Help! First time cruiser. What do I need to know.

[PunkiSeattle]

My husband and I travel a lot, taking several trips to Europe and Asia every year, but we have never been on a cruise, mostly because we just can't make the time.

 

This year, however, my husband's high school class is taking a 7 day Island Princess cruise from Vancouver, B.C., to Anchorage (Whittier), leaving July 30, 2005. I feel like a babe in the woods.

 

Where do we begin? The prices seem outrageous, especially the internet access at $.50 per minute. That is just highway robbery. Whew!! :mad:

 

I have read reports from newbies like me who ended up spending as much in "extras" as they spent for their base cruise cost.

 

What do we need to know? What do we need to plan for and/or avoid?

 

Help!!!

[katisdale]

Well, I will try and help. I think cruises can be an economical way to travel BUT be careful how you book. On our first cruise we payed book price and later learned how to find a reputable travel agent. Check the prices at the internet sites for a starting point. You may find that the reunion group does not have the "best" prices. You can make a reservation with an agent other than the one the group is using. Once on board you are in charge of how much you spend. Do you gamble? like to sample the drink of the day? buy lots of photos? like to get lots of souvenirs? take lots of shore excursions? All of those things will increase the cost or not affect it at all if you choose not to take part in those or other activities. I think cruising is great fun and frequently a good buy.

[regnig]

To start with do you/ will you really need or want to spend time while on you cruise typing on a PC? Part of taking a cruise is getting away from everyday life and that means telephones, email, newspapers, TV and the like. So, in order to keep costs under control, take that one off you list.

 

katisdale has made some very good points that should be taken into consideration. Discretionary spending can be limited to whatever budget you set. There are many time that other than a small bar bill we don't spend anything extra over the cruise cost and Tips.

[PunkiSeattle]

We own our own business and must be available to our employees and clients, via phone and e-mail, no matter where we are--that is the price we pay for the privilege of travel prior to retirement. No matter how you cut it, $.50 a minute for internet access onboard the ship is simply outrageous. That kind of blatant highway robbery makes me nervous about the whole cruise experience.

 

We have already determined that the price that Hubby's class has obtained is highly inflated, as are the prices one can obtain through RCI, and United Airlines. We have found cheaper prices on line without bothering with the group or with trading a week or using miles. We have also determined that the air fares provided in the cruise packages are way too high.

 

So now we know a few things that we should not do, but what should we do? Where is the best place to book a cruise? What type of cabin should be select? What do you think about dining arrangements? Are the prices of cruise related shore packages as inflated as their internet access rates?

What are good cabins on the Island Princess?

 

I know every seat in business and first class on a 777 but am clueless when it comes to a boat. :(

[juliejoe]

You will have the opportunity to access the internet when you are in port. Most places have an internet cafe at very reasonable rates.

 

As far as cabin choice - if you are not claustrophobic - you can save $$ by booking an inside. We always do and have never been sorry. We spend very little time in the cabin. If you feel you need a window or a balcony - your price will be higher. Center of the ship on a low deck is considered the best location to avoid seasickness. Usually, the higher the deck, the more expensive the cabin.

[calikak]

Don't panic, we're here to help! I'll give my opinion, and then all the people who have had more experience cruising than I have will jump in with better tips. :D

 

About picking a cabin: there are two schools of thought on this. The first school of thought is that a cruise ship has lots of things to entertain you, like bars and a casino and theaters and swimming pools, so most people don't spend that much time in their cabin. Under this theory, there's no reason to spend the extra money for anything bigger/nicer than an inside cabin, because if you're only going to sleep in the room and do nothing else there, then why spend a lot of money on a room you'll barely see? The other school of thought is that if you get a claustrophobic, windowless inside cabin, of course you won't spend any time in your room, but if you get a cabin with a balcony, you'll spend a lot of time on your balcony and it'll be worth the extra money for the balcony cabin. Since you're going as part of a group, you might spend a lot of time with the group, which means you'd never been in the cabin, which means an inside is probably fine. On the other hand, you may get sick of the group and want your own space, in which case a cabin with at least a window and possibly a balcony is worth the extra money. I've never had a balcony cabin before and have enjoyed all my cruises, but I will have a balcony on a couple of my upcoming sailings and I'm very excited about the balcony.

