aware of this rule, you will begin to notice that even in television programming, they will often use the rule of thirds when shooting scenes

Many cameras will have an option to display a rule of thirds grid (like the one shown in the photo) in the camera's viewfinder or screen to help you frame your shots. Check your display settings for this option.

Tip Six: Use a Tripod

The best way to avoid a blurry image is to use a tripod to keep the camera steady. With a tripod on a solid surface you can even take photos in near darkness and still get good results. You can also use an object such as a table or a chair to steady the camera if a tripod is not available. Even a small beanbag or small cloth bag filled with grains of rice will work nicely. To get good photos at dinner on a cruise ship, carry a small tabletop tripod. These are cheap and very inconspicuous. And, yes, they make tabletop tripods for your iPhone!

Tip Seven: Use the Timer Function

Another tip for reducing camera shake when taking photos is to use the camera's self-timer. This is especially useful when shooting in very low light conditions, where even the subtle motion of your finger tapping the shutter-release button can cause blur. I almost always use the timer when shooting photos using my tripod. Most cameras have a timer with a 2-second and 10-second wait time before the shutter is released. The 10-second timer is good if you want to be in the picture, such as a group photo. Ten seconds will give you plenty of time to get into the group before the camera snaps the shot.

Tip Eight: Bring Extra Memory Cards

If your camera uses memory cards to store photos, you should always travel with at least three of these cards. Memory cards are very inexpensive today. I use 64 gb SDHC cards in my Panasonic Lumix and GoPro cameras. Even at maximum resolution, I can fit hundreds of photos on a single card. I travel with a laptop computer and I always dump my photos off my camera's memory card to my laptop each night, then clear the memory card for the next day's photo taking.

If you don't have a computer for transferring photos, then you need to travel with enough memory cards to hold all of the photos you will take on your vacation. Most cruise ships will sell memory cards in their photo shop, but you will pay three times the price of what you can buy these cards for at Walmart, eBay or Amazon.

Tip Nine: Bring Extra Batteries

There's nothing worse than being on an excursion and having your camera shut down because the battery is completely dead! I always carry an extra fully-charged battery when I leave the ship for an excursion. In fact, I have both an extra battery and an extra memory card. The ability to change a battery and replace a memory card on-the-fly is another advantage of a stand-alone camera for photo taking compared to a cell phone.

Tip Ten: Take LOTS of Photos

When you see something interesting, shoot several photos of it. Odds are that at least one of them will be good. This is a "brute force" method of getting good photos, but all professional photographers will take multiple shots of the same scene. Don't assume that every shot will turn out perfect. One of the biggest advantages of digital cameras is the ability to shoot an unlimited number of photos and just throw away the bad ones. Back "in the day", you could spend hundreds of dollars on film and developing just to get a handful of good pictures. I remember on my first cruise, I spent nearly $400 on developing of film! Compare that to the cost of three SD cards (about $20 each), and the SD cards can be used over and over again!

When we are on assignment for CruiseReport, we shoot hundreds of photos each day of the cruise for the blog and review. Of course, only a handful of pictures are good enough to make it to the web.

Tip Eleven: Avoid Using Your iPad

I see lots of people using iPads to take photos on vacation. I would hesitate to do that. First, the iPad is clunky and hard to hold on to. You have to hold the slippery iPad in one hand and tap the screen with the other to take a photo. If you drop it, it's toast. Use a camera to take pictures and use your iPad to store and look at the photos.

Tip Twelve: Know How To Turn Off Flash

Spend a few minutes to learn how to turn OFF your camera's flash. I am always amazed when watching a sporting event on television to see how many flashes go off in the crowd. Your camera's flash is only effective up to about 10 feet, so if you are shooting a photo of a football game from 60 yards away, the flash does nothing more than waste battery power. Also, many museums and other venues require that you turn off your camera's flash. Nothing is more annoying than when someone continues to use their flash because they simply do not know how to turn it off. If you cannot figure out how to turn off your flash, go to the ship's photo studio and ask them for help. Or, better yet, read your camera's manual.

Tip Thirteen: Don't Shoot Through Glass

I see this one all the time. People on motor coaches are trying to shoot a photo of something outside through the window of the coach. This presents a host of problems. First, odds are pretty good that the window is dirty, which will affect the quality of the photo. If there is debris or water droplets on the window, the camera's auto-focus may try to focus on the debris on the glass, which means the subject you are trying to shoot will be out of focus. The next problem is reflection. You will most likely end up with a nice picture of the camera's reflection on the glass. If you have your flash turned on when you shoot through a bus window, you will end up with a picture of a bright light being reflected off the glass.

If you DO see something you absolutely have to shoot through glass:

1. Make sure you have your flash turned off

2. Find the cleanest part of the window to shoot through

3. Press your lens right up to the glass before you shoot the picture. This will help to reduce the amount of reflection.

4. Turn off Auto Focus. Try to Manually Focus at the Infinity setting to prevent the camera from accidentally focusing on any debris or water that may be on the window.

Tip Fourteen: Use Flash to Shoot Indoors

A photo taken indoors using flash is the hardest type of photo to shoot, in my opinion. However, it is inevitable that, at some point, you will have to use your flash. The challenge is getting the right amount of light from the flash so that that your subject is not under-exposed or over-exposed. Some cameras will allow you to adjust the amount of flash the camera produces. Here again, it helps to know your camera. After you shoot a flash photo, play the image on the camera's screen to see if it is exposed properly. If it is under-exposed (too dark), move closer to your subject and try again. If it is over-exposed (too bright), move farther away and shoot another.

Tip Fifteen: Understand Resolution

"Pixels" are little blocks of color that make up digital images. A 'megapixel' refers to one million pixels. It is not uncommon for a modern camera to shoot 16 or even 20 megapixel photos. Therefore, a 5-megapixel camera will produce a photo with 5 million pixels. Most cameras will allow you to select different resolutions (modify the number of megapixels). The advantage of a higher resolution (more mexapixels) is the ability to zoom in on portions of the photo without losing quality, or, to crop the image and retain high-quality (see example below). The disadvantage of high-resolution images is that they are larger in size and take up more space on your memory card.

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Original

Cropped

At CruiseReport, we always shoot at the highest resolution because storage space is not an issue. Even at 20 megapixels, we can store hundreds of shots on a 64 gigabyte (a gigabyte is one billion bytes) memory card. And, we transfer our images to a computer each evening, then erase the memory card for use the next day. However, if you are planning to maintain all of your photos on a single memory card for an entire cruise, you may need to consider shooting at a lower resolution to conserve storage space. For most consumers, a slightly lower setting, say 8 or 9 megapixels should be more than adequate for producing a good photo.

Tip Sixteen: Keep Your Lens Clean

You should always carry a microfiber lens cleaning cloth in your pocket when you are are out shooting photos. A fingerprint or smudge on the lens can ruin an otherwise great photo or video. This is especially true with smartphone cameras. If you are using the front selfie cam, don’t forget to clean the little lens at the top of the cell phone screen.

BONUS TIP: Keep Your Subject Close

This tip applies a scenario where you want to shoot a photo of a person next to a monument or other large point of interest. We see people all the time shooting photos from a distance of 100 feet or more, trying to get the monument and the person in the same photo. The problem with this approach is, you can see the monument or point of interest, but the person is so tiny that you can't even tell who it is. Below is a photo of Rickee in front of a large mural in Vienne, France. In the first photo, she is so far away that it is hard to recognize her.

Subject too far from camera

A better technique is to put your subject in the foreground, with the point-of-interest (in this case, the mural) in the background (see photo below). This will prevent your subject from getting lost.

Keep your subject close to the camera and use monument as a background

Imagine that you are trying to get a photo of someone in the same shot as the Eiffel Tower. You will have to be several hundred feet from the Eiffel Tower to get the whole structure in the photo. Using the first method, your subject would be so tiny that you would not even see them in the photo. By placing your subject in the foreground, you can have the Eiffel Tower over their shoulder in the background.

