Then perhaps it is time to take that proverbial leap and book a royal caribbean cruise. How to book your first royal caribbean cruise youtube. You might have heard cruise tales and seen cruise vacation pictures of your family and friends, or read in magazines and online. Here are 10 first time cruise tips to know when planning, packing, and boarding to set sail on your first cruise vacation. My family has seen glaciers calve, toured ancient ruins at ephesus, been diving on caribbean reefs and seen an active volcano thanks to our vacations on the high seas. Most cruise lines offer your stateroom, all meals in the casual dining spaces and dining rooms, musical shows, club entrances, karaoke and pool area for the price of your cruise. For a firsttimer, all the decisions that come with taking a cruise ship, cabin, clothes, tipping and so on can be overwhelming, especially when youre clueless about how a cruise works. When planning a trip with a cruise line, what most travelers wonder is how far in advance they should book their trip. Should i use a travel agent or book directly with a cruise. How to book a cruise for the first time conde nast traveler. For a first timer, the prospect of navigating a 3,100passenger, 15deck megaship can be daunting. Its easy and affordable to reach the boarding ports, and shuttling. Ill tell you right out the gate that whether youre looking into your first cruise or well on your way to the highest levels of a cruise lines loyalty program, i highly recommend using a good travel agent, but lets talk about why by addressing some common questions.
Most cruise lines offer an airsea program that allows you to purchase your cruise plus airfare in one neat little package. But veteran cruisers know theres extra incentive to book through the cruise line. But once youve decided to book a cruise, youll want to plan strategically to ensure smooth sailing once you get on board. Essential disney cruise advice for first time cruisers 1. First, know that you have two major types of cruise available. You can typically book directly through the cruise company, or get a credit towards booking your own flight. We know that travel makes us betterevery one of us. Tackling a cruise for the first time can seem daunting, with a dizzying assortment of companies, itineraries, and destinations available. But are you able to pick your flights, and are they more expensive. Creating an account is a better option, just because it allows for easier management of this and future reservations.
Whether you are new to cruising or just new to royal caribbean, taking that first step and picking that. Top 10 reasons to book your destination wedding with first. Our cruises encourage people to sail beyond their own borders and expand their horizons. It can be a complicated, timeconsuming process that involves dozens of open tabs and maybe a spreadsheet or two. What steps should i follow to book my first cruise gives you the answers to all your cruising questions. Call carnival at 18007647419 and book your cruise over the phone if you know your preferences and needs but arent comfortable with the internet, or simply dont want to use it for booking. But firsttime cruisers may not know what to expect on day one, including boarding and settling in. You can use our cruise finder to determine exactly what you want from your cruise vacation, then book a cruise that works best for your needs. After making your cruise reservation, you will be prompted to purchase your flights through flights by celebrity. They urge you to book these trips immediately because they could sell out. Our iconic x is the mark of modern luxury, the mark of. Im a very spontaneous and outgoing person, and i am looking forward to going solo and having my own personal adventure.
To ensure you get to enjoy the port adventures excursions you want, we recommend you make reservations as soon as your cruise reservations are paid in full and you have entered into your advance booking window your advance booking window is determined by your castaway club membership level, as specified below. How to book air travel for your cruise expertcruiser. For galapagos sailings, flights by celebrity is only available for bookings of 10 nights or more and must be booked by calling our. Before your first cruise, theres a good chance you have a lot of questions. A guide to planning your first cruise royal caribbean blog. Why you should book your first or 500th cruise now. Plenty for grownups to do, so get away from the kids. Never fear, cruiseaway is here with a beginners guide to cruising.
Ocean cruises are the most common, and tend to have larger ships and cover more ground. Want to book your first cruise, but dont know where to start. Expedia is an obvious first mention in a list of the best cruise booking sites, in part because its an absolute juggernaut expedia also owns. With this in mind, how can firsttimers book a cruise. Many cruise lines offer upgraded dining options in specialty restaurants, spa services. First choice travel and cruise destination wedding specialists are experts at coordinating and organizing all your in and out of state guests who attend the wedding. However, before departure day, there are some important mustdo items youll need take care of firstsee below. I highly recommend that you book your shore excursion before you set sail. Disney cruise line tips for first timers family travel.
Family and friends often get together to discuss where they want to travel or vacation next. We have all the information you need to know about cruising. With all of that in mind a good question to ask is, should i book airfare on my own or through the cruise line. If you really arent sure what to do, its a good idea to go with a disney travel agent, who can help you remember key dates for final payments, etc. Who has a better perspective on how to book your first cruise or what to expect other than someone who just went completed their first voyage. How to book your first cruise journal of journeys medium. Book your cruise with the travel agency offering the most incentives i have booked all but one of my cruises from thirdparty online travel agencies because of the extras given on top of the cruise fare like onboard credit, beverage packages, shore excursion credit, a specialty dinner at an onboard restaurant or casino free play. Planning your first cruise two of the most important decisions you will make when planning your firsttime cruise are choosing your ship and your cabin. From how they are priced, what is included and great tips and tricks to help you out. For our next cruise in 14, we have decided to book our own airfare and extensions, as we have found that viking cannot match the price. Cruising has totally changed my perspective on vacationing in recent years. Since it is your first time booking a cruise, you will have the option of creating an account on royal caribbeans site or just filling out all the personal information during the checkout process. On our first viking cruise, she also worked with me and viking air to book my airfare and flights, staying on the phone with me to ensure i was comfortable in my dealings with the process. As the ships get bigger and technology evolves, its essential to plan important elements of your cruise before you even get to the port.
