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New To Cruising?

The prospect of cruising can be daunting if you don't know the ropes. We will try in these pages to remove the mystery and explain what is involved and add some of our favourite tips on the way.

Starting with why a cruise makes a great holiday, we have tips on how to find the right cruise before looking at how you book a cruise. There are answers regarding all stages of your cruise holiday covering preparation, how you get to the cruise ship, what's onboard and getting home again. And also explained some of the terminology, to take away the air of mystery, surrounding cruises.

We hope you find these pages useful and that you will decide to go cruising. If you are an experienced cruiser, forgive us if we are repeating what you already know - but maybe there is something new here for you. Select a subject from the lists below to view further information.

Why Cruise?

Cruising offers an excellent holiday choice. It caters for a variety of tastes and needs with lots to do or see and great food and entertainment. Where else can you find a holiday where you will visit lots of different places and your hotel moves with you. No packing, no hassle, no worries. And these days it not just for older holidaymakers - there are lots of activities for children, teens and adults alike - day and night.

You can choose from more than 200 ships ranging from active to sophisticated with lots of facilities like pools, spas and fitness centres. There are organised activities like bingo, lectures, art auctions, pool and deck games, cooking demonstrations and wine tasting but you may prefer to just sunbathe, read or do nothing at all. The children will entertained with supervised children’s programmes leaving you free to enjoy the ship. There is fine dining from a range of restaurants and, at night, production shows, films, the casino and the discotheque.

The range of cruises offered is wide - from sun and fun in the Caribbean or Mediterranean to sightseeing in Alaska or the Baltic. If you don't like to fly there are now plenty of cruises from UK ports. Try adventure cruising in remoter parts of the world like Antarctica or cruise under sail onboard a many masted tall ship. Whatever cruise you select there will be tours ashore offering sightseeing, snorkelling or scuba diving, horseback riding, biking or hiking, a round of golf or a calypso party on a catamaran.

And if you are worried about seasickness, most ships are so big and well stabilized that most of the time you can hardly tell you're moving, and you can take precautions in planning your cruise that will minimise the risk - see our tip. If we can't convince you then why not try a river cruise - sightsee all day long on the placid waters of one of the world's great rivers.

Finally cruising is a great value holiday. The upfront price may seem high, but remember your cruise fare includes your accommodation, food, activities (including children's programs) and entertainment and in many cases - flights. Compare the cruise cost with the all in cost of your hotel based holiday and you will be pleasantly surprised.

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Choosing Your Ship : WELCOME ABOARD!

One of the biggest decisions you need to make in planning a cruise vacation is what ship is the right one for you. The size and type of ship you choose can make a huge difference to your cruise experience. The good news is that you have a broad range of vessels and Cruise Lines to choose from.

We have lots of information to help you make your decision on this site.

The size and rating of the ships will be important factors in making your selection but you may also like to look at the passenger mix that you can expect on the ships - some have an international mix but others may be predominantly British, American or Italian. We also discuss the needs of special interest groups like families, singles and the physically challenged and how to find the best ship for them. Last but not least we look at the risks of motion sickness and how to minimise those risks.

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What Size Ship?

The size of ship you choose can make a big difference to your cruise experience and you have over 200 ships to choose from on this website. Several of our cruise search forms let you choose the size of ship and our Ship Details page also shows the size. We group them into Very Small, Small, Medium, Large and Superliners based on their tonnage and the maximum number of passengers carried as follows:

Very Small Ships - Under 10,000 tons

In this category you will generally find the adventure ships, coastal ships, sailing ships and some of the yacht style luxury ships. They will be able to sail where the larger ships cannot go and there will be no crowds. Many have transoms that fold down into sports platforms from which passengers can swim, windsurf, water-ski, kayak, etc. However they are not suitable for families and, other than the luxury vessels, will offer few other facilities or entertainment. They will also move a lot in rough seas. Cruise Lines offering ships in this category include Clipper, Hebridean, Hurtigruten, Seabourn and Windstar

Small Ships - up to 25,000 tons and 1,000 passengers

Here we have some larger luxury and adventure ships but most of the ships of this size are older traditional cruise ships offering value cruising but without the range of facilities (or crowds) you get on the larger vessels. There will often be a swimming pool, spa, casino and show lounge and passengers may well be older and more sedate. Better in rough seas than the very small ships because they tend to have deeper drafts, there will still be movement. The main cruise lines here are Fred Olsen, Louis, MSC, Orient and Silversea.

Medium Ships - up to 60,000 tons and 2,000 passengers

We have over 50 ships in this group. Medium ships will have a lot of the facilities of the larger ships but maybe smaller public rooms and fewer pools but less passengers of course. Entertainment will be lower key than on the bigger ships. The majority were built in the 1980s and 90s but this group includes several luxury vessels built more recently. Cruise Lines with ships of this size include Costa, Crystal, Fred Olsen, Holland America, MSC, NCL, Radisson, Silversea and Thomson.

Large Ships - 60,000 to 100,000 tons and 2,000 to 3,000 passengers

There are over 60 ships in this group mostly built within the last 10 years and several new ships. These ships do have a floating resort feel and offer lots of activities, several pools and many dining and entertainment options including production shows. Unless you are on a luxury vessel you will be with a lot of people and experience lots of children and queues at the buffet restaurant and when disembarking. Itineraries will include the popular ports that cater for the larger ships. Ships of this size are usually fitted with stabilizers and will move much less in rough weather. The major Cruise Lines dominate the group: Carnival, Celebrity, Costa, Holland America, NCL, P&O, Princess and Royal Caribbean.

Superliners - over 100,000 tons and 3000 passengers

There are already more than 20 ships of this size sailing and Carnival has 7, Costa 2, and Princess and Royal Caribbean 6 each. Now we have the first 150,000 ton ship (QM2) and more are on the way. These are definitely resorts at sea offering well organised activity programmes for all age groups, ice rinks, indoor promenades, multiple pools with waterslides and lots of flexible dining options. A variety of entertainment will be available around the ship including production shows in large well equipped theatres. Ships of this size are fitted with stabilizers and their size will mean that rough weather has much less of an effect.

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Ship Rating

Ship Ratings are a guide to the standards of accommodation, food, service and facilities that you can expect aboard your cruise ship. We also look at the passenger crew ratio as a rough guide to service levels aboard and the passenger space ratio (expressed as tons per passenger) to assess how crowded the ship can get when full. Both our rating and these ratios are shown on the individual Ship Details pages.

Budget

These tend to be older ships providing value for money cruises or small adventure ships with basic facilities. You may be cruising in somewhat crowded surroundings - the space ratio is often below 20. Cabins will be compact and the food and service will be acceptable. The adventure ships of Clipper will be included here along with the classic liners of Louis Cruise Line.

Standard

Mainly ships built in the 1980s and early 1990s providing an enjoyable cruise with reasonably good food and service - around one crew to every 3 passengers. The facilities will be quite good but sometimes crowded with space at between 20-30 tons per passenger. Principal cruise lines providing this level of ship are Carnival, Costa, NCL, Royal Caribbean and Thomson.

Superior

Predominantly large modern ships, from the mid 1990s on, with reasonably sized accommodation on attractive ships providing good food, service and entertainment from a range of public rooms and restaurants. The cruise experience should be very good and there will be more space (30-40 tons per passenger) and plenty of activities for all age groups. There are some older and smaller gems in the group with less facilities but excellent service. The major Cruise Lines in this group are: Carnival, Costa, Fred Olsen, MSC, NCL, P&:O, Princess and Royal Caribbean.

Premier

Expect a classier cruise experience on these ships with more space and better service. The ships are modern and come in all sizes offering a space ratio of 40-50 tons per passenger and high quality food, service and facilities. The principal providers are Celebrity, Cunard, Holland America, P&O, Princess, Radisson and Windstar.

Luxury

Luxury ships will offer you true luxury, excellent cuisine and personal service in spacious and elegant surroundings. The space ratio will be around 50 tons per passenger. Meals should be a memorable experience and service attentive yet unobtrusive. Here you will find the ships of Crystal, Hebridean, Cunard, Seabourn, SeaDream and Silversea.

Sailing Ships

If you want to cruise under sail onboard a many masted tall ship, you have the choice of authentic sailing ships, modern replicas or the latest modern cruise-sail ships. The vessels are small by cruise line standards so the facilities onboard are limited although you may find small dip pools on the modern ships. You can choose from:

• Sea Cloud Cruises of Germany operating the veteran tall ship Sea Cloud and her modern sister Sea Cloud II both with opulent cruising under sail.
• Star Clippers offering an authentic classic sailing experience aboard three handsome vessels with basic levels of cruise ship comfort.
• Windstar with a fleet of four high tech cruise-sail ships that are larger and have computer controlled sails - offering a classic sailing experience with elegant facilities.

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Cruising with Children

Cruising is becoming increasingly popular with families with children and many operators provide extensive children's facilities and programmes. It is an ideal family holiday - once aboard the kids will have so much to do you may not see them at all. The environment is contained, safe and secure so your children can have the freedom to enjoy the organised clubs, programmes and activities laid on for them.

The key to an enjoyable family cruise is to choose the ship that best meets your family's need and an itinerary that will keep them interested. To help you make this choice each ship on our site has been rated as follows: Children Welcome, Children Accepted or Unsuitable for Children. These ratings and a comment on the facilities for children are displayed on the individual Ship Details pages. Also you can search specifically for cruises on child friendly ships on the front or Home page.

Some points to remember:

• Not all itineraries are ideal for children and some longer and more exotic cruises may have age restrictions and very limited programs. The best cruising regions for children appear to be the Mediterranean and Caribbean where the warm sunny weather allows then to enjoy the pool and other activities on board.
• Book 7 night cruises in the school holidays if you want to make sure your children have lots of company.
• Look for ships that offer family or connecting cabins. If you want a separate cabin from the children consider an outside cabin for yourself and an inside across the corridor.
• Fares for children under 12 sharing a cabin with 2 adults are offered at a substantial discount.
• The formal restaurants may not be ideal for your family meals but the early sitting is normally set up to cope. Check out the alternative eating options to see what might suit your family needs best.
• Check whether in-cabin or group baby-sitting is available and the cost so you can enjoy the evening entertainment on offer.
• If you are cruising with an infant:
  • Check the cruise line policy regarding infants on board. Some do not want infants at all, on other cruise lines or specific itineraries there's a minimum age of 6 or 12 months.
  • Check that cots are available and reserve one. Make sure your cabin has enough room for the cot and you to move around.
  • Plan to bring disposable nappies, formula and baby food etc with you or check out what is available on the ship.
  • Remember to bring a lightweight pushchair - ship corridors can be long. You may also be able to hire one from the cruise line.

