What cruise line (ie. Carnival, Royal) would you recommend for african american couples in their mid 20s?
April 30, 2009 by Cruise Tips
Filed under Cruise Lines
Can you answer Jane Doe’s question about Cruises?:
A group of friends and I are wanting to take a cruise. We are looking to do this as a couples event. We want to choose a cruise line that is diverse and caters to everyone of all backgrounds. Does anyone have any suggestions on a good cruise line that we would have a good time on? We are all in our mid 20s and enjoy going out and having a good time. Thanks!
Princess Cruise To Panama Canal
A group of friends and I are wanting to take a cruise. We are looking to do this as a couples event. We want to choose a cruise line that is diverse and caters to everyone of all backgrounds. Does anyone have any suggestions on a good cruise line that we would have a good time on? We are all in our mid 20s and enjoy going out and having a good time. Thanks!
Princess Cruise To Panama Canal
Cruise Line Loyalty
April 30, 2009 by Cruise Tips
Filed under Cruise Lines
To keep their customers coming back, the majority of cruise lines now offer some kind of customer loyalty scheme. These vary from each cruise operator and can include future booking discounts, invites to VIP parties, and onboard privileges such as priority embarkation. But is this enough to keep your loyalty? Or are you really looking for cabin upgrades and onboard credit?
Here is a summary of each cruise lines membership club and benefits to tempt you to come back time and time again…
Royal Caribbean International - Crown and Anchor Society
Membership to the Crown and Anchor Society is automatically granted after your first sailing. The club offers discounts and benefits according to the number of “cruise credits” obtained. These are calculated by the number of days at sea and the cabin grade you sail in. As their sister company, you will also receive equivalent recognition in Celebrities membership club. There are 4 tiers within the club escalating from gold to platinum, diamond and diamond plus. As a gold member, you can expect onboard bonuses such as complimentary wine tasting and a small commemorative gift, as well as online booking discounts. As your membership level increases you can look forward to priorities over other customers with check in, and waitlisted services such as spa treatments or shore excursions.
Celebrity Cruises – Captains Club
Celebrity’s 3 tier Captains Club offers a slightly more generous loyalty scheme which involves a one category upgrade at the most basic membership level, which is also applicable when booking your cruise through a travel agent.
The tiers range from Classic, Select and Elite, and loyal customers can expect invitations to onboard parties, behind the scenes tours and at the highest level, guests can take advantage complimentary use of the Thalassotherapy Pool, where available, and also a private departure lounge.
Norwegian Cruise Lines – Latitudes Program
As a past guest, NCL do offer some pretty good reductions when rebooking with them, aside from this, many of the benefits of their club, which ranges from bronze, silver, gold and platinum levels, are nothing to get too excited about! Whilst they offer the standard past guest party, plus priorities over other guests with check in, disembarkation, and reservation only restaurants, having completed 14 cruises, and earned your platinum status, all you really get is complimentary dining inthe “Le Bistro” restaurant, which would usually incur an additional charge. Oh and you get a latitudes ship pin…
Princess Cruises – Captains Circle
The Captains Circle club features gold, platinum and elite levels of membership with all levels receiving preferential pricing offers on selected itineraries throughout the year. Further standard membership benefits include, “exclusive events”, no doubt that will be another captain’s party then, and also a Princess Passport, a scheme whereby guests receive stamps, depicting the cruise destination which are then signed by the captain and displayed in a Princess Passport.
As membership increases to platinum status, guests are entitled to priority boarding, free internet minutes and upgraded travel insurance. (If the basic level is purchased) Guests that reach their 16th cruise, or their 150th cruise day with Princess will be members of the elite club, where extras such as a complimentary mini bar, upgraded bathroom amenities and a 10% discount in certain onboard shops will be applicable.
