For many people, cruise holidays represent the best of travel – it’s as much about the journey (your time at sea) as it is the destination (your ports of call).  Deciding to take a cruise is just the first of many decisions you’ll need to make, and like all travel decisions, this is where research, personal preferences, and budget come into play.

One of the decisions you’ll need to make for your cruise is deciding on the category of cabin you want.  If money is no object just opt for the best available.  But most of us are on a budget, even if it’s a generous one, so think about how you want to spend your time on the journey and then try to match up your preferences and budget with the best cabin category choice.

Cruise lines give a variety of names to the cabin categories, some are specialty names while others merely letters, but basically the types fall into one of these general cruise cabin categories:

• Deluxe Suites – Often called presidential or owner’s suites, these are top of the line all the way, and have the premium locations on the ship. They’re large and spacious, have private balconies, private butlers/room stewards, and often a private club room and dining room.  You’ll get preferential treatment for shore excursions, spa appointments, well let’s face it – for pretty much anything you want!  This is luxury like you’ve rarely seen it, and I hope one day that I do get to see it!
• Suites –  Although disappointingly named, these still offer many of the amenities of the deluxe suites and often have a private bar and dining room.  Plenty of preferential treatment to go around at this cabin category as well.
• Junior Suites – Not all ships offer this category of cabin, many offer a lower category of suites and call in something else, but a junior suite can be a perfect choice for cruising families as they often have an adjoining cabin.  It will give you a little more room for everyone to spread out, yet never be too far away, and it allows parents privacy while still having the ability to keep an eye on everyone.  It’s also a nice choice if you just want a little extra room, but not all the luxury of the higher graded suites.
• Outside cabins with a balcony – A nicely sized cabin with a walk out balcony, this is probably my personal preference as it usually fits within my budget.  Not all balconies are created equal, though; some have room to sit and relax while others offer standing room only.  Check to see if the balcony offers a clear railing – otherwise you won’t be able to see the world go by while seated.
• Deluxe outside cabins – Just like with a balcony, only without one.  Instead, there’s usually a large window to bring light into the cabin and for you to peek out at the world.
• Outside cabin with obstructed view – It’s an outside cabin all right, but you’ll likely only realized by looking up at the sky.  The obstruction is usually a lifeboat or some other emergency gear, and you probably won’t be able to see around it.  I’ve never understood the attraction of these cabins, but usually they attractive a cruiser for whom price is the bottom line.  These cabins may have a porthole rather than a window.
• Outside cabin with partial obstruction – You know that fully obstructed view I mentioned?  Well, chances are that lifeboat is going to extend a bit into the view space of the cabin right next door, too.  You’ll get half a window free and clear, or maybe there’s a post right down the middle.  It’s not without a few drawbacks, but if you can put up with it, there’s good value to be had.  These cabins may also have a porthole rather than a full window as well.
• Inside cabin – Walls surround you.  There’s nothing glamorous or glorious about these cabins, but if you believe that you won’t be in your cabin long enough to care, then go ahead.  I’ve been in an inside cabin once, when I was on a standby for best of ship and it sold out.  I didn’t get a better cabin.  But I was on the ship headed toward a destination that interested me and that was all that mattered at that point.  I’m willing to pay more for a better cabin, BUT – if this is all your budget can stretch for, find a way to make it work by spending time on the rest of the ship and minimal time in your cabin.

Pricing, of course, depends on the type of cabin and its location on your cruise ship.  I’ve been in all of the cabins, except for those beautiful suites that I lust over, and while I have my personal preferences, I wouldn’t stay home just because my first cabin choice wasn’t available.

If a cruise vacation is something that you’ve been wanting to try, check out the deck plans and your ship and start planning your getaway at sea.  Then sit back and relax and enjoy the journey AND the destination.

Photo credit:  SXC

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River cruising has become a popular option with cruise lovers, offering a smaller, more intimate experience, as well as the opportunity to visit destination not otherwise accessible by larger ships.  It’s also a way many novice travelers choose to visit more exotic locations, providing them with the security and comfort of luxury holidays while still allowing them a bit of adventure.  A little taste of a destination on a cruise often leads to a return visit.

A cruise in Egypt has become a popular choice, giving travelers an opportunity to see an ancient country fully engaged in modern day.  It doesn’t hurt that it has nearly year round sunny weather, either!  And seeing the country on a cruise gives travelers the security of fresh drinkable water, ice, and safe food.

When most people think of Egypt they think of the Pyramids and perhaps the Nile, but there is far more to do and see in this part of the world.

