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Cruise planning: Cruise line comparison chart and more

August 3, 2021 By Amy Hagstrom

A cruise is a great way to enjoy multiple destinations while only unpacking once. Cruisers combine the convenience of an all-inclusive resort with the adventure of ports of call and international experiences. However, planning a cruise involves a special set of considerations that planning your average trip does not. How will you get to your departure port? Should you book excursions ahead of time? What does your ship include in the fare? Here’s what you need to know to plan the perfect cruise, using our cruise line comparison chart and more!

Cruise line comparison: what Type of Cruiser do You Want to be?

Source: Fix.com Blog

The first decision to make in the cruise planning process is to pick the type of cruise that’s best for you. If budget is a primary factor, a large, budget cruise ship will work nicely. Most sail for 5–7 days to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Mexico, Central America, and Alaska. Large cruise ships mean bigger crowds but they offer more onboard amenities, like multiple restaurants, pools, rock-climbing walls, and bigger gyms and spas. They’re almost always family friendly and have many dining options. If budget is not a concern but onboard amenities are still important, opt for a mid-sized luxury ship, which will be more personalized with great service and (usually) true all-inclusiveness, with drinks and exercise classes included in your fare.

If unique ports of call and an active itinerary are more important to you than onboard amenities, consider a small cruise ship. These ships, which hold fewer than 200 passengers in most cases, are highly personalized, and they can stop at smaller ports off the beaten path. Many small cruise ships include daily opportunities to snorkel, kayak, hike, and photograph wildlife, but they will cost more than traditional cruises.

Once you’ve decided on the type of cruising that works for you, it’s time to pick a cruise line. Compare lines by looking at their destination ports (where do you want to leave from?), the itineraries they offer (this is where you’ll choose between tropical cruises, Alaskan cruises, and European cruises, for instance), and their levels of inclusiveness.

Note that while virtually all cruise lines include room and board in their fares, some are truly all-inclusive, including alcohol, all excursions, and activities. Most charge extra for drinks, some onboard activities, and all excursions. Almost all lines prohibit bringing your own liquor or beer onboard, though most allow up to two bottles of wine. Ships store wine and liquor purchased at ports until disembarkation. Cruise lines that do not include alcohol in their cruise fares offer alcohol packages; do the math to determine whether such a package makes sense for you.

Planning Your Cruise Transportation and Getting Settled

Once you’ve settled on a cruise, it’s time to figure out how you’ll get to your embarkation port. One thing all cruises have in common is that they will leave without you. Therefore, plan to arrive the day before your departure if you’re flying to your port and plan to arrive several hours before boarding time if driving. You can even plan to drive the day before and stay the night at a port-side hotel (many will allow you to park your car there instead of at the port for less money).

If you’re flying to your port, look for a pre-cruise hotel that offers a shuttle service to your cruise or that is within an easy Uber fare. Check in online before you arrive to the port for ease of boarding; almost all cruise lines offer this service. Be sure to bring the paperwork that your cruise line requires, including your passport. Most cruise lines allow you to start the embarkation process by 11:30 am on the day of departure, which gives passengers time to eat a leisurely lunch while waiting for their staterooms to be ready.

Tip: Pack a day bag with swimsuits and essentials so you don’t have to wait for your bag to be delivered before enjoying the pool. Consider booking a massage or other spa service for your embarkation day to get you into “cruise mode.” These services are usually discounted on the first day.

Making the Most of Cruise Excursions

While onboard amenities are fun, you probably aren’t going on a cruise just to stay on the ship at every port. To avoid long lines at guest services during your cruise, book your excursions online before departure if you’re booking them through the cruise line. If you’re booking excursions independently, plan to book them for mid-morning on your days in port since many large cruise ships give priority disembarkation to passengers booked on cruise-specific excursions. Booking independently has its perks, however – you’ll usually save some money, you’ll help the local economy by paying tour operators directly, and you’ll avoid crowds of cruise passengers. To find safe, reputable excursions on your own, contact the local tourism board before your trip and make arrangements with verified businesses ahead of time. However, it’s important to remember the first rule of cruising: your cruise WILL leave without you if you’re not back on time. If your ship has limited time at a port (under 6–8 hours), it’s usually safest to book official cruise line excursions that guarantee your prompt return to the ship.

