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Cruises are Value-Packed Vacations

By Phyllis Steinberg

If you think all-inclusive vacations are mainly in the Caribbean at Club Med, Sandals Resorts or the Grand Lido resorts in Jamaica, think again!

Cruising is one of the biggest and most inexpensive all-inclusive vacations that a family can take. You can travel the world and pay an all-inclusive rate that includes all meals and entertainment.

Here’s how it works!

You pay for your cruise up front and can easily calculate the cost of your vacation to just about anywhere in the world. You step on board, receive a shipboard credit card and all of the entertainment and meals are included in the price. And these aren’t just ordinary meals, there are lavish meals, midnight buffets with massive ice-carvings and lots of elegant desserts. 

There are extra charges, but they can be budgeted into the cost if you plan for them. Most of the medium and value-priced cruise lines charge extra for alcoholic drinks and soft drinks, off-shore excursions and require tips for cabin stewards, waiters and bus-boys. When you book your cruise, you can check with the travel agent about the tipping policies on board and charges for excursions. When you receive your tickets, you should receive the offshore excursions listed with prices.

Excursions on Alaska voyages tend to be rather costly because of the terrain. You might want to take a helicopter ride to a glacier and it could cost about $270 a person for the ride. For those planning a cruise to Alaska, be sure to obtain a list of the excursions and prices before you sail.

Port Everglades, one of the largest ports in the nation has several ships leaving for a variety of destinations. Sailing from Port Everglades are: Celebrity, Costa, Crystal, Cunard, Discovery, Holland America, Imperial Majesty, Orient Line, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Seabourn, SeaEscape, Silversea and Windstar.

The largest cruise ship sailing from Port Everglades is the Golden Princess, with 2,600 passengers. I sailed on the ship last year with some of my friends and found it to contain many amenities and plenty of open spaces for travelers to roam about at sea. Princess Line also has the Royal Princess, a 1,260 passenger ship but the newer ships in the line tend to be the larger capacity type. The Grand Princess also has 2,600 passengers.

Royal Caribbean International’s Rhapsody of the Seas carries 2,435 passengers and the Costa Cruise Lines’ Costa Atlantica carries 2,114 passengers.

Holland America ships tend to be more mid-sized ships carrying from 1,200 to 1,400 passengers. Celebrity Cruise Lines ships range from 1,374 to 1,950 passengers.

If you prefer a smaller size ship, Silversea cruises Silver Whisper and Silver Shadow carry 390 passengers. The advantage of a smaller ship is it is easier to get around. With the larger ships, often the floors don’t go all the way through and you have to take different elevators and different stairways to reach the dining room and other activities on board. Seabourn Pride and Seabourn Legend are also excellent smaller ships carrying 204 passengers.

Dining options on ships are changing to suit the needs of passengers who don’t like to have to eat at a specified time. Here are some of new innovations on cruise dining.

Carnival Cruise Lines has expanded its relationship with Miami Beach's Joe's Stone Crab Restaurant, whose world-famous crab claws will be among the featured menu items in David's, the "steakhouse-style" supper club aboard the new Carnival Pride.

Costa Cruises' dining options include a smoke-free dining room, as well as specialty restaurants and casual dining areas.

First European Cruises will offer passengers on the new European Vision and the new European Stars a choice of four restaurants, including a 24-hour café.

Holland America Line's Prinsendam, which joins the fleet in June, will offer an alternative restaurant, while the new Zuiderdam will host a "round-the-clock" café.

MSC Italian Cruises presents an adventure into the dining elegance of Italian culinary artistry, with traditional temptations and Italian specialties.

Princess Cruises' new Star Princess has both traditional and restaurant-style dining options as part of its Personal Choice Dining Program.  Like its sister ship Grand Princess, it features three main dining rooms and two specialty restaurants.

Radisson Seven Seas Cruises' Paul Gauguin and Radisson Diamond will offer butler service in top suites – already available on Seven Seas Mariner and Seven Seas Navigator.  Seven Seas Mariner features the only shipboard restaurant directed by Le Cordon Bleu on a permanent basis.

