Cruising:Baby Boomers taking to the seas.

On the list of the fastest growing sectors in the tourist industry, cruising is up there at the top. With over 300 ships at sea every day, carrying over 500,000 passengers and healthy annual profits, cruising is big business. The industry has doubled in that last 10 years and it is getting bigger!

The cruise companies claim that 80% of Australians over 60 say that they consider cruising as a travel option and that cruising is now the most common type of holiday for American retirees. We once met a lovely Italian woman in her 80’s who had retired to a cruise ship and was celebrating her 1000thnight on- board! So, what is the attraction?

Firstly, some facts about cruising that will help us get the context. The vast majority of cruises are owned by one of 3 companies (Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian). These 3 companies operate different cruise lines, under different names to provide different styles of cruises for different tastes and budgets. The cruise “product “ is constantly evolving as the companies respond to new markets . So, there is cruise out there that suits most travellers and after a few cruises many people find they become “return cruisers” to a favourite line. The ships are star rated from 3-6, and whilst facilities are basically similar, you can see the difference in food, entertainment and the “little extras” the higher the stars.

Before we go any further I need to mention that we are generally independent travellers. We started our travelling backpacking in Europe in the 1980’s, did the overland to London run with so many other young Aussies and never really stopped travelling. Then 10 years ago we wanted to visit Alaska. After days of research on how to make our way overland and on ferries from Vancouver to Anchorage, we came across a cruise as an option. We couldn’t believe it was cheaper than doing it on our own and would get us to places we couldn’t get to independently! Our first thought was that we could never do that! Surely that wasn’t real travelling. It would be too expensive for us. And the thought of descending on a port with 2000 “tourists” was daunting. But, we had an amazing time and now believe that cruising is just another of the many options open to travellers. 15 cruises and counting!

So, what is the appeal of a cruise?

I think the 5 C’s are a good way to consider why older travellers are so attracted to cruising.

COMFORT: There is no doubt that what-ever your definition of comfort you will find a ship that meets most of your needs. The cabin levels have the same basic facilities from the internal to the suites. The more you pay, the more space and extras.

CONVENIENCE: This is the most common positive about cruising. You get one once and unpack and are taken to amazing ports without having to think about it. Super simple!

COST:This is the big one for many people. The vast range of prices and last-minute deals make cruises not just affordable, but sometimes the cheapest way to travel. Daily prices range from as little as $50 pp/day to up to $2000pp/day depending on a range of factors.

COMPANY: Cruises are very social. With and average age somewhere in the late 60’s and with Aussies well represented on most cruises, there are many like-minded travellers to be met and friends to be found. They seem to work for couples, singles and groups.

CHOICE: You can do as little or as much as you like. You can take tours or go ashore on your own. Choices of restaurant, entertainment and a range of activities. Again, remember cruise lines are different so find the style you like.

So, who may not enjoy cruising?

If you suffer motion sickness you will need to come prepared. We have crossed the Pacific when it was like glass and at other times we have had to hold down our plates on the dinner table.

If you like to move slowly, see a place in some depth and get off the beaten track. Cruises do not give you the chance to do that! They are a ‘taster’ so you can come back again, or a ‘reminder’ if you have been there before.

If you don’t like crowds you may find times on cruising that you can’t avoid them.

If you are immune compromised you may need to take care. It is not unusual for a virus of some bug to ‘go through’ a ship.

Cruising does work OK for people with some mobility issues but getting into ports that require a tender (a boat from the ship to a jetty) can be difficult or impossible.

What do you need to consider when cruising?

Firstly, check out the negatives listed above and make sure you understand that you will be on the ship with at least 1000 other people and getting off if it doesn’t work for you may not be an option!

Budget:There is something for most budgets. We often use repositioning cruises (those re-locating and stating in one port and finishing in another) as a cheap alternative to flying. We got from Singapore to Rome on a 20 night cruise for only $600 more than the flights. We choose internal or ocean-view rooms only as the jump to a balcony can be significant. As we are not great drinkers we don’t usually get a drinks package but look around for ways to make drinks affordable. We also rarely do shore excursions. These can double the cost of a cruise.

Insurance: A number of companies charge extra for travel insurance that includes a cruise as the medical bills on board can be very high. So, check you are fully covered and bring as many basic medical items as you may need.

Size of the ship:Some people love the facilities on the large ships but it is a long way from one location to another and they do have to tender in more ports.

