The Cruise vacation you have been planning for a year is now a reality. You’ve packed your bags with the appropriate clothes for cruise travel. You have filled out all of the cruise documentation, do this at home, don’t wait to get to your cruise ship, and now you are ready for this highly anticipated cruise. There are a few cruises tips about embarkation day that you should know before you head for your cruise vacation.

Keep all of your documents with you, that includes tickets for the cruise, any vouchers, passport and any immigration forms that the cruise line has sent you. That includes bus vouchers from the cruise line that will deliver you to the ship from the airport. In is wise to pack a change of clothes in your carry on in case your baggage gets delayed. If you have purchased the vouchers from the cruise line, a cruise line representative will meet you at baggage claim and take you to the bus or van that will transport you to your cruise ship.

If you decided to handle the transfer on your own, check ahead of time to find out how much a taxi will cost from the airport to the pier. It is good to know how long it will take to make the transfer so you have timed your flights accordingly. Make sure you have attached your cruise line tags with ship name, cruising date, and stateroom number. When you arrive at the pier a porter will relieve of your bags. He will expect to be tipped. The going fare is one dollar per bag.

Cruise tips are always helpful so pay attention to this one. Let the cruise line make your airline reservations. The reason for this is that if your flight is delayed the cruise line will handle it. If there are several other passengers on the same flight the cruise line will delay the departure of the ship. If it’s just you and your traveling companion they will probably put you up in a hotel in the town of your embarkation and get you on the ship at the next port of call. If you opted to do it on your own, you will have to make all those arrangements. So, for safety and peace of mind let the cruise lines do it.

If you have decided to go to the town of embarkation a few days before the cruise, that will not be a problem, so make your own reservations. Some travel insurance companies will pick up these expenses but make sure you read the fine print on the policy BEFORE your cruise vacation.

When you get to your cruise ship, embarkation could be a little chaotic. There will be lines, especially early in the check in process. There will be a lot of stressed out people so just relax and take it in stride. After you have gone through the check in process you will be aboard and your cruise vacations begins. Here is where it pays to have all of your documentation completely filled out. Many of the cruise lines have loyalty programs so if you are a repeat cruiser many times they have preferred check in areas. Many of the cruise lines will have preferred check in for cruisers who have booked suites or mini suites. Check this out with your cruise travel agent.

This is a little off topic but it’s one of the best cruise tips you will hear. Use a cruise travel agent for all of your cruise travel. It is important to deal with an agent that has sailed on many different cruise lines so they can give you an honest opinion on the difference between cruise lines. Check and see if they are CLIA certified cruise lines organization. Be careful they don’t push you onto cruise ships where they have preferred status which means they get a higher commission. Scour the internet for cruise reviews on cruise travel to back up what your travel agent is telling you.

Now back to the pier. While you are checking in you will have to give the cruise line a credit card for any on board charges. Most times your room card is also your credit card and identification for getting on and off at ports while on the cruise ship. If you can get on the ship early in the process you get two benefits. One you get to have lunch and two you get the first shot at spa and beauty appointments. It will also give you time to peruse your cruise ship and then head for the pool. Having been a savvy cruise traveler you knew to bag a bathing suit into your carry on luggage.

Just before you get to the gangway you will be stopped by the ships photographer and a picture will be taken to commemorate your cruise vacation. It will be on display in the ships photo gallery but you are under no obligation to purchase it. Check in procedures will be different from ship to ship even within the same cruise lines. It depends on the experience of the staff and the cooperation of the passengers. Remember that these folks that are checking you in have been working since seven o’clock in the morning off loading the people from last weeks cruise vacation. Then they turn around and start putting on a whole new set of passengers for the next cruise.

The most important advice is to try to keep a cool head. You are headed for the best thing you can imagine, a cruise vacation.

Happy Cruising!

Mary Hanna
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/your-cruise-vacation-cruise-ship-embarkation-procedures-53800.html

looking for the best cruise lines out there! suggestions/ experiences are deeply appreciated!

I was very happy with everything on my recent cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas.
Suggest you go to www.cruisecritic.com and read some customer’s reviews for the lines & routes you are considering.

1) Length of trip – 5-7 days would be my advice for first cruise.
2) Your preferences – party boat or something more refined? Very active trip, or lots of rest and relaxation?
3) Ports – This is a biggie. Do some research and decide where you’d like to go.
4) Amount you want to spend.

When you start to address these issues, some lines will fall away and others will become more prominent. Stating a preference on #2 would probably help people here give you a better answer on the best line for you.

Good luck.

Each year, a eminent comprise of people introduce the adjustment to rake-off a cruise. Cruise ships are a piked location to have your next vacation. If given the opportunity, many parents would choose to take a cruise alone. This isnt because of a lack of love, but because of a common misconception among parents and cruise ships. Many individuals, including parents, believe that cruise ships are not designed for children, but that is simply not true.

