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Cruise Line Tips #3

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SHIP INFORMATION

You’ll want to know the size of the ship; they can give it to you in tonnage such as 60,000 tons and/or number of passenger. You also want to know when the ship was launched and when it was last refurbished.

You’ll also want to know the square footage. Or at least the range of square footage of the cabin classes you are interested in. This will give you some information for comparison. You may find a particular ship has bigger cabins at a certain class than another ship.

If your cabin has a veranda, make sure the size of the veranda is not included in your cabin square footage, so that you are comparing cabin size to cabin size.

You might want to investigate the ship’s sanitation record. See our Cruise Safety section for information on how to investigate a ship’s sanitation record.

Not necessarily, the bigger the better won’t be everyone’s idea of a perfect cruise. Knowing the size of the ship will help you decide which cruise will provide the better match for your personal tastes.

The Cruise Lines have been building some huge ships lately and the bigger ships have room for every imaginable activity.

The bigger ships can provide more options, but they will also have more people on board to pay for all that size.

Bigger doesn’t automatically mean less crowded. In fact, some can seem more crowded.

The smaller ships can also have plenty of activity in a more intimate setting.

PACKING FOR YOUR CRUISE

Everything you would need, if you were staying at a resort hotel in the same geographic area of your cruise.

Avoid over packing by reading the recommended dress section of the cruise literature that will be mailed to you after you book.

Check to see if they have a theme night or talent show where you might need some special outfits.

Even in the warm Caribbean, you might need a sweater on the decks at night. The air conditioning can also be icy.

Pack some comfortable rubber soled shoes to get around on the decks.

Bring a pocket calculator to help you figure your ports of call exchange rates.

Bring a white T-shirt if you plan on going snorkeling or you may have a burned back when you are done.

You might also pack some drinking straws to use while at port. This will help you to avoid touching your lips to a can’s top. The top might be covered with contaminants that will make you sick.

Cruises still have dinners where more formal clothes are appropriate. The last night of a cruise is usually a formal night, and a seven-day cruise will usually have two formal nights. These are the meals that used to require tuxedos or cocktail dresses. They are now optional but, if you have them dust them off and bring them along. Many Cruise Lines will rent tuxedos, so you can check into this option before you go.

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