Most luxury cruises in Egypt begin or end in Luxor, the site of the ancient city of Thebes.  Luxor is like a real time history class, with ruins and other historical sites located everywhere you turn.  The city is divided in two by the Nile, with the sides referred to as the East and West bank, and travelers have plenty to visit on both sides.

Temple of Luxor, Egypt

East Bank

Ancient Egyptians connected the rising sun in the east to the creation of life, and that’s why you’ll find life-giving temples on the East side of the Nile.

Some of the sights you’ll see on the east bank include:

• Luxor Temple (actually a large temple complex), the Luxor Museum (with its small, but impressive, collection that includes Tutankhamun artifacts and the mummy of Ramses I)
• Karnak Temple (the largest religious site in the world, consisting of a complex of ruined temples, other buildings, with a sacred lake in the middle)
• Mummification Museum (that helps to explain the ancient art of creating mummies)

Luxor International Airport is also located on the East Bank.

Valley of the Queens, Luxor

West Bank

• The setting sun in the west signified the end of the day, and of life, and the ancient Egyptians established their tombs and mausoleums on the west side of the Nile.
• Some of the sights you’ll see on the west bank include:
• Valley of the Kings (an ancient location for tombs of Egyptian royals and a major discovery spot of the tomb of Tutankhamun)
• Valley of the Queens (the burial spot for royal women and wives of the Pharoahs, including Queen Nefertari)
• Memorial Temples of Ramses II and III
• Deir el-Medina (the village that was home to the workers in the Valley of Kings)
• Deir el-Bahri (a complicated layout of mortuary temples and tombs)
• Malkata and the Colossi of Memnon (the palace and necropolis of Pharaoh Amenhotep III)
• Tomb of Nobles (another burial site)

These ancient sites are extremely popular with visitors and tourism is an economical force in the Luxor economy.  Despite the strength of the tourism economy however, visitors are still expect to comply with a few basic customs and traditions while visiting.  These include following rules concerning photography, generally photographing exteriors and purchasing photography permits when required) and to dress modestly and in a way as to show respect when visiting religious sites.  Long sleeves and pants are generally recommended, and bring a heavy pair of socks to wear inside temples as shoes are not permitted).

Egypt is ancient, exciting, and a fascinating mix of old and new.  It on my to-visit list, and seeing it by cruise ship has a great deal of appeal.

Photo credit:  Hajor via wikimedia (Temple of Luxor); Zureks via wikimedia (Valley of the Queens)

NOTE:  This post was sponsored by Sanctuary Retreats; the opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author.

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For much of my life I have been an urban vacationer.  I love cities – with their magnificent architecture and art, museums, parks, restaurants, shops, and the buzzing hum of daily life.  It energizes me, excites me, and I find myself caught up in a whirl that only a city can provide.  Increasingly, however, I find myself limiting my city trips to long weekends.  I still love them, but I find they exhaust me just a little bit more.  I love the activity level, but I certainly don’t feel rested.  I love the energy, but over a longer period of time, I just don’t feel the rush of excitement that I once did.

Am I getting too old for city life?  I hope not!  I think it’s more of looking for a way to balance the various parts of my traveler’s soul, a bit of travel yin and yang.

Slowing down your travel experience makes a wonderful change of pace, whether it’s staying in one place for a longer period of time, slowing your travel mode, choosing a more rural or remote location, or merely taking a more in depth look at a location.  Slowing down doesn’t mean that you have to give up your comforts either!  I like a nice hotel room far better than camping, and for most of my travel companions it’s a deal breaker.  I’m willing to spring for the cost of a little luxury to see a part of the world that I might otherwise miss, a lodge or camp in Africa, perhaps.  Different strokes for different folks, and that one’s mine.

I’ve taken a number of cruises over the years, from as short as 3-days to as long as 17-days.  They were large ships, maybe not mega-ships, but definitely carrying thousands of people.  They were the equivalent of a city vacation.  Fast, lots of people and activity, and although mostly enjoyable, I’m not sure they’re my cup of tea any longer.  I still love cruising, though, and I’m not swearing off it entirely.  I just think I’m slowing that down a bit too, and looking for more of a luxury cruise option, maybe a chance to go somewhere or see something that I would otherwise skip over, perhaps an Egypt cruise.

