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utorak, 06.10.2009.

Cruise Shore Excursions

Shore Excursions - exploring your Ports of Call!
Shore excursions (when you leave the ship to visit your port of call) can be some of the most exciting moments of your vacation. Adventures await onshore at each destination your ship takes you to.
While your cruise ship can be a destination resort in and of itself with countless onboard activities - these are just the beginning of your cruise vacation .
At each port, you can leave the ship and join a
guided excursions on land that immerse you in the native culture of each of our exciting ports. Go wildlife viewing, hike a glacier or cycle through the countryside.
If bargain hunting is your sport, there's no shortage of markets offering a variety of unique items.
Land tours are mostly half to one day tours offered in a port city. They are a great way to enhance your cruise experience while seeing more of the ports your cruise brings you to. On board each ship is a Shore Excursion Office or Land Tour staff who arrange the off-ship adventures for you. There are charges for the guided tours and very worth the price. You can be
secure in knowing that the tour operators are monitored by the cruise lines to ensure they meet and maintain the level of service provided to ships passengers.
Going on an organized tour, one sponsored by the cruise line has an advantage that the ship will wait for any of its overdue guests - no worries about
the ship leaving without you.
You are certainly free to leave the ship and explore on your own but I believe for your own safety and security, it is better to take an organized, sponsored, tour unless you are very familiar with the culture and geography of the area you are visiting.
Many cruise Lines offer a complete selection of off-ship activities such as nature walks, whitewater rafting, helicopter flightseeing and beyond. The Shore Excursions are often described in detail in booklets provided with your cruise documents or in detail online at the cruise line's website.
Shore Excursions enhance your cruise vacation to create memories of a lifetime . You pay for these excursions through your on-board account and many cruise lines allow you to pre-book your shore excursions on-line once your agent has given you your cruise ID number.
The advantages to pre-booking your shore excusions are many.
Reserve
in advance and be assured of your excursion choices.
Start
your cruise knowing that everything you want to do is reserved
and paid for ...
There are cost effective shore excursion offerings from very reputable companies other than your cruise line and at very attractive rates with depth and quality equal to or surpassing the cruise line.
These companies offer a high level of knowledge and skill and will pick you up at your ship and return your there at the end of your off ship adventure.
In our experience, ShoreTrips seek out the best of the operators. They go directly to the source to determine who they feel are the best suited to deliver a great product. Shore Trips examine their equipment, hold their insurance, and build a relationship. They have met with every operator they work with and, by understanding the port of call and knowing the tour, they can confidently offer terrific activities. In addition, Shore Trips operators are all professionals in the travel industry and they guarantee to return you to your ship on time.
Shore Trips offers you the ability to browse from a huge catalog of wonderful activities to complement your ports of call.
You can browse through all the offerings by to create your own TripPlanner® - an electronic mini-brochure of the ShoreTrips® that interest you.
Never Fear - their policy allows cancellation without penalty up to 11 days before your tour and always refunds in full for ship itinerary changes and weather-related safety considerations .
Remember your cruise ship is your own floating resort however a great part of the fun is getting off the ship and taking part in terrific activities that let you experience the ports of call. You won't be sorry... getting off the ship and exploring doubles the fun!

Mediterranean Cruises, Mediterranean Cruise, European Cruises, European Cruise, Europe Cruises

