It amazes me how so many people can tell you exactly how many cruises they’ve been on.

While they may not be able to tell you the birth-dates of their children, they can tell you how many cruises, which ships, and what type of cabin they had on each – sometimes, even recite the various cabin numbers.

I’m not one of those. I can’t tell you the birth-dates of my children,  nor can I tell you exactly how many cruises I’ve been on. Somewhere over 60 I think. Does that make me an expert? No, I don’t think so. It only makes me lucky.

Over 60 is a lot of times to repeat any activity. Yet, if I said I’d done over 60 driving vacations, or been camping over 60 times, no one would care.

I love cruisers. Overall, when you’re on a ship, the people are friendly, looking to have a good time, and have a relaxed attitude. But, the one area where we’re weird is when at the first opportunity in the conversation we’re inclined to tell the people we’re talking to how many cruises we’ve been on.

In “days gone by” if you had been on many cruises it may have meant you were wealthy; because cruises used to be quite expensive, and generally only the wealthy cruised.

But, in today’s world, where cruising is inexpensive enough that it’s available to “the masses”,  people who cruise often are just regarded as cruise enthusiasts; old – with lots of time to cruise; or unemployed – with lots of time to cruise (well, ok maybe not the unemployed, because it does take money).

It is getting much harder to find first time cruisers on board, that you can impress by telling them how many cruises you’ve been on, and that you are basically now an expert on the subject of cruising.

In fact, on the contemporary cruise lines, you’re just as likely to meet people who have been on more cruises than you, as you are meeting first timers.

Why, I remember meeting some people who’ve told me it was their 19th cruise on the same ship. Say what? (Now that’s a hard one for me to understand).

These days the truly devoted “cruise trackers” keep count of  how many days at sea they’ve sailed. They feel it’s “unfair” to include the short cruises to boost your ”cruise expert cred”, so they found a way to do an end around by counting days. It actually impresses me that they can count and remember all those days at sea, when I can’t manage to count the days left until the weekend.

But really… if we’re going to go that far, shouldn’t we also be noting a differential between days at sea, and days  in port. Do we deduct for those odd overnights in a port of call?

So, who’s opinions should you trust? Who should be recognized as a cruise expert?

Several years ago, Gene Sloan, who writes the Cruise Log for USA Today, referred to an article I wrote for CruiseMates. He referred to me as an “industry watcher”. I kind of liked the tag. But, I guess that means I’m no expert. And I admit, I am no expert.

But I have been able to keep track of the fact I’ve been working on writing this blog for 3 days – and there’s 3 days left until the weekend. Of course that depends on which days you count.

- A View From The Kuki Side of Cruising -

One of quickest means to ruining a good relationship can be disagreements
over money.

And it just doesn’t take much for one person or another to feel like
they are being taken advantage of financially.

On land, when going out to dinner with friends, whether singles or couples,
how do you handle the check?

Do you make it clear to your server from the beginning that you’ll all want
separate checks (the servers just love that)? Or, do you each examine the check when it arrives to determine what each persons share is? Or, do you just split the total of the check, plus tip, dividing by the number of people?

On a cruise, in regard to food, the “who ate what dance” is avoided. In
venues where the price of of food is included in the cruise fare there’s no
worries. But, even in the ship’s alternate dining venues requiring a surcharge,
the procedure is set for the server to charge each cabin, or person
individually. So, unless one clearly invites someone to be their guest at one of
these venues, everyone pays their own way.

In other areas, unfortunately these things aren’t quite so simple and
clear.

- Whose turn is it to buy the next round? -

It’s all fine and happy when drinks are flowing amongst friends, enjoying a
cruise together. Payment is so simple on board, you just show the server your
“sail and spend” card. Servers will even run tabs for your group.

The thing is, no one carries cash on a ship (except in the casino perhaps),
so that makes it difficult for anyone to pay someone back for those drinks,
without keeping a ledger book going… or remembering well whose turn it is to
buy the next round.

(No doubt each of us knows someone who orders doubles when it’s someone else’s turn to buy)

It’s generally all well and good while “the party is going on”, but the
last night of the cruise when that statement for your on board expenses is
slipped under the door, someone may become very unhappy, realizing that
intentionally or not their cruise mates may have avoided paying for their “fare
share” of the libations.

