CRUISING (Ocean & River)
Incredible amenities designed for varied passengers.
Table of Contents
NOTE: 'quick links' Table of Contents lets you jump from a Succinct Cruise Factors to the 'Expanded Cruise Factors' full discussion.
To return here, click "Back to Table of Contents" at each mini-synopsis end.
Topic Synopsis Full Text
I. Introduction: FULL
II. Ocean Cruising Description: FULL
A. Daily sailing & 'at-sea' days: FULL
B. In-port days: FULL
1. Rest & Relaxation: FULL
2. Ship's optional Shore Excursions: FULL
3. Guest booked local Excursions FULL
4. Guest 'self-guide walking tour' FULL
(My Suggested Research Strategy)
III. Cruise Factors:
A. PRO/CON synopsis: FULL
B. Cruise Package Research METHOD: FULL
C. Succinct Cruise Factors: FULL
D. Expanded Cruise Factors: FULL
1. Traveler’s Anxiety: FULL
2. Loneliness: FULL
3. New Friendships: FULL
4. Specialty Cruises: FULL
5. Where Cruises can go?: FULL
6. Excursion Sites/Activities & Guides: FULL
7. Guest’s In-port Alternative Excursions: FULL
8. Cruise Length: FULL
9. “Actual’ travel days vs advertised: FULL
10. Cruise size: FULL
11. Guest Age: FULL
12. Rooms: FULL
13. Food & Restaurants: FULL
14. Wardrobe: ”capsule wardrobe.” FULL
15. Luggage: FULL
16. Shop Steering: FULL
17. Company Reputation: FULL
18: Perks: FULL
19. Local economy support: FULL
20. Eco-friendly: FULL
21. Authentic Local Culture: FULL
22. Cruise Book Agreement: FULL
23. Price: FULL
Ocean Cruises
Cruising is divided into Ocean Cruising & River Cruising.
I. Introduction:
Whether your first Cruise or one of many, IT should be one of your life’s highlights. It's important that it be a most fulfilling experience possible for the money you budget. The following information should help you cruise Package at the quality versus price you wish.
For many cruising tourists or ‘cruisers’, cruising is an escape from the humdrum monotony or grinding pressure of their daily lives as well as a reward for sacrifices they have made for their children & family over decades. For others, perhaps the thrill of living a millionaire movie star’s life for a few days.
The greatest value of cruises to most folks, particularly, a 1st time tourists, is that a cruise can be worry free, well planned & organized, & professionally guided to fulfill your travel dreams for the energy & budget you have.
They imagine the instantaneous welcoming immersion into the glamorous pampered opulence of intimate river cruising boats or the exciting chaos of giant opulent cruise ships. They may fantasize a triumphal return to the restrained envy and applause of mildly jealous friends.
Show up on time with your luggage, etc, a little pocket change & you are good to go. Your Cruise Company does all the rest … if you wish.
I. Description of Ocean Cruising:
Ocean Cruise ships are 333 astonishingly enormous ocean liners sailing major waters like Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, with 1000’s of fellow passengers & crew; a giant floating hotel-restaurant with a mind-boggling array of amenities &
activities appealing to all ages & fitness levels, priced from relatively inexpensive to luxury lasting for days, months or even years (onboard retirement plans).
SEE: [pplk; Ocean Cruising]. ???
Cruising is all about your ‘onboard boat experience’ springing from the perception of almost unimaginable amenities & activities and a sprinkling of partial-day Shore Excursions ‘in a ports-of-call’.
Cruising passengers basking in the catered, endless indulgence of free restaurants, evening stage shows, spa massages, casinos, and endless hours poolside or relaxing in deck chairs gazing at the infinite ocean.
A brief lifestyle experience most seldom experience in their real lives
Ocean cruising lifestyle has 2 parts:
1) On-board ocean sailing including at-sea days and
2) In port, On-Shore experience.
