Tropical Cruises
There are many ships that depart from many United States ports, and Virgin Islands. Most popular cruises: Seven days, weekend cruises, and ten days cruises. There are many popular cruises lines that have destinations, to various tropical ports. These cruises lines have a variety of different ships, some smaller or larger than others. The main significant difference between a larger ship, compared to a smaller one, would be the sensation of feeling the ship move, up or down, when cruising across the ocean, and especially in any bad weather. Passengers traveling on larger ships will less likely feel the ship moving. These ships have larger stabilizers, which keeps the ship straight, upright, and calm in bad weather. Also, reduces the number passengers from getting seasickness. Unfortunately, the stabilizers slow down the speed of a ship.
Tropical cruise destinations include Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Turks & Caicos Islands, and Virgin Islands. These destinations are located either in the western, southern or eastern Caribbean. Many cruise ships stop by one or more of these destinations, on their itinerary, and passengers are allowed to visit those ports, usually for one or two days. Some cruise lines, have their own tropical private island, where their ships will anchor nearby, and passengers disembark onto boats or tenders that take them to the island. Cruise ships provide passengers on the island: All food, entertainment, towels, lounge chairs, and more. Often extra activities are provided, at a minimal cost, including snorkeling, scuba diving, rental rafts and small boats. Ships will either dock or will be anchored just off shore, at many ports. Ships that are anchored offshore, passengers disembark by tenders or boats, over to the island and back to the ship. The transportation is provided frequently to passengers, during the duration of stay. Passengers are told in advance, how long the ship will be visiting the destination, and when the last boat or tender will be taking any passengers back to the ship. Unfortunately, if any passenger misses the last tender or boat, then the passenger must make travel arrangements to fly to the next destination, to meet the ship or fly back home. A passenger can’t wait a week, to come back onboard the ship, since the passenger’s cabin, will be occupied by another passenger or family.
There are 17 cruise lines, and over 126 ships (More ships are being built over the next few years). The most popular cruise lines are Celebrity, Cunard, Disney Cruise Line, Holland American Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean and others. Each cruise line offers a unique quality of service, amenities, style, comfort and elegance for their ships. Some ships have very unique facilities onboard which includes an ice skating ring, rock climbing wall, out – door movie theatre, and chapel (Onboard the Grand Princess – live internet services is provided for anyone around the world, to watch a wedding take place onboard).
As a passenger, that has traveled onboard many cruise ships, for more then 20 years, have my own opinion regarding the quality of service, and based upon information that is known, regarding different cruise lines. Onboard smaller cruise ships, passengers can get to know each other, rather than on a large ship, unlikely to meet all the passengers. Also, larger ships provide more amenities, and services, then a smaller ship. Carnival Cruise Line is more popular for younger passengers, caters to a more casual atmosphere, service and amenities are fine, but other upper scale cruise lines, provide a higher degree of these services. The Disney Cruise Line caters especially to children, and families. The Norwegian, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Holland American, and Celebrity Cruise Lines provide a higher degree of services, amenities, entertainment, food quality, and overall appearance, but at higher price then other cruise lines.
When booking a reservation onboard a cruise line, should consider: The cabin will be inside or outside. Outside cabins have at least one Port Hole or window, and inside cabins there is no Port Hole. Inside cabins lighting is only available by turning on a light switch. Anyone that has claustrophobia, would be uncomfortable with an inside cabin. Each ship has a category of cabins, based upon the deck location, and amenities that are provided. Usually cabins located on higher decks have more amenities, and will be priced higher. Passenger cabins located on a higher deck will less likely, feel the ship moving. More people that share a cabin, the lower the price per passenger. Comparably making reservations online is cheaper, then going to a travel agent or making the reservation over the phone. Travel Agent makes a commission on the sale of a cruise line ticket, which cost more to the passenger. However, booking a reservation online, there is no commission that anyone earns, so the savings is passed onto the passenger. Good idea to compare prices, from various online websites, to get the lowest cruise price ticket. When calling a cruise line to make a reservation, request the lowest possible price, for the category of cabin. If you request a ‘guarantee reservation,’ which means you pay for the category of cabin, you requested, but there is a chance you get a better category cabin, for the same price. However, you must be willing to wait a few days or weeks, before the ship departs, to find out your cabin number. When you pay for your cabin, everything is including in the price: Transportation by airplane (if necessary), meals, entertainment, any special cocktail parties, use of all facilities onboard (except extra charge for beauty saloons, massages, and any special treats), and tender or boat transportation, to visit tropical ports. Optional to spend money on: Tours, gambling, purchases on the ship or ports, alcohol and some non — alcoholic drinks, tobacco, gratuity, and any taxes to pay. Every evening, a News Letter is placed inside every cabin. The News Letter contains information regarding the next day activities. Many activities onboard are catered to the young, old, couples, singles, and married couples. Torments to win prizes are offered. Also, mentioned hours when stores. and facilities onboard will be open the next day. Many ships have specialty stores for watches, ice cream, colognes, perfumes, artwork and more. Some ships offer auctions on artwork, during the cruise. Often stores and some facilities are closed, when the ship is visiting a tropical port. Passengers are not required to participate in any activities, but may choose simple to rest, relax and be served like a ‘Very Important Person’ during the cruise. The hardest decision onboard: What will you eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and midnight buffet?