Planning to Disembark

At the end of your cruise, you’ll likely have an early-morning disembarkation. The process is known to go slowly since all passengers need to go through customs, but you can make it go faster by hanging onto your carry-on luggage (instead of putting it out the night before). Have your paperwork ready, and schedule a late-afternoon or evening flight home to be on the safe side.

Source: Fix.com Blog

River cruise vacation: What to expect on a Vantage Travel river cruise

July 15, 2021 By Amy Hagstrom

You only unpack once. You never have to plan, drive, or navigate in a foreign country. You wake up in a new city each day. All your meals are inclusive.

If this sounds like a dream, you haven’t tried a European river cruise! Whether you embark on a river cruise as a couples’ getaway (highly recommended!) or with older kids or teens, we have a full review of what you can expect on a VantageTravel.com river cruise vacation.

Vantage Travel river cruise vacation: what to expect onboard and off!

I recently experienced Vantage Travel’s Heart of Germany trip, which was eight days of luxury travel on the River Splendor. This ship sleeps 176 passengers, and felt cozy but not crowded during my sailing with approximately 110 passengers on board. We flew into Frankfurt, Germany and flew out of Munich, Germany, exploring seven ports through Bavaria along the journey.

The River Splendor navigated three rivers during our trip: the Rhine, Main, and Danube, and each day, we either docked directly in each town, able to walk off the ship and into a storybook village, or within a 1-1.5 hour bus ride from our day’s destination. Obviously, I preferred the former, but during approximately half the trip, the latter proved necessary.

We embarked in Mainz, Germany, and quickly settled into a comfortable routine: each evening before dinner, our capable cruise director, Renata Lovrovic, would brief us on the following day’s planned itinerary, which we could opt into or out of. (Should you wish to explore the port of call on your own, ship departure times were clearly announced.) Cocktail hour would follow in the lounge, with the evening capped by a four-course dinner. While the menu is upscale American with only a few local specialties, basic dishes and a healthy option are always available, such as grilled chicken or salmon. Breakfast is also a buffet, and an early riser’s breakfast allows even greater flexibility. By the time we retired to our stateroom each evening, a full written itinerary for the following day awaited us on our pillows.

Deluxe stateroom, photo courtesy of Erika Balbier

Throughout the cruise, we also had full access to a concierge, a massage therapist, and a 24-hour reception desk. Our bottom deck stateroom was decidedly cozy, but we had all the space we needed with impressive storage solutions for our luggage and clothes. (Staterooms sleep two, so families would need to upgrade to a suite or book two or more rooms.) The bathroom was downright roomy, and while I had worried that our two small windows wouldn’t let in enough light, we found the space to never feel gloomy. Nor did we ever feel seasick on the gentle Rhine, Main, and Danube rivers.

Our journey took us from Mainz to Regensburg. Each convergence of the rivers brought new ports and vistas, new foods to try, and new local city experts to guide us. Cultural activities on-board, such as German language lessons, cooking classes, and lectures were on offer almost daily, though we often ran out of time to enjoy them all.

Dining each evening is open seating, so we met new friends on-board who brightened our evening social life, often lingering over wine or aperitifs after our plates were cleared. Housekeeping is twice daily plus a turndown service, and each server in the dining room and lounge was courteous and well-trained.

What Vantage offers families who want to combine luxury with relaxation:

While the typical clientele of a Vantage river cruise skews older, families and grandparents with older kids and teens will find plenty to keep busy and engaged. Excursions off the ship occur every single day, and as stated above, parents and grandparents can opt-out with their kids at will, but trust me, you’ll want to stick around to learn with the group on most occasions.

