Planning a Family Vacation Cruise

Introduction

Cruise vacations are becoming more popular. More families are depending on the cruise lines to provide them with an all-inclusive vacation experience. Planning a cruise vacation is not a whole lot different than any other vacation you may have taken. There may be a few things you will find that are a little different in the planning process, but proper planning will make your cruise vacation go more smoothly and will allow you to relax without worry.

Pre-Planning Before a Cruise Vacation

Are you ready for the all-inclusive vacation and looking at taking a cruise vacation? If so, then there a few items you need to add to your agenda before you actually begin shopping for the perfect cruise. Planning a cruise vacation really is not a whole lot different than planning any other vacation you may have taken in the past. The only thing is the fact that you will need to know a little bit more specific information about yourself and those who you will be traveling with. When it comes to competitive pricing, a cruise vacation is a great value when you consider everything you are getting when you book a cruise.

Before you begin shopping for a cruise vacation there is basic information you will need to know about each passenger that will be traveling with you. The information you will need to have handy is:

• Full names of all passengers (this does include their middle name or initial and must match what is on their ID)
• Number of passengers traveling with you
• Address of all passengers
• Telephone number of all passengers
• Dates of birth for all passengers
• If there are any special needs for any passenger (medical, dietary, etc)
• Preferred dining times

In addition to passenger information you will need to know:

• Date of departure
• Destination
• Number of days you want to cruise
• Departure port
• If there is anyone over the age of 55
• If there are any past passengers in your party

Those pieces of information are just the basics when it comes to pre-planning your cruise. Having all of this information in a handy place will help make the shopping process go more smoothly while you are researching the different cruise vacation options available to you.

Once you have all of those specifics in order, you can begin making plans for the actual cruise vacation once you determine which cruise you desire to take and have your booking complete.

Things You May Need to Know

If you happen to be a cruise vacation rookie, then there are some things you will need to know while making your plans for your family to take that dream cruise vacation. The basics are easy, but while planning, you may want to know these things:

• During the embarkation process you will be going through a machine kind of like an x-ray machine.
• You will be going through a metal detector.
• The check-in desk will need your completed cruise documents, your identification and your credit or debit card.
• If you are an early arrival to the port, you may be asked to wait in the lounge area until your number is called.
• Cruise ship cabins are generally pretty small unless you book a special suite or penthouse.

That is just a small list that contains some of the basic information you will need to keep in mind while planning your cruise vacation. You don’t want to get delayed because of a security breach on your part or because you didn’t complete all of your cruise documents.

Packing is all part of the process when it comes to planning your cruise vacation. You must realize that cruise lines do have certain restrictions on items you can bring onboard their ships and they also set limitations and restrictions on baggage. The best way to find out what, if any limits or restrictions would be is to visit the cruise line website or call them directly and ask specific questions about what you need to know.

As far as your need to carry cash onboard, it’s not really necessary. If you choose to carry cash onboard it is recommended that you carry a very limited amount. Most cruise ships give their passengers an onboard charge which is also their boarding pass. That is the card you will be using to make purchases onboard. You can use cash to settle your onboard account, but it’s is recommended you use the charge card that you added to your shipboard account. You can also use cash to pay for casino activities or for gratuities if you choose.

Having the basic knowledge when it comes to planning your cruise vacation will reduce any confusion you may experience in the process.

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