Passengers on cruise ships, will have a choice to have their dinner either early or late sitting in a dinning room. Some ships have more then one dinning room. Early sitting is usually around 6:30 pm, and late sitting is around 8:30 pm. Passengers going to either sitting, will won’t miss most of the entertainment onboard the ship, since there is usually two performance each night for both early or late sitting passengers. Breakfast and lunch is served usually as an open buffet, and sometimes in one or more dinning rooms. Most cruise ships offer a mid night buffet, and one night in particular onboard, the buffet is grand spectacular event. Definitely take pictures. On the last day the ship arrives back home at port, breakfast is served earlier. Some ships offer an alternative having dinner in the dinning room other choices. Choices include other restaurants onboard the ship, for a small additional charge, such as an Italian or Mexican restaurant.
Many tropical islands have duty free shopping, where there is no sales tax. Often many items including jewelry, cosmetics, liquor, perfumes, colognes, linen, cameras, and other items are priced lower than in the United States, and especially since the value of the United States Dollar has gone up, over the past year. United States currency is accepted for all purchases, at any destination. Not recommended to exchange any amount of U.S. currency, for foreign money. U.S. Citizens are allowed to spend up to certain amount for duty free merchandise, liquor and tobacco, when visiting certain tropical ports, whether on a cruise ship or staying at tropical location. Passengers are informed before reaching any location, the restrictions on amounts that can be purchased. Any amount that is purchased over the limitation has to be itemized on a Customer Declaration Form, and additional taxes would have to be paid to a customs officer, when the ship returns back home. Currently, U.S. Citizens are allowed a duty-free shopping quota of $1,200 per person in St. Croix, Virgin Islands. There is no limit to the amount of purchases on a cruise ship, except for the amount of liquor, and tobacco purchases, taken off the ship. Essentially you can buy as much alcohol and tobacco you want at any tropical port or onboard the ship, and consume as much as you desire onboard or share with other passengers. When you disembark, you are limited to amount you may bring home or else have to pay additional taxes.
Passengers that are going to travel on cruise ships need to bring a current passport, and another form of identification. Cruise Ships have one or two formal evenings, where passengers are requested to dress up. Men and women would wear formal attire. Otherwise, casual dressing is appropriate. Carnival cruise Line have less formal dress codes then other ships, where dress code enforcement is more stringent. Some ships or cruise lines cater to more casual dressing,, and other ships formal attire is required. Passengers on cruise ships, will be informed about the recommended places to shop, sight seeing tours, beaches, and adventures actives (scuba diving, parachute sailing, wind surfing, snorkeling, rock climbing), before the ship arrives at any tropical destination. Often the cruise ship will provide passengers with some discounted coupons to make purchases or refer them to stores where discounts are offered to those passengers sailing on a cruise ship. Each tropical port has their own unique merchandise, and merchandise from other places. Cruise ships have stores that sell a variety of different products, and some limited merchandise that came from tropical destinations, that had been visited.
Every ship has a tipping policy. In the each cabin, there is a list that suggests an amount of gratuity to a staff member. The staff members usually include: Cabin Steward, Waiter, Busboy (waiter’s assistant), and any other person onboard that provided a passenger with a service that felt deserved a gratuity. The amount suggested by the cruise line, is obituary, and can be adjusted by the passenger. Some cruise lines, such as Princess Cruise line, will charge passengers the suggested gratuity against their credit card. On those ships, any passenger can decline to have there credit card charged, and either pay directly or decline to pay any gratuity amount.
When you receive your cruise ticket package, enclosed will contain additional information regarding facilities onboard (including medical infirmary), and recommended items you should bring with you. Also, a map of the ship, luggage tags to identify your suitcase (Suitcase delivered to your cabin number), information on charging for purchased goods and services to your credit card, and information the cruise ship will request you provide. Sometimes the itinerary of destinations will hav to be changed, due to unforseen bad weather conditions.
Happy Bon Voyage!
