Myth – Cruise Lines don’t want you to use a travel agent.

Most people think that they get the best prices by bypassing the travel agent and booking directly with the cruise line.  In fact, the opposite is true.  Cruise lines (and other travel suppliers such as tour operators, bus lines, railroads, etc.) prefer that you book through your independent agent.  This way they keep their payroll down in several areas such as their reservations and customer service departments.

Next time you see an ad for a cruise look carefully.  The ad will likely give you a toll-free number to call them directly but also suggest that you call your travel agent.  Some won’t even bother to give you their own phone number but instead just tell you to consult your travel professional.  That’s how much they DON’T want you to book with them directly.

In fact, they prefer it so much that they will provide the travel agents with customer discounts and incentives that you won’t get by booking direct.  Your agent will get you the same price (or possibly even better) for the cruise, but likely be able to get you other valuable perks like on-board credit to use for anything else on board the ship (spa services, store purchases, beverages, even shore excursions, and more).

The first time Lyn and I used a travel agent to book our cruise is an interesting story. Thinking that the best available price would be directly from the cruise line, we had already booked our cruise directly with the line and weeks later saw an ad (by a travel agency) for a better price on the same exact cruise.  When we called the number in the ad and told the agent we had already booked the cruise, he told us it was no problem, put us on hold while he made a call to the cruise line, and immediately took over the booking with their blessing.

So not only did we get the better price, but the travel agent got us an upgraded stateroom, a $200 on-board credit from the cruise line, plus another $75 on-board credit that was arranged by the travel agency.  And when we first arrived in our stateroom there was a chilled bottle of Champagne and a tray of beautiful chocolate-covered strawberries with a lovely note, compliments of our travel agent, Marc.  Very classy!

Not only will you likely get a better deal by going through a travel agent, but by using a cruise ‘specialist’ it’s likely you will get an even better deal.  Cruise specialists are likely to have gone through many hours of special training given by the individual cruise lines which makes them, among other things, more intimately aware of the ships and their itineraries.  Cruise lines offer exclusive, special deals through their network of cruise specialists.

And let’s not forget that a cruise specialist offers you something that no amount of savings can compete with.  As an example, with their experience and expertise they can help make sure that you and the ship are a good fit.  Some ships are better for families with kids while others tend to be quieter and more relaxing.  Some ships attract more hard-core party-people while others lend themselves toward those who enjoy formal dining and dancing.

Lyn and I had enjoyed a shore excursion in Mexico and were back at the port doing a little souvenir shopping before boarding our ship when we noticed that one of the open-air bars seemed to have a wild party going on.  It was filled with mostly young people in their twenties to forties, many dressed in biker gear (leather vests, bandannas, etc.).  The music was thumping and the beer was flowing.   These people certainly weren’t on our ship as we would have definitely noticed them.  Instead, they were from the only other cruise ship in port that day.  As soon as we noticed the brand, we understood.

You see, that brand is well known in the industry for marketing to partyers by having rock bands on-board instead of Jamaican steel drum bands, and arranging on-shore raves in certain ports.  While that type of cruise is just great for those who are into it, it would probably not be much fun for other demographics.  That’s an extreme example but it emphasizes my point.  Choosing the right ship and itinerary is important, more so than saving a few bucks.  The right travel specialist can make the difference between having a nice time and having the time of your life.

Myth - Cruising is a very expensive way to vacation.

Most people think that cruises are more expensive than typical land-based vacations.  But just like most types of vacations, you can spend a little or you can spend a lot.  If you fly first-class it’ll cost you more than coach.  If you stay in a five-star hotel you’ll spend more than if you stay in a three or four star.  And if you eat in three-star Michelin restaurants you’ll spend more than eating at a nice Applebee’s or Chili’s. You get it, right?

You can opt to make your land-based vacation as expensive as your pocketbook will allow and still have a fantastic vacation.   Well, cruising gives you just as many options to do the same thing – spend a little or spend a lot.  But for purposes of dispelling this myth, I’m going to compare a particular cruise vacation that Lyn and I took several times with a land-based or ‘regular’ vacation that we also did more than once. I chose these two simply because they both cost about the same.  I’m going to compare the big three categories of these two types of (and most other) vacations.  Accommodations (we gotta sleep), Food (we gotta eat), and Entertainment (why bother going on vacation if you’re not going to have fun?).

