What Is Included in a Cruise Package?

easy-cruisesMany people believe that a cruise package is made up of the cruise, a cabin, meals, and the typical onboard activities.

While all of this is normally included in a cruise, cruise packages can be much, much more if you utilize all of the services that a good cruise agent can provide.

When you arrange a cruise, there are many more details that have to be taken care of besides just the cruise itself. How will you get to and from the departure port? Will you need to book a hotel in the port city? How will you get to the dock? These are just a few of things that have to be considered. Your cruise holiday can be much less stressful if you use an agent that can handle all this for you and provide you with a true cruise package. Some of the things that can be included in cruise packages include:

  • Depending on where you live and from what port you will be cruising, you may need to book flights to get there. An agent can make your flight reservations for you and add that to your total package cost. As always, plan your cruise well ahead in order to get not only the best cruise deals but the best flight deals as well. Sometimes you can even get a price break when you work with the cruise line to arrange your flights.
  • Chances are that if you have to travel very far to get to the port, you will also need a hotel the night before you leave and the night that you return. It’s a good idea to arrive a day ahead of time in case there are delays in your travel schedule to the port. Have your agent handle these reservations as part of your cruise package.
  • If you fly to the port but aren’t staying overnight before the cruise leaves, you will need transportation to the airport. This can be prearranged by an agent and included in a cruise package. If you do stay in a hotel the night before, the hotel may offer this service.
  • Some shore excursions are included in the typical all-inclusive cruise, but the more interesting and exciting excursions may not be. It’s a good idea to have arrangements made for a shore excursion ahead of time because they can fill up quickly. Have your cruise agent make the reservations for you and include the price in your package.

Cruise packages take the stress out of your travel time. Having everything paid for ahead of time can also make it easier to budget your holiday.

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Understanding The Four W’s of Cheap, Cheap Cruises

easy-cruises2When can you get a cheap cruise? Where do you find cheap, cheap cruises? Why do cruise lines offer low cost cruises? Get the answer to these questions and more.

The following crucial information is divided into four sections. The four sections taken together will provide you with the what, when, where, and why of cheap cruises.

Keep in mind that you want to look at the general principals of what is presented, and not any specific information. The specifics are always subject to change, but if you understand the general principals then you are always in position to find great prices.

 

The What of cheap cruises:

What is a cruise cabin as it relates to sales?

It is inventory; and, the supply and demand for that inventory will vary from sail date to sail date.

As the supply of cabins exceeds the number of people who are looking to book travel the cruise line offer those extra cabins at a discount.

 

The When of cheap cruises:

When do cruise lines discount their cabins (inventory)?

Generally, excess supply (inventory) is not discounted until the sail date gets closer. Also, based on historical patterns of slow sales a cruise line could offer steep discounts as inducement to spur sales.

In addition, you may find some great bargains if you do not mind the cruise line routing your ship to alternate destinations to avoid bad weather.

There are many scenarios used by the cruise lines that could provide great prices for you. Identifying only one such scenario (among the many cruise lines could save you a lot of money.

Besides the bad weather scenario, the scenarios most easily identifiable to get cheap cruises are based on:

1) booking your cruise very, very early, or

2) booking your cruise very close to the sail date.

 

The Where of cheap cruises:

Where are you likely to find cheap, cheap cruises?

In addition to those mentioned above, other possibilities are:

  • travel agents and cruise agents
  • cruise brokers
  • group cruises, especially where organizers look at possible scenarios, such as those mentioned above
  • on very long cruises, 90-day and 100-day sailings, where inside cabins (considered inferior) are extremely cheap. Outside cabins on the same cruise sell for $700 to $1000 per person per day.

However, a quick calculation shows you the problem with these types of cheap cruises. Even though the typical cost is between $60,000 and $100,000 per person, these cheap, cheap cruises still cost around $15,000 per person (a problem for the majority of cruisers).

 

The Why of cheap cruises:

Why offer cruise cabins at steep discounts?

Cruise cabins are offered at a discount when the supply of cabins exceeds the number of people wanting to pay for them. The greater the excess of inventory, the steeper the discount offered.

Empty cabins on a ship that has sailed are considered none re-occurring inventory. In other words, once that cruise ship leave port any possible income that could have come from that cabin, on that sailing, is lost forever. YES, perhaps income is made on the next sailing, but the opportunity to earn income on that sailing is gone forever.

In conclusion: among the dozens of cruise lines and the many dozens of cruise ships, cheap cruises are there to find. With patience, forethought, and a willingness to ask questions you can find your share.

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Should You Consider Norwegian Caribbean Cruise?

easy-cruises3Norwegian Caribbean Lines were the first to include excursions to the Caribbean such as the Out Island Cruise as well as the first combined air-sea program that combined low cost air fares with the cruise and the company also developed new ports in the Caribbean like Ocho Rios in Jamaica.