Costa Cruises – Costa Club
Loyal customers will be pleased to hear that Costa offer one of the most rewarding loyalty schemes at sea. Whether you are a basic aquamarine member, coral member or their highest pearl member, you can receive a 5% discount on any of their cruises. In addition, guests at aquamarine level will receive a generous 20% discount on wine packages, mini bar drinks and laundry service, 10% off Costa merchandise, and a cocktail with the captain complete with a souvenir photo.
Membership to the club is achieved through earning points; these are accumulated through cruise days with Costa as well as onboard spending. At higher levels of membership, guests will qualify for priority boarding and disembarkation, a complimentary meal in the a la carte restaurant, a bottle of wine and welcome gift.
P&O Cruises – Portunus Club
Membership to the Portunus club is automatic after completing your very first sailing with P&O Cruises. Throughout the year, there will be selected Portunus sailings, which give members reductions on standard cruise prices.
At a basic level, ruby members are entitled to a 5% discount on onboard spend, this increases to 7.5% when you reach sapphire level of membership, and gold members can take off an extra 10%. At the highest level, gold members will also get a dedicated check in service and priority disembarkation.
Members of the Portunus club can also gain points from sailing on Ocean Village, Princess Cruises or Swan Hellenic.
Cunard – World Club
World Club has 4 levels of membership; silver, gold, platinum and diamond. Automatic membership is granted after your first sailing with Cunard. After this, members are entitled to a 5% discount of further sailings.
Further benefits for guests who have completed 20 days onboard include; a souvenir gold membership Cunarder pin, complimentary internet minutes, and cocktail party invitation. As guests reach platinum level, they can expect, in addition to lower level benefits, a 20% discount on dry cleaning and laundry service, 10% off White Star Luggage Delivery service, additional internet minutes and a platinum member Cunarder pin. Diamond members will also receive priority luggage delivery.
MSC Cruises – MSC Club
MSC’s loyalty club consists of 3 tiers; classic, silver and gold. Membership is awarded by a points system which accumulates with the number of cruise days taken with MSC.
At each level, members will receive a welcome cocktail, a 5% discount on excursions and 5% discount in onboard boutiques. As a classic member, you are entitled to a 5% discount on most cruises, silver members will receive 8% and gold can take off an additional 10% off their cruise cost.
Fred Olsen Cruise Lines - Oceans
Each night spent onboard a Fred Olsen cruise will earn you 1 point. Once you reach 30 points, you will qualify for their first level of membership. At this “blue” level, guests will receive 5% off both onboard spending and shore excursions booked prior to departure. As you reach 31 points you enter the silver level where members will receive a 2% cruise discount, Oceans cocktail party and usually priority embarkation. Once you have exceeded 100 days onboard a Fred Olsen cruise, you will be rewarded with a 4% cruise cost discount, personalized luggage labels, a welcome aboard gift plus a complimentary shuttle bus pass.
Carnival – Concierge Club
After your 10th cruise with Carnival, you will enter their membership club at the platinum level, then, those members who complete their 25th, 50th and 75th sailings will receive a shipboard credit representing 25, 50 or 75% of their cruise fare. Those who reach an impressive 100th sailing will earn a complimentary cruise of up to 8 days.
In addition, all platinum members are eligible for priority check in, disembarkation and dining waitlists.
So are the cruise lines really doing enough to keep you coming back? Priority check in, early disembarkation and a captain’s party invite is certainly better than nothing, but, as a loyal customer, would this sway you to rebook with them? Or do you feel that the cruise experience they offer is enough to keep you loyal?
If you have any views on customer loyalty schemes or any ideas on how the cruise lines could improve on them, get in touch. I’d be interested to hear your opinions.
Thanks to Genna Roberts for contributing this article to our Cruises blog:
Here is a summary of each cruise lines membership club and benefits to tempt you to come back time and time again…
Royal Caribbean International - Crown and Anchor Society
Membership to the Crown and Anchor Society is automatically granted after your first sailing. The club offers discounts and benefits according to the number of “cruise credits” obtained. These are calculated by the number of days at sea and the cabin grade you sail in. As their sister company, you will also receive equivalent recognition in Celebrities membership club. There are 4 tiers within the club escalating from gold to platinum, diamond and diamond plus. As a gold member, you can expect onboard bonuses such as complimentary wine tasting and a small commemorative gift, as well as online booking discounts. As your membership level increases you can look forward to priorities over other customers with check in, and waitlisted services such as spa treatments or shore excursions.
