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Smarter Cruising Newsletter
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"Smarter Cruising" Newsletter
June 5, 2007 -- Issue #7
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In This Issue:
1) Which Cruise Lines Are FAMILY-FRIENDLY?
2) Take Advantage of These Great LAST-MINUTE DEALS!
3) Smooth Sailing Tip: Sizing Up "Kids Cruise Free" Deals
4) Rough Seas Ahead?: "Free" may not be exactly that
5) Visit Clark's SMARTER CRUISING BLOG!
==================== FEATURE EDITORIAL ============
1) Which cruise lines are family-friendly?
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A reader planning an upcoming multi-generational cruise
recently asked, "Are some cruise lines better for families
than others?"
The answer is a definite "Yes!"
First, a word of background: Family cruising is one of the
hottest trends in the industry right now.
It makes sense, both for the nerves and for the budget:
rather than dragging the kids from one hotel room to the next,
or putting up with backseat shenanigans in the family car,
you can board a cruise ship with your family, unpack once, and
enjoy several days of all-inclusive lodging, meals,
transportation, and often entertainment as well.
During school vacation times, especially, you can expect
to find plenty of onboard recreation and playmates for
your kids -- as long as you choose the right cruise lines.
And those cruise lines are increasing in number all the time.
Even some luxury lines (such as Crystal and Regent) are getting
into the act, offering dedicated children's programs especially
during school vacation times.
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What to look for in a family cruise
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Most kids like to have other kids their age on board -- it's
that simple.
So when planning a family cruise, it's generally a good idea to
pick destinations and times that tend to attract other families.
Popular family destinations include Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, the
Caribbean, Canada, and, increasingly, Europe (as evidenced by
Disney's new presence there). These destinations tend to be easily
accessible, offer plenty of kid-friendly activities, and may cost
a bit less than more far-flung voyages.
Of course, if your child is mature and has a real interest in
learning about the world and other cultures, you can branch out
more into the exotic. I was on an Amazon cruise last year where
several young people clearly enjoyed the experience, though they
also had each other to keep themselves company.
For obvious reasons, school vacation times are the prime times for
family cruising. The downside to this is that prices tend to be
higher and crowds larger in summer and over the Christmas and spring
holidays. So you're likely to have to pay more for staterooms that
are harder to find.
You'll also want to look for ships that have family-sized cabins
or, if you have older kids, adjoining cabins.
Cruise lines that often come equipped with family-size rooms and/or
connecting rooms include Carnival, Celebrity, Costa, Crystal,
Disney, Norwegian, and Royal Caribbean.
Finally -- and especially important with younger kids -- look for
cruise lines that offer organized children's activities onboard.
The best of these will break down the activities by age, such as
preschoolers, preteens, teens, and the like. No teenager wants to be
lumped into an arts and crafts class with a toddler.
Some kids' programs run only at certain times of year (such as summer),
so make sure they're in operation when you plan to take your cruise.
There are also a number of smaller, but potentially important, things
to watch for, if applicable to your situation:
** Does the preschool program accept toddlers who aren't toilet
trained?
** How many hours a day does the program operate?
** Does it operate while the ship is in port (allowing parents a
chance to get away for some sightseeing, for example)?
** Does it operate during dinner (again, allowing parents time to
themselves)?
** Is paid babysitting available if needed?
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Cruise lines' children's programs
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A number of cruise lines offer good children's programs, but no
two are exactly alike. So you may want to pay close attention to
the differences when booking your family cruise. Check individual
cruise line websites for the fine print.
Here are some of the top family cruise lines and a brief outline
of their kids' programs and general family appeal:
** Carnival -- This is one of the most reliably family-friendly
lines. Its Camp Carnival children's programs are geared to
ages two to 17, broken into five different age groups. The
staff will even change diapers -- a rarity among cruise lines.
And Carnival's "Fun Ship" atmosphere intends to please all
generations.
** Celebrity -- Its X-Club youth programs are for ages three
to 17, divided into four groups; there are also special toys
for toddlers.
** Costa -- The Costa Kids Program caters to ages three to 17,
divided into four age groups. Costa often offers special
kids' discounts, and many youngsters enjoy the Italian
atmosphere onboard.
