Category — Cruise Travel

Following are some tips on Alaska cruises.  These are just a few frequently asked questions you might want to consider when planning Alaska cruises.

When is the best time to take an Alaska tour?

The warmest time of the year for any Alaska travel is between the months of May and September.  The days will be longest during the months of June and July.  If you are hunting the best bargains, you will find those during the shoulder seasons of May or September.

How do I pick a ship for Alaska cruises?

There are more than 30 ships from over 13 cruise lines prowling the Alaskan waters during cruise season.  The ships range in size from small, specialized tours of less than 200 passengers to ships of 800 to 1500 passengers and even those of 2000 or more.

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If you are not really experienced in booking cruises, then you need a cruise travel agent to do it for you. Booking a cruise is nothing like booking an air flight or making arrangements for a rental car. Cruises are much more complicated than either of those.

Remember, not just any travel agent will do, you want one that specializes in cruises. There are lots of cruise-only travel agencies and many travel agencies have agents whose specialty is cruising. A good cruise travel agent has an intimate knowledge of the industry and cruise lines. A specializing agent should be able to offer you the best rates and help you choose options suited to your personality and pocket book. He or she will be able to explain everything to you from the cruise line’s cancellation policies to how you get your baggage on the ship and back off again.

It is always best to choose a cruise travel agent who is local to you. This way you can easily sit down with them and discuss your expectations and concerns in person. Have the travel agent tell you about their personal cruise experiences and explain why they may prefer one cruise line in relation to another. Check to see that they are accredited by professional organizations and ask if they can provide you with references from satisfied customers. Ask them about special discounts or options that they can offer you as opposed to another agent. Make them convince you that they are your best choice for your upcoming cruise vacation.

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If you are going to take a cruise, cruise travel insurance is very much warranted. When building coverage into your price, it is important to note that cruise travel insurance will amount to about 5% to 9% of your total cruise vacation cost.

First, you should know that things such as inclement weather, change of itinerary, childbirth, loss of employment, war, pre-existing medical conditions, and frequent flyer miles cannot be covered by cruise travel insurance.

If you are just taking a weekend trip and not much more, you might not want to spend the money on insurance. However, if any of the following pertains to your trip, it will probably be a good idea to get cruise travel insurance.

You should probably get insurance if you are going to be travelling in a rental car on any point in your trip, or if you are travelling during a season of the year when it is more possible that you might experience flight delays or cancellations, or if you plan to participate in activities other than just eating and shopping, like SCUBA diving, mountain climbing, or helicopter rides.

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Spending vacation time aboard a cruise ship is very popular and growing more popular all the time, even amongst those who have never set foot on a cruise ship in their life.

The benefits are widely known and this puts cruises on many wish lists. Often, people are just waiting to find discount cruise travel opportunities so they can afford a cruise line vacation.

Cruise deals are actually not that difficult to find if you know where to look.

Below are a few tips to help you find them.

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