Mediterranean cruises take passengers to a rich mosaic of sights, from the
sun-washed beaches of the Riviera to the magnificent antiquities of Rome,
Athens and Ephesus. On a Mediterranean cruise, you may stroll the broad
boulevards of Barcelona and Nice or view works of the masters in the museums
of Florence and Paris.
Cruises are a wonderful, worry-free way to explore the great cities of Europe.
About ľ of all European cruises are Mediterranean cruises, and the
other Ľ are cruises of the British Isles and Northern Europe.
Western Mediterranean cruises will typically call at ports in Spain, France
and Italy, and may also visit ports in Portugal, Monaco, Tunisia or Morocco.
Eastern Mediterranean cruises may include Italy, Greece, Turkey, Croatia,
Bulgaria or the Ukraine. Holy Land cruises usually combine Eastern Mediterranean
cruise ports with Israel and Egypt, while some Mediterranean cruises concentrate
solely on the Greek Isles.
The Mediterranean cruise season is from late April to October, although a few ships cruise this region year-round.
Mediterranean cruises are 7 to 14 nights in length.
Because you'll need to fly a long distance to reach your port of departure,
we suggest that you arrive at the port city at least one or two days in
advance of your Mediterranean cruise. This will give you time to rest and
get oriented before boarding the ship. Most cruise lines offer pre-cruise
hotel packages.
For a list of ports you can visit on Eastern Mediterranean cruises, click
.
For a list of ports you can visit on Western Mediterranean cruises, click
.

Mediterranean Cruises, Mediterranean Cruise, European Cruises, European Cruise, Europe Cruises

Mediterranean cruises take passengers to a rich mosaic of sights, from the
sun-washed beaches of the Riviera to the magnificent antiquities of Rome,
Athens and Ephesus. On a Mediterranean cruise, you may stroll the broad
boulevards of Barcelona and Nice or view works of the masters in the museums
of Florence and Paris.
Cruises are a wonderful, worry-free way to explore the great cities of Europe.
About ľ of all European cruises are Mediterranean cruises, and the
other Ľ are cruises of the British Isles and Northern Europe.
Western Mediterranean cruises will typically call at ports in Spain, France
and Italy, and may also visit ports in Portugal, Monaco, Tunisia or Morocco.
Eastern Mediterranean cruises may include Italy, Greece, Turkey, Croatia,
Bulgaria or the Ukraine. Holy Land cruises usually combine Eastern Mediterranean
cruise ports with Israel and Egypt, while some Mediterranean cruises concentrate
solely on the Greek Isles.
The Mediterranean cruise season is from late April to October, although a few ships cruise this region year-round.
Mediterranean cruises are 7 to 14 nights in length.
Because you'll need to fly a long distance to reach your port of departure,
we suggest that you arrive at the port city at least one or two days in
advance of your Mediterranean cruise. This will give you time to rest and
get oriented before boarding the ship. Most cruise lines offer pre-cruise
hotel packages.
For a list of ports you can visit on Eastern Mediterranean cruises, click
.
For a list of ports you can visit on Western Mediterranean cruises, click
.

Cruises for Singles - Gallery

"The 'mixers' were fabulous at helping
us get to know each other. All of us, without exception, left that ship
with happy hearts and new friends. Meeting these people and sharing the
adventure with them made the entire vacation simply the very best thing
I've ever done. I left the Conquest with pictures, trinkets, addresses,
phone numbers and a nasty sunburn. I also left with a girl named Mindy and
sit here now with tickets to see her in 3 weeks. To anyone considering a
singles cruise through VTG, be not afraid ye, go forth and book the cruise.
You will never regret it. Simply put, it was the best time I ever had in my life."