The challenge you have when shooting a photo using this technique is keeping the foreground (subject) and background (monument) in focus. You will want maximum depth-of-field for this type of photo so, a smaller aperture (f/16 or smaller) should do the trick. If you have SCN presents on a DSLR or pocket digital camera, trying using the Landscape setting.

If you have any comments, or any photography tips of your own, please share them using the comments area below.

Originally posted on: 4/16/2015

A Day In The Life Of A Cruise Journalist

As cruise journalists, we cover up to ten cruise ships every year, seeing the world and making lots of new friends along the way. Invariably, whenever others learn that our business is reviewing cruise lines, they are amazed and often envious. But, of course, they are viewing what we do through the eyes of a cruise traveler, not a cruise journalist. To an outsider, our life seems to be a series of champagne toasts (like the one to the right). And, after all, who wouldn't want to cruise for a living? Right? Believe it or not, running a travel blog and website is a lot more work than you might think.

A typical media assignment can last anywhere from seven to fifteen days, depending on the destination and the size of the ship we are covering. Longer cruises give us more time to accurately cover a ship and crew. Often, journalists or bloggers will write reviews of cruise ships based on a two-day "preview" cruise of a new ship with mostly media and travel agents on board. We have learned over the years that there is no way we can accurately cover a cruise ship, not even a small ship, in only two days.

Our coverage is also unique in that Rickee and I are both journalists. We feel that having a male and female perspective adds value to the end product.

Many of you have emailed us over the years asking, "What is it like to be a cruise journalist?" In response, I have put together a typical "day in the life" to satisfy any curiosity. Please remember, this is a typical day for us and may not be typical of all cruise journalists/bloggers.

5:00am - Wake up, look for a place to have coffee and access to WiFi

My days begin very early as I am typically up by 5:00am. On larger ships, there is usually a 24-hour coffee/hot water/tea station in the Lido buffet. But, not always. I try to find an "early-riser" area where I can at least get hot water. I always travel with my own coffee and French press, so all I really need is hot water. On Silversea, I am able to call room service and have a pot of hot water delivered to Panorama Lounge, where I like to work. On Viking Cruises' ships, 24-hour coffee/tea/hot water is available.

Rickee likes to sleep past 5am, so the early mornings are all mine. I travel with my MacBook Pro and use it to update our blog and social media.

Blogging from the Explorers' Cafe on Viking Sea at 6:00am (check out my red French press)

5:30am to 7:00am - Photo editing and preparation

It takes about an hour-and-a-half to go through the 200+ photos we shoot each day. We have three cameras that we use to capture images of the ship, the crew, the entertainment, destination shots (when in port). For every 100 photos shot, we get about four that we feel are good enough to use in our daily cruise blog. The photos have to be cropped, re-sized, adjusted for exposure and color, etc., then exported for use in the blog.

This captivating photo of Brian singing to a Viking Sea guest was taken from the original photo below

This photo came from the much larger original photo below. The image was cropped to "zoom in" on Brian. Color and light levels had to be adjusted and I blurred Justin's jacket in the background. Making the adjustments to a photo like this can take 10 to 15 minutes to get the desired look.

Brian Rodriquez

The photo below of Alexis is another example of how much editing it can take to get a photo to look the way we want for our blog. Stage lighting can cause some really ugly colors in photographs. And, to increase the drama of the photo, I like to focus on the performer with as little in the background as possible. On the photo below, I did some cropping, cloned out some of the background images (sorry, Katrina!) to put Alexis alone against a black background. I worked on this photo for 15 minutes to get it the way I wanted it.

Original unedited photo

Notice in the photo below how Alexis' skin looks more flesh-toned and less "blue" than in the photo above. I was unable to get a perfect flesh tone with tools I travel with, and my skill level. But, it is an improvement over the original, and much more like what the human eye actually sees.

Alexis Semevolos

The last example shows Alexandra and Katrina singing a duet. First, I had to select what I felt was the best photo from the selection below:

Once I had selected the photo, I wanted to remove as much distraction from the background as possible to focus on the performers. I used some cloning tools to do that, then adjusted the lighting and color to enhance the ladies' appearance.

Original photo

With some cropping, cloning and color correction, I was able to get the photo below.

Alexandra Schwartz and Katrina Colletti

7:00am to 8:30am - Write the blog

Now it is time to summarize the previous day's activities. This requires access to the ship's WiFi. If we are in port, we may be able to use a portable WiFi hotspot that we take with us when we travel to get better connection performance. As you may be aware, the ship's WiFi can be incredibly slow and unreliable at times. The process of writing and posting the daily blog can easily take 1.5 to 2 hours per day.

8:30am to 9:30am - Proofread and Edit

Before we can post the blog, Rickee has to proofread my writing. She is wonderful at spelling and grammar, not two of my strengths. She goes over every word and sentence with a fine-toothed comb before she will allow me to release anything to the world.

Rickee adds her thoughts and proofreads the blog in the Arts Cafe on Silversea Silver Muse

9:30am to 10:30am - Social Media

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Next, it's time to update all of our social media accounts. We usually post photos from the previous day and include links to our blog post. We update Twitter, Facebook and Instagramwhen the ship's WiFi will allow it. We use social media to quickly communicate with our followers and to provide links to our daily blog entries and cruise reviews.

If we have an early morning shore excursion planned, the social media stuff may not get done until the afternoon.

9:30am till Noon - Morning Activities

Now it is time to begin gathering content for the next day's blog entry. We may go on a shore excursion, or, go ashore on our own. On sea days we may take in a lecture or a cooking demo. All the while, we are always shooting photos, video and taking notes. Everything we do during the day is with the blog in mind. We try to experience the cruise from a typical guest perspective, except that we have to document everything. Rickee takes copious notes while I shoot most of the photos and video. However, Rickee has her own camera to shoot photos, too.

Rickee gets some of her own shots in Barcelona

Noon to 1:00pm - Lunch

On most days, we skip breakfast. However, we always have lunch together. We are mindful to try to have lunch in as many venues as possible so that we can write about them in our blog, and in our final review. As you might imagine, we always have our cameras with us to shoot interesting photos of food, a helpful wait person, or the restaurant.

Rickee takes notes about lunch on Crystal Serenity

1:00pm until 5:30 pm - Afternoon Activities

What we do depends on what is going on around the ship. If we are in port, we may do more exploring and photo shooting shoreside. If we are anchored, and tendering, I always try to get a seat in the tender where I can get some decent shots of the exterior of the ship. This is one of the most difficult tasks. Occasionally, a cruise line will arrange for a tender to take me around the ship so I can get good photos, but that usually is only an option on smaller vessels. Getting a good photo of the ship is dependent on weather conditions, sea conditions and the time of day (to get the correct lighting). It is not as easy as you might think, and nearly impossible on a tender full of other guests.

Dolce Vita Lounge on Silversea Silver Muse

Shots like the one above can usually only be taken when everyone is either off the ship, or in bed asleep. The best interior photos are actually taken late at night or early in the morning to prevent harsh backlight coming through the windows.

5:30pm to 6:30pm - Cocktails!

This is really the only time of the day that we try to have to ourselves and are not too concerned about photos, video and note taking. We will find a lounge that we like and enjoy our favorite drink. I typically will have a Crown Royal, neat, and Rickee a glass of champagne. If there are tapas available, we often will have those as our evening meal and skip dinner altogether. However, we have to have dinner at least once in every venue (if possible) so that we can write about it. Even at cocktail hour, we have our cameras at the ready in case there is something interesting to capture.

I wanted to show the hors d'oeuvres served at Cocktail Hour on Silversea Silver Muse

6:30pm to 8:00pm - Dinner

On longer cruises, we will skip dinner some evenings. However, we feel we have to cover every dining venue at least once so that we can write about the experience. This can be difficult to do on large ships that now have several restaurants, especially if we only have seven nights on board. This is also one of the reasons we shy away from 2-night media cruises that cruise lines offer when a new ship is launched. There is no way we can give an honest, in-depth analysis of a modern cruise ship after only two days.

