It’s your first cruise and you’re dutifully reading the cruise line’s pamphlet on what to expect on your upcoming voyage. Your heart skips a beat when you reach the section on clothing: Two formal nights! You haven’t been that dressed up since the prom (more years ago than you’ll even admit).   You got great deal on the cruise itself but now you have visions of running a much higher tab on the stuff you need to board the ship.

Fear not, gentle reader, you’re in good hands.  I’m a black-belt New York shopper with a PhD in bargain hunting. I’ve got a closet full of nice cruise clothes and I can’t remember the last time I paid retail.

What Does Formal Mean On A Cruise?

A formal event at home may mean ball gowns but they’re pretty rare on a cruise unless you’re sailing on a luxury ship like Crystal Symphony.  Of course men have it much easier.  Roughly half the men bring tuxes or rent them aboard ship, the other half wear suits.   On formal nights you’ll find women donned out in all matter of attire, ranging from short to long dresses and skirts plus pants suits fancy and simple.

But hey, a cruise is a special occasion and you’ll want to dress up a bit.  And of course you want a few new items to take on the cruise.

I asked a friend, who works for Giorgio Armani, for tips on ways to look elegant on a limited budget.  His advice: “Wear black!”  I could take a 90-day world cruise  with one long black skirt and/or black evening pants plus a pair of black high heels.  Add a black or white silk top. What makes me look dressed up is accessories: glittery jewelry, long flowing scarf, a special silk or satin evening jacket.    The odds are you can probably borrow these items from friends and family.  But hey, it’s fun to shop.

Confessions of an Ebay shopper

Ebay is the world’s largest bazaar where you can buy practically anything for a fraction of the price. I’ve been an avid Ebay shopper since 1997 and here are some of the deals I’ve gleaned: A TravelPro suitcase for $49 (a savings of $100 off retail); a $2,000 Issey Miayke evening dress NWT (new with tags) for $135; Eileen Fisher silk pants NWT for $25; a stunning evening bag for $12; brand new Stuart Weitzman evening shoes for $40 which sell in the stores for $220. Tommy Bahama’s clothing is perfect for cruisers and I’ve collected a few of his items with a hefty discount.

(Note: if you’re new to Ebay, read the last section of this article which explains the process.)

I’m not taking much of a risk buying clothes and shoes on Ebay because I’ve already tried them on in a store. I know which designer’s clothes look best on me, know I like the fit and my size. I’m sure you’ve discovered that sizes vary by designer. I consider it a prerequisite to making an Ebay purchase that I try the clothes and shoes on before I bid.

Since I don’t have all the time in the world to constantly check Ebay’s massive inventory,  the search tool is invaluable. For example, if searching for my favorite designer’s evening shoes, I input “Stuart Weitzman black heels,6.5″, or, Clarks 37 (European size) for more casual footwear. For clothing, I enter the designer and size, i.e., Tommy Bahama ladies 8, Eileen Fisher M.

When buying clothing and shoes, I only purchase items that are NWT, Ebayspeak for ”new with tags”. I make exceptions for evening bags that will get limited use. If there is a flaw, the Ebay sellers I’ve encountered go out of their way to describe it. In some cases, however, you may not know a specific designer for all the items you need. For example “evening bag” will bring up thousands of bags.  To save time, be more specific: “black clutch” or “vintage evening bag” will narrow the options.

One of my favorite Ebay sellers is textile artist Maya Matazaro who creates stunning scarves, shaws and fringed evening jackets made of cut velvet, silk and other fine fabrics.  In Maya’s Boutique you’ll find beautiful evening shawls priced from $20 to $75.

For jewelry that will only be used for one or two evenings I suggest buying inexpensive costume jewelry made of crystal.  My search for these items would be “Swarovski necklace”.  The Austrian company manufactures its own jewelry and nearly all the crystal found in any company’s jewelry. (By the way, Swarovski crystal is just another word for rhinestones; don’t be duped into paying much for any piece of jewelry made of crystals.)

While it’s true that half of male cruisers bring a dark suit, men can still dress in a tux without spending much.  Aboard most ships you’ll find a tuxedo rental facility  with very reasonable rates. For a fee of around $65 he’ll be outfitted in a full tuxedo to wear during the cruise.  He can even rent the shoes aboard the ship. Be sure to ask your travel agent if your ship has this service.

For children, follow the same guidelines: buy name-brand items in the sizes you know will fit your children.

Additional Bargain Venues

I love flea markets and some of my best purchases have come from them.  One pair of earrings from the 1950’s made of beautiful, large crystal cost $5; I always get compliments.  A lovely woman from Viet Nam sold me a beaded satin evening bag for $8.

New To Ebay?