Cruisemates Consumer Affairs; Cabin Service, Port Safety and Alcohol

Cabin Service, Port Safety and Alcohol
By Art Sbarsky, CruiseMates Consumer Affairs Editor
July 5, 2005
Art Sbarsky, CruiseMates Consumer Affairs Editor, answers letters and comments on key issues posted by readers. If you have a question about cruising, send it to
.
Subject: Bad Stateroom Service One cruiser wrote in recently to talk about his frustrations due to the cabin steward's bad service throughout the cruise.
I don't blame them for being frustrated. According to their letter, they did the right things to resolve the problem: They spoke to the steward, they went to the front desk, and they talked to the hotel director. The room was not being made up until late in the day, trash was uncollected, and dirty glasses were left around. Now, some people will go with the flow and make do -- but in this case, the steward's conduct was simply not up to the standard provided by the line in question.
There are three more things these guests could have done as a result. First, by the middle of the cruise, I would have put my complaint in writing to the hotel director and kept a copy. Second, if there was no improvement, I'd certainly have changed the tip for this steward. Even though the tips were put on the guests' folio automatically, they had the option of changing the amount. Third, at the end of the cruise I would have sent the letter to the customer service department at the line's headquarters, citing the name of the hotel director and the steward. Then at least someone in charge would be aware of this unsatisfactory situation.
Subject: Port Safety The recent incident of the missing U.S. teenager in Aruba sparked letters about the safety of cruise ship guests in port.
No cruise ship is knowingly going to put its guests at risk. Way back in the '80s, St. Croix was the site of various attacks on tourists. Cruise lines took it off their itineraries as a result, and it's taken nearly two decades for ships to start calling there again. Thus it is in the best interest of ports to make sure their streets, beaches, etc. are as safe as they can be. Other ports, such as La Guaira for Caracas, or Cartagena, are periodically taken off itineraries if things look too risky.
I certainly hope the Aruba situation is an isolated event, but there are still common-sense things any guest can do to prevent problems. Especially when traveling by oneself, any guest, male or female, should be extremely careful going down less-populated streets, taking taxis to less-frequented beaches, wearing jewelry or flashing cash in public, etc. It's always best to travel in groups and, even in tropical paradises, keep as alert as you would in any major city. Be cautious when approached by strangers. At night, be extra careful.
Subject: Personal Alcohol on Board Several cruisers have written lately about cruise line policies preventing them from bringing their own alcohol on board.
Most large lines have polices prohibiting guests from bringing liquor on board, whether they brought it from home or purchased it ashore during the cruise. The lines make a lot of money selling booze in their bars, and they do not want guests cutting into this profit center.
One major line clearly states that alcoholic beverages may not be brought on board at embarkation; all such beverages bought in port will be held until the end of the cruise; fine wine or champagne may be brought on board, but it is subject to a $10 corkage fee if you drink it in the dining room. I don't understand this latter portion, as I consider wine and champagne to be alcohol. But that's their policy.
Some lines are more restrictive, some less so. Some monitor it very carefully; some have a more lenient approach. It's pretty easy to argue both sides of this issue, depending on your point of view. I suggest cruisers carefully read in advance the information they get from the cruise line to clear up any doubt before the cruise starts.
I'm off the soapbox for this month. If you have any comments on these or other issues, please let me know. Send a note to my e-mail address listed above.