The cruise lines do make it easier to split expenses for roommates. At
check in, each room-mate can supply their own credit card or cash to guarantee the
purchases they make on board.

It is much more complicated when you are cruising with friends, or a group
of friends.

Many cruise lines are now offering drink packages, or wine packages, which
in essence make your drinking free (outside of the cost of the package).
However, in the case of shots of liquor, to make it entirely equitable everyone
in your group of friends must purchase the package.

Though, if one person buys the package, they can simply order their own
drinks, and leave those who did not to sort out their own fair solutions for
their drink tabs.

Wine packages are different, in that once you get a bottle of wine, you can
share it or not, as you choose. Of course, awkward moments can arise, if your
friends or table-mates are waiting for you to share the wine you’ve chosen from
the package you’ve paid for.

One of the easiest ways to deal with these financial issues of traveling with friends or a group is to book on all-inclusive cruise lines.  In fact, when you speak with people who regularly do book all-inclusive cruise lines this is one of the big positive they speak of…eliminating those awkward moments.. aside from the fact these are all generally luxury brands as well.

But, they are right when they say the all-inclusive does eliminate all those awkward moments, of who’s buying what; who’s drinking more; and who’s turn it is to buy. Everyone is paying their fair share when they pay for their cruise.

Yet, it’s likely not financially feasible for everyone to book luxury cruises.

Other than the all-inclusive, there are no simple solutions to make sure no one feels taken advantage of financially, or leaves with ill feelings towards a friend who never seems to reach for their “sail and spend card”.

To avoid this, I suggest planning and agreeing on some of  these things in advance of your trip if you’re cruising with friends.

Other than everyone paying for their own drinks throughout the cruise, there are no simple solutions (that I can see) to assure fairness, and avoid trouble.

In this Blog, I am having trouble identifying workable solutions.

I’ve identified a problem. I’m relying on you, all of our experienced readers, to post solutions that you’e found have worked for you and your cruisemates.

None of us mind buying a friend a drink or two. But when it gets to 10-12 it gets expensive.

- A View From The Kuki Side of Cruising -

Cruise anticipation is a very unique feeling. It’s unusual because while “it’s only” a vacation, its affects are physical as well as psychological.

I just recently met a couple of tourists from South Africa in the United States, where I too was visiting. They are in the midst of a 3 month vacation away from their home country; travelling through many of the resort cities and areas in the United States, including an Alaskan cruise.

Of course, when I hear the word cruise my ears perk up, and I pay more attention to the discussion.

I asked which ship they would be sailing in Alaska. “Celebrity I think” was the response.

That type of discussion, and response, is somehow oddly common place.

It might seem surprising that people who have planned such an extensive travel itinerary (and could tell me all the cities they were going to be stopping in) couldn’t recall the name of the ship they were going to be taking.

Over time I have met or had email contact with many people who aren’t traveling so extensively, but who are just planning or anticipating a cruise, and also can’t tell me the name of the ship they are anticipating.

In my mind there’s a couple of plausible explanations; one – is that the trip is so long and varied that it’s difficult to recall every detail. The other is that because the cruise portion is going to be so simple and well taken care of, by it’s nature,  it’s not necessary to remember the minutia.

Yet, when I meet (or communicate) with many of these people, and they learn what I do, they usually have plenty of questions. Some of which can be very entertaining.

Probably  the most common, and one of my favorites is, ” What’s the weather like in (place) in (date)?”

So they have a cruise travel writer “in front of them”, with 65+ cruises of experience, with what some may consider a wealth of information about cruising available, and they want me to be a weatherman…

The one job where,  world wide, you’re allowed to be wrong – and probably are - 95% of the time, and not be fired.

Come to think of it, it’s a job I’m probably well suited for.

- A View From The Kuki Side of Cruising -

“Ship happens”, but there are a few simple things you can do to avoid the most common blunders.

# 1 – The most common mistake can occur at the moment you decide to book your cruise. DO NOT pay the deposit you make to book your cruise, or make your final payment, using cash or by writing a check to a travel agent!

