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| Cruise Guide & F.A.Q.'s |
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How do I book a cruise? Call Vacations for Heroes today at 604-859-9008 or 1-866-994-4376. Is cruising affordable and a good vacation value? Cruising is the best vacation value! There are cruise vacations to suit every budget. Your cruise fare includes all meals, your stateroom, on-board activities and entertainment, plus transportation from port to port. How long are cruises? As long or short as you want- itineraries range from 3 days to 3 months. Where can I go? Wherever you want! Cruises visit over 1800 ports worldwide and practically every destination accessible by water. Are all ships and cruises fairly similar? Far from it. Ships range from intimate and yacht-like to vessels stretching longer than three football fields. Atmospheres range from casual to formal, contemporary to classic. There are cruises designed to suit virtually every interest and personal preference. Our staff of cruise experts can assist you in choosing the right cruise for you. Do I need a passport? This depends on the type of cruise and your destination. You will need some proof of citizenship and identification, and a passport is certainly recommended. Please ask your Travel Broker. Will I get bored? Feel confined? Hardly! Being at sea gives you a feeling of total freedom that no land-based resort can offer. There’s plenty of room. It will probably take two or three days just to discover everything that’s on board. Plus, you get the added adventure of exploring many exciting ports of call. What can I do in port? So much you’ll have a hard time choosing! You can explore on your own or take a guided tour (referred to as shore excursions). You can search ancient ruins or hunt for shopping bargains. Ride a raft over river rapids, or a horse across miles of hills and beaches. Climb a waterfall or pyramid. Follow the footsteps of history or the wake of a waterskiing boat. If there’s still time, play golf or tennis. Learn how to windsurf. Sun and swim at some of the world’s best beaches. Sail, snorkel, or scuba dive. In short, cruising is the perfect way to sample a number of new destinations and try all the things you’ve ever dreamed of doing, while never having to pack and unpack! Do I have to participate in all the activities? On a cruise, you do what you want, when you want. You can do everything or do absolutely nothing. It’s your vacation! Do cruise lines welcome families with children? More and more cruise vacations are booked by families with children. Most cruise lines provide plenty of supervised activities for youngsters, especially during school holidays. What is there to do at night? When the stars come out, a cruise ship really turns on. There’s dancing, live entertainment, nightclubs and lounges, feature films, and parties with all your new friends. Most ships also have casinos. There are many special events like the Captain’s Cocktail Party, Passenger Talent Night, Broadway-style shows and Las Vegas-type revues. Is there a charge for entertainment? Never. On a cruise vacation, the entertainment is on the house. There’s no cover, minimum, or charge for an admission ticket. The shows are live, films first-rate and all included in your cruise fare. Will there be people like me? There’s no such thing as a typical cruise passenger! All kinds of people take cruises now…all ages…from all walks of life…singles, couples and families. What should I pack? Pack like you would for any resort. Cruise vacations are casual by day, whether you’re on the ship or ashore. In the evening, ships vary as to dress. As on shore, attire is dictated by occasion. At the Captain’s Gala, for example, you’ll probably want to wear something more formal, such as a dark suit, or cocktail dress: perhaps even a dinner jacket or gown. Will I need a new tuxedo? Many cruise lines now feature a more relaxed and casual approach to dress throughout the cruise- while on others, formal dinners or parties are part of the fun. Don’t buy a tuxedo just for the trip. Even on the most formal of ships, a dark suit and tie are fine for the dressiest occasions. Can singles have fun on a cruise? Cruising is ideal for people traveling alone, because it’s so easy to meet other people. In fact, most ships have parties for singles- early on, so you can get to know other guests right away. Many ships even offer gentlemen hosts who can be dance partners, dinner companions or a fourth at cards. Most ships also have single cabins as well as single rates for double staterooms. If you ask them, many cruise lines will even find you a roommate to share a cabin so you can obtain the per person/double occupancy rate, saving you even more on a great vacation. Is cruise ship dining as good as I’ve been told? Everything you’ve heard about cruise ship dining is true. At each meal, you’ll find a varied selection and each day the selection will be different. If you’ve ever wanted to experiment with a cuisine or try a dish, you can feel free to order more than one entrée (or dessert). But, just because your cruise ship offers plenty of delicious food, doesn’t mean you’ll come home out of shape. You can choose low-cal, spa, vegetarian, or fitness menu selections that are just as tempting as the regular menu. Best of all, the one thing you’ll never see on a cruise ship menu is price…all your meals are included! Can I get a special diet? Most ships can accommodate salt-free, low carbohydrate, Kosher, or other diet preferences. However, this request must be made in advance, so be sure to advise us when you book. What about tipping? Tipping is a matter of individual preference. A general rule of thumb is to plan for about $3.00 per person per day for your cabin steward and dining room waiter, and about half that amount for you busboy. A few cruise lines include tipping in the price and will so inform you. Is motion discomfort a problem? Rarely. Popular cruise itineraries ply some of the calmest waters in the world. In addition, stabilizers on modern ships, availability of advance weather information, and development of effective preventative medications have, for the most part, eliminated the incidence of motion discomfort. Are there medical services on-board? Virtually every cruise ship (except for some smaller vessels operating in coastal waters) has a medical facility and health care professionals on staff to handle almost any emergency. If you have a medical condition that might put you at risk, discuss it with your doctor and inform the cruise lines at the time of booking. Whenever you travel, check to see what your health insurance covers. Sounds too good to be true! Is it? The one complaint we hear time and again is that cruises end far too soon! Beyond that, it’s hard to find any negatives. All you have to do is relax and enjoy your vacation. |
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