Weddings at Sea

Hello from Monday!

I've had conversations lately with a client who wants to get married at sea. Not at easy as it sounds. Yes, we all know the myth that the captain can perform weddings at sea, but in reality that's only true for Princess Cruise Lines.

Yes, the line that was the original Love Boat has continued the tradition all this time. You can get married while the Love Boat is at sea! Not so on other cruise lines. For those others, you have the option of getting married prior to embarkation or while in a port.

Of course, there's always the romantic option of getting married barefoot on a beach in some beautiful Caribbean isle. Just don't plan that for hurricane season!!

RCI's Oasis of the Seas

It's the world's largest cruise ship ... but what does that mean for you and your cruise experience?

How about a "Central Park" with real grass? Yes ... real grass ... and lots of room to stroll and shop. It's one of the seven "neighborhoods" in this floating city.

When a ship gets up to 5,000 passengers, it does become a floating small town. So Royal Caribbean has gone out of their way to make it feel that way ... complete with neighborhoods.

When you look at pictures of her (see above), the back doesn't seem to be finished ... There's a huge hole! It's the Aqua Theater, where Cirque-like performances will be held and it continues on into the ship, to allow cabins with a view of Central Park. Ingenious ... now you can have an inside cabin with a real window!

Continue your exploration of the Oasis at http://www.oasisoftheseas.com/ and let me know what you think about sailing on her. Some will love the huge number of activities and options a ship of this size allows ... others can't imagine sailing with 5,000 other people. Which side are you on?

Yummy for your Tummy

You all probably know that you can eat almost 24-hours a day on a cruise. There's always something on the buffet or cooking at the pizza station.

But cruise lines have stepped things up a notch with specialty restaurants. Sometimes called "alternative" restaurants, they almost always charge a nominal fee ($20- $30 per person is most common) and for that you get a fabulous gourmet meal!

Not that the meals in the main dining room on a cruise aren't fantastic. I've had great prime rib, lavender-infused sorbet, and soups to die for. But the specialty restaurants take it up a notch or two, with big-name chefs; aged, prime beef; elegant dining rooms; and staff with superior knowledge.

If you haven't tried one of these specialty restaurants, do so on your next cruise. It's well worth the extra money.

Travel + Leisure magazine just did a review of many of these restaurants. Take a look here.

Cabins ... is there a difference?

All cabins are created the same, right? Well, with the exception of size perhaps ... right? Or perhaps the addition of a balcony? Or the deck it's on ... See, not all cabins are created equal.

Experienced cruisers have learned a few secrets about determining the best stateroom choices. It’s true that most contemporary and premium class ships being built today offer “cookie cutter” cabins that are very similar in dimension and layout. But even if they all appear to be the same according to the deck plan, there are some things you can do to make sure you get the best bang for your buck. The prime consideration is location, location, location.

Many will tell you that higher and more toward the center is better. In fact, some cruise lines price their cabins that way. Carnival just last year went through an extensive cabin re-categorization for just that reason. However, deck and forward, midship, or aft aren't the only determining factors.

Carefully view the deck plan to check for elevator, lobbies, and high traffic areas like buffet entrances. Staterooms in this area can be a little more lively (read noisy) than others. And also take note if the cabin is near an active public area. A few years ago, I was in a beautiful balcony cabin that was directly across from the room stewards' storage locker. Every morning, Scotty and I were summoned from our dream-filled sleep not by the sound of gentle waves slapping against the hull but by not-so-gentle clanking of room-service delivery carts and trays ... who are these people that eat at 7AM anyway??

You can do a lot of this research yourself, but here’s a hint. That's part of my job as your travel consultant. Do you think I take all these cruises just for fun ... well??? I am there, scoping out the rooms next to the atrium that blare music from the bar till 2AM ... just for you!!

Luxury Cruising

There is an article in the Miami Herald today about the discounts on luxury cruising due to the economic downturn. See http://www.miamiherald.com/news/southflorida/story/1185404.html

However, most people have never considered a luxury cruise, both due to the price (they can be as much as $500 or more per day per person) and because they don't know what to expect.

Well, apparently economics has taken care of the price for many folks. You can now get a booking on a luxury line for as little as $300 per day per person or less. That's still quite a bit of money and most folks don't know what that buys you. Here is a little insight into a luxury cruise.

Lots of things you pay for otherwise are included. Regent Seven Seas is running a promotion that includes air fare to your city of embarkation (like Johannesburg!). They also have included all your shore excursions on some of their sailings. Other luxury lines regularly include your soft drinks and alcoholic beverages ... quite a savings, depending on your drinking habits.

Of course, then there are the reasons these lines are called "luxury". Gourmet food, outstanding service -- most of these lines come close to a 1:1 crew:passenger ratio. Want a particular kind of soda stocked in your cabin 'fridge? No problem! Rather have real cream, instead of half-and-half in your morning coffee? It's there automatically after the first request.

