Ocean Cruises
- Most have a good amount of repeat passengers, and the staff and crew are eager to please their guests. Cruise lines receive a variety of allocates that are awarded to them.
- Ocean cruising is a great value, based on what is included in the price. You can make new friends or spend time and connect with old friends and family.
- Unpack once and enjoy the comfort of your stateroom without having to live out of a suitcase. Be spoiled with room service, having your meals made for you, not having to make your own bed, or clean your room, and more.
- Included in the cost of the cruise are breakfast, lunch, and dinner and drinks such as water, coffee, tea. Specialty dining is usually extra depending on the cruise line. Beverage packages can be an additional cost or included, again based on the brand.
- There are fun activities onboard such as games, lectures, movies, relaxing and reading, onboard shopping, bars, lounging by the pool, casinos, live evening entertainment. Indulge in spa treatments, or work off the excess calories in the gym. Depending on the brand, they can offer a state-of-the-art culinary kitchen where you can take cooking classes
- Itineraries focus on destinations around the world with some offering overnight stays to allow you to experience the local area in the evening. Visit multiple ports of call in one vacation and visit unknown locations, an array of scenery, historical sites and cultures. Sightsee, shop, join excursions with a variety of choices, and learn new things. View the Northern Lights, wildlife, gaze at the beautiful seas or the stars, visit exotic locations while feeing safe, visit ruins and temples. Check off places from your bucket list. Cruising in Tropical ports can be a “water lover’s” dream with swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving. Ships most often are able to dock in port but some locations require taking a tender (lifeboat) to reach the port.
Cruise Line Types
- Large Mass Market Brands
- Medium Sized Ships
- Small Ships
- Luxury Brands Ships
- Large Mass Market Brands’ ships carry thousands of guests and can have activities such as waterslides, rope courses, ziplines, kids’ clubs. They tend not to experience a lot of movement due to the stabilizers these days.
- Medium ships holding 1000 to 2000 guests tend to be big enough for a variety of entertainment options and a choice of restaurants, but small enough not to get lost in the crowd or spend hours getting on and off the ship.
- Small ships with less than 1000 guests are more intimate and can visit smaller ports of call and hidden harbors. With very few guests onboard, getting on and off the ship is quick and easy. This makes a huge difference on embarkation and disembarkation. They may offer less activities to do onboard, and smaller ships can feel the motion more so keep this in mind if you get seasick.
- Luxury brands provide an upscale cruise experience with larger staterooms and are more all-inclusive amenities with beverage packages, gratuities, specialty dining, Wi-Fi. One brand even includes excursions on every itinerary. Their décor and furnishings are high-end and gorgeous. Their crew is more attentive.