Before we took our first cruise (at about age forty-three) Lyn and I had already enjoyed over twenty years of vacations. We had never given much thought to a cruise because we just assumed that our limited vacation funds would go farther on a ‘regular’ vacation.  When we were younger and had very little money we took budget-conscious trips. And when we could afford to spend more we splurged a bit.  And then we eventually took our first cruise (and fell in love with cruising).   I’ll never forget that moment on our last night on the ship.  We had just stopped by the Purser’s desk to get a few envelopes (we wanted to leave personal thank-you notes to our porter and waiters for their exceptional service).  While we were there we picked up a copy of our final bill.  Just like a hotel bill, it itemized all those things we purchased during the trip and charged to our stateroom.  In our case it was stuff like wine and cocktails, massages, Lyn’s manicure, a few souvenirs from the ship’s stores, and the land excursions we booked. I was perusing the bill while we were on the elevator heading back to our room when a thought came to me.  I did a quick calculation, adding up the total we had just spent, including our airfare to the ship, the price of the cruise, and the extras that were on the bill in my hand.  Lyn and I compared it to an equivalent ‘regular’ vacation we had taken during the past couple of years, only to realize how wrong we were all those years.  Cruising isn’t necessarily the more expensive way to vacation as we had always thought. Let me give you an example by performing an exercise in comparing vacations that Lyn and I really enjoyed (which is why we went on them multiple times).

Let’s compare a seven-night vacation cruise on one of our favorite ships - Royal Caribbean’s The Oasis of the Seas - to a week at one of our favorite hotels, the Wynn Resort in Las Vegas.  The Wynn is a four-star resort which compares nicely with the level of luxury on the Oasis.  Both are huge hotels (yes, the Oasis is a giant floating hotel), each having thousands of rooms, lots of restaurants, shops, night clubs, big theaters, pools, spas, fitness center, business center, casinos, and lots of other choices for on-site entertainment both day and night. I can’t think of anything that the Wynn offers that the Oasis is missing.  You can even get your clothes washed, suit dry-cleaned, shoes shined, hair and nails done, etc.  On the other hand, the Oasis offers lots of stuff that the Wynn doesn’t.  I’ll talk about some of those after we finish this little exercise.  OK, let’s do this thing.  Remember, these two vacations cost us about the same amount of money.

Let’s start by comparing accommodations.  While our beautiful standard room at the Wynn is larger than our Junior Suite on the Oasis (both have king beds) and both have desks, the Junior Suite does boast a cozy living room area with a couch plus a walk-in closet.  So, if we compare the two accommodations, lets call it a wash.

Let’s talk food.  For Lyn and me it’s a big deal.  Both the Wynn and the Oasis have lots of places to eat, from casual to formal. When on vacation Lyn and I prefer to start each day by ordering breakfast to be delivered to our room.  This way we can wake up lazily, not having to perform our morning ablutions, get dressed, in order to go downstairs and invariably stand in line for a table at our favorite breakfast spot. Nope, room service for breakfast is most definitely the way to go.  Unfortunately, at the Wynn (like in most hotels) food is pretty expensive and room service is very expensive, easily running us $60-$80 each morning ($420-$560 for the week). So, while we prefer to do it every day of our trip, we only splurge once or twice. Oh well.   On the cruise, however, all meals are included and room service is absolutely free.  So, on the ship, Lyn and I enjoy breakfast on the balcony of our stateroom… every single day.

Our Wynn dinners are based on our moods but we usually hit the fancier restaurants at least three or four nights out of the week.  We would love to dine fancy every night but it can be pretty expensive.  Our lunches at the Wynn are usually casual and not overly expensive.  And let’s not forget coffees and snacks and maybe an ice cream cone if the mood strikes. Let’s just say that it’s pretty easy for Lyn and me to spend at least $1,500 on food for the week.  On a cruise, however, all of your meals, snacks, treats, etc., are included.  And don’t think that the choices are limited.  On the Oasis of the Seas, for example, you can choose to eat at the giant buffet or if you want fancy and gourmet, just put on your Sunday best and head to the Main dining room.  There’s also a restaurant that serves only healthier choices. For snacks you can hit the pizza shop, the sandwich deli, or one of several spots where you can grab a hamburger, hot dog, French fries, and other fast food classics.  And don’t get me started on the deserts.  They are everywhere.  There’s even a couple of self-serve soft ice-cream machines poolside.  And don’t forget that everything is all-you-can-eat.

How about entertainment?  At the Wynn Lyn and I like to take in a show each night after dinner. We’ll usually splurge once during the week for one of the more expensive big production shows where the tickets might go for $200 each or more.  But the other nights we’ll find something less expensive like a not-so-well-known comic or magician, trying to keep the ticket cost to under $50 each.  A week of nightly entertainment will typically cost us $750 or more. On the Oasis there are shows every night; big productions in big theaters as well as smaller acts brought in from all over the world in more quaint venues.  Broadway musicals, big bands, comedians, magicians, and lots more.  There’s an ice skating show staring famous Olympian ice skaters (yes, the Oasis has an ice-skating rink).  They even have a high-diving show.  They are all free.

