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What to Know About Luxury Cruises

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Just about everyone enjoys a little luxury now and then, and that’s something cruises deliver. On a cruise ship, you don’t have to organize transportation, think up activities, cook, mix cocktails, or clean up – it’s all done for you, by the crew, with a smile. While you can get luxury feels on any cruise, you can guarantee a higher level of luxe by choosing a luxury cruise line. These include Crystal Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Seabourn Cruise Line, and Silversea Cruises, among others. Here’s a quick look at what sets these cruises apart. Ship size. Luxury lines sail smaller ships that accommodate hundreds, rather than thousands, of passengers. The vibe is usually elegant, calm, and relaxed – different from larger ships that hum with activity. Luxury lines also sail with more crew members per passenger, for more personalized service. Inclusions. Luxury lines charge higher base fares, but they often include things you would pay extra for on ...
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Explore Central America on a Panama Canal Cruise

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Panama City from the Pacific Ocean A cruise through the Panama Canal is more than a rare opportunity to see this major engineering achievement; it’s also a chance to enjoy some of Central America's unique ports. Here’s a look at just some of the ports that may be included in a Panama Canal itinerary. Fuerte Amador, Panama, sits on a narrow causeway at the western end of the canal, with plenty of duty-free shops, locally handcrafted gifts, and restaurants. But there’s also the Biomuseo, a Frank Gehry-designed museum that highlights the area’s extreme biodiversity, and the Punto Culebra Nature Center, where you can meet some of Panama’s wildlife, including sloths. Fuerte Amador is just five miles from Panama City’s historic Casco Viejo (Old Town), which has beautiful colonial architecture set around lovely plazas. You can also visit the Miraflores Locks Visitor Center to learn even more about the canal and watch other ships pass through. Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica, is a major sea...
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Exploring Montreal: A Perfect 3-Day Pre-Cruise Getaway

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  Quebec, Canada Thinking about heading straight from the airport to the cruise ship? Think again! For our recent late-September Canada and New England cruise, we flew into Montreal three days before embarkation to see the stunning fall colors and explore Eastern Canada. Arriving at least a day or two before your ship sails is highly recommended. Flight delays and cancellations are far too common these days, and arriving early completely eliminates that stress while giving you time to experience a world-class city. Here is what we learned during our three days in beautiful, historic Montreal.   Where We Stayed: Embassy Suites Near Old Town We spent our three pre-cruise nights at the Embassy Suites , located right on the edge of the city center. It proved to be an excellent home base for our trip. The Rooms: The hotel is located in a beautifully remodeled building, and we loved the spacious layout of our room. The Vibe: The on-site hotel restaurant ...
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Cruise Destinations for the Winter Holidays

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A beach in South Africa Celebrating a winter holiday (or two) while on a cruise is a fantastic idea. So, where should you sail? Many travelers looking for a winter holiday getaway choose to sail in The Bahamas or the Caribbean, and these are solid choices: they are close to home, with reliably warm, sunny weather, lovely scenery, abundant beaches, and many other attractions. However, other destinations may be right for you. Here are some to consider. European Christmas Markets. During December, Christmas markets pop up in cities and towns along the rivers of Europe, including the Rhine and the Danube. You can browse the locally made gifts and keepsakes, sip delicious hot drinks, sample traditional holiday dishes, and admire sparkling light displays. The Mediterranean. Winter is the quiet season for Mediterranean cruises, so your professional travel advisor may be able to find some exceptional fares. The weather will be cool and a bit rainier than in summer, but you won’t face sum...
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When Your Job Might Deliver a Cruise Discount

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  Everyone loves a discount on a fabulous cruise vacation. Your professional travel advisor is your best source of information about all kinds of cruise discounts and deals – many of them are not advertised or known to the traveling public. For example, did you know that people who do certain jobs may qualify for cruise fare discounts? Major cruise lines that offer these discounts include Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Holland America, Princess, Virgin Voyages, and more. Getting a deal on a cruise fare may not be a reason to change careers, but if you’re already doing one of the following jobs, talk with your travel advisor for more information. ·          Members of the military. If you’re currently serving or are a veteran of the armed forces, many cruise lines offer discounts to honor your service. ·          First responders. This group includes people who are often first on the sce...
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Cruising Europe

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While on a shore excursion in France, we visited Mont-Saint-Michel  The European continent offers an incredible variety of cruise experiences, from Scandinavia’s glacial north to the subtropical islands of the Mediterranean. On shore, there are historical and modern wonders to appreciate, along with incredible food, wine, and more. In addition, the continent is threaded with rivers that provide even more possibilities for cruise travel. How can you best discover Europe via cruise? Here’s a look at its major cruise regions. ·          The Mediterranean is a popular choice for cruisers, whether they are repeat passengers or sailing in Europe for the first time. Because a dozen European nations border this storied body of water, many cruises focus on either the Eastern or Western Med; both are bursting with historical interest and natural beauty. Western Med cruises feature ports in Spain, France, and western Italy; they may also visit isl...
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All About Automatic Gratuities

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A cruise passenger’s “last night on board” routine used to include stuffing small envelopes with cash tips to give to crew members who made the journey enjoyable. In our increasingly cashless society, many cruise lines – including Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line and Princess Cruises – now automatically add a fee for crew gratuities to passengers’ bills. Some other popular cruise lines – such as Oceania, Azamara and Virgin Voyages – simply include gratuities for the crew in their cruise fares. Automatic fees for crew gratuities are convenient for passengers – you don’t have to bring a bunch of cash on board with you to tip the crew. And when gratuities are automatic, no further tipping is expected. Plus, prepaying for crew gratuities makes budgeting for your onboard expenses easier. If your next cruise doesn’t offer an automatic gratuities fee, you might still be able to take care of them in advance by purchasing a bundle of extras that includes crew gratuities. These bundles...
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