 

As for spending a ton on board, it's easy to do if you take shore excursions, visit the spa, drink alcoholic beverages, play the casino, or buy stuff at the shops onboard. The spa is a particularly easy way to spend large sums of money. It's a lot more expensive than on land. If you avoid these temptations, you'll avoid a lot of the extra costs. I find the drink prices to be fairly reasonable, especially if you try the drink of the day specials. You can also buy bottles and have them delivered to your room, and mix your own drinks if you want. You can also bring your own wine on board, but if you drink it in the dining room, they may charge you a corking fee. This is to discourage you from bringing your own wine on board and encourage you to buy their somewhat overpriced wine.

 

The internet connections on board are veeeerrrrry slooooowwwww so that whole 50 cents a minute thing adds up quickly. :( If someone on your group has taken more than 5 Princess cruises before, that person will get free internet access and you could see if they're willing to let you mooch off of them. If not, I think Juneau at least as an internet cafe or a library with internet access, and probably other towns up there do too. Or take a laptop with wireless access and see if you can find an unguarded wifi point.

 

Be prepared for the $10/day/passenger autotip system. You can ask to have the autotips taken off your tab if you don't want to pay them, but keep in mind that ship employees make almost no salary and basically live on their tips.

 

You may have difficulty getting cell phone signal up in Alaska. When my parents took their cruise, I had to call them to tell them that my dad's dad had passed away :( and couldn't reach them on their cell. I had to use the absurdly expensive shore-to-ship line to reach them. The call ended up costing me like $50 and it lated about 2 minutes.

 

For dining, again, there are two schools of thought. Some people like the anytime dining, where you can eat at a different time and a different table every night. Personally, I prefer the traditional fixed seating dining. I like getting to know my waiter and having him get to know what I like. And I don't mind having a fixed dining time every night. I think this is a good option for groups that don't necessarily want to spend all day together, they can just get together at their assigned dining time and table every night to catch up on how everyone's day went.

 

Sometimes you can find cheaper shore excursions on your own. The risk is that if your non-cruise-line-tour runs late, you can be left behind by the ship, whereas if you take the cruises's tours, they'll wait for your group. If that's not a major concern for you, then finding your own excursions can sometimes save you money.

 

That's all I can think of for now. Anyone else have tips? :D

[enymarsh]

My personal preference as far as cabins is to either go for a standard balcony cabin BA,BB,BC,BD, etc. or just book an inside (lots of choices). I'd LOVE a minisuite or better , but they're usually a bit pricey for our budget.

 

If I did an inside I would try to make sure that it was mid-ship both in terms of front-to-back as well as top-to-bottom. Part of the reason is for less motion when you can't see outside. The other part of it is that I like to have a deck of cabins above me and below me, to minimize the chances of sound disturbance at odd hours. Insides aren't for everyone but they can be spacious and well lit and very cozy when it comes to naps and quiet time.

 

The balconies, on the other hand, are wonderful for getting the sound of the ocean into your cabin, not to mention the awesome views and tranquility you can get by hanging out there. Your balcony could be completely covered and private, or it could be uncovered and visible to others above you but full of sun, your preference.

 

There's a slowed pace of things that we get when we cruise and we think there's nothing else like it... no cares, just pampering and relaxation!

[enymarsh]

Good point Beth...

 

Be prepared for the $10/day/passenger autotip system. You can ask to have the autotips taken off your tab if you don't want to pay them, but keep in mind that ship employees make almost no salary and basically live on their tips.

 

I had forgotten about that!

[PunkiSeattle]

I don't think I could handle an inside cabin. :( My kids did that once and said it freaked them out not knowing if it was day or night.

 

We were deliberating between an outside suite with no balcony and a stateroom with a balcony--they are the same price. I think we will spring for a smaller room with a balcony. I like leaving the door open and listening to the water--well, if it is not too cold. :D

 

The craziness of overcharging for internet access is really a huge thing for me--like most 21st century business people, I need the internet to survive. This outrageous internet charge just makes me mistrust the entire cruise system. Why would they do such a silly thing? ................... Oh wait a minute, I know, to make money, although for me it definitely worked in reverse. Were it not for that insane internet access fee, I would have let down my guard, relaxed and spent way too much money. Now, I am convinced that they are out to squeeze aout as much as they can out of me and will, therefore, watch every penney I spend like a hawk.