So, let’s sum this up the big three.  These are actual vacations that Lyn and I have taken.  They ended up costing us about the same amount of money.  Now, don’t get me wrong here.  We enjoy vacationing at the Wynn in Las Vegas.  That’s why we’ve been there several times.  But because we’re not wealthy, and in order to keep the cost of the week down to an acceptable level, we don’t do the fancy dinners every night and we choose our nightly entertainment with our pocketbooks in mind.  On the Oasis, however, we can eat fancy every night without giving our wallets a second thought. Same goes with our nightly entertainment choices.  On the Oasis we can hit the big theater to see a different show every night because it’s all included.

So, the big epiphany I had on that fateful elevator ride was that cruises are an excellent value. You get a lot more for your money.  A whole lot more.

The above exercise was comparing just the big three.  I could go on seemingly forever talking about all of the great things about a cruise that on a regular vacation you’d have to pay for or you just don’t get. Let me list just a few:

The Oasis (as well as many other ships), to list just a few, has game rooms, card rooms, a reading library, tons of classes (learn to dance, paint, cook, more), and a fully supervised kids club where children and teens are kept busy and entertained all day and well into the evening.  All free.  The adults can stay busy too if they like, with a daily calendar of activities of all kinds.  For the sporto’s there’s organized basketball, volleyball, water polo, ping pong tournaments, and more.  For the thrill-seekers you can zip-line from one part of the ship to another, ten stories above. They even have one of those water machines that allow you to surf.  For the intellectual traveler there are classes on the histories of each of the ship’s ports of call. For the shopper there are even daily lectures with tips on the best shopping areas in each of the cities you’ll be visiting. For the gambler there are plenty of tournaments such as poker, blackjack, and even slots. There are literally hundreds of scheduled activities to choose from during the week. Start your day with a Yoga class or a workout with a personal trainer.  All free, free, free.

And let’s not forget a really big advantage of a cruise.  While you sleep, the ship carries you to another great destination.  So, if you’re the type that likes to visit multiple cities (or even multiple countries) during your vacation but would rather not have to pack, spend the day riding or even flying to the next city, check into another hotel, unpack, and spend more time getting your bearings, then you should consider taking a cruise.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.  Cruise vacations are an excellent value for your money.

Myth – I hear some ships carry 6,000 passengers. It must feel very crowded.

Actually, it’s just the opposite.  Since before the time of the Titanic and the Queen Mary (both the largest ships of their respective eras), cruise ships have been getting larger and larger.  Today’s largest cruise ships dwarf those of the 20th century.  The Oasis-class ships (Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, and the soon-to-be-completed Symphony of the Seas, with one more un-named ship in the series to be launched in 2021), all owned by Royal Caribbean and each costing about one and a half billion dollars, are roughly five times larger than the Titanic.  Each one can accommodate about 6,300 passengers plus another 2,100 crew and staff.

When Lyn and I first boarded the Oasis of the Seas we couldn’t wait to see the one ship on the planet that carried as many people as populated the entire village in which we lived.  Previous to our Oasis cruise, Lyn and I had been on several cruises, experiencing ships that carried passenger loads from about 2,000 to more than 3,500.  Until the launch of the Oasis of the Seas (the first of the planned five of the series), these ships were among the largest in the world.

The Oasis wasn’t just a modest increase in ship size.  It was a giant leap forward (pun fully intended), almost doubling the capacity of most of the larger of the world’s cruise ships.  When we booked our cruise on the Oasis, Lyn and I both were a tad concerned that the ship was going to feel crowded.  Wow, were we ever wrong.  The effect was just the opposite.  The ship was far bigger than we expected it to be.  This gave the architects the ability to not only accommodate over 8,400 people with staterooms and crew’s quarters, but they also left tons more room for everything else.  More theaters, more dining areas, more stores, more pools, more everything.  Not only more of everything, but everything got so much bigger. A lot bigger.  Even hallways and stairwells and elevator areas got bigger.

The ship is so massive that they had room to create a replica of a Manhattan Boulevard, with retail shops, a pizzeria, coffee house, sandwich shop, ice cream parlor and candy store, several pubs, and more.  It’s not only wide enough and long enough for an evening stroll, but it is several stories tall with a ceiling painted like a New York sky.  And if that wasn’t enough, on the open-air deck above that they created a replica of Manhattan’s Central Park, with a meandering sidewalk bordered by all sorts of live bushes and trees (first ever on a cruise ship), and surrounded by several restaurants.

Wherever we went on that ship we marveled at the size of the spaces.  And because of its huge proportions, the seemingly impossible number of humans roaming around its many decks (this ship sails full every week) is so dispersed that Lyn and I continually asked ourselves and each other, “Where is everyone?”