Ebay is an Internet auction site where you’ll find practically every item made on earth for sale at a discount. There is no charge to register and you can begin bidding immediately. One useful tool the auction company provides each person is “My Ebay”, an area where you can track the items you’ve bid on, won as well as merchandise you’re watching. When you bid, are out-bid and win an item, Ebay automatically sends you confirming emails.

Security: How do you know the person you’re buying from will really deliver the item? What keeps both buyers and sellers honest is the feedback they get from other members. Before buying an item, check the seller’s feedback area for comments from other buyers (I don’t buy items from any seller with less than a 98% satisfaction rate). And, after the item has arrived, return to “My Ebay” and rate the seller.

Bidding: This is a straightforward procedure. You either compete against other bidders or click the “Buy It Now” icon for items priced higher than the final sale price.  I can’t be bothered waiting for an auction to end so I “spam” the item. “Spamming” is perfectly legal and easy to do.  With an outside free web site such as JustSnipe, I register the Ebay item number and the maximum amount I’m willing to pay.  My bid arrives at the auction five seconds before it closes.

Ebay owns Pay Pal, an Internet payment web site, and all sellers use it as a payment option. Once you register with PayPal, funds are charged to a credit card or withdrawn directly from a bank account.

What tips do you have for saving money on pre-cruise items like clothing, luggage, cameras and other items?

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In a volatile economy with high unemployment  many of us are cutting back expenditures in order to to stretch budgets further.  And in order to afford a vacation, it may  be tempting to pick a ship because it has the cheapest price.

What we tend to forget is that our time is the most precious commodity of all.  To spend precious vacation time on a ship where we dislike the food, service, our accommodations or fellow passenger is being penny wise and pound foolish.  In the end, it’s a huge waste of money.

For example,  I’ve seen complaints about MSC Cruises from dissatisfied passengers.  The company touts itself as a “premium” cruise line and too many travel agents parrot that description to clients attracted by low ticket prices.  Keep in mind that ”premium” is strictly an advertising term first introduced by Celebrity Cruises in the mid 1990’s.

Now plenty of people enjoy MSC’s ships but chances are they weren’t over-sold a bill of goods or think the $50 per person, per day price tag translates into refined dining and great creature comforts.  The best agents will undersell a ship so high expectations don’t spoil your vacation but there aren’t enough of them to go around.

This year your vacation budget may be lower but you still want to take a cruise.  Here are my suggestions for cutting costs while still having a wonderful cruise vacation.

1)  Some cruising regions are more affordable than others. In 2011/12,  the price of a cruise will largely be affected by cruising region.  You’ll find the lowest fares on Caribbean, Bahamas and Mexico itineraries where there is an over-capacity of ships.  Add to that, there’s an oversupply of ships making three-, four- and five-day cruises; you’ll find some of your best deals here.  But last year Europe bombed so prices should be much lower this year; again, it’s over-capacity.

2)  There’s a good reason why homeland cruising continues to be popular.   With cancelled and delayed flights on the rise, not to mention high fuel surcharges, you can save an enormous amount of aggravation and money by sailing from a nearby port.  For example a million people sailed from the three ports of New York (Manhattan, Brooklyn and Bayonne, NJ) and you’ll find three cruise lines offering year-round cruises to the Caribbean.

3) The very best travel agents can frequently steer you to bargains you never knew existed and, with some cruise lines, offer you a lower price than competitors.  If you don’t have a wonderful agent, ask friends for referrals.  However you do it, find an agent who has lots of experience in the cruise industry.  It can make all the difference in getting the biggest bang for your buck.

4)  The newest vessels typically command the highest prices so opt for one that’s been around for a few years, especially if you prefer one cruise line over another.  The food, service and entertainment will be the same and, in most cases, cabin sizes don’t vary by category.  Allure/Oasis of the Seas are still getting top dollar as is NCL’s Norwegian Epic.

5)  As any cruiser knows, it’s easy to run up a hefty tab aboard ship.  Since cruise lines consider on-board spending to be their primary source of revenue,  expect to be bombarded with ads urging you to attend art auctions, purchase items in the gift shops and buy overpriced spa treatments, gamble and buy shore excursions.  Before you board the ship, decide which expenditures to eliminate and, in the case of shore excursions, research shore-side activities you plan on your own.

6) In terms of family vacations, it’s nearly impossible to top a cruise in terms of affordability.  Cruise lines don’t charge for wonderful, fully-staffed children’s programs that will keep the kids entertained throughout the day.

Do you plan on economizing on vacation plans this year?  If so, how will you cut back?

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Promising luxurious ships, exciting destinations and a wide choice of cuisine, cruise holidays can offer disabled travellers a fantastic experience. Many of the larger ships pack a wide variety of accessible facilities and activities into a relatively compact area, and you get to choose the right balance of activities and relaxation to suit you.

