Cincinnati radio station WKRC reports that three years after the mishap the girls are still trying to recoup their losses.   And investigative reporter Howard Ain says that getting the right travel insurance would have avoided the problem.

Here’s what happened:  the group arrived in Indianapolis two hours early for their connecting flight to Miami and, upon presenting paper tickets, were told they were invalid.  After troop leader Diane McConnell called the travel agent, new reservations were made but the group arrived at the pier moments after the Carnival ship departed.  The girls spent their vacation at a Daytona beach hotel rather than on the ship.

Upon return, the troop sued their travel agent and won $4300 in damages.  The travel agency then sued Air Tran airlines — and won. The judge ruled there was really no problem with the tickets, it’s just Air Tran had overbooked the flight.

While some of the girls had no travel insurance, several scouts had taken out trip cancellation insurance but that didn’t work either. “With it being a, they called it a computer glitch, that they wouldn’t cover that — it was unrecoverable,” says troop leader Diane McConnell

According to reporter Ain, “Turns out the trip insurance they bought was from the cruise line. While it is less expensive, it’s also a lot more restrictive than trip insurance purchased from an independent company. Had they bought trip insurance from an independent company, more than likely they would have been covered for the missed cruise. Such insurance is something to consider if you’re ever planning to leave the country.”

This is why I’ve been preaching about the importance of buying travel insurance from one of the independent companies like Travel Guard and Access America.  No matter how much your cruise costs, it’s important to protect your investment.

Do you buy travel insurance?

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1.  To arrive with wrinkle-free clothing for dressy nights, put each outfit in a plastic dry cleaner’s bag and lay in suitcase. I put items on hangars so they go directly from bag to closet.

2.  If you like to lie in the sun, use a very high sun block and reapply frequently, even if the label claims its waterproof.  Since I love a tan as much as anyone, I apply it the morning right after my shower with a self-tanner.

3.  When flying to meet a ship sailing from a port that is more than a ten minute ride from the airport, buy an airport transfer from the cruise line through your travel agent.  Saves time, money and aggravation.

4. NEW RULE! Never cruise without buying insurance from your travel agent.   I’ve been told by knowledgeable insiders that Access America and Travel Guard are more likely to reimburse justified expenses than the cruise lines’ own insurance company.

5.  I never board an airplane without ear plugs or an iPod.  Crying babies drive me nuts!

6. If you’re sailing from New York’s Manhattan or Brooklyn pier, take Amtrak to avoid driving.  Not only is gas prohibitively expensive but it costs $30 per day to park a car in the Manhattan port parking lot.

7.  Take a bunch of singles for tipping all the people who have earned a gratuity along the way.

8. NEW RULE! When flying to meet the ship, don’t pack any items in your suitcase you can’t stand to loose forever.  These include documents, medication, jewelry, eye glasses, electronics gear.

9.  I consider a carry-on bag with wheels necessary because of all the stuff I have to haul because my suitcase may not arrive outside my cabin door for three or four hours.  In addition to the items cited in the above tip, add a change of clothes and shoes plus toiletries.

10. If your heart is set on a cozy table for two at dinner aboard a ship with assigned seating, ask your travel agent to pull whatever strings necessary to reserve one the moment you book.  If that’s not possible, run to the dining room the moment you board to reserve your table.

11. When planning your own shore excursions, take the name and phone number of the cruise line’s local port agent, which is listed in the daily program delivered to your stateroom.   If a problem or delay occurs, it’s an important contact number to have.

12.  The moment you board the ship plan to run to the spa to book treatments, the VCR library (the best go first) and make reservations in an alternative restaurant.

13. Is it me or have cruise lines reduced staff on the pier, resulting in extra long waiting time to process documents and board the ship?   Take the torture out of waiting by having an Ipod, trashy book or magazine to read while standing in line.

14.  If you plan on buying a cruise line T-shirt in the ship’s boutique, wait until the last day when stacks of them are on sale.

15.  Don’t even think of buying grass during your Caribbean or Mexico cruise then packing it in a suitcase to disembark the ship.  Before you reach your bag on the pier dogs with remarkable olfactory talents will have scanned all the luggage.  Getting busted by DEA agents is a lousy ending to a perfect cruise.

16. No, you can’t bring bottles of any alcohol aboard ship.  But you may be interested in reading what other cruisers do to bypass this rule.  See the comments in “Taking Alcohol Aboard A Ship”.

