Luxury Cruising Editorial - Luxury Cruising

10 Biggest Things That Can Ruin Your Cruise (If You Let Them)

December 17, 2024

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Diplomacy

I’m a tad biased when it comes to cruising. I think it’s just about the best vacation you can take, both in terms of value and experience.

Our free cruise newsletter offers the latest news and deals: Sign Up

But that doesn’t mean that everyone will have an incredible vacation. The truth of the matter is that unexpected things will happen on any vacation, and some of these are out of your control.

Carnival and Royal Caribbean cruise ships in port at Nassau, Bahamas — Photo Credit: Cruise Fever

While I like to focus on the best aspects of cruising, I wanted to highlight some of the issues and situations that can ruin a cruise to help future cruisers avoid frustration.

Some of these things are avoidable, and some are things that just happen, but you should still know how to make the best of these situations.

By the way, most of these things below show the importance of having cruise travel insurance. So, if you’re still on the fence this should help.

1. Seasickness

celebrity reflection out of port everglades — Photo Credit: Cruise Fever

Most of the time a cruise ship is so stable you will forget you’re even out at sea. But once in a while the weather gets rough and the seas a little choppy. And if you don’t have your sea legs, seasickness can be a problem.

On the dozens of cruises I’ve been on seasickness has never once been an issue, but I’ve traveled with some that struggled with it. If you don’t have the necessary medication getting motion sickness on a cruise can really ruin your vacation.

If you think motion sickness will be an issue for you here are somethings that can help:

Choose a larger cruise ship and a midship cabin
Pack some Dramamine or Benadryl after talking to your doctor
Pack some ginger as it’s known to help with nausea
Stay hydrated and get some fresh air
Take part in fun activities to keep your mind off the motion and you will acclimate to it

2. Sunburn

If you’re going on a cruise to the Caribbean and Bahamas you might not realize just how intense the sun can get. And with all that sun exposure while hanging out on the lido deck of your ship, you could be baking before you know it.

I’ve fallen asleep in the shade on a cruise lounger only to wake up with my leg in the sun which had no sunblock on it. Needless to say I felt that burn from that the rest of the trip.

I’ve seen cruisers get burnt so bad on a cruise that they could barely walk normally and it was pretty debilitating for any other fun activities for the rest of the cruise.

Not only should you apply sunblock before being out in the sun for prolonged periods of time, but make sure you limit your exposure if you’re prone to burning or have fair skin.

3. Failing to Make Reservations

Pirate ship show on Harmony of the Seas in main theater — Theater on Harmony of the Seas. Photo Credit: Cruise Fever

If you’re a last-minute kind of person you might miss out on some great cruise experiences. On some of the larger cruise ships reservations are a must. If you want to see a Broadway style show, comedy show, or other popular event it may require reserving your spot in advance. You can often do this through the cruise line’s app.

Making a spa reservation is better taken care of ahead of the cruise, especially if you want to get a massage or nail treatment on a seaday or busy time. The most convenient times fill up the fastest.

For other reservations you may have to wait until embarkation day. As soon as you get on the ship you should take care of restaurant reservations or any popular shows that you don’t want to miss.

You can check out our list of everything you should do on embarkation day here.

Don’t let a failure to plan on your cruise keep you from having the most amazing vacation ever.

4. Major Storms

One of my favorite aspects of cruising is that your cruise ship can simply sail around or out of the way of an incoming storm. So, a storm doesn’t necessarily mean that your cruise will be canceled. But depending on the storm’s size this isn’t always as easy or practical.

If you sail during hurricane season you may encounter some changes to your itinerary. You can read more on this with our article on what happens if there is a hurricane during my cruise.

If you had reserved an excursion at one of the ports along your cruise it may have to be canceled if your cruise ship ends up taking a different itinerary or skipping a certain port. Any excursions booked through your cruise line will be refunded if a destination will have to be skipped. If you’re looking at 3^rd party excursion companies you will always want to look at the refund policies first.

A storm does not have to ruin your cruise, but it may mean you have to be a little more flexible with your plans.

5. Being Late

Whether it’s arriving to the cruise port on embarkation day or getting back to the ship after a fun excursion in port, you always need to be aware of the time.

It’s not the end of the world if you miss your ship, but it sure adds a lot of stress and extra planning into the process.

If you book a shore excursion through the cruise line the ship will not leave without you if something delays the activity. But if you’re late just because you lost track of time, the ship will most definitely head to the next destination without you.

Set your watch to the ship’s time, give yourself plenty of time to get back to the ship, and don’t plan any activities too far from the port. Every cruise sees its “pier runners” trying to get back on board at the last minute. While it’s fun to watch, it’s no fun to be a part of.

When it comes to flights, give yourself plenty of time both arriving and departing. You don’t want a baggage delay or flight delay cutting it too close to the sail time.

6. Picking the Wrong Cruise Line for You

Cruise ships lines up in Port Miami — Photo Credit: Cruise Port © Francisco Blanco | Dreamstime.com

I’m convinced there is a cruise line for just about everyone, even for people who swear they will never take a cruise. Each of these cruise lines caters to a specific kind of audience.

Some cruise lines are great for families, some don’t allow kids at all, some cater to people who want to be very active, and some are great for those who only want to relax at sea.

We have a blog post on the best cruise line for each kind of traveler in which we talk about over 25 cruise lines and what each one does best. If you’re not sure what cruise line is best for you, I suggest you take a look.

Choosing cruise line that doesn’t fit what you’re looking for on a vacation can ruin what could have been a great experience. Consider things like destination, ship size, style of cruise, itinerary, and price when trying to figure out which cruise line is best for you.

7. Selecting the Wrong Cabin

There are dozens of cabin types on any given cruise ship. And since you will spend every morning and night in this cozy stateroom you will want to make sure it’s actually what you’re looking for.

If you get claustrophobic you may want to steer clear from interior cabins, even though they are cheaper. Want an ocean view at any given time? Go for that balcony, but bump it up to a suite if you want a little more room and some extra amenities to go with it.

Cabin location is critical as well. Try to avoid potentially noisy areas but also make sure you’re close enough to the things you will use the most on a cruise ship. There are some cabins on a cruise ship that I think most people should avoid.

If you are cruising with a 3^rd or 4^th person be sure to check out our post on things to know when cruising with a 3^rd person.

8. Overdoing it

Desserts at the buffet on MSC Meraviglia. Photo Credit: Cruise Fever

Food and beverages can be found in abundance on a cruise ship. And since you’re in vacation mode it can be easy to overindulge on some things, making you feel not so great after a few days.

Be sure to pace yourself and show a little moderation so you can enjoy all the things a cruise has to offer. I tend to overeat on a cruise and will get a little sluggish by day 3 or 4. A trip to the gym and a little more self-control help me get back on track.

9. Being too Connected Back Home

woman using cell phone near a cruise ship in port — Photo credit: Mehdi- stock.adobe.com

Now that Wi-Fi is available on cruise ships, it can be harder to really disconnect and enjoy your getaway. And while it’s good to keep up with a few things back home, it can also add to your stress levels when things out of your control are going on.

Remember, just because you can have Wi-Fi on all your devices doesn’t mean you need to be checking your work email and other messages throughout the day. Give yourself a break.

Part of me misses the old days of cruising when you left your phone in your cruise cabin safe until the last day of the cruise.

Many find that getting out to sea on a cruise and disconnecting for a while can be the most therapeutic and enjoyable aspect of a cruise. Even if it’s just for a day or two, disconnect for a bit and reconnect with the people you’re traveling with.

10. Not Realizing Some of the Extra Costs

First-time cruisers always face a little sticker shock when they find out all the extra costs they overlooked. Especially if you’re cruising on a mainstream cruise line or with a lower cost line, you will soon find out that all the nickel-and-diming adds up.