Cruise Guide - Cruising Antarctica

Live from Antarctica, Part 3
NOTE:   Society Expeditions is no longer in service, however this four-part report on Antarctic cruising contains much valuable information for those wishing to sail in the region with other cruise lines.
We have had some wonderful times on our Society Expeditions Antarctica voyage aboard World Discoverer, but in these polar regions, weather is the key element in the fortunes of the ship and its passengers. Where, when and if we make a landing depends entirely on the weather, and in this respect we have not been so
lucky.
So far, we have missed quite a few intended landing sites. Either the seas were too high or the intense katabatic winds peculiar to the polar regions descended, reaching gales of 75 miles per hour! Because of these conditions we had to pass on visits to Palmer Station, Petermann Island, and this morning, Henryk Arctowski, the Polish research station. As the ship approached the Polish station, the sun was shining and it was beautiful. But in the 45 minutes it took for the scout zodiac to go ashore and return, the winds picked up and became too intense and dangerous for us to land.
Yesterday at Petermann Island, the situation was the same, except that in addition to the winds, there was snow and sleet. Backtracking through the beautiful Lemaire Channel we saw four minke whales playing close to the ship. We followed them for awhile and watched them. Retracing our path through Paradise Bay, we had hoped to land at Nikko Harbor, but by then the sleet was coming at us sideways. Yet a few hours later the sky had cleared, it was warm on deck, and the mountains and glaciers were glistening beautifully in the late-day sun. It was spectacular. This is the true Antarctic experience.
Let me backtrack again to Friday, December 13 when we landed at Danco Island. I stood in one place and watched the gentoo penguins making their way along the paths they carved into the snow, all the way up the mountain to their colony at the top. I even saw a traffic jam as six little guys marched in single file up one road, only to meet a single fellow coming down. There was an impasse. But they had a crossroads. Two animals went across and up the other road. The lone bird coming down also crossed over and continued down to the water. The rest continued their journey up the mountain. Amazing. We were told not to impinge on their penguin paths in any way, because if they were damaged, the animals would have to create new ones. Their lives are stressful enough.
The second part of our landing was a zodiac tour through the fantastic ice formations in the bay. Resting on one piece of ice were two Weddell seals and a skua, a large sea bird. Another ice formation was a shelf with two giant, eroding iceballs on top. Light refraction created an electric blue glow, as if someone had stuck a neon light bulb in between the ball and the shelf. It was breathtaking.
Later we had the disappointment of not being able to visit Palmer Station or see the penguins there. But we went on to Port Lockroy, a restored British research station and museum. It was raining hard and the wind was blowing. Going ashore was an adventure. But we were able to buy postcards and send them from the station. They will arrive eventually.
Conditions change quickly. When World Discoverer was at Port Lockroy 10 days earlier, the harbor was icebound and the passengers were able to walk down the gangway, across the pack ice and to the station! Now the water was open all the way to the shore. Next we are off to Half Moon Island, a place with a sheltered harbor and no icecaps, which are what help to create the katabatic winds.
Half Moon Island was marvelous. On the beach, chinstrap and a few gentoo penguins ignored us and simply stood and groomed themselves. A skua stole a penguin egg from the hilltop colony. On the other side of the hill, Weddell seals lay on the beach, and across the channel was a long, huge glacier. Not far from the ship, an iceberg changed color with the sun and cloud movement. It was a rare afternoon. Back aboard the World Discoverer, we were greeted with mulled wine and Christmas cakes instead of the usual afternoon tea.ow we are leaving Antarctica, sailing past the South Shetland Islands and through English Strait, headed for the Drake Passage and eventually Cape Horn. Enjoy the views and I'll be back with another installment.
To be continued...

