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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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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10. My steward brings breakfast to the stateroom and I sit sipping coffee on the balcony with no time pressure.

9. The ultimate freedom of days at sea, when I can be as active or lazy as I please.

8. Returning from a morning workout at the gym to find my stateroom in pristine condition, the bed made, new towels and my mess better organized.

7. Food, food, food. I certainly believe the urban legend that cruisers put on an average of five pounds per week.

6. Proceeds from bingo go to the cruise line instead of the Catholic Church.

5. There is no better way to visit some areas of the world including Antarctica, the Greek Islands, the Baltic or transit the Panama Canal.

4. With rare exceptions, officers and crew go out of their way to ensure my voyage is wonderful and problem-free.

3. Casting off from home port, watching the shore fade in into the distance, is as thrilling today as it was in the time of Columbus.

2. The sexiest men alive are ships’ officers, the more stripes the better.

1. The sense of being at sea, the gentle rocking of the ships and a peaceful mind because I left the harried, worried, stressed out me in home port.

Would love to hear some of your best reasons to take a cruise!

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My blood started to boil the moment I picked up this week’s issue of New York Magazine with a timely cover story: “Airport Hell”.  If you’ve flown in the past six months without a delayed or cancelled flight, lost luggage or other airline mishap consider yourself lucky.  Locally, my three airports – JFK, LaGuardia and Newark – are considered the worst in the U.S.  But the problem is nationwide.  And hey, it’s not even winter yet!

If you’re like millions of cruisers, air travel will be the biggest hassle of your cruise vacation.   You live in the Northern part of the U.S. and must fly to take a ship from Florida, California or Hawaii or, next summer your sites are set on an Alaska or Europe cruise.  This has become a critical problem for cruisers because if your flight is delayed or cancelled you may miss the ship’s departure.  When that happens, it’s up to you to get yourself to the ship at the first possible port of call.   There are two actions you can take to greatly decrease the odds of your cruise vacation being ruined by delayed or cancelled flights.  Most importantly, plan on flying to the port a day early and spending a pre-cruise night in a local hotel.  The day of your cruise, rise at leisure, have breakfast and don your cruise attire.  You’ll board the ship relaxed and refreshed; in fact, I think you gain an extra day of vacation this way.  In addition, it’s critical to buy cruise insurance which protects you against the costs of missed flights, lost luggage and a host of unexpected problems that can arise. 

If you do need to fly from one of New York’s three airports, New York Magazine recommends Miami flights with the best chance of leaving on time.  From LaGuardia, American flight 2273, departing at 8:35 a.m. has an 87% on-time rate.  From Newark, American 1921, departing 6 a.m. daily, runs on-time 90% of the time.

Do you have any tips on ways to deal with this hellish air travel problem?      

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