April 2019
Credit : www.crossworldholidays.com
Ahoy there! Common cruise myths busted.
The world of cruises is like no other: from ships the
size of floating cities to elegant, sleek creatures that glide through
quiet riverways. Yet there are a lot of preconceptions about what a
cruise experience is like. Whether you're a first-timer or on your 50th
sailing, we take a look at the most common myths to bust them wide open,
and offer our best tips and hacks to find the right cruise for you
along the way.
All cruises are the same
Whether you're after a quiet time or all night
partying and cocktails, when it comes to cruises there is a ship to suit
all ages and tastes. The differences between the cruise lines, and even
the individual ships they operate, can be massive. For example, P&O
offer vessels such as Britannia which is built with families in mind,
as well as Arcadia, designed for adults only. If you're thinking about
booking a cruise, it pays to research not just the cruise company's
overall offering, but the ship itself, to check it meets your needs.
Only the rich can afford it.
There are myriad ways to save on the advertised fare.
Flexible on dates? Last-minute cruise deals can be unbelievably cheap
with a five-night trip to Europe working out at under $123 (£100) per
night with meals – cheaper than the cost of living in some cities. Sign
up to alerts as some lines, like Royal Caribbean, run weekly deals often
with incentives like spending money (known as onboard credit) thrown
in. Look for “repositioning cruises”, one-off, one-way voyages where
ships move between regions at the end of a season, resulting in
cut-price sailings that aren’t part of the regular schedule.
Seasickness is inevitable...
Seasickness affects some more than others –
particularly women and children. However, most ships are well-equipped
to deal with it. If you find yourself suffering, ask at reception who
often have free tablets. Booking an outside cabin in the middle of the
ship is said to help as they're located on a natural balance point. But
if this is a big concern for you, book a ship that has stabilizers. Most
are equipped with two, but those ships that have four have an even
smoother ride.
...and there's nothing you can do
If you know seasickness is a worry then choose your
cruise wisely: a voyage to Antarctica crossing from the tip of South
America can be merciless. If you're heading to the Mediterranean then
avoid the Bay of Biscay, which is choppy at almost any time of year, and
embark at Barcelona (pictured) or Venice. Don't be put off a
transatlantic cruise either, during the summer 'The Pond' can be very
calm indeed.
They’re only for older people
From removing formal dress codes and introducing
brand new, state-of-the-art ships that appeal to families and young
couples, cruises have definitely thrown off their stuffy image. Modern
ships now feel like the equivalent of staying at a luxury resort but
with the USP of waking up somewhere new every day. Rather just being
something for those who are retired, the average age of those cruising
is now 47, according to a report by CLIA, (Cruise Lines International
Association).
The kids will get bored
Forget trying to entertain kids with iPads, cruise
ships have many ways of keeping them occupied, usually via kids' clubs
manned by qualified and vetted staff. Some have mocktail bars for
teenagers while soft play and adventure areas are like mini theme parks.
There are scavenger hunts and science labs, swimming pools and dance
parties – hopefully at the end of which they’ll be utterly exhausted.
You’ll get tired of the food
If you’re imagining a sad beige buffet, think again:
cruise ships take dining seriously with some offering over 20
restaurants with menus created by internationally-known celebrity chefs
such as Thomas Keller, Jamie Oliver and Guy Fieri. Dishes often reflect
the port of call too. Windstar Cruises' chefs do market tours with
passengers, and as they shop for the ship, may hand you things to try.
And all ships now cater for those with dietary requirements, offering
gluten-free menus too.
Sea days are boring
The prospect of a sea day – when the ship doesn’t
stop at port – used to be associated with genteel activities such as
napkin folding. But that was in the days before the bottomless
imagination of cruise ship activity directors. Aside from painting
classes, cinemas and cookery courses, Celebrity Cruises’ Edge Class ship
has a 75-foot outdoor pool, standard outdoor pool, an indoor pool and
several hot tubs. Or if you want to kick back with a glass of wine (or
six) Norwegian Getaway hosts a ‘Wine Lovers The Musical’ event – a long
lunch that involves tasting tipples and comedy.
All the ports will be rammed
The busiest cruise port in the world is Miami, which
sees nearly five million cruise passengers a year. If the thought of
that makes you feel stressed, a savvy move is booking with a line that
owns their own private islands such as Disney, Holland America,
Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean. Then there
are cruises which specifically go to quieter spots, such as Star
Clippers who travel the lesser known parts of the Greek islands, while
Viking Ocean Cruises sail to smaller Norwegian ports.
Everyone gets sick onboard
Over the years outbreaks of nasty tummy bug norovirus
on cruise ships have hit the headlines. In reality the risk of being
unwell isn't any greater than at other everyday public places such as
offices and schools. The best way to avoid getting ill is to take care
of your personal hygiene by washing your hands before eating, using the
hand sanitizer that's provided free of charge and by always using the
tongs at the buffet.
