In many cases, the dates you choose to go on vacation may have a bearing on how much you will spend.  For example, summer time is peak season and more popular than spring and fall months. 

Choosing to cruise during spring or fall may save you money on cruises, flights, hotels, rental cars and other ancillary expenses, but the weather is more uncertain.  The Mediterranean for example is a lovely place to visit during the summer and shoulder seasons, but can be very cold and windy during winter.  And because the seas are usually rough for this time of year there is an increased chance of missing one or two ports of call due to bad weather.  However, you may consider this to be a small price to pay for a cheaper cruise.

You can also get good deals by booking well in advance, or if you have the flexibility and don’t mind the limited cabin options, you can grab even better bargains by booking within a week or two of sailing.  This may be more challenging for a family with children, but if possible this can be a great way to get a fantastic discount; often up to half off the original price, and some times more.

Some destinations have limited seasons.  For example, the larger cruise lines only send their ships to Alaska and northern Europe between May and September, and the Mediterranean between April and November (Although becoming more popular year round).  South of the equator, like Australia, New Zealand, Asia and South America are popular November through March.

The Caribbean is a little easier to plan for, with ships going there all year round.  In fact it’s surprising to note that deciding when to cruise is one of the most overlooked areas of cruising… yet it can have the biggest impact.

For example, cruising in Alaska at the start of summer is very different to the end of summer.  There are more snow peaks, stronger waterfalls and a better chance of seeing wildlife at the start of the season. However, due to all the ice in the water your ship will have less chance of getting up close to the glaciers.

By the time summer finishes, more of the ice has melted and your ship can usually get closer to the glaciers for a spectacular view and a great once in a life time experience.

Cruising the Caribbean during Spring Break is often regrettably overlooked by first time cruisers.  Spring break is at different times from state to state within the US and Canada, and spans from the start of March to the end of April.

Hurricane season

There are two ways of looking at cruising during the Caribbean hurricane season from June 1st to November 30th.  On one hand, the ship can easily change its itinerary, and often does, if the destination port is in the path of a hurricane.  If this happens, your vacation continues as planned but with a change of itinerary, or an additional sea day. For some this is not a problem. But on the other hand, if you are really looking forward to swimming with dolphins in Cozumel, or scuba dive in Belize, a pending hurricane could see you miss this port altogether.

Additionally, if you are on a 3 day cruise, missing one or both of the port days can be very disappointing and poor value for money… an important point to keep in mind.

Another point to note is the possible disruption to getting to and from the ship.  It’s not the change in the ships’ itinerary but the flights in and out of Florida and surrounding states that often experience delays and/or cancellations.

Planning your perfect cruise continues finishes with Part 6.

To make the most of your cruise, read my book Cruise Ship Secrets.  It will help you with beating sea sickness, cruising with kids, saving money, what to expect onboard, what to pack, and a lot more.

Why a cruise vacation? 

One of the best things about cruising is the wide variety of activities available.  You can do anything from relaxing on a deck chair with a good book, to enjoying more strenuous and exciting activities like golf, snorkeling, or helicopter rides. 

Destination Cruises – European cruises offer medieval tours and other opportunities. Imagine visiting the Coliseum, the French Riviera and the Greek Islands all in one week!  There is no place on earth where you will find this much culture and history so close together. Caribbean cruises offer beautiful beaches full of excitement and relaxation.  You could be snorkeling clear blue waters of Mexico, visiting beautiful Jamaican waterfalls, and lazing in a hammock on a stunning beach, all during the same vacation.  

Where ever you are cruising, ships usually dock early in the morning, giving you the opportunity to get off and explore the sights during the day. Later in the afternoon or evening, your ship sets sail to the next exciting destination.  In some destinations (commonly referred to as ports of call), the ship will arrive late, so check the voyage arrival and departure times prior to booking.  You don’t want to get to your favorite destination just to find out you’re there only for a few hours.  In some locations, the ship will stay for a night or two, giving you ample opportunity to explore longer.

If you are celebrating a special occasion, then it is a perfect opportunity to take advantage of some unique packages available.  Most Cruise Lines offer excellent romance packages including sparkling wine and chocolate strawberries waiting for you upon arrival, a selection of massages to chose from, roses in your room and even breakfast in bed.  Plan in advance and give the cruise line as much notice as possible.  It always pays to double check the arrangements prior to leaving home.

One of the great things about a cruise is, it’s a destination within itself that takes you to several other destinations while you sleep.  You wake up in the morning to a whole new adventure.  And with the most popular cities located on the water; a cruise ship can visit Barcelona, Venice, Monte Carlo, Cannes, Athens and the Greek Islands all in one cruise. 

To conclude part 1, a common mistake is relying too much on what other people recommend. The same ship can change from season to season and itinerary to itinerary. And what your friends or family liked on their cruise might not be what you have in mind.  To guarantee yourself a great vacation, do your research and make it your own decision.  The rest of planning your perfect cruise continues here.

To make the most of your cruise, read my book Cruise Ship Secrets.  It will help you with beating sea sickness, cruising with kids, saving money, what to expect onboard, what to pack, and a lot more.

Imagine, you have been looking forward to your cruise for months.  Taken time off work and flown half way across the country for your dream vacation.  Everyone at work has wished you bon voyage and expecting their postcard. 

Now, the time has finally come for you to check-in, and you are denied boarding because the name on your birth certificate is different to your license.  Under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, if your voyage starts and ends in the same U.S. port you don’t need a passport, instead you may travel with a government issued birth certificate and a government issued picture ID, like a driver’s license.  However, if someone has different surnames on these documents, the person must bridge the difference with a marriage license for example.

So there you are at the terminal and not allowed onboard.  Now you must frantically try to get hold of some one back home to break into your house, find your marriage certificate and fax it to the cruise terminal in time for you to board.  The tension mounts as you pace back and forth waiting for people to return your calls, find the document in your house or find a fax machine to send it.  If you are successful, great.  But if not, your perfect cruise has come to an end before it even began. 

Think this doesn’t happen? You would be surprised. On our last cruise to the Caribbean, there were four people denied boarding because of this.

Be prepared and have all your documents in order before leaving home.

To make the most of your cruise, read my book Cruise Ship Secrets.  It will help you with beating sea sickness, cruising with kids, saving money, what to expect onboard, what to pack, and a lot more.