Which Cruise Line? - Part 2

Conduct Research Before Booking A Cruise


There are many different sites offering reviews from fellow travelers about which ships and destinations rank the highest. Cruisers post feedback regarding the overall cruise itinerary, ship quality, dining, crew, entertainment, excursions, etc.


A few reviews sites I tend to visit more frequently include:

• Cruise Critics
• Cruisemates
• cruisereviews

Vacation planners should also conduct a web search for phrases like "cruise line reviews" and "cruise ship reviews" to see other reviews sites.

Researching a cruise line, specific ship, or destination should include a balanced overview from both positive and negative feedback found on various sites. Unfortunately many reviewers only comment when they've had a negative experience, remember that fact when researching.

Which Cruise Line? - Part 1

How to Pick the Right Cruise Line For Your Vacation

Venice, Italy
Traveler's planning for an upcoming vacation must research which cruise line will best fit with their lifestyle and interests.

Each of the different companies offers something a bit different and unique to their brand. This helps set them apart from their competitors.

Even though certain parent companies own several different cruise lines, each cruise line maintains their own unique identity.



A Few Things to consider:

1. Are you traveling solo or with a group?
2. What is the average age of the travelers?
3. Are you traveling with children?
4. How young are the children? - Cruise lines have varying age requirements for their kids programming.
5. Do you desire formal evenings and/or assigned seating in the formal dining room?
6. Do you tend to get motion sick easily? - Different size ships, as well as cabin location, can improve your well being at sea.
7. Does entertainment mean ice skating, miniature golf, rock climbing, and water slides-- or
   
8. Do you prefer a disco, movie theater, piano bar, a good book, and going to bed early? - Certain cruise lines cater more to a specific age group (retirees versus young families), so make sure to find that out before booking your vacation so you won't be shocked when you arrive.
   
9. Which destinations excite you? - Some cruise lines only sail to specific destinations close to their home country, but others have many different itineraries all over the world.
10. Do you speak several languages? - There are many cruise lines worldwide that cater to various people groups. If you speak their language it will open up many opportunities for unique travel experiences.

Having answers to these questions will help give you a place to start your research into a cruise line that will fit your vacation expectations.

Cruising4Photos Welcomes Travelers' Insights

Travelers Can Teach Other Travelers

Corfu, Greece
Travelers’ trust the advice of those who have “been there and done that” more than travel industry promoters trying to sell their vacation packages.

Cruising4Photos welcomes your traveling experiences and insights. Please post comments containing insights and tips for others that include, but aren’t limited to:

• Great photo (or tour) destinations
• Navigating from airport to cruise terminal in different worldwide ports
• Which ships offer great photo tours and other excellent shore excursions
• When to go: the best time to travel to popular destinations with minimal crowds.

For questions, or to suggest a posting topic, please contact: cruising4photos@gmail.com

Around the World in [insert number] Days…

Cruising in Today’s Economy

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Travel lovers find cruising a great way to travel around the world and only unpack their suitcases once.

Cruising remains a bargain travel option even in a weak economy. Not only will the cruise industry begin to lower prices to attract travelers, but the cruise vacation includes transportation to various destinations, housing, meals, and entertainment.

Unlike other methods of vacationing, cruise travelers may unpack their suitcases once and still enjoy waking up in a new destination almost daily.

Canada Place Cruise Terminal
Vancouver, B.C.
If you’ve considered taking a cruise but have been putting it off, now is the time to seriously consider planning your voyage. Cruise ships do not wish to sail half-full, so as more and more Americans closely guard their wallets prices will begin to drop.

An increasing number of cruises sail from various U.S. based ports. Now travelers don’t even need to fly to the departure port, but may save money by driving there.

Several of the major cruise lines have announced they will begin dropping the fuel surcharge beginning December 2008 and January 2009. They reserve the right to reinstate the charges should oil prices exceed a certain amount.

All three of the big cruise operators—Carnival Corp., Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and Norwegian Cruise Line—have ended their fuel supplements, which they began instituting earlier this year as response to the then dramatic increase in fuel costs, David Eisen of TravelAgentCentral.com says.

Istanbul, Turkey
Consider for yourself the various itineraries and amenities offered by the cruise lines and book a cruise to remember today.