Cabins are really small
Like hotels, cabins – usually known as staterooms –
vary in size according to how much you’re spending. The cheapest is the
inside cabin, which doesn’t have a window and space is minimal, so this
option is best if the majority of your time will be spent outdoors. An
outside cabin will come with a view, but opting for a balcony can give
the perception of more space. Some ships also have unique layouts. For
example, Disney's four cruise ships are designed for families, so
standard cabins are larger than usual. Take a peek at how the other half
with our pictures of the most expensive suites afloat.
You have to go on all the excursions…
You don’t. And also, ships take about a 50% cut of
the excursions you do book, so when you’re being told about a ‘must see’
experience, it’s not necessarily coming from an unbiased place. A smart
move is to cross reference what you’d like to see in the local area
rather than relying on your cruise excursion desk to tell you. You also
don’t have to book a shore tour – if the town is not far from the port,
just grabbing a map and wandering on your own can be a much cheaper way
of doing it.
...and excursions cost loads
The more luxurious and adventurous an excursion –
such as going on a helicopter ride or sky-diving – the more pricey it
will be, but a way of cutting costs can be to book privately. Simply
because a tour is being offered by the ship doesn’t mean it’s safer or
better quality. Sometimes cruise lines also offer free tours (such as
the food buying tours to markets with onboard chefs mentioned before) so
enquire about those too. Be sure to ask crew members for their top tips
as they often have excellent local recommendations to share.
You might miss the boat
The classic ‘you might miss the boat’ is a
time-honored incentive for you to book your excursion with the ship (and
pay possibly more) as they guarantee to get you back on time. However
independent companies operating tours in cruise ports won't want you to
miss the ship either, so be reassured you won't have to swim back to
your cabin...
You can’t eat healthily onboard
It's true that if you want to stuff yourself silly
there are belly-busting meals available 24-hours a day onboard. But it
is possible to eat healthily and cruise lines have cottoned on to
providing alternative options. The spa menus of most cruises have
lighter dishes, while Royal Caribbean have several ships with a
dedicated healthy-eating restaurant and Crystal Cruises offers low-carb
menus at their restaurants. And don't forget the buffet restaurants
always have impressive salads for anyone watching their waistline too.
And boules is the only exercise
Most cruise ships have state-of-the-art fitness
facilities which nearly always have incredible views out to sea. You can
even book personal trainers on some ships, and classes such as yoga,
TRX suspension and boxing – but do watch out for extra costs. One great
free option are the jogging tracks (with a lane for walkers too) around
the decks of nearly all medium-to- large-sized ships.
You have to get dressed up
Moving away from some of the formality associated
with cruises – although Cunard still has a formal dress policy – cruise
liners such as Disney, MSC and Norwegian don’t insist on it. Royal
Caribbean gives you the option of three: casual, smart casual and
formal. P&O has venues which have different dress code rules after
6pm to give you the option of dressing up or down.
You can’t take your pet
This is mostly true, unless you’re on Cunard’s Queen
Mary 2, which has kennels and crew members that will walk, feed and play
with your pet. One of the stranger seafaring experiences you're likely
to have is the Meow Meow cruise which sails from Florida to the Bahamas,
and, while you can’t take your own cat, aims to unite people who really
love their feline friends.
Spa treatments onboard cost the earth
Spas may seem like a lavish expense but some cruise
ships offer raffles where you can get free treatments if you join a tour
of the facilities, usually on your first day onboard. If you aren’t
content to rely on luck, look out for incentives with spa deals
announced in the daily newsletter. One top tip is to book a treatment on
a port day. Not only are you likely to get a hefty discount, facilities
such as the sauna and pool will be quieter if you want to continue your
pampering session in peace.
And the spa isn’t for men
Couples treatments are a big deal on cruise ships
(with good deals to entice you) but increasingly men-specific treatments
are on offer. The spas on Silversea cruise ships have dedicated
grooming services with a half-day of pampering specially designed for
men. The LivNordic Spa on Viking ships (renowned for its snow grotto)
also has a barber shop for gents.
Solo cruises are really expensive
As the number of solo travelers increases, cruise
ships are adapting. Fred Olsen has more than 200 single cabins across
its fleet and offers solo promotions and events onboard. Saga also
provides 25% off solo cabins for over anyone aged 50 or over, while
P&O Cruises' Britannia saw the first purpose-built single cabins
with balconies. Norwegian Cruise Line – across its Epic, Breakaway and
Getaway ships – launched an area just for solo travelers, with single
cabins grouped together and a lounge and bar for socializing.
People are always falling off the back
It’s actually more dangerous to drive a car than go
on a cruise, as the odds of falling off are one in 6.25 million. If you
do find yourself in the water, sea survival expert Mike Tipton, a
University of Portsmouth professor and co-author of Essentials of Sea
Survival offers this top tip: “The best thing you can do in the first
few minutes of immersion is try to rest, relax, float.” However once in
the sea your chances of survival are around 15%, so always be sensible
when on deck (ie don't recreate that scene from Titanic after one too
many cocktails...).
Cruises have a poor safety record
Modern ships have an excellent safety record and
accidents are rare. Between 2009 and 2016, the number of people going on
cruises went up 41% according to CLIA, while the number of operational
incidents went down by 23%. Per billion passenger-miles, fatality rates
on cruises were 00.05, compared to 08.78 on US rail and 212.79 on
motorcycles, making it one of the safest modes of transport there is.