17.  You can determine the age of passengers likely to sail on a ship by checking the duration of the voyage.  Two-to-five-day cruises carry the youngest passengers, on one-week voyages there will be a predominance of passengers aged 25 to 60 and on cruises over a week, most passengers are retired.

18.  To save money aboard ship, decide your cruise will be alcohol free.  If you have a problem doing that, check out ”Friends of Bill W” meetings scheduled daily aboard the ship.

19. NEW RULE! Do not cruise without travel insurance, especially if you must fly to meet the ship.  Delays and cancellations are rampant and without insurance, it’s your nickel to fly to the next port.  I recommend Travel Access and Travel Guard insurance, which is available through your travel agent or online.

20.  A night light comes in handy because black-out drapes mean the cabin will be pitch dark. It helps to avoid crashing into furniture when trying to reach the bathroom during the night.

21.  NEW RULE! Sometimes cruise lines offer lower-priced airfare to entice you to cruise (a good deal).  However, be sure to double check the air rate yourself.  If you’re booking far out, it may be better to purchase your own air — especially with cruise lines who won’t guarantee the air rate until the final payment is made.

22.  Before booking a cruise that will require you to purchase an airline ticket, make sure seats are available to and from the ship’s home port.  Airlines are cutting capacity to many vacation destinations (Orlando & Hawaii: -25%, Ft. Lauderdale down 10%).

23.  Never, never, never select one ship over another based on price alone, especially when food and service, children’s facilities or the itinerary is important.

24.  If you contact a travel agent to book a specific cruise line and the agent tries to steer you to another cruise company instead, I suggest finding a new agent.

25. Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Norwegian Cruise Line carry the most families with children.  While there are few kid-free cruises today, especially during school vacation period, you’ll find fewer children on Princess, Holland America and Celebrity if that’s what you’re seeking.

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A new website, Airport Hotels.com,  launches to help travelers find and book hotels near airports in the major ports of embarkation such as London, Barcelona and Venice. The hotel comparison ‘meta-search’ site uses Google maps to display 100 airports and 3,700 nearby hotels and simultaneously searches 10 hotel websites to find cheap airport hotel deals.

The new website uses XML price comparison technology to compare hotel rooms and prices from 10 leading hotel reservation websites in one search. Airport Hotels.com combines hotel data from multiple sources giving travelers more availability and prices than individual sites alone. With access to 3,700 airport hotels, bed and breakfasts and guesthouses the problem of finding no availability is rare.

All prices quoted include taxes to avoid nasty surprises and hotels are listed with prices from each of the 10 hotel websites searched to allow fair and accurate price comparison and booking.

Hotel descriptions indicate whether shuttles, Wi-Fi and other facilities are available and customers can review hotels to share their experiences.

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I imagine one of the biggest pluses is that a company took care of all the details… all the mother, bride and wedding party had to do was show up.

Best of all, the options are boundless: a shipboard wedding on embarkation day followed by a honeymoon for two; a shoreside wedding on a tropical beach; or a sunset marriage ceremony at sea with everyone in the wedding party enjoying the entire cruise are among the many choices.

The two easiest — and most popular — ways of arranging a wedding aboard ship is through your travel agent, who works with the cruise line’s wedding planners or working directly with companies that specialize in cruise ship weddings.

There are two companies that specialize in arranging weddings aboard ship or on land when the ship is in port: A Wedding for You and The Wedding Experience (click links). My advice is to ask your travel agent for a quote from the cruise line and then compare prices and services with the two companies above.

*** If you live outside Florida and want to tie the knot in that state aboard ship before it leaves port, you’ll need an outside company to arrange a license and official before departure.

*** NOTE: If your heart is set on getting married in a country like Bermuda or St. Thomas during a port stop, I recommend avoiding hurricane season.  If the ship has to bypass a port because of bad weather, you probably won’t get a refund for the missed service.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) advises the options and programs with each cruise line.

AZAMARA CRUISES
Azamara offers legal, captain-led wedding ceremonies, vow renewals and in-port wedding programs. Partnering with The Wedding Experience, a variety of packages feature everything from private receptions in the ship’s specialty restaurant to cake, Champagne and more. Guests should book in advance to ensure processing of legal documents and licenses.

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES
Some 2,300 couples will take advantage of Carnival’s all-inclusive wedding packages this year, a 50 percent increase from a decade ago. Carnival’s wedding programs include an official civil ceremony, reception and other value-added features and can be tailored to the couple’s wishes. Shipboard ceremonies are available on embarkation day in Carnival’s U.S ports and many Caribbean destinations. Vow renewal packages are also available.