Teens tend to congregate in the Captain’s Club, the window-filled space at the stern where meals are served buffet style (and alfresco in nice weather). Vantage crew members put out games and electronics in this space when kids are on-board, and the complimentary espresso machine serves up hot chocolate and coffee drinks at any time of day.

Free WiFi is offered the ship throughout the cruise, and while I brought a hot spot to ensure connectivity for work, I never needed it onboard the River Splendor. Connection was swift and reliable, so teens can stay connected via text, email and WhatsApp with family at home, friends, and new friends they meet on the cruise.

The library adjacent to the lounge houses cards, board games and books, making for a nice retreat, and the sundeck at the top level is perfect for active teens who want to make use of the small track in nice weather (though there’s also a small exercise room onboard). Complimentary bike use is available in most ports (and the bikes sail along with you on the deck of the River Splendor).

While river cruising is known to be relaxing (think lazy afternoons spotting castles while enjoying high tea and navigating locks while enjoying a glass of wine), VantageTravel.com focuses on the cultural connection just as ardently. Every single day brought a different walking tour, cathedral or castle visit, and opportunity for local dining and shopping.

What’s included in the river cruise vacation cost:

Nearly everything! Here’s what’s included:

Almost all excursions, all city guides and regional experts.
All bus transfers, including to and from the airport.
Almost every meal (only a couple meals in towns are not included)
House wine and beer (free-flowing) at every dinner.
Cocktail demonstration nightly.
WiFi onboard.
Bike and e-bike lending program.
24-hour access to coffee, espresso, and tea.
Museum entry and tour entry for all planned excursions.

What you’ll pay a la carte for:

Top-shelf wine and liquor at dinner, plus apres-dinner drinks.
Cocktails, wine and beer during cocktail hour in the lounge.
Add-on excursions (we never felt it necessary).

Tip: Bottled water is available for purchase at the bar in the lounge, but pitchers of drinking water is also available in the Captain’s Club and in the exercise room daily.

We loved that Vantage can book your airfare for you, and we highly advise going with this perk. It comes included with a pick-up right in the terminal, which is very welcome after a long journey, and Vantage did a great job finding us the best flight itineraries possible.

Before and during your trip, you also have access to a personal portal that allows you to view your itinerary, upgrade your cabin or tours, and check on details of your flights. We found Vantage to be highly organized and very responsive in the customer service department.

Our only wishes to add to the list for our river cruise vacation: we’d love to have had easier access to complimentary water onboard, would have liked more local cuisine at dinner, and would have welcomed smaller walking tour group sizes. Otherwise, we were happy cruise passengers for a blissful eight days!

Check out the stops we made during our Heart of Germany tour, in order to plan your own Bavarian vacation.

Disclosure: We experienced a Vantage Travel river cruise vacation as guests of Vantage, for the purpose of review. All opinions remain our own.

Guide to family cruising in Croatia with kids

July 14, 2021 By Amy Hagstrom

Sailing holidays are perfect for families, where you can set your pace and plan your own schedule, especially if you have children on board as well. Moreover, you stay together like a well-knit group in your floating home as you sail off the stunning Croàtian coastline. Check out this handy guide for a multi-activity family cruise in Croatia.

A guide to family cruising in Croatia with the kids!

Best time to sail

The best time to go sailing in Croatia is between April and September. The periods of calm prevail in July and August, which makes it ideal for those sailing with children as the waters are smooth. The weather is perfect for swimming, water sports or simply relaxing on the deck with the family.

Age restrictions

Sailing companies in Croatia usually have a lower age limit of four years for sailing trips with children. There are some flotillas you can book that have no restrictions at all, though in some cases you have to carry life jackets for your children who are under four years. To operate the dinghy the minimum age is 16 years, and no one below 16 is to be left without supervision at all times.

Choice of vessel

There are four different types of vessels you can opt for, but you will need to match one with your requirements.

Sailboats: They are slow, so charter one if you have a lot of stops to make and plenty of time to spare.
Catamarans: If you are looking for plenty of space and stability then catamarans are the best choice for large groups and especially those with children.
Motor Yacht: A skippered motor yacht is a good choice if you are short on time and wish to explore as much of Croatia as possible.
Gulets: With huge open decks and short sailing hours limited to 3-4 a day, this is another exciting option if you are sailing with children.