Many folks like the size of luxury cruise ships. Rather than sharing the pool with 3,000 of your best friends, you are more likely to sail with 150 - 500 others. This gives lots of opportunity to get to know people from all over the world.

So take a look at some of the luxury lines and their prices: Yachts of Seabourn, Regent Seven Seas, Windstar, Silversea, and Cunard. Compare what you get for your all-inclusive fare against the out-of-pocket costs for a less expensive line. You may decide that the real luxury is worth a little more money and give yourself a once-in-a-lifetime treat!

Then call or e-mail me so I can help you get your dream vacation booked!

Have you ever sailed on a luxury line? Post your comments and experiences here so others can share in the luxury!

HAL's Oosterdam

I finalized blocking a group last night. On Holland America's Oosterdam, for an Alaska sailing in June. I am already excited. The Oosterdam is one of my favorite ships, and the first one on which I discovered really being pampered.

At the right is a picture of an elevator door. It's typical of the beauty of the Oosterdam. There are fresh flowers everywhere. The public spaces are elegant and quiet.

I fell in love with the "Crows Nest" bar. It's at the top of the ship and looks out over the bow. Scotty and I have looked for a similar bar on every ship we've sailed, but Holland America's are the best.

As I said, the Oosterdam is the first ship on which I really felt pampered. The mood was set as we walked down the hall to our cabin. We were at our door, about to go in, when the room steward saw us ... "Hello, Miss Maureen ... Hello, Miss Rita". This man had never seen us before in his life! But he made us feel like we were his most important job. There was always ice in the ice bucket. He knew we liked to sleep late, so we were one of the last cabins he made up in the morning. He knew when we went to dinner, so that's when he made up our room for the evening. And there was always a smile and a cheery "Hello".

I talked about tipping in an earlier post. He received a generous extra tip from the both of us. He made the trip so special. That's one of the things that makes Holland America so special. Come with me in June and find out for yourself.

The Tipping Point

Tipping may be one of the most confusing and most discussed issues surrounding cruising. Just about everybody will agree that the service personnel on the ship should be tipped. But which service personnel and how much?

You will find that most of the popular cruise lines have made this easier for you. They will automatically add $9-$10 per day per person to your on-board account. This will show up in your final statement as "gratuities". The cruise line takes care of distributing this to the appropriate service staff (usually the cabin steward, waiter, and busboy). You are always given the option to increase or decrease this amount. Just make a visit to the Purser's desk with your instructions. Oddly, the maitre'd in your dining room is not included in this distribution and it is left up to you whether to tip him (almost always a him) or not.

With the growing popularity of "on your own" dining (you don't have a set dining time or, therefore, waiter), tipping the dining staff has become a question. Usually, the gratuity added to your final bill will be divided among all the waitstaff. Disney Cruise Lines, in an interesting move, moves your waiter with you from dining room to dining room.

Most cruise lines automatically add 15% to your bar bills and other services, although it is customary to tip any staff who provide personal service in the spa (hairdresser, masseuse, etc.). I tend to frequent the same bar on a ship -- I usually scope it out the first night! So, I get to know the bartender and she/he gets to know me. For that reason, I usually add something to the already-included tip. I ask, to ensure that my added tip doesn't get spread around, but goes directly to the person who remembers exactly how I like my dirty vodka martinis!

You can look in your cruise documents, when you receive them, to see what your specific cruise line's policy is. Most important, remember that for the people who make your cruise memorable, your tips can be a significant portion of their income. Reward your cabin steward who remembers that you always want a coffee at 9AM, or the waiter who knows you always want decaf coffee during your meal, rather than with dessert. They really go out of their way to make you feel pampered. It's one of the things I find a true joy when cruising. Reward them for their exceptional service!

Do you have a story of exceptional service? Let me know. I will post stories of some of my best service personnel soon.

In the Beginning ... And and Introduction

(At the left: the Atrium of the Carnival Inspiration)

Hello! And welcome to "The Porthole". I will be writing regularly about cruises I have taken, ships I have sailed on, things you might not know about the cruise industry, and just things I find interesting about cruising.

For those of you who don't know me, I have been cruising for several years. I fell in love with the ships and the sea on my first cruise. I fell so hard that, when I started looking for post-retirement activities, I found Cruise Planners. I purchased a franchise and, since my official retirement in March of 2009, I've been working in the travel industry.

You can find me on facebook at www.facebook.com/abq.mo

You can find my cruising homepage at http://www.cruisewithmaureen.com/

I am hoping this will become a highly interactive community of cruise enthusiasts, so send me questions or suggestions for something you'd like to learn about. I'll be happy to post the answers or do some research.

Happy cruising!