By now, you probably would expect that we have a camera with us at dinner. I often get looks from fellow cruise diners when they see me re-positioning my dish so I can get a good photo. Food is another subject that is very difficult to photograph, especially in a dark, romantically-lit dining room. The contrast between a bright white plate and dark food is a challenge for any photographer. We have special lenses we can use for low-light situations but, even so, sometimes I have to use a small tabletop tripod to get the shot I want. This can involve carrying a fair amount of gear into the dining room.

And of course, we have to go through the same editing process for food photos. I shot the photo below from a plate of sushi at World Cafe on Viking Sea.

After some work, I ended up with a much more "palatable" photo below:

8:00pm until 11:00pm - Entertainment

If there is a production show, we will try to get a good seat close to the front. Why? You guessed it. PHOTOS! Again, we may have to use a special lens to get a good shot of the performance. We will often shoot 100+ photos of a show just to get one good one that we can use. Again, low-light and fast motion (like a dance routine) make for difficult photography.

As you can see in the photo below, Petr moves too fast for my camera/lens to capture the motion without a blur. I throw away hundreds of photos like this every week.

11:00pm to Midnight - Photo/Video dump

Back in our stateroom, I copy all photos from our cameras to my laptop so that they will be ready for editing the following morning. I have to make sure all of the batteries are in the chargers overnight and that all of the memory cards have been re-formatted for the next day's use.

Midnight - Sleep

The day is over and it is time to get some sleep before getting up in five hours and starting all over again!

When The Cruise Ends, The Real Work Begins

As soon as we disembark the cruise, we begin work on our final review of the ship, crew and destination. Our reviews have a reputation of being the most comprehensive in the industry. In a world where most journalists limit themselves to 140 characters, we still deliver to our followers an in-depth, thorough review of every aspect of the ship. CruiseReport.com editorial reviews continue to enjoy strong readership years after they are initially published.

In addition to our cruise review, we often will edit a short video of the cruise for our YouTube channel. I also write and maintain all of the proprietary code that runs our website and blog. Yes, it is a lot of work, but it has been a very rewarding endeavor. We have made a lot of new friends all around the world and had the opportunity to visit places we never dreamed we would visit.

Can You Trust Cruise Reviews?

Chris Dikmen

Tasteless food is much more easily swallowed by adding a pinch of salt. Hence the saying "take it with a grain of salt." The same could be said for reading what others have to say about a cruise ship, cruise line, or destination. With the advent of the Internet, EVERYONE now has an OPINION and the ability to share it with the world. Pre-Internet, consumers relied on "professional" reviewers and journalists who would review products and services in newspapers and magazines. You would think that the flood of available information would make the decision process easier. Actually, it may have the opposite effect. Now consumers feel compelled to digest a mountain of information before making any purchasing decision.

Consumer-Written Reviews Can Be Helpful…

Consumers have more information at their fingertips than every before. Cruise review websites, like CruiseReport are a great resource for information and have become part of the cruise shopping process. Cruise Lines are motivated to provide better customer service and value to prevent negative reviews from appearing on websites. Overall, the existence of consumer and professional reviews helps to improve the quality of the cruise industry.

Many websites, CruiseReport included, offer you the ability to read what non-professional, everyday consumers have to say about a cruise line/ship. Then there are the ubiquitous comments that can be found on social networks, blogs and forum websites. While this information serves a valuable purpose, there are a few things you should always keep in mind.

Negative comments are more common than positive ones.

People, in general, are simply more motivated to complain than to praise. Part of the reason is that people expect a good experience when they make a purchase, so many do not feel there is any reason to take the time to write about it, after all, that is what they paid for. However, when someone has a bad experience, they are often motivated to get revenge on the cruise line or tour company by putting out a bad review.

Consider the credibility of the reviewer

If the reviewer has nothing good to say about the cruise line/ship/tour operator, it always makes me question their objectivity. After having sailed on more than 120 cruises, I have never been on a ship where I could not find something to praise. Years ago, we had a pretty bad experience on Delta Queen Steamboat (on a boat that no longer exists). It was so bad, we actually jumped ship, got off early, rented a car and drove home. Now that's bad! Our complaint had to do with the accommodations to which we were assigned. The stateroom was so noisy, we were unable to get any sleep for three nights in a row. Fortunately, it was a river cruise in the USA and we had the option of getting off and driving back to Dallas. Nevertheless, the food, entertainment and lectures on board the ship were all excellent. Also, our experience with the accommodations was not the same as everyone else on the boat, we just got stuck with in a cabin in a very bad location.

Some consumer reviews are unfair and unreasonable

We receive approximately 25 reviews per week at CruiseReport.com and we read each and every one before they are put online. If we consider a review to be grossly unfair, we simply do not put it out for public consumption. Some "reviews" are nothing more than a copy of a complaint letter to the cruise line. Sadly, this applies to about 90% of the reviews we receive.


Look for other supporting reviews

If you read a negative review about a cruise line/ship, take the time to look for other consumers who have written similar experiences about the same subject before letting a negative comment sway your decision. If you can find three or more consumers with similar complaints, then a problem may actually exist. If one person hated the cruise and every other review you read praises the ship/line, then you might want to ignore the negative comment.

Read responses to the review

On CruiseReport we allow people to comment on each review submitted. So, if someone disagrees with the reviewer's point of view, they can make their thoughts known. Review comments are shown at the bottom of each review page. Cruise lines also have the option of commenting on reviews.

Post questions about a ship or cruise line to social networks

There are many forums and social networks targeted at cruise enthusiasts. CruiseReport has a Facebook page where you can post your questions or comments. Most cruise lines also have their own Facebook and Twitter accounts where you can interact with the cruise line directly. Or, email us your question about a cruise line and we will try to offer as much information as possible, based on our personal experience.

Look for "Featured" reviews

On CruiseReport.com, we identify consumer reviews that we feel are exceptionally well written with a Featured badge next to the review title. To see a list of all current Featured reviews, click here.

Professional (Editorial) Reviews

In addition to consumer reviews, there are the professional/editorial reviews that you can find on many websites, in newspapers and in magazines. On CruiseReport, we feature our latest editorial reviews on our home page, and on the Editorial Reviews page. You can also identify our professional/editorial reviews by the Editorial badge next to the review title.

Professional reviews are typically written by travel journalists. Some travel journalists are freelancers who earn a living by selling their articles to magazines, newspapers and other journals. Some may work full-time for a particular publication or website. At CruiseReport, the majority of our editorials are written by myself and my girlfriend/business partner, Rickee Richardson. Admittedly, we are not professional journalists by education. My background is in Internet technology and Rickee's is in airline management. Nevertheless, we are extreme cruise enthusiasts with a passion for the industry and are basically self-taught when it comes to our journalistic skills.

We also feature reviews from freelance journalists like John and Sandra Nowlan. John and Sandra typically write for newspapers and magazines and they often use CruiseReport.com as a platform for their online reviews.

Even Professional Reviews Require "a grain of salt"

Just because a cruise review is written by a  "professional" journalist does not mean everything in that review is iron-clad. As a consumer, you should still remain skeptical. Most travel journalists are invited to cruise inaugurals and ceremonies so that they will write about the new ships. These media events are paid for by the cruise lines and are designed to promote the ship and cruise line. Often, journalists are wined and dined by the cruise line during a media event. There is nothing wrong with that, but you should be aware that a 2-day inaugural sailing of a ship full of journalists and travel agents is not going to result in a fair and thorough evaluation of the ship and crew. It is simply impossible to accurately depict a real-life cruise experience on a 2-day sailing with industry professionals designed to gain "good press".

