How do I book a Cruise?
How Do I Book a Cruise?
"I want to go on a cruise, but I don't know where to begin or how to get started."
Since we get so many calls like that, we've put together some simple steps, a kind of "homework" if you will, that should be done, before giving us a call. That way, we'll have an idea, as to what you're looking for in a cruise, and we'll be able to serve you much better. The number of cruise vacation possibilities are endless, and there's no way we could possibly know what you're interested in, unless you tell us.
► First, you need to decide what time of year you want to travel. Are you flexible in your travel dates, or do you have specific dates that you need to stay within? How long do you want to be away?
• Cruise rates fluctuate with each sail date and each different season.
• June, July, August - the highest rates during the year
• Sept, Oct - usually the lowest rates during the year
• March - "Spring Break" - fairly high rates
► Then you need to decide which destination you're interested in.
• Bahamas - Nassau, Freeport, CocoCay, Half Moon Cay
• Caribbean - St. Thomas, St. Maarten, San Juan, Grand Cayman, Ocho Rios, Cozumel, Belize...
• Mexican Riviera - Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, Acapulco
• Alaska
• Panama Canal
• Hawaii
• South America
• Europe
• Far East
• Antarctic
If you need help making these decisions, you can use this website, to find a wide array of cruises, and information on all the different destination ports-of-call. You can search based on the length of cruise, destination, time of year, cruise line, itinerary, etc.
Then, contact Tabetha at Cruise Planners and let her know when and where you want to go.
If you've been looking around online, and have found a specific cruise that interests you, let us know, and we'll be happy to research it for you, and get all the information you need.
► Decide what type of accommodation best appeals to you and your family/friends:
• Interior Stateroom - no window
• Oceanview Stateroom - a picture window or porthole with a view of the ocean;
• Balcony Stateroom - a private verandah to enjoy having breakfast on, or just relaxing and enjoying the sights
and sounds of the fresh ocean breezes
• Suite - a much larger stateroom with a private balcony -- ultimate luxury.
► Once you have made a decision, a deposit is required to hold your stateroom.
• Deposit amounts vary by cruise line & length of the sailing; ranging from $100-$350. per person.
• Deposits are refundable until the final payment date, which is usually 70-75 days prior to the sailing.
• Get your deposit placed on the sailing you want!
It's much better knowing that you've got the stateroom you want, at the rate you want, rather than waiting too
long, & finding that the space you wanted is more expensive or already sold out.
Most clients book 6-12 months in advance to get the best selection of staterooms AND the best rates! The days of waiting til the last minute, to get a great deal, are long gone! Cruise ships fill up fast, and always sail full!
If you're going to book a cruise less than 60 days out, full payment will be required by the cruise line, at the time of booking.
► Once you are deposited, Tabetha will mail you a confirmation showing your travel arrangements and when your final payment is due. She will also include information about the online pre-registration and about travel insurance, which is a very important consideration when traveling. All of this will be discussed ahead of time as well.
► Once you are paid in full, you will be notified about accessing your cruise documents. Most cruise lines today, have begun using Electronic Documents (E-Dox), for their guest's convenience. You'll be able to access your documents online, whenever it's convenient for you, and also print them out, whenever you want, and as often as you want, including your luggage tages. This way, you never have to worry about documents arriving late, or not at all, or misplacing them. If your cruise line still issues paper documents, they'll arrive approximately three weeks before your trip. Your documents will have comprehensive information regarding proper documentation, pre-registration, etc. And if you need any assistance with the pre-registration process, Tabetha will be happy to help you out.
► Get ready for your cruise! Make sure to keep all of your important travel documentation (i.e. passport, travel insurance confirmation, etc.) in a safe place. Never place these items in checked luggage, because you're going to need access to them, when you arrive at the pier, and throughout the check-in process. Keep them on your person, in a carry-on bag.
► Tell your friends and family to give Tabetha a call, so she can put them on a great cruise vacation as well!
