You’ve taken your first (or subsequent) cruise and are planning your next cruise – but nothing new really jumps out at you. Why not consider repeating a cruise you’ve taken in the past and absolutely loved?

It’s not as crazy as it might seem and to be honest, we’ve actually taken the same cruise three times!
You already know the ins and outs of the cruse ship, you are familiar with the ports you’ll be visiting, and you know from your previous visits to those ports which excursions (if any) to take. Don’t feel like taking the same excursions – don’t!

Looking for an exotic travel location that is thrilling and luxurious? Alaskan cruises have surged in popularity in recent years, and demand to see America’s last unspoiled frontier continues to grow. Alaskan Cruises only operate between the months of May and September or early October and tend to follow one of two principal routes; the Gulf of Alaska or the Inside Passage.

Anchorage is the starting (or ending) point for many Alaskan cruises, but most passengers actually board or disemabark their ships from Seward (125 miles sounth on Resurrection Bay). Alaskan cruises may also start in the town of Vancouver BC.

Think of a cruise and you’ll probably think of the open waves and enjoying the many benefits of a cruise ship while surrounded by nothing more than ocean on all sides. But a cruise does not always set sail on an ocean. Some of the best cruises the world has to offer are actually river cruises, and what they might lack in distance travelled they certainly make up for in sights to see.

Are River Cruises Shorter Than Normal Cruises?

Cruises may still be associated with older travelers, but the times when older travelers are the only ones enjoying a cruise vacation are long passed. A cruise is an extremely attractive option for anyone seeking to escape from the demands of work and everyday life. Fortunately, cruise lines now offer a variety of programs allowing them to meet the holiday needs of any traveler’s lifestyle and preferences. Cruising is no longer about simply showing off your new wardrobe, playing shuffleboard or socializing in the lounge. These may all be great parts of a cruise vacation, but there is a wide range of activities and amenities perfect for every traveler.

Like anything in life, planning does not ensure a success. And if you don’t, then the odds are far greater that the outcome will not be as you expect!

Here are here are a couple of cruise planning tips to look out for:-

1) Date Setting

Choosing the right dates for everyone in your party is necessary, as there will be differences in people’s needs, especially if you have a large party coming from all over the place.

The most important part of cruise planning, is preparing all who are involved such that they are clear with you about just what they expect. And, of course that you are clear about what you are going to arrange on their behalf too.

We scheduled a repositioning cruise on the Vision of the Seas from Los Angeles to Vancouver, BC and I had checked the website and found that NCL was offering a one-night Dinner & Dance cruise from Vancouver, BC to Seattle, WA for an unbelievable rate in a Balcony Cabin. Score!

This trip proved to be an adventure for a one-nighter. I am going to try and keep a light tone to this review but it was nasty, as several thousand cruisers can attest to.

A luxury cruise vacation was once the sole preserve of the rich and the famous so a cruise budget was the last thing to consider. You really did used to have to be very wealthy to say bon voyage and sail of on a magical cruise vacation. For the poorer people there was an underclass of cabin down below but the two classes would hardly ever meet on board.

It has taken a slow progression over the past century for the costs involved with cruise travel to become affordable. These days a luxury cruise vacation is well within reach of middle income earners as budget cruises seem to be the order of the day. With that in mind though, all is not what it seems sometimes. Cruise operators will obviously try to lure the unsuspecting customers with the cheapest possible price in the advert but the costs can be considerably higher than the advertised price.

While cruise vacations are excellent values and have many wonderful things to recommend them, most single people know the dark little secret of the cruise industry. It’s hard to cruise alone. That’s not because cruise lines don’t want single passengers. It’s just that they’re not really set up to accommodate them!

In fact, most cruise lines actually impose a bit of a penalty on the solo cruise vacationer. If you want to cruise alone, you certainly are free to do so, but you will end up paying an up charge to get your stateroom.