CELEBRITY CRUISES
Celebrity’s most popular wedding package is the “Nautical Nuptials” program featuring a captain-led wedding ceremony at sea offered on all Celebrity ships except Celebrity Xpedition. Other packages available include a “Bridesmaids’ Tea Party,” a “Cigar and Cognac Party,” a “Test the Waters” package and a “Welcome Reception.” Vow renewal celebrations are also offered.

CRYSTAL CRUISES
Crystal offers captain-led wedding vow renewal ceremonies and it is rare that one of the company’s ships sails without at least one honeymoon couple. Focusing on helping guests plan and enjoy a completely customized honeymoon rather than a pre-packaged program, Crystal offers such romantic options as a candlelight dinner on a suite’s verandah, onboard florists, a portrait studio and private shore excursions.

DISNEY CRUISE LINE
Guests on Disney Cruise Line can exchange vows onboard the ship or step ashore for a romantic beach-side ceremony on the line’s private island paradise, Castaway Cay. With a magical Fairy-Godmother functioning as wedding planner, Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings handles all the details, including floral arrangements, elegant cakes and Champagne toasts. For many couples, Disney is also the ultimate honeymoon experience.

HOLLAND AMERICA LINE
Holland America offers a Wedding Package as part of its Group Advantage Program (GAP). The wedding couple enjoys a free stateroom upgrade and a commemorative wedding cake with at least eight staterooms booked and the entire group enjoys numerous amenities, including a Pinnacle Grill lunch, private wine tastings, and chocolate-covered strawberries and Chase Limogere Brut in their staterooms.

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE
Norwegian offers two wedding packages – “Onboard Aisles” and “On Shore Aisles” – available in ports in the U.S., Canada, Europe, the Caribbean, Mexico and Bermuda. Both include a ceremony conducted by a local official plus all the features of a wedding, from music to wedding cake and sparkling wine. Norwegian also offers vow renewal packages and an “Engagement Aisles” program for the ultimate proposal at sea.

PRINCESS CRUISES
Princess pioneered weddings at sea more than a decade ago, and since then ship captains have married thousands of couples while sailing in locations around the globe. The unique “Tie the Knot at Sea” program offers ceremonies in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Alaska and other exotic locales, which couples can customize with live music, flowers and reception options. In addition, a harborside option enables couples to be married in port, and ashore weddings are available in a variety of scenic ports.

REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES
Guests wishing to make customized wedding plans in conjunction with a Regent Seven Seas cruise may use the services of Royal Ocean Events, which can handle all the details and requests. A honeymooner package features a letter of congratulations from the captain, Veuve Clicquot Champagne and caviar, in-suite canapés every afternoon, a miniature wedding cake and Leonidas chocolates and more.
ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL
In addition to a “Royal Romance” package featuring a one-hour wedding ceremony onboard ship or on shore on embarkation day, couples on Royal Caribbean can exchange vows while climbing the ships’ rock walls or ice-skating or even catching the waves on the shipboard Flowrider. Shoreside wedding venues include the glaciers of Alaska, European castles, rainforests and an Italian vineyard.

SEADREAM YACHT CLUB
SeaDream offers two wedding vow renewal ceremonies – one designed for couples only, the other for as many as 12 guests – and both conducted by the yacht’s captain. Iced Champagne and canapés, a cake and flowers add special touches to the elegance of an elegant luxury yacht experience. SeaDream points out four couples who have completed the legal process at home, the shipboard vow renewal ceremony can serve as a wedding.

WINDSTAR CRUISES
Windstar invites couples celebrating honeymoons, renewing wedding vows or honoring a special anniversary to discover romance at sea. Chilled Champagne, chocolate-dipped seasonal fruit, breakfast in bed, “Time for Two” massages and elegant dinners for two at sunset are among the amenities featured on the line.

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A decade ago you had to take a pricey luxury vessel carrying fewer than 700 passengers to find single, open seating while today it’s an option available on nearly every vessel. And, you’ll still find plenty of cruisers – roughly half, the cruise lines report – opting for the traditional style of cruise ship dining.

As one cruiser told me “I love traditional. I love having the waiter remember I like having two glasses of ice tea, the fact that I love chilled soups. You don’t get that when you have to wait an hour to dine in a ship’s restaurant after you’re rushed back to shower and reach the restaurant before it gets packed.”

And, many cruisers have noted that the service is better in an assigned seating restaurant. Typically, the pace is more consistent and waiters form a bond with people they’re going to be serving over a period of time.

