Children and cruise ships
Families with children are often a high priority for cruise ships
and many have crèches for babies and well-organised clubs for children
from toddlers to teens. A cruise makes a great family holiday -
somewhere the whole family can spend time together while having
the freedom to pursue their individual on-board interests. Most
ships offer menus to appeal to younger tastes - plenty of pasta,
pizza and ice cream, but not all cruises are suitable for children,
some companies run children free cruises catered towards the non-family
market. People looking for a refined and relaxed cruise, without
the noise of children and families.
Is a cruise suitable for the single person?
Around a quarter of cruise passengers venture to the open seas on
their own. A cruise is an attractive option for single people, providing
a compact environment to meet other people or to keep themselves
to themselves. Many ships run social programs designed to allow
solo travellers to mix with other single people. Single cabins or
single occupancy rates are usually available.
Will I get seasick?
Rough seas are rarely encountered in the Mediterranean or Caribbean,
and even if the waves are high, modern ships have effective stabilisation
systems meaning 21st century cruisers rarely suffer from any form
of ’wobble’. The bigger the ship is, the less you will feel the
waves. If you do experience motion sickness, medication is available
in the gift shops or the infirmary on board and, with or without
medication, it should not last for long
Is a cruise an expensive holiday?
Cruising has traditionally been an expensive holiday, but increased
competition, coupled with the recent events in America mean that
operators are competing on a price basis, similar to airlines. Major
UK tour operators - Airtours, First Choice and Thomson have recently
entered the market and their keenly-priced approach to packages
has helped to drive down prices. EasyCruise is soon to launch onto
the market bringing the Stelios no-frills formula to ships. Rooms
will be sold on a nightly basis from £29 ppn with passengers able
to embark and disembark wherever they want. However, you take your
own bedding and clean your own room - sheets and a cleaner cost
lots more.
Elsewhere, economies of scale mean that bigger ships can provide
cheaper fares and as more ships are built so last-minute special
offers abound. A bit of shopping around and you can sometimes find
cruise prices at around 50 per cent of the brochure price. But since
your cruise price will include all meals on board, even the full
brochure price will normally represent decent value for money. Look
out for pricey shore excursions though - a standard coach outing
can cost £20 to £40 a head, with scuba-diving, glider or helicopter
rides as much as £160.
Cruise ships and the disabled
Cruise ships have not traditionally been wheelchair-friendly places.
Cabins often have smaller-than-normal doors that might restrict
wheelchair movement. Fortunately the situation is quickly improving
- many cruise lines now have adapted cabins for wheelchair users.
A cruise, after all, can be ideal for someone with a disability
as it offers the perfect controlled environment for a relaxing holiday.
As ever, it’s best to check disabled facilities before booking.
For more information on cruises for the disabled, visit www.disabilitytravel.com
What is a fly-cruise?
A fly-cruise cuts to the chase by flying you straight to the area
you will be cruising without wasting time on the ’boring’ bit of
the journey. But the ’boring’ bits at sea for some are the most
enjoyable part for others - it’s all a matter of what rocks your
boat. Fly cruise does obviously involve a flight though - something
many cruisers like to avoid, and you will be limited to the baggage
you can take if you go by plane
|
|