Overall, facilities for travellers with disabilities are improving all the time, with many newer ships incorporating virtually all the accessibility features that modern technology can provide. Most larger cruise lines now offer disabled check-in desks; assisted boarding to your cabin; adapted cabins; and corridors wide enough for wheelchairs or mobility scooters. Some cruise lines go further than others, however. They may provide pool hoists, hearing and Braille facilities, or allocated dining tables and show seats in easily accessed areas– all the extra little touches that make your cruise holiday experience more enjoyable and hassle-free, just as a holiday ought to be!

On-board disabled facilities

Quiz the cruise line or travel agent in detail before you book. You may want to find out whether you can take your assistance dog on board; whether the ship incorporates Braille signs; whether the corridors are wide enough for wheelchairs; or how bathrooms and cabins cater for different disabilities. A lot of cruise lines also require each disabled passenger to have someone to accompany them on the cruise, so if you’re planning to travel alone make sure this is possible.

Shore excursions

Even if the ship itself is accessible, some scheduled ports of call may not be – particularly if you have mobility problems. If you usually use a wheelchair or scooter, make sure the cruise ship will let you take it off and on board at ports. Some ports do not have docks, in which case passengers are ferried from the cruise ship to the shore on ‘Tenders’ (similar to lifeboats), which can’t always cater for wheelchairs.

Top cruise lines for disabled passengers

Some lines have built up a solid reputation for offering the best experiences to disabled passengers, so they are a good place to start. Amongst these are:

●        Royal Caribbean: Their ships are amongst the largest and have some of the most accessible cabins available. Three in particular are worth a closer look: Liberty of the Seas, Independence of the Seas, and Freedom of the Seas. Built on a grand scale, they offer a good choice of accessible cabins for different budgets, and incorporate features such as assisted-listening devices, closed-captioned televisions, Braille signs, large-print menus, hoists for the swimming pool, and wheelchair accessibility to the casino’s blackjack tables. The sheer size of these ships means there’s a lot of distance to cover to see everything, however, so those who have difficulty walking could consider taking a wheelchair on board.

●        Celebrity Cruises: Again, facilities such as pool and whirlpool hoists, automatic doors and accessible casino tables all help to make life on board even more enjoyable – and they also offer several larger accessible cabins for families. The Celebrity Solstice is probably their most accessible ship, but others are being upgraded all the time to improve their facilities.

●        Holland America: The line’s mid-sized ships still manage to offer a high level of accessibility – particularly the Noordam, Oosterdam, Westerdam and Zuiderdam. Their smaller size makes them easier to get around, yet they still offer a range of accessible cabins,wheelchair-friendly tender transfer for shore excursions, and a good range of accessible activities.

●        Princess Cruises: Boasting a contemporary fleet, you can expect wheelchair-friendly cabins and special wheelchair-transportation gangway systems alongside Braille signs and ADA “all-in-one” kits for guests with hearing impairments.

●        Norwegian Cruise Line: With mobility aids such as adapted bathrooms, plus pool and jacuzzi hoists, Braille signs, and vibrating alarms for deaf passengers, Norwegian has also put a lot of effort into its disabled facilities.

Disabled cruisers’ needs are different, however – and a ship that is ideal for one person may be unsuitable for the next. If you ask all the right questions before you book you’ll have peace of mind that you’re taking the right cruise for you.

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In the late 1990’s I decided ships had had become too big when a cruise line announced it was building a 2,500-passenger vessel.    The size was unimaginable.  I envisioned long lines and waiting to board and disembark.  Certainly there would be crowds at the lido café since people seemed to show up for breakfast and lunch at the same time.   And, a day at sea would be unbearable with all those people sunning by the pool.

If you, like me, think you don’t want to cruise aboard a big ship there are times when you may be wrong.

The two largest ships afloat – Royal Caribbean’s Allure/Oasis of the Seas – carry up to 6,000 passengers and 2,000 crew and are the most popular ships in the industry.   And while these ships are big hits with families, they are also wildly popular with couples of all ages seeking a romantic escape at sea.

Best Suited For Large Ships:

* Families with children

* Groups with a wide range of ages and personal preferences

* Those who are active

* Caribbean/Mexico cruises (These ships really don’t work well in Europe or Alaska)

* Nightlife is important

A larger ship doesn’t only mean there will be more passengers but there will be myriad dining choices.  Instead of eating each evening in the main restaurant, one can opt to make reservations and “go out” to dinner in a more intimate steakhouse or dine on French, Italian or Asian fare.   Superb ship designs ensures there’s no more of a wait in the lido restaurant at lunch than there is on a significantly smaller ship, even on a day at sea.

While aboard a smaller cruise ship one typically finds a theater for Las Vegas-style reviews, a cabaret, a bar or two, casino, disco and sports bar.  The newest behemoths, however, take nightlife to a whole new level.   In addition to a conventional stage shows you’re likely to find comedy clubs, champagne and martini bars, movie theaters, bowling (Norwegian Epic), ice skating shows (Royal Caribbean’s newer ships), a sing-along piano bar (Carnival) and Broadway-caliber performances like Blue Man Group (Norwegian Epic).

