Category — First-Time Cruisers

A compilation by The Cruise Web employees.

2012 was filled with lots of changes in the world and the cruise industry. We saw the debuts of the Celebrity Reflection, Oceania Riviera and the Carnival Breeze, and the river cruise market continued to grow. Here at The Cruise Web, we had the opportunity to sail the seven seas this year. Below,  our team members share their best cruises of 2012. Feel free to use this list as a jumping off point when you start to think of where you’ll go in 2013!

Gloria H.
My best cruise in 2012 was by far my cruise to the Holy Land on the Crystal Serenity. Spending three days in Israel was an absolute dream come true. Floating in the Dead Sea, praying at the Wailing Wall, climbing to the top of Mount Masada and walking along the same pathways that Jesus did was a true spiritual experience. To top it off, the highlight for me was that I was baptized in the Jordan River. How awesome is that? [Read more →]

By Erica Kritt, Social Media Coordinator, The Cruise Web, Inc.

Many people are wary about spending their favorite holiday away from home. Traveling during Christmas, New Years or Thanksgiving can mean missing out on your favorite traditions, but that doesn’t have to be the case. This Thanksgiving my family decided to break from tradition. Instead of traveling to someone’s house and sitting down for a home cooked meal, we decided to forgo the hassles of driving and cooking. We took a cruise to the Bahamas.

Sure, this year’s celebration was different from the Thanksgivings of years past, but honestly, this was better. Here’s why: [Read more →]

By Julie Atkins, Manager of Client Services and Group Administration, The Cruise Web, Inc.

Whether it’s your birthday, your wedding, your anniversary or any other celebration, gathering your group together to celebrate at sea with a group cruise provides an ideal setting to ensure your entire group is taken care of.  With so many inclusions like meals, entertainment, transportation, activities for adults and children and exciting destinations, it’s the perfect way to combine your celebration with a vacation. [Read more →]

A compilation by The Cruise Web employees.

Sitting at your desk, overwhelmed with work, sometimes just a quick glance at a picture of a beach can wash away the stress. Just as pictures can act as an immediate reminder of good times and good people, souvenirs or keepsakes from vacations past can serve as reminders of the destination, the fun of the vacation or just the spirit of the locals.

Read on to discover some of our Cruise Web staff’s most poignant,  favorite and memorable vacation souvenirs. [Read more →]

By Gloria Hanson, Senior Cruise Consultant, The Cruise Web, Inc.

Black Friday is the day to get the best deals in America, but overseas you have an opportunity to get great bargains on authentic local products at markets and bazaars every day. But you have to be prepared to negotiate.

I love to find a good deal, and whether I’m at home or far, far away on a vacation, I’ve always got my eye out for a bargain.  If you can go toe-to-toe with a shop owner negotiating on a cherished souvenir, you not only come away with a great purchase, but a great story to tell when you get home.

Without further ado, here are my best tips from years of experience: [Read more →]

By The Cruise Web, Inc.

So it’s crunch time now. Your cruise is setting sail in a week. The week before vacation can be wonderful with the excitement and anticipation of knowing your getaway is so close, but it can also be a hectic time for people who are not prepared.

If you are going away for a vacation, there are a lot of recommended things to get done in order to make sure you don’t come back to double the stress of when you left.

Luckily, we’ve been in your position before, so we’ve come up with a handy checklist of all the things you should do one week before your vacation.

So read on for our tips and print out the checklist as a reminder of what you need to do before your vacation. [Read more →]

By Rosalind Smith, Director of Business Development & Quality Performance, The Cruise Web, Inc.

Variety is the name of the game in the cruise industry. Cruise ships come with many different amenities, features and specialized accommodations. While each ship has its own unique features, the dozens of ships out there usually fall into one of four categories: contemporary, premium, luxury and specialty.

Now, I’ve stated before that every cruise is the perfect cruise for me because everything is conditional. So, let’s break down these four types and I’ll give you an example of when I like to cruise in this fashion and why. Also, because I am a lover of shoes, I figured the best way to give you a visual idea of these types is to compare each cruise line type to a type of shoe.

Ladies and gentlemen, you know that you have shoes you wear to the gym, shoes you wear to the beach, shoes you wear to dance and so on. Each shoe serves at least one purpose, but could work in a number of occasions. The same can be said of the purpose of certain cruise line types. Read on to see my comparisons. [Read more →]

A compilation by The Cruise Web employees.

As the cruise industry grows ever larger, we’re provided with an abundance of different cruising options. From Contemporary and Premium to Luxury and Specialty, there’s something to love about each cruise line type. Read more to see what we love most about each type… [Read more →]

By The Cruise Web, Inc.

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By The Cruise Web, Inc.

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