However, open seating is so popular because many cruisers prefer to dine when and with whom they please. And the enormous size of modern cruise ships ensures that there’s enough space for cruise lines to please everyone. Today, you note which dining plan you prefer and register it on the cruise line’s web site, along with shore excursions and spa appointments.

If you’re a first time cruiser and don’t know which dining option to pick, I recommend the assigned plan for those traveling with children and groups with six or more people. Otherwise, you may have to wait longer until a large enough table opens up. And, families typically opt for the assigned 6:30 dining so that children can get to bed earlier.

Among the new dining features we’ve seen this year and next:

** In 2009, Carnival Cruise Lines, Crystal Cruises Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Holland America moved to flexible dining by offering the choice of assigned or open seating.

** Royal Caribbean’s gigantic Allure of the Seas (sister ship of Oasis) which will enter service this December with 24 dining options. Nine restaurants will have either a surcharge of up to $35 per person or a la carte menu options including Johnny Rockets and the Ice Cream Parlor. The cruise line also introduced an expedited 40-minute dining experience for chilled aged 3-10 for passengers choosing the assigned 6:30 plan. A youth counselor will escort kids from the main dining room entrance back to the Adventure Ocean facility so they can resume playing with their friends.

** On Aug. 31, 2009, Celebrity Cruises announced that a flexible dining program will be available on all ships starting in January/February 2010. Cruisers may book their preference — single, open or traditional assigned seating — prior to departure on Celebrity’s website.

** Oceania Cruises’ new Marina, scheduled to enter service in January 2011, will boast six restaurants aboard the premium-class ship, none with a surcharge, including one designed by renowned chef Jacques Pepin. Even more revolutionary, Marina will offer passengers the chance to learn new cooking skills in an onboard school boasting 12 individual stations, each with its own oven.

** Carnival Dream, which entered service last December, hosts several new restaurants, including one that serves only pasta. In addition, in the “Taste of the Nations” Lido restaurant you’ll find fixed stations with Asian and Indian cuisine. The expanded room service menu will offer gourmet delicacies like Roast Beef on a French Baguette and grilled fresh mozzarella and Portobello mushrooms on focaccia.

** Norwegian Cruise Line, which offers “Freestyle Cruising” aboard all ships, will add to its roster of restaurants on Norwegian Epic, which entered service this July. The “Manhattan Room” is a two-story art deco supper club with a dance floor and live evening music. The cruise industry’s first Churrascaria will feature skewered meats presented by table-side servers.

Do you prefer open or assigned seating?

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• 8-14 Hurricanes
• 3-7 Major Hurricanes

Should You Cruise During Hurricane Season?

The captain of a Princess ship once told me, “any cruise ship captain who gets caught in a hurricane would have to be pretty stupid.” The good news is that officers have access to the most advanced hurricane centers. Remember, hurricanes are slow-moving bodies; if a storm threatens an island on a Caribbean itinerary, the captain will change course and cruise to other areas instead. I’m certain you won’t mind missing a port when it’s being plummeted by 100 mph winds and driving rain.

The Atlantic Ocean is a different matter. Hurricanes that don’t go ashore typically hug the coastline which means ships sailing from New York, Boston, Baltimore or Charleston to Bermuda or the Caribbean may have move to a Canada/New England itinerary instead.     There are no islands to hide behind and if a storm is in your path you may miss Bermuda or have to go North when you thought you were cruising South.

So, should you sail during hurricane season? I wouldn’t hesitate a second to book any ship during hurricane season because during the fall, especially, rates are ridiculously low and kids are back in school.  Add to that, I don’t particularly care if the ship has to skip a port.

Will you get seasick? It’s very unlikely because ships steer clear of the path of a hurricane.   I’ve cruised in the Caribbean when another area was hit hard by a hurricane.  The skies were blue, the winds calm during the entire cruise.

Who may want avoid sailing during hurricane season? If your heart is set on visiting Bermuda I suggest booking a cruise early in the season.   It doesn’t have to be a full hurricane for the Captain to decide it’s wiser to head for Canada.  The reason is because ships can’t dock during major storms and don’t even try to because wind and high seas will smash the ship against the dock, causing damage.

I’m always shocked when passengers complain that a ship’s itinerary changed to avoid a hurricane. You mean you WANT to be tossed about in high seas and wind so bad even officers get seasick? Of course there are threats of lawsuits, even though storms fall into the “acts of God” category which means the cruise line isn’t legally responsible. Not to mention, the small type on your cruise ticket also says the Captain can change itinerary or cancel a port for any reason whatsoever.