Part of the fun is strolling from one entertainment venue and bar to another after dinner, just to check out the action.  On Carnival and Royal Caribbean’s ships built in the last decade you’ll find central promenades that connect the evening entertainment.

If your idea of a wonderful day at sea is sunning on deck, you’ll find acres of space to do it.   On smaller ships those who avoid the sun, like me, could hang out on deck of sit alone in an empty lounge since nothing else was happening.   But today I can choose the atmosphere (with the masses, or a secluded adult area) or people-watch inside as passengers shop, linger over a pastry and espresso, visit the library, attend culinary classes, do yoga or just relax.

I was genuinely surprised that the wait to board and disembark enormous ships is minimal, no longer than much smaller vessels.   That’s because there are more elevators and gangways to accommodate a larger number of people.

You’ll still be able to watch the sun set on the horizon and sit on a deck chair as the world passes by.   And when you return to your stateroom it will be perfectly made up by the steward as you’ve been dining in elegant restaurants and spending a night on the town.

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I bought a dress and a week later encountered someone with the same dress, which she bought on sale for half the price I paid.  My response?  “Oh well….”

* * *

Bought a new car and paid $23,974.   A month later I open the newspaper to find the same dealer is now selling my car for $20,798.   My response?  “Wish I’d know prices would drop and I’d get a better deal …. oh well.  Win some, lose some”

* * *

In January cruise lines said they were raising Mediterranean  cruise fares because of increased demand.  Cruise writers said the big discounts we saw last year were a thing of the past and many advised booking early to lock in the cabin I want   So I booked my August Greek Island cruise in January.   Now I find the same cabin selling for half the price.

My response?  #0!?@$!#!!!    I was screwed by the cruise line and the travel agent into paying twice as much as everyone else.  Now I find I can’t even cancel without losing thousands of dollars!!  Boy, am I gonna get them for it.

* * *

What is it about cruises that makes people see red when fares drop after we booked?  Not only that, we take it personally: “they screwed me”!   After all, the price of any item we purchase may — and frequently does — drop.  The difference is we don’t go ballistic about it.    We don’t scream that the store, website, car company or dealership tried to screw us.

Why Did Fares Fall So Much?

Cruise line raised their fares last year in anticipation of what they believed would be a big increase in passengers.    What no one factored in was the rise in the price of fuel which resulted in airline prices skyrocketing.  And no on predicted that the citizens of Tunisia and Egypt were fed up with totalitarian regimes to the point that thousands of people took to the streets demanding that leaders step down.

Americans rethought their vacation plans, deciding airfare make the vacation prohibitively expensive; besides, do I want to go if there’s all this unrest?   Many Americans are geographically-challenged — they  backed out of Greek Island cruises because they were just too close to Egypt.  Actually, until a few days ago, when riots broke out in Greece as well, I planned to suggest grabbing some of the incredible deals available now, which, in some cases, offset the high airfare.

So the cruise industry, which had steeply increased capacity (Royal Caribbean moved half its fleet of 22 ships to Europe), was stuck with a huge number of ships no one was booking.    Of course they had to slash fares.

According to the New York Times,  Royal Caribbean offers “the cheapest rates.  Hotwire.com recently listed a seven-night Mediterranean cruise departing from Venice on Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas in late June for as low as $499 a person for an inside cabin, roughly 30 percent off the normal price in late June.”   However,RCI isn’t alone:   Norwegian Cruise Line announced a fare of $349 per person, double occupancy on a one-week Europe cruise which was snapped up quickly by bargain hunters.

A few weeks after the fall of Lehman Brothers I went into Saks Fifth Avenue because I’d heard there were incredible sales.  What astonished me was seeing large bins overflowing with stacks of cashmere scares and gloves,  $200 sweaters reduced to $70.  But after a few months New Yorkers got a grip and things went back to a “new normal” … none of us were blowing money recklessly on needless things but we still shopped.  Before Lehman Brothers fell, however, I’m sure people paid full price for many of the same items now slashed by up to 70% yet nowhere did I read that angry Saks’ customers were storming the gates because they paid more.

Sometimes you win, sometimes you loose. Isn’t that the attitude most of us take when it happens to us?   The exception is a cruise.

What You Can Do About It

First of all, watch the price of the cabin you booked.  If you start seeing big drops in fares, call your travel agent.

According to Jean Mallory, Manager of White Travel (which has sold cruises exclusively for 36 years),  “As long as the client has not made their final payment,  MOST cruise lines reduce the prices MOST of the time.   Some cruise lines will  adjust the rate even after final payment.”   But she pointed out that the cruise lines know that up until final payment , the client can cancel with no penalties.  They don’t want to lose passengers.