 

Do they charge for water in the clubs? All we really want to do is dance until we drop. We don't need to drink alcohol, but we do need lots of water.

 

Interesting concept, this crusing business. I don't think it will be my cup of tea, but I willing to keep an open mind and try to learn the tricks.

[Flintstone]

Just one thing I'd like to add.....don't judge all cruises by the prices you're seeing for Alaska! Our Alaska trip is running just about double of our eastern caribbean in both cruise price and excursions (even booked on our own). Even tho it is a little slow this time of year, spend a lot of time over at the "Alaska" board and you will find the most valuable information from well-seasoned Alaskan travelers and local residents. I've got 6 months yet to wait for our trip...but the information I've gathered from these folks have saved me several hundred dollars!!!All the "extras" that can double the price of your vacation are just that...."Extras"!! Its your choice to spend it or not. On my first cruise (also with a group) I was foolish enough to spend over $400 on pictures alone. Obviously not a mistake I'll make again! But I don't regret it one bit. Our first cruise will always be the best for me!

Your best defense is knowledge and you'll find no better place to learn than here!!!

 

Deb

[realproperty]

If you are well travelled, then consider it like going to a full service hotel where you can pick and choose how you want spend your time. And understand that apart from food, most things cost extra. Understand that the cruise ship's view of visiting a port most typically is where you can shop, so filter through that nonsense. For a first timer, unless your group is organizing tours, stick with the cruise ship tours. There is usually a lot of variety and be guided by how busy and active you want to be. We have found the more active you are-biking, hiking, etc, the less crowded the tours.

 

And don't obsess over these boards. Everyone has an opinion and everyone knows how to do it better, cheaper, smarter. All that advice which is often conflicting will drive you crazy. You already know as a world traveller that you can't plan everything and that going with the flow is a great way to travel. Like I said, you are going to a great hotel, you have the run of the place and like any great city, you will leave the hotel and do some sightseeing. Cruising is no different except you wake up every morning in a different place.

 

We are in our mid 50's, very active, have travelled all over and use cruises for vacations in 2 ways-to see places that are otherwise not so accessible (like the Baltic and the Aegean) or as an alternative to all inclusive resorts. They really are floating hotels and that is all you really need to know. The rest as I say will be other people's obsessions.

[Pam in CA]

One thing I've done is book the lowest outside obstructed cabin as a Guarantee. That's the cheapest way to book an outside cabin and frequently (not guaranteed), you're upgraded.

 

As for the internet charges, they are in line with other cruiseline charges. Keep in mind that there are satellite and access charges that the cruiseline must pay that a landline or port access don't have. Sure, they're probably making money but all of the cruiselines that I've been on charge about the same amount. Even though I'm a Platinum member and get internet for free, I still use internet cafes in port because of the speed difference between the satellite and land connections. Something else to consider when using the ship's computers and the satellite connections is that the satellites are positioned over land and often, access is spotty or very slow.

[jimbug]

My two cents...

Cruising Alaska without a balcony means you'll miss a lot. We had a balcony and were on it very, very frequently to see whale and dolphin sightings. Also, just being able to sit on your balcony sipping a cup of coffee and watching the beautiful surroundings go by just can't be beat. :-) So, as far as cabin selection goes--take a balcony.

 

As for the internet access, take the advice of the other posters and try not to get on it in the ship if at all possible. Every port you will stop in has internet cafes...most at very, very cheap rates. Try to conduct all the emailing you need to do while in port. Also, if you have a cell phone with email capabilities, it may work in port. We have Sprint and AT&T--they both worked in most of the Alaskan ports...and we didn't have any roaming charges on Sprint. (Consult your wireless provider, of course) :-)

 

Shore excursions--I found that Princess shore excursions in Alaska were very well-organized and of high quality. That said, they may be a little pricier than some of the independent tour companies you may find. It really just depends what you want to do--do research on all your port stops and try to decide specifically what you want to do while in each port. After you've decided that, consult the Ports of Call boards and other Alaskan cruisers and reviews to see what best fits your needs. I can definitely recommend Michelle of Island Wings (http://www.islandwings.com)<--I think for a floatplane tour in Ketchikan. (If the link doesn't work, just do a google search)

