Are you cruising with your significant other, alone, with friends, family, or a partner?  Either way, this will dictate the type of cruise you should be looking for.  Relaxing strolls on white sandy beaches is different from a weekend booze cruise to Mexico. 

We once shared a shuttle with a family en route to their first cruise. There were two ships leaving from the same port that day.  Considering the ages of the two children, we assumed they were going on the Disney ship, as the other ship in port was considered a ‘”Booze cruise” for spring-breaker types.  And guess what?  It was spring break and the ship was loaded down with party goers! 

Much to our surprise, the family boarded the ‘booze cruise’ and you can probably guess the rest.  This is the perfect example of not doing your home work.  Unfortunately, that family’s first time cruising was probably their last.

If you are taking your children, some cruise lines cater to children much better than others, with programs and activities specifically designed for kids.  Although nearly all ships can accommodate children; some ships rarely have children cruising and are short on amenities.  Find out in advance the general type of people cruising – families, retired, young singles etc.  This drastically changes the atmosphere of the ship and can determine how much enjoyment you and the young ones will have.

Some people discover family cruises turn out to be the best vacation they have ever had. Disney Cruises and some of the Carnival and Royal Caribbean cruises spring to mind. The largest cruise ships in the world come with a host of amazing amenities for children including: 

• A large video arcade
• Kid’s only areas
• Teen Disco’s
•  And a host of sporting facilities just to name a few.

Cruising Groups 

Groups are catered for and can be a great way to celebrate the end of year football trip, family reunion, or a business conference at sea… often at reduced  rates. 

We highly recommend using a travel agent if you are making a booking on behalf of a group.  Search online and read reviews.  Once you have found the one provide.  Or, if the cruise line has a group booking representative talk to them before booking.  When booking for a group, the chance of something going wrong increases, therefore use an experienced travel agent or the cruise line to prevent unwanted mistakes or surprises. 

To constitute a group and be eligible for group discounts there must be a minimum number of staterooms booked, and can be as low as 8 rooms, but check with your travel agent for exact details. 

In addition to cheaper cruises, groups can also take advantage of: 

• Liquor packages, 
• Special dining requests 
• Complimentary gifts and door decorations 
• A personalized cake 
•  A stateroom upgrade for the group leader 
• And other VIP activities and amenities

If you are arranging a reunion of sorts, there couldn’t be a better location than on a cruise.  Once onboard, there is something for everyone so your entire group can enjoy the combined vacation/reunion.  The ships will even help with private functions, cakes and photography.  Ask your travel agent about any ‘Reunion Packages’. 

Conference facilities on most ships include dedicated conference rooms including presentation equipment such as overhead projectors, slide projectors, TV and DVD players. Generally, the newer the ship, the better the facilities. 

Planning your perfect cruise continues with Part 3.

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.