Language:All ships have some English, but the European ships may not have it as the first language. Entertainment on a non- English ship may be less suitable (try watching a comedian in Spanish). All staff will have English.

Gratuities:Called many things, these are basically a charge per person per day added automatically to you bill on top of the service charge added to your bar tab. Cruise lines call them different things. They are an American service model morphed slightly to suit the industry. Once they were optional on many ships and you could opt out and give your tips directly to your wait and cabin staff. It is becoming harder to opt out of this charge. As an Aussie the concept is alien to us. We are used to paying for good service and companies paying a fair wage that is collected from the customer at ‘source’. But you need to anticipate this cost as not all ships warn you in advance and it is becoming more common. Time will tell if customers vote with their feet and select the cruise lines who include gratuities in their fares or keep them discretionary. We budget for it €10-per person per day, and if it can be waived and we can tip directly, we do. This has its problems as in the ‘new order’, any tips we hand directly to a staff member should be handed in and shared! That may be the Aussie in us, or our desire to reward good service or just our belief that the cruise ships should just add it to the fare up front in the beginning! To us it seems like the cruise ships are making something simple way more complicated and divisive than it needs to be and you have to wonder why (what’s in it for them)?

This situation is fluid but as it stands today here is a close summary of the state of play concerning mandatory gratuities (think around $15 per person per day- you can see how it adds up if you have a cheap cruise for only $50 a day per person):

Included in fare: Azamara, Crystal,

Mandatory:Celebrity, Carnival (new), Holland America (new- but we did waive in February 2019), Norwegian, MSC, Oceania, Royal Caribbean, Costa

Discretionary:Viking

So, you can see , like it or not the days of discretionary tipping are probably gone.

Dining/Food: This can vary greatly and is probably the biggest difference between cruise lines. All ships have formal dining rooms open for all 3 meals, a buffet with clear opening hours and a number of small eating options. Some ships (an increasing number) have speciality restaurants with a surcharge( from $10-$100 a head) if you wish to eat there. The menu does reflect the origins of the ship. Costa serve Italian and Cunard British food, but they also have a good basic menu to reflect the international market. I love the high tea served with white gloves on Cunard and the Paella on the deck on Costa- that is a part of the cruising experience. Some ships include a full or limited room service menu which is nice.

Dining times: You may have to option of ‘set dining’ or ‘open dining’. Set dining will be the same table with the same people each night at either an early sitting around 6pm or a late sitting at around 9pm (European ships tend to have later dining times). Both allow you time to see the show and this type of seating gives you a chance to really get to know people. They are usually great at moving you if you get a table that doesn’t work for you. Open dining means you turn up at a dining room at any time and can sit alone or ask to share and meet new people. You do meet more people this way. On multi-language ships they try to match you with similar age and language guests.

And of course, there is always the buffet where many people have breakfast and lunch (although the dining room is open for both). It is better if they are open longer hours. The quality of the buffet varies greatly and it can be very crowed at peak times on some ships.

Drinks: There will be all sort of packages available to you when you book and when you arrive. They can be expensive and sometimes cost more than the daily rate of the cruise itself. But if you like a drink, they need to be considered as they include the service charge (10-19% added to you drinks bill) and realistically they are no more than eating out in most cities. To help cut the cost of your alcohol bill, try the free tasting nights and events, check out for happy hours as they are different at different bars around the ship, stock up on resealable bottles at Happy Hour (have your own if needed), always buy wine by the bottle and beers by the bucket, use room service to buy a whole bottle to your room cheaper than by the glass and check what you can bring on board on embarkation day as lines have different policies (mixers or wine).

Remember if one of you in the room gets a package the other person has to get one as well. The final consideration is water, cordial, tea and coffee. Some are for free and other have a charge. We always bring our hot/cold water bottle to top up at meal times in the buffet.

Facilities: Whilst ships are basically the same, there may be some deal breakers for you. We like a laundry, steam room, quiet lounge and adult spa pool. Not all ships have these as standard. Gary loves a good gym and I like a library with a book swap. None would stop us from booking but we do like to know what to expect before we arrive.

Cabin choice: We love a balcony for the fresh air but they are usually double the cost of an internal room and we spend very little time in our room. Most cruises. I do find the internal rooms more stuffy and the no natural light unsettling. So, when we can we get a window. The cabins are very similar in all other facilities expect the window. Suites are not such an expensive option per head if there are 4 of you.