Sure, the listed cruise price may have looked too good to be true, but every soft drink, Wi-Fi package, spa treatment, excursion, professional photo and gratuity can add up to frustration in the end.

There are many extra costs that I think are definitely worth every penny, but being aware of these costs ahead of time will avoid ruining a cruise because you didn’t expect to spend that much.

Bottom Line

As you can see, many of these things are preventable. And even if you plan your cruise two years in advance, having the right travel insurance and flexibility can go a long way in making sure your cruise is not really “ruined”.

Do as much prep-work and research as you can ahead of time, and it will save you a lot of frustration. Bring all the medication you need (including motion sickness meds), pack some sunblock, make all your reservations as early as possible, and get your travel arrangements taken care of, and you are off to a great start.

Note: This article was updated in December 2024.

Source link

Rhapsody of the Seas Cabins to Avoid

December 17, 2024

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Cruise Lines Cruise News Royal Caribbean

Even smaller cruise ships like Rhapsody of the Seas have a lot of options when it comes to choosing your cabin. It’s not as simple as picking one with a balcony or not – there are 16 different types on the ship to pick between!

And you don’t want to get the wrong one – depending on the type of cruise passenger you are, some of the cabins may not be suitable and could really put a dampener on your whole cruise getaway.

Don’t worry, though – that’s where this guide comes in. Use this, along with my checklist, and you’ll be able to know everything you need to about all of the options on Rhapsody of the Seas, including the cabins you should steer clear of.

Choosing the best cruise cabin

I’ve made a free checklist of everything you should look out for when choosing a cruise cabin. If you’d like a copy, just leave your details and I’ll send it over to you right this moment.

The different rooms on Rhapsody of the Seas

There are 1,020 staterooms/cabins on Rhapsody of the Seas, making it one of the smallest cruise ships sailing for the fleet. This includes 98 suites. Only around 22% of the cabins on the ship have a balcony, which is also a low number for Royal Caribbean.

Rhapsody of the Seas has 16 cabin types, split between inside, outside, balcony and suites.

Here’s a look at all of the cabin options on Rhapsody of the Seas:

Room	Type	Max. guests	Decks	Average Size (sq ft)	Average Balcony Size (sq ft)
Interior	Inside	4	2-8	136	N/A
Interior Accessible	Inside	5	2-3	252	N/A
Ocean View	Ocean View	4	2-4	126	N/A
Connecting Oceanview	Ocean View	2	2-4	151	N/A
Spacious Ocean View	Ocean View	4	7-8	193	N/A
Spacious Ocean View Accessible	Ocean View	5	2-4	255	N/A
Ultra Spacious Ocean View	Ocean View	6	2-4	246	N/A
Spacious Ocean View Balcony	Balcony	4	7	195	35
Spacious Ocean View Balcony Accessible	Balcony	4	7	195	58
Junior Suite	Suite	4	7-8	243	64
Junior Suite Accessible	Suite	5	8	287	64
Grand Suite – 1 Bedroom	Suite	5	8	349	104
Grand Suite – 2 Bedroom	Suite	8	8	532	56
Ocean View Suite	Suite	8	8	535	N/A
Owner’s Suite	Suite	5	8	517	104
Royal Suite	Suite	5	8	1326	110

Rhapsody of the Seas room sizes

It’s important to note that the sizes given above are average sizes for the room, and that some may be a little larger than others.

You can browse the Rhapsody of the Seas deck plans to see all of the rooms on the ship to scale, which will help you find any that might have a little more space and therefore give you more value!

Owner's Suite on Rhapsody of the Seas — Owner’s Suite on Rhapsody of the Seas

Connecting Cabins

A quick note on connecting cabins for Rhapsody of the Seas. While there is a room type called ‘Connecting Oceanview’, that doesn’t mean it’s only ocean view cabins that have connecting doors.

If you want to book two cabins side-by-side for your cruise, and open the door between them, there are Interior and Balcony cabins that let you, as well as some suites.

The only reason Connecting Oceanview is listed as its own room type is presumably because some of the connecting Ocean View rooms are a lot more spacious, and deserve their own category.

Rhapsody of the Seas cabins to avoid

There are some cabins that you may be better off avoiding when you book your Rhapsody of the Seas cruise.

However, because the ship is quite small and the room are all pretty much a standard size, there aren’t too many that you need to worry about.

Often larger cruise ships will have quirky rooms that are in bad locations, or are long distances from the rest of the ship, but there aren’t too many concerns on Rhapsody of the Seas.

1. Cabins that can be loud

There are some parts of the ship where the noise can be heard either through your cabin’s ceiling, or through the floor.

One of these is the cabins towards the aft of Deck 2. You’re just above the engines here so you might hear the hum, and feel the vibration. It depends on how sensitive your hearing is as to whether these will be an issue.

Cabins above the engine on Rhapsody of the Seas

All of the cabins on Deck 4 can be at risk of noise from above. At the front of the ship, you’ve got the theatre directly above you. The mid-ship hosts a large casino on Deck 5, and towards the aft is the Main Dining Room.

The middle of Deck 4 is the worst affected by the casino but the staff can be working late to clean the restaurant, and the theatre shows can be loud until around 11 pm.

And then finally there are the cabins and suites on Deck 8. While this is a prime location on the ship, you are below the pool decks, and the scraping of deck chairs can often be heard first thing in the morning.

Worst affected are the Inside cabins on Deck 8 as they are directly below both pool decking areas.

2. Small cabins

All Interior and Ocean View cabins

Rhapsody of the Seas is a smaller, older ship in the fleet for Royal Caribbean, and that also does mean that many of the rooms are smaller than you’d find on modern cruise ships too.

They’re not tiny, and they do have a lot of storage space thanks to some clever design, but they’re also a little cramped.

If you don’t mind, and don’t plan on spending a lot of time in your cabin, then save money and book one of these, absolutely.

But if you’re travelling with kids and want to have 4 people in your cabin, I’d definitely recommend getting a bigger cabin and paying the extra. As you can see from the video below, once the extra beds are down, it’s going to be tricky to get in and out of bed. And there’s not a huge amount of storage for a family of 4.

3. Connecting cabins if you don’t need them

There are a lot of options for connecting cabins on Rhapsody of the Seas, but if you don’t intend to book both cabins that are connected, I would try to avoid booking them.

The door connecting these cabins is thinner than a cabin wall, and so even when it is closed and locked, you might hear what’s going on in the room next to you.

It’s normally not too much of an issue unless your neighbours are being loud, but if they are – especially when you’re trying to sleep – then it can be very annoying, especially if you’re trying to sleep.

And the best rooms on the ship…

1. Aft-View Junior Suites and Balcony Staterooms

There’s a prime spot on any cruise ship that experienced passengers love to try and book – the aft (rear), especially with a balcony.

These balconies are huge, as you can see from this video…

You get the best view over the wake of the ship, and you’re also sheltered from the natural wind caused by the movement of the ship. So it’s one of the more relaxing spots, even if you are a bit of a further walk from the elevators.

On Rhapsody of the Seas there are two cabin types with an aft-view balcony – Junior Suites on Deck 8, and Spacious Ocean View Balcony Staterooms on Deck 7. I’d recommend these Balcony cabins if you can get one – you’ll get a fantastic view without paying the price for a suite.

2. Oceanview Suite for families

The Oceanview Suite is situated at the front of Deck 8, and it’s a fantastic suite if you’re booking for a large family.

True, you don’t get a balcony, which is a drawback. But instead, you get a lot of space, including a bedroom equipped with two lower singles and two fold-down beds for the kids.

The room is really spacious, and helps stop larger parties of up to 8 from getting under each others’ feet.