From the intrepid backpacker of youth, to the budget accommodations of family travel, to the nightspots in the city of the young professionals, to a mix of adventure and luxury, travelers evolve and change.  We find ourselves going places we never thought we would – and liking it.  We find ourselves trying vacation styles substantially different than our own preferences – and find that in compromise can come much fun.  We find ourselves trying something completely beyond our comfort zone – and find that we may like the experience.  We find ourselves accepting that we like lots of different places, styles, and travel options – and it’s that eclectic mix that makes travel such a personal experience.

Has your travel style changed?  Do you now enjoy something that you didn’t think you would?  How does compromise impact your travel choices?

NOTE:  This post is sponsored by Sanctuary Retreats, who also provided access to the photos.  The thoughts on travel and travel styles reflect my own opinion on my evolving travel preferences.

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Everyone loves a behind-the-scenes look at the travel industry, and I’m no exception.  When I talk about the things that happen on a flight, people often can’t believe the stories – and more than once I’ve been accused of making things up.  Believe me, with what we see every day, we don’t have to make this stuff up!

Cruise Confidential

It was with that frame of reference that I picked up Cruise Confidential:  A Hit Below the Waterline: Where the Crew Lives, Eats, Wars, and Parties? One Crazy Year Working on Cruise Ships by Brian David Bruns.  Bruns left life on land to pursue life on the sea – all to follow the woman of his dreams, and this book chronicles his training and life as a waiter for Carnival Cruise Lines.

I’ve cruised many a time before, and while I knew there was a hidden side to life at sea, this book was a real eye opener.  Oh sure, there were the usual stories about silly and/or demanding passengers, tedious and mean co-workers, raucous exploits during precious downtime, and tales of schedules and life just not working out the way it was supposed to.  Working in the airline industry, I could relate and chuckle at the stories, although these guys have it much tougher than those of us in the air.

And while the front of the ship workers seem to have it pretty darn sweet, the waitstaff, of which Bruns was a part, works grueling, seemingly never-ending shifts in pretty intolerable conditions.  From crappy quarters to sleep in, to barely any time to sleep at all, this book will give you a new appreciation for those who bust their butts to give you great service.

There’s also just enough stories of drunkenness, crew antics, infighting and sex to keep up the pace, but for me the real story was how passengers, taking advantage of all the cruise lines have to offer, actually make life difficult for the waitstaff.  I never realized that asking for another piece of toast, or lingering over a cup of coffee, made the job tougher for these hard working people.

But here’s the unanswered question for me:  Bruns bio says that he’s married, but never mentions his wife’s name.  I’m dying to know, did he wind up with the girl?

Cruise Confidential is available from Amazon for $10.17, and for Kindle for $9.99 (affiliate links).

This is an easy read, full of fun and silliness, and not pretending to be more than it is.  Give it a go.

Photo credit: Amazon

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What’s better than a wonderful cruise vacation?  A wonderful cruise vacation that’s FREE, of course!

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and USA Today newspaper have launched the Reporter at Sea contest, looking for a talented citizen journalist (blogger?) to cover the pre-inaugural voyage of the Oasis of the Seas, the largest cruise ship in the world.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's Oasis of the Sea

Oasis of the Sea has 16 decks and can carry 5,400 guests in 2,700 staterooms.  It’s themed around a neighborhood concept, with specific themed areas:  Central Park, Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade, the Pool and Sports Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa & Fitness Center, and Entertainment Place.

Starting today, and running through October 9, 2009 at 11:50 pm (Eastern Time) you can submit a creative video that is no long than 45-seconds that showcase your reporting skills, and giving RCCL a reason to choose you to be their reporter at sea for this preview sailing on the Oasis of the Sea.  One winner will be chosen from the United States, and additional winners from Canada, Germany, Mexico, and the United Kingdom will also be chosen.

After the entry deadline, the judges will select 10 finalists from each of the above countries, based on creativity and quality, as well as the entrant’s ability to entertain, effectively bring to life and clearly explain travel or cruising concepts, and articulate why he/she should be chosen to represent their country.

Following the judges narrowing the field, the selection process moves online.  Voters will have the opportunity to choose their favorite video between October 20-25th, with the winner from each country announced on November 4th.

What’s the prize?

The winner and a guest will be flown to Fort Lauderdale, Florida on November 18th, 2009, where they will have overnight accommodations in a local hotel and a $200 allowance for food.  The next day, they’ll board the ship for a 3-night cruise with balcony cabin stateroom.  During the cruise, the winner will experience the sailing right along with Gene Sloan, USA TODAY’s cruise editor, and receive behind-the-scenes information and access to write blogs posts and video clips.