Myth – A Travel Agent and a Travel Consultant are the same thing.

Not really.  Both 'Travel Agents' and 'Travel Consultants' (also known as 'Specialists')  are able to act on your behalf by booking travel (flights, trains, etc.) and/or travel related items (hotels, tours, etc.).  However, by definition, a travel consultant is much more than just a travel agent.  When you have a business trip that takes you from Denver to Paris, then from Paris to Berlin, and then back home to Denver (complicated), any travel agent can handle that for you. But when you and your spouse want to celebrate your twenty-fifth anniversary by finally taking that European dream cruise you’ve both been talking about since the kids were little, you’ll want a specialist.

Travel Consultants are indeed Travel Agents, but Consultants typically have a specialty.  Perhaps even more than one specialty.  Think of it like this.  When you come down with a cold, or sprain your ankle, or even need a couple of stitches due to a knife-vs-bagel incident, you visit your family doctor.  But when you have something more serious, you consult a specialist.  Preferably one that has plenty of experience dealing with your particular malady.  When planning that European cruise that has several moving parts to it (pun fully intended) you want a Travel Consultant that specializes in cruises (a.k.a. your cruise specialist).

You see, your cruise specialist has likely taken many hours of specialized education from several cruise lines, has personally taken many cruises, taken many overseas flights, experienced lots of tours and excursions, stayed in lots of overseas hotels, and has learned firsthand how differently things are done in countries other than our own.  Therefore, that cruise specialist can not only create a travel itinerary that can seamlessly take you where you want to go and do the things you want to do, but can also minimize the chances of problems and frustrations arising.

And because that cruise specialist has been on lots of overseas cruises, perhaps even taken the same cruise on the same ship on which you’re going, they can give you lots of great advice that can greatly enhance your experience and get you more for your money.

I’ll never forget the first time Lyn and I planned one of our many cruises, this time with a cruise specialist.  The specialist turned us onto a cruise line that was far superior in accommodating food allergies, of which Lyn has many. Until then, Lyn had to pack a suitcase full of food and snacks for those occasions when the ship's menu was lacking in things she could eat.  What a pleasure it was for her to be able to order gourmet meals prepared just for her.  They prepared special appetizers, entrees, soups, breads and even deserts for her.

Because one of her allergies is to wheat, I’ll never forget when we discovered that the ship carried special wheat-free (gluten-free) dough so they could make a special pizza just for her.   That’s the kind of enhancements I’m talking about.  Advice like that comes from consulting a specialist.

A cruise specialist will also enhance your experience by helping you pick not only the right stateroom but the right location of that stateroom.  There are several factors to consider, again based on your likes and needs.  As an example, Lyn loves cruises, but doesn’t like to feel the effects that weather has on a ship while she tries to sleep.  When sleeping in a stateroom far forward and on a lower deck, we have felt the vibrations as the ship hits the taller waves. Lyn's not a fan of those vibrations.  When sleeping in a stateroom in the forward or aft (rear) sections of a ship, Lyn also doesn’t like the gentle rise and fall as the ship traverses larger waves. Don’t get me wrong.  There are lots of people who enjoy the rhythmic vibrations of the bow hitting those waves as well as the gentle up and down as the ship moves across the water. In fact, I’m one of them.  In my opinion, it’s part of the fun of being on the water.  But because Lyn prefers a more stable sleep environment, we always default to a stateroom somewhere in the middle of the ship where those movements or vibrations are lessened or non-existent.

There are several other considerations when choosing your stateroom location, but without the expertise of a cruise specialist you might not know how to pick the stateroom location that’s just right for you.  The bottom line here is that you are about to spend your hard-earned money on a vacation that might just be a once-in-a-lifetime thing.  On the other hand, you might love it enough to make it a once or twice a year thing (like Lyn and I try to do).  Either way, a cruise specialist will not only save you a ton of time trying to research and plan your trip, but they will enhance your experience by knowing where and how little problems and frustrations can arise, and help prevent them.

They will also enhance your trip by giving you advice on all other aspects of your trip, usually drawing from their own experiences.  The two examples above (1. Which cruise line deals better with food allergies, and 2.  Picking the right stateroom location.) are what I call ‘Game-changers’ because they both involve really big factors of any vacation (i.e.  Food and Comfort).  You can imagine that not being able to eat well or sleep well on a cruise ship might just ruin the whole experience for some people.  But just like in your daily life at home, when you are traveling to new and exciting places, in your own country or abroad, there are lots of little needless frustrations that can be avoided if you are working with the right cruise specialist.

