WAH’s Cruise Guide: All you need to know about cruises
One of the first classics I read as a kid was Herman Melville’s Moby Dick and the first line “Call me Ishmael” remains, even today, in my head the coolest opening line ever. As Ishmael and Captain Ahab pursued Moby - the white sperm whale - Melville’s descriptions of the sea, the tossing currents, the spitting waves and the gloomy skies were as vivid as vivid can be. I think some part of me wanted to be at sea, right from then. We played a lot of games in the house, and when we played ‘Pirates’, our ship would be an ancient vessel always at threat from the black waters below, our flag a torn bedsheet. As we grew up, somewhere these games ended giving way to others in which cupid found himself extremely busy.
I never stopped loving the sea though, always wanting to ride it, to sail it and finally in 2008, with some of my best mates I sailed across the Bay of the Bengal to the Andaman Isles. I think I was a little disappointed when my ship did not turn out to be like the Titanic. No ball rooms, no Grand Staircase, no Kate Winslet. Then recently, one friend went on a Mediterranean cruise and would not stop raving about it, calling it his best holiday ever. Curious, piqued, I started reading about cruises all over the world, especially because earlier I never really thought that a cruise could make for a good holiday. And well, presenting to you today, ladies and gentlemen, is a definite guide for a cruise holiday - the misconceptions, the dos and don’ts, tips and our personal cruise recommendations. Read on you scallywags, Captain Nero shall man the horizon till then…
Common misconceptions about cruises:
1) We’ll be spending way too much time on water
Contrary to popular perception, a cruise holiday is not just about travelling on blue oceans and seas. Especially if you are travelling to Europe, cruise holidays are designed in a manner that you dock into a port city early morning each day, and the ship sets sail again only towards late evening, leaving you the entire day to explore the city.
Sample this Royal Caribbean Cruise itinerary:
2) Cruise holidays are expensive
Actually, they are cheaper. The all-inclusive nature of cruise packages (accommodation, inter city transport, food and beverages) makes the cost much lesser when compared to land packages. A good cruise holiday package in Europe for 5-6 nights on a luxury liner will cost you Rs 40,000 on average.
3) What’s there to do on a boat? I’ll get bored
Remember Alice in Wonderland. Being on a cruise ship is to relive that kid in a candy shop feeling. If ye like games, there is mini golf, there is surf boarding and ice skating, table tennis, rock climbing and video games. There are huge swimming pools which are always thronged; Jacuzzis to pamper yourself, laze about, even flirt in; plush movie theatres and fitness centres; grand dining and ball rooms, libraries, spas and round the clock pizzerias and cafes. Join a dance class, go wine tasting, learn jewellery making or scrapbook making, or participate in a cooking demonstration - there is something for everyone here.
4) Most people will be older than me
In the seventies or maybe even till the eighties, that was the case. Today however, it is people in the 25-40 age bracket – groups of friends, couples and young families that are most prominent on a cruise. People come from all over the world, out of which a decent number belong to the country from which the ship is setting sail. Travelling on a cruise is a great way to meet new people, and methinks it’s no use sticking to your own group the whole time. Go out there my friend, embolden yourself, talk to a new person, learn about their culture, tell them about yours, and charm them out of their skins. We shall root for you.
How to choose a cruise liner:
1) Firstly, make sure you take a good look at the cruise’s itinerary. Choose a cruise only according to the cities you want to travel to, the docking times and how much time you get to spend on land. Keep the origin and final destination city in sync with your overall travel plan.
2) You might also want to look at the maps of the port cities where your ship is docking, and figure out if you have enough time to visit nearby cities that you always wanted to see. For instance, if the ship’s docking at Cannes, you might want to visit Monte Carlo. If the boat’s stopping at Livorno, you could visit Florence and Rome.
3) Don’t choose the cheapest room only because you want a budget holiday. Find out what all you’ll get because it is very important to have a good room to stay and sleep in. It is advisable that you talk to a travel agent who is well versed with cruise booking and get all the room details from him.
4) Plan in advance. It is recommended that you book your cruise holiday at least sixty days in advance so that you can get good discounts and offers.
Tips to keep in mind for your cruise holiday:
1) Cruise timings are sacrosanct. So, if a cruise is scheduled to leave a port at 7 pm, make sure you reach back to the ship a good half hour in advance. If ye reach late, you can as well as bid goodbye to your holiday and not expect any money to be refunded. It will also bode you well to plan your outings and in advance so that you can optimize your time at land, and participate in as many activities as you can once back on the ship.
2) Pack some of that formal wear in your suitcase. Dinners on cruises usually have formal dress code, and people actually dress up for the occasion. So wear your best formals, shine up those shoes and maybe you’ll catch an approving eye there.
3) Keep a few copies of your passport with you. You shall have to submit the document once you enter the ship, so it makes sense to keep a few copies with you.
Cruises we recommend:
1) The Greek Isles - If it’s the Mediterranean that has always captured your fantasy, Royal Caribbean is a beautiful cruise liner with splendid on-board facilities and well planned itineraries.
2) The Far North - Holland America was one of the first lines to start cruises to Alaska and is still ahead of its competitors with a wide array of itineraries and pre- and post-cruise land packages to Denali, the Kenai Fjords and even across the Arctic Circle. For Caribbean islands - Go for Carnival Cruise Lines.
3) Honeymooners – They say that the Paul Gauguin Cruise is the most romantic in the world, and its hard to argue with them especially since they sail mostly in the South Pacific – to Bora Bora and Moorea. Sigh.
If you need any more information on cruises, well you can always do that in the comments section, people. Till then, I shall take a break and go watch err Pirates of the Caribbean. Cheerio!
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There are plenty of things to do when you are on a cruise. Its filled with complete excitement. I have been in a cruise several times and I loved it all the time.