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Many cruise lines don't want you on board if you
are or will as little as 24 weeks into your
pregnancy during the cruise. They're concerned
about pre-term labor. Although ships are
equipped to deal with medical emergencies, an
early delivery requires specialized care that
most ships simply aren't prepared to provide.
Do I need a passport to cruise to Mexico or
the Caribbean?
Not yet. But you will be better off having one.
The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which
includes a requirement that you have a passport
for such travel, is in effect for anyone flying
back from Mexico or the Caribbean, but the
requirement for land and sea travelers has been
postponed until June 2009, so technically you do
not need one. Think, however, about what you
would do in case of an emergency that requires
you to fly back from your vacation, and
you'll soon be going to
www.travel.state.gov and applying for the
document.
Do I really have to tip everyone on the ship?
No. In theory, you don't have to tip anyone. But
these folks work hard, so if you have enough
money to take a cruise, you should have enough
money to show your appreciation. There are many
people who resent the inclusion of the automatic
tip on their bills, but there are others who
feel uncomfortable handing out those envelopes.
Do whatever feels right to you, but don't be
chintzy.
Drinks are really expensive, so why can't I
bring liquor on board?
Because you will deprive the ship of one of its
sources of revenue. Some lines are very strict
about bringing liquor on board; others will let
you have a celebratory bottle of champagne on
the day of departure. Check with the line and
see what its policy is.
Sometimes ships offer an unlimited soft-drink
refill for a set price at the beginning of a
cruise. Is that a good deal?
If you're a big soda drinker, it is a
comfortable way to indulge your thirst without
worrying about that ever-escalating bar tab.
Whether it's a deal depends on how much you
consume in a day, of course, and the length of
the cruise. I've generally found the longer the
cruise, the better the deal.
Should I take one of the cruise line's
expensive shore excursions or arrange my own?
The best way to answer that is to know whether
you're risk averse. The safe thing to do is to
stay with the line's excursions; these operators
are vetted by the cruise lines, generally, and
will get you back to the ship on time (or the
ship will know it's running late and often will
hold the cruise). On the other hand, the ship's
excursions can be pricey, and sometimes you can
do better by booking ashore or merely hiring a
driver and going it alone.
Are Mediterranean cruises a good deal if the
dollar continues to be weak?
The cruise lines are counting on it, as
evidenced by the number of ships they have
positioned there for the coming months. The
theory is that you can see some of the
continent's loveliest locations without paying
exorbitant amounts for a hotel (you'll be going
back to the ship) and food (you may go back to
the ship). Plus you'll be paying in dollars
instead of euros or other currencies. On the
other hand, some of the great places of Europe
aren't on the water and deserve more than an
eight-hour port call.
Why can't I get my money back if a ship
misses a port call?
Each ship's passenger contract has quite a bit
of wiggle room, allowing it to subtract a port
call or substitute another one. Here's what
Carnival's website says: "The vessel shall be
entitled . . . to deviate in any direction or
for any purpose from the direct or usual course,
and to omit or change any or all port calls,
arrival or departure times, with or without
notice, for any reason whatsoever, including but
not limited to safety, security, adverse
weather, strikes, tides, hostilities, emergency
debarkations of guests or crew, or late air,
sea, car or motor coach departures or arrivals.
. . ."
What's the best way to get a bargain on a
cruise?
Find a travel agent who specializes in cruises
and knows your tastes and will alert you to
specials and deals. Also, consider the
off-season. Yes, I know we often tell you to
consider the off-season and then the weather is
rotten, but in some cases, it really doesn't
matter that much. Cruising Alaska, for instance,
may be imperfect in May or September, the start
and end of the season, but if it's wildlife
you're hoping to see, you'll still see it in all
likelihood. Your pictures, however, may have a
grayer cast than they would in July or August.
Which is better -- open seating or a fixed
seating?
I've tried both, and I prefer the fixed seating,
but only by a hair. I enjoy having table mates I
can get to know; with a fixed seating, that's
more apt to happen. Fortunately, I've never been
seated with boors or whiners; if I had been,
that open seating option -- that is, eat when
you like and with whom you like -- would be like
a gift from heaven.
How far in advance should I arrive at my port
of embarkation?
My rule of thumb: Twenty-four hours for every
3,000 miles that your port of embarkation is
from L.A. (or where ever you're starting from).
It does add to the cost of your trip, but you'll
have less anxiety about missing the ship. Plus
if your luggage is mishandled, it's more likely
to catch up with you before you sail.
Do I need a lot of cash on a cruise?
Probably not. Most everything can be put on a
credit card, which is, of course, only a
stand-in for cash. Never put a cruise vacation
on a credit card that you're going to pay off
over time. It will cost you way more than such a
trip is worth.
If you could take only one book with you on a
ship, what would it be?
On an inter-island Hawaiian cruise, James
Michener's "Hawaii" (or on an Alaskan cruise,
his "Alaska"). On a Panama Canal cruise, David
McCullough's "The Path Between the Seas." On any
luxury cruise, a checkbook.
I'd like to sail to Hawaii and back. Can I?
You can. Several cruise lines offer trips
leaving from the Southland that go to Hawaii,
cruise the islands and return. But if you want
to go to Hawaii and stay for several days or
weeks and then return by ship, you probably have
to put together two legs of a repositioning
cruise because regular passenger service, like
that offered on the old Matson lines and
American President Lines, no longer exists.
Why
pay more than you have to for your cruise vacation?
We keep track of what's on sale for thousands of
staterooms across a worldwide fleet of over 300
cruise ships ( 24 cruise lines ) and put them all
here in one place. Before you book, check to see if
your perfect cruise is on sale and start saving
right now.
Q:
When can you get pricing for Caribbean Cruises for 2009?
When would be the best time to book?
Sunday,
December 16, 2007 7:44 pm
Robert Mathews
A:
For most cruise lines, You can get pricing now and reserve
your cruise. But if you wait until the "last minute" , about
four to six weeks before sailing cruise lines will discount
their rates if they have unsold inventory ( cabins ) to
fill. This year, we have been some very low prices, as there
are too many cruise ships that "winter" in the Caribbean.
Talk to a travel agent who specializes in cruises; they are
best equipted to give you advice on what cruise line or
cruise ship best suits your needs and budget.
Dawn
Gesualdi
Monday, December 17, 2007 9:46 am
