Want To Know More About Cruises & Cruise Ships?
Today, Norm Goldman Editor of Sketchandtravel.com, is pleased to
have as a guest of Sketchandtravel.com Douglas Ward, author of
Ocean Cruising & Cruise Ships 2005, now into its twentieth year
of publication, published by Berlitz Publishing.
Thank you Douglas for accepting our invitation to be interviewed.
Norm:
Douglas could you tell us something about yourself and why did
you want to write a book about cruising and cruise ships?
Douglas:
I had worked aboard passenger ships for 17 years before forming
an association of cruise passengers, who were looking for more
comparative information about cruise ships and cruising. So was
born the idea for the book, which started with 120 ships and 256
pages. Today, after 20 years, the book has grown to include 256
ocean-going ships, 656 pages, and half a million words.
Norm:
I noticed your first book on cruises and cruise ships was
published twenty years ago, and you have been updating your book
every year. How do you go about gathering material every year
for these updates and how long does it take you to update your
annual book?
Douglas:
First, it takes me a minimum of three hours a day, every single
day of the year, just to keep the book refreshed, up-to-date,
and accurate. I also travel extensively, as much as 250 days
each year. So, of course, I write while I am traveling,
visiting, and sailing aboard the world's cruise ships.
Norm:
What makes cruises so appealing to honeymooners?
Douglas:
Cruises take the hassle out of planning a honeymoon,
particularly with regard to language, cuisine/meals,
entertainment, and so many other things that go towards making a
honeymoon a fine, affordable vacation, and a complete escape
from the pressures of life ashore. Actually, it's also a good
way to find out how a newlywed couple cope with living in a
small space.
Norm:
Are you seeing more weddings performed on cruise ships lately?
What should cruisers know about cruise ship weddings?
Douglas:
By nature of their (out of the ordinary) appeal, more weddings
are being performed aboard cruise ships today, simply because
there is so much help at hand. The larger cruise lines have
personnel dedicated to handling weddings and honeymoons, and the
instant support of other personnel in cruise line head offices
to draw from. Weddings can, in other words, be tailored
completely to the individuals concerned (and without the
interference of well-meaning parents and other family members
who can create stress and pressure on couples about to undergo,
what is for many, the most important ceremony of their lives).
Norm:
With so many cruise possibilities, how does one go about
choosing a cruise and what should people take into consideration
before deciding on any one cruise?
Douglas:
Choosing a cruise successfully depends on one's personal
requirements and expectations from a vacation. First-time cruise
goers would be well advised to talk to an established cruise
booking specialist, who will be able to help you to choose the
right ship and cruise, for the right reasons, taking into
account your personal tastes and socio-economic considerations.
There are so many choices today that there should be a ship and
cruise to suit even the most demanding and finicky of people.
Perhaps the first decision, however, should be to establish how
many days you can take for your vacation (including travel days
to get to/from the ship), and then think about the area you
would like to cruise in. The most popular regions include the
Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, Norwegian fjords and Baltic ports,
and southeast Asia/Australasia. Those with more time who want
more involvement with nature should consider visiting Antarctica
or the Arctic regions (you would ideally need about three
weeks). Then there is perhaps the ultimate in long distance
cruising an around the world cruise, which typically would take
three to four months (most ships offering complete around the
world cruises there are about 15 in 2005 sail between January
and April away from winter).
Norm:
Have you had any bad experiences on a cruise, and if so, please
describe them.
Douglas:
I have had many bad experiences, but most of them cannot be
written about, and most have been aboard ships and cruise lines
that no longer exist, or have changed their names. However,
there have been a few nasty transatlantic crossings (I have done
152 of them), when the weather can throw some unexpected
wrenches into what otherwise is perhaps a wonderful, serene way
of traveling between the Old and New Worlds.
Norm:
After deciding on a particular cruise, how do you plan for the
cruise and what important elements should you keep in mind?
Douglas:
Make sure you choose the right size ship for your needs. Do you
want to be with 100, 500, 1000, or 3000 other passengers? Do you
want to experience cruising under sail; cruising with specialist
lecturers; be aboard a ship with spa facilities, large-scale
production shows (a la Las Vegas), lots of gaming, or shopping
opportunities? Whichever cruise you choose, try to make the
travel arrangements as simple as possible. Sometimes, the mere
act of getting to and from your chosen cruise ship (or
embarkation point) can prove frustrating. If you are a
first-time cruise goer, try not to do everything on your first
cruise it could end up being more like an endurance test.
Norm:
Can you tell our readers something about the different cabins
that are available on cruises and what to look out for?