The ports are always miles from the big attractions
Many ports of call are a short walk or (usually free)
bus ride to the main attractions. For example at Norwegian ports it's
common to stroll down the gangway and straight into the heart of the
city. In New York, Cunard's Queen Mary 2 leaves from Brooklyn, while
Buenos Aires is half a mile from the cruise terminal and its main sights
are in a compact, small area.
Tipping is optional
It's likely you will receive exceptional service
onboard and will want to offer crew members a thank you at the end of
your trip. A good rule of thumb is to tip $12 (£9.30) per person per day
for your cabin steward. You can also tip individual members of staff
such as waiters and all cash tips will go directly to them. That's said,
some lines like Azamara, Crystal and Silversea have a no-tipping policy
and include gratuities in the cost of the fare, so it's worth keeping
in mind that the upfront outlay will be greater.
Everything's included
Even if you’re on an all-inclusive package, add-ons
such as spa treatments may carry a service charge of around 15%. Upgrade
to a speciality-dining restaurant and you may also face an additional
charge for an à la carte menu too. Always check before you buy or sign
up to a service how much will be added to your final bill.
Cruise ships are bad for the environment
As with flying, the pollution, rubbish and human
waste created onboard will have an impact on the environment around a
ship. But there are ways to mitigate the effects by choosing a cruise
company that's mindful of marine ecology. A 2016 Friends of the Earth
report cited Disney, Cunard, Holland America and Norwegian as the top
four lines to travel with for a greener cruise.
They only go to major tourist sites
Some places such as Russia’s pristine and unearthly
Kamchatka Peninsula are only accessible by sea and air, and Silversea’s
newest ship, the Silver Discoverer offers an 18-day trip there. You
might see arctic foxes, reindeer, brown bears, and wolverines across a
landscape of ice and volcanoes. Repositioning cruises are also a great
way to see destinations as diverse as Oman and Recife in Brazil that
aren't always on the itinerary.
Your teenager will hate it
Cruise ships seem to understand teenagers better than
we do, which is why MSC allows them the veneer of adult responsibility
with none of the consequences. They can have ‘teen cards’ which allow
them to go back to their Staterooms by themselves and pre-pay cards for
shopping and extras, but which they can’t use to buy alcohol (no matter
how hard they try). Princess Cruises’ Royal Princess also has a
teen-only pool. And don't forget that they'll often make friends with
other kids from around the world, which will expand their horizons too.
You can only eat at set times
Traditionally cruise ships had set meal times,
commonly two sittings at 6.30pm and 8.30pm. But with the number of
restaurants onboard now greater than just one large dining room, many
ships offer the flexibility to choose both when and where you dine. On
some ships you might need to make a reservation for the most popular
restaurants, but often you can simply turn up and be seated. However,
even if your ship has a more traditional approach, there will be an
informal dining option, such as a 24-hour buffet, where you won't be
tied to the clock.
It’s not very baby friendly
As cruise ships become more family friendly, the
prospect of traveling with newborns isn't so out of the ordinary.
Several cruise ships offer special family deals that help with this, for
instance, infants under two travel for free with MSC, and Disney offer a
babysitting service for parents who want a night off.
You only ever get a few hours in port
This largely depends on your destination and the
length of your cruise. Most Baltic cruises will stop at St Petersburg
for two nights, enough time to take in the Hermitage Museum and a
ballet. On an around the world cruise, where there's more time, there
will be overnight stops in places such as Bangkok, Thailand, Myanmar and
Beijing.
The entertainment is seriously cheesy
Again, this does depend on the ship, but increasingly
cruise lines are moving away from a bingo, boules and ballroom dancing.
MSC Cruises has a partnership with Cirque du Soleil (pictured) with two
performances held six nights each week. Royal Caribbean has a rolling
program of quality West End shows such as We Will Rock You and Cats,
while on Cunard and Viking ships you'll find lots of cultural talks and
lectures from big names.
Loyalty doesn't pay
This is one of life's rare occasions when sticking
with a brand can offer big perks. From Seabourn cruises to Royal
Caribbean, all the top names offer excellent loyalty programs for
returning customers. Accrue a certain number of nights or voyages and
you'll move up the tiers, which gives you access to everything from
cabin upgrades to free drinks, extra onboard spending money and priority
boarding.
Bigger ships are always better
It's certainly true that larger ships will have a
greater range of entertainment, dining options and wellness facilities,
but they can sometimes come with a bigger price tag too. Other than
cheaper costs there are perks to a dinkier vessel. They can get into the
smaller ports – essential if you want to see the best of the Norwegian
fjords or some parts of Scotland for example, while queues to get off
the boat will be minimal too. Looking for more cruise tips? Check out
these 27 things you need to know before you go.
To Know More Information About Cruise bookings in Thane Mumbai By Crossworld Holidays- Tour Operator in Thane Mumbai
Source - www.msn.com
No comments:
Post a Comment