Onboard amenities

Your sailing vessel should have a nice salon with TV
The chef should be flexible enough in meal preparation for children
Believe it or not but most children would rather have pizza or pasta than shrimp.
Crew should be kid friendly and willing to keep an eye on the kids should you decide to wander into town for a glass of wine.

Packing advice

It is hard to imagine that you will need anything more than a swimsuit as you will be spending most of the cruise time over water. However, there are umpteen places onshore for which you will have to be prepared. So remember to pack these essentials on your family sailing holiday across the Adriatic:

Swimwear
A jacket
Games for children
An inflatable
Sunscreen and moisturizer.
Travel towel
Waterproof camera
A small daypack
Rash vest
Medication
Insect repellent

Safety

Cruise ships in Croatia are known for their safety and adhering to the rigid maritime laws of the country. So you have nothing to worry about on a family cruise apart from sitting back, relaxing and enjoying the views and the experience with the ones you love the most.

On a budget? Cruise tips for saving money!

July 25, 2017 By Amy Hagstrom

Cruise vacations remain some of the most budget-friendly family vacation options available. While I admit to being quite picky about cruises, experience has taught me that cruises make for excellent multi-generational trips, allowing diverse family groups to have a great time together without extensive effort, stress, time, and, if you do it right, money.

On a budget: cruise tips! How to save money (and when it’s worth paying full price):

In travel, just like in anything else, you get what you pay for. However, whether you’re springing for a exotic small-ship adventure cruise or a mega-ship family cruise, within your budget category, it’s absolutely possible to save money. Here’s how:

Cruise in the off-season:

Is there still an off-season in cruising? Yes. Families willing to avoid the busy holiday and summer break periods will snag deals on cruise lines across the board, especially if they’re willing to cruise to the Caribbean or Bahamas during September through mid-November. While this time period sees primarily adult travelers without kids in tow, families able to break free from the traditional school schedule will be rewarded with deals and less crowded ships. While I realize this is not always possible, it’s a great strategy to have in parents’ back pocket.

Take a weekend getaway cruise:

Obviously, the longer your vacation, the more it is apt to cost. Consider a land-cruise combination holiday, or a shorter, weekend-long cruise of 2-3 nights. Cruise lines such as Royal Seas Cruises regularly offer 2-3 night cruises to the Bahamas, which can either whet the appetite for longer journeys or simply serve as a short trip that doesn’t have to break the bank. Naturally, weekend-length cruises are easiest to manage if you live near a cruise port in Florida, where most of these shorter trips depart.

Cruise from a port within driving distance:

You don’t have to live in Florida to take advantage of longer cruise itineraries that depart from cities as diverse as Galveston, New York City, Seattle, Vancouver, and Los Angeles. Additional ports on the eastern seaboard host shorter cruises into the waters of eastern Canada and Europe as well. Picking a cruise based on the port can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars in airfare, and had the added benefit of causing less stress pre-cruise: there’s no worry about missing your cruise due to airline delays or cancellations.

Find the most inclusive cruise in your budget category:

Unless you have incredible will power, it can be hard to resist the many, many upgrades sold on cruise ships. Start fighting this battle by picking the most inclusive cruise you can afford. For instance, many cruise lines charge extra per person for all types of drinks, including soda and tea, while only a handful include these beverages in their base rate (and even fewer include alcoholic drinks). If you must cruise on a less-than-inclusive cruise line, and you can resist these types of packages, bring your own travel water filter along and filter your own drinking water to use in a reusable water bottle (the water in buffets and restaurants onboard cruise ships is potable, but sometimes not very tasty).

Set a daily budget for extras onboard cruise ships, to be put to use at cruise ship arcades, casinos, dining upgrades, and bars. Decide before your trip what extras you won’t be paying for, and then stay away from those areas of the ship. If you enjoy spa treatments, consider booking on less desirable days, such as port days, when discounts are offered on most cruise lines, or the same day you embark on the ship.