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Cruising with Teenagers

Cruising can be a great choice for families with teenagers - some freedom with lots to do and people to meet. The larger cruise ships provide special clubs with their own facilities and activities where teenagers can get together. The club staff will organise pool parties, dancing and karaoke contests and sports events to keep them busy. Look out for ships with interesting facilities - a rock-climbing wall, a waterslide, a mini-golf course, a basketball/football court, a video arcade and 24-hour buffet.

Some points to remember:

• Choose the school holidays if you want to make sure that there will be other teenagers aboard.
• Watch out for the alcohol policy, especially on American boats where the drinking age may be 21.
• Teenagers love to phone, text or email their friends so read our page on Staying In Touch so you can get a grip on the potential costs.

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Cruising for Seniors

Older holiday-makers discovered cruising some time ago and it is only in the last five years that many others have discovered what they already knew -cruising is a great way to travel. Here you have a secure, comfortable and sociable environment with organised entertainment and activities and lots of different places to visit yet your hotel moves with you. No packing, no hassle, no worries. Seniors have different requirements in their cruising and the cruise lines recognise these needs and try to cater for them:

• Seniors can and sometimes prefer to cruise out of season when the ships are less busy and costs are lower.
• Seniors are often experienced travellers and consequently seek more exotic itineraries with new destinations off the beaten track. Soft adventure cruising is becoming popular with Hutigruten and Orient Lines in Antarctica and Cruise West up close and personal in Alaska. Swan Hellenic visits lots of out of the way places while Silversea, Seabourn and Radisson Seven Seas offer interesting and varied itineraries.
• World cruises too are becoming even more popular with seniors as only they normally have the time for a 90 day plus cruise. This is the classic cruise experience, circling the globe to explore new regions and visiting more than 30 ports on a 3 month voyage. Cunard and P&O are the main world travellers from the UK and Holland America from the USA.
• Learning or Enrichment programmes are a new trend with seniors. Onboard port lectures are not new but now there is a demand for art or computer classes or a deeper knowledge in fields like history and politics. Cruise lines like Crystal, Cunard and Holland America have all introduced new learning programmes while Swan Hellenic cruises have always carried a team of lecturers expert in the history and culture of the ports they are visiting.
• Senior-friendly fitness programmes have been offered for some time but cruise lines are now adding classes such as yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi and wellness and wellbeing courses.
• Pools with magradomes (sliding roofs), Spas and Thalassotherapy pools are popular with seniors and are increasingly provided on the newer ships as swimming and water treatments are particularly beneficial.
• Low calorie dining options have been introduced for all but seniors are probably even more conscious of the risks of the presented by that midnight buffet.

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Cruising with a Disability

Cruising is a popular holiday option for those with a disability as it offers the opportunity to travel in a secure comfortable and sociable environment with organised entertainment and activities. It is not without problems as ships are not traditionally designed with wheelchairs in mind - narrow cabin and bathroom doorways with raised edges, lift controls and doors and difficult to open doors to outside decks. Although many ships say they accept wheelchair passengers few are properly equipped for them. However newer cruise ships are providing better for physically challenged passengers with more wheelchair cabins and facilities around the ship.

You will need to check the individual Ship details page to see the level of access offered onboard and the number of cabins that are wheelchair friendly. Wheelchair access for each ship is rated as Very Good; Good; Acceptable; Unsuitable. This is only an indication of the suitability of each ship for wheelchair passengers and you should still question your Travel Agent and the Cruise Line on the suitability of the ship.

We recommend that you:

• Be honest about the true nature of your disability.
• Ask if the cruise line has rules stating that certain types of disabled travellers must be accompanied by a companion.
• Check the arrangements regarding flights and transfers to and from the ship.
• Select your ship carefully - the facilities for disabled onboard will determine the quality of your cruise.
• Select your cruise itinerary carefully - landing at some ports is by tender and that can present difficulties to all disabled passengers.
• Make sure that the Cruise Line is aware of your disability and that they acknowledge that and provide you with the relevant information.
• Ask if the cruise line has a Special Needs brochure; many lines have published these brochures detailing the amenities offered to those with disabilities.
• Obtain written confirmation of the cabin booked and facilities available.
• Make sure that you have adequate Travel Insurance.

Points to note and questions to ask when selecting your ship:

• Ships built during the past five years are more likely to have purpose built staterooms conveniently located close to lifts.
• Ideally cabins adapted for passengers with wheelchairs should feature:
  • entrance doors at least 30 inches and preferably 36 inches wide with a ramp or no lip.
  • Panic buttons
  • All cabin equipment usable at wheelchair height.
  • Wardrobe with low or pull down clothes rail.
  • Space to move around.
  • Bathroom with outward opening door with ramp or no lip at threshold.
  • Shower big enough for a wheelchair with no lip, equipped with grab handles and panic button.
  • Ramp out on to balcony (if booked).
• Can outside decks be reached without assistance and are all decks and public areas accessible to wheelchairs?
• Can you request a table in the dining room that's easy to get to?
• Are there wheelchair places with a good view in the Showlounge?
• Are the lifts wide enough for your wheelchair? Are there enough and do they have control buttons at lower levels?
• Are there pool lifts so I can have a swim?
• Make sure the Medical Centre is equipped to deal with your medical needs and that you have Travel Insurance that covers the cost.
• Are the ship's tenders accessible for wheelchairs - how will I be transferred to the tender?

Points to note and questions to ask when selecting your cruise:

• How many ports require tendering - where you have to take a lifeboat to the main pier?
• Are the ports visited suitable for disabled visitors - narrow pavements with no ramps, uneven streets, lots of steps.

When you are onboard:

• Take your own wheelchair if it will pass through the cabin doorway.
• Passengers with limited mobility should take or hire a collapsible wheelchair.
• Get your ship map and find your way around - check out the toilets near the main lounges and dining rooms to see if they are usable.
• Ask your cabin steward for any special equipment you need if not already provided.
• Ask the shore excursion staff which excursions will be suitable for you.
• How many ports will actually require tendering (where you have to take a lifeboat to the main pier) and which are more difficult for disabled travellers to navigate?

Hearing Impaired Passengers

Some cruise lines have specially equipped cabins and an alert kit for guests with hearing impairments which can be fitted to any cabin. These kits include visual notification of the door knocker and smoke alarm; also a vibrating alarm, door knocker, bed shaker and phone amplifier.

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Worried about seasickness?

If you are at all concerned about the risk of seasickness spoiling your holiday then read on. Firstly while seasickness is always a possibility, most ships are so big and well stabilized that most of the time you can hardly tell you're moving, and if there is a risk of bad weather, radar can help them avoid it. However, there are precautions you can take in planning your cruise that will minimise the risk:

• Select a new larger ship with stabilisers - read our section "What Size Ship?"
• Choose a cruise that is :
  • in areas where the seas are likely to be calm like the Mediterranean in the summer or the Caribbean in the winter.
  • a coastal type cruise where the ship is sailing between the mainland and offshore islands like Alaska, Norway or inside the Barrier Reefs.
  • a port hopper - visiting a port a day and cruising only at night.
• Remember that the larger oceans like the Atlantic or Pacific can get rough at any time.
• Book a cabin in the centre of the ship on the lower decks - these will move the least.
• Pack a suitable remedy available from your chemist - Dramamine, Bonine, Transderm patches, ginger capsules and acupressure wristbands.

Once you are onboard:

• if the ship starts to move noticeably, walk on deck to get your sea legs, focus on a fixed point like the horizon
• if rough weather is forecast you can take the medication of choice in advance but remember that some of these will make you feel sleepy
• if you feel queasy you can still take your medication - it is not too late.

We hope that you do not need your remedy - most cruisers never do.

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Weddings Onboard

Weddings onboard a cruise ship are increasingly popular with some of the larger cruise lines offering special packages for the occasion and wedding coordinators who arrange the ceremony, the menu, the cake, the flowers and the music. However, getting married legally while at sea is complicated, and even if it is while in port, local licences will be required. Onboard weddings are held in a ship's chapel (if provided), a lounge, the library or a conference room.

Some lines do not permit weddings at all while some luxury lines will accommodate weddings but you must make the arrangements and provide the minister. Carnival and Princess Cruises largest ships have dedicated wedding chapels and on Princess the captain will conduct the ceremony. Carnival can also arrange weddings on the beach at some of its Caribbean ports. Disney will marry you on their private island and NCL only at US embarkation ports. Royal Caribbean has a variety of wedding packages and will conduct ceremonies in ports of call in the USA, Caribbean or Europe both onboard and ashore.

Ask Cruise Worldwide to get all the details for you - there will normally be a special brochure, call us on 0117 944 1888.

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Choosing Your Cruise

Selecting the right cruise for you will depend on what is important to you. Some will want to select the right kind of ship first (see Choosing Your Ship), for some the places to be visited will come first. The important factors in selecting the itinerary are:

• the type of cruise.
• the length of cruise.
• when do you want to cruise?
• where do you want to cruise.

Type of Cruise

What are you looking for on your holiday - sun, fun, sights, culture, adventure, lots to do? Do you want to cruise on a river or on the sea? We have lots of ways on this site to help you find a cruise that is right for you. Read our tips on the various types of cruise opposite.

Length of cruise

How much time have you got - The choices range from occasional three or four-night cruises in Western Europe, to cruises that take you around the world in 90 or so days. Most cruises are from 7 to 14 nights to match people's holiday plans.

When do you want to cruise?

When selecting your cruise dates remember that some cruise holidays require you to fly the day before you sail and you return to the UK the day after you disembark from your ship. A seven night Caribbean cruise for instance can mean that you need 10 days of holiday. On this site we show holiday departure dates and the number of days holiday involved.

Where do you want to go?

Once you have some dates in mind and decided the type and length of cruise you want, you can pick an itinerary. We have dedicated pages for No Fly, Singles, Theme and River cruises where you can search for the itinerary that suits you best. Otherwise you may want to review our Destinations page and search cruises there or use the detailed Cruise Finder on our Ocean Cruises page where you can search by dates, days away, cruise line, cruise region, ship size or rating and more. Read our Choosing an Itinerary Tip for more information.

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Weather

Most cruise itineraries are set in a region at a time of year when you can expect good weather, and blue skies and calm seas is probably what you will get. However, the weather is sometimes unpredictable and will play a big part in the enjoyment of your cruise, so selection of the right region and season and then the size of ship for the conditions is very important.

The best time to cruise in Europe and the Mediterranean is from mid Spring to mid Autumn with rain a greater risk in northern Europe. Winter cruising in the Med can be pleasant but there is a much greater risk of storms and cold weather. The Canaries weather is a combination of the African heat tempered by an Atlantic Ocean that can get rough from time to time. Alaska's weather is acceptable from mid May to September but often rainy.

The Caribbean is a year round destination with a warm tropical climate and temperatures ranging from 27C/80F to 38C/100F. However most cruises sail between November and April when the temperatures and humidity are lower and the hurricane season is over. The hurricane season runs from June to November. Cruise ships will try to avoid any storms and carry the latest satellite weather and navigation equipment to do this although this may well involve a change in your itinerary - so be prepared for this if you cruise in this period.