While the vast majority of travel agents are honest, ethical, and trustworthy, their financial circumstances can change, and if the agent you are using finds themselves in difficult circumstances, there can be a serious temptation for them to use your monies for things other than to pay the cruise lines the money you have trusted in them to pay for you.

And you may not know this has happened until months later,… or worst case… until you try and board the ship.

You wouldn’t be the first for this to happen to you. It has indeed happened previously, and on occassion to large groups traveling together.

Pay for your deposits or cruise fares using a major credit card, and then verify that said charges on your card are made directly to the cruise line.

You can verify this immediately with your credit card company, as well as checking the booking reference number you are given when booking online, at the cruise line’s web site.

# 2 – Just prior to embarking on your cruise, during the check in process, you are required to supply payment information guaranteeing your responsibility for charges you incurr on board. Cash deposits are accepted, and then once on the ship, if you’re closing to reaching the amount of deposit you’d left you’ll be required to deposit more.

The most commonly used method of deposit used for on board spending is by use of a credit card (also the best). However, as Debit Card use is becoming more common, many people have turned to using these same debt cards to guarantee their on board charges. This is a mistake!

The method banks use for debt card transactions is different than that used for credit card transactions. A credit card can pre-authorized, but the monies are not charged against it until the final transactions are processed at the end of the cruise. When using a debit card however the pre-authorization is withdrawn from your account at the moment it is processed.

This makes that amount of funds from the debit card account at your bank unavailable to you for other use. When your final tab at the end of the cruise is calculated the amounts are corrected to reflect the actual charges. However, until those corrections (and credits if they are due) are calculated you could find that the withholding made leave your account short of being capable to cover charges you want to use the debt card for.

Use a credit card to secure your on board charges and you are safe.

# 3 – Choosing the location of your cabin on a ship can be a bit of a minefield. Ideally, you want to be sure that your cabin is not directly above or below any of the ships busy public rooms and areas. That can be accomplished relatively easily by examining a ship’s deck plan, and choosing a cabin with passenger decks above you, as well as below you.

Your not likely to enjoy a cabin that is directly above or below the ship’s main showroom, dance clubs/discos, or the ship’s galleys. The noise at odd times of day and night may be disturbing to you. Cabins directly below the pool/lido deck and buffet restaurants may also be less desirable to you, as crew will be moving furniture and setting up quite early in the morning, and you’ll be very likely to hear it.

# 4- Don’t assume the cruise line is solely responsible for your good time. The cruise lines do a wonderful job of supplying the environment, activities, and atmosphere for you to really enjoy your experience. But that is truly only 50% of the equation.

You are the final determining factor. You get to make the choices of how many, or how few of the activities and amenities available to you you’ll use to make certain you enjoy the experience. And, inevitably there are going to be a few small glitches along the route. How much you choose to allow them to impact your experience is, in many ways, up to you.

- A View From The Kuki Side of Cruising -

It’s likely that you’ve never tried on the underwear of a neighbor or friend (unless you’re a 12 or 13 year old girl). It’s also unlikely that you would think your friend’s favorite outfit would be perfect for you.

But, it’s surprising just how many people will choose to cruise on a cruise line, or particular ship, based soley on someone else’s choice of underwear or outfits. Well, not quite.

But many will book a cruise based almost entirely on that little amount of information.

The thing is, the most important decision you will make, which will have the ultimate affect on your enjoyment of your cruise vacation, is your choice of which ship to sail on. Just like underwear and outfits, you really want to find one that fits you, and your personality.

The cruise lines have done quite a stellar job during the last decade of identifying their ship’s personalities, and effectively making those personalities differentiate themselves from their fellow industry competitors.

Even ships within a cruise lines own fleet may be operationally very similar, yet, many of them do standout with their own personality idiosyncrasies; some of which you might love, and some less so.

If you’re investing your money and your time in your vacation, I think it’s of utmost importance to also invest in finding the cruise that is best equipped to supply you with the most satisfaction.

Admittedly there is plenty of misinformation out there that you have to sift through, and that is why I site like CruiseMates is invaluable.