 

Spending money while on board--My husband and I aren't big gamblers, but we probably spent $50 in the casino on video poker and slots and had a great time. We didn't come out ahead, but felt comfortable leaving at that amount spent. We bought a few alcoholic drinks ($25 worth?), and a couple of souvenirs (onboard photos and whatnot). It is very easy NOT to spend a lot of money on board, as there are plenty of affordable souvenirs in ports. All your meals and beverages are included (with the exception of specialty coffees, soda, and alcoholic drinks), so there's no actual need to spend more on that. Really, you can get off the ship with only paying $70pp in automatic tips and still have a FABULOUS time.

 

You will have fun and Princess is not a penny-squeezing operation. You will see lots of opportunities to spend, but we never felt like we were being pressured in any way. Just make a budget, stick to it, and all will be well! :-) Enjoy your trip! Also, check out my review of the Sapphire in Alaska last summer (link below in signature).

[PunkiSeattle]

Thanks for all of the advice. We will most assuredly get a balcony.

 

I think that part of my problem is that I am just plain spoiled. I am used to being upgraded to first class seats on my airlines, and used to getting hotel suite upgrades, including free breakfast, drinks and snacks at elite hotel lounges around the world, without any extra charges. We also love avoiding tourist traps and wander around cities (where we can't speak a word of the local language) until we find quaint little neighborhood restaurants where we land for lunch or dinner, almost always enjoying unique and memorable experiences. It would seem like cruising offers less wonderful and amazing surprise options. We have both previously spent time in almost all of the listed Alaskan ports of call. Heck, we even went to Barrow last year. :D

 

We are both in our 60s, but are pretty buff and typically work out six days a week, so we are into lots of physical activities. We love biking, walking forever and ever and dancing every night until we drop. We also like to sleep in, until we awaken naturallly, get up, drink coffee, hang out on line checking our e-mail from friends around the world, work out, and then have a leisurely breakfast when we are on vacation. Guess we will have to skip the e-mail part. :(

 

Since this is something that Hubby wants to do, I will do it. We will just have to see how it washes out.

[jimbug]

If you're into physical activity, definitely check out the Princess excursion in Skagway: Sea Kayaking in Haines. It starts with a lovely catamaran ride across the sea to the quaint town of Haines. The owner/operator/tour guide, Ned, is a year-round resident of Haines and will take you on a short tour of "his" Alaska, including stopping to say hi to his neighbors, etc. and a quick jaunt through Fort Seward. Then, you get to the kayak launch site and enjoy a fairly physically-demanding (but not too hard) kayak trip around the area. I think we were probably in the kayaks for around 2 hours. It also includes a sandwich type lunch and some really great conversation with the kayak guides (some are year-round residents, others are college students spending their summers there). For more pictures and info, go to http://www.seakayaks.com. I cannot recommend this tour enough for those who enjoy slightly more strenuous tours. Just hope you don't have the monstrous horse flies to deal with that we did! (the result of an unusually hot Alaskan summer in '04)

[cviolante]

Since internet access is important to you, I thought I'd post this here. This is directly from the Princess website:

 

"12/3/2004

 

Princess Expands Internet Options with Fleetwide Wireless Access, New Internet Cafés

Passengers Can Now Log On with Personal Laptops Aboard Every Ship

 

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (December 03, 2004) - Passengers who pack their own laptop can now use it to check their email or surf the Internet aboard any Princess ship. Wireless "hotspots" for Internet access have been expanded throughout the fleet, and are now available on all 14 Princess vessels.

Passengers who want to enjoy web surfing from the comfort of their own computer can purchase Internet time for just 35 cents per minute and settle back to check their email or stock quotes from any of the ships' atrium areas.

 

In addition, the Internet will be even more accessible aboard several ships which will sport new Internet Cafés, significantly expanding the number of computer terminals onboard.

 

"Staying connected is important to many of our passengers," said Jan Swartz, Princess' senior vice president of customer service and sales. "So we are continually looking for ways that we can offer the convenience of additional Internet services that enable people to keep in touch on vacation. We have been gradually rolling our Wi-Fi program out over the past year and are very pleased to now be able to feature it fleetwide."

