Hi,

I was wondering if a family of four (two adults and two young children) are better off booking one balcony suite stateroom with extra beds or getting two connecting staterooms, perhaps one balcony and one interior?

thanks

Posted By michele on September 1, 2010, 5:04 PM

I've been trying to decide if a Caribbean cruise is a better deal for our family than choosing to stay at an island (resort/hotel/or rental...). Our sons are both young adults now, and am trying to determine which option might hold their interest longer next summer. (Personally, I'd be happy spending much of the time sitting on the beach, sipping a lovely beverage, and reading a great book...) I'd like an upscale vacation, but not an over-the-top one. Since our boys are grown and I am a 2nd grade teacher, I'd prefer to be further removed from the screaming children magnets - at least for my vacation (if you know what I mean...). Any information you could include to this particular niche of travelers would be appreciated.

Posted By Terra on September 2, 2010, 1:31 AM

My family are avid cruisers. We've cruised out the Caribbean and have done the Med. All that seems left are exotic itineraries. We have an 8 year old so are trying to work around school and my husband works long hours so we really can't go away for more then 10 days. Our goal in life is to show our son as many different places in the world as we can. We want him to be a citizen of the world not just the United States. We live on the east coast and don't want to have to do more then a 12 hour flight. We don't like big mega ships but do love quality food. Where would be a great budget be for us next year? We are looking to travel around mid June. Thanks so much.

Posted By Shannan on September 2, 2010, 11:32 AM

What are the ins and outs of River cruises on the smaller ships that work a lot on the European Rivers?
Can you compare companies that offer those cruises and the relative merits of paying more for a higher priced room?

Posted By Scotty65 on September 7, 2010, 1:55 PM

I have done several cruises in order to travel to places I have never seen before. I have done cruises to Alaska; Greece & Turkey; Canary Islands, Spain & Gibraltar; and recently Scotland, England & the Scandinavian countries. I am not fond of just spending time on a ship! I want to see interesting places and use a cruise ship to facilitate this. My friend and I are thinking of an Eastern European River Cruise (between Budapest & Bucharest possibly). We were wondering which cruise line you would recommend, what time of year we should plan and which direction we should sail in?

Posted By Noreen on September 7, 2010, 2:33 PM

I would like to know how far ahead I need to book in order to get the best pricing. Also, if the cruise I book drops in price after booking, does the cruise line refund the difference?

Posted By susan on September 7, 2010, 5:44 PM

I travel by myself all over the world, but have not taken a cruise. I would like to go to Alaska, but cannot afford the single supplements. What options are there for the single traveler that does not want to be one of 5,000 on a big floating city?

Posted By Beverly Galloway on September 7, 2010, 7:34 PM

I am a single woman and want to travel the eastern mediterrainian. I would like to know what options are there where you don't have to pay outrageous single supplement prices and what is the best line for an active single person to go on.

Posted By Christiana on September 10, 2010, 10:53 AM

We (two couples) are interested in renting a boat to cruise on a river in southern France (but we're open to suggestions of other places!). One of us even knows how to drive a boat! Any ideas about which rivers or boat rental companies to look into? We're looking at summer or possibly fall. Thanks so much.

Posted By Jane on September 14, 2010, 9:13 PM

I was just reading your article on River cruising and wondering why there was not mention of VANTAGE Cruises? THe trip I am looking at is through Vantage and it offers more than Viking in my opinion. We want to go from Budapest to Bucharest, and so many tours and more meals that the others are included. I am interested in your opinion.
My friend went on a Viking cruise last yr and did not like it very much, small cabins etc.
thanks, Judy

Posted By Judy R. on September 15, 2010, 5:44 PM

the solo supplement has already been mentioned. I am off on my 3rd transatlantic and find crusie lines and/or travel agents do not care about solo travelers.
after booking my oct crossing i continue to find lower prices sent to me by email and all i hear is "we cant offer that". What is the best way/time to book a solo crossing so that you dont pay 200% of the per person rate?

and how can you stop the advertising for 2 for 1 when they will NOT sell you a solo cruise under these promotions?

the alaska solo cruiser should consider the alaska ferry, it was wonderful. goes from n. of seattle washington all the way up the coast. best travel adventure i have had in years.''go solo not single

Posted By lee laurino on September 16, 2010, 10:46 AM

My husband is 6'6" tall and needs more room than most people (height, not width). Are cruise staterooms large enough - ex - showers, beds, etc?
Are some cruise lines better than others for extra room?

Posted By Doris from New Jersey on September 16, 2010, 11:50 AM

Can you do a sidebar on North American cruises? In particular, the New England-Canada coast, the Great Lakes, and US river cruises -- are there any?

Also, any advice on booking with a special interest group? I'm cruising for the first time in January with a wine-tasting group my husband belongs to.

