Cruises and Cruising for 2012 Cruising is Definitely The Way To Go

Cruises Are One of The Most Economical Vacations

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Cruising is one of the most economical and hassle free vacations available. You unpack your stuff once and then your resort travels from place to place. Cruising has changed greatly over the years. When we first started cruising in the 80's we were often the youngest folks on board. Its true that cruises started as elite vacations for wealthier retired folks, but that is not the case anymore. Yes, there are ships and itineraries that still cater to mature crowds, but there are also cruises that are focused on singles, couples and families. My family has been on over 20 cruises and I can honestly say they provide the best overall vacation experience. We've cruised many itineraries including the Caribbean, Bermuda, Hawaii, Alaska, Mediterranean and the Baltic Sea. Each provide a totally different experience.

Cruise ships these days are basically floating, all-inclusive resorts. They now have Broadway-style shows, full waterparks, resort-style spas, well equipped workout facilities, multiple dining options, and even ice skating and bowling. Yes, I said bowling! The ships keep getting larger and larger. The newest mega ship is Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas which are 1,187 feet long and weigh 225,282 gross tons each. To give you an idea, the RMS

Billion Dollar Cruise Ships (OMG!!)

Titanic was only 46,328 gross tons. The Oasis is almost five times larger than Titanic. That is just insane! Size is not everything, but the larger the ship the more activities and options available. The price of the cruise not only includes your cabin, but also all your meals, 24-hour room service, most of your activities on board and day/evening entertainment. Soft drinks, alcohol, speciality dining, spa services, gratuities, shore excursions and of course ship store purchases are not included. With so many cruise lines competing in a slow economy, you can find some remarkable deals. I've seen 7 day cruises as low as $300 to $400 per person. Try buying a hotel room, meals and entertainment for that price. And remember, a cruise ship will take you to a different port every day, offering some wonderful shore excursion options. If you haven't cruised before, its time you think about it. You too will be hooked. See Ship Track for real time ship locations.

With all of the different cruise lines its hard to know which is best for you and your family. There are dozens of cruise lines, but I have profiled the most popular for families. Also, here is a link to Cruise Critic the best cruise review and news site on the internet. They offer reviews of almost every ship along with a forum where you can ask any question you have. Here are all of the major family cruise lines along with what they offer. Click the links to see the actual ships. Carnival Cruise Lines Carnival is one of the largest and most popular cruise lines. They have 23 cruise ships including their newest, Carnival Magic, which debuted in May 2011 at 130,000 tons and saling from Galveston. They are also buidling another ship, the Carnival Breeze, which will set sail in June 2012. Carnival boasts itself as the "fun ships". They cater to a younger family-oriented crowd, along with college-age kids during the summer and spring break. Carnival offers some of the best pricing of any cruise line with deals for several departure ports. Celebrity Cruises Celebrity is one of our favorite cruise lines. It's a bit more elegant. They are still family-friendly, but also cater to couples and a mature crowd. You will find that both the food and service are a notch higher than most other cruise lines. They are part of Royal Caribbean International and operate 11 cruise ships around the world. Their newest ship, Celebrity Silhouette, launched in July 2011. At 122,000 tons, it will be the largest Celebrity ship. Their next ship, Celebrity Reflection, is expected in November 2012. Royal Caribbean International Royal Caribbean is probably our most favorite cruise line. They are a mix of the more elegant ships but also provide a number of activities and dining experiences. They control almost a fourth of the world's cruise market and currently operate 22 ships including the Oasis of the Seas which is currently the largest cruise ship afloat. Her sister ship, Allure of the Seas, started sailing in December 2010 with DreamWorks Animation characters. At 225,000 tons and each costing over $1 Billion these are two of the most expensive ships afloat. Disney Cruise Lines Disney cruise ships are an extension of their Disney World theme parks. Disney caters to families with a focus on children of all ages. The ships have kid programs that keep the little ones entertained, enabling parents to get away for a while. They operate three cruise ships, the Disney Magic, the Disney Wonder and their newest ship the Disney Dream, that just finished its first cruise in January 2011. At 128,000 tons and a cost of nearly $1 Billion, this ship is sure to offer amenties appealing to all types of cruisers including the AquaDuck watercoaster which is the industry's biggest and most innovative waterslide. Their next mega ship, Disney Fantasy, is expected in April 2012. Norwegian Cruise Lines Norwegian, a.k.a. NCL, is also one of our favorite cruise lines that caters to almost all crowds. They operate 11 cruise ships with the 155,873 ton Norwegian Epic now afloat and cruising! NCL advertises itself as Freestyle Cruising which enable you to choose how you dine. Although alternative dining is available on many other cruise lines, NCL was one of the first to offer open seating and multiple dining options. Some do have a cover charges. Note: NCL had been making itenerary changes in 2011 due to Azipod problems with their ships. Check before you book a ship. Princess Cruise Lines Princess is owned by the Carnival Corporation but is a different experience. Much like Celebrity, they are a bit more elegant and cater to both families and couples. We have enjoyed our Princess cruises and would rate them high among the cruise lines. They operate 16 cruise ships, with the Ruby Princess (2008) being the newest, that depart from ports all over the world. You may remember Princess as they were the ship used for "The Love Boat" TV series. Crystal Cruise Lines Crystal is a high-end luxury line that caters to a more mature crowd. They operate 2 medium size ships named Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity that travel the world offering several different itineraries.