Celebrity Cruises – Captains Club
Celebrity’s 3 tier Captains Club offers a slightly more generous loyalty scheme which involves a one category upgrade at the most basic membership level, which is also applicable when booking your cruise through a travel agent.
The tiers range from Classic, Select and Elite, and loyal customers can expect invitations to onboard parties, behind the scenes tours and at the highest level, guests can take advantage complimentary use of the Thalassotherapy Pool, where available, and also a private departure lounge.
Norwegian Cruise Lines – Latitudes Program
As a past guest, NCL do offer some pretty good reductions when rebooking with them, aside from this, many of the benefits of their club, which ranges from bronze, silver, gold and platinum levels, are nothing to get too excited about! Whilst they offer the standard past guest party, plus priorities over other guests with check in, disembarkation, and reservation only restaurants, having completed 14 cruises, and earned your platinum status, all you really get is complimentary dining inthe “Le Bistro” restaurant, which would usually incur an additional charge. Oh and you get a latitudes ship pin…
Princess Cruises – Captains Circle
The Captains Circle club features gold, platinum and elite levels of membership with all levels receiving preferential pricing offers on selected itineraries throughout the year. Further standard membership benefits include, “exclusive events”, no doubt that will be another captain’s party then, and also a Princess Passport, a scheme whereby guests receive stamps, depicting the cruise destination which are then signed by the captain and displayed in a Princess Passport.
As membership increases to platinum status, guests are entitled to priority boarding, free internet minutes and upgraded travel insurance. (If the basic level is purchased) Guests that reach their 16th cruise, or their 150th cruise day with Princess will be members of the elite club, where extras such as a complimentary mini bar, upgraded bathroom amenities and a 10% discount in certain onboard shops will be applicable.
Costa Cruises – Costa Club
Loyal customers will be pleased to hear that Costa offer one of the most rewarding loyalty schemes at sea. Whether you are a basic aquamarine member, coral member or their highest pearl member, you can receive a 5% discount on any of their cruises. In addition, guests at aquamarine level will receive a generous 20% discount on wine packages, mini bar drinks and laundry service, 10% off Costa merchandise, and a cocktail with the captain complete with a souvenir photo.
Membership to the club is achieved through earning points; these are accumulated through cruise days with Costa as well as onboard spending. At higher levels of membership, guests will qualify for priority boarding and disembarkation, a complimentary meal in the a la carte restaurant, a bottle of wine and welcome gift.
P&O Cruises – Portunus Club
Membership to the Portunus club is automatic after completing your very first sailing with P&O Cruises. Throughout the year, there will be selected Portunus sailings, which give members reductions on standard cruise prices.
At a basic level, ruby members are entitled to a 5% discount on onboard spend, this increases to 7.5% when you reach sapphire level of membership, and gold members can take off an extra 10%. At the highest level, gold members will also get a dedicated check in service and priority disembarkation.
Members of the Portunus club can also gain points from sailing on Ocean Village, Princess Cruises or Swan Hellenic.
Cunard – World Club
World Club has 4 levels of membership; silver, gold, platinum and diamond. Automatic membership is granted after your first sailing with Cunard. After this, members are entitled to a 5% discount of further sailings.
Further benefits for guests who have completed 20 days onboard include; a souvenir gold membership Cunarder pin, complimentary internet minutes, and cocktail party invitation. As guests reach platinum level, they can expect, in addition to lower level benefits, a 20% discount on dry cleaning and laundry service, 10% off White Star Luggage Delivery service, additional internet minutes and a platinum member Cunarder pin. Diamond members will also receive priority luggage delivery.