Here are just a few examples:

Early in our cruising career, we were on our way to a cruise through the Greek Isles that began from a port in England.  Lyn and I planned to tour London for four days before getting on the ship.

By the way, this is one of the major pieces of advice we provide.  If you’re already spending lots of time and money on flights, you might as well turn two separate vacations into one.  Visiting London was on our bucket list so when planning our Greek Island cruise, it was a piece of cake decision to choose a ship that started out in England and carve out four extra days to tour London.  On one of our Alaska cruise vacations which takes you to several westernmost Alaskan ports, we added four days to tour several interior areas including a venture into Canada.  We try to do that sort of thing with every trip we take and make the suggestion to everyone we talk to about planning a cruise.  Of course, not everyone can take the extra time from work or stretch their budget, but it is always worth considering.

Anyway, we took a taxi from Heathrow airport to our hotel in the heart of London.  When I pulled out my wad of Euros that I picked up weeks earlier from my bank back home (thinking all the while that I was smart to be prepared with foreign currency) our cabby told me I needed to pay him in British money (Pounds).  I wasn’t prepared for this.  Knowing that England was a member of the European Union I just assumed that Euros were the accepted currency.  I learned from the now slightly impatient cab driver that this was not the case.  England was indeed part of the Union but was the one country of all twenty-eight that decided to maintain its own currency….the British Pound.

I later learned that many places in England will accept Euros as payment for goods and services, including some cabbies, but some did not, including the now very impatient cabby giving me this lesson.  I offered him US dollars but his reaction to that was a real surprise to me.  He practically spit at the bills I proffered.  Turns out that these days, US dollars are held in contempt by much of the world.  While most hotels will provide exchange services for your dollars, you’ll find that most other businesses, small and large, will absolutely refuse to take them (I had another similarly embarrassing moment later that same day at an ice-cream stand).

After a far longer exchange than was necessary, the cabby waited as I went into our hotel, waited on line at the front desk to exchange my money into Pounds, and returned almost a half-hour later with the proper currency.  He was not a happy camper and the sour experience stayed with me to this day.  Because of that experience, being prepared with the right currency is a discussion I have with everyone planning a trip abroad.  I even advise them as to how to get the best exchange rates and how to avoid expensive service fees.

Every minute of your vacation is precious time.  Your goal should be to enjoy every moment and not waste a single one on trifles like having to deal with nonsense.  A good cruise consultant will provide you with great tips and advice that will help you achieve that goal.

Myth - If you are prone to sea sickness, cruising is out of the question.

A hundred years ago you might have been right to stay clear of cruise ships if you were prone to sea sickness.  But technology has done wonders for passengers’ comfort and convenience.  A ship’s size is a factor.  The larger the ship, the less affect waves have on it.  The invention and addition of Stabilizers was a big deal.  These giant mechanisms engage themselves automatically to mitigate the ships movements through rough seas.  Lastly, medical science brings us the Patch.  Just attach this little band-aid-looking sticker, about as big as your thumbnail, and it will provide you with sea-sickness prevention medication for up to twenty-four hours. For those that feel that these advancements may not be sufficient to prevent the waves from affecting their enjoyment, there’s one more strategy to employ.  Pick a cruise where there aren’t any waves.

My wife and partner, Lyn, is not only prone to sea sickness, she has an actual phobia about being out on the water.  During the first many years of our marriage we traveled extensively but she refused to take a cruise until one day, while planning a graduation party for one of our sons, we asked him what he might like as a graduation gift.  We just assumed he, like any normal teenager, would ask for a car, but were surprised when he looked straight at Lyn and said he wanted us to take a family cruise.  He continued to speak directly at Lyn and told her that he knew how she felt about boats.  He had done a little research and suggested that we take an Alaskan cruise and elect to do the ‘inside passage’.  You see, there are two route options with an Alaskan cruise.  The inside passage is a body of water that is protected, for the most part, from the waves of the ocean by a long set of islands.  He also said we should choose a large ship with modern stabilizers, even though the inside passage was relatively calm.  He also brought up the 'patch', which is how we lovingly refer to the seemingly miraculous medicine available today to treat (prevent) sea sickness.  It looks like a little band-aid about the size of your thumbnail.  You just stick it onto a hidden patch of skin and you're good to go for up to twenty-four hours.

He had clearly done his homework and had his request all tee'd up.  Our son pleaded with her to give it a try and, bravely, albeit reluctantly, she agreed.  We took the Alaska cruise, inside passage, big ship, and fell in love with cruising.  Lyn never needed the Patch and was brave enough to suggest that our next cruise be in the Mediterranean Sea.  You see, the Med has waves but typically does not have the sort of waves one would experience in the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans.  So Lyn figured since she had such an easy time of it on the Alaskan cruise (inside passage) she would give the Med a try.  We’ve since taken several Med cruises and eventually Lyn graduated to taking cruises that took us out on the wide open ocean.