When journalists travel on a week-long or longer sailing, it is common for the cruise line to provide the journalist with complimentary cruise accommodations. Some cruise lines even provide air transportation and other complimentary items during the cruise. Again, there is nothing wrong with this, but it is something you should, as a consumer, be aware of. It would be impossible for a travel journalist to pay for all of the cruises they take and still earn a living. However, when a cruise is complimentary, a journalist may be less likely include negative comments in their review of a ship. And, with printed media, there is always the concern about potential advertising dollars spent by the cruise line being put in jeopardy by releasing a less-than-glowing review. Let's face it, cruise lines want good press when they send a journalist on a cruise.

Just as you should always be skeptical of a consumer-written review that is completely negative, you should be equally skeptical of a professional review that is nothing but positive and glowing.

At CruiseReport, we have a policy of being fair and balanced (to borrow a phrase from a popular news network). When preparing our articles, we try to focus on the positive aspects of the cruise. However, if we experience a problem that we feel should be mentioned, even if it is "negative", we will include it in the review. However, before we include any criticism, we first analyze whether or not it is potentially a one-time occurrence, which can happen with any product. We also analyze the cruise line's ability to deal with a problem or complaint. When the staff deal with a complaint effectively, it says a lot about the cruise line and actually becomes a positive thing to mention in the review.

There is no question that our review policies have prevented us from being invited on some cruise lines. I can only assume that these cruise lines expect nothing but glowing advertorials of their product. Unquestionably, there is no shortage of "journalists" who will say nothing but glowing, positive things about their product. Cruise lines that are featured on CruiseReport are confident in their product and are willing to undergo the scrutiny that we insist upon. We always allow the cruise line to preview a draft of our reviews and give them the opportunity to respond. If they do respond, we always include their response in the review. That's only fair.

No Single Review Is Perfect

When you read a review you are only getting one person's perspective of a small slice of time on that ship or destination. You might get a completely different analysis from another guest on the exact same cruise or visiting the exact same port-of-call. Also, the same person may have a completely different experience sailing on the exact same ship/destination 3 months later. A review is nothing more than a snapshot in time. Cruise ships are very dynamic. They change their itineraries, the guest mix can change dramatically from one sailing to the next, and crew members come and go throughout the year. Even the weather and sea conditions can impact a guest's impressions. All of these factors can determine the experience you might have on a particular ship. This is why it is so important to read more than one or two reviews of a ship/cruise line. As you do more research, a pattern will develop. If there truly is a serious problems with a cruise line or ship, it will show up in multiple reviews by different people.

So Who Can You Believe?

At the end of the day, you have to follow your gut. You should never trust any one person, website or publication to drive your decision. As a consumer today, you will simply have to do your research. And, don't forget to rely on the advice of your travel professional, after all, they have a vested interest in your satisfaction. The good news is that the plethora of information available puts you in a much better position to make a good decision. Always keep in mind that, regardless of what one person may have to say about a cruise line/ship, there will someone else with a completely different view.

Just remember to take everything you read with a grain of salt.

10 Tips For Having The Perfect Cruise

A cruise vacation can be a significant investment, so it only makes sense that you want your cruise to be "perfect"[end]. After all, how many vacations do you actually get to enjoy in your lifetime? Here are some tips on how to increase your odds of enjoying The Perfect Cruise.

1. Manage Your Expectations - People often have unreasonable expectations when they book a cruise. A lot of this can be avoided by following the 10 steps I outline herein. If you have done your research and know what to expect, you should have an amazing vacation experience, regardless of the cruise you book.

2. Do Your Research - We read hundreds of consumer reviews on CruiseReport.com, and about 40% of them are nothing more than complaints. However, in most cases, the complaints stem from them not doing their homework. They basically booked the wrong cruise for them. There are a lot of different cruise lines and each one has a target demographic. For example, if you are traveling as a family with small children, you will probably be better served with a cruise aboard Disney, Royal Caribbean, Carnival, or NCL. If you book a cruise aboard a small riverboat, you might regret it. On the other hand, if you are traveling as a mature couple, you might be more comfortable aboard a smaller ship, or one that caters to adults and couples. This is where you can really use the Internet and websites like CruiseReport.com to research cruise lines, ships and destinations before making a purchase decision.

3. Buy Trip Insurance - Nothing will mess up a vacation like an unforeseen emergency. There are dozens of things that can cause you to cancel your cruise and you are only protected from financial loss if you have a good 3rd party policy from a company such as TravelSafe.com. We NEVER take a cruise without first purchasing an insurance policy. And, don't forget, if you are outside the US, your health insurance may not reimburse you for any medical expenses. A 3rd party insurance policy will.

4. Use A Reputable Travel Agent - A lot of cruise lines will sell you a cruise directly. Be advised, you are not going to save any money by booking through a cruise line's website or 800 number, Often, a good travel agent can even get you a better deal than some sales rep working for the cruise line. A travel agent has a vested interest in your satisfaction and, because they may sell dozens of cruises a year for a particular cruise line, they have leverage that you don't have. A good travel agent can intervene on your behalf in case a problem arises.

5. Take Lots of Pictures - Thanks to digital cameras, there is no excuse for not taking as many photos as possible. Take extra memory cards so you have plenty of storage for lots of pictures. Most cruise ships sell memory cards, but you will pay more on a ship than you will at home.

6. Budget for Extras - Most cruise lines will charge you extra for beverages, shore excursions, dining in specialty restaurants, etc. And don't forget gratuities; you can expect from $12 to $20 per day/per person depending on the cruise line. Some cruise lines offer drink packages, which can be a good value. If you budget for these extras ahead of time, you won't suffer "sticker shock" when you get your final bill at the end of the cruise.

7. Leave your cell phone at home - If you truly want to get the most from your vacation, leave the cell phone at home. The world will go on without you for a week or two. If you have to communicate, use the ship's Internet cafe and send an email. Use your vacation as a test to see if you can break the smart phone addiction, at least temporarily. If you have your cell phone with you, it's not a vacation!

8. Don't Overindulge - The best rule of thumb is to pace yourself. Every cruise offers obscene amounts of food, and it is all included in the cruise fare. There is no rule that says you have to gain 10 pounds on a cruise. Some people embark the ship as passengers and disembark as cargo (I know, it's an overused cruise joke). There's nothing worse than getting home from a cruise and feeling miserable when you step on the scales.

9. Make New Friends - A cruise is the best time to open up and make new friends. Everyone is on a cruise to have a good time, so there is no pretense. Have dinner at a table for 6 or 8 and you will be amazed how fast you make new friends.

10. Be Prepared - Odds are pretty good that everything will go as planned. However, problems do occur. Airlines can delay or cancel a flight, your luggage could get lost, or, you could end up in a foreign country without your passport! Yikes! You can prepare for these rare problems with an online email account through Gmail, Hotmail, etc. Take a hi-res color photo of your passport and email it to your online email account. Do the same for your luggage. If the airline loses your luggage, you can pull up your photo online and show them exactly what your luggage looks like. If you are in a foreign country without a passport, you can pull up your online email account from any computer on the Internet and print out a copy of your passport(s), take these to the nearest US Consulate or Embassy and it will greatly expedite the issue of a new passport. IMPORTANT! Before using an email account to store sensitive documents, you should have a very secure password on your account.

BONUS TIP! Share Your Experiences - After you return home from your cruise, submit a review of your experience to CruiseReport. Your experiences can help others to make a better cruise decision!

My 10 Favorite Cruise Ports

Over the past 12 years we have visited more than 150 different ports-of-call. Here are my 10 favorite port cities:

Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas - This is my favorite Caribbean port. Other than being overcrowded when the big ships are in port, this is still the best spot for stocking up on cheap duty-free liquor and is home to our favorite jewelry store, Ballerina Jewelers.

New York City, USA - Perhaps the best city in which to embark or disembark. New York is always worth an extra stay of 2 or 3 days before boarding a ship. There is so much to see and do here, it is amazing.

Rome, Italy - You have to visit the Colosseum and the Spanish Steps, but the Pantheon is my favorite. This is a great city to just walk around and enjoy the pizza and gelato.