3. Royal Suite

The Royal Suite is the best cabin on the ship, but also the most expensive, so it’s not the best choice for everyone. But if budget isn’t a concern, it’s a fantastic choice.

You get so much interior space, including a piano right at the centre of the room. There’s a walk-in wardrobe off the bedroom, which has its own oceanview window. The balcony is off the living area and while it’s not huge, it’s way bigger than any other balcony on the ship.

Plus you get a split bathroom, including a shower cubicle and separate bath. It’s very luxurious, even for a ship that can feel dated at times.

The best deck is…

The best deck on Rhapsody of the Seas is Deck 8, where you’ll find the best suite accommodation, including some fantastic aft-view rooms with amazing views. However, it can be noisy – rooms toward the front of Deck 3 are best for peace and quiet.

With Rhapsody of the Seas being one of the smaller ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet, there aren’t really any decks that stand out as being really good, or really bad. Deck 8 does have the best rooms, but it’s also below the pool deck and so can have issues with noise, depending on your location.

The forward part of Deck 3 is surrounded by cabins above and below and so that tends to be the quietest location. On many ships I wouldn’t often recommend Deck 3 since it’s buried far away from everything else, but on this ship it’s not too bad at all.

Hard to pick a best room!

The best room on Rhapsody of the Seas is the Royal Suite – it’s exceptionally spacious and has a large balcony where guests can unwind with an excellent view. However the Owner’s Suite and the 2-bedroom Grand Suites, especially those with an aft view, are also great choices.

If a suite is outside your budget, then it’s definitely worth trying to get a Balcony stateroom on Rhapsody of the Seas – you’ll get a lot more space than an Inside or Ocean View as well as your own private veranda where you can relax.

Choosing your own room or going for the ‘guarantee’ option

When you book a cruise with Royal Caribbean, you normally get two options – let the cruise line decide your room for you, or pay an extra fee to select your exact room. You’ll be shown two prices:

If you are happy for Royal Caribbean to choose your room then you still get to decide what type of room you want – Inside, Ocean View etc. – but the cruise line picks exactly which one. This is called a ‘guarantee’ cabin.

Benefits of choosing your cabin number:

Choose your preferred location on the ship
Book two cabins next to each other
Avoid undesirable cabins

If you don’t really mind which cabin you’re assigned to, then just pay the lower fee and let Royal Caribbean decide where to put you. But if you want to avoid those noisy locations, it’s best to pay a bit more and choose your cabin number.

NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!

Don’t miss the latest Royal Caribbean offers…

Booking multiple cabins on Rhapsody of the Seas

As I’ve mentioned, some of the cabins on Rhapsody of the Seas have connecting doors. These are a good option for families, but they’re not essential. You can always ask to just have cabins next door to each other, without the connecting door.

But, if you do this with guarantee cabins, then you’ll have to request adjacent rooms, and there’s no certainty that you’ll get them.

Find more information about Rhapsody of the Seas cabins

I’ve spent a lot of time looking at feedback about Rhapsody of the Seas to put this guide together, but if you want to do your own additional research, you might find these resources useful:

You might also want to take a look at some of my other articles about cruising with Royal Caribbean…

If you found this interesting, please share!

Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me

Source link

Carnival Cruise Line Gives Update on Rebranded Ships

December 17, 2024

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Diplomacy

In the spring of 2025, two of P&O Cruises Australia cruise ships will be rebranded to Carnival Funships as Carnival Corporation eliminates one of their cruise lines.

Our free cruise newsletter offers the latest news and deals: Sign Up

Pacific Adventure will be one of two P&O Cruises Australia ships to be converted over to Carnival Cruise Line

Two cruise ships, Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter will enter Carnival’s fleet in March 2025 as Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter.

New features will be added to both ships while keeping some of the favorites that cruisers love. The ships will spend two weeks in dry dock as they are converted over to Carnival Cruise Line.

The biggest change to the ships will be the addition of Carnival’s “Fun Ship” branding. This includes the Fun Squad and activities that include comedy shows, trivia, deck parties and games.

A new childcare program called Turtle Kids Club will debut on the ships for children under the age of two. It will offer story time, arts and crafts, dancing and sensory play under the guidance of qualified childcare professionals.

Build-A-Bear workshops, Conga for Kids line dance party, and the electrifying 80s Rock and Glow nights will be added to the vessels.

The two cruise ships will retain a range of P&O favorites that include:

Luke’s Bar & Grill, an exclusive retreat
Edge Adventure Park
Popular dining options Angelo’s and Dragon Lady
The Blanc de Blanc show

Carnival Adventure will offer cruises from Sydney while Carnival Encounter will sail from Brisbane.

Deborah Cogin, VP Guest Experience for P&O, gave the following statement:

“P&O fans will recognize many of their favorite dining and entertainment options, while experiencing the added fun and flair that Carnival is famous for around the world.”

VP Sales and Marketing Kara Glamore added:

“Carnival Cruise Line remains the only cruise line globally to demonstrate this level of commitment to Australia, sailing year-round and supporting thousands of local jobs while delivering unforgettable holiday experiences in Australia and the South Pacific.”

Cruises on these two ships can be booked on P&O Cruises’ website until March 2025. After that, they can be booked through Carnival Cruise Line.

Source link

Ambassador Cruise Line Drinks Packages Guide (2024) (With Calculator)

December 17, 2024

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Ambassador Cruise Line Cruise News Cruise Tips

Like many cruise lines, Ambassador offers drinks packages that allow guests to pre-pay for their beverages if they wish. In theory, it means you can just relax when you’re on the ship, without having to think about drinks budgets and what you can and can’t afford.

In this guide I’ll take you through the five different options for drinks packages with Ambassador Cruise Lines, and whether they’re worth it or if you’ll save more money by buying your drinks separately.

This includes the latest information following price increases from 1st September 2023.

What are the Ambassador Cruise Line drinks packages?

As of 1st September 2023, there are five drinks packages offered by Ambassador Cruise Line:

Ambassador Experience Package – (Non-alcoholic)
Ambassador Explorer Package – (House drinks)
Ambassador Expedition Package – (Premium drinks)
Ambassador Adventurers Package for kids 0-11 years old
Ambassador Adventurers Package for kids 12-17 years old

The Experience Package is a non-alcoholic package for adults, while the Adventurers Packages are special drinks packages for children (and, obviously, are also non-alcoholic!).

The Explorer and Expedition packages are the ones that include alcoholic beverages.

Ambassador Cruise Line drinks package calculator

The easiest way to see which (if any!) of the packages is best for you is to use my drink package calculator.

Just enter the drinks you want and it will do all the maths for you.

Grab it for free below…

Here’s what’s included in the Ambassador Cruise Line drinks packages

Each of the drinks package options includes different drinks, with the Expedition Package being the most inclusive option.

But interestingly, the three adult drinks packages and the Adventurers Package for older kids also include your gratuities – not just for the drinks, but for the whole cruise.

Gratuities with Ambassador Cruise Line are generally cheap (£7 per night, or £6 per night on cruises of 15 nights or more), but it’s still handy to have them included in the price of your drinks package.

Here’s a look at what each drinks package gets you:

Drink/service	Ambassador Experience Package	Ambassador Explorer Package	Ambassador Expedition Package	Ambassador Adventurers Packages (for kids)
Gratuities for your whole cruise	YES	YES	YES	N/A
Soft drinks	YES	YES	YES	YES
Mocktails	YES	YES	YES	YES
Non-alcoholic beer (Heineken 0%)	YES	YES	YES	YES
House brands from the bar list (by the glass)	No	YES	YES	No
House wines (red, white and rose)	No	YES	YES	No
Premium wines (red, white and rose)	No	No	YES	No
Premium drinks from the bar list (by the glass)	No	No	YES	No
Premium teas and speciality coffees	No	No	YES	No
50% discount on premium beverages	No	YES	N/A	No

Things are a little easier when you browse the Ambassador Cruise Line drinks menu, since there is just one menu to keep things simple, and everything is colour-coded depending on which package it is included in.