Similar storms can arise in other parts of the world according to the season. The Pacific is a year round destination. In Hawaii temperatures are a consistent 80F all year round but it is dryer during the summer months. In the South Pacific the weather can be very hot and humid.

While ships carry sophisticated technology and mechanics and can evade storms they can’t avoid them entirely so you may run into rough waters. The effect of storms can travel across oceans and the waters can still be rough hundreds (even thousands) of miles away. Be prepared - read our tip on seasickness and pack your favourite remedy.

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Choosing an Itinerary

Once you have some dates in mind and decided the type and length of cruise you want, you can pick an itinerary. We have dedicated pages for No Fly, Singles & Family cruises where you can search for the itinerary that suits you best. Simply click the Itinerary tab on the cruise details page.

Destinations / Cruise Regions

If you are not sure where you want to cruise you can visit our Destinations page. Here we offer our detailed description of the cruise regions of the world and a selection of the best offers in that region. You can also search for cruises within the region by date and cruise line or select from the list of departure ports for that region.

Sun and Fun

If it is sun and fun that you seek then the Caribbean and Mediterranean are the prime destinations. The Med has glamorous resorts and idyllic islands while the Caribbean offers the beaches of hundreds of beautiful vibrant islands .If you want beaches read the itinerary port descriptions for the nearest ones - at most ports in the Caribbean and some in the Mediterranean there will be shore excursions to a beach or resort hotel. If you just want to sunbathe on the sundeck, look out for cruises with lots of days at sea or sunbathe onboard when everyone else is exploring the port ashore.

Sightseeing

The most popular areas for sightseeing cruises are Alaska, Northern Europe and the Mediterranean. Alaska is an ideal area for exploring by ship. - forested islands, waterfalls and glaciers. Northern Europe offers the medieval cities of the Baltic Sea, the dramatic Norwegian Fjords, the historic cities and islands of Western Europe and the volcanoes of Iceland. If you want sun as well as sightseeing then head for the Mediterranean - the Cradle of Civilisation with lots of ancient sites and historic cities.

Cruise Search Box

Once you know what you are looking for try the detailed Cruise Search on our Home page. Here you can search by dates, days away, cruise line, cruise region and more. You will get a list of all the cruises that meet your criteria and you will be able to view details of any cruise and ship that takes your fancy.

Some further points to bear in mind:

• Do you prefer a port intensive cruise or lots of days at sea? It will depend on whether you want to enjoy a lot of what the ship has to offer or you just want to use it as a base while you explore the world. Some port intensive cruises offer a port a day so your time on the ship is limited to the evenings although most have at least one day at sea. It will also depend on the region of the world you are cruising. The Mediterranean and Caribbean have ports that are quite close together while in the Indian and Pacific Ocean ports can be days apart.
• Popular itineraries or off the beaten track? You will find that the larger cruise lines offer cruises in the Caribbean and Mediterranean that follow a well worn trail to ports that get lots of visitors. If you want something different you will need to try a line with smaller ships ot perhaps look at some other regions of the world to explore.
• If seasickness is a worry, choose a cruise that is :
  • in areas where the seas are likely to be calm like the Mediterranean in the summer or the Caribbean in the winter
  • a coastal type cruise where the ship is sailing between the mainland and offshore islands like Alaska, Norway or inside the Barrier Reefs
  • a port hopper - visiting a port a day and cruising only at night
If you are disabled choose an itinerary with as few tender ports as possible and ports that are known to be wheelchair friendly.

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Cruise ex UK

The number of cruises sailing from and returning to the UK has grown significantly in recent years due to increases by the UK based cruise lines and the introduction of UK-based itineraries by American cruise lines. Cruising from the UK is now more convenient, accessible and enjoyable than ever before - and the range of itineraries on offer is wide. You can now cruise from a close-to-home port and visit the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Northern Europe and the Baltic or the Atlantic Islands. You can even embark on a three-month world cruise, venturing as far as Australia and the South Pacific before returning home.

Cruising from the UK is popular because it removes the risks of flying post 9/11 and the hassle of possible flight delays and lugging your bags through busy airports. You can simply drive to the port, climb aboard and start enjoying your holiday right away. You can also shop as much as you like (customs aside) and no excess baggage charges on the way home. Best of all, you can end your cruise on a high note, facing nothing more taxing than a bus, car or train journey home.

Facilities have also been improved at many UK ports with Dover and Harwich building new cruise terminals. Cruises are departing from a greater number of UK ports than ever before including Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Falmouth, Glasgow, Harwich, Liverpool, London, Newcastle, Oban, Poole, Portland and Southampton.

We offer only one note of caution - cruising from the UK can involve several days at sea before reaching your target cruising area and means sailing across the Bay of Biscay or North Sea, both of which can be rough our times. If you are at all concerned about motion sickness check the cruise itinerary and read our tip "Worried about seasickness".

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Cruise and Stay

With Cruise and Stay you get the best of both worlds - a chance to visit many places from the comfort of a ‘floating hotel' one week, and to explore in depth or chill out at one destination the other. Many cruises are just 7 days so adding a week in a hotel makes the most of your holiday. Cruise and Stay is a particularly good option if you're planning to cruise in a long haul destination. Why go all that way without seeing and doing as much as you can?

Cruise and Stay holidays are available from many cruise lines who offer hotel packages as an add-on to their cruises. In the UK, Island Escape, Ocean Village and Thomson specialise in providing these packages in the Caribbean, Canary Islands and Mediterranean. American lines can offer add-ons in Miami and other US departure ports. In the Alaska region the option is more Cruise and Tour and Holland America, NCL, Princess and Royal Caribbean all offer pre and post tours of up to a week in the Canadian Rockies or Alaska.

Remember:

• your hotel stay may not be as all-inclusive as your cruise.
• to decide clearly which week is relaxation and which exploration.
• to pack carefully as cruise ships tend to be a bit dressier than hotels, and your land based itinerary could involve a different climate.

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Coastal Cruises

There are a variety of coastal cruises available worldwide. Usually on very small ships with limited facilities, these cruises travel close to the coastline and often in the shelter of offshore islands or reefs. They are able to visit ports and places that other cruise ships cannot reach and offer an up close and personal exposure to wildlife, scenery and small communities.

In Northern Europe the options are:

• Hurtigruten who have a fleet of working coastal ships cruising the spectacular Norwegian coastline and fjords from Bergen right round to the Russian border within the Arctic Circle carrying passengers and cargo to over 30 ports, most never visited by cruise liners.
• Hebridean Island Cruises carries passengers on various itineraries around the spectacular coastline and islands of Scotland on a very comfortable small ship.
• Hurtigruten also handle bookings for the Lord of the Glens, a very small ship the visits the islands and then takes the Caledonian canal across the Highlands of Scotland into Loch Ness.

In the USA and Canada - Clipper Cruises has itineraries on small ships that cruise:

• the Great Lakes
• St Lawrence and New England
• Intra Coastal Waterway along the east coast of USA

In Australia

• The Great Barrier Reef is explored from Cairns by Captain Cook cruises

In the Pacific

• Cruise West cruises the coast of Japan and Korea
• Cruise West and Orient Express (Bora Bora Cruises) cruises the islands and lagoons of French Polynesia (Tahiti)
• Captain Cook Cruises operates very small coastal cruise boats in the spectacular waters of the Fijiian Islands

In South America:

• Explore the Galapagos Islands with Noble Caledonia (Lindblad Expeditions)

Some of these Cruise lines may not feature in our web Search – Just give us a call on 0117 944 1888 for details and reservations.

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Adventure Cruising

Cruise passengers are getting younger and more adventurous. To reflect this, the main cruise lines are changing the activities they offer but for many this is not enough and cruises offering itineraries in the remoter parts of the world are becoming popular.

Larger Cruise Lines

The larger cruise lines now offer more adventurous shore excursions specifically aimed at those who like to get active on holiday. Programmes now include more unusual options like cycling and water rafting in Europe, dog sledding, whale watching, rainforest hiking, go-karting, mountain biking and rock climbing in Alaska and snorkelling and scuba diving in the Caribbean. Some lines are now including the Arctic and Antarctic in their itineraries, notably Orient, Princess, Radisson and Silversea.

Adventure Cruising Specialists

Most ships in this sector are smaller ships able to sail where the larger ships cannot go, however there are a few exceptions. Many have transoms that fold down into sports platforms from which passengers can swim, windsurf, waterski, kayak, etc. and they will often have zodiacs (inflatable boats) to get closer to the action. The choice then becomes one between Soft Adventure or Expedition cruising and which part of the world you want to explore.

Soft Adventure Cruising

This category includes the increasing number of larger and more luxurious cruise ships that visit the Arctic and Antarctica and offer the opportunity to view the incredible landscapes in comfort. It also includes the smaller up-close ships of lines like Cruise West and Clipper that offer a more detailed exploration of less harsh regions like Alaska and Mexico.

Expedition Cruising

If all that's not tough enough, try an expedition cruise around the Arctic, Antarctica or the Galapagos Islands with lines like Clipper and Quark Expeditions. Typically, an expedition cruise will visit more remote and inhospitable areas and feature excursions ashore aboard inflatable Zodiac landing crafts. Experts in geology, botany and wildlife accompany passengers ashore and lead guided walks.

Alaska & Bering Sea

Alaska is an ideal area for in close exploring by ship. - forested islands, waterfalls and calving glaciers. Further east and north, a few get to explore the Alaskan Peninsula and the Bering Sea where you will find the Aleutian Islands and the Eskimo settlements of the Russian Far East.

Antarctica

Here you will find fantastic natural beauty and abundant wildlife in one of the most forbidding places on earth. You can explore this incredible landscape up close on an expedition cruise or from the comfort of a larger cruise ship.

Arctic & Greenland

Explore lands abounding with wildlife, spectacular coastal fjords, glaciers and ice flows. You can visit the northern coast of Norway and Russia, the islands of Svalbard, the ice-fields of the Greenland coast or Baffin Island and even risk the Northwest Passage around the top of Canada.

South America

In South America you can explore the Galapagos Islands to view some of the most extraordinary wildlife on earth, the Chilean Lake District and cruise the Chilean Fjords and Straits of Magellan.

Pacific

The numerous and sometimes mountainous Pacific Islands of French Polynesia and Micronesia are little explored and offer fabulous diving and snorkelling opportunities.

West US/Mexico

Visit the tiny islands the Sea of Cortez, watch the whales off the coast of Baja California or explore the exotic jungles of Costa Rica and Panama.

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River Cruising

For those who like to travel in small numbers in a comfortable environment with lots to see, river cruising is the perfect choice. River cruises mean that you can sightsee all day long, both from your ship and on shore excursions. River ships may have less facilities but they can make up to three stops a day so there is plenty to keep you busy. Visit our River Cruising links to search our river cruise database and get a more detailed description of each river.