Bermuda for Families and Kids - What to do in the former British Colony

Family-friendly Bermuda by Luisa Frey Gaynor, CruiseMates Family Editor
July 2, 2007
One possible problem presented itself on our recent cruise to Bermuda aboard the Costa Magica: We docked for two days and nights at the Royal Naval Dockyard out on the island's West End. Most ships call at the main towns of Hamilton and St. George, so I was concerned that my children would whine about having to use public transportation to get from the West End to the island's beaches and attractions. But it worked out fine. In fact, my teenage daughter Alex said she liked the tranquility of the West End compared to Hamilton and St. George. Since Bermuda's bus and ferry system is so efficient, friendly and reasonably priced, our entire stay was smooth sailing.
Adding to the high satisfaction level of our stay in Bermuda was the quality of the family-friendly attractions we visited. From a nicely-landscaped aquarium/aviary/zoo to world-famous beaches and colonial re-enactments, there are plenty of activities to keep kids and teens happy in Bermuda.
(Note: Buy a multi-day transportation pass based on the number of days your ship will be in port. We bought a two-day pass, which gave us unlimited use of buses/ferries. The pass costs $20 for adults and $10 for children ages five to 16; kids under five travel free.
For more details on transportation or any of the following attractions, visit
.
Historic Bermuda Bermuda was founded in 1609 by British colonists who were en route to Virginia when their ship, Sea Venture, crashed near the shores of the island. Today, Bermuda is still a self-governing British colony and thus has retained its British flavor. From Parliament ??? which dates to 1620 and is characterized by barristers in wigs and black robes ??? to pubs serving fish and chips, you won't be disappointed with the British charm. Although 785 historic buildings around the island are listed in the Bermuda National Trust, you'll find the most history and British atmosphere in quaint St. George. Since the town is compact, it's perfect for a quick stroll to take in the flavor of the old buildings painted in soft hues.
Take a very short walk from the cruise ship dock to the spot where entertaining, historical re-enactments take place periodically. (If you reach King's Square, you've gone too far.) Make sure you're there at noon (every day except Fridays) for the Dunking of the Wench. This short, amusing skit is a 17th-century re-enactment of what happened to women who gossiped too much. Continue on to King's Square for fun photos of your kids with their hands and feet in the stocks.
In Hamilton, children will enjoy Fort Hamilton, built in the 1870s. With its cannons, ramparts, dungeons and a moat, kids' imaginations can run wild here. There are winding pathways, lawns and gardens where they can literally run around a bit too.
The Bermuda Maritime Museum is located within another fortress. This one is at the Royal Naval Dockyard in the West End. The Royal Naval Dockyard was an active navy base during the War of 1812. Kids will enjoy exploring the munitions warehouse and parents will be impressed by the sea views afforded from the ramparts. If you have little ones, there is a jungle gym and swing set within the complex, perfect for blowing off a little steam.
Nature attractions My son is a science and nature fan, and we found plenty to keep him happy. His favorite was the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo, conveniently located in Flatts Village. We got there via a 15-minute bus ride aboard the #10 or #11 bus from Hamilton. Prior to that, we took a 30-minute ferry ride from the West End to Hamilton. After visiting the zoo, we proceeded on the same bus route for about 30 minutes to St. George. Make sure you tell your bus driver that you want to get off at the aquarium. Have your camera ready, since the BAMZ is located across the road from a scenic, small harbor called Flatts Inlet.
The aquarium/museum/zoo is not huge, but it has great diversity and nice landscaping of the exhibits. There are a few indoor exhibits including the aquarium and a small museum dealing with Bermuda's natural history of tides, rock formations and sea life. We all enjoyed strolling outdoor trails that led us to tortoises, flamingos, South American birds and even an alligator. There's a small playground (behind the Discovery Room) set against a lovely seaside backdrop; it has a slide, a "pretend fort" to climb, and a huge xylophone.