You can see the full menu in greater detail here.

If the symbol is a half-circle, it means that it’s not included, but you will get a 50% discount if you have that package.

Drinks package costs

Ambassador Cruise Line’s drink packages cost between £13 and £74.50 per night, depending on the package you choose, when you buy it and how long your cruise is.

The Ambassador Cruise Line drinks packages are a little confusing when it comes to costs. However, confusing doesn’t mean mysterious – and some cruise lines are definitely more secretive when it comes to pricing.

With Ambassador, it all makes sense but it just needs a little working out. That’s because if you’re on a 2-night, 3-night or 4-night cruise, the price is published for the whole cruise, whereas on longer cruises, the price is published on a per-night basis.

That doesn’t mean you can book the drinks packages for just a selection of nights on a longer cruise – you still have to pay for the entire duration.

Also, there’s a different price for paying for your drinks package in advance, compared to booking it in the week running up to your cruise or while you’re onboard.

For simplicity’s sake, I’ve converted all the short-break cruise pricing into a nightly price. It just makes it easier.

Ambassador Drinks Package prices

The prices below are for advance bookings with the book-onboard price shown in brackets.

Nights	Experience	Explorer	Expedition	Adventurers 0-11 Years	Adventurers 12-17 Years
2	£32.50 (£42.50)	£54.50 (£64.50)	£64.50 (£74.50)	Not available	Not available
3	£29 (£35.67)	£47.33 (£54)	£58.33 (£65)	Not available	Not available
4	£27.25 (£32.25)	£46.50 (£51.50)	£54.75 (£59.75)	Not available	Not available
5-29	£20.95 (£22.95)	£38.95 (£43.95)	£44.95 (£50.95)	£13 (£15)	£16 (£18)
30-69	£18.95 (£21.95)	£34.95 (£41.95)	£40.95 (£47.95)	Not available	Not available
70+	£17.95 (£19.95)	£32.95 (£37.95)	£38.95 (£42.95)	Not available	Not available

Basically, the longer you’re cruising, the less you pay per person, per night for your drinks package. It can add up to a decent saving too – if you were to book a 70-night cruise but you had to pay the 5-night cruise cost for an Expedition Package, you’d be paying an extra £350.

As a note, Ambassador Cruise Line is typically an adults-only cruise line – it’s only on select itineraries where children are welcome – and they are all in the 5-29 night range, which is why prices aren’t made available for cruises of other durations for the Adventurers Package.

Ambassador Cruise Line drinks packages terms and conditions

There are some important terms and conditions for the drinks packages that you need to be aware of.

1. All passengers in a cabin must buy the same drinks package for the duration of the cruise

Unfortunately, if you and your partner have different drinking tastes, you can’t buy an alcohol package for one and the non-alcoholic package for the other. To discourage sharing, all guests within a cabin have to have the same package.

The only exception is when you’re cruising with children – you don’t all have to have the kids’ package!

2. Some drinks are excluded

Any wines by the bottle aren’t included in drinks packages, and nor are bottled water, or any drinks or snacks from your mini bar. Regular teas and coffees ordered at the bar are considered premium and so are only included in the Expedition package.

3. Payment for drinks packages

If you book a drinks package more than 90 days before you set sail, you don’t have to pay for it immediately – the balance becomes due 90 days before you travel. If you’re adding a drinks package within the 90 days before you cruise, you’ll have to pay for it immediately.

4. Drinks limits

You’re only allowed to order one drink at a time, with a 15-minute wait before you can order another drink. And there’s a limit of 15 alcoholic drinks per day (6 am to 6 am) on the Explorer and Expedition packages.

If you want more drinks after reaching the limit, you’ll be able to buy them at 50% of their full price.

5. Drinks packages apply to the cruise only

This should be clear already, but the drinks packages only apply for your cruise – not for any pre- or post-cruise hotel stays that are part of your package.

The best time to book your drinks package

If you’re interested in buying a drinks package for your Ambassador cruise, it’s best to book it in advance. All of the drinks packages have two prices – one for advance bookings and a higher onboard price. Depending on the drinks package, it costs around £5-6 more per night if you wait to book it while onboard.

However, if you want to book in advance, you have until the week before you cruise to do so. Once you get within 7 days of your sailing date, you need to pay the onboard price. So make sure you don’t delay if you want to secure your drinks at the lower price point.

If you haven’t pre-booked a drinks package, but then you get onboard the ship and decide you want one, you only have the first 24 hours to book it. Once that deadline passes you aren’t able to choose a drinks package and you’ll have to pay for your drinks individually.

Bringing your own drinks onboard

Some cruise lines permit guests to bring a small amount of alcohol onto the cruise with them, but a lot of cruise lines also prohibit it – after all, they want you to spend your money on the drinks onboard.

Ambassador Cruise Line is in the latter camp – their policy is that guests are banned from bringing alcohol onto the ship when they embark, and any that is found in luggage will be confiscated and held until the end of the cruise, when guests can then claim it to take home.

This also applies to any alcohol purchased while in ports of call – guests are expected to hand it to the security team as they board the ship again, for it to be stored until the cruise ends.

Drink prices onboard

Drinks on an Ambassador cruise are pretty reasonably priced compared to some other cruise lines. That doesn’t mean they’re super-cheap but at the same time, you’ll be paying prices similar to those you’d pay in a restaurant or bar back home.

Here’s a quick summary of the prices:

Glass of wine (250ml) – £7.25 to £7.60
Draught beer (pint) – £4.95
Bottle of beer (330ml) – £3.55
Spirit (40ml) – £4.25 to £6.05
Mixer – £1.25
Cocktail – £6.00
Mocktail – £3.85
Soft drink (330ml) – £2.55
Fruit juice (250ml) – £2.55
Coffee – £2.25 to £3.45
Tea – £2.25
Bottled water – £0.65

How many drinks to break even with an Ambassador Cruise Line drinks package?

So the big question is how many drinks you’d need to have in order to break even with an Ambassador Cruise Line drinks package.

It’s a slightly tricky question to answer since there are different drinks packages and different costs depending on the length of your cruise. But as a guide, let’s assume a 7-night cruise as an average, and use those prices.

Also, remember that the adult drinks packages also include tips and gratuities, with a value of £7 per day on 7-night cruises. So I’ll deduct that from each drinks package cost when working out how many drinks you need to break even.

Ambassador Experience Package

To get your money’s worth on the non-alcoholic package, you’d need to spend more than £15 per day on drinks. Considering soft drinks cost around £2.55 per drink, that means you’d be looking at 6 drinks per day to really see the value.

However, if you drink mocktails or non-alcoholic beer, it’s around £3.55 a drink, so instead, 5 drinks would get you your money’s worth.

Ambassador Explorer Package

For a 7-night cruise, you’d be paying £38.95 per night for the Explorer Package. £7 of that goes to tips, remember.

It’s pretty much the same cost as 6 large glasses of wine, while 7 cocktails would also push you above the £39 level.

Of course, you may drink soft drinks during the day – so 6 soft drinks or regular teas and coffees, and then 4 large glasses of wine, 5 pints of beer or 4 cocktails would mean you got your money’s worth.

Ambassador Expedition Package

The Expedition Package is £44.95 per night on a 7-night cruise, meaning £39 of drink value. A lot of the premium drinks are around the £4 mark, including premium coffees, vodkas, brandy and more. So overall you’d need to have 10 drinks during the day to get the value from the package.

Ambassador Adventurers Package

The Adventurers Package is £13 per night on a 7-night cruise for younger kids, and £16 per night for older kids. So if your children drink more than 6 soft drinks during a day, it’s worth buying the package.

