Ocean Cruise Packages

Ocean Cruise FAQ’s

Why should I book with you, as opposed to do booking on my own?

The answer to this is multi-fold.

First, you won’t find a better value anywhere. We have many avenues to book your cruise and we will pro-actively search our sources to find you the best value possible.

In addition, we have an American Express affiliated division, Goin’ Places Travel, where you can pay for your cruise with American Express travel points. Also, you can be privy to many unadvertised specials solely for AMEX account holders if you use your American Express card to pay for the cruise.

Second, you get our red carpet service that no on line agency can ever duplicate. We manage pro-actively your booking from start to finish. If the price on the cruise goes down, we will rebook it for you at the lower price – as long as it makes sense to do so. You don’t even have to ask us. If we can save you money, we will do it. No on line service will make such a claim.

Third, we hold group blocks on many cruises on all the major cruise lines like, Princess, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Norwegian and more. It is very possible that we have a group already on the ship you want sail on. In that case, we book you into the group, and you receive whatever group benefits have been negotiated for that group, with the cruise line.

Finally, we make sure you have all the info you need by pro actively managing your booking. You don’t have to ask us the right questions. We know what you need and we will provide it without you even asking. If you do have questions or concerns, we are always available for you. No robots on the phone when you call; a real live knowledgeable human voice, who has your best interest in mind.

Is cruising really safe?

Absolutely. Ships must follow an extraordinary number of rules and regulations in place to protect passengers’ (and crew members’) safety while on-board. The Coast Guard conducts rigorous, quarterly inspections of all ships that operate from U.S. ports, looking to make sure they comply with emergency response requirements. Ships also operate under international rules, known as Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). The rules regulate everything from fire safety to navigation and maritime security. The rules also require that before the ship sails, everyone must participate in a safety drill that includes instructions on locating and putting on life jackets and finding your assigned lifeboat.

The biggest safety concerns for cruise ships are fire and running aground/capsizing. The past few years have seen some high profile and tragic incidents, including on-board fires on Oceania Insignia, Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas and Carnival Triumph and the capsizing of Costa Concordia, but these occurrences are actually quite rare, given the millions of people who cruise each year. You may be more at risk driving to the airport or boarding a plane to get to your home-port than you are once at sea.

In the aftermath of the Concordia tragedy, the Cruise Lines International Association adopted a cruise industry passenger bill of rights. The bill guarantees passengers rights in 10 areas including safety, comfort and care. Rights include “a full refund for a trip that is canceled due to mechanical failures or a partial refund for voyages that are terminated early due to these failures” and “timely information updates as to any adjustments in the itinerary of the ship in the event of a mechanical failure or emergency, as well as timely updates of the status of efforts to address mechanical failures.”

Will I get sick or seasick?

You may have read news articles about outbreaks of norovirus on cruise ships. Norovirus is a stomach bug that spreads easily in contained environments, such as hospitals and schools, as well as ships. You can stay healthy by washing your hands often and using the hand sanitizer lotion found in dining areas and by the ship’s gangway.

As for seasickness, most ships are so big and well stabilized that you can hardly tell you’re moving, especially in the calm waters of the Caribbean and Alaska’s Inside Passage. Radar helps big ships outrun hurricanes and other bad-weather patches, but if you do happen to pass through some rough water, any queasiness can usually be relieved by an over-the-counter medication like Dramamine or Bonine. If you are very prone to seasickness, ask your doctor before you leave home for the Transderm patch, available by prescription. Alternative remedies include ginger capsules and acupressure wristbands, available at most pharmacies. Also, note that the purser’s desk on most ships can provide rations.

If you don’t see the answer to your question here please feel free to give us a call at (877) 351-7866 and we do our best to get your questions answered.