Kusadasi, Turkey - Nothing compares to Ephesus!

Venice, Italy - Definitely the most romantic and intriguing city in the world.

Dubrovnik, Croatia - Another great port city to just get off the ship and walk around on your own. Make sure to walk around the city wall.

Dubai, UAE - This is another city that is worthy of a 3 or 4-day extra stay. Amazing hotels and restaurants, great shopping and make sure to do the Dunes Safari.

Cape Town, South Africa - Drive 30 miles outside of Cape Town to their wine country and you will experience some of the most beautiful mountain scenes anywhere.

Sydney, Australia - Take the train to the Blue Mountains, do a backstage tour of the Sydney Opera House, or just spend a day on the Sydney Explorer bus. If you embark or disembark here, spend at least 4 extra days.

Beijing, China - Although not a port city, every cruise that docks within two hours of Beijing will offer tours. The Great Wall is a must see, the Olympic village and Forbidden City. If you stay overnight, you can enjoy the best Chinese food in the world at The Peninsula hotel.

OK, these are some of my favorites, what are some of yours? (use the Comments area below)

10 Tips On Cruise Etiquette

After more than 125 cruises, we have come across just about every type of rude and inconsiderate behavior you can imagine. Unquestionably, some of you reading this may be offended. If so, I apologize in advance. I realize that when you are on a cruise, it is your vacation. But, it is everyone else's vacation, too. Sometimes it is easy to forget the latter. Of course, the odds are pretty good that if you are an offender, you are most likely unaware of it.

For the most part, "cruisers" are very considerate folks. Most people you encounter on a cruise are in a good mood, they are relaxed, and everyone is having a good time. That is exactly what cruising is all about. In fact, a cruise ship is probably one of the happiest places you could be. No doubt, this is part of the appeal of cruise travel. If everyone will follow a few simple guidelines (as outlined below), everyone can have a great vacation experience.

Guideline 1: Don't save pool lounge chairs

This is a common problem on large cruise ships, especially in the Caribbean and Mediterranean. Imagine that you are looking forward to a day in the sun. You get to the pool early to get in some of those morning rays, and voila, all of the lounge chairs are "taken", yet there are very few people in sight. Some guests head to the pool early in the morning, before breakfast, pick out the best lounge chair, plop down their towel, a book or flip-flops onto the lounger, then head to breakfast. Not only is this rude, it is prohibited on many cruise ships. On some ships, pool attendants may pick up your stuff and clear the lounge chair for another guest. If you need to use the restroom, or are only going to be gone from your lounge chair for a brief period, let someone nearby know (or inform one of the pool attendants/waiters).

Guideline 2: Be on time for dinner

This guideline only applies if you are dining in a "traditional" assigned seating/dining time. Let's say you are seated at a table for eight and everyone shows up at 7:30 pm, right on time, all except for one couple. With only six people at the table, the waiter is going to wait until everyone is seated to take orders. You and the other two couples who showed up on time are a little peeved with the couple who drags in 15 minutes late. There are times when you or someone at your table may choose to dine elsewhere on the ship. If so, it is a good practice to let someone at your table know the day before that you will not be at dinner the next evening. If this is not possible, then you should at least call the Maitre'd before dinner to inform him that you will not be at dinner.

Guideline 3: Slamming doors

For all their engineering magnificence, one area that cruise ship designers tend to overlook is the noise generated from the cabin door when it slams shut. Because of the close proximity of cruise ship cabins, a stateroom door that slams shut can resonate through the walls and wake you from the deepest sleep. Some cruise lines are attempting to address this problem. On a recent Seabourn cruise, we noticed a small sheet included in our room key holder instructing guests on how to properly close a stateroom door quietly. That's a good first step.

The problem of slamming cabin doors is magnified on the larger, mass-market cruise ships where you see more "first-time" cruisers and larger groups of people who don't get back to their staterooms until after midnight. Balcony, or veranda, staterooms introduce an even greater occurrence of slamming doors. In addition to the potential for the heavy balcony door to slam shut, the "venturi effect" of the air coming from the ship's HVAC system combined with the outside air from an open balcony door can cause the stateroom door to slam with such force that anyone standing in its way could actually be injured.

It is important that we all be conscious of the fact that other people may go to bed early, or be sleeping late. When closing your stateroom door, hold the handle in the open position and pull the door fully closed before releasing the handle. Then, gently pull the door toward you until you feel the latch mechanism engage.

Guideline 4: Noise in hallway

This is somewhat related to #3 in that it involves respecting the privacy and comfort of other guests resting in their cabins. I cannot count the times that we have been awakened by a group of people standing outside our cabin carrying on a conversation at full volume. Cruise ship walls are not as insulated as those in a hotel and sound can carry through them easily. It is impolite to stand in a hallway late at night (after 9:30 pm) or early in the morning (before 8am) and carry on a conversation. If you absolutely must speak in the hallway, at least lower your volume and be considerate of people sleeping or resting in their cabin. Also, if you are traveling with children, please keep them from running up and down the halls.

Guideline 5: Smoking

Cruise lines have rules and regulations regarding where smoking is allowed on the ship. This is both a comfort and a safety issue. Fire is the biggest threat to a cruise ship. New cruise ships are equipped with highly sophisticated fire detection and suppression systems. However, the best measure is to avoid a fire altogether. If you smoke, familiarize yourself with the smoking guidelines of the ship you are on. Your travel agent should be able to get smoking policies for the cruise line before you book your cruise.

• Only smoke in designated areas of the ship where smoking is allowed

• Never throw a cigarette butt overboard! The wind can easily blow a lit butt back into the ship on a lower deck and cause a fire.

• Utilize the smoking lounge or cigar lounge

• Do not smoke in your stateroom unless it is specifically allowed by the cruise line

Guideline 6: Moving Pool Deck Chairs At Night

So, it is midnight, after the show, and you and some friends decide to head up to the pool deck for star gazing. You and your group grab a few pool chairs and drag them across the teak wood deck to position them for your evening of relaxation under the full moon. What you may not realize is that someone's cabin is located underneath that deck and the sound of chairs and tables scraping across the deck is amplified.

Guideline 7: Talking on cell phones

A cruise used to be a vacation from television, radio, the news and telephones. Those days are over, apparently. People have become so addicted to Blackberrys, iPhones and cell phones in general, that many cruise lines are now making it possible for you to use your cell phone on board. This is a huge step backward in my opinion. The general population has never been educated on how to use cell phones without infringing on the privacy of others. We have all been in restaurants where someone at a table nearby is carrying on a conversation at full volume where everyone in the place can hear it. If that is annoying in a restaurant, imagine how annoying it is when you are sitting on your balcony of your $300 a night cruise suite trying to enjoy the sound of the ocean only to be interrupted by someone on their balcony screaming into a cell phone.

Guideline 8: Don't complain to fellow passengers

If a situation arises during your cruise that is not to your satisfaction, start by trying to resolve the situation with the front desk or customer service desk. It is impolite to complain to fellow passengers, making everyone you come in contact with aware of your problem. Why ruin their vacation? If you go through the proper channels with your complaint, most cruise lines will go out of their way to satisfy your requests. (Thanks to Dick for posting a comment on this below).

Guideline 9: Control your kids

You may be oblivious to the ear-shattering screams of your children, but the rest of us are not. A cruise is the perfect "teachable moment" to teach your children acceptable behavior in public.

• Don't allow your children to run up and down the halls.

• Save the screaming and yelling for the pool.

• Don't let your kids pick up food items on the buffet, then put them back.

Guideline 10: Follow the dress code

Cruise lines have dress codes for a reason, and many are reluctant to strictly enforce them because they do not want to make a paying customer angry. I had a situation on Silversea Cruises a few years ago where I was sitting in The Bar with Rickee enjoying a cocktail after an afternoon lecture. We arrived at around 5:15pm. I had on dress slacks and a collared shirt, but no jacket. After 6pm, one of the waiters came to the table and kindly reminded me that a jacket was required after 6pm. At first, I was a little taken back, but then I immediately realized, he was right to do that. I thanked him for reminding me and I went to our suite to put on a jacket. Part of what people are paying for is atmosphere. And, if other guests are following the rules, it is not fair for other to ignore them.