1. Daily sailing & “at-sea” days:
Cruise ships invariably depart port in afternoon sailing all night to arrive at the next port and its sundry Shore Excursions. Often a cruise ship will sail 24 hours between ports-of-call usually far from land with only endless ocean vistas.
Once settled in your cabin, within hours your ship puts out to sea en route to your next port. Depending on its itinerary, your next day may be either an in-port Shore Excursion or an at-sea day of even more sailing.
You will likely rest for few minutes and then strikeout to explore your cruise ship with a wandering walkabout of the vast ship, marveling at its colossal size, 333 extravagant lighting, modern design & construction and seemingly endless amenities, activities & attractions. Soon you lean at the ship’s railings gazing at the watery world surrounding you, searching for animals & birds.
Eventually tho your wandering search slowly devolves into an ever increasing boredom desperately hoping for diversion. Fortunately, your diversions will come from the innumerable included & extra cost options.
Diversion comes from a seemingly unlimited array of free facilities and paid for experiences; lounging in deck chairs, the sea breeze on your face, soaking in various pools, exercising in weight rooms, or attending art auctions (you don’t have to buy.)
Free included diversions usually are
1) main dining room’s 3 meals & a 24/7 buffet’s casual dining,
2) stage shows & performance, movies,
3) swimming pools, hot tubs, & water slides (if available),
4) game rooms,
5) shops,
6) gambling options & even art auctions &
7) fitness centers & classes, and finally,
8) vast ocean’s panoramas seen from deck railings or a deck chair.
9) engaging with others … others exchanging grand kid & pet stories.
FREE included amenities & indulgences wear thin, tempting expensive Optional Activities & Perks abound depending on the ship. Often passengers tire of over eating at the free buffet & main dining room & seek a secialty dining option.and aimlessly wandering the decks, or reading a book they could have read at home pretending that they are enjoying their freedom as sea-days becomes very boring.
This gnawing boredom may cause you to search out the Premium luxury & optional experiences: specialty dining, casino’s siren call or a unique activity?
How long before you realize that sea days are cruise company’s oportunity tp fully exploited opportunity to fleece you. And you thought crusing was all about seeing great cities & sites.😃
2. In-port days:
After any longtime at-sea you will look forward to the freedom and novelty of your ship’s port visits. Unlike rapid big bus tours schedules which leave you exhausted and relishing free time relaxation, the opposite is true of cruising. You can’t wait for the diversion.
Ostensibly, a prime reason for cruising is the various Shore Excursions to notable cities & tourist sites & experiences your ship will visit. That freedom offers you 4 different options:
1) Relaxation’s personal time
2) Ship’s Optional Shore Exclusions: offered by your Cruise company’s
2) Local Shore Excursions: researched & booked yourself
3) ‘Self-guided walking tour’ of port: researched, or not, & maybe lunch.
1) Rest & relaxation’s personal time:
Hour after hour of on/off site walkabouts can be exhausting to some guests who will seek the solitude & relaxation of a ‘quiet corner.’ Ship’s often offer great on-board diversions to those who remain on-board.
2) Cruse Company Optional Shore Excursions:
Cruise company’s offer an array of diverse historical & cultural site & experience Shore Excursions to satisfy foreign travel’s ‘learning & experiencing’ component.
Click link to go directly to FULL discussion of Cruise Ship’s Shore Excursions: [jlk:]
Variably priced Optional Shore Excursions (group discounts ?) allow guests to enrich their overall cruise experience by choosing from a variety of curated Optional Excursions. Of course, many tourits will have chosen their cruise package because of these sites & experiences.
Pros:
- well curated for quality & guide skills. Check all Reviews. if any.
- ideally scheduled’ for ‘on-time-return.’
- overall experience values
- Guarantee ‘on-time -ship-return”
- Occasionally, included in cruise packages: Viking Cruises: 888-703-2664/-888-703-2664 1 complimentary shore excursion in each port of call.