Were here to help vacationers understand the value of travel. Should i book my first cruise with a cruising specialist. On ships like harmony of the seas and norwegian escape, you can and should prebook your shows and speciality dining reservations at least 30 days before your cruise. Thank you for sharing your first cruise experience. From guided tours to resort passes, or even helicopter rides to glaciers, you can book a number of tours through the cruise line but should you book. Complete guide to cruises, cruise lines and exclusive cruise deals. Booking air transportation through your cruise line is the easiest way to book your cruise vacation, but the resulting airsea package is often more expensive than separate bookings. A good travel agent that specializes in cruising can really help make your first royal caribbean cruise a big success. Although theres never really a wrong time, we recommend the sweet spot of reserving six to 12 months before the cruiseespecially if youre planning to fly to your departure city. Booking your first cruise can be a little intimidating but with a little planning and the proper research, it will make for an unforgettable experience.
Overwhelmed with all the decisions involved when taking your first. Before you book your next cruise, make sure you look into things like repositioning cruises, shoulder season cruise dates, and travel insurance among other tips to help you set sail successfully. And while this might be true, booking your land trips directly through the cruise line could make your economical vacation take an expensive turn. Three and fournight cruises are a great way to dip your toe into the cruising waters and find out if its a good vacation option for you and your family. Many cruise lines offer upgraded dining options in specialty restaurants, spa services and some fun extras like martini classes or dance lessons. How to book your first royal caribbean cruise royal. If you have not book a cruise yet, one of my favorite tips is to use a good travel agent. But the more time you spend now, the more you are going to enjoy your first sailing. Plus check out all the things you can prebook as well as other goodtoknow info. Celebrity cruises exists because we believe in opening up the world. If your flight is delayed or cancelled, the ships got to wait for youor the line has to cover your flight to the next port of call. Once you have been on your first cruise, you will be hooked. Should you use a travel agent or book directly with a cruise line.
It is a good bet by now, theres every chance you just want someone to listen to you, get you and tell you not only have they got their finger hovering over the cruise of your dreams at a great price, but that you will be together, booking such trips, until the end of time. Planning a cruise vacation can be a challenge for those who either havent traveled much or who havent taken an organized tour or vacation. Booking shore excursions independently vs booking through. Six needtoknow tips before booking your first cruise.
Before you depart, you must be sure to have your cruise documentation, including passports or visas if needed. The 10 best websites to book a cruise 2020 smarter travel. How to survive and thrive on your first cruise the. Taking a cruise is overall the best vacation value for your dollar and this book will show you why and provide you valuable tips and insights. And if you know you really want to do the ships flightseeing excursion over the. Disney cruise line tips for first timers book your disney cruise. First time cruisers are sometimes intimidated by their lack of knowledge. Much different than flying to an airport and then driving to a hotel, a cruise quickly gets your vacation started. Surprisingly, about 80% of the population has never been on a cruise. What to expect on your first cruise expedia viewfinder. Maybe you want an affordable, tropical getaway that takes you to top. To enable efficient and personalized service at dinner each night, most cruise lines will assign you seats at a group table in a public dining room. Its hard not to wander into the booking process and encounter unexpected questions and alien terminology. Whether sailing the warm caribbean or historic mediterranean, youll likely want some sort of plan for while youre in port.
While there is no single, hardandfast rule when it comes to booking your cruise for the lowest rate, there are plenty of trends and factors to take into consideration when deciding the best time to book your cruise. Get the inside scoop on everything from booking a cruise onboard to using wifi at sea and new ships debuting this year. Though many first time cruisers choose a short cruise, cruise lines rarely assign their best ships with all the bells and whistles to the shorter itineraries. Here are 10 important things to remember when you book your first cruise to help you navigate the process. Should i book airfare on my own or through the cruise line. Your first cruise does address these issues and covers others, like packing for your cruise, and the book has a great bibliography that you can use to fill in some of the blanks that remain before you book your trip. Youve decided on a cruise line, a destination and maybe even the ship and a sailing date for your first cruise. When youre ready to book a cruise, dont waste time scouring the internet for the best pricesweve got them here at travelocity. Your online itinerary is the best place to cancel your trip. Choosing where to go is one of the first steps and sometimes trickier than it seems. Ultimately, we say to opt for the caribbean for your first cruising experience.
Seven things to know before you book your first or next. Do not waste a moment of your precious vacation time if you want to take the plunge and go on your first cruise. Once your cabin aboard a cruise ship is booked, your inbox floods with email pitches for shore excursions. Your first cruise reminded me that the voyage, not just the destination, should be fun, and a cruise might be one option for a. There is also the problem that flight schedules are sometimes unavailable until 30 days before departure.
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