Opt out of cruise line excursions:

Booking your excursions via your cruise line is convenient, but more costly than booking them on your own, and almost always a less satisfying travel experience, too. Unless you are very tight on time at your port (in which case only the cruise line’s excursions guarantee you’ll be back in time), book your own getaways off the ship. Read through the cruise line’s offerings, then do some research on your own, finding reputable companies offering similar excursions for less. TripAdvisor and your favorite travel blogs are a good place to start. Often, booking solo will result in a more personalized tour or experience for less money. If you don’t want to plan ahead, exit the port and simply find a local taxi, and ask for a rate for half a day. You may end up with a local tour guide for a personalized experience. If in doubt about reputable taxis or guides, as the tourism police who are almost always stationed at cruise ports.

Should you take a ‘budget’ cruise?

I personally believe that we all get what we pay for, which is why I’d rather take a shorter cruise or watch my budget more closely on a quality cruise line than take a chance on a budget or bare bones cruise line. That said, I know travelers who have had good experiences on cheap cruises by managing their expectations, being flexible, and enjoying the ride.

Need more tips? Check out our mega guide to cruise vacations!

This story was sponsored by Royal Sea Cruises but the opinions are the author’s own.

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Dominican Republic with kids: Power snorkeling at Sosua Beach

July 18, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

During our Fathom cruise in the Dominican Republic, we knew we wanted to both visit a local beach and take a snorkeling trip. We were able to do both during a power snorkeling trip with Wild Play Adventures.

Usually, we opt to skip official cruise excursions in favor of booking privately. You get a more personalized experience, usually for less. However, in the case of our DR trip, the official excursion was the only snorkeling trip to fit our tight schedule. While there were a lot of people on our trip (at least 25), we still had a great experience, due primarily to the beautiful location and abundance of saline.

Wild Play Adventures picked us up in an air conditioned bus directly from our port at Amber Cove, and drove us 50 minutes to Sosua, a beach town outside of the city of Puerto Plata. The beach at Sosua is gorgeous, and the little town hugging the shoreline is made up of a hodge podge of shops, restaurants, beach bars, and dive shops. It’s a little rough around the edges, and certainly far more local than touristy, and we wished we had more time to explore. Certainly, we’d like to return to Sosua on a return trip to the DR.

We checked into Wild Play’s snorkel center right on the sand, and were given lockers to store our belongings. We were issued fins, snorkels, and masks, and were brought onto the snorkel boat (which came right up to the shore) within minutes. I loved how quickly we were out on the water.

We rode in the boat to two nearby snorkel locations, jumping into the water to explore both. Since this was a ‘power snorkel’ trip, we were issued power snorkel machines, which have propellers that allow you to move more quickly through the water. These machines looked more intimidating than they actually were…the snorkel staff handed them to you in the water once you were already floating, so they were easy to manage. The kids enjoyed using them to propel themselves further underwater, and across small currents. Using the machines was optional, and I decided to snorkel once with one, once without.

We saw a wide variety of tropical fish, jellyfish, and coral in both locations…more than we even saw in Hawaii. I do wish our group had been smaller in number, so I recommend a private tour if and when possible. However, the big group was more manageable than you’d think once in the water. Between snorkel locations, we were served fresh cut fruit and beverages, including water bottles and soda. The two locations were only about 10 minutes apart, but if you’re prone to seasickness, I recommend medicating ahead of time.

Cost:

As noted, our snorkel tour was an official excursion on our Fathom cruise. We paid $69 per adult (12 and up). Check the Wild Play website for current pricing and excursion options. Expect the excursion to take half a day. We left at 2 pm and returned at 6:30 pm.

Age group:

For the power snorkel option, kids had to be 10 and up. Younger kids could participate without the power assist, but trust me, they’ll want to use one. I recommend booking a non-power assist tour if you have young kids.

Directions:

Wild Play picks you up from your cruise port at Amber Cove.