Douglas:
First-timers would be best advised to book an outside cabin (a
cabin with an outside view) rather than an interior (no view)
cabin. So, when you wake up, you won't be disoriented, and
youll be able to see what the weather is like, which helps you
decide what to wear each day. Typically, the more space you
want, the higher the cost. Large suites with private balconies
cost the most (some can measure up to 3000 square feet), while
interior cabins that measure as little as 70 square feet will,
of course, feel incredibly small. Typically, you get what you
pay for. The average cabin size aboard today's larger cruise
ships (they are really floating resorts) would be approximately
180-200 square feet.
Norm:
What type of clothing should I bring aboard?
Douglas:
Take clothing suited to the area you will be cruising in.
Remember that ships are air-conditioned, so clothing that is
layered works well. If you choose to cruise in cold weather
regions, take suitable outer clothing, particularly for
excursions ashore (Alaska is an example). If you take a
Caribbean cruise, you really could pack light (cottons and
natural fibers being the best, as many Caribbean islands have a
high humidity factor for much of the year). Most of the (large)
resort ships have a very casual dress code, while others
(particularly ships that offer cruises longer than seven days
the industry standard) feature more formal dress codes. Tuxes
are only really needed aboard Queen Mary 2 when doing a
transatlantic crossing; otherwise, you can dress down and
comfortable.
Norm:
Is there always a doctor and clinic aboard the cruise ships?
Douglas:
Almost all cruise ships carrying more than 50 passengers have a
fully qualified medical doctor and nursing assistants, which
also take care of the crew. Some of the larger ships have
several doctors, surgical specialists, small operating rooms,
full x-ray facilities, as well as extensive pharmacies. In other
words, today's cruise ships would be able to cope with most
medical emergencies. However, if you take medication, remember
to take an adequate supply (and if you have to fly to get
to/from your cruise ship, take medication in your carry-on
luggage just in case your checked-in luggage doesn't quite make
it on the same day, or to the same port you're flying to).
Norm:
Can I make telephone calls from the cruise ship?
Douglas:
Almost all cruise ships are equipped with direct-dial
satellite-linked telephone systems (and Internet connectivity).
A few ships even have special aerials that let you use your
mobile phone, although most ships lose mobile connectivity when
more than a mile offshore. The cost of a direct-dial satellite
call varies between about $4 and $10 per minute, so don't use
the telephone unless you have to-the charges can add up quickly.
Norm:
What is the usual check-in schedule before the cruise takes off?
Douglas:
Most cruise ships start embarkation about four hours prior to
sailing. You would normally complete all paperwork and go
through passport and security checks in a passenger terminal
before being allowed to board your cruise ship. Today's check-in
procedure is relatively painless, although it can take some time
if you are cruising aboard one of the larger ships, when there
will be 3000 other passengers to check in (in other words, there
will be lines just like at the post office).
Norm:
What happens if someone has special dietary requests?
Douglas:
Most cruise ships can handle special dietary requests, but do
give advanced notice so that chefs can order and prepare any
food items not normally carried. Its too late once the ship has
sailed, so make your needs and requirements known at the time
you book (this is when it's better to book through an accredited
cruise travel specialist rather than picking something off the
Internet which doesn't answer questions well).
Norm:
How do you make payments on board?
Douglas:
An onboard credit account will typically be established when
you check in prior to embarkation. When you purchase things
aboard ship (drinks or wine, for example), these items are added
to your account, and charged to your credit card at the end of
the cruise.
Norm:
Should you tip while on aboard the ship?
Douglas:
Some ships include tips, while others automatically add a tip
to your daily onboard account (particularly the major cruise
lines such as Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Costa
Cruises, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess
Cruises, and Royal Caribbean International). However, on average
you should plan on about $10 per day per person. Aboard the
ships of some of the more upscale cruise lines, such as Radisson
Seven Seas Cruises, SeaDream Yacht Club, Seabourn Cruise Lines,
and Silversea Cruises, tips are included in the fare.
Norm:
How safe are cruise ships and how can I find out more about a
particular company's record pertaining to its safety and
cleanliness?
Douglas:
Today's cruise ships are extremely safe (nobody wants to work
aboard an unsafe ship), and most are clean. However, of late, I
have noticed that standards of cleanliness in cabins and public
areas aboard some of the very large ships leave much to be
desired (this is the effect of discounting, when lines cut
personnel to keep prices artificially low). In general, if the
same standards of food storage, handling, and hygiene that are
practiced aboard today's ships were to be applied to hotels and
restaurants in the United States, most would fail consistently!
In other words, ships are clean very clean.
Norm:
If you had any important advice to offer our readers that has
not been covered, what would it be?
Douglas:
Do read the book Berlitz Publishing's Ocean Cruising & Cruise
Ships 2005, and you'll be more educated than most travel agents.
Bon Voyage, I wish you all a wonderful cruise vacation.
Thanks Douglas for your time.