• NEVER wear shorts, swimsuits or t-shirts on a ship after 6pm*

• NEVER go barefoot anywhere inside the ship, anytime of day

• Always wear a coverup (if you are wearing a swimsuit) in restaurants during the day, even the Lido buffet

*Some ships have a casual dress code, Always refer to your ship's dress code and follow accordingly.

By following a few simple guidelines we can all have a much more enjoyable cruise vacation experience!

Cruise Gadgets

Most cruise enthusiasts today are blessed (or cursed) with a myriad of electronic devices that accompany them when they travel. These devices should make your vacation more enjoyable. And, if they don't, my advice is leave them at home! I remember my first cruise back in 1978 when all I took with me was a 35mm camera. There were no cell phones, iPhones, digital cameras, etc. There were video cameras but they were the size of a small toaster oven. Traveling was much simpler then. In fact, life was much simpler then.

Today's reality is that we travel with lots of electronic stuff. When going on a cruise, it is a good idea to know what items you need to get the most out of your electronic gear. Here are a few tips:

A Good Portable Tripod

Nothing will improve the quality of your photos and videos like having a good tripod. This is especially true with video. A "good" tripod usually means a large, floor-standing model. However, there are alternatives that work very well and pack easily. You can find a lot of tabletop, miniature tripods that work extremely well, especially with the smaller, lighter pocket-sized digital cameras and smaller camcorders. You can find these at WalMart or any store that carries camera supplies. Another old photographer trick is a small beanbag that you can set on a table or cruise ship railing, then set the camera on top of the beanbag to steady it for your shot. I recently purchased a couple of small commercial beanbags that have a screw-type tripod mount called POD. You can find these on the Internet. Or, a little homemade bag filled with rice or beans will work fine.

The tabletop tripod shown in the photo to the right is the one we use. Another nice feature is that when the legs are folded up, you can use them as an extra handle to hold the camera for those hand- held snapshots.

Portable Battery Charger

The one thing I hate worse than anything is the 6' electrical cords required by most battery chargers! What a pain! They take up an enormous amount of space when packing and they end up strung all over the stateroom. If you have a digital camera or camcorder that uses a rechargeable L-ION battery pack you may be able to get a self-contained, portable battery charger that does not require a cord at all! Our new Panasonic digital camera came with one of these chargers and it was one of the reasons we chose Panasonic. However, we were able to purchase a portable charger for our Sony camera as well. These small chargers are great because they pack easily and the prongs fold up when not in use.

A Note About Voltage

Most cruise ships are constructed in Europe, therefore, they operate on 220-volt current. You will notice that your cruise ship stateroom will usually have one or perhaps two US-style 2-prong outlets which operate at 110 volts. Any of your US appliances will work fine on these US-style outlets, with one exception. You will probably find a US-style 110 outlet in the bathroom which is only for use with an electric razor. You CANNOT USE A HAIR DRYER OR CURLING IRON with these outlets, and usually there will be a small warning sign. However, the 110 US-style outlets in the cabin WILL support the use of a hair dryer or curling iron.

European To US Plug Adapters

I always pack three or four European-style to US-style plug adapters. A typical cruise ship cabin will have at least two Euro-style receptacles (220) and only one US-style (110). The plug adapters allow me to use my US-style plugs in these Euro-style outlets. WARNING! When adapting from a European outlet to an US-style plug, it is very important to note that you are going to be getting 220 volts through the US-style plug! The plug adapter does NOT affect the voltage, only the plug style. If you need to alter the current of the 220 down to 110, you could pack a voltage converter transformer, but these are bulky and heavy.

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The good news is that many of the items you will need to plug in will probably operate just fine with the 220 current. This includes your digital camcorder battery chargers, laptop computers, video cameras, cell phones, Blackberry, etc. Because of the international nature of most electronics today, manufacturers make these devices to operate on any voltage from 100 to 240. In a few cases, there may be a physical switch that you have to set, but most items automatically detect the voltage and switch automatically. If you are in doubt, you can see the voltage requirements on the back label of every electrical device (see the Sony battery charger at left).

As a general rule of thumb, small electronic devices like cell phones, computers, cameras, battery chargers will all operate from 100-240 volts. Appliances that heat up, like curling irons, hair dryers, coffee makers, etc., will ONLY operate on 110 volt. Also, if you bring along a power strip, I can tell you from experience that they will NOT work on 220 using a simple plug adapter. However, always look at the label on the back of the device before plugging into 220 just to be on the safe side.

USB Thumb Drive

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Another handy little gadget that does not take up a lot of room is a thumb drive. These have become very inexpensive and you can buy them virtually anywhere that sells electronics (WalMart, Radio Shack, office supply stores, etc.). I always carry a couple of 4 or 8 gigabyte thumb drives with me when I travel. Invariably, I need to copy a file from my laptop (I travel with a MacBook) so that I can give it to someone for their computer. Sometimes I have photos that I want to share with someone I meet on the cruise. On a recent cruise, I had to have the reception desk give me a couple of PDF files for my computer. I gave them my thumb drive and they were able to copy them onto that for me. Thumb drives are a great tool for sharing photo files or other computer files between you and others that travel with a laptop.

Flash Card Reader

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This really only applies to those of you who travel with your laptop computer, which I always do. I do not like leaving all of my photos and video files in my camera for an extended period of time. I prefer to copy all of my photos/video clips to my laptop at the end of each day. One of the handy little gadgets that makes this quick and painless is a flash card reader. This little device plugs into the USB port on a laptop and has a slot to accept your flash card. There are some flash card readers that can accept multiple formats (Compact Flash, SD, Memory Stick, etc.). Check to see what type of flash memory your camera/video camera, etc., uses and make sure you purchase a flash card reader that will work for you. These are available at any electronic store or WalMart.

Extra Flash Memory Card(s)

If you think the memory card in your digital camera or video camera cannot fail, think again! As a general rule, if you bring a backup card with you, you will never have a failure. If you do NOT have a spare, you are inviting disaster! I always carry at least one extra flash memory card with me when I travel. Granted, in a pinch, you can usually purchase a replacement in the cruise ship gift shop or in port, but you will pay a much higher price than if you carry one you from home. An 8 gigabyte SD card can be purchased at WalMart for about $20 and is cheap insurance.

Portable External Hard Drive

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Once again, this is really only for those who travel with a laptop, and even more so for those who shoot video when on vacation. If you have a High Definition video camera, you know that HD video clips can eat up hard drive space in a hurry. I have recently started carrying a small 320 gigabyte USB hard drive with me when I travel. The drive is about the size of a Blackberry/iPhone and packs very easily. I now copy all of my video files to the external drive and never have to worry about my MacBook hard drive running out of space! These drives are getting really cheap, too. I just purchased the 320 gig drive for $59 at WalMart!

Microfiber Cloth

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On a recent cruise to Galapagos, we were testing a digital camera that did not have a protective cover over the lens. Unfortunately, we had about 20 great photos of a killer whale that were ruined because of a simple finger smudge on the lens. This could have easily been prevented if we had just had a small cloth to clean off the lens before taking the shots. Now, we carry a couple of small, extra-soft microfiber cloths with us when we travel. I always keep one in my pocket. They are great for cleaning camera lenses, LCD screens and even your computer monitor. Make sure to look for microfiber cloths specifically designed for cleaning glass or plastic.

ZipLoc™ Bag

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We always carry several ZipLoc bags with us when we travel. One very handy use for these bags is a "rain proof" cover for your digital camera or camcorder. Even though the application is not exactly water tight, it is a cheap and easy way to keep rain from drenching your camera. Simply cut a small slit in the bottom of a ZipLoc bag, just big enough for your neck strap to slide through. The bag will slide down (open side facing down) over your camera/camcorder. We used this system quite successfully in Alaska (where it tends to rain frequently).