How is a river cruise different?

• River ships are much smaller than ocean cruise ships carrying from 50 to 200 passengers.
• River cruises travel by day and stop at night - the opposite to most ocean cruises.
• Rivers are much smoother than the oceans so a good for those prone to seasickness.
• River cruises are more educational - you get to travel through the heart of a continent seeing landlocked countries that you cannot visit from the sea.
• Passengers do not need to leave the ship to sightsee although many tours are available and are often included in the cost of the cruise.
• Entertainment onboard may be limited - there are no casinos and little in the way of evening entertainment (except perhaps a piano player or local folk dancers).
• You won't find the elaborate staterooms featured on the large cruise ships. Bathrooms are small and functional.

What rivers to cruise?

In Europe:

• Cruising on the rivers of Europe opens up a hidden world of picturesque towns and medieval villages, fairytale castles and great scenery.
• The world's great cities were all founded on riverbanks like the Danube, Rhine, Moselle, Elbe, Rhone, Volga - because they were the principal arteries of the countries.
• Paris, Vienna, Budapest, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Prague; a river cruise takes you right to the heart of them.
• You can also explore the Russian Waterways between Moscow and St Petersburg.

In Africa:

• Egypt's River Nile, steeped in thousands of years of history - see the magnificent Temples at Karnak, Philea and the incomparable Valley of the Kings.

In the Far East:

• China's River Yangtze with its spectacular Three Gorges.
• The Irrawaddy River to Mandalay in Myanmar (formerly Burma).
• The Brahmaputra in India or the Mekong in Vietnam and Cambodia.
• The Murray in Australia.

In North America:

• Take a steamboat cruise along the Mississippi and the rivers of America's Deep South or
• Explore the Columbia and Snake rivers of Oregon and Washington

When to cruise

Unlike the traditional cruise industry, most river cruises operate seasonally - during spring, summer and autumn months with the exception of the Christmas season in Europe, where several river cruise operators offer voyages that stop in towns and cities with Christmas markets. The Asian rivers have different seasons but the Nile and Murray river cruisers operate year round.

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Theme or Cultural Cruises

Theme cruises provide the opportunity to enjoy a favourite hobby, to learn new skills or just increase your knowledge. You can choose from a variety of subjects from gourmet cuisine and fine wine to music (pop or classical), culture and history. These cruises usually feature special guest speakers, performances by noted entertainers or related shore excursions and the chance to talk to leading figures in a particular field.

Learning Cruises

Cruise lines now offer lectures, workshops and classes in a variety of subjects:
• Some lines like Crystal offer learning programmes at sea, allowing passengers to broaden their general knowledge across a range of subjects.
• Others offer computer, art and language classes on every sailing; others include acting classes or workshops on personal finance, health and fitness, art, dance or Yoga.
• Some of the bigger cruise lines like Princess are now experimenting with tiered learning schemes. Passengers can attend complimentary general lectures on a variety of subjects like - for example - pottery making.

Theme Cruises

Some cruise lines, including Crystal, Fred Olsen, P&O and Silversea, offer one-off special interest cruises built around a specific theme, such as antiques, cookery, painting. classical music, football, health and wellbeing or dance. Visit our Theme Cruises link to see the full range of cruises available.

Cultural Cruises

Some lines like Hebridean Island Cruises, Swan Hellenic and Voyages of Discovery make every sailing a cultural experience:
• Specialist lecturers are on board to offer a passengers a deeper insight into the places they're visiting.
• Lecturers are drawn from many disciplines - experts in ancient history and archaeology or former diplomats with first-hand experience of a country's culture and politics.
• In many destinations expert botanists, horticulturalists and ornithologists will be at hand to talk about a region's flora and fauna so the learning experience is not confined to lectures.
• Specialists also host informal question and answer sessions, and accompany guided walks and tours ashore, pointing out objects and areas of interest and providing background information.

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Repositioning Cruises

If you've want a real sea voyage with an unusual itinerary at a bargain price - try a repositioning cruise. These are the one-off voyages that cruise ships make when transferring from one cruise region to another. Many ships, for example, spend spring and summer in the Mediterranean, then transfer to the sunshine islands of the Caribbean for the winter months. Cruise lines are keen to fill them with fare paying passengers and so they offer good value prices, and often include themed activities like photography or dancing lessons to make them more attractive. Some points to note:
• They are not normally called repositioning cruises in the brochures - Discovery, Crossing, Eastbound, Westbound or Voyage may be included in the cruise name.
• Spring and Autumn are the usual times for these cruises and they are easy to find if you use the Cruise Search on our home page
.
• You will spend a lot more days at sea than you might on a normal cruise.
• You will experience occasional choppy weather as you travel from one part of the world to another.

Transatlantic

Hop aboard a ship sailing to spend winter in the Caribbean and you can enjoy the best of the Mediterranean and autumn sailing across the Atlantic before arriving in the Miami. Other cruises will cross the Atlanic at the start (usually calling at Madeira or the Canaries) and visit several Caribbean islands before reaching the new home port. Cruises from the Mediterranean to South America via the Azores are also available.

Africa

Look out for ships cruising down either side of Africa that will be wintering in Cape Town or Mombasa.

East Coast US/Caribbean

Many ships spend the autumn cruising New England and Canada before going south to the Caribbean for the winter. These combine the late Autumn days of the East Coast with the battlefields of Colonial USA with the sun and fun of the Caribbean islands.

Panama Canal

Going through the Canal from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean is one of the world's great travel experiences. Not only do you get to see one of the world's most magnificent engineering feats but you get some fascinating ports en route. Ships moving from a winter season of Caribbean cruises to spend the summer touring Alaska or Hawaii from ports in California have to transit the Panama Canal to get there. A typical repositioning itinerary will visit Jamaica or Aruba before passing through the Canal and then call at Acapulco and the Mexican Riviera before arriving in Los Angeles or San Francisco.

South America

From the Caribbean to South America Ships sailing south from the Caribbean to spend the winter months at the southernmost tip of South America will take you down through the Caribbean and either through the Panama Canal to Ecuador, Peru and then Chile or down the Brazilian coast past the Amazon to Argentina.

Worldwide

There are also cruises listed in this region that are really repositioning rather than world cruises. Ships moving to cruise the Far East may sail eastwards through the Mediterranean, Suez Canal and Red Sea to India and the Far East.

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Around the World

Imagine recovering from Christmas and the New Year with the cold month of January ahead, but you are about to leave on a grand adventure. A World Cruise - the classic cruise experience, lies ahead, circling the globe to explore new countries and visiting more than 30 ports on a 3 month voyage. Cruises can start in the UK, New York, Miami or Los Angeles and go in either direction around the world. The most popular worldwide cruises are often those that follow the UK to Australia route but there are many combinations available that take in Africa, South America, India, Southeast Asia, China, Japan and the Pacific.

The Classic World Cruise

Going eastwards cruise the Mediterranean, through the Suez Canal and Red Sea to southern Arabia and the coast of India and Sri Lanka. Cross the Indian Ocean to visit Singapore, Bangkok and perhaps Hong Kong before travelling south to Australia and New Zealand. Now past the half way mark explore the islands of the south Pacific and then Hawaii, Los Angeles and through the Panama Canal to the islands of the Caribbean. The final leg crosses the Atlantic back to Europe.

South America and the Pacific

Another route might take you southwards from Europe across the Atlantic to South America, calling at Rio and Buenos Aires before rounding the Horn to cruise up the coast of Chile to Santiago. Striking out across the Pacific, cruises will visit Easter Island and the islands of Polynesia before arriving in New Zealand and Australia. Moving on to the Far East, China and Japan, the cruise ship may return to the UK via the Panama Canal and Caribbean.

Australia and Africa

A third route takes you southwards from Europe down the west coast of Africa to Cape Town and South Africa and out across the Indian Ocean to the Seychelles and Maldives. From there on to India, southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand before crossing the Pacific to the west coast of South America. Cruise Chile, Ecuador and Bolivia before passing through the Panama Canal to the Caribbean and on to Europe.

Some points to bear in mind:

• It need not cost the earth to take a world cruise - there are good offers to be had on the lower grades of cabin accommodation.
• Although there will be busy days in interesting ports, you will spend a lot more days at sea than you might on a normal cruise so you will need to make the most of the wide range of facilities available on modern-day cruise ships. Relax with several good books or take the opportunity to learn something new.
• You will experience occasional choppy weather as you travel from one part of the world to another so pack a suitable remedy for sea sickness if you are prone to it.
• Review our Clothes to Pack tips and do remember to pack sturdy walking shoes for exploring ashore, an umbrella, something warm for those cooler evenings and air-conditioned rooms and an ample supply of any regular medication you need. Most world cruises are divided into shorter - but still substantial - fly cruise sectors. If a full three months at sea is too much, you can try one of these. The longest option is a semi-circumnavigation from the UK to Australia or back - popular with people who have family and friends Down Under. If you don't have that much time available, four, three and even two week sectors are also available, covering a range of destinations including the Far East, South Africa, the Indian Ocean and South America.

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Booking Your Cruise on line

Now you have selected your cruise and you want to make a booking but you still have some choices to make. We have prepared some tips on each step in the booking process and we recommend that you read them all. In summary here are the main steps to consider:

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Select Your Cabin

Your cabin selection can have a big effect on the price you have to pay for your cruise - prices depend on the type, size and facilities of the cabin and its location and you will be presented with a confusing list of cabin types. You will see your cabin numbers featured and find them on the Deck Plan, but sometimes you can only book a grade of cabin.

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Cabin Availability

Once you have found what cabins are available, often specific cabin numbers. You can view the deck plan and see where the cabin is located. Guaranteed cabin bookings are often offered by the cruise lines at special rates or as promotional offers in order to give them flexibility in selling capacity on the ship. It works as follows:
• Cabins are usually offered as Guaranteed Inside or Guaranteed Outside at specified grades.
• Location and cabin number will be allocated by cruise line on the issue of your tickets or even as late as when you check in at the port.
• You are guaranteed to get the specified grade of cabin as a minimum.
• Occasionally cabins of a higher grade will be allocated at no extra cost.
• No changes to your booking are allowed once a cabin on guarantee basis has been confirmed.

Cabin Type

The majority of cabins are Double or Twin and many of these will have a sofa bed or fold down berths for one or two additional passengers. Single cabins are available on the older boats but newer ships rarely provide dedicated cabins for singles. There are four main types of cabin available as twins or singles-
• Inside - no window or natural light. These are usually the lowest priced. However some of the new 100,000 ton ships have interior cabins with windows overlooking an inside promenade area.
• Outside View with a porthole or picture window. Because most people like natural light, outside cabins are popular and cost more. Note that windows do not normally open and some have views obstructed by lifeboats or other equipment.
• Outside with Balcony - full or half length glass doors lead on to an outside balcony. Most are big enough for two chairs and maybe a small table but not much more. Note that these are mainly a feature of the newer ships on the higher decks.
• Suites are the most spacious and luxurious accommodation onboard and may come with a butler service. They should have separate living and bedroom areas preferably with a door between and usually have a large balcony but not always.