So, for you sea sickness or water-phobic folks, all you need is the right ship, the right cruise, a little patch (and you may not even need that), and a supportive family and you’ll be cruising too.

And by the way, if you really want to take a baby step, take a river cruise. No waves at all.

Myth – Travel agents book cruises. They don’t make them better.

This is a whopper of a myth.  While it’s true that there are tons of travel agents out there that have never been on a cruise themselves, thus putting them (and their clients) at a disadvantage when their client wants to take a cruise.  Sure the agent can book the cruise for you, but that agent can’t give you first hand advice and incredibly helpful tips like someone who’s actually taken a cruise.

However, an agent who happens to be an experienced cruiser can be an incredible asset.  And even better if the agent has been on the same ship and/or visited the same ports of call.  For example, choosing your cabin can be very important.  An inexperienced agent would probably just pick an available cabin at random and assign it to you.  But experienced cruisers would spend a lot of time with you explaining the benefits and detriments of your choices. I cannot express how important choosing the right cabin is for me.  I will go so far as to say it could mean the difference between having memories of an incredible experience or memories of having to endure some frustration.  For example:

• If you are in bed and in a stateroom at the very forward part of the ship and the water happens to be choppy, it is likely that you will feel every bump as the ship hits a wave. Keep in mind that the bigger the ship the less you will feel that bump, but you will indeed feel it while in bed. I happen to not be overly sensitive to those types of bumps so they never kept me awake.  However, my wife is not a fan which is why, after our one experience in a forward stateroom, we never choose a stateroom in the very forward part of the ship. She didn’t have the best night’s sleep but thank goodness it was only that one night when the weather created those rough seas.
• If the seas are rough the ship will rise and fall as it travels over the waves. The farther forward or the farther aft (rear) you are means that you will feel it that much more.  The closer you are to the middle of the ship, the less effect of the waves you feel.  When in bed, some people like that feeling of being rocked to sleep (like I do).  However, some really don’t like it (like my wife), which is why Lyn and I choose a stateroom somewhere around the middle third of the ship.
• Another important factor when choosing your stateroom is the level (high floor or low floor) you want to be on, especially if your stateroom has a window that opens, or better yet a balcony. If you don’t have an opening window or balcony, the only real consideration is how close to the action you want to be as you will find yourself going to and from your stateroom many times during your trip.  Most of the time you’ll be heading upstairs to the higher decks where you’ll find things like the pool(s) and hot tubs, fitness center, sports decks, and most restaurants.  (Most ships have stuff like their casinos and theaters on lower decks.) So, if you want your walks to and from to be shorter, you’ll want to be on a higher deck (with a stateroom nearer to an elevator or stairway). If you have an opening window/door there are other considerations.  No matter how high you are, when you open that window or sliding door, the sound of the ship slicing through the water will rush into your room.  The lower you are, the louder it will be.  Keep in mind that some people love to sleep to that sound.  In my opinion it is the most wonderful white-noise.
• Most ships have staterooms without windows as an available option. These are typically less expensive than staterooms with a view.  However, if you are susceptible to sea sickness I wouldn’t recommend a windowless room.   Then again, if you are budget-conscious, you can always rely on the wonderful remedies available today, both by prescription and over the counter.
• Keep in mind that waves in an ocean like the Atlantic or Pacific are going to have a bit more impact on a ship than the typical waves of the Mediterranean Sea or the Gulf of Mexico. Then there are cruises on relatively calm waters such as the inside passage to Alaska where waves are almost non-existent.  Therefore, being in a forward stateroom shouldn’t be much different than middle or aft.  The point here is that the body of water on which you are traveling should be a consideration when choosing your stateroom.

And that’s just picking your stateroom.  An experienced agent can also help you select tours and excursions that are right for you.  Most cruise lines do a great job of having plenty of tours and excursions available at each port of call.  But perhaps you’re a bit of an adventurer and are not really excited by any of the tours and excursions being offered by your cruise line during your day in Belize.  Knowing this about you, an agent who has been there (me for instance) might ask if you would enjoy a leisurely three-mile hike, then rappelling down into and exploring a massive cave.  Perhaps you’re nursing an injured ankle like Lyn during one of our cruises through the Med.  She was using a cane for a few weeks.  It isn’t bad enough for you to cancel your cruise, but you need to be careful.  An agent who’s been on tours in this region of the world will help you choose those excursions that don’t require a lot of walking.  You’ll also want to keep off uneven surfaces such as cobblestone streets or particularly hilly areas.