Sounds like a lot of fun, huh?  Who’s going to enter?

Photo credit:  Courtesy of Royal Caribbean Cruise Line

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I read lots and lots of travel blogs posts over the course of a week, but it’s only the best of the best that I share with you.  This week, these blogs made me smile, laugh, wonder, question, or simply admire.  Perhaps you’ll feel the same way.

The Buenos Aires Guide – Be careful when booking you’re hotel, or you may wind up at one that rents by the hour.

Nerds Eye View – Pam is off at BlogHer with a bunch of other Seattle travelbloggers.  While I had to miss the event due to a scheduling matter, I’m keeping up on the travels via her blog.  I loved this section of their trip through Cody, Wyoming.

Travellious – My pals over here spent three weeks in Italy shortly before I did.  While I love, love, LOVE the food in Italy, I could relate to the urge for a food quintessentially American – onion rings.

Tripso – Cruising may not be the luxury experience we hope for.  Read about the five dirtiest cruise ships before making your plans.

LA Times – Commuting airline crew members who “live” in RV’s in the parking lot at LAX.  Yep, this is a real glamour job.

Gadling – Always a great stop for great photography, but this photo taken from the edge of the Grand Canyon made me realize how insignificant we all are.

Wanderlust and Lipstick – Beth gives some solid advice for a young woman about to embark on her first solo trip.  I’m reading Beth’s book on solo travel right now, so look for a review and more solo travel tips in the coming weeks.

Photo credit: irrezolut @flickr

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Today I’m pleased to introduce you to Jon Rochetti, a fellow travel blogger and friend, and who, over the years, has shared with me his wonderful city of Washington DC.  Today he writes a guest post about a trip to Cozumel, Mexico.

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The image of the submarine varies. Let it be Jules Verne’s submarine, the Nautilus from the book 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, the claustrophobic World War II U-boat searching the Atlantic for it’s next target, a nuclear-era stealth “boomer” playing blind man’s bluff with the Soviets, or a deep sea exploration sub diving to uncharted regions of the ocean for an underwater documentary film.

Yet most people probably don’t know that you can take a ride in an actual submarine.  Not in a simulator, not at a museum or in a pool, but in the open ocean.

Atlantic Submarines operates submarine tours in 8 destinations in Hawaii, the Caribbean and Guam.

All of the submarine tours visit local reefs, marine parks or, in some cases, shipwrecks. The Aruba submarine tour, for example, passes over two WW-II wrecks, while the Maui tour in Hawaii visits the Carthaginian, a replica of a 19th century vessel that was sunk off Lahaina to create an artificial reef.   My recent tour was in Cozumel, Mexico, diving on the one of the world’s most extensive natural reefs. 

Most of the Atlantic submarines dive to depths of 100-120 feet, and carry up to 48 passengers in their standard 65-foot (19.8m) submarine .  In Waikiki, they operate their 100-foot, 64-passenger Atlantis XIV, the world’s largest passenger submarine.

After a short boat ride, usually about 20-30 minutes, you arrive at the transfer point.  Once on site, the sub surfaces from the previous tour and the transfer boat ties up to the sub.  Passengers are efficiently transferred from the submarine to the boat and visa-versa. 

Anticipation rises as you climb aboard the submarine and are directed toward one of the two hatches.  To descend into the submarine, you need to turn around and climb down a short ladder into the sub’s hull.

Two rows of molded back-to-back seats facing outward line both sides of the submarine, and passengers are directed where to sit.  All the seats offer the same view, but seats up front allow you to also watch the sub operators in action.

My 40-minute submarine dive started with some brief safety instructions, information about our submarine and recommendations as to what to watch out for during the tour.

Within seconds, we heard “Dive, Dive” over the PA system, followed by a klaxon sounding and we were gently descending into the ocean’s depths.  Rows of windows offer great outward viewing for an unforgettable experience as you watch marine life pass by.  On some tours you may experience sea turtles and sharks swimming past your window, in others, colorful fish, anemones and other reef life, such as long sea fans and soft corrals swaying with the currnet.

Many people assume that viewing the ocean will be similar to an aquarium with its artificial lights. But in the ocean, at depths over 40 feet or so, the water filters much of the sunlight so everything has a bluish-green tint. 

As the sub descended deeper, there was no sense of claustrophobia as most people were mesmerized by the views out of their window. The electronic depth gauge clicked off our depth in feet, eventually reaching our maximum depth – 103 feet (31m).