You can use my drinks package calculator to see whether it’s worth buying a package or not. Just enter your details to find out whether the number of drinks you’d typically consume would make it better to get a package or not.

Is it worth it?

Overall an Ambassador Cruise Line drinks package is usually worth it, especially when you remember that they include your tips too. But it’s an individual thing, and if you don’t tend to drink many bar drinks then it would be a waste of your money.

Using the info in this guide, try to work out how much you think you’d drink, and also which drinks are your favourites. You’ll get better value paying for an Expedition Package if you tend to drink more of the premium drinks on a regular basis.

Final word

Drinks packages in general are a good way to help keep your spending in check on a cruise, and while Ambassador’s pricing is a little confusing on shorter breaks, overall they’re worth looking into.

If you’re planning an Ambassador cruise, just be sure to make your drinks package decision early enough that you can get the cheaper price – you want to book more than 7 days before you sail.

Don’t forget to check out my guide to the Ambassador cruise ships too, before you book, so that you can learn a little more about what to expect when you do book that cruise.

If you found this interesting, please share!

Read more about me

Source link

The First 19 LNG-Powered Cruise Ships

December 17, 2024

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Cruise Lines Cruise News First time cruisers

Cruise ships are a popular way for people to explore the world while enjoying the comfort and luxury of a floating hotel.

However, with the growing concern over the environmental impact of cruising, the cruise industry is undergoing a significant shift towards cleaner and greener alternatives.

One such alternative is the use of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) as fuel, which is much more environmentally friendly compared to traditional heavy fuel oil. In recent years, many cruise lines have begun to invest in LNG-powered ships to reduce their carbon footprint.

More and more cruise lines are adopting LNG and so to list every ship using the fuel would mean to list almost every ship being built over the next few years.

So instead, here’s a look at the pioneers – the first 19 cruise ships to use the technology.

1. AIDAnova

Maiden Voyage: 2 December 2018
Cost: $950 million
Tonnage: 183,900 GT
Capacity: 5,200 guests

AIDAnova launched a new class of ship for AIDA Cruises, being the first Excellence-class ship for the fleet. She was also the first ocean cruise ship in the world that can completely sail using LNG, which is quite the record.

She suffered a number of delays due to her new design, which also impacted two other ships on this list. However the hull design has been used for other Carnival Corporation cruise ships since, meaning it’s now much easier for AIDA, Costa, Carnival, Princess, P&O and others to build LNG-powered cruise ships.

2. Costa Smeralda

Maiden Voyage: 21 December 2019
Cost: $950 million
Tonnage: 183,900 GT
Capacity: 5,200 guests

Costa Smeralda is another Excellence-class ship, this time sailing under the Costa Cruises brand, and when she launched she was not only the first LNG-powered ship for Costa, but also the biggest ship ever built for the cruise line, and the sixth-largest in the world (although she has now fallen further down the rankings).

She remains one of the largest ships in the world to offer exclusively Mediterranean cruise itineraries, including through the winter.

3. Ponant Le Commandant Charcot

Maiden Voyage: 29 July 2021
Cost: $324 million
Tonnage: 30,000 GT
Capacity: 270 guests

Le Commandant Charcot featured a hybrid power plant that’s powered by LNG and has electric batteries that can drive the ship with the engines switched off. She was the first icebreaking vessel to be powered by LNG – meaning a ship that is capable of sailing through the polar regions and withstanding ice impacts in the water.

She was also key in proving that LNG was the future for all size of cruise ships – not just as an investment for larger mega ship designs.

4. Carnival Mardi Gras

Maiden Voyage: 31 July 2021
Cost: $950 million
Tonnage: 183,900 GT
Capacity: 5,200 guests

Billed as ‘the first LNG-powered ship in North America’, Mardi Gras is the third Excellence-class ship to be built for the Carnival Corporation and the first for the primary Carnival cruise brand.

Carnival took the opportunity to overhaul the layout of the ship too, introducing ‘Zones’ for the first time, with each one hosting different entertainment facilities and features to make navigating the ship much easier.

5. P&O Iona

Maiden Voyage: 7 August 2021
Cost: $950 million
Tonnage: 183,900 GT
Capacity: 5,200 guests

Iona follows the same Excellence-class design as other Carnival Corp. ships, and was at the time the largest ship ever to be built for P&O Cruises and therefore the largest ship designed with the British cruise market in mind.

Since her launch in 2020 she has been exceptionally popular, primarily offering cruises around Northern Europe and the Med but with the occasional Caribbean itinerary too.

6. AIDAcosma

Maiden Voyage: 26 February 2022
Cost: $950 million
Tonnage: 183,900 GT
Capacity: 5,400 guests

AIDAcosma is a direct twin of AIDAnova, which also means she helped AIDA Cruises become the first cruise line to feature two LNG-powered ships.

A family-friendly ship, she is packed with fun features for all ages to enjoy including rock-climbing walls, splash pools, a water park and dining options aimed at children too.

7. Costa Toscana

Maiden Voyage: 5 March 2022
Cost: $950 million
Tonnage: 183,900 GT
Capacity: 5,224 guests

Costa Toscana is the sister ship of the Costa Smeralda, and she is considered to be the new flagship of the Costa Cruises fleet.

Delivery of Costa Toscana was delayed from her original launch date due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but since she has launched she has wowed guests with her wide range of family-oriented facilities, helping establish a new and more environmentally-friendly future for Costa Cruises.

8. Disney Wish

Maiden Voyage: 14 July 2022
Cost: $900 million
Tonnage: 140,000 GT
Capacity: 2,500 guests

Disney Wish was the fifth ship to launch for Disney Cruise Line, marking it as a notable event since launches are so rare.

Not only was she the first Disney ship to be powered by LNG, but she was the first to feature a full Disney attraction at sea, in the form of the AquaMouse water coaster. Other popular areas of the ship are themed around Star Wars, Marvel, and the Disney concept of ‘imagineering’.

9. Carnival Celebration

Maiden Voyage: 6 November 2022
Cost: $950 million
Tonnage: 183,900 GT
Capacity: 5,200 guests

Carnival Celebration is a sister ship of Mardi Gras, and became the seventh Excellence-class ship to launch for the Carnival Corporation.

She is very similar to Mardi Gras, being split into six distinct zones and including a wealth of dining options and family-friendly activities, including the returning Bolt roller coaster at sea and the debut of Space Cruisers, part of the kids’ club developed with the Kennedy Space Center.

10. P&O Arvia

Maiden Voyage: 6 November 2022
Cost: $950 million
Tonnage: 183,900
Capacity: 5,200

Arvia is the second ship to launch for P&O Cruises to be powered by LNG, and she is the current flagship of the fleet.

Similar to Iona, she has some great features onboard to please the whole family, including fantastic dining options and a varied kids’ club. Unlike her sister, she offers more variety in her itineraries including more frequent Caribbean cruises.

11. MSC World Europa

Maiden Voyage: 26 January 2023
Cost: $1.2 billion
Tonnage: 183,900 GT
Capacity: 5,200 guests

MSC World Europa is the first ship for MSC Cruises to be powered by LNG, and her futuristic design doesn’t stop there. Other environmentally-friendly features include enhanced water recycling, and improved propellers that cut down on noise affecting marine wildlife.

Her modern style also extends to her entertainment, including virtual-reality themed activities and lots of digital screens.

12. MSC Euribia

Maiden Voyage: 10 June 2023
Cost: $1 billion
Tonnage: 177,000 GT
Capacity: 4,888 guests

MSC Euribia is the second LNG-powered ship to launch for MSC, but notably she’s also the first ship in the world to launch as part of an existing class of ship, but with the new fuel type. She joins the Meraviglia-Plus class, alongside sisters MSC Grandiosa and MSC Virtuosa that are powered by traditional diesel.