The message boards, where people post up to date information about their recent cruises, and respond quickly to questions asked, are a great tool. And, if by chance misinformation is posted, other members of the community respond pretty quickly to point out inaccuracies.

Professional, trained travel agents, who are cruise specialists, are another excellent tool, who’s advice and services are available free of charge (in most cases).

Unlike many consumer products purchases, cruises are not something I believe is in your best interests to buy direct from the suppliers. The reason is simple; unlike travel agents, the cruise lines sales teams purpose is to sell you a cruise on their particular cruise line. They have no interest in finding one that fits you.  When you “step out of the dressing room”, whatever ship you are “wearing”, they are going to tell you it looks great.

Everyone has to find a cruise that meets the parameters of what comfortably fits in their budget. But, the cheapest isn’t always the best for you; nor necessarily is the most expensive.  Going to either extreme may leave you feeling like you are wearing your neighbor’s underwear… and stuff may pop out.

- A View From The Kuki Side of Cruising -

I recently saw U.K.-based late night talk show with a host named Graham Norton. The show’s format was different from U.S. talk shows; it featured a sequence of taped celebrity interviews from different nights, but all edited together to look like one continuous show.

I watched at least two-dozen segments with very big stars and I realized each story had a common theme; their private body parts. Whether it was Adele’s “wardrobe malfunction” where a gust of wind revealed she was not wearing panties to this example called: Farting In The Women’s Toilets. Every story prompted gales of laughter; as if anything about human bodily functions is unbearably funny. (You don’t have to go there, but if you do take note of all the other clips from his show and theme of bodily functions).

Things are not much different in the U.S.

I am sure everyone reading this has heard about the “poop cruise” Why am I sure? David Letterman made hay with a “Top Ten List of Cruise Chip Names” – almost two months after the event. Ready?

Never mind, it really wasn’t funny. Demeaning and abasing are more accurate terms.

On the same show the sadly washed-up Martin Short remade the Carnival theme song. Here is his “version“.

I won’t go into all the inaccuracies, but I will point out that today’s comedians only have careers because (1) satire is exempt from slander laws and (2) tawdry “jokes” about bodily functions that should only appeal to juvenile minds still qualify as state-of-the-art comedy in today’s media, most likely because it is dominated by Facebook, YouTube and reality shows.

Media pundits are still discussing how the singular 24-hours CNN spent covering “the poop cruise” achieved its highest ratings in years. That wonderful event just won’t go away with its perfect je ne sais qua of titillation and social humiliation to make it a media windfall.

Naturally, publicity-hound politicians also want to jump aboard the “poop cruise” bandwagon. Two U.S. Senators are now claiming to be so outraged – despite the fact that cruise was a statistically insignificant event – that they want a congressional investigation. May I reiterate this singular fact? No one died or was even injured during that cruise, and everyone got home safe and more than fully compensated from the cruise line. It was a ONE-TIME EVENT while over 18-million cruises were taken in 2012 alone.

Forget Benghazi or Fast & Furious – two other international events where American government workers and citizens not only died, they were murdered.

Does one “Poop Cruise” Really Mean We Need to “Fix” the Cruise Industry?

I am a U.S. Citizen who pays taxes and makes a living solely from the cruise industry, like 35,000 other American citizens. I cover the cruise industry as a journalist, and in that role I have spent years looking at all of the issues that many people, including congressmen, still don’t understand about the cruise business.

Here are my thoughts: Each decision and step taken by the people who built our U.S. cruise industry has been made within the legal framework of U.S. federal and international maritime law regarding passenger vessels as defined by our Congress and the treaties of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) — which the U.S. has signed and followed since the day we became a nation.

With beautiful ships offering exceptional service, Our American cruise industry means exceptionally high value vacations for everyday people – even good enough for the very highly respected Disney Corporation. There is nothing inherently illegal or immoral in their method of business. It is based upon thousands of years of sea-going tradition which is the foundation for modern international maritime law.

What Happens to Cruising “If…?”

