Planning the Perfect Cruise

Yes, it is official. We're cruisin' this December.

When planning a cruise, DO YOUR RESEARCH! Read consumer reviews, talk to people who have been there already...and check my blog! ;)

*Best site EVER for seeing what's out there: www.cruise.com

Cruise.com is great because it shows all cruiselines, ports, dates, itineraries and describes the ports of call. Also, I've found it to have great deals and special promotions. We paid about $100 less than other sites and also got a free excursion.

BUT....

*You never know who is having a special promotion...compare prices at all the usual travel sites, as well as the cruiseline's site: www.travelocity.com, www.orbitz.com, www.expedia.com


My personal preference is Expedia. Unlike most others, they include most taxes in their quotes, so the end price is usually cheaper. Saves a lot of hassle...

*Good websites for consumer reviews: www.cruisecritic.com, www.cruisereview.com"


*Final Tips




Look for a cruise with the longest possible time at ports of call. Note that you have to be back to the ship about 2 hours before the posted sailing time. A 10-3 port of call is really an 11-1....

Don't book a cruise with more than 1-2 days at sea. They play up how great the ship can be, but it does get boring to be at sea for days on end...

Look closely at the on-board activities and evening entertainment...if you're not interested, it may not be the cruise for you. (see my comment above)

If you can't go solo, choose dining arrangements with larger amounts of people (8-10). With a pairing arrangement, if you don't bond with the couple you're sharing with, it can be a long week of awkward conversation. Plus, it gives you an opportunity to make more friends.

BALCONY BALCONY BALCONY...I can't say it enough. If money is tight, whatever you do, don't take in inside stateroom. It's like being inside a cave.

Give yourself PLENTY of time to catch your flight. Disembarking can take up to four hours.

PACK LIGHT- a lot of times you have to carry your own luggage off the boat, crammed in with the other 1000's of passengers. This is not the time to pack your closet...trust me- speaking from personal experience...the "luggage incident" is still brought up to this day...