Remember, it’s YOUR responsibility to keep a tab on cruise fares.  That’s why you shouldn’t blame anyone but yourself  if, after final payment is made, you wind up with a much higher rate than others

What’s Ahead

Historically the lowest cruise prices are found in the fourth quarter (Sept. to December) and it looks like this year won’t be different.   Between hurricane season, the kids returning to school and the approaching holiday, most people prefer to head to the Caribbean after the new year.

An added bonus is that cruise lines are repositioning ships out of the Caribbean to east, west and gulf ports because over-capacity leads to price wars.   And, with the expense and hassle of flying, most of us prefer to drive to a local port, if possible.

This winter:  While Caribbean cruise fares are usually lower than ships sail from New York, Baltimore, Charleston, where there is less competition, you may want to pay a bit more to avoid the high costs of flying and the hassle.

But whatever happens, please don’t blast the cruise line and travel agents if you must spend a bit more.  Remember, when you booked the cruise the price you agreed to was reasonable; you booked it because you could afford it.

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By Sam & Arline Bleecker

Compared to your cruise fare, the cost of quenching your thirst for soft drinks, coffee, juices, wines and spirits may not seem like much. But at two dollars a pop for soda or four to twelve for a glass of wine or twenty-five or more for a bottle of vino, the numbers can add up quickly.

So what can a cruiser with a yen for Coca-Cola or a passion for Cabernet Sauvignon, Aussières Rouge by Barons de Rothschild, do to pare down expenses?

Just sign on the dotted line.

For The Pepsi Generation

Several cruise lines now offer discounts for the Pepsi generation to help take the bite out of your beverage bill. Depending on the line, these discount packages allow you to belly up to the bar for your fill of unlimited soft drinks and other potables for a fixed price, depending on the length of your voyages. Other lines give you a break for purchasing packages of select wines and spirits. And on Disney Cruise Lines, where kids reign as princes and princesses, you get the best deal possible: you pay nada.

On Disney ships, all non-alcoholic beverages are complimentary. They’re free for everyone at all the dining establishments, as well as at the top deck where soda, coffee and tea dispensers are always available.

Carnival Cruise Lines, on the other hand, offers kids under 17 all-they-can-drink soda and juice packages for $36.23 for a seven-day sailing and a tad more for adults, $48.30, or about $5 per day for children and $7 per adult – a bargain when a can of pop runs $2 on a Fun Ship.

Of course, you can choose not to spend a penny at all and indulge yourself in all the free iced tea, lemonade, apple and orange juice, as well as coffee and tea  in Carnival’s Lido restaurants fleetwide.

Sports giant Royal Caribbean offers its own competitive beverage packages.     For about $4 per day for kids and $6 for adults, Royal’s fountain soda package entitles you to unlimited refills at any of the ship’s bars or lounges, Windjammer Café, Main Dining room, and private destinations. You also get a refillable souvenir mug.

Since this is a daily rate, the total cost of the beverage package is, of course, determined by the length of your cruise.

RCI also offers passengers as much as 25-percent off the purchase price when they buy bottled water and juices in bulk. Instead of paying nearly $100 for two dozen 1-liter bottles of H2O, for instance, you’ll pay at tad more than $70. The same applies to 15.2-oz. Minute Maid juices. If you buy a dozen, you can save 25 percent and pay only $35.50.

Princess Cruises, too, offers an unlimited fountain soda package for a flat $4.25 per day per person, young or old. It also comes with a souvenir mug, but on Princess you needn’t carry the mug with you. Just show your beverage card at any bar (except with room service or at Princess Cays, the line’s private island) and get a free fountain soda.

Princess also sells a coffee package for $24.00 – about a 20-percent savings — which lets you toss back15 speciality coffees, such as Espresso, Macchiato, Cappuccino and Cafe Latte, at any location where the service is offered.

On Norwegian Cruise Line, you pay $4 a day per kid and $6.25 per adult to drink as much fountain Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Sierra Mist and soda water as you wish.

Italian-based MSC Cruises makes it simple: for $25.30, you can imbibe 10 drinks – you’re choice of soda, juices or iced tea.

As a result of extensive research and past-passenger feedback, upscale Celebrity Cruises now offers two non-alcoholic beverage packages. The lower-priced “classic” package features fountain and canned soda, bottled and fresh-squeezed juices, premium coffee and bottled water for $14.95 per person, per day. Its premium offering includes everything in the lower-priced package plus specialty non-alcoholic coffee drinks, additional name-brand bottled water choices, canned energy drinks and flavored bottled water offerings, smoothies and frozen non-alcoholic drinks, and is available at $18.40 per person, per day.

For Adults Only

Okay, enough with the kid stuff. What about adult beverages, such as beer, wine or liquor?

