Category — First-Time Cruisers

By The Cruise Web, Inc.

In December of 2008, I went to the Bahamas on the Norwegian Gem and got to stay in one of their Courtyard Villas. We were picked up by limousine early that morning in DC and started heading to New York. When we arrived at the port, we announced that we had a Courtyard Villa. Upon hearing that, the special treatment began. They quickly checked us in and asked us to wait in a private lounge with refreshments, which was nice since we had been driving all morning.

Upon boarding, we were greeted with champagne and mimosas. We kept moving as we were so excited to explore the ship and see our villa, which was located on the 14th deck. The elevator even had a special slot that wouldn’t let you push the button to your floor unless you inserted the platinum (VIP) room key.

The Courtyard was absolutely gorgeous. There was a warm natural water pool (no chlorine to irritate the skin!) in the center and a Turkish steam bath and traditional sauna at the far end. It resembled a greenhouse with plants and an earthy décor. Besides the courtyard, there was a private sun deck where you could lounge on oversized cushioned deck furniture. On top of that, the deck and courtyard attendant brought us anything we needed. [Read more →]

By Julie Atkins, Manager of Client Services & Group Administration

Taking a baby on vacation may seem more challenging than rewarding, and in my experience it’s a bit of both. I always joke when I get back from vacation with my daughter that I need another vacation on my own! When Erin was six months old we decided to take her on her first cruise.

I chose Holland America because they had the most suitable itinerary, sailing on the ms Eurodam. When choosing an itinerary with babies or young children, the Caribbean is a very good choice. We visited St Thomas, Tortola and Grand Turk which are best known for their soft sandy beaches. We went for 7 nights and traveled in the month of December.

Eastern Caribbean Beaches

When you arrive at the ports of call, the best source of information is of course the locals. So we always ask them where the quiet, family-friendly beaches are and we are never disappointed.

One of the ports of call is Half Moon Cay, Holland America’s private Island. They have an option to book a Cabana on the beach and I would highly recommend doing this. It allowed us to spend the entire day at the beach, it was air conditioned and stocked all day with soft drinks and fruit. They have comfortable cushioned lounges and exclusive waiter service. Priceless! [Read more →]

Warm weather and sunny skies can only mean one thing, it’s time to hit the beach! And with so much cruising experience, it’d just be downright selfish if we didn’t share our favorite beaches. Without further ado, our favorite beaches and beach experiences:

Adam Wolf
My favorite beach is Magens Bay located on the north shore on the Caribbean island of St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands.  Magens Bay beach is a state park…the beach is heart shaped and is approximately 1 mile long, featuring serene turquoise waters, beautiful white sand, and plenty of shaded areas under the trees…typically there are no waves or currents at the beach.  Lifeguards are on duty during the day and there is a bar, gift shop, and great bath facilities…don’t miss eating breakfast there at the snack bar.  National Geographic magazine called it one of the top 10 most beautiful beaches in the world!

Gloria Hanson
I would have to say one of my favorite beaches is in Bonaire. I can’t swim and am not particularly fond of water activities because of this impediment, however, when we cruised to Bonaire and I saw how shallow the water was, it gave me a whole new outlook on water sports. [Read more →]

By: The Cruise Web, Inc.

There are lots of attractions on a cruise, but one of the best can be the dining experience. Whenever I cruise I try and sample one or more of the specialty restaurants on the ship. This gives you a change of pace in the decor and cuisine as well as service. Especially if you want to celebrate a birthday, anniversary or some other milestone, the specialty restaurant makes a good choice. I am frankly not a “foodie,” a food snob, or for that matter much of a cook. I love diner burgers and fries as well as the next guy. But evenings I’ve spent at specialty restaurants have given me more of an appreciation for the artistry and subtlety of fine cuisine.

Although you may pay a bit extra (about $15 – $30 per passenger) for the experience, you often can get a six-star dining evening at a fraction of the cost you would pay to do so on land. Although there is always plenty to eat, the emphasis is on the quality of the cuisine. The presentation and unobtrusive yet consistent service contribute to a memorable dinner as you leisurely linger through each course. I always enjoy the palate cleansers mid-meal that typically are part of the experience. This comes from the French custom, to remove lingering flavors from the mouth so your next course can be enjoyed with a fresh perspective. It also serves as a digestive–to avoid heartburn or indigestion, plus to stimulate the appetite. It might be sorbet, a neutral food, or a light beverage. [Read more →]

A compilation from The Cruise Web employees.

Whether it’s a romantic candlelit dinner with champagne or breakfast in bed, indulging in cruise ship cuisine, or “cruisine,” is always one of the most rewarding cruise experiences. No where else combines the unparalleled food, service, and atmosphere delivered with cruise ship dining, and no one knows this better than our veteran cruisers. We hope you’ll enjoy reading as The Cruise Web’s employees look back on some of their most memorable dining experiences:

Heather Wasson
The level of service and quality of food in the Crown’s Grill was comparable to a Ruth’s Chris here at 1/4 of the price!