MSC Cruises – MSC Club
MSC’s loyalty club consists of 3 tiers; classic, silver and gold. Membership is awarded by a points system which accumulates with the number of cruise days taken with MSC.
At each level, members will receive a welcome cocktail, a 5% discount on excursions and 5% discount in onboard boutiques. As a classic member, you are entitled to a 5% discount on most cruises, silver members will receive 8% and gold can take off an additional 10% off their cruise cost.
Fred Olsen Cruise Lines - Oceans
Each night spent onboard a Fred Olsen cruise will earn you 1 point. Once you reach 30 points, you will qualify for their first level of membership. At this “blue” level, guests will receive 5% off both onboard spending and shore excursions booked prior to departure. As you reach 31 points you enter the silver level where members will receive a 2% cruise discount, Oceans cocktail party and usually priority embarkation. Once you have exceeded 100 days onboard a Fred Olsen cruise, you will be rewarded with a 4% cruise cost discount, personalized luggage labels, a welcome aboard gift plus a complimentary shuttle bus pass.
Carnival – Concierge Club
After your 10th cruise with Carnival, you will enter their membership club at the platinum level, then, those members who complete their 25th, 50th and 75th sailings will receive a shipboard credit representing 25, 50 or 75% of their cruise fare. Those who reach an impressive 100th sailing will earn a complimentary cruise of up to 8 days.
In addition, all platinum members are eligible for priority check in, disembarkation and dining waitlists.
So are the cruise lines really doing enough to keep you coming back? Priority check in, early disembarkation and a captain’s party invite is certainly better than nothing, but, as a loyal customer, would this sway you to rebook with them? Or do you feel that the cruise experience they offer is enough to keep you loyal?
If you have any views on customer loyalty schemes or any ideas on how the cruise lines could improve on them, get in touch. I’d be interested to hear your opinions.
Thanks to Genna Roberts for contributing this article to our Cruises blog:
Genna Roberts is web editor at Inside Cruise - an online cruise community packed with all the latest cruise news, reviews and features.
Come join us - Inside Cruise Community
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What is the best cruise line if your loved one is in a wheelchair?
April 30, 2009 by Cruise Tips
Filed under Cruise Lines
Can you answer abear_hugs’s question about Cruises?:
Our family is hoping to take a cruise in the near future and were wondering what cruise line is the best when it comes to someone being in a wheelchair.
Get a Money-making Website
Our family is hoping to take a cruise in the near future and were wondering what cruise line is the best when it comes to someone being in a wheelchair.
Get a Money-making Website
Party Cruise
April 30, 2009 by Cruise Tips
Filed under About Cruises
As the name suggests, a party cruise is a party on a boat or ship. What an innovative way to party, right? Everyone loves cruising as much as they love partying, so it makes sense to combine both of them and have a good time. Besides, it’s a change from the ordinary, so why not?
” Types of party cruises: These parties can be of several kinds. Perhaps you want to party with friends and have a whale of a time, or you want an outing with your family, or are celebrating a milestone birthday or anniversary, or even an engagement. Well, then, a party cruise becomes an event to remember. These parties can go on from a few hours in the evening to a whole day. You can hire a boat and tailor it to your needs or just take a party cruise that’s readily available.
Among theme party cruises, there are pirate parties, casino party cruises and costume party cruises, apart from nightclub cruises. Others include the following:
” Music parties: You can have a hip hop cruise, a country Western cruise or any other distinct music party cruise, and can fit the food to it. For instance, if you have a country Western cruise, perhaps you might like to serve salsa and barbeque and salsa.
” Murder mysteries parties: Here, a guest or crew member is “murdered” on the boat and other guests play detectives and must find the killer.
” Ghost cruise parties: Here, the ship is haunted and guests spend time solving the mystery of the ghost and haunted ship.
” New Years Eve parties: These are three-hour parties and are held on New Year’s Eve in those spots where the ship can give views of spectacular fireworks or other celebrations.
” Contest cruise parties: The host organizes contests such as dancing, karaoke or something like American Idol which guests can take part in. Winners are given prizes.