Repositioning:These cruises are ‘moving’ to a new route for the new season (e.g. Trans-Pacific, Trans-Atlantic) so can be excellent value. They are also your transport from A to B. The mostly go in Oct-Dec and March- April in set directions. The best bargains are often found on these cruises But remember to budget for your flight home. Sometimes there are more sea days but the service and menus are identical.

WIFI: is notoriously unreliable and expensive on ships. I download everything I possibly can, music, movies, maps, touring information before I board as it is painful to chase internet in a port. Saying that, many ports have internet- your homework list should include finding out which ones do. If in doubt follow the crew and see where they hang out with their phones

Visas:Can be confusing and contradictory and cruise lines do not accept any liability if you do not have the right visa- even if they told you the wrong thing. Sometimes they even avoid giving you any information. Sometimes you will not be allowed to board the ship if you do not have a visa- so saying you do not intend to get off doesn’t always work. On a cruise that included China 150 people were denied boarding and had to fly over China as they could not enter Chinese waters without a visa. On a cruise that included India we were all told ne MUST have the $100 visa for a 4 hr stop over- only to discover that was incorrect. We call a visa agent to get their information but usually process it our- selves as agents charge fees often more than the cost of the visa.

Ports: For us the ports are not the main criteria for our cruise selection. We have often visited the ports before and the ship is usually in for a very short time. You do however, need to do your homework on the ports if you plan to get off. You have 2 choices if you disembark:

Independent touring:This means you make your own arrangements either before you arrive with a company you found yourself, or when you arrive in the port. This is what most independent travellers do, but it requires you to be sure you know what to expect. Some ports are in the middle of no-where and at times there are few taxis (at a reasonable price) at the dock. Some of the main attractions are often far away (The Great Wall of China is 6 hrs drive form Tainjn port). The problem with independent travel is that if you are late the ship doesn’t wait and if the itinerary changes suddenly (due to weather etc) you have no recourse. We download maps on Maps.me or Google and plan our day like we would any other travel day. We usually met other independent travels before hand or approach them when we see them on the dock. We try to share a taxi with 2 or 4 others and this makes it a reasonably priced day. We have the itinerary written out to hand the driver and have an idea of a cash $US price before we start to bargain. We usually pay $10-20 a head for a shared taxi for a day trip.

There are a number of websites with port information. I draw information from a few:

https://www.whatsinport.com What’s in Port

http://cruiseportwiki.comCruise Port Wiki

https://cruisecrocodile.comCruise Crocodile

https://www.cruisecritic.comCruise Critic

https://cruiseweb.comCruise web

https://shorebee.comShore Bee

Shore Excursions:Even if we get a “free” one included we rarely use these, but that is just us. We like to manage our own time and the likelihood of a bus with 30 other people going here we want, when we want and for as long as we want, is slim. Sometimes that are good for a drop off but a taxi is ALWAYS cheaper and more flexible. But if they are for you, there will be many to choose from. Book ahead as the popular one fill up.

How do I find a cruise?

Regular cruisers will have a preferred agent or website.

We use VACATIONS TO GO https://www.vacationstogo.com

It is a good starting point. They are an online American company .I like the way they are set out so you can see all cruises from a port in a date range and see the price per day. It’s a simple list and you can easily get details. We don’t however, always book with them as they are not always the best price and sometimes cant book non US citizens. With the list of possible cruises I then start shopping around. I go directly to the cruise line themselves first, remember that they often have different prices at their different international offices. One year we found a cruise 30% cheaper at Costa Australia then at Costa UK and the following year it was the opposite.

A number of other people prefer CRUISE COMPARE http://cruise-compare.com

The main thing to consider here is that one agency rarely come up with the best fares all the time. They way cabins are sold in blocks to agents is complex and don’t bother to try and understand it! Once I find a cruise I type up the details and email for a quote to 3-4 agents. When I get a quote I email them back all the lowest quote and ask if they can match it or add some benefits ( a cabin upgrade, on board credit or a drinks package). Even when I book, my job isn’t finished ! You have to keep an eye out that the cruise you purchased does not drop further in price. I use:

https://www.cruisewatch.comCruise watch to alert me if the price changes and I can step in an re-negotiate my cabin price

So, good luck in finding a cruise! I hope to see you out there one day on the high seas. If you find some great websites send me the link and Ill add it to the post for others to see.