Some people are calling for laws to require cruise lines to flag themselves in the United States. Why? Solely so they would be subject to more U.S. regulation and taxes. But that is not a solution, it’s a travesty. What would really happen if you forced all cruise lines to go to U.S. registry? The same thing that would happen if every nanny and lawn worker in the U.S. had to become a union paid U.S.-citizen. Does anyone really think we could make that transition without losing thousands and thousands of jobs?

Here is what one of CruiseMates staff members, who is a solid cruise enthusiast and who leans liberal, predicted:

“I see more regulation of the cruise industry in the near future and … In five to ten years I see cruising to be a much more expensive holiday and there will be fewer choices in ships, cruise lines and atmosphere. Smaller, niche, cruise lines like Azamara, Oceania, Seabourn, Silversea and Regent will either be gone or focus on the non U.S. market. Asia looks better every day for the cruise lines. I do believe that the times are changing for the cruise lines and I don’t think they will like it.”

I do not agree this is coming, I still believe our senators are smarter than that. But if they are not then that prediction would be the minimum damage. I believe it would be the end of the cruise industry, because very few people would be willing or able to pay the prices a cruise line would have to charge to run a U.S.-flagged cruise line.

NCL-America is the sole mainstream U.S.-flagged cruise line in the world, and it started with three ships in Hawaii, but they eventually learned there are only enough customers to support one ship at the rates U.S.-flagged ship must charge to cover expenses. A seven-day cruise on that ship starts at $1350 for an inside cabin – roughly three times the cost of a similar cruise on any non-U.S.-flagged cruise ship sailing seven days to the Caribbean. Look at what such legislation has done to our airline industry; bankruptcies everywhere, and the customer experience getting worse every day. The industry survives, but people will always need to fly – but no one needs to take a cruise.

Such fares, along with the resulting lower levels of service that would come from barring foreign workers, would decimate the cruise industry, and in this economic climate, with joblessness near 8% and one in five people receiving food stamps, do we really need to be destroying jobs in America just so a U.S. Senator can say he took action on the “poop cruise?”

You have to be kidding me! … That was my reaction this past week when a gentleman I was golfing with in a tournament told me it’s easy to give cruise advice now.

He said: “Just tell them they shouldn’t cruise”.

As one would no doubt expect, I nearly fell out of my golf cart.

 But I was interested in knowing if this fellow was serious, or just attempting to “throw me off my game”.

He was serious. With the regrettable incidents the last few months, and the coverage of trouble Carnival had with the Carnival Triumph, the Carnival Breeze, and the most recent incident once again with the Carnival Triumph, as well as exaggerated media coverage of disappearances at sea, and Norovirus outbreaks,  this person was convinced no one should cruise.

Of course, to me, this is an unimaginable and uninformed position to take. Yet, after further discussion on the topic, and after giving it some thought later myself, I came to believe these perceptions are likely a more considerable problem for the cruise industry than I may have suspected.

Now if you’re reading this while visiting the CrusieMates web site, then you are quite likely to be a cruise devotee.  And, as such, like me, it’s very simple to think it’s irrational, and unfounded to declare that people shouldn’t cruise because of all the problems that can arise to ruin your vacation, or even put you in danger.

But for the unitiated (and if you like, even undoctrinated), the fear factor is obviously having an affect on the mindset of that population.

And the cruise industry has to find a way to address those concerns, because the numbers of people who have not yet cruised  far outnumber those who have and would brush aside many of those concerns.

The big question is how do they battle that public relations issue?

How do they get the public perception of the reality of cruising more in line with the actual reality?

In my view they have to do more to assure people, than to offer full refunds and a discount on a future cruise, and run their normal ads, showing beautiful actors laying on sun loungers drinks in hand, or dancing in the disco.

- A View From The Kuki Side of Cruising -

For first time cruisers there are many things which are going to surprise you.

Whether you arrive at the port by bus, shuttle, or private vehicle, when you first arrive dockside, to see your ship, the first surprise is just how big that ship looks. And it doesn’t matter if you’re sailing on a smaller vessel, or one the ultra mega ships, the first sighting can’t help but impress you. You first sighting can’t help but impress you, and further build your excitement and anticipation.