** Crystal -- Its Junior Activities Programs are offered during
summer and school holidays; playrooms are available. Note,
however, that this luxury line tends to skew toward older
passengers.
** Cunard -- Though Cunard prides itself on a certain old-fashioned
formality, it still makes nurseries and play centers available
for young kids, and has supervised activities programs for older
kids.
** Disney -- This line is openly geared to families with young kids
and makes every effort to cater to them; if you don't want Mickey
Mouse or other Disney characters joining you by the pool, look
elsewhere. It offers all-day-and-evening-long children's
programs for ages 3 to 12, including a special kids' deck for
activities. Staterooms tend to be extra large to accommodate
families.
** Holland America -- Camp HAL is open to youngsters aged three to
17, separated into three age groups.
** MSC Cruises -- Kids aged three to 10 can find supervised
activities at its Mini Club.
** Norwegian -- Its Kids Crew programs are for ages two to 17,
divided into four groups. Norwegian often offers special rates
for kids.
** Princess -- Kids aged three to 12 are welcome at the Fun Zone,
and teens have their own Teen Center.
** Royal Caribbean -- Along with Carnival and Disney, this ranks
among the top three family-friendly lines. Its Adventure Ocean
programs cater to ages three to 17, and there are play
programs for kids as young as six months. Newer ships have
amenities like water parks, wave simulators, rock climbing walls,
and ice skating.
** Windjammer -- Its Junior Jammers (ages six-11) and Teen
Jammers (ages 12-17) programs are offered in summer.
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Are there cruise lines families should avoid?
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If a cruise line's brochures or website shows no children in its
photos or makes no mention of them, you may want to steer clear of
that line -- unless your child gets along very well with adults.
For instance, one of my favorite cruise lines is Oceania. But I would
never take young kids on an Oceania cruise, because the line makes no
special effort to appeal to youngsters.
Keep in mind that some cruise lines that normally draw a heavily
adult crowd may advertise a few special family sailings each year,
especially during summer. These are usually a safe bet to draw other
kids.
Bottom line: If your child pines for playmates while away from
home, pay close attention to a cruise line's kids' programs before
signing up. With so many lines competing for your family's
business, why settle for half-hearted efforts? You should be able
to find a line that offers the right mix of activities for everyone
in any generation.
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Do you have a question for Smarter Cruising?
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If you have a topic you'd like to see covered in an upcoming
newsletter, or just a cruising question you'd like answered,
drop me a line at clark@smartercruising.com.
I'd love to hear from you!
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2) Take Advantage of These Great Last-Minute Deals!
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** Viking River Cruises is offering 16-day Yangtze River
cruises and tours in China with six departures in July
and August 2007, starting at $3,197 without airfare and
$4,179 with airfare from the U.S. These prices
represent a savings of $2,000 per couple, but you have
to book and pay in full by June 8, 2007. For this deal,
call Yangtze River Cruises at 800-510-4002, ASAP.
** Norwegian Cruise Line is putting several Weeklong
Caribbean voyages on sale for late December 2007 if you
book by June 8. Rates for Western Caribbean trips from
Charleston or Miami on December 22 start at $799 per
passenger; others range from $899 to $929, a bargain for
that week. If you want to spend Christmas in the
Caribbean, go to Norwegian Cruise Line or
call 800-327-7030 now and
ask for promo code PGSD1.
** Book a Carnival 4-night cruise in the Western Caribbean
roundtrip from Miami for as little as $199 per passenger
for an inside cabin. Cruise dates range from June 2007 to
August 2008. Call JetBlue Cruises at 800-887-8111 or
go to JetBlue Cruises.
** Inside cabins on Princess' 12-day Tahitian Princess cruise
embarking June 17 from Hawaii to Tahiti start at $1,995 per
passenger. The ship makes four stops in Hawaii, one in
Kiribati, and then makes four stops in French Polynesia
before disembarkation in Papeete. Call 800-338-4962 or go
to VacationsToGo and ask for Fast Deal #19125.
** Norwegian Coastal Voyage is offering $500 to $1,100 per
passenger savings if you book one of several upcoming 13-
to 21-day Antarctica voyages by June 30, 2007. Prices
begin at $4,999 per person. The voyages take place from
October 2007 to February 2008. Go to
Norwegian Coastal Voyage or call 800-323-7436.
