Q: Is Cruising Affordable and a Good Vacation Value?
A: Cruising is the best vacation value! There are cruise vacations to suit every budget. Your cruise fare includes all meals, your stateroom, onboard activities and entertainment, plus transportation from port to port. You’ll know what your vacation will end up costing you before you go. (Typically, your only extra expenses will be drinks, optional shore excursions, and personal services such as massage or hairstyling.)

Q: Where Can I Go?
A: Wherever you want! Cruises visit over 1,800 ports worldwide and practically every destination accessible by water.

Q: How Dow I book?
A: Email us at arthur@artofcruising.com or call us at 770.942.3340

Q: Are All Ships Fairly Similar?
A: Far from it. Cruise lines’ ships range from intimate and yacht-like to vessels stretching longer than three football fields. You can sail with fewer than 100 fellow guests or with more than 2,600. Enjoy atmospheres ranging from casual to formal, contemporary to classic.

Q: Are There Any Special Educational Programs Onboard?
A: To complement the spirit of discovery that travel evokes, many cruise lines feature an extensive program of onboard enrichment seminars hosted by distinguished guest experts.

Q: Do I Need a Passport?
A: This depends on the type of cruise and your destination. You will need some proof of citizenship and identification.

Q: Are There Different Classes of Service?
A: Today’s cruise ships are “one-class”. Everyone can use all of the ship’s facilities. The price of a cabin is based primarily on its size and location. Regardless of the category you book, you’ll enjoy the same courteous service, menus, activities, and entertainment as everyone else on board.

Q: Will I Get Board? Feel Confined?
A: Hardly! Being at sea gives you a feeling of total freedom that no land-based resort can offer. There’s plenty of room. And it will probably take you two or three days just to discover everything that’s onboard. Plus, you get the added adventure of exploring many exciting ports of call.

Q: Do I Have To Participate in the Activities?
A: On a cruise, you do what you want, when you want. You can do everything or do absolutely nothing. It’s your vacation!

Q: Do Cruise Lines Welcome Families with Kids?
A: More and more cruise vacations are booked by families with children. Most cruise lines provide plenty of supervised activities for youngsters, especially during school holidays. If your children enjoy swimming, sports, games, movies, and the adventure of new places, they’ll love a family cruise.

Q: What’s There To Do At Night?
A: When the stars come out, a cruise ship really turns on. There’s dancing, live entertainment, nightclubs and lounges, feature films, and parties with all your new friends. Most ships also have casinos.

Q: Is There a Charge for Entertainment?
A: Never. On a cruise vacation, the entertainment is on the house. There’s no cover, minimum, or charge for an admission ticket. The shows are live, films first-rate and all included in your cruise fare.

Q: What Should I Pack?
A: Pack like you would for any resort. Cruise vacations are casual by day, whether you’re on the ship or ashore. In the evening, ships vary as to dress.

Q: Will I Need a Tuxedo?
A: Many cruise lines now feature a more relaxed and casual approach to dress throughout the cruise – while on others, formal dinners or parties are part of the fun.

Q: Can Singles Have Fun on a Cruise?
A: Cruising is ideal for people traveling alone, because it’s so easy to meet other people. In fact, most ships have parties for singles early on, so you can get to know other guests right away. Many ships even offer gentlemen hosts who can be dance partners, dinner companions or a fourth at cards.

Q: Can I Use My Hairdryer or Shaver?
A: Most ships have 110-volt outlets in the staterooms. But do check with by emailing us at arthur@artofcruising.com or call us at 770.942.3340. Most ships even feature hairdryers in your cabin.

Q: What about meal times?
A: Again, there are choices and more choices. During the day, there are many different dining options – in the formal dining room, on deck is casual setting, in a pizzeria, at an espresso bar, to name just a few. At night, most ships offer several venues. Some ships’ dining rooms can accommodate all guests at one time, called a “seating”. Many ships offer you a choice of several seating times, and others encourage you to come to dinner whenever you like. More traditional ships have two seatings in their formal dining rooms, which differ only by time: typically 6pm and 8:30pm. To choose, just decide whether you prefer to dine early or late – then email us at arthur@artofcruising.com or call us at 770.942.3340. You can chose to enjoy dinner someplace other than the formal dining room, such as in an intimate restaurant that features for example, Italian, Chinese, Japanese or Southwestern cuisine.

Q: Is Cruising Ship Dining As Good As I’ve Been Told?
A: Everything you’ve heard about cruise ship dining is true. At each meal, you’ll find a varied selection of entrees (appetizers, salads, soups, vegetables, and desserts; too), and each day the selection will be different.

Q: Can I get a Special Diet?
A: Most ships can accommodate salt-free, low-carbohydrate, Kosher, or other diet preferences. However, this request must be made in advance, so be sure to advise us by emailing us at arthur@artofcruising.com or call us at 770.942.3340.

Q: Are There Non-smoking Areas?
A: Virtually all ships have smoking and non-smoking sections in the public rooms. In fact, many dining rooms, and even some entire ships, are now totally smoke-free, reflecting passenger requests.

Q: Can We Celebrate a Special Occasion?
A: Absolutely! Most cruise lines will event treat you to a complimentary cake and a chorus of “Happy Whatever” to honor the occasion.

Q: Is Cruising Right for Honeymooners?
A: Without a doubt. Cruising offers an atmosphere that’s just right for romance…cozy dinners for two, strolling on deck at sunset, dancing the night away (even under stars).

Q: What About Tipping?
A: Tipping is a matter of individual preference. A general rule of thumb is to plan for about $3.50 per person per day for your cabin steward and dining room waiter, and about half that amount for your busboy. (A few cruise lines include tipping in the price and will inform you as such.) Other shipboard personnel can be tipped for special services at your discretion.

Q: Are There Medical Services Onboard?
A: Virtually every cruise ship (except for some smaller vessels operating in coastal waters) has a medical facility and health care professionals on staff to handle almost any emergency.

Q: Are There Laundry Services Aboard Ship?
A: Almost all cruise ships have laundry facilities and many provide dry-cleaning services.

Q: Do Cruise Lines Accept Group Bookings?
A: Most lines welcome groups-often at special rates, depending on how many people are involved.

Q: Are There Meeting Rooms Onboard?
A: Just about every full-size ship has public rooms or a conference center to offer as meeting space for private or corporate groups.

Q: Is Motion Discomfort a Problem?
A: Rarely. Popular cruise itineraries sail in some of the calmest waters in the world. In addition, stabilizers on modern ships, availability of advance weather information, and development of effective preventative medications have, for the most part, eliminated the incidence of motion discomfort.

Happy Cruising,
Arthur Fessenden
Founder
The Art of Cruising
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