One can escape to the delightful Caribbean islands and snorkel in the Caymans as well as swim with dolphins with Norwegian Caribbean cruises. There are a numerous Norwegian Caribbean cruises that each has different itineraries as well as costs and durations. There are tempting holiday packages to Great Stirrup Cay where one may snorkel to one’s heart’s delight, and be fascinated at the variety of tropical fish, colorful sponges as well as corals that are sprinkled around the crystal-clear waters of Bertram’s Cove.

Escape To a Number of Different Locations in the Caribbean

Norwegian Caribbean cruises on the Norwegian Cruise lines offer grand service and one can expect to be met at the airport by their representatives who will help facilitate passengers through luggage claims as well as help them board shuttle buses. Once you arrive at the port, the check-in process is effortless and a real breeze with no queues. There’s a waitress serving ice cold water to welcome passengers at the check-in room.

One can join the eleven day Norwegian Caribbean cruise to southern Caribbean ports of St. John’s Antigua for a beach for each day of the year as well as a coastline dotted with safe harbors as well as an almost unbroken protective wall of coral reef. One can also explore Bridgetown, Barbados where the ambience reflects sophistication as well as languid pace, and an exciting tour of Harrison’s Cave would very likely be on the cards of most holiday makers as they have underground streams, massive waterfalls as well as stalactites and stalagmites.

One could dip in any of the two pools or soak in the four hot tubs on the top deck. A western Norwegian Caribbean cruise will take you to ports at Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Costa Maya and Cozumel. One can also expect to travel aboard the Norwegian Caribbean cruise liners in pristine clean cabins and the cruise ship itself is well adorned with bars and other entertainment spots including discos and casinos.

Enjoy Freestyle Cruising With Norwegian Caribbean Cruise Line

You should seriously consider the Norwegian Caribbean Cruise Line as your cruise company of choice if you are considering a cruise. Because the Norwegian Caribbean Cruise Line offers some of the newest trends in cruise comfort. You are free to do whatever you choose on a Norwegian Caribbean Cruise. No highly structures schedule here! Their motto is “Freestyle Cruising” and they do whatever they can to make sure their passengers have the freedom to spend their vacation though they wish. To the experienced traveler the Norwegian Caribbean Cruise Line’s motto of “Lifestyle Cruising” can be a little confusing. What does it represent? Norwegian Caribbean Cruise Line prides them on being innovative with their cruises. Passengers can decide or plan each minute of their trip ahead of time, or go with their feels each day of the trip. .

You can eat at the a lot of restaurants on board whenever you choose as there are no schedule times for meal on these ships. And, they provide so many restaurants on every ship that you can spend your whole trip without repeating a meal or restaurant. You choose when you want to eat, and what you want to eat! There is no dining dress code, unless you want it to be. Now that’s what I call cruise freedom.

Norwegian Caribbean Cruise Line’s: Accommodations Choices

Another way you have choices with Norwegian Caribbean Cruise Line’s Freestyle Cruising is through your accommodation choices. You can select to stay in conventional staterooms, or if you are cruising with your family, you can select a family suite. If you want an sea view, you can have it. Or for the ultimate experience in luxury, think about the Owner’s Suite, where you have access to your very own entertainment and movie library, a private butler, and chocolates on your pillow every night!

Off Ship Trips

No cruise is complete without a few trips off the ship, and Norwegian Caribbean Cruise Line is no different. There are multitudes of things to explore, see, and do when your cruise ship is docked whether you are exploring the shores of distant Spain, or catching some rays on a Caribbean beach. And, similar to everything aboard a Norwegian Caribbean Cruise Line ship, you make the option as to what you desire to do when you get off the ship. You’re sure to take pleasure in the cruise experience.

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Select the Best Bahamas Cruise Package Within Your Budget

easy-cruises4A Bahamas cruise is one enjoyable and electrifying holiday escapade. First class cruise lines that trek to the Bahamas offers various Bahamas cruise packages with stopovers on their respective private islands. Disney cruise lines have its own Fantasy island at Castaway Cay. The Norwegian cruise lines offers an equally exciting cruise package to Nassau and its private island Great Stirrup Cay while Royal Caribbean cruise lines have scheduled journeys also passing through Nassau and their island Coco Cay. On the other hand, the famous “Fun ships” of the Carnival cruise lines have regular schedules to Nassau, Grand Turk, Freeport and Half Moon Cay. Some other cruise lines have different ports of call with mostly having a common stopover at Nassau, the Capital of the Bahamas and noted for its elegant shopping centers.