Holland America vs Princess Cruises in Alaska

Raye & Marty Trencher
Editors & Publishers
Cruise Traveler Magazine

Let's debate which cruise line is the best choice for your Alaska cruise or land and sea vacation

Cruise Traveler Magazine compares the real difference between Holland America vs. Princess Alaska Cruises. Learn about the onboard experience, itineraries, ports-of-call. Compare cruises, or land and sea vacation [cruisetours] prices, current promotional offers, bonus extra's and wilderness lodges and rail adventures.

“What's the real difference between a Holland America and a Princess Cruise or Cruisetour of Alaska?”

Q. "My husband and I are considering taking an 11 or 12 day 'Denali National Park' cruise tour with either Holland America or Princess Cruises. Both cruise lines itinerary are very similar - 7 night cruise including visiting Glacier Bay, a Tundra Wilderness tour of Denali National Park, a night in Fairbanks, and 2 nights in Denali. However the cruise lines brand their rail travel, expressing that they are "exclusive", the McKinley Explorer, for Holland and the Denali Express for Princess. Is there an advantage to doing the rail by Princess over Holland America?

We also noticed that, for what looks like a similar cruise vacation, prices vary between Holland America and Princess. My husband wants to get a balcony, but isn't sure which is the better deal.

What do we need to know before we choose which cruise line to see Alaska? Could you explain why there is such a difference between Princess Cruises and Holland America, not only on price but amenities as well?"

A. OK, here's what you need to know before you go....

Background

Holland America Line began sailing Alaska in 1967. Princess Cruises in 1969. Both cruise lines added land-and-sea vacations a few years later. So, both companies have years of hands on experience to rely on.

Both Holland America Line and Princess Cruises are the market leaders in Alaska. Both have their own motorcoach and rail services. Princess owns their own Wilderness Lodge accommodations in Denali, Fairbanks, Kenai and Cooper River. Combined they have the most ships of any of the name brand cruise lines sailing Alaskan waters.

Cruising in Alaska is a summertime adventure with an ocean-inspired cruise and an exhilarating land tour of Alaska. Alaska...where summertime memories last forever. Alaska offers a range of enriching options to see the Great Land's glaciers, frontier towns, native culture, wildlife and national parks from the perspective of spectacular ships, exclusive rail service and wilderness lodges.

Both Holland America and Princess' onboard enrichment programs introduce Alaska for a personalized perspective of America's last frontier. On Holland America and Princess cruises, ships feature a naturalist with informative lectures, and a national park ranger during Glacier Bay sailings.

Princess, however, offers their exclusive "North to Alaska" program. Onboard are Alaska Iditarod winner and renowned dog musher Libby Riddles, the first woman to win the grueling 1,100-mile Iditarod sled dog race. She comes aboard in Juneau to share tales of her historic triumph, answer questions and even sign autographs. You won’t want to miss this special Princess exclusive. Plus, on some sailings meet people from Discovery Channel's "Deadliest Catch" TV show. In partnership with the Discovery Networks, Alaska cruises feature content from the Discovery Channel and Animal Planet on the wildlife, terrain, history, and adventures from Alaska. Discovery Networks shows such as "Gold Rush!" and "Panning for Gold", along with episodes of "The Deadliest Catch" and "The Klondike" mini-series are featured.

In Skagway, Alaskan storyteller and musician Steve Hites comes on board to perform his “North to Alaska” show. This tribute to the Klondike days brings the region’s folklore, history and poetry of the era to life with plenty of rollicking humor.

Then there is The Klondike Festival and Midnight Sun Party. Princess guests experience the thrill and excitement of a real Klondike Festival, hearkening back to the good ol’, bad ol’ days of gold rush fever with authentic Alaska entertainment. Fun for the whole family, the festival includes performances depicting the heyday of the gold rush, Alaska icon & sled racing presentations, penny whistle classes, Tlingit art projects and more.

Princess is providing a variety of authentic Alaska cuisine options onboard including King Crab, King Salmon and fresh Halibut. There is a dedicated Alaska cuisine themed night in the main dining rooms, and a special Alaska Cuisine menu in the Crown Grill and Bayou Cafe on select evenings.

For kids and teens, they can explore their adventurous side with activities such as our Jr. Ranger Program, Panning for Gold, the Deadliest Catch Crab Sorting Game, and amazing "What would Survivorman do?"

The Cruise Ships That Sail Alaska

Each cruise line's ships that sail Alaska have a "personality" of their own and you should review the amenities, onboard programs, entertainment and dining options to decide which cruise ship best fits your lifestyle. Holland America tends to attract a more "senior" traveler, while Princess tends to attract travelers of all ages, especially middle age couples and families.

When it comes to choosing a cruise ship to sail Alaska, the difference between seeing Alaska and understanding Alaska is what the cruise line brings to life, while onboard.

As an example, Princess cruises brings aboard speakers to share their Alaska adventures, such as the grueling 1,100-mile Iditarod sled dog race. In Skagway, you'll enjoy the entertainment of an Alaskan storyteller. And in Ketchikan, a U.S. Forest Service naturalist will present a program about the largest forest in the country, Tongass National Forest. Alaska's intriguing flora, fauna and geology come to life by the full-time onboard naturalists who sails with you the entire length of the cruise.

While in Glacier Bay National Park, rangers from the National Park Service will board the cruise ship to serve as tour guides and answer questions about this national treasure. Rangers also lead our Junior Ranger and Teen Explorer programs in Glacier Bay, which teach kids about the wildlife and scenery in a fun and entertaining way.

Dining onboard spotlights local specialties like fresh Alaskan Seafood. You will also like the Taste of Alaska Buffet, a festive on-deck Fish Barbeque and a Reindeer Chili and Rockfish Chowder Cook-Off. The Chef's Alaskan Dinner and Glacier Bay Gala Buffet are highlights of your Alaska cruise. Or indulge in a romantic Glacier Bay Champagne Breakfast served on your own balcony onboard Princess Cruises.

Both Holland America and Princess' Alaska cruises, offer a number of round-trip seven-night itineraries, that feature the most popular ports of call :

• Cruises departing from Seattle

• Breathtaking Scenery of Glacier Bay

• Cruises departing from Vancouver

• The Beauty of Sitka

• Inside Passage Itineraries

• Cruises longer than 7 Days

• Visit magnificent Hubbard Glacier

• Visit Skagway - Home to the White Pass & Yukon Railway

• Juneau - The Alaska State Capital & Mendenhall Glacier

• Ketchikan - Visit Totem Pole Park, Creek Street & Misty Fjords

For information on these cruise itineraries, visit AlaskaCruisesDirect.com

Both cruise lines call on Juneau and Ketchikan. Itineraries sail through Glacier Bay, or Tracy Arm. Most sailings visit Skagway. Holland America's Seattle cruises go to Sitka. Some Seattle sailings call on Victoria, BC Canada.
Princess Cruises offer sailings from San Francisco on 10-night cruises that travel the Inside Passage with port calls in Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan and Victoria.

Alaska Cruise Prices

You will find in general, pricing for round-trip seven-night cruises competitive between Holland America and Princess for inside, ocean view and balcony cabins. Inside cabins for sailings during the early part of May or beginning of September start for less than $800.00 per person, Balcony cabins (known as Verandahs on Holland America) will cost you considerably more.

For north or southbound sailings, we found inside and ocean view cabins less expensive with Princess, at the start ( early May ) and end ( early September ) of the Alaska cruise season.

Alaska Land and Sea Vacations [ Cruisetours ]

Holland America's land and sea vacations include stops in Canada. Visiting Dawson City and Whitehorse, the Yukon. Both cruise line land tours visit Denali National Park. In addition to Denali, Princess can take you to the Kenai Wilderness Lodge, in the Kenai Peninsula and/or the Copper River Wilderness Lodge, to visit Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve.