And what are the best motion-sickness preventers (just in case)?

Posted By Mary on September 16, 2010, 1:29 PM

get one balcony room for the adults and an inside csbin across the hall for the kids...it gives you control over when they have access to the outside space unsupervised....will cost you less than two balcony rooms

Posted By PR on September 16, 2010, 1:30 PM

...solo traveler deals and how to find them...

Posted By nolehace on September 16, 2010, 1:57 PM

Bet you don't expect this question, even though I know it has come up a few years ago:
Retiring on a Cruise Ship
When will it be a real possibility? I know that one lady cruised with a British Line in the same cabin for several years, until they were decommissioning it. She supposedly was looking for another ship to do the same on. Don't know if she did. But anyway,a limited number of cabins could be set aside on each ship, and then maybe average the price of the cabin, yearly or seasonally. Then allow seniors who are still mobile, without serious illness book that cabin for back to backs (without having to pack and unpack and get off the ship in between cruises) for a season, or 6 months, or a year. I mean some people already do that by taking long cruises...90 or more days around the world. But what if you'd prefer to stay in a certain area close to the states; so you can still be in touch with family. Anyway, it would guarantee those cabins always being occupied, and paid for.

Posted By Patricia on September 16, 2010, 2:21 PM

Any advice on which lines or ships might be more/less kid friendly for a 4 year old ADHD boy? (Other than the obvious answer, Disney, which is probably more than our budget) Also, how are the private islands in the Bahamas some cruise lines have? Thanks!

Posted By Liz on September 16, 2010, 3:22 PM

Have the same concern as many have shown ie. a single traveler that's having a difficult time justifying paying double. Where I find the supplements that feature lower supplement amounts than 100%, they are usually for inside cabins and not the balcony that I have come to really consider a valued part of the cruising experience.

Posted By Sharon on September 16, 2010, 3:43 PM

My wife and I are planning a transatlantic cruise on Azamara Club Cruises beginning in Rome, Nov. 15 for 14 days. Please give us a general idea of weather conditions on the transatlantic portion of the trip. Thanks in advance.

Posted By Jim on September 16, 2010, 3:50 PM

1) what cruise line is good for singles in their late 30s early 40s?
2) what cruise line spends the most time in port, on average? some only stay for a few hours even though the next destination is only 9 miles away. i went on a carribean cruise that left one island at 6 pm or so and arrived at the next port at 7 am and it was only 9 miles away. you could literally see the next port from the departure port. where were we cruising all night?
3) how do you find specialty cruises like history cruises, classical music/opera, cooking, wine tasting or the like?
4) are vacation rentals allowed in the cruise ship/permanent condo ship residensea? if so, how can one find out how to rent people's homes on the ship?

Posted By buttercup on September 16, 2010, 4:39 PM

Cruiseline excursions are all ripoffs. They buy local
tours and mark up the price like crazy. Mobs of 50-60 on a bus. If you don't arrange excursions online ahead of time, go out and bargain with cabbies for the day. Much cheaper per person.

Posted By Geraud (Jerry) N Mandel on September 16, 2010, 5:12 PM

It can take hours for ship staff to deliver luggage to all staterooms so keep whatever you need the first day in your carry-on, whether a swim suit for the pool or dressy clothing for dinner. My books have info on how to pack for cruises, including dressy evenings, in just a carry-on. Put dot com after my name and check them out. Happy cruising! -- Barbara DesChamps

Posted By Barbara DesChamps on September 16, 2010, 6:19 PM

We are going to Meditteranian cruise with NCL starting and ending in Barcelona this November. What would be the effective way to explore the places when the ship is docked mostly for the whole day in places like: Monte Carlo, Rome, Naples etc...
The excursion arranged by the cruise ship is far too expensive for us

Posted By Sim Yoe on September 17, 2010, 2:11 AM

I am trying to get my (soon-to-be) husband to go on a cruise. We are in our mid-60's and never been on a cruise. We (okay I) are thinking about cruising for our honeymoon. I need it to be PERFECT. He's not keen on traveling in the first place.

What should I look for and what should I ignore?

Thanks

Posted By Chisono Indovina on September 17, 2010, 5:39 AM

This is a possible sollution for motion sickness
question posted by Mary. I bought a small bottle
of natural ginger capsules in the health food store.
Used them on our trip to Antarctica. They worked
fine for me with no side effects.

Posted By Carolynn Tiebout on September 18, 2010, 9:54 AM

For all the single travelers - look at
Grand Circle Travel info. They offer no
single extra. Just look at all the info
on web site or catalog - the optionals are
expensive. Most of their trips are quite
wonderful.

Posted By Carolynn Tiebout on September 18, 2010, 10:01 AM

Any tips on shipping luggage to the port? Most interested in how to get luggage shipped overseas.

Posted By Kate on September 19, 2010, 10:43 AM