Size

• Cabins are compact hotel rooms with much the same facilities.
• Modern ships are built using standard cabin modules with integrated bathrooms - the majority of cabins have sizes averaging from 150 to 185 sqft - 180sqft is comfortable, 150 sqft is just acceptable, below that is compact, above 200sqft is spacious.
• On some budget ships cabin sizes can go below 100sqft which is very tight
• Suites can go as large as 3000 sqft but average about 400 to 500sqft - Junior Suites average 250 to 300 sqft.
• Bathrooms are usually pretty small.
• Choose the biggest cabin you can afford If you plan to spend a lot of time there, but if you plan to party all day and night, save money and go for a smaller one.

Location

• Location does determine the price you pay - the higher the deck the higher the price.
• Superior cabins and suites tend to be on the higher decks and standard cabins lower down.
• If you are a family consider interconnecting cabins or an outside cabin with inside cabin across the corridor.
• Cabins in the centre of the ship on the lower decks are best if you might suffer from seasickness.
• Avoid cabins near noisy locations such as the disco and show lounge.
• Cabins at the stern are more likely to experience engine vibration.

Facilities

Your cabin will have most of the following (check our Cabin Details page):
• Small private bathroom with shower, wash basin and toilet.
• An international shaver socket, towels, soap and shampoos are normally provided.
• Modern ships have twin beds, which can usually be converted into a queen-sized bed. Older ships may have fixed twin beds, double bed or even upper and lower berths.
• Some cabins will have one or two additional Pullman berths that are often stored in the ceiling during the day - for a family or friends who don't mind living at close quarters.
• Telephone, radio and TV with satellite or recorded channels.
• Vanity/desk unit and chair
• Wardrobe and drawer space, bedside drawers.

Your cabin may have:

• A bath - more likely in higher grade cabins and on British boats.
• Hairdryer in the bathroom or cabin.
• VCR or DVD player.
• A sitting area with sofa or two chairs and a table.
• Refrigerator/Mini Bar, Personal Safe.
• Balcony equipped with two chairs or sun beds and table.

Suites may also have:

• King size beds, dining tables
• Whirlpool baths and even Jacuzzis on the balcony
• Walk in wardrobes
• More than one bedroom and bathroom with separate bath and shower

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Fly-Cruise package or Cruise Only?

If you want a hassle free cruise experience we would recommend booking the fly-cruise package (if applicable). On some cruises it is not possible to get to the ship before the sailing time and an overnight hotel is also required.

If you purchase the fly-cruise package offered by the cruise line:

• Your pre and post cruise hotel (if any) and transfers between the airport/hotel and the ship will be included in the price.
• In Europe and in the Caribbean, the cruise line may claim your luggage for you and carry it to the ship, all you have to do is board the bus, check in at the ship and your luggage arrives in your cabin.
• Otherwise you will have to collect your luggage and clear customs before handing it over to the cruise line.
• If your flight is delayed, the cruise line will be aware of your delay and may be able to hold the ship for a few hours. If not, they will make every effort to get you to the first port to board the ship.
• You may not be told your flight times until a few weeks prior to departure and you will not be able to change to another flight.
• Flights to US ports may not be direct - in order to save on costs you may be routed through a US hub airport for an onward flight to your cruise ship.

If you book your own flight:

• If you miss the boat, you have to get yourself to the next port of call to join the cruise - the cruise line will probably help with the arrangements but not the cost.
• You will have to claim your own luggage and lug it around with you.
• You must buy transfers from the cruise line or get a taxi to the cruise terminal from the airport/hotel.
• Plan to arrive a day early so you do not miss the ship departure if the flight is late. make your own hotel arrangements.
• Make sure your travel insurance covers trip delays, missed cruise connections and lost or delayed baggage.
You may be able to save money by booking your own flight, pre or post-cruise hotel and transfers Cruise Worldwide will be happy to cost the two alternatives and then weigh up the pros and cons before booking.

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Pricing

Cruise pricing is not simple. But the Cruise Worldwide web site makes it easy for you. The price of your cruise is governed firstly by the obvious factors like ship quality, length of cruise and flights but then is complicated by:
• a long list of cabin types with prices depending on type, size, and facilities of the cabin and its location
• discounting of cruise prices to get early bookings and payment
• discounting of cruise and cabin prices to fill available capacity

Price discounting is widespread but inconsistent and discounts on brochure prices can range from no discount to as high as over 50% but it does depend on the particular cruise line and demand for the cruise:

• Adventure and luxury lines tend to have much lower level of discounts - some do not need to discount at all.
• some lines maintain high brochure prices to allow room for heavy discounting
• lines like Royal Caribbean are adopting flexible pricing and showing a lowest and highest prices they will charge for a cruise - this reduces the level of apparent discounts given.
In reality this means that the only way of finding out the price of your cruise is to get a firm quote from the cruise line. Our web site guarantees our best possible price and discount. Cruise Worldwide are dealing with the cruise lines every day and we know where the discounts are available.

Apart from the Late Offers page, on this site we provide a price guide that shows the range of prices that have been published for one adult passenger sharing a twin cabin in the lowest grade available - normally a low deck inside cabin. The fares shown range from advance purchase or offer prices previously announced up to brochure prices but the only way to find out what price is available today is to check online here. Many cruise lines operate flexible pricing that changes prices according to the need to get early bookings and to fill capacity. Prices for popular cruises will be higher in the price guide range. Our Offers page shows discounted prices obtained by Cruise Worldwide with LIVE availability.

Bear in mind:

• most prices you see quoted are the lowest level cabin and if you require a higher grade of cabin then this may cost 30% to 50% more than the lowest cabin price.
• In selecting your cruise on this site remember that the higher the rating of the cruise the higher the price is going to be. Luxury lines are expensive and there is much less discounting.

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Budgeting your Cruise

Cruises are marketed as all inclusive and indeed the fare does include the cruise and all meals and entertainment onboard. Fly cruises are usually offered at a package price that include flights and transfers. However when budgeting for your trip it is important to allow for these additional costs:
• port charges - some cruise lines show these as an additional charge to the cruise fare, but we show all charges in your quote.
• parking at the airport or cruise terminal - some cruise lines include this in their fares
• air fares if not a fly-cruise package
• pre-cruise and post-cruise hotel accommodation - on some cruises it is not possible to get to the port or airport before the departure time
if you have to travel or fly a long distance. Fly-cruise packages normally include this
• booking and credit card handling fees charged by your travel agent
• meals pre and post cruise - these are not included in your package
• transfers airport/cruise terminal/airport - included on fly-cruise packages
• Onboard:
  o bottled water and mini bar in your cabin o alcoholic and soft drinks at dinner and the bars o beauty salon and spa treatments o casino, if you like a flutter o dining at the speciality restaurants o emails and telephone calls o gift shop for those forgotten items or gifts for friends and family o internet café use o photographs purchased from the ship's photographers o shore excursions o speciality coffees o tipping
• Ashore in Ports:
  o taxis and excursions bought at the pier or terminal o meals and drinks o personal shopping and souvenirs
Some tips for making savings on your cruise:
• Never pay the brochure price - select a cruise on our pages and always book online with Cruise Worldwide for a discounted cruise.
• Look out for the Special Offers on our Offers page
• If you are arranging separate flights, consider buying your airport/cruise terminal transfers from the cruise line as these will be much cheaper than using local taxis
• If you take a lot of shore excursions, consider upgrading to a cruise line that includes excursions in the fare
• alternatively excursions sold on the quayside are often cheaper than those offered onboard
• look out for special offers at the spa
• buy the special drinks packages offered e.g. a bottle of wine a day or all soft drinks
• use email or phones ashore to stay in touch

Once you have decided what you want you should have a look at the possible costs. Cruises are marketed as all inclusive and indeed the fare does include the cruise and all meals and entertainment onboard. However when budgeting for your trip it is important to allow for additional costs like parking, drinks, shore excursions and tipping.

Paying for your cruise

Expect to pay a deposit on booking of 10% of the cruise package cost with the balance payable 60 - 90 days before departure. There may also be credit card handling fees.

Insurance

You do need to have travel insurance in place for peace of mind and not least because the cruise lines insist that you have travel insurance before taking your cruise.

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Selecting a Travel Agent

Look for agents who are members of ACE (The association of Cruise experts) - ACE provides training in providing cruises to its members.

Before you make a booking and pay a deposit, we would advise you to check the financial protection that the Travel Agent and/or Cruise Line offer, if they or the cruise line goes bust. Cruise Worldwide is ABTA bonded for your financial protection. If you are booking a fly-cruise package check that you have ATOL protection, from the cruise line if you are buying their package or the travel agent if they are doing the package. Again, Cruise Worldwide has an ATOL licence as part of the Hays Travel Independence Group.

Other things to check:

• Does the price include flights, hotels and all transfers?
• What else is included and what extra costs are there? - see Budgeting your Cruise.
• Is this a cruise line package where the cruise line organises flights and transfers?
• Some agents do their own packages - organising flights and hotels separately - make sure transfers are included, it can be expensive to get a taxi to the port
• Can you get details of the flights - is it direct?
• Can we get seat assignments?
• What happens if we want to make changes to our booking? Who do we contact?
• Is there a charge for changing a booking?
• What is the cancellation policy of the cruise line?
• What are the payment terms?
• Is there a charge for using a credit card?
• If you are buying travel insurance, what insurance companies do you use?
• Can you explain the insurance cover? - read our Insurance information
• When will I receive my tickets?
• Do we require visas or inoculations?
All the above is clearly available and explained via our web site, with links Travel health, Travel advice, Travel weather, ABTA and many other links to make the on line booking process informative and easy. Our staff at Cruise Worldwide have over 30 years experience.

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Insurance

Cruise Lines insist that you have travel insurance in place before taking your cruise and will request details of that insurance if you do not purchase it through them. Travel insurance will give you peace of mind and should cover you up to the limit of your policy for:
• Cruise cancellation or curtailment - most cruise lines require a deposit on booking and full payment 60 - 90 days before departure. Cancellation policies vary but can cost you your deposit if 60 days before departure, 45% if 40+ days before, 75% if 16+ days before, 90%, 5+ days before and 100% if less than 5 days before.
• delayed, cancelled or missed flights
• lost or delayed baggage
• lost or stolen personal belongings
• Emergency medical evacuation - airlifts can cost £0,000s
• Emergency medical and dental expenses - you will be required to pay for treatment onboard your ship and in most countries that you will visit. Remember to take your E111 for treatment in the EEC
• Emergency legal assistance.