Celebrity’s classic wines and spirit package features everything in the non-alcoholic package plus beers with a retail value of up to five dollars per serving and spirits, cocktails, and wines by the glass with a retail value of up to eight dollars per serving, and costs passengers $44.85 per person, per day. The line’s beverage upgrade offers all the beverages in the premium non-alcoholic package plus all beers, and spirits, cocktails, and wines by the glass with a retail value of up to 12 dollars per serving, and is available for $56.35 per person, per day.

Royal Caribbean’s Diamond, Platinum or Gold “Wine & Dine” packages enable you to purchase a pre-determined number of wines from its special selection and save up to 25 percent off the list pricing. For example, in the line’s Gold offering, you could choose a 5-bottle package for $135 instead of $152 retail. Select a dozen wines in the same package and the savings is nearly $100 — $364 list, but $275 bundled.

Among the availabe wines offered in the Gold special are Pinot Grigio, Danzante Venezie, Italy; Sauvignon Blanc, Caliterra Central Valley, Chile; Chardonnay, Aussières Blanc by Barons de Rothschild – Lafite Languedoc, France; and Malbec, Familia Rutini, “Trumpeter” Mendoza, Argentina.

If you go upscale and opt for the Diamond package, percentage-wise the discounts run about the same, but the wine selections seem more sparkling. For instance, you’ll pay $395 for a dozen bottles of wine instead of $528 and can uncork Cabernet Sauvignons from Robert Mondavi; Aussieres Rouge from Barons de Rothschild; and Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve.

Holland America Line also offers two levels of imbibing pleasure: Navigator’s or Admiral’s Choice. For ensigns and above, the 7-bottle package run $199, but for fleet commanders, the price inches to $269.

For $56 per day, NCL passengers can opt for the line’s Freestyle Premium” package, which includes unlimited spirits from the most popular premium labels, domestic and import beer, house wine and unlimited fountain soda, at all bars, lounges and restaurants.

Princess Cruises offers an inelegantly named “Bucket of Beer” package giving you one free beer for every five you buy.

Costa Cruises offers a variety of packages on all its ships. One of the most popular is its “Buon Viaggio” selection — a wine package with two bottles of red, two bottles of white and seven bottles of mineral water, priced at $94.

On Disney, you can choose any seven bottles of wine from the line’s special selection and save up to 25 percent. For its seven-night cruises, you can opt for either of two wine-and-dine packages: the classic runs $189 and the premium $292.

MSC’s beverage packages run $22 per day and includes bottled wine, mineral water, beer and soft drinks with a white wine choice of DOC Trebiano or Verduzzo and a red DOC Montepulciano or Cabernet.

With these deals, cruise lines are clearly trying to put you in the spirits. But before your head spins, you might want to contact a travel agent or the cruise line for further details and any price changes.

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Welcome guest bloggers Arline and Sam Bleecker, two veteran writers who have been covering the cruise industry for over a decade.    In this post, they give useful information designed to help pick the perfect ship based on your personal interests and lifestyle.

Cruise lines have personalities too. Matching your personality to a cruise line is the best recipe for an outstanding vacation.     If you’re reserved, for instance, you wouldn’t dream of taking a cruise on a party boat.

Though finding the right cruise line ultimately is a matter of taste, we’ve put some lines on the couch to determine what makes each one tick. Here’s a brief sketch of some of the more popular lines.

Carnival Cruise Lines: the Lady Gagas of the seas. The13 Fun-Ships in this fleet bulge with eye-popping decor, miles of neon and million-dollar Broadway­style extravaganzas. The line also offers some of the best bargains at sea and surprisingly good food. Don’t forget the splash either. The 130,000-ton Carnival Dream, for instance, boasts the largest water slide afloat. But as cruise specialist Jean Mallory, of White Travel in West Hartford, Conn., notes: You will discover low fares but not necessarily a rowdy crowd.

The new Carnival is “not your old fraternity cruise line,” she says.

Norwegian Cruise Line: Restaurant row with ocean views. On this innovative line with 11 ships, you can dine in a bistro that rivals those in Paris or sate yourself on some of the freshest sushi and sashimi at sea. On Norwegian Epic, the line’s 150,000-ton flagship, not only can you feast on the most popular cuisines of the world in any of 20 specialty restaurants but also bust a gut watching Blue Man Group or Second City comedy.

Disney Cruise Line: Fantasy family vacations. All three Disney ships sparkle with pixie dust and the magical imaginations of the world’s best children’s entertainers. On the 2,500-passenger Disney Dream, even the portholes are animated seascapes.

Besides Minnie and Mickey, passengers can hiss at Disney villains, such as Capt. Hook and others, in “Villains Tonight,” the first full-scale musical production celebrating the dark side of cartoon characters.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines: Super sports complexes at sea. More than just the young and the restless can enjoy this line’s list of sports firsts: rock-climbing wall, surfing pool, ice-skating rink, bungee trampolines, boxing ring and a zip-line that soars high above the pool deck. With two sumo-size sister ships, the world’s largest, the 252,000-ton Oasis, and Allure of the Seas, Royal Caribbean even has enough real estate for a suite of suites overlooking its “Central Park,” a green space loaded with restaurants and a boardwalk.