” Chartered cruise parties: Sometimes, pleasure boat companies offer their boats to business houses or individuals who want to celebrate important events on board a ship.
” Where you can find party cruises: Browse cruise companies and arrange your time on the cruise with them. You can also approach big hotels or bars that have access to a river, beach or marina, or charter companies that give out their ships on tours. If the city you’re in is on a beach, it’s sure to offer these cruises.
” Costs: This would depend on the theme of the cruise party, the number of guests and the kind of ship you book. Fares start at $20 and can go up to $100 per head. You need to book well in advance.
The party cruises are generally accompanied with a lot of singing, dancing and fireworks. Provisions are made in advance, and the volumes are raised while the ship sails away on the sparkly waters of the Harbor, Ocean or river.
” What to wear: This depends on the kind of cruise you’re taking. If your cruise party starts in the afternoon, you might like to wear casual wear, but if it begins in the evening, you will be expected to dress as if you were going to a nightclub.
Thanks to Prince Cruise for contributing this article to our Cruises blog:
” Types of party cruises: These parties can be of several kinds. Perhaps you want to party with friends and have a whale of a time, or you want an outing with your family, or are celebrating a milestone birthday or anniversary, or even an engagement. Well, then, a party cruise becomes an event to remember. These parties can go on from a few hours in the evening to a whole day. You can hire a boat and tailor it to your needs or just take a party cruise that’s readily available.
Among theme party cruises, there are pirate parties, casino party cruises and costume party cruises, apart from nightclub cruises. Others include the following:
” Music parties: You can have a hip hop cruise, a country Western cruise or any other distinct music party cruise, and can fit the food to it. For instance, if you have a country Western cruise, perhaps you might like to serve salsa and barbeque and salsa.
” Murder mysteries parties: Here, a guest or crew member is “murdered” on the boat and other guests play detectives and must find the killer.
” Ghost cruise parties: Here, the ship is haunted and guests spend time solving the mystery of the ghost and haunted ship.
” New Years Eve parties: These are three-hour parties and are held on New Year’s Eve in those spots where the ship can give views of spectacular fireworks or other celebrations.
” Contest cruise parties: The host organizes contests such as dancing, karaoke or something like American Idol which guests can take part in. Winners are given prizes.
” Chartered cruise parties: Sometimes, pleasure boat companies offer their boats to business houses or individuals who want to celebrate important events on board a ship.
” Where you can find party cruises: Browse cruise companies and arrange your time on the cruise with them. You can also approach big hotels or bars that have access to a river, beach or marina, or charter companies that give out their ships on tours. If the city you’re in is on a beach, it’s sure to offer these cruises.
” Costs: This would depend on the theme of the cruise party, the number of guests and the kind of ship you book. Fares start at $20 and can go up to $100 per head. You need to book well in advance.
The party cruises are generally accompanied with a lot of singing, dancing and fireworks. Provisions are made in advance, and the volumes are raised while the ship sails away on the sparkly waters of the Harbor, Ocean or river.
” What to wear: This depends on the kind of cruise you’re taking. If your cruise party starts in the afternoon, you might like to wear casual wear, but if it begins in the evening, you will be expected to dress as if you were going to a nightclub.
Thanks to Prince Cruise for contributing this article to our Cruises blog:
Author Bio
The author Owns a fleet vessels in Sydney . It is one of the best Sydney Christmas party cruise available for party cruise , Xmas Party Sydney Harbour, Wedding Cruise Sydney Harbour, New years Eve Sydney Harbour.
Alaska Cruise Tips: Which Cruise Line is Best?
April 30, 2009 by Cruise Tips
Filed under Cruise Lines
There are currently six major Alaska cruise lines: Princess, Holland America, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, NCL, and Carnival. Each of these cruise lines has a distinct character, so how do you decide which one suites you best?
Holland America is the most traditional and formal of the cruise lines, with the smallest ships of all the major lines in Alaska. Holland America also tends to be very popular with senior cruisers and thus it passenger demographic tends to skew older than the other lines.