If you are the originate of a lad unbefitting the progress of twelve, you may be marveling whether or not they should mate you on your ulterior cruise. If you are able to financially afford an additional ticket, you are encouraged to consider bring your child along. Not only will a cruise be memorable to your child, but it will be exciting. That is because a large number of cruise lines have tailored their cruise ships to children of all ages, including those under the age of twelve.

If you have yet to give up your cruise craft reservations, you are positive to keep cruise keel activities in mind. The activities for children, below the foster of twelve, will vary from ship to ship. That is why it is important that you examine each ship before making a final decision. Despite the fact that activities will vary from ship to ship, there are many activities geared towards children, under the age of twelve, which can be found on almost all cruise ships.

One of the manifold popular activities get going aboard a cruise vessel is a gaming. Arcade quarters are frequent on abundantly cruise ships. They offer children, under the age of twelve, a safe place to have fun and be a child. Many cruise ship arcade rooms are staffed with cruise ship employees, but this should not deter you from keeping an eye on your child. When leaving them alone in an arcade room, you are encouraged to use your best judgment.

Another witty turmoil for children, below the enroot of twelve, includes swimming. All weekend cruise ships are know onions with a swimming pool. In addition to an adult sized swimming pool, wading pools can often be found aboard a number of popular family themed cruises. As with the arcade room, you are encouraged to use your best judgment when allowing your children to swim unattended. Lifeguards will be on duty; however, they cannot always guarantee the safety of your child.

In adjunct to a upscale trust and an arcade room, powerfully cruise ships have an onboard movie theater or a routine stage. A alpine accommodate of cruise lines offer family friendly movies, plays, and other performances. Children, under the age of twelve, may find these performances and movie showings fun and exciting. To determine if movie showing and performances are targeted to those under twelve, you are encouraged to check a cruise ships itinerary. A ships itinerary can be viewed with or without previously booked reservations.

Cruise bottom restaurants and at variance dining facilities are prospective to favor to children, underneath the enroot of twelve. Many restaurants mention childrens menus. These menus are likely to include tasty, but kid sized meals. The cost of your kids meals will vary from ship to ship; however, many cruise ships offer discounts on meals for children under the age of twelve. The author writes about a number of different topics visit : http://www.reviews3.info

Cruise boat childcare centers are facilities that abetment both parents and their children. While on a internal vacation, smooth you need a break. For gratis or a runty fee, you should be able to leave your children in the care of a trained and experienced childcare worker. Since a cruise ship is likely to have passengers of all different ages, many childcare facilities are grouped together by ages. As with most other services, you will find that a cruise ships childcare policy may vary form anothers.

The senior mentioned activities, services, and facilities are correct a few of the copious that are targeted to children, patriarchal twelve and under. If you are convivial with the senior mentioned services, facilities, and activities, you may wish to consider scheduling your next family vacation aboard a cruise ship.

Review Host
http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/cruise-ship-activities-for-children-underneath-twelve-128087.html

Destinations: the Bahamas is kind of overrated in my opinion. If you do Caribbean, look for destinations more in the Eastern / Southern end such as St. Thomas, St. Maarten, St. Kitts, etc. I also enjoy going to Mexico more than the Bahamas. If you’ve never been, Cozumel is a perfectly acceptable cruise destination. I’ve been there a couple times and still enjoy it.

It’s hard to beat Carnival for low fares. Their ships range from brand new to around 20 years old, so try to find a newer ship such as Dream. The older ships are maintained well, but will lack features that you’ll find on the newer ones. Carnival is a pretty good line, despite some things you hear.

I would recommend a cruise of about 7 days in length for first-timers. I would not go less than 5 days, for sure. Use a good cruise search engine to compare rates and find a good price. Travelocity’s cruise search is pretty good if you use the ‘advanced’ search options. Vacationstogo.com has a very good search engine too. (Both are travel agents, but you can book your cruise direct with the line if you prefer).

Just to give you an idea of what’s out there. Carnival has a 7 night cruise departing Miami on September 25, 2010 on Carnival Liberty, built in 2005. It goes to Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and Ocho Rios, Jamaica. You can get an oceanview cabin on this sailing for $449 per person (plus tax), an excellent deal.

The Emerald Princess leaving Fort Lauderdale on September 12 is also an excellent value at just $545 for Oceanview. (Princess is a good bit more upscale than Carnival.)

If you do decide to cruise, check into the passport situation now. Many "closed loop" cruises can be done without passport, but it’s still a very good idea to have one. If you needed to fly home in an emergency, you can’t do so without a passport. A passport will cost you about $125 per person and they take a month or two to process. A passport is good for ten years.

If you have more questions, feel free to e-mail me.

Good luck.