You can purchase travel insurance through the button on our home page, Travel Insurance is notorious for policies with so many exclusions that it is difficult to see what you can claim for; so please carefully check the details of any policy before you buy to ensure you have the coverage you need. In particular make sure you have a detailed explanation of all exclusions, excesses and limitations and check and look out for:

• companies that do not cover pre-existing medical conditions - most of the policies offered by the cruise lines exclude cover for pre-existing medical conditions. Some policies have a list of conditions that they will cover, so it is worth spending some time on this if you have an existing problem.
• that you are covered for cancellation right up to departure and curtailment thereafter.
• the definition of immediate family members for trip cancellation or interruption due to death, illness or injury to yourself, your travelling companions and your immediate family members.
• the procedure and required documentation for making a claim.

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Remember to book…

• Your preferred sitting and table size in the ship restaurant
• Seats assignments on plane if possible
• Shore excursions - some get booked up early. The cruise line normally sends out a booklet on shore excursions a month or so before departure with an advance booking procedure. Some lines have websites where you can book your excursions online.

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Preparing to Cruise

You should receive a ticket pack from your cruise line about 2 weeks before you are due to leave. This pack will contain:
• Your itinerary with flight and sailing times
• Cruise ticket with cabin number if allocated
• Vouchers for transfers to and from the ship
• Hotel and transfer voucher (if required)
• Luggage tags
• Embarkation card
• Credit card form for your onboard charge card
• Shore excursion brochure
• Ship guide with information about the facilities onboard
• Contact telephone numbers and email onboard to give to friends or family
Check these thoroughly when they arrive to ensure that it reflects what you booked and that your arrangements for getting to the port or airport are OK.

We have prepared some advice on preparing for your cruise that covers:

• Luggage - selection, weight allowances, labelling and security
• Clothes to pack - you will need more clothes for a cruise than any other type of holiday
• Medical issues - don't forget medication and E111 form
• Don't forget list - up to date passport amongst others.

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Luggage

What to put in your carry-on bag: Unlike a hotel where people check in on varying days and at varying times, folks check in to a cruise ship en masse. As such, a ship receives thousands of pieces of luggage in a matter of a few hours, which means your bags may not arrive in your stateroom until a few hours after you've boarded. Carry-ons are key. Pack everything needed to get you and your family through dinner time -- bathing suits, cameras, medications, sandals, sunscreen, a change of clothes and toiletries, and if you're travelling with small children, enough diapers and wipes to get you through a day.

Your cruise line should provide you with baggage labels and instructions. These should show your name, ship, embarkation port, sailing date and cabin number (if allocated). There is usually no limit on the amount of luggage you can take onboard your cruise ship. However, if you have to fly to join your cruise, the airline will have a weight limit for your bags - typically 20kg -25kg per passenger in economy, less if a low cost airline is used. Charges for excess weight may cost you around £5 per kilo. Remember also that there is often limited wardrobe space in cabins unless you have a suite.

The security arrangements at airports, particularly in the USA, have been significantly increased in recent years since the events of 9/11. The airport authorities there do open luggage to check the contents and they will break locks in order to do so. If your checked bags are locked you will be asked to wait in the check-in area for them to be searched or scanned before you proceed with consequent delays. Travellers are often advised to leave their luggage unlocked on flights to or from the USA.

You should therefore select your cases accordingly - those with inbuilt locks could be irreparably damaged. There are plastic ties available now that you can use in place of the locks that can be cut by the authorities to search your bags. If untouched at least you will know that no-one (authorities or otherwise) has been inside your bags.

With luck you will not see too much of your bags until you are onboard but we would recommend a bag with wheels as trolleys are not available or easy to obtain at all cruise terminals or airports.

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Clothes to Pack

Modern trends towards more casual cruising, airline weight restrictions and limited wardrobe space in cabins suggest that you pack as light as possible - unless you are travelling first class and have a suite booked onboard. However you will need more clothes for a cruise than any other type of holiday. We summarise the dress code for each ship on our Ship Details page, so take a look there as well as reading the general comments below.

Daytime Onboard

The daytime dress code onboard is always casual:
• For the men, shorts, jeans, slacks, T-shirts and sports shirts go everywhere.
• For the ladies, shorts, slacks, casual skirts and sundresses.
• Around the pool swimsuits of course but you will need footwear and a cover up if you want to take lunch in the lido buffet.

Ashore

• Some destinations are more formal than others and smart casual is more appropriate in Bermuda, Europe or the Far East than in the more relaxed Caribbean, Hawaii and Mexican Riviera.
• Some countries have strict dress codes and ladies may need clothes that will cover both legs and shoulders.
• You'll generally be more warmly welcomed in restaurants and shops if you're dressed tidely.
• On active shore excursions ultra-casual is OK.

Evening

There is now a trend towards more casual cruising and a choice of dining options with different dress options.
• Cruise ships assign daily dress codes -- casual, informal (smart casual) and formal - that take effect in public rooms and restaurants from 6 pm onward.
• On traditional cruise ships, you can expect two formal nights, a couple of casual evenings, and the rest informal on a weeks' cruise.
• Black tie is the usual form for men on formal nights, though increasingly a smart suit will suffice. Women can wear anything from a classic little black dress to a ball gown. On some ships you can rent formal attire.
• Don't forget your smart shoes.
• For men a sports jacket and slacks, worn with shirt and tie or polo shirt, will meet the informal evening requirements.
• For the ladies smart casual is the common dress code for evenings other than formal - dresses, trousers and separates but not shorts.
• If formal evenings are not your bag then try the buffet dining or one of the alternative dining spots where the dress code does not apply. General
• Pack clothes and accessories you can mix and match.
• Pack shoes for walking ashore and a wrap even for a cruise in the sun as air conditioning onboard can be quite cold.
• You will be provided with a bathrobe for the duration of the cruise on most luxury lines and in suites on the bigger ships.
• Most ships have laundries so you can have your clothes washed or dry cleaned as you go, but this can be costly. Some ships have self-service launderettes.
• Save some room in your suitcase for your shopping and souvenirs.

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Medical Issues

Medical issues to consider well before going on your cruise:
• If you have any conditions that will require treatment while onboard the ship you should inform the cruise line.
• Take your regular medication with you
• If cruising in Europe you will need your E111 Certificate of entitlement to benefits in kind during a stay in another member state - get this from your Post Office if you do not have an up to date one. Most travel insurance requires you to utilise this cover in the first instance for treatment in an EEC country. It will be replaced by European health insurance card from January 2006.
• Get any inoculations you may need - check the Foreign and Commonwealth Office web site www.fco.gov.uk for all the latest travel and health information if you are travelling to a destination outside the EU.

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Don't forget…

• to check well before your cruise that your passport is up to date - i.e. that you have a passport with at least 6 months validity and that it is the right type of passport for the countries you are visiting
• to check on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office web site www.fco.gov.uk for all the latest travel, health and VISA information for the countries you will be visiting
• If you need any visas – we will advise you on this but check the Foreign and Commonwealth Office web site if you are travelling outside the EEC. This particularly applies if travelling to the US as there are new rules for the type of passport and visa you must have
• Your own toiletries - those provided on some lines are quite limited.
• Insect repellent and anti-histamine cream
• Camera and charger (if digital)
• Compact binoculars
• Seasickness remedy
• Compact umbrella or lightweight rain protection
• Mobile phone and charger
• Electrical adaptor plug

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Getting to and from the Ship

Your cruise is going to be great but getting to and from the ship can sometimes be a bit stressful. Knowing what is involved is half the battle so in this section you will find our information on:

Flights and Transfers

Unless you are cruising from a UK port, your cruise will involve flights to and from the cruise region and transfers from the airport to your ship and back again. The cruise lines fly-cruise package is usually the least stressful option.

Embarking

When you arrive at the cruise terminal you will go through all the formalities of check-in, immigration, security and finally getting onboard to your cabin where you can relax at last.

Disembarking

At the end of your cruise you could do without disembarkation day. Unfortunately the process of leaving the ship can involve a lot of waiting and queuing.

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Onboard Your Ship

In this section of our Cruise Information we cover most of what is on offer aboard your ship. Starting with what you can expect to find in your cabin we take you on a tour of the myriad of activities and entertainment you can enjoy. The first thing you should find in your cabin is a leaflet with the ship's deck plan and the Daily Programme. Take these with you until you know your way around - all the restaurants, bars, showrooms and pools will be shown on the plan and all of the day's and nights activities listed in the Programme.

We discuss the dining options, the entertainment and other activities you can expect to find and touch on financial issues like tipping and the costs and means of staying in touch with home. If you have teenagers or you were thinking of taking a few bottles of wine onboard, you may care to read our piece on alcohol policies. Finally we cover safety and security onboard - so you can have a ball in the knowledge that all of that is covered.

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Dining

Despite today's preoccupation with staying fit and slim, most passengers will spend more time eating than doing anything else and you can expect to gain weight on your cruise. Cruise lines recognise that this is an important part of the cruise experience and try to make dining a memorable experience. All meals are included in your cruise fare and there will be opportunities to eat all day long - early breakfast, full breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and the midnight buffet.

Quality of the Food

In general, you will get what you pay for and the quality of the food is reflected in ship ratings - budget levels will mean pre-prepared meals from the freezer, luxury cruises will offer freshly prepared food. Cruise ships are catering for large numbers so the quality tends to be banquet level and suited to American, British, European or international taste according to the cruise lines' origins and principal passengers.

Dining Rooms

Traditionally cruise ships have offered a large main dining room with assigned seating, on open seating buffet restaurant and an outdoor grill. However, with the increasing popularity of flexible (freestyle or personal choice) dining, this is changing.

On traditional ships:

• There will probably be one or two main dining rooms with assigned seating and waiters serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. The dinner menu will normally offer at least five courses with a choice of at least three dishes for each course.
• You will be asked to request your seating at the time of booking. There are usually two sittings - breakfast 7am or 8.30am, lunch 12 noon or 1.30pm and dinner 6.30pm or 8.30pm. If you choose first then you dine at the earlier times for each meal, but most ships have open seating at breakfast and dinner.
• Open seating means that you can sit at any available table with whom you please at a time of your choosing within the dining room's opening hours. Often in practice it means that you will be escorted to the next available places as the staff fill up each table in turn - so you can end up dining with anyone although it is a good way to meet lots of different people onboard.
• Service levels will vary according to the rating of your cruise ship - on cheaper cruises the staff have more diners to look after and probably have to serve wine as well. As you move up the ratings you will find that the waiters have more time and are more attentive - there will be separate wine waiters.
• Alternative dining options:
  • you do not have to use the main dining rooms every night, or indeed at all on your cruise.
  • a buffet style restaurant commonly near the pool area also serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.
  • smaller speciality dining rooms that may require a reservation and incur an extra cost - £10 to £20 per person. Food, service and presentation will normally be much better than in the main dining room.
  • an outdoor grill/pizzeria for lunchtime snacks

On luxury ships

• The main dining room will probably be single (assigned table) or open seating serving you at anytime during opening hours.
• Service will be personal and attentive with separate wine waiters

Flexible dining

The main lines offering freestyle or personal choice dining are NCL and Princess although other lines are moving in this direction. This offers:

• a range of 6 to even 10 different restaurants with no fixed seating times or assigned tables serving eg dinner from 6pm to midnight
• main dining rooms offering the same option although on Princess one traditional dining room is retained
• a buffet style restaurant
• a range of smaller restaurants offering Italian, French, Asian and American cuisine - most will require reservations and some of them may carry an extra charge.