Once you’ve completed the check in process, and crossed the gangway, you’re first glance at the ship’s interior will be a WOW moment. Once again, it’s hard not to be impressed, looking around and realizing this is not a hotel, or a building, but a ship that is going to transport you through the water to distant ports.

Shortly after that, you’re going to enter your cabin. And, unless you’ve booked one of the top suites on board you’re going to be surprised at just how small your cabin is. Standard cabins measure anywhere from 150 sq. ft. to 250 sq. ft. Mini-suites may be around 340 sq. ft. So your living space on the ship may be about the size of your bedroom at home, and that space will include the bathroom, closet space, sitting area, and sleeping area. Some of that area serves duel purposes (no you won’t be sleeping in the closet).

Perhaps the most surprising thing about your cabin will be just how easily you’ll adapt to living in and enjoying that space!

The other thing that is really going to surprise you is just how many times you are going to “lose your cabin”; that is if you’re at all like me,  directionally challenged. I just walk around like I know where I am going, and often end up on the wrong end of the ship, or on the wrong side of the ship. I refer to this as my excercise program (eliminating the need for gym visits).

And when exiting the cabin, there is at least a 60% chance I’m going to turn the wrong way; in the opposite direction of the place I am trying to go to. I’m betting that most of you are inflicted with the same directional disease (well, maybe not the women).

When you first see the ship’s main dining areas (the main restaurants, and the buffet area) you are going to be surprised at just how big they are, and the large variety of food available. Once you’re done being surprised by that, and find out about the other alternate facilities where food is available – like pizzarias, poolside grills and alternate restaurants – you’re likely to go from surprised to impressed.

If you haven’t researched in advance, you may be surprised that some of those alternate restaurants require you pay an extra “service fee” if you choose to dine in them. Often you’ll find that meals served, and the service offered in these restaurants that do charge an extra fee, are equivalent to dining in restaurants at home where it might cost you $50 -$75 per person, and on board you are paying somewhere around half that cost.

A very pleasant surprise, if you don’t already know, is room service is generally free (include in the fare you’ve already paid for your cruise).  There are a few exceptions, like some ships which charge a small fee for very late night room service delivery. You can inform yourself of any exceptions by reading the ship’s daily newsletter which is left in your cabin each evening.

It is possible to take all your meals on the ship without paying anything extra, above what you’re already paid for the cruise.  I do however recommend budgeting for the extra expenses, so you can take advantage of all the variety offered on the ship.

While on the subject of budgeting, the biggest surprise on board may be just how many opportunities the cruise line will give you to separate yourselves from your money. Let’s face it, their job is to encourage you to spend!

Drinks (alcohol, soft drinks/sodas, specialty coffees) can quickly inflate the final amount you spend on board. If you consume a lot, don’t be surprised when your final statement is much larger than you accounted for.

Do not expect that you’ll be paying liquor store or grocery store prices! You should expect to pay the equivalent of prices similar to what you would at a land based restaurant/bar/lounge.

Consuming without consideration for costs will lead you to one of the most unpleasant surprises possible; spending much more than what you budgeted for.

There are many more surprises that await you than I can include in one article. And I can assure you many are far more pleasant surprises than negative ones.

One thing that should definitely not surprise you is after you’ve been on your first cruise, chances are very high that you’re going to have a strong desire to go on your next one!

- A View From The Kuki Side of Cruising -

River cruising is “THE hot thing” in cruising right now, and I don’t expect that trend to be short lived. So, I thought I should look at what may be the reasons for the trend.

I must start by saying that I have never been on a river cruise, and to date, for my tastes, I don’t have any particular inner drive to try one. Mrs. Kuki, on the other hand just loves the idea, and is therefore building pressure for us to go on one. Who do you think is going to win in that discussion?

To be fair (and to be prepared for our “discussion” on the matter) I should look at the pros and cons of a river cruise vs a Europen cruise on a cruise ship… as I perceive them.

Probably the most attractive thing about river cruises is the access to the towns and cities which the larger cruise ships (and even smaller ones) can’t get to.

People are naturally drawn to the “slow boat to …” method of travel, where the river cruises meander their way through rivers, enjoying the scenery slowly moving by, with the river boats docking basically right in the middle of the towns and cities where they dock.