Princess' northbound or southbound sailings from Vancouver, begin or end in Whittier, Alaska which is closer to Anchorage then Seward, where Holland America's cruises begin or end. Princess gets the upper hand here, as it has "Direct to the Wilderness" rail service for guests by going straight up north to Denali (or vice versa, going directly from Denali to their cruise ship). Hours of transportation by train or motorcoach are saved by this service.

Holland America accommodations are in Westmark-branded hotels. in Alaska and Canada's cities and towns. For visits to Denali National Park, Holland America guests stay at the McKinley Chalet Resort, which is less than three miles from the entrance to the park.

Princess' accommodations (except in Anchorage, where they use the Captain Cook hotel and others ) are in " Wilderness " lodges. Guest can stay at the Mt. McKinley Wilderness Lodge in Trapper Creek, near Talkeetna, the Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge, or the Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge the Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge, and the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge ( less than a mile from the entrance to Denali National Park). Which accommodation(s) you stay at depends upon your itinerary.

The Rail Services

Now when you disembark the ship, the difference between Princess and Holland America become more clear.

First, Princess Cruises docks in Whittier, Holland America in Seward. Whittier is much closer to Anchorage, when most northbound cruise tours begin. So, travel time is significantly reduced. If you are headed direct to Denali and will not be visiting Anchorage, Princess offers a real exclusive: "Direct-to-the-Wilderness® Alaska Rail Service".

Princess Cruises exclusive Direct-to-the-Wilderness service allows you to step off your cruise ship in Whittier onto the Princess rail service cars and arrive at their Princess Wilderness Lodge that same afternoon. Or, on southbound itineraries, guests leave the Denali area and board the train for a direct link to your awaiting cruise ship in Whittier. Because fewer transfers and less time waiting makes for a more relaxing and hassle-free trip, Princess exclusive cruise ship-rail-lodge connection takes you straight to Denali National Park.

While others like Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Holland America are still in transit, you'll be enjoying more time at one of Princess' two Denali area lodges. The connection is seamless. You step directly from your ship onto your waiting railcar. Sit back, read, chat, dine and marvel at the panoramic vistas from their domed observation lounge. You arrive at Denali that same day ready to experience the wonders you've traveled so far to see.

If reaching your destination nearly a full day earlier than with any other cruise tour company is important to you. Then consider Princess Cruises. It could mean more time to sit by the fire, linger over grilled salmon and soak up the comfort and luxury of Princess Cruises, Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge and the Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge.

A word about the train. If the rail portion of your cruise tour departs from Anchorage, you will notice that Holland America's rail cars, marketed as the "McKinley Explorer" and Princess Cruises railcars marketed as "McKinley Express" actually travel together on the same train.

The train's engine is operated by the Alaska Railroad, which "pulls" the private rail cars of Princess, Holland America, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity. So, for everyone the view out the window or on the observation decks is the same. There are some differences on the rail cars themselves, but each cruise line offers glass dome views, onboard dining options, expert guide service and commentary along the way.

Denali National Park

Sightseeing inside Denali National Park is operated by the National Park Service, so the tours in the park are identical no matter what cruise line you travel with.

With Princess, you can choose your own park tour! Most Princess Alaska land and sea vacations include a tour through the park, plus Princess offers the flexibility to choose your preferred experience from three unique tour options. Park tour options include: Denali Natural History Tour, Tundra Wilderness Tour and Kantishna Experience. Your itinerary and time constraints may limit your options.

Denali Natural History Tour

Duration: Approximately 6 1/2 hours

Tour Highlights:

• Fully narrated tour that focuses on the rich history of Denali National Park

• Travels to Primrose Ridge (Mile 17) for scenic and wildlife viewing opportunities

• Includes a screening of “Across Time and Tundra”, a film that depicts development of the park road and early visitor experiences

• Stop at Savage Cabin to visit a rustic, back-country shelter used by rangers for decades

• Alaskan Native Presentation

• Possible opportunity to see Denali ( formally called Mt. McKinley ) (weather permitting)

Recommended for:

• Passengers who are interested in Denali’s history, culture and nature

• Passengers who have limited time in Denali and want to more thoroughly experience their lodge and/or land excursions

• Passengers who prefer to have more free time in Denali

Tundra Wilderness Tour

Duration: Approximately 9 hours

Tour Highlights:

• Comprehensive, fully narrated tour that travels deep into Denali National Park (Mile 53)

• In-depth information about the history of the park with plentiful wildlife and photography opportunities

• Travels over Sable Pass to scenic Polychrome Overlook

• Stony Hill Overlook provides opportunities to see Denali (weather permitting)

Note: The Teklanika Tundra Wilderness Tour is seasonally offered in place of the Tundra Wilderness Tour when the park road is not fully accessible due to weather.

Recommended for:

• Passengers with 2-night stays at Denali

• Passengers who want a deep Denali Park experience

• Passengers who enjoy motorcoach travel

Kantishna Experience

Duration: Approximately 14 hours

Tour Highlights:

• All day tour that travels to the end of the park road (Mile 91)

• This tour is guided by a National Park Service Interpretive Ranger

• Explore the old gold mining town of Kantishna and learn about its history

• Stop at the restored home of Fannie Quigley and learn about the early settlers

• Visit the Eielson Visitor Center and Wonder Lake

• Abundant opportunities for wildlife viewing

• Possible opportunities to see Mt. Mckinley (weather permitting)

• Limited space availability

Note: This tour does not operate when the park road is not fully accessible due to weather.

Recommended for:

• Passengers with 2-night stays at Denali

• Passengers who want to travel to the end of the park road

• Passengers who enjoy motorcoach travel

Other Helpful Information

• Don’t wait; availability is limited. Space is assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Not all requests can be accommodated.

• A snack and hot beverage is provided on the Natural History Tour.

• Box lunches and beverages are provided on the Tundra Wilderness Tour and the Kantishna Experience.

• Wheelchair accessible buses are available, and all stops are wheelchair accessible.

• Children under 4 years and/or 40 pounds are required to be in a child safety device (car seat) to ride on buses. Passengers must bring their own child safety device.

• Tour buses are school buses and are not equipped with restrooms. Buses will stop approximately every 90 minutes for restroom breaks.

• Park road is not paved and travels through beautiful Alaskan wilderness – wildlife is not guaranteed.

• Privately owned vehicles are not permitted into the National Park.

• Suggested items to bring include warm clothes, rainwear, insect repellant, camera, binoculars, and personal medications as necessary

Hotel/Lodge Accommodations

Where you stay in Alaska may matter to you. Both Holland America and Princess offer lodges and hotels in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Denali. Princess also offers accommodations at Cooper River and Kenai. There are differences between the two cruise lines. First, Princess owns their own lodges. ( visit www.princesslodges.com ) So, the hotel/lodge staff are employees of Princess. This is important, for seamless continuity of service. Holland America and the other cruise lines, contract out hotel space for their guests.

Getting around Alaska, with the exception of the rail services provided, is by motorcoach. Grayline of Alaska provides the bus transportation for Holland America. Princess provides its own transportation. Both offer driver/guide commentary along the way.

For more information and to compare Princess, Holland America, Royal Caribbean or Celebrity cruise tours of Alaska, visit Alaska Cruises Direct. www.alaskacruisesdirect.com

Who Won The Debate?

Holland America vs. Princess in Alaska

Historically, Holland America appeals to an older demographic, with onboard activity and entertainment appealing to these travelers. The line is best suited for 55+ and seniors traveling with or without a group of friends.

Princess Cruises is better suited for active couples from 35 -50. Best for those looking for land and sea vacations [cruisetours] and families with young children. Guests should find the onboard experience with Princess Cruises "North to Alaska" appealing.

CruiseReport.com would like to thank Raye and Marty Trencher for this excellent comparison between Holland America and Princess in Alaska