Typical example of Ship Shore Excursion offerings: Norwegian Cruise Lines: 800 657 5773.
I did some simple research (10/1/2024) of 3 cruise companies:
1) Celebrity Cruises: exuberantly promotes individual short excursions, BUT without much detail, including price,
2) Viking Cruises: offers “One complimentary shore excursion in every port of call.” but gives no further complimentary Shore Excursions or paid for alternatives details.
3) Norwegian Cruise Lines: gives limited detail, total time & price
CAUTION: Do your due diligence when searching a cruise package’s Shore Excursions.
CONs:
1) Pre-trip Google Search may offer a greater variety of Local Excursions
2) on-shore options may be less expensive.
2) Pre-trip Google Search makes Local Excursion research & booking almost as easy as booking with Tour Operator.
3) Usually includes all necessary transportation, but may NOT include meals or site entry fees. Enquire before booking.
4) Cruise operators may ignore more narrow focus options of limited interest to most guests.
3) Guest Booked Local Shore Excursions:
Most, if not all, cruise ship ports offer Shore Excursions either by local guides, local tour companies or through national online booking companies (think Air BnB-like).(see below)
Local folks-turned guides & local tour companies may have a highly developed knowledge of everything local and either offer specific Itineraries or will craft one for you.
Several online booking platforms offer site & experience tours/shore excursions world wide: Vivator.(TripAdvisor company), Get Your Guide.
Note: after 15 minutes of onine research & from pesonal experience:
Shore Excursion Group: mostly positive; On Time Ship Return guarantee PLUS $1,000 USD per customer for inconvenience of missing ship.
Get Your Guide: mostly positive …
Tours by Locals: mostly positive except for full group prepay requirement; “… think Viator, but a lot better run…”, with both clients & guide support, & dispute resolution service that works. Guides curated before being listed.
CRITICAL Guarantee: If late to boat … guarantee to, “ arrange for and cover the costs of overnight accommodation and transportation to your next feasible port-of-call.”
Trip Advisor & Viviator (TripAdvisor company): AVOID, unreliable & overpriced
TIP: read a page or 2 of reviews on these organizations, BUT NOT reviews on their sites
PROs:
a. Pre-trip Google Search makes Local Excursion research & booking almost as easy as booking thru your cruise company.
b. Google Search may disclose more numerous, varied & less expensive Shore Excursion options than cruise ship’s offerings.
c. Local Guides: deep expertise: sites, history, culture, & local stories
Anecdotee: Albania’s _____ original residential fortress area’s occupant/guide)
d. May be same person/company as Cruise Ship’s Shore Excursion, but less expensive
e. Safety & Security: Safer, access to dicey sights/activities.
Anecdote: (gypsy assault outside St Petersburg’s Pink Palace)
f. VIP Access: private access:
Anecdote: India’s Mandawa painted havelis
g. greater variety of ….:
a. All Tier 1,2 & 3 tourist sites & experiences
b. Specialized Experiences: (French cooking class, hiking trails)
c. Esoteric interests: (Edinburgh Penis Museum)
Click link to go directly to FULL discussion of Local Shore Excursions: [jlk:]
CONs:
a. may be difficult to curate safety & quality beforehand
b. may not offer or honor guarantee of “on-time-ship-return.
c. little recourse, if issues. — you & your ship moves on.
d. Shore Excursions: typically not included in cruise package
e. can vary greatly in cost.
My Suggested Research Strategy:
1. If you don’t already know, broadly research the continents, regions or countries that interest you
2. Search, List and prioritize, the sites and experiences in YOUR CHOSEN regions &/or countries of interest (Mediterranean: Spain & Italy; etc.)
3. Pre-trip research usual cruise ship ports to discover sites & activities there or accessible from there.
Example:
In Cadiz, Spain is a main cruise ship port with some sites of interest: Old Town (El Pópulo) old city walls and gates, Cadiz Cathedral (Catedral de Cádiz), Plaza de San Juan de Dios, Roman Theatre, Museo de Cádiz, Tavira Watch Tower, & Santa Catalina Castle.