Let’s say you have food allergies or are on a gluten-free diet.  An experienced agent will be able to tell you which cruise lines are best at dealing with these (and some are really terrific with food issues).  They can also tell you which countries are best to visit if you have these issuers.

There are so many more examples I can give.  But I hope I’ve convinced you that a travel agent that has experienced many types of cruises and, better yet, has been where you’re going, can give you first-hand advice that will enhance your experience and help you make the most of your cruise.

Myth - Having a Family Reunion on a cruise ship is Too Expensive.

Actually, when you tally the cost of hotel rooms, meals and entertainment, and perhaps even a catered venue for a family party, an equivalent family reunion held on a cruise can be far less expensive and even more enjoyable for the whole group.  And if the get-together is large enough you can get group rates, making it an even better value.  (Typically, you can get group rates by booking as few as eight staterooms.)  Let’s compare.

The truth is that having your company get-togethers (conferences, meetings, reward-outings etc.) on a cruise ship is a much better value than hotels, convention centers, or resorts.  Cruise outings can save you as much as 30% plus give you advantages that other venues can’t.

For example, at traditional venues such as Las Vegas or Orlando’s Disneyworld, these areas are so vast and accessible that it is probable that many of the attendees will blow off some (or all) of the group events for something off-property.  On a cruise ship the attendees, while having lots of entertainment available, simply can’t go far. Couple that with a well-timed meeting schedule (meet while the ship is at sea and during dinner times when there are few distractions) and it’s likely you’ll have 100% attendance.

As for savings, on a cruise ship the price per attendee includes not only the accommodations (state room) but also food and non-alcoholic beverage, plus entertainment galore.  And the choices for food are astonishing, rivaling most four and five-star resorts. Not only are meals covered, but snacks, deserts, and even impulse foods like pizza, burgers, ice cream and cookie treats, etc.  Room service is free and available for any meal and most ships offer it 24-hours a day.

Also free are meeting spaces for small and intimate gatherings of just a couple of dozen people all the way up to huge auditoriums for hundreds of attendees. Also available (and usually free of charge) are state of the art audio/visual equipment, welcome cocktail parties, private meals, and more. Another big plus for your cruise ship conference is the convenience of planning it.  It’s one-stop shopping and they do all the work for you. Having your company event on a cruise is a great value. Not only can you save lots of money, but it’s easier and less time-consuming for you to plan it.  Plus, the attendees will love it.  It’s a win-win.

Myth – Having a company conference on a cruise ship is too expensive.

The truth is that having your company get-togethers (conferences, meetings, reward-outings etc.) on a cruise ship is a much better value than hotels, convention centers, or resorts.  Cruise outings can save you as much as 30% plus give you advantages that other venues can’t.

For example, at traditional venues such as Las Vegas or Orlando’s Disneyworld, these areas are so vast and accessible that it is probable that many of the attendees will blow off some (or all) of the group events for something off-property.  On a cruise ship the attendees, while having lots of entertainment available, simply can’t go far. Couple that with a well-timed meeting schedule (meet while the ship is at sea and during dinner times when there are few distractions) and it’s likely you’ll have 100% attendance.

As for savings, on a cruise ship the price per attendee includes not only the accommodations (state room) but also food and non-alcoholic beverage, plus entertainment galore.  And the choices for food are astonishing, rivaling most four and five-star resorts. Not only are meals covered, but snacks, deserts, and even impulse foods like pizza, burgers, ice cream and cookie treats, etc.  Room service is free and available for any meal and most ships offer it 24-hours a day.

Also free are meeting spaces; for small and intimate gatherings of just a couple of dozen people all the way up to huge auditoriums for hundreds of attendees. Also available (and usually free of charge) are state of the art audio/visual equipment, welcome cocktail parties, private meals, and more.

Another big plus for your cruise ship conference is the convenience of planning it.  It’s one-stop shopping and they do all the work for you. Having your company event on a cruise is a great value. Not only can you save lots of money, but it’s easier and less time-consuming for you to plan it.  Plus, the attendees will love it.  It’s a win-win.

Myth - Excursions are limited to those the Cruise Line offers.

When a cruise ship spends the day docked at one of its ports of call, this is an opportunity to go ashore and see the sights, explore the city, do some shopping, hit the beach, etc. The cruise line makes this very easy and convenient for you by arranging with local vendors and operators all sorts of activities.  Of course, the types of activities will depend on the location but there’s always lots to choose from.

As an example, when in Jamaica Lyn and I spent the morning touring what was once a large coffee plantation that had been worked by as many as three thousand slaves.  From there we went to a beach club and hung out in our own cabana with a cooler full of wine and soft drinks.