She also incorporates MSC’s new wastewater treatment systems, and other energy-efficient technology solutions to help reduce fuel needed.

13. Silversea Silver Nova

Maiden Voyage: 14 August 2023
Cost: $600 million
Tonnage: 54,700 GT
Capacity: 728 guests

Arguably, Silver Nova has the distinction of being the first ultra-luxury cruise ship to be powered by LNG (Le Ponant is sometimes considered an ultra-luxury cruise line too).

Along with a number of contemporary features aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of the ship, the ship also looks to the future by adding more choices for dining and suite accommodation, and ensuring public spaces are as sumptuous as possible with hand-picked furnishings.

14. Carnival Jubilee

Maiden voyage: 23 December 2023
Cost: $950 million
Tonnage: 183,900 GT
Capacity: 5,400 guests

Carnival Jubilee is the third LNG-powered ship in the Carnival Cruises fleet, offering sailings out of Galveston in Texas.

Carnival will continue to use LNG for future ships in the fleet.

15. Icon of the Seas

Maiden Voyage: 27 January 2024
Cost: $1.1 billion
Tonnage: 250,800 GT
Capacity: 5,610 guests

When Icon of the Seas launched for Royal Caribbean, she wasn’t just the first LNG-powered ship for arguably the biggest cruise line in the world; she also took on the mantle of the single biggest cruise ship ever built.

She features some incredible new features, such as a dedicated neighbourhood for young families in Surfside, the largest waterpark at sea, and a massive range of dining options, including old favourites and debuting venues.

16. Sun Princess

Maiden Voyage: 18 February 2024
Cost: $1 billion
Tonnage: 175,000 GT
Capacity: 4,300 guests

Sun Princess was the first LNG-powered ship for Princess Cruises, and also the first LNG-powered ship built for the Carnival Corporation that isn’t an Excellence-class ship. She’s actually be a little smaller than the Excellence-class ships, but she’s still the largest ship sailing for Princess Cruises.

The third ship to ever sail for the fleet with the name ‘Sun Princess’, she offers some stunning new features including the Wake View Terrance and Sun View Terrace, both perfect spots to relax and enjoy the incredible views from the ship.

17. Silver Ray

Maiden Voyage: 3 June 2024
Cost: $600 million
Tonnage: 54,700 GT
Capacity: 728 guests

Silver Ray is the second Nova-class ship sailing for Silversea, including some of the debuting features from Silver Nova such as the asymmetrical design and the increased use of glass throughout the public areas to open up the ship more and make the most of the view.

As well as being powered by LNG, she retains other contemporary tech from Silver Nova that helps to make her more environmentally-friendly than earlier ships in the Silversea fleet.

18. Utopia of the Seas

Maiden Voyage: 19 July 2024
Cost: $1.3 billion
Tonnage: 231,000 GT
Capacity: 5,714 guests

Utopia of the Seas is the sixth Oasis-class ship to launch for Royal Caribbean, and the first of which to be powered by LNG.

She retained many of the most popular features from sister ships like Wonder of the Seas, along with some new features alongside the new fuel tech – no Royal Caribbean ship ever launches without something innovative.

19. Disney Treasure

Maiden voyage: December 2024
Cost: $900 million
Tonnage: 140,000 GT
Capacity: 2,500 guests

Disney Treasure is the sister ship of Disney Wish. As well as maintaining the environmentally-friendly features of her sister, she’ll also build on her new entertainment options and themed areas too.

She has the theme of adventure, with public areas based on the Aladdin movies, along with some other cool new spaces such as one themed around the Haunted Mansion.

And that’s it – the first 19 cruise ships to use LNG as a fuel, up to the end of 2024. Many ships launching in 2025 & beyond are also using the fuel, but cruise lines are still looking at new alternatives that may be even more environmentally-friendly too.

If you found this interesting, please share!

Read more about me

Source link

The Worst Time To Cruise To The Bahamas

December 17, 2024

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Caribbean Cruise Lines Cruise News Cruise Tips Destinations First time cruisers

The Bahamas is one of the most popular cruise destinations due to the island’s beautiful beaches, clear water, and proximity to Florida, another top holiday destination.

If you’re considering booking a cruise to the Bahamas, it’s worth looking into the best times to go and when it might be best to avoid.

A few years ago, I booked a cruise to the Bahamas to depart at the end of August. Well, a day before we were due to fly the cruise was cancelled. I didn’t think that perhaps the risk of hurricanes was the reason why the cruise was so cheap!

Since then, I’ve done a ton of research about the best and worst times to visit the Bahamas, so here’s everything you need to know.

The worst months for the Bahamas

The worst months to take a cruise to the Bahamas are during the hurricane season. This starts at the beginning of June and finishes at the end of November, and it peaks from August to October. During this time, hurricanes mean the weather can be unpredictable.

The Caribbean is the destination which mainly suffers from hurricanes. However, the Bahamas is north of the Caribbean Sea, which means the weather is less humid and less likely to be hit by a hurricane.

However, if you do decide to take a cruise to the Bahamas during hurricane season, there is a chance that your travels may not go completely to plan.

If you don’t want to take the risk, the Bahamas is at its driest in December through to early spring. You’ll more likely be able to enjoy sunny skies and less chance of your cruise being interrupted.

If you’re starting your cruise from a destination such as Florida, but a hurricane is on its way, the cruise will either be cancelled, may be delayed by a few days, or a port or two may be missed out. The cruise line’s top priority is the passenger’s safety.

You can learn more about how hurricanes can affect your cruise here.

Whilst the captain and crew carefully navigate for calmer waters, the onboard entertainment will replace your expected beach day in the Bahamas. Unfortunately, sometimes the outdoor pools close due to the swell of the sea, which in turn floods the surrounding pool areas.

Choppy seas as viewed from a cruise ship

However, there’s so much to do on a cruise ship that you shouldn’t be too disheartened if the Captain has announced that stormy weather is predicted.

There are plenty of activities to keep you occupied onboard the ship. Particularly on a large, modern ship, there’s usually lots to do. For example, if you’re on a Royal Caribbean cruise, your ship might have activities such as large theatre productions, ice skating, pub quizzes or, if you prefer something quiet, a library to relax in.

The advantages of cruising in the off-peak season

Sometimes because of life commitments, we can’t always choose the best time to travel. Our travel arrangements are governed by school holidays. If you have children, vacation time doesn’t always coincide with the best of your favoured location’s weather.

However, you could be lucky, bad weather at that time of year is not a foregone conclusion. You could benefit from lower cruise prices, cheaper flights and not so many crowds.

Many times when your cruise planner is live, and you are looking to book tours, you see the words ‘sold out’. This is less likely to happen in this quieter season – there may be more availability.

Tips for cruising in the Bahamas during hurricane season

If you decide to make the most of the reduced prices and quieter times, I have some suggestions.

First of all, when booking your cruise, check their cancellation policy. Check how they deal with refunds, as cruise lines have different terms and conditions. Some might offer an alternative, but others will issue credits to use another time.

Once you’ve booked your cruise, choose the appropriate travel insurance. Make sure the policy covers cruise ships and the destinations you’re visiting, such as the Bahamas. Check the small print and terms and conditions, and check whether it includes weather-related disruptions.

Next, when it comes to packing, it is essential to include suitable clothing for the varying weather conditions. Ensure to include appropriate wet weather gear to shield you from chilling winds.

Cruise lines and travel companies are very good at keeping in touch. You will hear from them if there are going to be any disruptions. So, make sure you check your emails and messages if you hear about potential hurricanes.

You can also stay updated with hurricane forecasts on websites and apps such as the National Hurricane Center.