Costa Cruises and MSC Cruises: The two little Italys. For a plethora of pastas and all things Italian, these independent lines (one based in Europe’s boot) offer passengers a taste of Roma. Both lines pride themselves on delivering a refined European experience distinct from competitors.

Just don’t mistake the lifeboats for gondolas.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises: TLC to the nth degree. On its three intimate all-suite vessels, the largest only 50,000 tons, passengers get it all, including complimentary shore excursions, wines and spirits, specialty dining, gratuities and signature uber-luxe pampering. You won’t dip into your pockets for much else on this all-inclusive line.

Princess Cruises: Love boats and more. Perennially romantic, Princess’ 17 vessels are an ageless destination for newlyweds and honeymooners seeking an amorous sanctuary and escape from routine. On Princess, couples can actually marry at sea. ShipCriticblog’s Anne Campbell says the line is undergoing a sea change: “Princess Cruises has evolved into one of the industry’s classiest cruise lines with beautiful contemporary ships, myriad dining options, outstanding itineraries and the best shore excursions in the industry.”

Cunard Line: The royal treatment since 1840. On Cunard’s iconic bevy of queenly monarchs – Mary, Victoria and Elizabeth – passengers can experience the ultimate in refined British traditions with white-glove afternoon tea service and renowned dining, especially in the Queen’s Grill, a restaurant reserved only for those traveling in each ship’s aerie of luxury suites. Designed for trans-Atlantic crossings, Cunard’s vessels remain the pond-hopping standard for bi­continentals. Mallory notes that these vessels “are for the classic romantic who appreciates an elegance of life aboard that only Cunard can deliver.”

Crystal Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line and Silversea Cruises: The triumvirate of tres-luxe lines. Can’t-go-wrong choices for those who want to visit unique places on the globe “Cosmo” style. According to Mallory, Crystal’s onboard enrichment programs are a particular treat, while “Silversea and Seabourn offer small, inti­mate ships that delight those wanting more diverse itiner­aries.”

Match your pocketbooks and personality to any of these for a tailor-made vacation.

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A story on CNN that says the world is divided between people who love cruises and people who hate them.   I’ve met plenty of people who swear they wouldn’t be caught dead on a cruise ship for predictable reasons:  they’ll be bored, don’t want to vacation with thousands of people,  take a tux, the thought of playing bingo and shuffleboard is horrifying and, as one friend said,  “it’s about as exclusive as a day at the New Jersey shore.”

The thing is, some regions of the world are best explored on a cruise, like the Greek Islands, the Baltic, Alaska, the Panama Canal and Antarctica.  Should you want to explore these destinations on your own it will either cost a fortune and be very, very exhausting or your touring will be extremely limited.  In fact you can only transit the Panama Canal by ship and experience the awesome natural beauty of Antarctica and Alaska by ship.

Have I got a cruise for you!

STAR CLIPPERS

How about a tall ship?  One of my favorite cruise experiences is setting sail aboard the authentic clipper ships of Star Clippers, the tallest and fastest clippers ever built.   The 170-passenger Star Flyer and Star Clipper and the 227-passenger Royal Clipper visit the lush rain forests of Costa Rica, the Canal Zone and Nicaragua; toniest ports in the Caribbean (think Bequia, Dominica, Guadeloupe) and many small exclusive ports in Italy, Greece and Croatia too small for conventional cruise ships.   The mix of passengers is roughly half American, half European.  You’ll find comfortable accommodations, single open seating; affordable rates for solo passengers, good food and the chance to pull ropes if you should be so inclined.   Per person, double occupancy fares start at $1975 for a seven day voyage.

AMERICAN SAFARI CRUISES

This company’s tiny cruise  ships visit Alaska, Hawaii, the Pacific Northwest and Baja, Mexico and is designed for people seeking an in-depth and personal experience with Mother Nature.    On a Baja cruise a whale breeches a few yards away while in Alaska bears, moose, eagles and whales are almost within reach.  The three ships their passenger capacity are: Safari Spirit (12 pax), Safari Explorer (40 pax) and Safari Quest (22 pax) and the fare (which start at $5595 for an eight day Alaska cruise) includes all alcoholic beverages, use of kayaks, snorkeling gear (Hawaii & Mexico), fishing gear (Alaska), airport transfers, exclusive shore excursions and massages (Safari Explorer).   Per person, double occupancy fares start at $5595 for an eight-day Alaska cruise.

