Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/118148
savvytraveller Maiden voyagers: Tips for first-time cruisers T HREE - QUARTERS OF A MILLION Canadians now take cruises annually, triple the number from a decade ago. While many are frequent sailors, legions of newcomers continue to get their metaphoric feet wet. With that in mind, here are a few tips on how to plan, book and make the most of a debut cruise over the aquamarine horizon. When daydreaming about the possibilities, consider the following factors: destination (cruise ships sail just about everywhere these days); trip length (as short as three days to months on end); cost (from budget to super-deluxe); fellow passengers (families, seniors, singles); and the size of the liner (intimate small ship or the latest generation of mega-liners, such as Royal Caribbean's 5,400-passenger Allure of the Seas). Cruises nowadays also cater to special interest groups – quilters, foodies, card players and jazz fans, to name a few. And unique theme outings are all the rage. Want to party with Kid Rock or the Barenaked Ladies at sea? Watch Hollywood classics with in-person commentary from the stars? Talk baseball with Hall of Fame greats? First-timers are typically drawn to seven-to-10-day trips. These itineraries allow time to unpack, do the lifeboat drill, explore the ship's amenities, eat to happy excess, enjoy sightseeing on dry land and spend plenty of downtime in a favourite deck chair. Anything shorter, and newbie cruisers can feel like they're off the boat before they've even found their sea legs. Most first-timers discover their tolerance for the cruise lifestyle by booking Vancouver departures to Alaska in summer, or winter getaways from L.A. or San Diego to the Mexican Riviera or Miami/Fort Lauderdale. Far removed from conventional shipping lanes, sleek vessels now also sail up the Danube and Yangtze rivers, visit the penguins in Antarctica and anchor near the blue lagoons of Vanuatu and Bora Bora. 8 WESTWORLD p08-09_SavvyTraveller.indd 8 >> WINTER 2012 Name a major city worldwide with water frontage, in fact, and you can be sure one of the new generation of river cruisers or small ships will dock in the heart of town. Price is always an issue, of course. The tempting bargains are generally for smaller windowless cabins that are tucked away inside the ship. Costs rise for outside rooms (with or without balconies) equipped with picture windows and more comfortable layouts (though still cozy unless you splash out for a suite with a small sitting room). "All-inclusive" in cruise speak refers to accommodations, meals (in all facilities save specialty restaurants) and onboard activities and entertainment. Beyond that, charges are levied for alcohol, prepaid gratuities (upwards of $10 per day per passenger), shore excursions and Internet services. Expect to pay premium prices for onboard spa services and shopping. Booking early is essential for firstchoice cabins. Salty dogs who relish the taste of wind-driven spray will enjoy forward cabins, while those prone to mal de mer should take midship quarters closer to the waterline. (Midship balconies are less exposed to the elements.) Light sleepers will find peace by putting some distance between themselves and the ship's anchor, show lounge, dining room, disco and engine room. Family groups and the mobility-impaired often like roosting near upper-deck pools and restaurants. Cruising can prove addictive. The industry is turning out ever-fancier ships, such as Celebrity's Solstice series, which feature grass-covered cabana areas with private barbecues. And new routes continue to penetrate unchartered terrain, such as Vietnam's Mekong Delta. Perhaps most of all, cruisers love being able to get on board, unpack once and settle in for the duration – there's always lots to do, along with the freedom to do nothing. –Jeff Bateman Bellebrute/threeinabox.com 12-10-19 9:30 AM