As long or short as you want. CLIA's member lines offer itineraries from three days to three months.
Wherever you want! Cruises visit over 1,800 ports worldwide and practically every destination accessible by water.
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| Are all ships fairly similar? | |
Far from it. CLIA member lines' ships range from intimate and yacht-like to vessels stretching longer than three football
fields. You can sail with fewer than 100 fellow guests or with more than 2,600. Enjoy atmospheres ranging from casual to formal,
contemporary to classic. You can even choose sail-assisted ships. Enjoy the endless activities offered on a contemporary resort-style
cruise, or immerse yourself in the culture of a destination on a special interest cruise.
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| Are there different types of cruises? | |
There are cruises designed to suit virtually every interest and personal preference.
The choices include: boutique, luxury cruises with globetrotting itineraries; large, contemporary ships with a fantastic
array of recreational facilities; classic vessels evoking the time-honored traditions of cruising; special-interest or exploration
cruises specializing in unique destinations with an accent on cultural enrichment.
There are cruise lines that feature soft adventure expeditions to such unusual and rustic frontiers as Antarctica, the
Amazon rain forest or African Serengeti. Or discover historical legacies closer to home with enlightening itineraries to New
England, French Canada and the Colonial America coast.
For experienced travelers, destination-focused cruises specialize in premium, culturally-rich ports of call with itineraries
dedicated to illuminating such historic, world-class treasures as the antiquities of classical Greece, the Polynesian paradise
of Hawaii or the fabled splendor of Norwegian fjords.
For many, the perfect vacation includes the non-stop fun and sun of a tropical resort-style cruise to the Caribbean, where
you can sample a variety of island cultures and cuisines while working on a terrific sun tan.
Plus, many cruise lines create special "themes" on-board, with entertainment ranging from jazz festivals and classical
music concerts to golf clinics and murder mysteries at sea!
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| What's an air/sea cruise? | |
A fly/cruise or an air/sea vacation package includes, along with your cruise ticket, either free or reduced-cost airfare
to and from the ship's port of embarkation. These convenient money-saving options are available from most major North American
cities and include ground transfers between the airport and ship as well as baggage handling.
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| Will I get bored? Feel confined? | |
Hardly! Being at sea gives you a feeling of total freedom that no land-based resort can offer. There's plenty of room.
And it will probably take you two or three days just to discover everything that's on board. Plus, you get the added adventure
of exploring many exciting ports of call.
Cruise ships are floating resorts with all the choices fine resorts have to offer. You can lie back in a lounge chair,
breathe in the sea air, soak up the sun, read good books, or watch the ever-changing seascape.
If you're more active, join in exercise or dance classes, and sports contests. Practice your tennis stroke or golf swing,
or take some fresh air on the jogging deck. Or you can swim, stretch out in the sauna or work out in the gym.
You can also see a feature film, attend an enrichment lecture by experts, play backgammon or bridge. And that's just when
you're on board!
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| What's there to do at night? | |
When the stars come out, a cruise ship really turns on. There's dancing, live entertainment, nightclubs and lounges, feature
films, and parties with all your new friends. Most ships also have casinos. What's more, there are many special events like
the Captain's Cocktail Party, Passenger Talent Night, Broadway-style shopws and Las Vegas-type revues.
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| Are there any special educational programs on-board? | |
To complement the spirit of discovery that travel evokes, many cruise lines feature an extensive program of on-board enrichment
seminars hosted by distinguished guest experts. In addition to lectures highlighting the history and sights of ports you will
be visiting, there may also be special in-depth presentations ranging from Renaissance works of art and strategic financial
planning to epicurean secrets of classic French cuisine.
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| Is there a charge for entertainment? | |
Never. On a cruise vacation, the entertainment is on the house. There's no cover, minimum, or charge for an admission ticket.
The shows are live, films first-rate and all included in your cruise fare.
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| Do I have to participate in the activities? | |
On a cruise, you do what you want, when you want. You can do everything or do absolutely nothing. It's your
vacation!
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| Will there be people like me? | |
There's no such thing as a typical cruise passenger! All kinds of people take cruises now... all ages... from all walks
of life... singles, couples and families. Just ask your CLIA-affiliated travel agency for advice on the best ship for you,
based on your tastes and lifestyle.
Again, there are choices and more choices. During the day, there are many different places to eat - in the formal dining
room, on deck, in a pizzeria, at an espresso bar, to name a few. At night, most ships offer several venues. Some ships' dining
rooms can accommodate all guests at one time, called a "seating." Many ships offer you a choice of several eating times, and
others encourage you to come to dinner whenever you like. More traditional ships have two seatings in their formal dining
rooms, which differ only by time: typically 6:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. To choose, just decide whether you prefer to dine early
or late--then have your CLIA-affiliated travel agent request your preference when you book your cruise. Frequently, you can
choose to dine at night someplace other than the formal dining room, such as in an intimate restaurant that features, for
example, Italian, Chinese, Japanese or Southwestern cuisine. More and more cruise lines are opening up their informal lido
areas to evening dining, where the dress and dishes always are casual, and sometimes, you can even eat out under the stars.
And a large number of ships offer romantic in-cabin dinners. The choice is yours!
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| Is cruise ship dining as good as I've been told? | |
Everything you've heard about cruise ship dining is true. At each meal, you'll find a varied selection of entrees (appetizers,
salads, soups, vegetables, and desserts, too), and each day the selection will be different. If you've ever wanted to experiment
with a cuisine or try a dish, you can feel free to order more than one entrée or appetizer (or dessert!). But, just because
your cruise ship offers plenty of delicious food, doesn't mean you'll come home out of shape. You can choose low-cal, spa,
vegetarian or fitness menu selections that are just as tempting as the regular menu. Best of all, the one thing you'll never
see on a cruise ship menu is a price. Because your meals are included!
Tipping is a matter of individual preference. A general rule of thumb is to plan for about $3.00 per person per day for
your cabin steward and dining room waiter, and about half that amount for your busboy. (A few cruise lines include tipping
in the price and will so inform you.) Other shipboard personnel can be tipped for special services at your discretion.
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| Is motion discomfort a problem? | |
Rarely. Popular cruise itineraries ply some of the calmest waters in the world. In addition, stabilizers on modern ships,
availability of advance weather information, and development of effective preventative medications have, for the most part,
eliminated the incidence of motion discomfort.
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| Are there medical services onboard? | |
Virtually every cruise ship (except for some smaller vessels operating in coastal waters) has a medical facility and health
care professionals on staff to handle almost any emergency. If you have a medical condition that might put you at risk, discuss
it with your doctor and inform the cruise lines at the time of booking. And, whenever you travel, check to see what your health
insurance covers.