Lindblad Expeditions/Nat. Geographic

You want the very, very best in nature travel, your style is LL Bean and you want to meet highly educated people like yourself.  Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic teamed up to provide the ultimate expedition cruise.  Of course you want photo tips from a National Geographic photographer, to learn nature, history and culture from a top expert.   While this company is known as being the best in  in Antarctica and the Galapagos,  it also offers cruises in the Baltic, eastern and western European ports, the Amazon and Nile rivers and South America.   National Geographic Endeavor (96 pax) National Geographic Explorer (148 pax),  the sister ships Sea Bird and Sea Lion (62 pax) and in the Galapagos, the 48 passenger National Geographic Islander.

SEA DREAM YACHT CLUB

Ever dreamed of cruising the Caribbean, Baltic and Mediterranean aboard a yacht?  Sea Dream Yacht Club delivers the experience aboard the 112-passenger sister ships Sea Dream 1 & 11, unpretentious but very sophisticated vessels.  Both have an aft platform that can be lowered to enable water skiing, swimming, banana boat rides, snorkeling and tubing.   In the Caribbean time is set aside for being served caviar and champagne at a deserted beach and in Europe you can hop off for night in St. Tropez and visit exclusive ports in Italy and Greece.  And when one of these super luxury ships pull in to Stockholm and St. Petersburg you will be noticed indeed.  One week Caribbean cruises start at $2799 per person, double occupancy.

RIVERBOATS

You’re really not up to the challenge of driving through Europe but still want the freedom to explore historic and cultural cities.  I have boats for you!   My riverboat cruise was exquisite:  we spent a few days in Prague then took a short ride to the Danube River stopping in Budapest, Brataslava, Melk.  While the cruise line provided shore excursions we were free to do whatever we liked.  And, since spent the night in port, we popped out to terrific restaurants (although the food on board was excellent.  Companies offering riverboat cruises include Viking River Cruises, AMAWaterways, Uniworld, Tauck Cruising, Avalon Waterways. and French Waterways.  Today you can take a riverboat cruise in Egypt, Vietnam and China as well.

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While I grew up in upstate New York and love to see  white snow gently piling up outside the window of my New York City apartment, this is starting to get old.    It’s still January and today the fifth storm of the season has once again closed local airports.   After four days of temperatures hovering in the teens, the “misery index” — what we drama-loving New Yorkers call wind/chill — has improved a bit and it feel like 28 degrees.

The irony is that a cold, snowy winter typically boosts Caribbean and Mexico bookings but this year the weather is so bad it’s risky to even assume we’ll be able to actually reach the ship.   New York’s three airports (Newark, LaGuardia and J.F.K.) have closed so often this winter I wonder if air traffic is ever “normal”, whatever that is.

UPDATE

January 27, 10:00 a.m.

Woke up this morning to 19″ of snow and, once again, the city is beautiful.  I consider myself blessed that this week I’m not traveling  anywhere.

But Saturday, February 5 I’m scheduled fly to Miami and Oceania Cruises brand new Marina.  And if we continue to get a storm per week (last week only 9″ of snow!) my nerves will be shot like everyone else.  I know what it’s like to miss a cruise because of snow.

YOU MUST HAVE INSURANCE, EVERYONE!

We’re powerless when weather messes with our vacation plans, but we don’t have to loose thousands of dollars because as well.   There’s simply no excuse for anyone to suffer a DOUBLE disaster:  yea, it will be huge pain in the ass to fly to meet the ship at the first port of call or even missing it entirely;  but there’s no reason for it to cost you a huge amount of money as well.

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I’ll show you mine if you show me yours!  Here are my cruise tips for saving wear and tear on body and soul.  I’d love to get a few tips from you as well.  And, because air travel is so unpredictable, several tips are especially important and noted as a NEW RULE.

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.

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 earplugs or an iPod.  Crying babies drive me nuts!

6. If you’re sailing from New York’s Manhattan or Brooklyn piers, take Amtrak to avoid driving.  Not only is gas prohibitively expensive but also 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, eyeglasses, and 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 the all 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 predominance of passengers aged 25 to 50 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 all but the smallest cruise ships.

19.   Anytime a cruise line says a cruise includes “free” airfare, hotels, shore excursions and transfers what it really means is they are bundled into the cruise fare.  Nothing is free in the cruise industry.

20.  A night-light comes in handy because blackout 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.    When booking an Europe or Alaska cruise, book as far in advance as possible because the closer to departure you get, the higher the airfare will be.  And, when budgeting for these destinations always factor in shore excursions.

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 homeport.  Airlines are cutting capacity to many vacation destinations.

23.  Never select one ship over another based on price alone.  Always pick a ship based on your lifestyle and interests especially when food and service, kids facilities or the itinerary are so 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. <em>Royal Caribbean, Carnival </em>and <em>Norwegian Cruise Line</em> 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 <em>Princess, Holland America</em> and <em>Celebrity</em> if that’s what you’re seeking.

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