Bahamas cruise packages differ mainly on the facilities and rooms offered aboard each cruise ship. It also depends whether you go for a day or a week cruise to the islands. Yet, all of these packages offer equally satisfying ship accommodation styles, ocean transports, marvelous entertainment, every day happenings, on-board meals, elegant cuisines and many more. Seashore excursions, personal expenditures, privileges or intoxicating drinks are not incorporated. Shopping offshore is also one thing that a cruise itinerary cannot do without. Shopping centers are one of the famous spots in the Bahamas for tourists especially at Nassau.

Bahamas cruise packages include a night stay or more. The most reasonable 3 night stay begins at about $250 per person on an interior stateroom on a Carnival cruise going to Nassau. The one week stay in the islands is pricier at around $600 onboard a Norwegian cruise ship. If what you intended is an escapade on board a Disney cruise line to Castaway Cay, this package is available at around $500 in interior stateroom. You can confirm the exact rates in the internet or any other travel agencies near your place to help you decide what cruise package to take with your budget at hand.

Some cruise lines offer value added packages, expedition packages, comprehensive packages, wedding packages, luxury packages, recreational packages or voyage packages. Various shore excursions are inclusive to these packages as well, like a walk in the 141 acre water park at Atlantis resort in Nassau where thousands of fish species can be found or swimming with the dolphin. Others take you on a tour of the islands on a bike while others offer horseback riding and many other water sports.

Whether you are planning a week long cruise to the Bahamas or merely taking a one day vacation for a peaceful sanctuary, the Bahamas is genuinely a tropical paradise. Go for the finest discount package and set aside a handful of cash. The Bahamas is an all-year-round cruise getaway. School breaks are often the most hectic schedule of the year for family cruise escapades. This is the perfect time for all the family to spend time together away from the hassles of daily life. Those who are looking for a perfect package to Bahamas should verify sailing schedules in January, the spring time, month of September and before the year ends.

Cruising to the Bahamas is an experience that you can never forget. You can surely experience the most enchanting and soothing retreat that you can ever imagine and this will forever remain as one of your treasured memories.

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Mediterranean Cruise – Expert Guide

easy-cruises5A Mediterranean cruise is without doubt the most  varied type of cruise available. There are more than 120 seaports around the Mediterranean coastline, offering numerous combinations of cruise vacations over one-week, two-week or longer trips.

A huge clash of cultures await all who opt for a Mediterranean cruise. You can visit no less than 17 different countries, including such nations as Spain, Italy, Greece and Egypt. Each nation has its own unique attractions, all of which you can sample as your cruise ship gracefully sails around the calm blue Mediterranean Sea.

More than 50 companies offer cruises along varied routes in the Mediterranean. Some companies specialize in providing Western Mediterranean cruises, concentrating on ports of call around Portugal, Spain, France, Italy and Morocco. Other companies offer Eastern Mediterranean cruises which take in Croatia, Greece, Turkey and countries in the Middle East. Popular specialist Mediterranean cruises include a tour of the North African nations, a Mediterranean islands cruise that visits the island nations of
Cyprus and Malta, as well as cruises around the Greek Islands. If you’re after a longer vacation, it is possible to arrange a cruise itinerary that takes you around most if not all of the Mediterranean
nations.

History, culture, grand cities, ancient monuments, romantic islands and breathtaking views are all within easy reach on a Mediterranean cruise. In the Western Mediterranean you can discover the traditional white Andalucian villages of Southern Spain, sample the world-famous Manzanilla sherry in Cadiz and visit the cultural hub of Europe in the shape of Barcelona, before travelling onwards to the French Riviera.

A cruise that takes in the wonderful coastline of Italy yields such treasures as the dormant volcano of  Mt Vesuvius, ancient Pompeii and the stunning city of  Rome. The islands of Sicily and Sardinia hold many
delights too on a Western Mediterranean cruise.

In the Eastern Mediterranean, cruise passengers can discover the spectacular Croatian coastline and its
beautiful city – Dubrovnik, before diving southeastwards to sample classical Greece and its sultry islands. The island of Crete is always worth a visit, if only for the historic Palace of Knossos.

A visit to the holy city of Jerusalem is a worthwhile excursion from both Israeli ports - Haifa and Ashdod – on a Mediterranean cruise of the Middle East. Egypt’s Port Said is well worth a visit too. Port Said provides access to the world famous Suez Canal, which takes vessels into the Red Sea and onwards in to the Arabian Sea.

The Mediterranean region has seen many a civilization rise and fall. It is a crucible of human evolution and is rich in relics left over by more than 6,000 years of occupation. If you’ve ever wanted to discover what it felt like to be an Egyptian pharaoh, Roman warrior or a Greek philosopher, a Mediterranean cruise can give you just that opportunity…

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