The ride is comfortable and seems virtually motionless. The operators were able to hover the sub even in the strong Cozumel currents, giving people a chance to see large sea fans or spectacular orange corrals. 

And even as a scuba diver, I thought the Atlantis submarine tour was an enjoyable and very memorable experience. 

After the tour, each passenger was given a certificate to document their trip to 100 feet below the ocean’s surface. 

If you take the tour, remember, a submarine is referred to as a “boat, not a “ship”. And don’t let the music playing from the movie Jaws as you descend into the sub unnerve you. Just sit back, relax and enjoy your “dry” dive.

Atlantic Submarines

• Aruba
• Barbados
• Cozumel
• Grand Cayman
• Guam
• Hawaii (Oahu, Maui, Kona)

Prices – Vary by destination – about $100.00 for adults, some destinations offer discounts for teens, $65.00 for children 4-14. Children must be at least 4 years old and a minimum of 3 feet (0.91m) tall. You can pre-book your tickets on the Atlantis Adventures website as most tours offer a discount or around 15%.

Jon Rochetti is the writer of the Washington DC-based travel blog, The DC Traveler, for PlanetEye.

Images – ©2009, Jon Rochetti

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Gearing up for some international travel this year?

As part of your trip planning process, make sure that you have all your paperwork in order.  If you’re flying be air, or on a cruise ship, you’ll be asked for some of these documents before boarding.  Don’t forget them — you’re won’t be able to leave home without it!

Here’s what you need:

• Passport or Green Card
• Notarized permission to travel letters for all minors (under 18 years of age) not traveling with BOTH parents.
• Any required Visa for countries you will be visiting.
• Sufficient medication for the duration of your trip, in its ORIGINAL container (with the prescription label on it).
• Receipts or registration for any recently acquired electronics.  This may not be necessary, but if there is any doubt about whether you purchased the goods abroad (and therefore need to declare it), a receipt will answer that question quickly.  “Recently acquired” is usually defined as under six months.
• Proof of Rabies vaccination for any dogs traveling with you.
• If you are traveling with a lot of expensive jewelry, copies of receipts or appraisals.  Again, this is for the purpose of establishing that you owned the items prior to leaving the country, should it become a question.
• Valid driver’s license, and international driver’s license if needed, along with proof of insurance.
• Insurance and other health cards and information

And, of course, don’t forget your itinerary, tickets, boarding pass, credit cards, travelers checks and register and money.

Photo credit:  SXC

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While many of the sectors within the travel industry are struggling, the cruise industry is thriving.  In fact, it’s the fast growing segment in the travel industry, yet this $30 Billion business is still is looking at at rocky times ahead.  So what’s up with that?

In a one-hour special, Travel Expert Peter Greenberg and crew investigate the strengths and weakness of the cruise industry, and they spend a week about the Norwegian Pearl, one of the newest ships from Norwegian Cruise Line.  These ships are mini cities and self-contained resorts, complete with shopping malls, swim parks, casinos and clubs for guests and living quarters for staff and crew.  Greenburg was granted access to both above deck and below, and he shares a side of industry that most of us will never see or experience.

I asked him if budget conscious and value-demanding travelers should be considering a cruise vacation.

Here’s what he said:

If you look at the nearly suicidal pricing being offered by many cruises, it is representative of a buyer’s market of unprecedented proportion — and length. And, if you’ve never taken a cruise — and even if you’re a veteran cruiser, this special lifts the veil on the inner workings of the cruise ship industry. Prices have never been lower– some seven day cruises are being sold at just $249! –  but this is the one special you really need to watch before you ever book that cruise. . . .

I’m taking that as a qualified yes, but will be watching the special to be sure.

Cruise Inc:  Big Money on the High Seas airs on CNBC on Tuesday, March 24th, at 9 and 10 pm (ET), and March 25th at 1 am. It will repeat on Sunday, March 29th at 10 pm.   Check out the website which offers additional video, profiles, and additional information.

Whether you’re an experienced cruiser or merely curious, this documentary promises to be an eye-opening look at the industry, so get this on your viewing calendar or set your recorder.

Photo credit: SXC

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Puerto Vallarta, Mexico is a popular Mexico travel destination, appreciated mostly for it’s location on the Pacific Ocean.  It is a port of call for many cruise lines.

Given its location on the ocean, Puerto Vallarta is very popular with boaters, and sailboats are a common sight. 

Enjoying a sunset cruise, whether on a private vessel such as this one, or on one of the many rentals, is a popular way to spend an evening.

Photo credit:  personal collection

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