 

Passengers may purchase time on Princess' Wireless Network at the passenger services desk at a rate of $10.50 for 30 minutes. To access the network, users will need a laptop with wireless capabilities. Passengers with computers that do not already have a wireless network card may purchase a 'Windows XP' compatible card on board.

 

New Internet Cafés are springing up throughout the fleet as well. Sun Princess, Dawn Princess and Regal Princess have each recently debuted a new Internet center. The centers feature 13 terminals on Regal Princess and 20 terminals each on Sun Princess and Dawn Princess.

 

Princess' Wireless Network first launched last year with the debut of Island Princess . All new ships have debuted with the service, and other vessels have been updated to offer the feature during the past year.

 

Fleetwide, Princess ships provide a range of Internet capabilities. Shipboard Internet Cafés feature between eight and 26 terminals, depending on the vessel. Most centers are open 24 hours a day and are easily accessed when passengers swipe their cruise cards through the computer's card reader. Selected vessels also provide computer stations in the ship's library. Terminals offer Internet access with direct links to most popular web-based email providers, and passengers can print from the web for $1 per page.

 

Princess' wireless internet access capabilities were created in association with V-Link Solutions, Inc., one of the top-five Wi-Fi service providers in the United States. "As a leader in deploying complete Wi-Fi solutions to the hospitality and travel industries, we are proud to continue to be a part of Princess Cruises' success in the technology arena," said Abbas Sadriwalla, CEO of V-Link Solutions and Kiosk Logix. "With more than 500 of our NetStop software licenses from Kiosk Logix already at work for Princess in their on-board cyber cafés, we look forward to continuing this solid relationship."

 

Additional information is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, or by visiting the company's website at www.princess.com."

 

So, while 35 cents per minute is still high, it's not quite as bad as 50 cents.

 

Hope this helps!

[spongerob]

Alaska is going to be expensive no matter what you do, particularly since you are going at the height of tourist season. If you don't like crowds, you'll definitely want to take the more active excursions that get you away from the port areas. When several ships dock in those small towns at the same time, you might feel as if you are in Times Square on NYE.

 

I think you would enjoy cruising more if you looked at the more exotic cruises versus the heavily-packaged mass-market type cruises offered by Princess and RCI (and others). That's not to say that Princess doesn't offer a fantastic package for Alaska - they do - but it's very similar to say, an escorted tour of Europe where you have to keep to a set timetable.

 

Your biggest stress point is obviously going to be communication. The sparsely-populated west coast might not have cell connectivity you desire, while sea and weather conditions can play havoc with satellite links. You really have to be able to trust someone to make decisions in your absence (by the way, if you're looking for someone who is self-motivated, capable of taking charge, and entirely trustworthy, I can send a resume - whatever it is you do, sounds very interesting! :) )

 

To me, cruising is all about being able to let the daily grind recede with the far distant shore. If you can't let go enough to enjoy the grandeur of Alaska or will have to stop to answer that bleeping cell phone, you're missing out on the aspect of cruising that makes it unique. The world will keep on turning in your absence, and sometimes, that's a nice thing to know.

[Pam in CA]

Your biggest stress point is obviously going to be communication. The sparsely-populated west coast might not have cell connectivity you desire, while sea and weather conditions can play havoc with satellite links. You really have to be able to trust someone to make decisions in your absence

Rob is correct... you need to set the expectation that even if you plan to use an internet cafe in port, you might not be able to connect with the "outside" world. Same with cell phones: you may or may not be able to place or receive a call. You can plan on staying in touch with your office but don't count or depend on it. You are in the wilderness, one of the attractions of going to Alaska, and the distances are vast.

[PunkiSeattle]

We have both been to Alaska many times and even in Barrow, which is about as remote as it gets, we have always been able to find free, high-speed internet access in both the public library and the museum.

 

If Princess wants to attract a younger and/or an older but still more actively involved clientele, and maybe they don't, ;) they will have to move into 21st Century with fast, cost-effective, global communications.