If you continue on the same bus from the aquarium towards St. George, you will stop at the Crystal & Fantasy Caves, which are also a hit with youngsters. At Crystal Cave, floating pontoon pathways let you walk right above a 55-foot-deep underground lake. The formations on the bottom are visible due to the clear quality of the water. At Fantasy Cave, ceilings are covered with delicate formations and entire walls are full of mineral deposits that give the appearance of a frozen waterfall.
A short drive from Hamilton are Bermuda's Botanical Gardens. We visited there many years ago when my daughter was young, and she enjoyed looking at and smelling the pretty flowers. However, since my five-year-old son is more into animals we instead visited the Aquarium/Zoo this time. The Botanical Gardens are not too far from Hamilton and can be reached by cab or by bus #1 from Hamilton. The 36 acres are characterized by exotic flowers (especially hibiscus), a mini-forest and aviary. The West Indies-style grand house on the grounds is the residence of Bermuda's premier.
There are several aquatic adventures that are great choices for families of all ages. A good choice for young children is Coral Sea Cruises' glass bottom boats, which depart from a spot near the St. George cruise ship dock. Your family will see coral reefs, turtles and multi-hued fish through the floor of the boat.
Another option is the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute, which offers myriad interactive things to do with your kids. For example, BUEI features a simulated submersible dive to the ocean floor; marine artifacts from shipwrecks off Bermuda; an extensive seashell collection; and scuba gear to try on. BUEI is either a short cab ride from Hamilton or reached via bus #1, 2, 7, or 8.
Some maritime adventures, such as Dolphin Quest and helmet dives, are better for slightly older children. Hartley's Helmet Diving, for example, requires that children be at least five years old since there is a half-hour boat ride to/from the dive site and the dive also lasts about half an hour. Guests are fitted with an underwater helmet and given pre-dive instructions. During the dive, a hose from the boat delivers air to the helmets. You can wear eyeglasses if needed, and you don't need a mouthpiece to breathe. A guide then conducts a walking tour along reefs and schools of fish. Most cruise lines offer Hartley's Helmet Diving through their shore excursions programs.
Another exciting option is Dolphin Quest, at the Royal Naval Dockyard. It's also for those five years and older. Trainers teach guests about the intelligent Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, and there are interactive opportunities to touch and swim with these gentle creatures.
The Beaches Everything you've heard about famous Horseshoe Bay Beach and Elbow Bay Beach is true. The sand has a faint pink hue, and these beaches truly are beautiful. Most Bermudian beaches are broken up by interesting rock formations, which make for lovely scenery. About 10 years ago, we called in Bermuda and spent an enjoyable day at Elbow Bay Beach; its situated between Hamilton and the West End, but is closer to Hamilton than Horseshoe Bay Beach is. During the summer months, lifeguards are stationed at Horseshoe Bay Beach, John Smith's Bay, Clearwater Beach and Turtle Bay.
This time, we swam at Horseshoe Bay Beach. We loved it due to its tranquil, clear waters and its interesting rock formations, which made great backdrops for photos of the kids. Note that there is a five-minute walk down a steep road from the bus stop to the beach. Often there is a cab available for $1 a person to shuttle you up and down the hill if you wish. Horseshoe Bay Beach has bathroom and changing facilities as well as a snack bar and chair rentals. There is no fee to use the beach. We took the #7 bus from the West End to Horseshoe Bay Beach. Just let the driver know when you get on where you'd like to be left off and he'll call out the stop. The ride took about 40 minutes, with gorgeous scenery along the way.
And that's what Bermuda is all about ??? enjoying the "ride," be it via ferry, bus, bike or ship. For your ride will be graced with postcard-perfect scenes of azure seas and pastel hued homes.