Princess is the largest cruise line in Alaska, and it offers a nice mix of tradition and innovation, including a flexible dining plan. Like Holland America, Princess currently sails eight ships in Alaska. However, the Princess ships are quite a bit larger, and they can accommodate almost double the number of passengers.
Princess is also the leader in Alaska cruisetours, and the cruise line owns several wonderful lodges in the Denali National Park region. So if you are considering adding an inland tour to your cruise, Princess is a wonderful option.
Norwegian (NCL) is the most innovative of the cruise lines in Alaska, offering multiple restaurants and incredible dining variety and flexibility with its “Freestyle Cruising” concept. Norwegian also has the newest fleet sailing in Alaska, and their ships have some the most amazing amenities, including rock climbing walls and even bowling alleys. On the down side, they only sail round trip itineraries, so if you want to tour inland Alaska, NCL is probably not for you.
Royal Caribbean and Celebrity, while offering fewer cruises in Alaska than Princess, do provide exceptional quality and a variety of itineraries, though neither currently offers cruises that stop in Glacier Bay. They do both have ships that visit the Hubbard Glacier, which is a great option as an alternative to Glacier Bay.
Finally, Carnival is the “forgotten” Alaskan cruise line. Carnival does currently have one ship sailing in Alaska, mainly on one-way itineraries between Vancouver and Whittier. I have found that Carnival often has very reasonable prices, so if you are looking for a one-way cruise, check out Carnival, if only for a price comparison.
All these cruise lines are actually wonderful options. Which one you choose depends on what you want to see and what type of on-ship environment you seek. But no matter what type of atmosphere you prefer, from traditional to innovative, there is an Alaskan cruise line for you.
Thanks to Scott Russell for contributing this article to our Cruises blog:
Holland America is the most traditional and formal of the cruise lines, with the smallest ships of all the major lines in Alaska. Holland America also tends to be very popular with senior cruisers and thus it passenger demographic tends to skew older than the other lines.
Princess is the largest cruise line in Alaska, and it offers a nice mix of tradition and innovation, including a flexible dining plan. Like Holland America, Princess currently sails eight ships in Alaska. However, the Princess ships are quite a bit larger, and they can accommodate almost double the number of passengers.
Princess is also the leader in Alaska cruisetours, and the cruise line owns several wonderful lodges in the Denali National Park region. So if you are considering adding an inland tour to your cruise, Princess is a wonderful option.
Norwegian (NCL) is the most innovative of the cruise lines in Alaska, offering multiple restaurants and incredible dining variety and flexibility with its “Freestyle Cruising” concept. Norwegian also has the newest fleet sailing in Alaska, and their ships have some the most amazing amenities, including rock climbing walls and even bowling alleys. On the down side, they only sail round trip itineraries, so if you want to tour inland Alaska, NCL is probably not for you.
Royal Caribbean and Celebrity, while offering fewer cruises in Alaska than Princess, do provide exceptional quality and a variety of itineraries, though neither currently offers cruises that stop in Glacier Bay. They do both have ships that visit the Hubbard Glacier, which is a great option as an alternative to Glacier Bay.
Finally, Carnival is the “forgotten” Alaskan cruise line. Carnival does currently have one ship sailing in Alaska, mainly on one-way itineraries between Vancouver and Whittier. I have found that Carnival often has very reasonable prices, so if you are looking for a one-way cruise, check out Carnival, if only for a price comparison.
All these cruise lines are actually wonderful options. Which one you choose depends on what you want to see and what type of on-ship environment you seek. But no matter what type of atmosphere you prefer, from traditional to innovative, there is an Alaskan cruise line for you.
Thanks to Scott Russell for contributing this article to our Cruises blog:
Scott Russell is a writer, consultant, and frequent traveler. He is also an editor of the Alaska Cruise Advisor, which provides information on all aspects of Alaskan cruises, including details on Princess, Holland America, and the other Alaska cruise lines.