We will keep an open mind, and try to enjoy our first cruise, avoiding crowds and lines as much as possible. As long as we can bring on our own water and wine and there is lots of dancing, we should be just fine. :D

[melissa_bel]

Punki,

Cruising is a very experience, none the less unique than your previous travel experiences. It's just different. I personnaly felt very spoiled when I was aboard. The only thing I had to worry about was : "What do I want to do today? What kind of entree shall I order? Hmmm... movie or show tonight?" It's one of the most relaxing vacation I've had.

 

As for the Internet, unfortunately, sattellite is the only alternative a ship for now and when you have to share the same connection for different computer, it slows everything down. Anfd since a ship is moving, its makes the connection difficult because the sattellite has to pinpoint its signal at an exact point on the dish. It's more sensitive than a sattellite-TV signal. Your best bet, if you want to connect on the ship, is to do while in port but, at this point, it's probably better to go to a cyber-cafe.

Because I live in a remote area, sattellite is the only way I can connect to the Internet so, I learned all about it. ;)

[NJGRANNY]

An internet charge of 50 cents per minute seems great to me. The other line we use charges 75 cents per minute and it really racks up at that rate :-)

 

This is not a Princess issue. As you can see, they are less than some of their competitors.

[NASH99]

No matter how you cut it, $.50 a minute for internet access onboard the ship is simply outrageous. That kind of blatant highway robbery makes me nervous about the whole cruise experience.

 

On our cruise the Internet rarely worked. Now what? We were trying to check up on our kids. Have fun and drink blatant highway robbery drinks. It was the best vacation ever. Everyone is indispensable. The kids were fine.

Steve

[PunkiSeattle]

spongerob writes:

 

I think you would enjoy cruising more if you looked at the more exotic cruises versus the heavily-packaged mass-market type cruises offered by Princess and RCI (and others). That's not to say that Princess doesn't offer a fantastic package for Alaska - they do - but it's very similar to say, an escorted tour of Europe where you have to keep to a set timetable.

I suspect that you are absolutely correct. :( When we go to Europe (or anywhere else in the world), we enjoy ourselves the most when we travel alone (or with another adventuresome couple), and then just walk out the door of our hotel and keep on walking to see where our feet take us, or else we just jump on the first bus, subway, train and/or vaparetto that comes along and go wherever that happens to take us. That is our idea of interesting travel and we somehow always seem to find our way back to our hotel. :D

 

Sadly, however, in this particular instance, we are pretty much locked into Hubby's class reunion. I think the best we can do is educate ourselves and make the best of the situation.

 

The good news is that the first week in August is usually not wildly busy for us. Heck, since we do a lot of business in Alaska, we might even be able to set up appointments at our ports of call and even make it a legitimate business trip. :D

[Budget Queen]

With this ONE Way cruise- I would highly suggest you take advantage of being interior Alaska and add another week for touring there. It sounds like you would really enjoy Denali Park and the beauty of Alaska. Go on your own with a rental car- very easy and avoid a ship cruisetour. As for excursions- budget fully and plan carefully, you get only half a trip without them, they are a necessary part of Alaska travel for most. As mentioned, every port has a library which I have used that has internet acess if you are concerned abou the costs. Cell phone coverage is usual in Ketchikan, and Juneau, sometimes in Skagway.

[PunkiSeattle]

Yikes! We can just barely squeeze out a whole week for the reunion cruise, let alone another week for a trek into Alaska. We have actually both been to Alaska many times, so it is not really very high on our list of places we want to visit right now--we are just going for the reunion. My husband actually fished in Alaska for eight summers during high school and college, and I have several clients in Alaska and visit several times a year.

 

While we sometimes enjoy excursions off the beaten path, we really tend to be city people and there isn't a whole lot of city in Alaska. Anchorage airport at midnight, however, is one of the busiest airports I have ever seen. That never ceases to amaze me.

 

I think we will book our air separately from the cruise and leave maybe a day after everyone else. They don't have elite security bypass at ANC and the thought of standing in a security line with a whole ship full of passengers really leaves me cold. We were once at Seattle airport when a bunch of cruise ships had just returned and it was a nightmare. Fortunately for us, they do have elite security bypass in Seattle, but for regular passengers the lines were over three hours long and many passengers either missed their flight or found when they got to the gate that their flights had been oversold. It was as angry a crowd as I have ever seen.