Cruising 101

[inthesouthrn]

I'm suffering from too much info and not knowing where to start.

 

I need some basic information about cruises. Just WHAT is included in a cruise? How do you book excursions and when do you pay for them? How much money do you think I'll need for a 2 week trip that includes some land trips? How far in advance do I need to plan and book?

 

I'm so excited, but I just don't know how to get started planning.

 

Where's the best place to get all the info I need...I've never been on a cruise before.

[CC Help Michell]

I'm suffering from too much info and not knowing where to start.

 

I need some basic information about cruises. Just WHAT is included in a cruise? How do you book excursions and when do you pay for them? How much money do you think I'll need for a 2 week trip that includes some land trips? How far in advance do I need to plan and book?

 

I'm so excited, but I just don't know how to get started planning.

 

Where's the best place to get all the info I need...I've never been on a cruise before.

 

A good place for general background information is books you can check out at the library -- The Unofficial Guide to Cruising, etc. Another resource is right here at Cruise Critic in the First Time Cruisers section -- http://www.cruisecritic.com/ftc/

 

Welcome to CC and to cruising! :)

[atv girl]

You may also want to consult a travel agent, you have options for land as far doing it on your own, which most people on here rec., or a cruise tour, which I have booked for next June, because like you, I felt very overwelmed. I would make a list of things that interest you as far as excursions, and just type it in the search section and info will come up. Some I have booked thru the ship some on my own with the help of these great cruisers.

[luvlake]

I think you have taken the first step by choosing to cruise to Alaska.

 

I think the next step is which cruise line is for you. I would go to their web site for alot of your information. You will need to decide which dates you want to cruise and then pick which ports you wish to visit.

 

We choose Princess for our first and second trip. Their web sites helped alot with information we needed. It would be up to you to choose which amenities you want on board. Your booking covers your room, alot of options for food, and alot of entertainment. You will have charges for some food, alcohol and the spa. You can use cash or your cruise card for charges in the casino. These charges will be on your account at the end of the cruise. There may be more but all of these are personal choices. It is not any different than being home and choosing what to spend.

 

You have a choice of booking your excursion on your own or through the cruise line. If you are booking through the cruise line, they will become available from 120 to 90 days out. You can book the excursions on the internet on your own and they are paid for on your cruise account at the end of your trip. There are other ways also but this is the basic way we did it. The point is how much you want to do for yourself on your first cruise. You can let your cruise line do the work by booking everything through them or you can do your homework and make other choices.

 

We are using a TA and your initial payment is for a deposit and travel insurance. We are to pay the balance about 3 months out. If you decide to use a TA, you will need to contact them for any changes that need to be made. When you ask how much money is needed, that is different for every person that travels. That is a personal choice.

 

There is a wealth of information on these boards and should help you with alot of questions.

 

The one thing I do know is that you will love your trip to Alaska.:) It is an absolutely beautiful place to visit.:) HAPPY CRUISING!:)

[kathynorth]

The cruise fare typically includes on ship food, entertainment, the room, and transportation to an exotic location. Alcoholic beverages cost extra. you can book a tour throught the cruiseline or on your own through the internet. You can typically save a little $ and sometimes have a longer trip booking through an independent. However, if you run into a problem and don't get back to the ship before send off then you risk having the ship leave without you. Ship based tours can be booked in advance by registering on the cruiseline's website and paying ahead of time with a credit card. You can also book excursions after you get on the ship, but space will be limited for the most popular trips. Independently booked tours will also require that you pay ahead of time.

 

I would suggest that the best place to start is by reading travel guides at the library. Once you're able to identify a couple of locations or activities that are of interest, you can come back to cruise critic and search the Alaska board using a couple of key terms to gain more background. Then start checking out itineraries for each cruiseline on the internet.

 

We've only been on 5 cruises, 1 of which was to Alaska, so we're not the most experienced cruisers out there. We found it very helpful to post questions on this board, the way you just did, to figure out how it all works.

 

All in all, Alaska was our most exciting and expensive trip. The excursions we chose were unique to Alaska, which was reflected in the cost. Although we didn't add it all up, the total cost of the excursions was pretty close to the cost of the cruise itself. As you do your research you'll find that some of the tours through the cruiseline will be great, while others are best booked independently.

 

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

[Nancyquilts]

And the gratuities will be extra.