The bottom line

As the weather can be unpredictable during the hurricane season, it might not be an ideal time to take a cruise to the Bahamas.

However, if you’re willing to give it a go, you might be able to get a cruise for a good price. Also, if you’re lucky, you may have fantastic weather, and you can enjoy your holiday without fighting your way through the crowds.

How to choose the best cruise cabin

I’ve made a free checklist of everything you should look out for when choosing a cruise cabin. If you’d like a copy, just leave your details and I’ll send it over to you right this moment.

The different rooms on Enchantment of the Seas

There are 1,142 staterooms/cabins on Enchantment of the Seas, making her one of the smallest cruise ships sailing for the fleet, although she is bigger than sister ship Grandeur of the Seas. This includes 98 suites. Only around 22% of the cabins on the ship have a balcony, which is also a low number for Royal Caribbean.

Enchantment of the Seas has 17 cabin types, split between inside, outside, balcony and suites.

Here’s a look at all of the cabin options on Enchantment of the Seas:

Room	Type	Max. guests	Decks	Average Size (sq ft)	Average Balcony Size (sq ft)
Interior	Inside	4	2-8	136	N/A
Connecting Interior	Inside	2	2-4	136	N/A
Interior Accessible	Inside	6	2-3	252	N/A
Spacious Interior	Inside	6	8	243	N/A
Ocean View	Ocean View	4	2-4	126	N/A
Connecting Oceanview	Ocean View	2	2-4	151	N/A
Spacious Ocean View	Ocean View	4	7-8	193	N/A
Spacious Ocean View Accessible	Ocean View	5	2-4	255	N/A
Ultra Spacious Ocean View	Ocean View	8	8	608	N/A
Spacious Ocean View Balcony	Balcony	4	7	195	39
Spacious Ocean View Balcony Accessible	Balcony	5	7	195	39
Junior Suite	Suite	4	7-8	243	74
Junior Suite Accessible	Suite	2	8	287	74
Grand Suite – 1 Bedroom	Suite	5	8	349	111
Grand Suite – 2 Bedroom	Suite	9	8	532	79
Owner’s Suite	Suite	5	8	517	111
Royal Suite	Suite	5	8	1326	128

Enchantment of the Seas room sizes

It’s important to note that the sizes given above are average sizes for the room, and that some may be a little larger than others.

You can browse the Enchantment of the Seas deck plans to see all of the rooms on the ship to scale, which will help you find any that might have a little more space and therefore give you more value!

Connecting Cabins

A quick note on connecting cabins for Enchantment of the Seas. While there are room types called ‘Connecting Interior’ and ‘Connecting Oceanview’, that doesn’t mean it’s only interior and ocean view cabins that have connecting doors.

If you want to book two cabins side-by-side for your cruise, and open the door between them, there are also Balcony cabins that let you, as well as some suites.

The only reason Connecting Oceanview is listed as its own room type is presumably because some of the connecting ocean view rooms are a lot more spacious, and deserve their own category. It’s similar for Connecting Interior, except the rooms are the same size – but the Connecting ones only sleep two guests, not four.

Enchantment of the Seas cabins to avoid

There are some cabins that you may be better off avoiding when you book your Enchantment of the Seas cruise.

However, because the ship is quite small and the room are all pretty much a standard size, there aren’t too many that you need to worry about.

Often larger cruise ships will have quirky rooms that are in bad locations, or are long distances from the rest of the ship, but there aren’t too many concerns on Enchantment of the Seas.

1. Cabins that can be loud

There are some parts of the ship where the noise can be heard either through your cabin’s ceiling, or through the floor.

Suggested read: Is Deck 2 on a Cruise Ship Bad?

The middle of Deck 4 is the worst affected by the casino but the staff can be working late to clean the restaurant, and the theatre shows can be loud until around 11 pm.

The worst affected are the Inside cabins on Deck 8 as they are directly below both pool decking areas.

2. Small cabins

All Interior and Ocean View cabins

Enchantment of the Seas is a smaller, older ship in the fleet for Royal Caribbean, and that also does mean that many of the rooms are smaller than you’d find on modern cruise ships too.

They’re not tiny, and they do have a lot of storage space thanks to some clever design, but they’re also a little cramped. Take a look at this video of the interior and ocean view cabins to see what you can expect…

If you don’t mind, and don’t plan on spending a lot of time in your cabin, then save money and book one of these, absolutely.

But if you’re travelling with kids and want to have 4 people in your cabin, I’d definitely recommend getting a bigger cabin and paying the extra.

3. Connecting cabins if you don’t need them

There are a lot of options for connecting cabins on Enchantment of the Seas, but if you don’t intend to book both cabins that are connected, I would try to avoid booking them.

The door connecting these cabins is thinner than a cabin wall, and so even when it is closed and locked, you might hear what’s going on in the room next to you.

The best rooms on Enchantment of the Seas

1. Aft-View Junior Suites and Grand Suites

There’s a prime spot on any cruise ship that experienced passengers love to try and book – the aft (rear), especially with a balcony.

On Enchantment of the Seas, there are two cabin types with an aft-view balcony – Junior Suites on Decks 7 and 8, and Grand Suites with 2 Bedrooms on Deck 8. Those have the largest balconies and are fantastic if you can afford them.

Depending on which suite you choose, you’ll also get a whole host of extra perks.

2. Ultra Spacious Ocean View for families

The Ultra Spacious Ocean View cabin is situated at the front of Deck 8, and it’s a fantastic suite if you’re booking for a large family.

True, you don’t get a balcony, which is a drawback. But instead, you get a lot of space, including a bedroom equipped with two lower singles and two fold-down beds for the kids.

The room is really spacious, and helps stop larger parties of up to 8 from getting under each others’ feet. You can take a closer look at this room in this video…

The only downside to the room is that it’s classed as a suite on sister ships Grandeur of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas and Vision of the Seas, so you’d get suite perks on those ships. However because it’s not a suite, it is cheaper on Enchantment of the Seas.

3. Royal Suite

The Royal Suite is the best cabin on the ship, but also the most expensive, so it’s not the best choice for everyone. But if budget isn’t a concern, it’s a fantastic choice.

Plus you get a split bathroom, including a shower cubicle and separate bath. It’s very luxurious, even for a ship that can feel dated at times.

The best deck on the ship…

The best deck on Enchantment of the Seas is Deck 8, where you’ll find the best suite accommodation including some fantastic aft-view rooms with amazing views. However, it can be noisy – ships toward the front of Deck 3 are best for peace and quiet.

With Enchantment of the Seas being one of the smaller ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet, there aren’t really any decks that stand out as being really good, or really bad. Deck 8 does have the best rooms, but it’s also below the pool deck and so can have issues with noise, depending on your location.

The forward part of Deck 3 is surrounded by cabins above and below and so that tends to be the quietest location. On many ships, I wouldn’t often recommend Deck 3 since it’s buried far away from everything else, but on this ship it’s not too bad at all.

And the best room is…

The best room on Enchantment of the Seas is the Royal Suite – it’s exceptionally spacious and has a large balcony where guests can unwind with an excellent view. However, the Owner’s Suite and the 2-bedroom Grand Suites, especially those with an aft view, are also great choices.

If a suite is outside your budget, then it’s definitely worth trying to get a Balcony stateroom on Enchantment of the Seas – you’ll get a lot more space than an Inside or Ocean View as well as your own private veranda where you can relax.

Owner's Suite on Enchantment of the Seas — Owner’s Suite on Enchantment of the Seas

Choosing your own room or going for the ‘guarantee’ option

If you are happy for Royal Caribbean to choose your room, then you still get to decide what type of room you want – Inside, Ocean View etc. – but the cruise line picks exactly which one. This is called a ‘guarantee’ cabin.