Smoking

On most ships smoking is not permitted in the dining rooms. Where it is allowed there are separate non smoking sections and you should be asked to select either smoking or non-smoking dining when you book.

Some tips

• Choose first sitting if you have children or you like to get to bed early - you can leave dinner to go the the evening show and then to bed.
• If you plan to take shore excursions in the afternoon then take second sitting so you have time between returning to the ship and going to dinner to rest, shower and change.
• On booking you will also be asked to select a preferred table size. In practice there are few tables for two so you may well find yourself dining with strangers. Most tables are four, six or eight so select the largest if you like to meet lots of new friends.
• You will find your restaurant sitting and table assignment in your cabin when you board - if you do not like what you get or are unhappy with your dinner company, you can always ask the Restaurant Manager to change your sitting or table - a tip may help this along. In the worst case you can always eat in one of the alternative restaurants.

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Fitness & Leisure

Most ships will have at least one pool and deck space for sunbathing so you can do nothing but lounge around the pool with a drink if you so wish. However, for those who prefer to get active, there will be sports facilities, a Fitness Centre and organized outdoor activities on days at sea. Information about the facilities on each ship is provided on our Ship Details page.

Pools

The swimming pool will be the centre of your time outside on the ship. You may find that your ship has several pools either together or in different areas but most are at the top of the ship surrounded by protective screens and overlooked by a sun deck. Sometimes the pools are tiered decks at the stern. This is often called the Lido and is where you will find the Jacuzzis and water slides on some of the very large ships. The pool and sun decks will be filled with sun beds and finding an empty one can be difficult but there will be quieter areas where you can settle.

Some ships have one pool that is covered - usually by a sliding roof called a magradome - and some have an indoor pool lower in the ship. These are the ones to select if you like to swim and are planning to cruise in a region where warm weather is not guaranteed e.g. Alaska or Northern Europe.

Sports Facilities

Depending on the size of the ship, sports facilities may include badminton, basketball, golf driving nets, jogging or walking track, miniature putting green, paddle tennis, quoits, shuffleboard, skeet shooting, table tennis and volleyball. On larger ships you may also find an ice skating rink and a rock climbing wall.

Fitness Centre

Many ships now have a Fitness Centre with a gym and spa. The gym should offer modern equipment and exercise classes. Most classes are free but some ships charge for activities like yoga. The spa is the place for massages (extra cost), the sauna and steam room. There will probably be a beauty salon as well, where you can get your hair cut and styled - at extra cost, of course. The Daily Programme will give details of fitness classes, special offers and spa packages.

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Activities & Entertainment

You are unlikely to be bored on a cruise ship - there is something to do all day (contests, lectures, deck games) and most of the night (casinos, cabaret and production shows). The ship will have Entertainment Staff, normally lead by a Cruise Director, whose remit is to ensure you have a good time. But if you just want to relax, you can sunbathe with a good book. All of the day's and nights activities are listed in the Daily Programme.

On days at sea especially, there will be lots of organized activities. Even if you are sunbathing by the pool entertainment is laid on - there are often bands playing on an outdoor stage area or competitions organised by the Entertainment Staff. If you want to be active you'll be able to participate in a variety of activities, depending on the ship, like cultural or port lectures, using the Internet, playing cards (Bridge is popular) and learning a range of skills from computers to flower arranging You can also improve your golf swing, pick a good book from the ship's library, shop for souvenirs and clothes in the onboard shops or see a recent release film in a theatre.

At night the lounges and bars come to life. Lounges will feature live bands and cabaret singers for your dancing or listening pleasure. Some nights the ship's theatre or show lounge will put on production shows with high tech lasers and videos on the bigger ships and costumed singers and dancers performing songs from West End or Broadway shows and popular hits. On other nights there will be featured singers, comedians and magicians. Some ships also have a separate Cabaret Room and British ships may put on plays as well. Karaoke, passenger talent shoes, Bingo and Quiz Games will also be put on in the Lounges.

In the warmer regions, poolside dances and music are popular. Some Princess ships offer Movies Under the Stars and Ocean Village has a Cirque Soleil type show on the lido deck. As the night moves on the Casino gets busier and many will end the evening at the Disco.

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Children's Programmes

Families are cruising more and more often so children's programs and facilities have improved enormously over recent years - and they are continuously being upgraded. Some points to note:

• Not all cruise ships provide well for children – Click our Family Cruises button on our Home page for child friendly cruises.
• The newer ships tend to have the biggest, most elaborate children's clubs, mainly because the ships are bigger and the facilities are designed in.
• Most offer supervised activities by age groupings.
• Activities usually include some kind of arts and crafts and games.
• Some ships have special enclosed deck space (with wading pools, water slides and play equipment). Others have computers and video games.
• Some of the best lines for Children's Programmes are Carnival, Celebrity, Disney, Princess and Royal Caribbean.

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Alcohol Policies

There are three aspects of cruise line alcohol policies that are worth noting - minimum drinking age permitted, drinks pricing and packages and taking spirits and wine onboard. The rules are complex and different across the different cruise lines so we are only able to give a summary here.

Minimum Drinking Age

• Firstly on most British and European cruise lines the permitted drinking age is 18, however some may raise this to 21 when cruising out of an American port e.g. Miami.
• On American lines including Princess the drinking age is 21.
• Some lines permit wine and beer to be served to 18 year olds with parental consent, notably Celebrity, NCL and Royal Caribbean.

Drinks Pricing and Packages

• On most ships alcoholic and soft drinks are charged as an extra, plus a service charge of 10 or 15%, although there are a few all inclusive ships.
• On most ships you can buy a soft drinks package for the duration of the cruise.
• On Thomson ships you can buy an alcohol package that covers house wines and non premium beers and spirits for the duration of the cruise.

Taking Bottles Onboard

The cruise lines want you to buy drinks from the bars onboard or your cabin mini-bar so the rules are quite strict:

• Spirits are not allowed to be taken onboard at embarkation.
• A few bottles of wine may be allowed at embarkation but a corkage fee is payable.
• Wine and spirits purchased while in port or from the ship's duty free shop are stored onboard and returned to you on the last night of the cruise.
• P&O Cruises are reported to have a more flexible approach to this issue, but this may change.

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Medical Facilities

Most cruise ships with more than 50 passengers will have medical facilities and a licensed doctor onboard. Hopefully you will never need to call on them, but it is nice to know they are there just in case. The onboard Medical Centre should be capable of treating, evaluating and providing reasonable emergency medical care for passengers and crew and have medical staff on call 24-hours a day. Procedures will be in place for the evacuation of more serious cases.

Doctors will be generalists and licensed. American and British cruise lines use doctors licensed in the US, Canada Australia, South Africa and the UK. The size of ship may determine the extent of the facilities although some smaller luxury ships are very well equipped. Ideally these facilities would include an examination room, isolation room, x-ray machine, defibrillators, cardiac monitors, airway equipment, external pacemaker, electrocardiograph, infusion pump and a mobile emergency trolley.

Consultations with the doctor and use of the medical facilities will be charged on your shipboard account so ensure that you have adequate travel insurance with medical cover. Remember when you book to advise the cruise line of any conditions that will require treatment while onboard. Also don't forget to take any medication you need with you on the cruise.

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Safety & Security Onboard

Safety Onboard

There are a large number of rules and regulations for passenger and crew safety onboard your cruise ship. Regular inspections of ships are carried out by the ship's country of registration and current operation to ensure they comply with the emergency-response procedures. Ships are built and operate under international rules known as Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) that require ships to have lifeboats and lifebelts for all passengers and crew and on most cases smoke detectors, sprinklers and low-level emergency lighting for escape routes. Within 24 hours of sailing, you will be asked to participate in a safety drill that will involve wearing your assigned life jacket and going to your assigned lifeboat.

Security

Security procedures on all ships have been increased in recent years. The International Ship and Port Facility Code (ISPS) sets out new international rules that require all ships and ports to have both security officers and security plans. These are set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), part of the United Nations charged with the regulation of maritime transport and commerce. Similar rules are legislated in the UK, US and Europe.

Security Onboard

• All ships must display an identification number visible from the air and by satellite.
• Cruise lines are now required to report names of passengers before each cruise.
• Passengers and crew are provided with boarding cards (often computer readable) and must provide photographic identification when boarding and re-boarding the ship - this may mean you have to take your passport or photo driving licence ashore with you as well as your boarding card.
• However on some ships your photograph is taken at the start of the cruise and stored on computer to recognise you each time you board with your boarding card.
• On boarding or re-boarding your bags will be checked and x-rayed.
• Your cabin door will have a lock and key - in most cases this will be an encoded plastic card.
• Many ships now provide a personal safe in your cabin to store your passports, credit cards and other valuables. Check Cabin Details on our Ship pages to see if they are provided on your ship.
• If there are no cabin safes then there probably will be safety deposit boxes at the ship's Reception or Purser's Office.

Security in Port

Every port has been required to upgrade its security procedures, improving surveillance and security of the port area. This increased level of security will mean that documents and bags may be checked both by the port authority and the ship before re-boarding.

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Shopping Onboard

Depending on the size of the ship, there will be a shop selling basics like toothpaste, medications and batteries as well as gift shops and boutiques selling an assortment of fragrances, cosmetics, resort wear, jewellery, watches, souvenirs and photographic equipment. In addition there will probably be a duty free shop for spirits, wine and cigarettes. Also watch out for the the ubiquitous art auction.

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Smoking

Smoking policy varies across cruise lines. Most ships now do not permit smoking in the dining rooms. It is also usual practice to allow smoking only in designated areas in public rooms and many lines do not allow it in theatres and showrooms. Some American ships have banned smoking in cabins. Cigar and pipe smoking is only permitted on the outer decks unless there is a Smoking Room.

In general American ships are best and European ships worst for non smokers - European ships have rules but many passengers smoke and the rules are often ignored.

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Staying in Touch

Staying in touch with home or business on cruise ships has become much easier over the years. Cabin televisions will probably have BBC World or CNN by satellite alongside onboard channels and some ships prepare a daily news summary in different languages - this can usually be found in the Library or Internet Café. You can make phone calls and send e-mails from most ships, although it's usually cheaper to do both from the ports.