Accessible from Cadiz: Seville, Jerez de la Frontera, Ronda’s Puente Nuevo, Arcos de la Frontera, Gibraltar, Costa de la Luz, Tarifa, Roman Theater, and Museum of Cadiz.
4. Choose the cruise package that includes your top sites & experiences.
Note: maybe only 1 or 2 sites far from Cadiz because usually not enough time for multiple sites & activities unless close together.
4) Guest designed ‘self guided walking tour’ of ship’s port sights & activities. [jlk: Free time]
Guest designed ‘free time’ opportunities can be the most rewarding, fulfilling & exciting Cruising experiences because you can shift into your independent travel mode by visiting a port’s sites easily & far less expensively on your own
PROs:
1. Freedom’s flexibility: pre-plan itinerary or just wander with whimsy.
Anecdote: Tallinn, Estonia: tourist tell me anything else about.
2. Greater Variety of sites & interests.
3. Often less expensive
4. Solitude in a foreign crowd: In Asia I often realized I was an invisible Caucasian amongst the Asian multitude
5. Great! I'll be anxious to see photo.
CONs:
1. May require your easy minimal pre-trip research & planning, or not.
2. you take full responsibiitty as price for fexible feeedom.
3. fully responsible for ‘return-to-ship-on-time.’
Factors: using Cadiz, Spain port as an example:
Planning: Pre-trip or on-board internet (Elon’s Starlink) & guidebooks, etc to map out a route. Websites and apps like GPSmyCity smart phone apps, generally positive reviews praising cost-effectiveness, organization, & offline functionality, offer self-guided walking tours for Cadiz & many others, which can be downloaded to a smartphone.
Starting Point: Ideally, a loop from ship to key sites & back, but 2nd alternative is taxi to farthest point and wander back (CAUTION: double check your timing).
Cadiz: head to nearby Monumento a la Constitución de 1812 then wander thru history & beautiful architecture. Cadiz's compact size makes it walkable,
Key Attractions: Whatever sites, est. your researched exposed that will fit limited time.
Cadiz: Cádiz Cathedral, Roman Theatre, Plaza de las Flores, Parks and Gardens: Alameda Apodaca or Genovés Park, Santa Catalina Castle, & maybe local lunch.
Navigation: on smartphone use guidebook maps, GPSmyCity app or plot yourself on Google Maps/Apple Maps —
Cadiz: allow for fun of being occasionally ‘lost.’
Local Culture and Cuisine: explore local markets, antique shops,
Cadiz: try traditional tapas or brunch on a park bench & watch world pass.
Return to Port: CRITICAL CAUTION: don’t be late - expensive to catch up.
Cadiz: Cadiz’s compressed layout reduces this concern.
Miscellaneous: pedestrian-friendly comfort shoes, hat, sun glasses, of course, IMPORTANT TIP: always carry USD & local currency for snacks, water, entry fees & the unforeseen.
Your wandering, self-guided walkabout of discovery around an Old Town with a local cafe’s meal may be your most authentic engagement with a country or city’s actual culture.
Anecdote: It was hard to wander Florence, Italy’s old downtown area one evening without reveling in Roman architectural remnants poking out of new buildings, balsamic vinegar tasting in one of San Lorenzo Market’s (Mercato di San Lorenzo) many shops, before being seduced into a genuine old world pizza shop. Ah, that aroma!
Click link to go directly to FULL discussion of Local Shore Excursions: [jlk:]
Most mass market Cruise packages ’s offer multiple priced levels of rooms, dining options and miscellaneous amenities and activities. e.g.: Inside Cabins, Oceanview Cabins, Balcony Cabins, Suite Cabins & Specialty Suites or Villas.
Show up on time with your luggage, etc, a some pocket change and you are good to go. 1st time traveler’s easiest option. They do all the rest.
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