** The least expensive inside cabin on Celebrity's Summit
one-week sailing down the coast of Alaska from Anchorage
to Vancouver September 7 is just $549 when booked through
Vacations to Go (VacationsToGo or call 800-338-4962;
ask for Fast Deal #18470).
** Head for the Black Sea (Yalta and Odessa, Ukraine) via Italy,
Turkey, and Greece on Costa's Europa embarking July 9 in
Savona, Italy, and returning to Savona 11 days later. Inside
cabins start at $1,099 per passenger, a savingsa of 58 percent
off the brochure rate (VacationsToGo or call
800-338-4962; ask for Fast Deal #13931).
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For insider tips on BOOKING THE BEST DEAL on your cruise
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Our new eBook, "How to Save Money on Cruises -- Part I:
Booking the Best Deal" is loaded with insider tips and
techniques -- all geared toward saving you lots of money
when you book your next cruise.
Here's what one of our satisfied customers had to say:
"If you have booked a cruise and have not read 'How to
Save Money on Cruises -- Part I: Booking the Best Deal'
by Clark Norton cancel the cruise immediately.
"Rebook the cruise only after you have read every word
and have memorized the 'Smooth Sailing Tips.'
"Not only will you save money and time, you will feel you
are in the know and that you are in charge and
control of your vacation.
"It will really be smooth sailing."
-- Louie Richmond, Seattle, Washington
I know that many of you are planning to book a cruise
for 2007 in the next month or two.
Don't go into "battle" negotiating your fare
without being armed with all the money-saving secrets
contained in "How to Save Money on Cruises -- Part I:
Booking the Best Deal!"
To learn more about "How to Save Money on Cruises --
Part I: Booking the Best Deal," check out:
http://www.smartercruising.com
And if you order right away, we'll even throw in FREE
bonus books on saving on airfare, and on how to avoid
airfare altogether!
Don't miss out! Visit:
http://www.smartercruising.com
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3) Smooth Sailing Tip: Sizing up "kids cruise free" deals
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For summer sailings, especially, watch for family
discounts that may include "kids cruise free" offers.
Music to a parent's ear -- but be sure to read the fine
print.
Such offers often require children to stay in the
same cabin with one or two full-paying adult
passengers. And since hardly anyone has to pay full
fare on a mainstream cruise line, the parents may be
forced to overpay to take advantage of the kids' deal.
The bottom line: Two full fare-paying adults and two
free children are in effect paying the equivalent of
any four passengers traveling with 50 percent discounts.
That's often a very attractive discount, especially
in high summer season. However, if you can swing even
bigger discounts (perhaps booking through Internet
sites) then "kids cruise free" may not be your best deal.
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4) Rough Seas Ahead?: "Free" may not be exactly that
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Keep in mind that any time a cruise line lets a
passenger cruise for "free" -- even if it's an infant --
there may be hidden costs.
For example, cruise lines generally won't eat the
cost of government fees (which normally are figured
into the base price of a cruise), so you'll still have
to pay perhaps $100 or more in fees for the "free"
child or other passenger.
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5) Visit Clark's SMARTER CRUISING BLOG!
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If you haven't had a chance yet to check out my
Smarter Cruising Blog, you can find it at
http://SmarterCruising.blogspot.com.
It's loaded with up-to-date tips for saving money
on cruises in a wide variety of ways.
Please come for a visit -- I've recently done postings on
special savings on MSC cruises in South America, Cruise
West itineraries in the South Pacific, Elegant
Cruises' and French Country Waterways' sailings in Europe,
and Costa's voyages to the Indian Ocean, along with other
items of interest, such as a current Carnival contest
that could win you a free cruise for two.
And keep checking back often -- I often post items
that have a short window of opportunity,
such as special sales and discounts that cruise lines
offer for a short time only -- sometimes just one day!
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Do you have a comment you'd like to share with other
Smarter Cruisers?
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Leave a comment on my Smarter Cruising blog:
http://SmarterCruising.blogspot.com.
Let's keep the cruising conversation going!
Happy cruising,
Clark Norton
The Smarter Cruiser
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