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Telephone Calls

Mobile phones

• Your mobile will function while you are in port or close to land but remember that the US has a different system and your phone will not work there unless you have made special arrangements.
• To make communications even easier some new ships are introducing mini transmission towers so mobiles can be used at sea.
• While using your mobile will cost much less than the ship's phones, roaming rates are not cheap.

Ship Phones

You will have a phone in your cabin from which you can make international calls but it is extremely expensive.

Land phones

The cheapest way of phoning home is to use the public phones in port and to buy a local phone card. However those close to the ship are likely to be popular with both passengers and crew.

Internet access & Emails

• Most ships now offer internet and e-mail access but there are exceptions so check before booking if this is important to you.
• Internet charges vary by cruise line and a minute can cost from 25p to £1 per minute. On many lines you can buy a package of minutes at a more economic rate.
• Check if you can access your email from overseas and if not consider setting up a free hotmail.com account that you can use while away.
• Some cruise lines offer personal onboard e-mail addresses so you can receive and send emails but these can be more expensive than using hotmail or your normal account.
• It is still cheaper to use internet cafes in ports of call and you may find facilities in the cruise terminal.
• Cruise lines are starting to offer internet access direct from cabins some through interactive television.

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Tipping

Tipping is supposed to be a voluntary act of appreciation for good service, however, on most cruise ships tips are expected from all passengers and form an essential part of the crew's remuneration. Some lines even automatically add tips to your shipboard account at a fixed rate.

You will not lack guidance on this subject while onboard. On the day before you are due to leave the ship, you will receive advice on the tipping procedure - in the daily bulletin, in the disembarkation presentation and on the cabin video system. Your disembarkation documentation may well include envelopes to be used for tipping. However to help you prepare financially for your cruise you should note the following:

• The traditional way of tipping is cash in envelopes at the end of the cruise based on recommendations on how much to give and to whom. You would normally give your tips the night before you leave the ship but some leave the cabin steward until the morning of disembarkation.
• Some lines automatically add tips to your shipboard account at a fixed rate although you can adjust the amount up or down based on the service you receive, but you have to go to the purser's office to do so. This method of tipping is becoming more appropriate with flexible dining where you may have different restaurant staff each evening.
• Some ships allow you to charge tips to your shipboard account - you give crew members envelopes with a receipt inside.
• Some lines say tipping is not required, or fares include standard tips - be advised tips will still be expected, cash in hand - but maybe at a lesser rate.
• On luxury lines Seabourn, Silversea, Radisson and SeaDream tips are included in the cruise fare and are neither required or expected.
• Typical daily tipping rates per person recommended are £2 for your dining room waiter, £1 for his assistant, £2 for your cabin attendant and if you have a personal butler, about £2 per day. Some lines suggest you also tip the headwaiter or restaurant manager 50p per day.
• Of course, you may vary these rates depending on the quality of service.
• If you have children sharing your cabin, it is acceptable to tip at half the adult rate.
• On some small ships, passengers put a lump sum into an envelope and the crew splits it. Other Tipping
• All drinks from the bar (including wine at dinner) have a service charge automatically added. Most American ships add 15% and European ships 10%.
• Spa or beauty treatments may have tips automatically added to your shipboard account but you may have to tip personally.
• Guides on shore excursions are usually tipped 5% of the excursion cost.
• The luggage porters at the cruise terminal usually expect a tip - a dollar or Euro per bag.

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Going Ashore

Here is your chance to explore new places, learn the history, view the sights, shop for souvenirs or just sunbathe and swim on that sandy beach. You will know from your ship itinerary what ports you are going to visit and when. If you have found the cruise on our site you may have clicked on the ports visited to get our port write-up (on the itinerary button) so you know what to expect. You can also study the Shore Excursions brochure or attend the Excursions or Port presentation and decide if you are going to take the organised option or explore on your own.

On the day before arriving there is normally a Port Talk on what you will find ashore including transportation, shops, beaches, excursions and any security issues. This talk is often repeated on the video channel in your cabin. A printed Port Briefing is provided with a simple map and a summary of all the talk details - this will also be delivered to your cabin so you can plan your day.

Have a great day ashore but remember Cinderella - unless you are on a ship's excursion, you are not covered by the ship's insurance and the ship will sail without you if you do not get back before departure. The sailing time is clearly shown in the Daily Programme, on the Port Briefing and at the bottom of the gangway and passengers are asked to be back onboard 30 minutes before then. If the worst happens and you do miss the boat, contact the cruise line's agent for the port - their telephone number and address will be shown in the Daily Programme or Port Briefing. Make sure you take it with you.

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Shore Excursions

Shore Excursions normally set out to show you the principal sights of the port and nearby places but in recent times they have become more adventurous and tours like helicopter flights, four wheel drive, biking, diving and horse riding have been added. Excursions are organised by the cruise line but can also be purchased on the quayside where they will be a little cheaper. However cruise line tours are covered by the ship's insurance and it will not depart without you - not the case if you do your own thing.

Unless you book a premium tour, your excursion will be onboard a comfortable bus with a driver and local guide reasonably fluent in your language. Costs can range from £20 to £35 per person for a half day tour and £45 to £80 for a full day. Clearly, if you are on a port intensive cruise, this can mount up if you want to explore every destination.

Your cruise line should have sent you a Shore Excursion brochure with your cruise tickets listing and describing all the shore excursions you can take on the cruise. Many lines allow you to book excursions in advance and some have websites where you can book them online. This is useful if you want to make sure that you get a particular tour. Tours marked as "limited numbers" tend to get booked quickly and these may be full if you wait until you are onboard.

When you arrive onboard you should find an Excursions brochure and booking form in your cabin. On many ships there will be an Excursions Presentation early in the cruise and an Excursion Channel on your cabin TV with continuous coverage of what is on offer. If you have any questions go to the Excursions Desk (normally in the main foyer) but if you want to avoid those long queues complete the booking form and leave it in the drop box at the Excursions Office. Your shipboard account will be charged and your tickets delivered to your cabin but note that there are deadlines for booking excursions - usually 24 hours before arriving in the port. Check your Daily Programme for details.

The length of excursions will depend on the time in port but you will normally have a choice of half day or full day tours. Most tours will depart early on arrival in a port and in some ports it will be possible to take both a morning and afternoon tour. Tours usually assemble in one of the ship's lounges or on the quayside but there will be no announcements so check your tickets and the Daily Programme for the time and assembly point. The Excursion Office staff will direct you to your bus. When the tour is finished the bus will drop you at the ship or in the town if there is time for shopping. Guides on shore excursions can be tipped about 5% of the excursion cost and a Euro for the driver will be appreciated.

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Going ashore on your own

Many cruisers prefer to go ashore on their own to explore, shop or perhaps go to the beach. Remember that some countries have strict dress codes and ladies may need clothes that will cover both legs and shoulders.

One advantage of doing your own thing is that excursions leave the ship first so you can take your time and have a leisurely breakfast or lunch before disembarking. On larger ships, particularly at a tender port, tickets are issued so that the numbers getting off are staggered. You cannot get off until your ticket number is called, but you can go later if you prefer.

Whatever your reason for going ashore remember that, unless you are on a ship's excursion, you are not covered by the ship's insurance and the ship will depart if you do not get back before the sailing time. We advise that you allow plenty of time to get back to the ship - taxis may be easy to get at the quayside but it might be much harder to get a taxi to bring you back to the port, particularly during rush hours. Check out your public transport alternatives and make sure you know the times of transport back to the ship.

Independent tours can often be purchased on the quayside either on a bus or a customised tour with a taxi driver. Make sure the driver can speak English and that you agree a price before starting out - don't pay until you get to your destination or back to the ship. There is safety in numbers so travel in groups of two or more. If you are a confident driver you may decide to hire a car and explore that way.

Shopping has become a major recreational activity. Many of the cruise lines (particularly American) will have a Shopping Advisor onboard who will give talks on the shopping opportunities in each port and give a list of recommended shops with map. The cruise line will be getting commission from these recommended stores but at least you will have some sort of come-back with the cruise line if there is something wrong with the goods. The Port Briefing will tell you if you can walk to the shops or if you require transport. In some ports a shuttle service is provided to the main shopping area.

If you just want to go to the beach for a swim then check out our Port Description and the Port Briefing - details of the nearest beach are usually given. It may be possible to walk or you may need a taxi. Sometimes there is a shuttle bus to a beach and often one of the Ship's Excursions is a Beach Day at a resort hotel.

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Tendering

At some ports the ship is unable to dock at a quay and it will anchor some distance offshore. Passengers will then have to go ashore by tenders - open or enclosed motorised launches that run a shuttle service a short distance to the port and back again. Cruise itineraries will say "by tender" or show an anchor symbol against the port name to advise you of this. At some ports this is because there are no facilities to dock or the ship is too large to dock. Sometimes the tendering is unscheduled due to quaysides being fully occupied.

You will find that getting ashore will take longer at tender ports. There is a limited capacity on the launches so you will be organised into groups (using a ticketing system) for going ashore until most passengers have left. There are regular launches back to the ship but as excursions return and sailing approaches you will have to queue to get onboard. If the sea is rough tendering can be quite difficult and you have to take great care in boarding the launch. If too rough you may not be able to visit the port at all.

Tendering can present difficulties to all disabled passengers. Are the ship's tenders accessible for wheelchairs - how will I be transferred to the tender? Try to get these questions answered before you book the cruise but check again once you board or if there is an unscheduled tender port.

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Security Ashore

If you are going ashore at the ports of call, you should at least think about the security issues, even if the risks are no greater than at home. Theft is by far the greatest risk with pick pocketing and bag snatching becoming commonplace while violent crime is rare. You can minimise these risks just by doing a little homework and taking a few precautions.

Firstly find out what risks there are:

• Visit the Foreign and Commonwealth Office web site (www.fco.gov.uk ) for all the latest travel information about the countries or cities you are visiting. Security issues are covered
• Ask the Excursion Desk about the risks in the port you are about to visit
• Attend the Cruise Director's Port Presentation and ask questions there if security is not covered.

Secondly take precautions:

• Make sure you have the telephone number to call and an address for the Cruise Line's Agents just in case you have problems
• There is safety in numbers - take the shore excursion or travel in groups of two or more
• Dress for the location - remember some countries have strict dress codes
• Don't overtly display too much jewellery and fancy cameras
• Take the minimum of cash and only one credit card ashore
• Keep your valuables in a pocket or bag you can close and see at all times - backpacks and wallets in back pockets are easy targets for pickpockets
• Hold on tight to your bags and carry them on the inside away from the road so they cannot be snatched by passing scooters
• If you are required to take photo identification ashore with you get a photocopy of your passport to take rather than the real thing.

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