Benefits of choosing your cabin number:

Choose your preferred location on the ship
Book two cabins next to each other
Avoid undesirable cabins

Booking multiple cabins on Enchantment of the Seas

As I’ve mentioned, some of the cabins on Enchantment of the Seas have connecting doors. These are a good option for families, but they’re not essential. You can always ask to just have cabins next door to each other, without the connecting door.

But, if you do this with guarantee cabins, then you’ll have to request adjacent rooms, and there’s no certainty that you’ll get them.

Find more information about Enchantment of the Seas cabins

I’ve spent a lot of time looking at feedback about Enchantment of the Seas to put this guide together, but if you want to do your own additional research, you might find these resources useful:

You might also want to take a look at some of my other articles about cruising with Royal Caribbean…

If you found this interesting, please share!

Read more about me

Source link

Princess Cruises Launches New Sale for Cruises in 2025-2027

December 16, 2024

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Diplomacy

Princess Cruises has launched their next big sale and this one is for cruises that depart from 2025-2027.

Our free cruise newsletter offers the latest news and deals: Sign Up

Sun Princess cruise ship

Princess Cruises’ new Come Aboard Sale will run through February 28, 2025 and it offers special perks for sailings in 2025, 2026 and 2027.

It includes the following:

Up to 40% off cruise fares on 17 Princess ships
Complimentary cabin upgrades
3rd and 4th guests in a cabin sail free
Deposits lowered to just $99 per person

Cruises included in the Come Aboard Sale visit all seven continents and 330 destinations around the world.

Savings include more than $1,400 when booking a Sanctuary Collection Suite, Mini-Suite, or balcony cabin on their newest ships.

The cruise line has also extended their Best Price Guarantee and it now runs through December 15, 2025. This allows you to get a 120% difference if you find the price of your Princess cruise cheaper than what’s listed on Princess.com.

Terry Thornton, Princess Cruises Chief Commercial Officer, gave the following statement about this new sale:

“No matter what you love, you’ll find it on a Princess cruise – from our award-winning cuisine, awe-inspiring adventures in port and entertainment that wows, to our friendly crew who make you feel at home and always welcome.

“Princess provides a timeless cruise experience, and our ‘Come Aboard Sale’ makes is easier than ever to book a dream vacation on ‘The Love Boat.’”

Residents of the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Bermuda can take advantage of this sale from Princess Cruises.

Source link

Special Offers on Disney Cruise Line Sailings as of December 16, 2024 • The Disney Cruise Line Blog

December 16, 2024

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Cruise News Cruise Special Offers Disney Cruises

Disney Treasure’s Haunted Mansion Parlor Limits Guests to Just 45-Minute Visits

December 16, 2024

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Cruise Lines Cruise News News

Guests aboard Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Treasure will have just 45 minutes to enjoy the highly-anticipated Haunted Mansion Parlor, a bar themed around the iconic Disneyland and Disney World attraction.

The limit, confirmed during early media previews of the ship, is designed to allow as many guests as possible to experience the space during each voyage.

A sign outside the venue explains the restriction:

“Attention Mortals! The Ghost Captain requests all seatings are limited to a maximum of 45 minutes. Thank you.”

Sign displayed outside the Haunted Mansion Parlor

The time limit coincides with the lounge’s looped theatrical experience, which includes haunting music, character appearances, and hidden surprises throughout the space.

It’s also quite a small space – I really enjoyed it, but 45 minutes is a reasonable length of time to enjoy it, I think.

Haunted Mansion Parlor decorations on Disney Treasure

With over 4,000 passengers per sailing and high demand anticipated for the venue, Disney Cruise Line is expected to maintain the limit as Disney Treasure begins its inaugural season on 21 December 2024.

Guests can enjoy the lounge’s signature cocktails, such as Happily Never After and Final Vow, served in collectible ceramic mugs or branded bottles, as well as its intricate décor that pays tribute to the Haunted Mansion ride.

Features include ghostly apparitions in the bar’s mirror, animated “marble” busts, and hidden details in the wallpaper.

A themed experience at sea

The Haunted Mansion Parlor is part of a wider offering of themed lounges aboard Disney Treasure, including the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea-inspired Periscope Pub and the Jungle Cruise-inspired Skipper Society.

However, it has already become a standout feature, with visitors praising its immersive atmosphere and attention to detail.

The 140,000-gross-ton ship will begin its 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises this winter, offering guests the chance to experience this and other unique venues during their voyage.

NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!

Don’t miss the latest Disney Cruise Line offers…

If you found this interesting, please share!

Read more about me

Passengers aboard Holland America Line’s Zuiderdam have been struck by a norovirus outbreak during a 10-night Caribbean sailing, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed. The outbreak…

Aerial shot of the world's largest cruise ship, Harmony of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas experienced an eight-hour delay returning to her homeport in Galveston, Texas, on Sunday, 15th December 2024, due to a medical emergency requiring an unscheduled…

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has officially christened its second luxury yacht, Ilma, during a celebratory ceremony at Port Everglades, Ft. Lauderdale, on 11th December, 2024. The event followed maritime tradition…

MSC Cruises is introducing a 15-drink-per-day limit on its all-inclusive alcoholic beverage packages. The change will apply to package purchases made from 18th December 2024, and will take effect for…

Source link

1. Seasickness

2. Sunburn

3. Failing to Make Reservations

4. Major Storms

5. Being Late

6. Picking the Wrong Cruise Line for You

7. Selecting the Wrong Cabin

8. Overdoing it

9. Being too Connected Back Home

10. Not Realizing Some of the Extra Costs

Bottom Line

Choosing the best cruise cabin

The different rooms on Rhapsody of the Seas

Rhapsody of the Seas room sizes

Connecting Cabins

Rhapsody of the Seas cabins to avoid

1. Cabins that can be loud

2. Small cabins

3. Connecting cabins if you don’t need them

And the best rooms on the ship…

1. Aft-View Junior Suites and Balcony Staterooms

2. Oceanview Suite for families

3. Royal Suite

The best deck is…

Hard to pick a best room!

Choosing your own room or going for the ‘guarantee’ option

NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!

Booking multiple cabins on Rhapsody of the Seas

Find more information about Rhapsody of the Seas cabins

Related posts:

If you found this interesting, please share!

What are the Ambassador Cruise Line drinks packages?

Ambassador Cruise Line drinks package calculator

Here’s what’s included in the Ambassador Cruise Line drinks packages

Drinks package costs

Ambassador Drinks Package prices

Ambassador Cruise Line drinks packages terms and conditions

1. All passengers in a cabin must buy the same drinks package for the duration of the cruise

2. Some drinks are excluded

3. Payment for drinks packages

4. Drinks limits

5. Drinks packages apply to the cruise only

The best time to book your drinks package

Bringing your own drinks onboard

Drink prices onboard

How many drinks to break even with an Ambassador Cruise Line drinks package?

Ambassador Experience Package

Ambassador Explorer Package

Ambassador Expedition Package

Ambassador Adventurers Package

Is it worth it?

Final word

Related Posts:

If you found this interesting, please share!

1. AIDAnova

2. Costa Smeralda

3. Ponant Le Commandant Charcot

4. Carnival Mardi Gras

5. P&O Iona

6. AIDAcosma

7. Costa Toscana

8. Disney Wish

9. Carnival Celebration

10. P&O Arvia

11. MSC World Europa

12. MSC Euribia

13. Silversea Silver Nova

14. Carnival Jubilee

15. Icon of the Seas

16. Sun Princess

17. Silver Ray

18. Utopia of the Seas

19. Disney Treasure

Related posts:

If you found this interesting, please share!

The worst months for the Bahamas

The advantages of cruising in the off-peak season

Tips for cruising in the Bahamas during hurricane season

The bottom line

Related topics