Check your daily newsletter for the midnight buffet.  It’s a highlight of the trip!  Even if you’re not hungry, go up for the show.  The chefs spend all day prepping food and making really cool displays.  It’s amazing to see the watermelons cut out into works of art.  It’s hilarious to see little creatures created from food.  I’m awed by how creative they are. [Read more →]

By: The Cruise Web, Inc.

During a recent Seminar at Sea onboard Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas attended by myself and several fellow agents, I was lucky enough find out just how much time, money, and sheer sweat goes into the large-scale production shows on a cruise. By coincidence, on the first day of our cruise one of the agents from my office ran into an old friend of his, Drake DeLucca. They had gone to performing arts school together, and Drake just happened to be one of the stars of the show on our cruise! Because of Drake and Royal Caribbean’s generosity, we all had a very revealing view of what happens behind-the-scenes to put on a production costing millions of dollars.

In the main theater we toured the lighting and sound booth, which was worthy of any venue on Broadway. We also saw the entire backstage area, including props, costumes, ropes and harnesses for the “In The Air” show where the actors are flying 20 feet over the audiences’ heads, even the trapdoor areas under the stage where the actors just ‘disappear’ during a number.   Liberty of the Seas (and many of her sister ships) also has the “On Air” Club which is a fantastic area dedicated solely to karaoke. Imagine being shown how to work the computers for the singers, and singing onstage with a professional – it was such a memorable experience and we are all so indebted to Drake for his generosity and taking so much of his personal time to show us a little taste of his life on a cruise stage. [Read more →]

By: The Cruise Web, Inc.

Everyone knows that there is plenty of food on a cruise. Most people think of food for the body only.  But let’s look at food for the brain.  There is plenty of that on a cruise, too.

You always mean to set aside time to learn something new, but it’s hard to do with a full schedule.  A cruise is actually a good time to learn something new.  Do you have a lot of pictures you’ve downloaded to your computer and don’t know what to do with them?  There are classes on how to organize your pictures and how to edit them.  Want to learn something new on the computer?  There are classes for all levels of use.

Have you wanted to learn to play bridge?  There are classes for that.  You can take pottery classes, jewelry making classes and all types of arts and crafts lessons.  Do you like the towel animals in your cabin?  There are sometimes classes to learn how to make them. [Read more →]

By Jennifer Crivelli, Cruise Consultant, The Cruise Web.

Before “The Love Boat” ever aired its first episode in 1977, cruises have long been intertwined with romance. Understanding the important relationship between cruising and romance, today’s cruise lines provide a variety of ways to turn an unforgettable vacation into the unforgettably romantic vacation of a lifetime.

Set sail to exotic destinations while enjoying the sunset over the ocean.  Enjoy a late night walk on the Sun Deck under the stars, as the moon glistens off the ocean below.  Dance the night away in one of the many onboard lounges or cuddle on the pool deck while enjoying a movie under the stars.  For those passengers still looking for that special someone, the singles meet and greet cocktail party is a great way to meet the man or woman of your dreams.  And once you step ashore, the romance begins almost immediately: a gondola ride on the canals in Venice, strolling in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, or walking along white sand beaches a Caribbean Island hand-in-hand. [Read more →]

By Jennifer Crivelli, Cruise Consultant, The Cruise Web.

Two of my favorite places to shop when I cruise are the Caribbean and Mexican Riviera. In addition to the warm sun and sandy beaches, I love the great shopping opportunities that are in each destination. So, what is there to buy in the Caribbean and Mexican Riviera? It all depends on where your cruise takes you.

St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands and St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles
These two Eastern Caribbean destinations are a Mecca for jewelry shopping. Whether you are looking for diamonds, precious gem stones, or watches – there is a wide variety of stores in each of these ports-of-call that will vie for your business.  Also, check out the following jewelry stores for unique items, found only in the Caribbean: St. Thomas – Bernard K. Passman, home to hand carved black coral jewelry; and in St. Maarten – Majesty Jewelers, home to the Kabana Collection, gorgeously inset mother of pearl. [Read more →]

Collected from the experiences of The Cruise Web employees.

There is something exciting about shopping while traveling. It is the physical act of being able to take a piece of the places you have visited with you.  This, of course, is a popular activity while cruising because your purchases turn into a physical map of the many ports and countries that you have visited along the way. 

Below is a great variety of ports, shops, cities, countries and vendors our cruise consultants have discovered to help you the next time you “make” your map.

Linda I., Senior Cruise Consultant
Silver Exposure, Cabo San Lucas.  There is a very unique silver jewelry here and it is designed by locals.  VERY reasonable prices and if you pay cash it’s an additional 10% off.  I definitely helped her out.

John T., Senior Cruise Consultant
Whenever we go to the Caribbean, in any port you can find bottles of Vanilla.  Eastern, Western, Southern… they all have it and it is very good.  The bottles are usually decorated with a Caribbean theme specific to the country in which it was bought.  My wife has them displayed on our counter top.  She uses them for various recipes and they come out GREAT!!!

 Carol T., Cruise Consultant
My shopping treasures are rarely found in a store or shop.  I like picking up small paintings, sketches, and various other forms of artwork directly from artisans I encounter in nearly every port on every cruise itinerary.

Look for these folks in easily accessible public spaces or on sidewalks near prominent attractions.  Outside of the [Read more →]