The point is, the weather is too uncertain to let it affect your vacation plans. And the big advantage of a cruise is that a ship can move away from a large storm whereas in a hotel, you’re stuck. As someone who rode out Hurricane Hugo in Puerto Rico’s El San Juan hotel, let me tell you: It’s pure hell. Even worse than enduring that Category V hurricane, was being stuck in San Juan for three nights with no electricity or air conditioning because the airport was shut down.

Does the prospect of a hurricane keep you from cruising during the June through November season?

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MyBestFareFinder bring deals right to your inbox and eliminates the need to hop around the Internet searching for the best cruise prices.  After registering at the web site you simply fill out a form with your preferences (itinerary, ship, stateroom, departure date, etc.). After it is submitted, travel agents will bid for your business by offering the lowest price.

What is especially appealing is there is no fee and or requirement to buy anything.   Your personal information, such as email, never appears until you decide to book with a specific travel agent.   And, MyBestFareFinder screens all travel agents who sign up to participate in the reverse auction to insusre they are legit.

You’ll start receiving no-obligation offers in a few hours to a few days.   After a half dozen so quotes arrive by email from travel agents eager to get your business, it’s pretty safe to assume you’re getting a terrific deal.

As an added perk, you’ll find a travel agent who is more likely to be experienced in selling cruises.

Happy bargain hunting!

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Absurd Cruise Policies? Consumer advocate Chris Elliott frequently tackles cruise line policies that he believes aren’t consumer friendly.  In a recent column in the Orlando Sun Sentinel,  troubleshooter Elliott criticizes alternative restaurant surcharges, airline deviation fees, cruise contracts and maritime law in “Crazy Cruise: Seven Absurdities of the Sea”.   See if you agree.  To read his article, click here.

*** Carnival’s New Round-trip Hawaii Cruises. After Carnival Cruise Lines announced its first round-trip Hawaii cruises from L.A. and San Diego, the San Francisco Chronicle’s Hawaii editor, Jeanne Cooper,  points out that the 15-day voyages include four days at sea in each direction.  Add to this, “interior cabins start at $1,199 base rate for the Los Angeles route, $1,299 for San Diego, per person with double occupancy (plus government taxes, fees, gratuities and excursions.) Ocean-view rooms cost another $300, balcony staterooms an extra $600 per person,” writes Cooper.   Does this appeal to you or are you like Cooper, who prefers to fly and skip the long time at sea.  Click here.

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I just returned from a cruising aboard the 5,100-passenger Norwegian Dream to learn that the head of Holland America admits he’s “thinking” of building a 3,000-passenger cruise ship.  You don’t say something like this to a journalist unless it’s  certain that the formal announcement will follow in a few months.

And while the biggest ships get the most publicity — think Royal Caribbean’s 6300-passenger Oasis of the Seas and the 4300-passenger Carnival Dream — it may be tempting to assume that the newest, biggest ship is the best.   But is that true?

While the super-behemoths have so many more choices, you do loose something valuable:   an intimate level of service.  Should HAL build 3,000-passenger vessels they will be in the mass market category of ships instead of the premium category because the fine level of service will suffer.

Why Cruise Ships Are So Big

Cruise line execs say they build these mammoth ships because passengers want more to do, more choices in dining and entertainment, more fitness facilities and kids programs.   Well, that’s part of it.  But the real reason is because of economy of scale:  the larger the ship, the lower the cost of each cabin.   You have one set of officers, one set of engines and air conditioning units.  Remember, the biggest cost of operating a sea-going vessel is below deck.

Keep in mind that the priciest ships are in the luxury category and none carry more than 1000 passengers.    The two most important features of a luxury cruise are outstanding food and service, which can’t be accomplished when you substantially increase the size and number of passengers.   Add to that staterooms which are significantly larger.   And, these ships call in the world’s most glamorous ports of call and in some cases larger vessels can’t dock.

When the Best Pick is a Huge Ship

* Families with children will love the largest ships afloat because they offer the most extensive kids programs and facilities.    Think water slides, zip line, rock climbing and private teen clubs for older children plus colorful pools and day-long supervised activities for tots and youngsters.

* Couples who would otherwise head to Las Vegas or Atlantis for the wide array of nightlife,  dining and large casinos will undoubtedly love ships carrying 4,000+ passengers.