Also, the river cruise ship, carry a much (!!!) smaller passenger load. Upon arrival in port, you are not disembarking the vessel with 3,000 – 5.000 other passengers.

In Europe it is true that if you’re sailing on a cruise ship, once the ship docks you often face long travel times to get to the major sites you’ll want to visit. When a port visit by a cruise ship might last 10 to 14 hours, it is a drawback to have to spend a third of that time on simply getting to and from (whether by tour bus, car/taxi, or limo). In addition, of course, there is the matter of the expense of the tours and transportation.

The combination makes the time spent on a European cruise very busy, and with long travel times, can be quite tiring. So the ease and pace of river cruising does seem to have an edge in this department.

If outside communication is important to you (as it is to me, as I’m normally writing for CruiseMates while on a ship) , that too is normally easier on a river cruise. Most of the river cruise companies offer complimentary Internet access, and you can pretty easily purchase a European SIM card for your cell phones, and because the ship is on a river, closer to cell phone towers, it’s much simpler to call home (or work) via cell phone, as opposed to accessing very expensive “Cellular @ sea” access.

Now, since I’ve yet to experience a river cruise, you might think it difficult for me to talk about the food on river cruises, however, from what I’ve found in researching, and heard from experienced voices I know and trust, I believe the food on most of the popular river cruise lines is quite good.

Though I am not a gourmand (by any stretch of the imagination) the wide variety of dining on cruise ships is one thing I really like and enjoy on cruise ships. I simply love all the alternatives available on today’s modern cruise liners. If only due to space limitations, I have little doubt the river cruises just aren’t capable of providing the same number of alternative venues, and choices. Therefore, that is something I (and you if you’re considering a river cruiser) would likely have to compromise the standard I look for in that area.

Shipboard life; the wide variety of entertainment options and activities, including the various lounges, casinos, etc. are a big part of my enjoyment of the cruise experience.  That is one of the things I truly enjoy of the modern cruise ship experience; the ability to travel and see, while still enjoying all the creature comforts of a lively land resort.

And I honestly I am not sure river cruises could even compete in this area.

So the reality is not that I couldn’t see myself enjoying a river cruise. But I do question if they would suit “my style”.  And I have always advised people to find the right fit before booking a cruise. Should I ignore my own advise?

Of course Mrs. Kuki says I have no style.

- A View From The Kuki Side of Cruising -

Next month is the beginning of the “repositioning season”; it is also the time when some of the best per Diem rates of the year appear for those who have the time for lengthier cruises.

The cruise lines begin moving many of their ships from the Caribbeean, where they have spent the winter months. Some ships head to Europe or the Mediterranean, while others head down, transit the Panama Canal and head north  to spend the summer season sailing Alaskan waters.

Because it generally takes more days to reposition these ships, most of these cruises are at least 12 days or more in duration. And because they require passengers to leave from one port and return home from another (open jaw flights) these cruises are often somewhat difficult for the cruise lines to sell out.

The result – much less expensive cruise fares, as well as improved service because of less crowded ships.

Though the cruise lines design these itineraries to include some ports of call along the way, one generally has to enjoy quite a large number of days at sea during the cruise.

For those, like me, who love the days at sea, these repositioning cruises are one of the best options available in my view.

Though, one should understand the scheduled daily activities on board are somewhat different than a typical 7 or 10 day Caribbean cruise.

There are often organized and ongoing Bridge games, lectures, cooking demonstrations, and that sort of thing, targeted more at the “older cruiser”, who are largely the average passenger on these sorts of sailings.

One hint for those looking at the repositioning cruises… in normal circumstances I recommend booking one’s own airfare. However in the case of the necessary “open jaw” air ticket required for repositioning cruises, I’ve found most often, cruise line supplied air fares can save a considerable amount off of air fare.

These repostioning cruises are simply superb value for those who have the time, and inclination to enjoy a “slow boat to …..”.

If that describes you, now is the time to talk to your travel agent, and I think you may be surprised at just how good the prices are.

And, if now isn’t the right time for you, in the fall there is another “repositioning season” during October and November.

- A View From The Kuki Side of Cruising -