Last updated on February 23rd, 2021

Ocean Cruising – Pick a Cruise Line

Azamara Club Cruises
Carnival Cruise Line
Celebrity Cruises
Crystal Cruises
Cunard Line
Disney Cruise Line
Holland America Line
Norwegian Cruise Line
Oceania Cruises
Paul Gauguin Cruises
Princess Cruises
Royal Caribbean International

Useful Ocean Cruising Resources

What’s Included in Ocean Cruising Pricing?

  • Shipboard transportation
  • Shipboard accommodation
  • Meals
  • Entertainment

What’s Usually not Included in Ocean Cruising Prices?

  • Alcohol – Most luxury lines include alcohol.  Popular cruise lines have alcoholic beverage plans for purchase.
  • Soft drinks – Most luxury lines include soft drinks.  Popular cruise lines have soft drink beverage plans for purchase.
  • Gratuities – Most cruise lines charge a suggested rate per person per day, payable at the end of the cruise.
  • Shore Excursions – Luxury cruises sometimes include excursions.  Viking Ocean Cruises includes a complimentary shore excursion in each port of call.
  • Medical Facilities.
  • Taxes and port charges.
Ocean Cruising, Caribbean Princess, Lido Deck

Caribbean Princess, Lido Deck

What about Motion Sickness when Ocean Cruising?

  • Most major cruise ships have stabilizers to reduce motion.
  • Cabins near the center of the ship experience less motion.
  • Most major cruise lines can provide patches or medications to reduce sea sickness.
  • Motion sickness is more common in smaller ships.
Ocean Cruising, Island Princess, Sanctuary

Island Princess, Sanctuary

Preventing Motion Sickness Prior to Onset

  • Antihistamines, such as Dramamine and Benadryl.
  • Gravol.
  • Meclizine or Cyclizine (Marezine).
  • The patch – Transderm Scop, containing the drug scopolamine, has fallen out of favor, because of a number of concerns about the safety of the drug.

Curing Motion Sickness After Onset

  • Focus on a fixed point, reduce body temperature by removing clothing or going on deck and eat crackers.
  • Avoid strong smells, such as diesel.
  • Eat ginger and crackers.
  • Apply pressure to the wrists with the thumb and 3 fingers.
  • For more severe cases, lie down and close your eyes.
Ocean Cruising, Sabatinis, Princess Cruises

Sabatinis, Princess Cruises

Do I Need to Know other Languages in Foreign Ports?

No, cruise excursions are provided in English and you will also find that most vendors near foreign ports speak English and several other languages too.

Do I Need to Arrange for Visas?

No, cruise lines handle your visas for ports of call, even for places like Egypt and Turkey.  They will warn you of unusual cases where you must obtain a visa yourself, such as for Russia.

Freedom of the Seas, Flowrider, Royal Caribbean International

Freedom of the Seas, Flowrider, Royal Caribbean

Ocean Cruising, First Time Cruising Cover
Ocean Cruising, First Time Cruising, Included
Ocean Cruising, First Time Cruising, Not Included
Ocean Cruising, First Time Cruising, Motion Sickness
Ocean Cruising, First Time Cruising, Languages
Ocean Cruising, First Time Cruising, Visa
Ocean Cruising, First Time Cruising, Cash
Ocean Cruising, First Time Cruising, Staterooms
Ocean Cruising, First Time Cruising, Cruise Lines
Ocean Cruising, First Time Cruising, Branding
Ocean Cruising, First Time Cruising, Brand
Ocean Cruising, First Time Cruising, Tag Line
Ocean Cruising, First Time Cruising, Tag Lines
Ocean Cruising, First Time Cruising, Caribbean
Ocean Cruising, First Time Cruising, Alaska
Ocean Cruising, First Time Cruising, Insurance
Ocean Cruising, First Time Cruising, Past Passenger
Ocean Cruising, First Time Cruising, Ready

Ocean Cruising – Ship Branding

  • Azamara – You’ll Love Where We Take You
  • Carnival – Fun for All, All for Fun
  • Celebrity – Designed for You
  • Cunard – Intimate Luxury on a Grand Scale
  • Holland America – A Signature of Excellence
  • Norwegian – Free Style Cruising
  • Oceania – Your World. Your Way
  • Princess – Escape Completely
  • Royal Caribbean International – Nation of Why Not
Ocean Cruising, Caribbean Princess, St Lucia

Caribbean Princess, St Lucia

What Destinations are Best for First Time Cruisers?

Many First Time Cruisers start with a 7 day cruise in the Caribbean (November – April) or Alaska inside passage (May – September).

Do I Need Insurance?

Get travel insurance for several reasons:

  • Trip Cancellation can save you the cost of your entire vacation if you get sick, a family member becomes ill and you can’t travel or something like a volcanic eruption prevents you from reaching your embarkation port.
  • Trip Interruption can save you the expense of flight delays, illness during travel or returning from your vacation early due to an emergency.
  • Extended Medical benefits cover the additional costs of medical treatment and hospitalization.  Physician costs can be extremely costly in foreign countries and aren’t typically covered by regular medical insurance plans.

Cruise Lines provide their own insurance but this is restricted to trip cancellation and interruption.  Some cruise lines offer Cancel For Any Reason insurance which allows you to simply cancel because you don’t feel like going any more.

Ocean Cruising, Oceania Marina, Verandah Suite

Oceania Marina, Verandah Suite

What’s Special About Suites?

Most cruise lines provide additional amenities to guests in suites, such as:

  • services of a butler and concierge
  • first-tender priority in tender ports
  • private breakfast in à la carte restaurants
  • priority embarkation and disembarkation

So, be careful of the definition of “suite”.  Some cruise lines use this to refer to the presence of a pullout sofa.

Ocean Cruising, Island Princess, Lotus Pool

Island Princess, Lotus Pool

Who Owns Major Cruise Lines?

  • Carnival – owns Princess, Holland America, Costa, Cunard, Seabourn, P&O and AIDA.  Carnival owns 50% of the world cruise market.
  • Royal Caribbean Cruises – owns Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises.
  • Norwegian Cruise Line – owns Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

How Much Cash Will I Need On Board?

None.  All major cruise lines use your room cards for charging extra services and these are linked to your charge card.

Do Cruise Lines offer Discounts to Past Passengers?

Yes, many cruise lines track past passengers and offer discounts based on the number of voyages taken.  Keep track of your passenger number to help ensure you receive booking discounts.

Are there different Classes of Service?

Facilities, buffets and entertainment are generally open to all guests regardless of the type of room booked.  On some luxury lines dining and seating areas may be restricted.  Cunard lines promotes 3 passenger classes with separate dining for each.  Celebrity Aqua Class and NCL Suite & Villa accommodation have separate dining for these passengers.

The Jones Act

Cruise ship passengers may be surprised by the importance of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920 on their North American cruising.  The legislation is more commonly known as the Jones Act.  The Act requires all goods transported by water between U.S. ports be carried in U.S. ships, constructed in the United States, owned by U.S. citizens, and crewed by U.S. citizens.  The purpose of the law is to support the U.S. Maritime industry.  Since 99% of cruise ships do not meet these conditions, their travel between US ports of embarkation and debarkation is impacted.  For example:

Cruises from Seattle to Alaska must stop at a Canadian port en route, which has helped Victoria, BC develop into a major cruise port..

Cruises starting in Hawaii must also visit a foreign port.  Most cruise ships therefore visit Mexico or Canada on their Hawaiian Island itineraries.  The Norwegian Cruise Lines Pride of America has met the conditions of the Jones Act and is the only major cruise line to start and end its cruises in Hawaii.

Plan Your Trip