* Caribbean cruising, because there is ample time (plus multiple days at sea) to enjoy all the diversity these ships offer.

When The Best Pick is a Ship with Fewer than 2500 Passengers

* When cruising outside the Caribbean and Mexico.    For example, in Europe one of the most delightful things to do is wander around ports like Venice, Stockholm and Barcelona.   The fewer number of people disembarking with you, the less crowded it will be.

* When you’re unlikely to take advantage of all the entertainment and dining options.  In Europe, few itineraries include a day at sea.  You’re off the ship at 8:30 a.m. and sightseeing all day: many cruisers just want a bite to eat before retiring early.

* When you’re on a tight budget.   In the case of Norwegian Epic and Oasis/Allure of the Seas, the best food costs extra and it’s tough to pass up a restaurant others are raving about.

* If you have problems walking or don’t want to walk great distances.

* If a more personal style of service is important.

Cruisers, what size ship works best for you?

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They’d rather go hiking, play golf, photograph nature, take a cooking class, ride a bike, head to Las Vegas for a poker tournament or any number of activities that are, they believe, incongruous with taking a cruise.

But there are very few activities or interests that can’t be enjoyed even more on a cruise whether it is part of the modern cruise experience or a theme cruise. Here are a sampling of the enormous range of activities and special interest program.

Golf

Most cruise lines offer golfing ashore at some of the world’s best golf courses. For example, Norwegian Cruise Lines offers in-depth golf programs in Hawaii and Bermuda that enable golfers to tee off on some of the top courses. Carnival Cruise Lines’ “Golf Ahoy” program includes onboard instruction with the golf simulator and guided golf excursions in almost every port of call.

The facilities on the Grand, Crown, Diamond, Sapphire, Golden and Caribbean Princess are some of the finest afloat. They’re the only line with two virtual golf simulators onboard; plus, these vessels also include an onboard pro, outdoor cages, putting courses, private and group lessons, clinics, and new Nike Golf equipment and attire (including the clubs and clothing Tiger Woods is now using). Crystal Cruises schedules golf cruises in nearly every part of the world.

Culinary

Those who love to cook will find plenty of opportunities to learn new techniques from some of the world’s top chefs. Aboard Holland America ships are Culinary Arts Centers plus classes and demonstrations led by roughly 70 visiting guests chefs per year. In 2009/10 Crystal Cruises has scheduled numerous theme cruises focusing on food and wine in some of Europe’s most spectacular ports. Uniworld River Cruises also offers “Epicurean Adventures” that include excursions ashore and cooking demonstrations on many European river sailings. As part of its ScholarShip@Sea program, Princess features lectures and experts in culinary arts aboard its vessels. MSC Cruises offers “how to” classes covering table-setting, serving food a drink, making centerpieces and decorating cakes.

Fitness, Biking and Hiking

One of the biggest misconceptions is that cruising is a sedentary experience for the elderly. In fact the average age of Royal Caribbean’s passengers is 42 and both Carnival and Norwegian Cruise Line reports similar demographics. Modern ships are equipped with fitness centers that rival those found ashore, boasting the latest pushing and pulling machines as well as jogging decks, basketball/volley ball courts and, in some cases, miniature golf. Royal Caribbean’s Voyager- and Freedom-class ships boast ice-skating, roller blading on deck and rock climbing.

And today, cruise line shore excursions offer even more opportunities ashore for those who prefer an active vacation experience. Carnival Cruise Lines offers bicycle tours in Skagway, Alaska; Barcelona and Jamaica, among other ports while Princess Cruises’ shore excursions typically include hikes to scenic places. Cruise West’s photography cruises in Central America feature excursions ashore with experts who will help participants improve their techniques.

Music and the Performing Arts

Aspiring actors can study with the pros aboard Queen Mary 2 transatlantic crossings between New York and Southampton. On all QM 2 crossings the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art offers acting workshops that focus on voice training, body movement and performing a Shakespeare monologue. This enormous ship is one of the few that offers ballroom dancing to a 17-piece orchestra, symphony and top-flight guest performers.

Carnival Cruise Lines also offers an impress roster of music theme cruises for those who love Elvis, the “Fab Four” (Beatles) and Rick Springfield plus soap opera and murder mystery cruises. Or, take the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise featuring some of the biggest names in music scheduled January 23, 2010 aboard Holland America’s Eurodam.

The two best sources for scheduled theme cruises are Cruise Line International and the Theme Cruise Finder which has lists of special interest cruises as long as your arm.

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