Custom Search

Carnival offers interline discounts to Vacations To Go customers on
735 different cruises, which are too many to list.
Please make one or more additional search selections and click "Show Me the Deals!".
Carnival offers interline discounts on select sailings to Vacations To Go customers who are
currently employed full-time with a domestic or international commercial passenger airline, other cruise
lines, Airline Pilots' Association (ALPA), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), International Airlines
Travel Agent Network (IATAN), National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), Amtrak, Worldspan,
Sabre, Galileo, and Amadeus. These guests may book up to three staterooms at the interline discount for
themselves and their immediate family members, including interline eligible guest's spouse, parents and
dependent children age 21 or younger, as long as one interline eligible guest is traveling on the same
ship and sailing date. The Spouse or Parent of an interline eligible guest may book one stateroom if the
interline eligible guest is not traveling. Retired airline employees are also eligible to book one
stateroom provided the airline is still in operation. Qualifying interline personnel must submit a
photocopy of their company photo ID via fax to Carnival and Vacations To Go at the time of booking. Carnival
will charge guests the standard market rate if they do not receive proper documentation within 48 hours of booking.

Cruise Opinion and Humor; Avoiding Pre-Cruise Problems

by Kuki, CruiseMates Cruise Director
March 30, 2005
We all book our cruises and leave home with great anticipation, expecting a perfect, relaxing, and fun vacation. And most of the time, with a cruise, you're going to get as close as possible to meeting those expectations, considering that perfection in anything is unattainable.
But let's examine some of the things that occasionally might go wrong -- including what to do if they jump out and "bite you", and how to avoid them in the first place.
The growth of the Internet makes it easy to research the most current information about the ship or ships that you're considering  and it's free. Although you might stumble across conflicting opinions, keep looking and reading.
It's almost like scoring figure skating: Disregard the "top marks," i.e., posted comments about a ship that are so glowing they could be directly from cruise line brochures. Next, toss out disregard the "bottom marks"  from cynics who have absolutely nothing positive to say about the ship. Those are often from someone who had a problem they couldn't remedy, and who allowed that problem to ruin their cruise vacation; they use the Internet as a venue to vent their frustrations.
Once you have read enough unbiased and objective evaluations that you can narrow down your choice of ships, go to a travel agent. I HIGHLY recommend dealing with cruise-only agents, preferably one who has earned the MCC (Master Cruise Counselor) designation.
This means they have taken a certain number of cruises, and have personally inspected a certain number of ships, so they have some familiarity with the product. Unfortunately, many travel agencies have agents selling cruises who may have never been on one.
So you've made your choice and you're ready to book your dream cruise. Now, what can go wrong? And what can you do to prevent it?
When you book and make a deposit on your cruise, use a credit card if possible. Ask the travel agent if this charge is billed directly to the cruise line. If they tell you that its processed through their own agency account,
!
Before handing over your credit card number, insist that the travel agent fax or mail the confirmation from the cruise line showing it received your deposit, showing your booking number and the type (category) of cabin you booked. Have the agent's agreement to do so sent to you in writing, via fax or e-mail, before you finalize the transaction.
If that confirmation does not arrive quickly, call your credit card company and contest the charge, and find another travel agent.
Having the cruise line's booking number, rather than a travel agency's booking number, is very important. It allows you to go the cruise line web site and verify your booking information, and to fill out passenger information required before your cruise. And if any information in the booking is incorrect, it gives you the chance to fix it before it causes a problem.
Whenever possible, I would avoid booking your air through the cruise line. With one exception (which I'll discuss later), doing so means you are turning over control of flight times, airline choice, and routing to the cruise line -- and often paying more than if you booked directly with the airline. Unless you are flying across the country, or purchase a pre-cruise hotel package, you will be flying into your embarkation city the same day you are scheduled to sail. Even for short flights, if they are delayed for any reason, you stand a chance of missing the ship's departure time.
To make certain your cruise doesn't end before it begins, I recommend booking your air separately from your cruise. Whether using a travel agent or booking directly with the airline, you can choose the carrier, schedule and routing that best suits you. And if you have to fly, schedule yourself to arrive in port a day prior to your sailing date. Often the money you can save finding your own flights will be enough to cover the cost of a hotel for the extra evening.
If you feel you have to book your air with the cruise line, request "air deviation". This may cost up to $75 extra, but it allows you to choose the airline, schedule, and routing rather than just taking what they decide to give you.
If you have to fly in the day the ship sails, choose early morning flights. If something delays your flight, at least you have a time buffer to wait, or catch another later flight.
And be sure to purchase travel insurance that will cover the expense if you are delayed. It's less expensive than you might expect. Check out www.insuremytrip.com for comparisons of different insurers that cover cruise vacations.
Some cruise lines have begun to use e-mail for sending documents, which is pretty simple. But here I'll discuss those that still send document packages.
The cruise lines normally send out the document packages 10 to 14 days prior to sailing; they are normally sent to your travel agent, who presumably checks them for errors and forwards them to you. Though on occasion they can be sent earlier, 10-14 days prior to sailing is more the norm. But this can vary --
I've received documents as early as 60 days prior to sailing, and sometimes not at all.
Receiving the cruise documents gives us all a certain thrill. But if you have that all-important cruise booking number and have verified that you are booked, there is no reason to panic if you don't have your documents. It may add five extra minutes to your check-in process, but your name will be on the ship's manifest, and you will be able to board with relative ease.
If you arrive at the pier ready to hand your luggage to the porters, and you don't have your documents, the porters have a copy of the manifest, and will give you luggage tags to fill out noting your name and cabin number for delivery.
To this point I've supplied some tips to avoid the problems that can arise getting to the ship. It may sound like too much detail and work, but remember you are spending a considerable amount of money, and it's better to take some responsibility to safeguard your dream vacation.
In Part 2, coming soon, I'll get to some of the problems that could arise once you're onboard.

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