At one of our Alaskan ports of call we took a fantastic jeep caravan tour.  Every couple or family was given their own jeep to drive.  Each was equipped with a CB radio (breaker-one-nine).  We all followed our tour guide as we crossed the border into Canada and spent the next four hours driving into the mountains of the Yukon territory where we saw terrain unlike anywhere else we had ever been.  Another memorable Alaskan excursion was when we were helicoptered onto a glacier and were allowed to roam around after a guided tour.

When in Haiti, Lyn and I were with our favorite fellow cruise travelers Howard & Gail.  We split up as the girls wanted to do a little beach-side souvenir shopping while Howard and I wanted to do something a bit more adventurous.  So we signed up to take a jet ski tour which was a bit like the jeep caravan tour but instead of a jeep each of us were on our own jet ski.  We all met up later at a beautiful lagoon-side beach club.

While in one of our many memorable Mexican ports of call, Lyn and I were transported to a beautiful beach resort where we (and about 70 of our fellow passengers) had a blast learning how to make salsa, dance the Salsa, and make an authentic Mexican margarita (all you can drink, by the way).

In Belize we chose to take a boat ride up a jungle river to tour an ancient Mayan city.  Not just a temple like you see on TV.  This was an entire city with roads and shops and stadiums.  We even saw where they performed rituals including human sacrifice (ugh!).

These (and many others that we’ve taken over the years) were all excursions made available to us in a simple catalog-style menu.  Each came with a clear description of the activity, its start-time and duration, a price per person, and any appropriate warnings such as “requires uphill hiking over uneven terrain” or “not for wheelchairs as tour includes stairs”.  This made it incredibly convenient to plan our days when in a port. We usually picked our excursions a couple of months before the cruise. Just a point-and-click and we were all set.  We weren’t billed until the end of the cruise.  Easy-peasy.

The above diatribe was intended to tell you that the easiest, fastest, and most convenient way to set up your shore excursions is through the cruise line’s pre-arranged menu.  However, some people assume that this is the only choice. Far from it.  You can research the area surrounding the port and make your own arrangements.  You might rent a car and do your own sightseeing.  Perhaps take a cab to a particular shopping district you’ve discovered or just go into town for a lunch with the locals. Maybe arrange to play golf at a local course (most have clubs you can rent). The possibilities are endless.  Some people think they can save money by bypassing the cruise line and booking the same excursions directly. Keep in mind that many of these tours are set up by the cruise lines (some are even owned by the cruise line) and thus cannot be booked any other way.   However, there are plenty of tours and activities that you can arrange on your own.  It just takes a bit of legwork (mostly internet searches, emails, and phone calls).

Now that I’ve cleared up the myth, allow me to give you fair warning.  If you are new to cruising, don’t set up tours by yourself in areas you aren’t familiar with, especially in a foreign country.  Something could easily go wrong because you simply were not aware.  I’ll give you a couple of examples.

I met a nice elderly couple (American) on one of our European cruises.  They had taken one prior cruise back home the year before, loved it, and decided to cross the pond for a Mediterranean cruise.   Rome was one of the ports of call where they wanted to visit a few specific museums.  The cruise line’s extensive menus of excursions didn’t have one that worked for them so they decided to make their own arrangements.  They knew enough to secure a tour guide in each of the museums.

Many museums and historic places have their own in-house tour guides and don’t allow outside tour guides. If caught they could be thrown out and banned for life.  Coincidentally, we learned this on our own first trip to Rome when the guide we hired to take us around the city brought us to the Vatican gates only to inform us that he couldn’t guide us when we entered. For that we’d have to arrange for one of the Vatican’s own guides. Now you tell us? But I digress.

Anyway, back to the couple.  As they exited the ship and bypassed all of the buses, vans, and sedans that were just outside the ship loading passengers for their excursions, what the couple didn’t plan on was the mile-long walk from the ship to the port’s gate, where they assumed there would be a line of taxis waiting to be hired.

The temperature was in the mid nineties that day. By the time they exited the port’s gate they were drenched in sweat and exhausted.  To make matters worse there was no line of taxis waiting to be hired.  They eventually found someone to call a taxi for them.  By the time the taxi showed up they were already very late for their appointment to meet the guide at the first museum which meant they had to cut that tour short in order to make the next one (sorry, no refunds).  They admitted to me that it ruined their day.  I didn’t have the heart to tell them that they could have arranged for a golf cart to pick them up at the bottom of the gangway and drive them to the port gates.  Instead, I suggested that next time they wanted to set up a custom tour they should just have their travel agent do it for them.  A professional agent likely would have known to make the arrangements properly, including having a car waiting for them at the bottom of the ship's gangway.  It’s also probable that the agent would have gotten them a better price on their tours.