Regal Cruises' new international café, La Trattoria, is open for continental breakfast, lunches, buffet dinners and late-night snacks.  The cuisine is under the direction of Luigi Cataldi, a member of the world's oldest gastronomic society.

Menus aboard the Yachts of Seabourn will feature more than 200 new signature recipes by Master Chef Charlie Palmer, James Beard Award-winning founder of Aureole and other critically acclaimed restaurants.

Silversea Cruises' 2002 Culinary Cruise Series features cooking demonstrations, gala dinners, signature dishes and regional specialties created by distinguished chefs, including Michelin-rated masters from Relais & Châteaux-Relais Gourmands' boutique hotel and gourmand properties.

Windstar Cruises introduces a new wine list with an increased selection of international wines, enabling guests to experience local flavors and global favorites from such places as Australia, New Zealand, Spain, France and South Africa.

The number of cultural/educational programs, activities and shore experiences also continues to grow, with options designed to appeal to a wide variety of travelers, whether they seek cultural enrichment or adventure.  Here is a sampling of some of the many programs and activities available on cruises.

American Cruise Lines' passengers are joined by onboard naturalists and historians who offer lectures and lead shore expeditions during the Great Rivers of Florida Cruise itineraries. Holland America Cruises also offers onboard naturalists and historians on their Alaska cruises.

Bora Bora Cruises brings small-ship cruising to the islands of Tahiti with Polynesian ambiance and optional water activities such as snorkeling, diving and kayaking.

Crystal Cruises invites noted guests to share insights and expertise as part of the Crystal Visions Enrichment Program.  The guest list includes a former U.S. ambassador, renowned correspondents and award-winning performers.

Disney Cruise Line will host a series of special family-oriented events, including the 100^th anniversary celebration of Walt Disney's birth, Disney's "Return to Never Land" film premier at sea, the second annual Ebert and Roeper Film Festival and workshops presented by Family Fun Magazine.

Norwegian Cruise Line takes passengers to experience the culture of Hawaii as they visit the four main Hawaiian Islands – Oahu, Hawaii, Maui and Kauai – as well as Fanning Island, a remote island paradise in the Republic of Kiribati, a string of atolls along the Equator.

Orient Lines steps back in time with an itinerary that follows the path of St. Paul and the early roots of Christianity in the Mediterranean and an Antarctic program that traces the route of Sir Ernest Shackleton's Endurance expedition, including South Georgia Island.

Royal Caribbean International offers 13 excursions deep into the heart of Alaska on domed rail cars that feature 360-degree viewing, onboard dining, and outdoor viewing platforms.

Royal Olympic Cruises provides an onboard lecture and performance series featuring distinguished authorities, scholars and classical performers to augment the itinerary experience.

Cruises are good family vacations because there are activities for all ages. They are also good for multi-generational travel. With an extensive selection of programs for all ages, the all-inclusive nature of a cruise and the deals that are regularly available – including “children sail free” specials – families are realizing that cruising is an affordable way to make everyone happy.  Youth counselors supervise youngsters ages three months to 17 years (depending on the line and the itinerary) through age-appropriate activities. 

Fun is the operative word for all ages on a cruise.  Activities include treasure hunts, face painting, pool parties, children's films and cartoons, pizza parties, karaoke, talent shows, arts and crafts, video games and computer fun, mini-Olympic-style events and sporting tournaments.

Programs are designed to make education fun through hands-on activities and entertainment focusing on the destination's nature, heritage and the international experience.  Young cruisers can go stargazing with an expert astronomer, draw with a famous animator, dive in to wacky water activities, learn the art of hula dancing or study the habits of the region's wildlife.

Supervised shore activities range from beach parties and sand castle building to tours designed with youngsters in mind. While their parents are enjoying the ship's nightlife, youngsters can party at a teen coffee shop, special disco or “coketail” party.  

To find out more about cruise destinations, www.cruising.org

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