Is cruising expensive?
Contrary to what many people believe, cruising can be a very affordable vacation option. The cruise price includes your accommodations, most meals (with room service) and top-notch entertainment. If you broke down the price for a land vacation with all of those it would likely end up costing much more as compared to your cruise. And with cruising, you get to see many destinations on one trip!
What time of year is the best time to take a cruise?
The best times of year to take a cruise depend a great deal on your destination. For instance, Alaska cruises are only offered from May to September. A Canada/New England cruise is lovely in the fall when the leaves are providing a blast of color. For a European cruise, April to November is a wonderful time. To do a South Pacific cruise, you may want to book between November and March and for the Panama Canal, September to April is a good choice. The Caribbean, Mexico and the Bahamas are terrific destinations year-round.
When is hurricane season and is it safe to cruise at that time?
The official hurricane season in the Caribbean is June 1st to November 30th, according to the National Hurricane Service. Typically there are some great deals on cruises during this time of year, especially in September and October. Your ship's captain and crew are fully aware of current weather conditions and have very sophisticated hurricane tracking technology on the ship. They would not hesitate to change an itinerary or change direction to move to safer waters if there was a threat of a storm system nearby.
What is the most affordable time to cruise?
This depends on your destination, and deals can be found year-round on different ships and cruise lines. For the Caribbean, you can usually find the best rates from mid-August to mid-December, with the exception of Thanksgiving. January through early March is also a good choice.
What is not included in the price?
It can differ slightly depending on the cruise line, but generally all alcohol, gambling money, souvenirs, shore excursions, gratuities, arcade tokens, spa treatments, shopping purchases, photographs, babysitting service and soft drinks are not included in the cruise cost. Many cruise lines offer alternative dining restaurants, and there is generally a charge for those as well.
Can I pre-book my shore excursion or do I have to wait until I am onboard to do so?
Many cruise lines will allow you to pre-book shore excursions as soon as your final payment is made. Check with us to see what the policy is for your cruise.
How do I know which cruise is right for me?
That's a great question, and one that highlights one of the benefits of Starfish Travel. By asking you a series of questions about what is important to you, we can help you narrow down your choices, based on our knowledge and experience. We can then recommend what we believe would the best cruise to fit your needs.
What type of stateroom should I get?
The type of stateroom that you get can be dependent upon your budget, family and the amount of time that you plan to spend in your room. If you have small children who will be in bed earlier, you might want to consider a stateroom with a verandah so that when you put the kids down for the night, you can enjoy the moonlit sea. If you plan on making the most of your cruise by experiencing all the nightlife and daytime activities that you can, you may want to consider an oceanview room or possibly an inside stateroom (no portholes or windows) since the room will probably only be used for sleeping. If you don't have children, but enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of a cruise, a private verandah is lovely to have.
What is the difference between an assigned stateroom and a guarantee or GTY stateroom?
An assigned booking means that you have a stateroom assigned to you and you are given a specific stateroom number. You can check a deck plan to see where your room is located and change it, if availability allows, if you do not like the location. A guaranteed booking is one that guarantees that you will get at the very least that specific category, but if availability allows, you can be upgraded to a higher (never lower) category. The trade-off is you are not able to choose a specific stateroom. It should be noted that some cruise lines may not allow a guaranteed booking until their inventory in that category runs low, but that is not the case with most cruise lines. When you have an assigned booking, there is still a possibility that you will be upgraded, but not without your agreement.
When are final cruise payments due?
Different cruise lines have different policies, so check with us for the exact date, but expect it to be anywhere from 45 to 90 days prior to sailing.
Can I book a cruise on short notice?
Yes, you can, based on availability. Sometimes cruise lines have incentives for last-minute bookings, if a ship is not full, but it is usually best to book as far in advance as possible for the best price and/or stateroom selection.
What's an assembly drill and is attendance mandatory?
An assembly drill is also known as a lifeboat or muster drill. All passengers are required to be in attendance before departure to comply with Coast Guard and international safety regulations.
Are there safes and safety deposit boxes on the ship?
Yes, you will find that newer ships have safes right in the staterooms, but if you need a safety deposit box, ask your stateroom host/hostess.
Will I be informed of shipboard activities?
A daily itinerary of the programs and entertainment on the ship will be delivered to your stateroom the night before so that you can plan out the day's activities in advance. You can participate in as much or as little as you like; the choice is yours.
Will I need to bring cash to pay for anything onboard?
Most cruise lines have a cashless system in place onboard, through which everything is charged to your stateroom account (usually by showing your room key). You may use cash to settle your account, but it is typically quicker and easier to have your account tied to a credit card for settlement. You may want to use cash in the casinos (although most allow you to charge that to your account as well), for tipping room service personnel and for tipping shore excursion vendors.
What type of currency do I need?
If you choose to settle your account using cash or travelers checks, you should do so in U.S. currency or U.S. travelers checks. When visiting the different ports, it is recommended that you carry your spending money in U.S travelers checks. These can generally be cashed at the Purser's desk onboard ship as well.
What is the difference between a set assigned dining time and "anytime dining"? Which is better?
This is purely a matter of personal preference. Some people prefer having a set dining time and table each evening, so they can get to know their tablemates and their dining room staff. Others prefer the flexibility of being able to eat wherever, whenever they want (within the serving times for the restaurant). Whichever you choose, we will note your preference on your reservation, and if necessary, waitlist you for that choice if it is not available.
What about fitness and healthy eating onboard the ship?
Many ships offer a list of "healthier" meal selections that may be low fat or low carb, to cater to the growing demand for such options. Spas and health clubs vary from ship to ship, but the increasing awareness of good health and exercise has encouraged cruise lines to expand their health clubs and offer a wider variety of equipment.
Is room service available?
Yes, there is 24-hour room service available on most ships.
Are wheelchairs available onboard or should I bring my own?
While most ships carry a limited supply of wheelchairs, these are mainly for emergency use. It is best to bring your own, or rent one if necessary, to guarantee that you will have access to one. Some cruise lines may even have sand-accessible wheelchairs on their private islands. These have balloon tires and are able to navigate the sand quite well. They are on a first-come, first-served basis.
Are there services for guests with disabilities?
In accordance with ADA requirements, most ships will offer a limited number of accessible staterooms that may include 32- to 34-inch doors, ramped bathrooms, roll-in showers, grab bars, raised toilet seats, lowered sinks and vanity areas and a five-foot turning radius in the sleeping areas, bathrooms and sitting areas. There are spacious corridors and accessible ramps and lifts into all public areas as well. Menus, stateroom numbers, service directories and elevators buttons in Braille are provided for visually impaired guests on many ships. Guest who are hearing impaired may be able to access portable kits including TTY (Text Telephone)/TDD (Telecommunication Device for the Deaf), Alertmaster and a strobe alarm, closed-captioned televisions, amplified telephones in staterooms and public areas, and infrared systems. Some cruise lines will provide theatrically-trained sign language interpreters. Please notify us well in advance to check on accessibility and availability of any services and accommodations.