Picking A Cruise Line

Cruise ships, unlike some smaller boats, are equipped with what are called stabilizers that extend and retract to help keep the ship steady. These stabilizers are much like airplane wings or fins below the waterline helping the ship move through the water, reducing side-to-side rolling and making for a much more pleasant cruising experience. There are times when the oceans do get a little rough and if you are prone to sea sickness, there are products both over the counter (Bonine is the best!) and prescription-based that help considerably. Don't let the fear of seasickness stop you from taking a cruise. Of the 20+ cruises my family has taken I can only think of maybe one or two where anyone even felt slightly ill. What about this Norovirus? It seems every time someone is sick on a ship we hear about it on the news. The reality is that the cruise line industry is one of the most inspected tourist industries. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) inspects and rates cruise ships on a regular basis. See ratings reports at CDC Vessel Sanitation Program. You are more likely to get sick at your local restaurant than you are on a cruise ship.

Seasickness on Cruise Ships

Here are a few tips and secrets we have acquired over the years of cruising. Keep them in mind when you are booking your cruise. Also, with the rise in gas prices some cruise lines are now charging fuel surcharges. Be sure to check with your cruise line before booking. 1) Resident Discount Rates - Many cruise lines offer resident rates for cruises departing from your state. These rates can be significant but you may need to ask to get them. 2) Book Guaranteed Rooms - When booking your trip, cruise lines sometimes offer what are called "guaranteed rooms". Basically that means, at minimum, you are guaranteed that category room, but are willing to wait for your cabin assignment. In many cases, this may mean you will receive a free upgrade. We've had great success getting upgrades. 3) Cruise Cabins - You will find that a large portion of the cruise cabins are exactly the same, with the only difference being which deck you're on and whether you're inside or outside. With the exception of suites with balconies, the outside rooms normally have one small window. My family has never seen the value in paying for a small window when you can always venture to the top decks and see the scenery. We also don't believe in paying to be on a higher deck. There is no special advantage between the decks, so consider booking the lowest-cost room availabe. Besides, you're not in your room all that much. 4) Don't Forget Your Passports - As most cruises visit ports outside of the US, you need to make sure you have a passport. Nowadays, this even includes Mexico, the Caribbean countries and Canada. The process can take as much as six weeks, less if you pay for an expedite. Click here for US Passport office.

Cruising Tips and Secrets

If you are planning a cruise anytime from June through October and even into November, there is always a chance a hurricane may change your intinerary. Although hurricanes can form anywhere, they do tend to follow a line from Africa during August and September. Most cruise lines don't cancel cruises due to hurricanes, but they do reroute them quite often. This may mean you visit ports you didn't expect or even spend more days at sea while they steer away from the storm. In the event your cruise departure or return port does change due to a hurricane, it will be on your dime to change any independant air travel arrangements. Much like any resort, the cruise line is not responsible for weather delays or impacts. This is why its important to buy travel insurance when you book a cruise, especially during hurricane season. Most cover weather related changes as well as cancellation fees. So don't shy away from booking a cruise during hurricane season, just be prepared and buy travel insurance. Many cruise lines actually run some great specials during hurricane season so keep a lookout!

What About Hurricanes?

NEWS!! Is Cruising Still Safe?

Okay, you have no doubt heard about the recent incident with the Costa Concordia in Italy. Like you, this incident has made us question cruising a bit. This reaction is normal after a major incident. We feel the same when we hear the tragic news of a major plane accident or bus crash. But lets remember, almost 16 million people cruised in 2011 with 26 new ships contracted to be built by 2014. Is cruising still safe, absolutely! Like flying, you are more at risk driving to the port or airport than you are on a ship. You will find that cruising is even safer than most land vacations. So, pause for a moment but don't let this incident change your plans. Take a cruise. They are still number one to us.