To Cruise or Not

The following information will compare the benefits of a cruise vacation to a similarly priced land resort vacation. Click Here

We will also try to answer the most commonly asked first-time cruiser questions, to give you a good idea of what to expect. Click Here

	A Typical Caribbean Cruise	A Typical Caribbean Land Vacation
Cruise Fare	$1200	N/A
Room	Included	$660
All Meals & Snacks	Included	$350*
Midnight Buffet	Included	N/A
Sports Activities	Included	$25
Las Vegas/Broadway Show Spectaculars (available on most large ships)	Included	$100
Nightclub Shows	Included	$70
Airfare	Included	$399
TOTAL	$1200 pp	$1604 pp

*It is also important to consider that the land based vacation is being very conservative as to the food budget, calculating the figure for modest meals. On cruise ships you are dining like you would in an exclusive restaurant, and you can have as many helpings as you want! When it comes to entertainment, the cruise lines offer free admission nightly to Broadway and Las Vegas quality spectaculars (on most of the larger ships), a variety of entertainment in numerous lounges (free), exciting casinos, discos, movie theaters, educational seminars, bingo, all kinds of sports and day time activities, and yes some ships even have their own golf course! Best of all just about everything on board is FREE (except gambling, drinks & personal care facilities).

Cruises are much more interesting than land vacations too. You get to visit a number of exotic ports, experience different cultures, visit ancient ruins or shop for super bargains in duty free marketplaces. At the end of the day you simply return to your floating hotel, eat like a king (or queen) and be transported overnight to another port, that may be even more intriguing than the last. Of course, if you prefer, you can do absolutely nothing on your cruise except relax, sun yourself, and be pampered day and night.

These are the reasons that we, and millions of people around the world feel that cruising is the best vacation value!

Q. Will I get seasick?
A. This is one of the most common questions from first time cruisers. It is highly unlikely that you will feel any motion-discomfort. The most popular cruise areas are known to have the calmest waters in the world. In addition, stabilizers on modern ships (some of which are the size of floating cities), keep any kind of motion to almost imperceptible limits. The availability of accurate weather forecasting and the development of effective preventative medications, have just about eliminated the incidence of motion discomfort.

Q. Will I get bored after a day or so on the ship?
A. No! There's way too much to do, see, explore, and experience (all day and all night). You'll only get bored if you sit in your stateroom 24 hours a day!

Q. If I decide on a cruise vacation do I have to pay for it all at once?
A. That depends on how close the booking date is to the sailing date. Cruise lines generally require payment in full 60 days prior to sailing. Please be aware that some cruise lines will assess you penalties if you cancel your cruise within 90 days of sailing. The best advice anyone can give a first-time cruiser regarding booking is BOOK EARLY! By booking early you will: generally receive the greatest discount; have the best selection of cabins; be able to secure your cabin choice with as little as a $100-$250 deposit; and be able to choose your dining arrangements without wait-listing. What's early? Try to book a year in advance if possible.

Q. What exactly is included in the cruise price?
A. Your cruise price includes: your stateroom, all meals and snacks (including midnight buffets, snack bars, and pizza joints), all daytime shipboard activities, night-time entertainment, seminars, feature films, dance clubs, parties, fitness centers, swimming pools, sporting activities and much more!

Q. What's not included in the price?
A. Things you will need extra money for include: drinks, gambling, massages, spas, hairdressers, tips, shore excursions, in-room babysitting, laundry & dry cleaning, and the duty free shops.

Q. Do I need a passport?
A. This depends on the type of cruise and your destination. You'll typically need some proof of identification and citizenship. CCOA will give you complete information on the documents you will require well in advance of your departure so you'll have plenty of time to make arrangements.

Q. What should I pack?
A. Pack like you would for any resort vacation. Cruises are casual by day, whether you're on the ship or on shore. In the evening, ships vary as to dress, attire is dictated by occasion. For the Captains Gala, for example, you'll probably want to wear something more formal, such as a dark suit or cocktail dress; perhaps even a dinner jacket or gown. Men, you don't have to run out and buy a tuxedo, a dark suit and tie are fine for the dressiest occasions.

Q. Do ships have handicap facilities?
A. Most definitely! Ships have special staterooms and facilities so handicap passengers may move about freely.

Q. Is cruise cancellation insurance worthwhile?
A. We highly recommend purchasing insurance. Be sure that you understand the cruise line's cancellation/refund policy once your final payment has been made. To find out more about insurance visit our CSA Travel Protection page.