What Happens if There's a Storm When You're on a Cruise?

With hurricane season in full force in the Caribbean, it might make you think twice about scheduling a cruise for that area. After all, you must be pretty vulnerable when you're at sea and there's a storm, right?

Well, yes and no. I certainly wouldn't want to be in a hurricane while in a ship, but cruise ships don't hang out in places where hurricanes are due. Just as the weather stations are predicting where hurricanes will touch down days before the event happens, cruise ships are up on the latest weather too. If there's a big storm coming, they can and do simply steer out of the danger area.

People on land don't have as much luck. We were down in Cancun for a major storm a few years back, and it was a bit scary. I think I'd rather be in a cruise ship that could sail away from the storm than in a high rise hotel on the beach!

The worst thing that is likely to happen if there's a big storm while you're on your cruise is that you might miss some of your ports or be diverted to other ports. This can be a bummer, of course, but there are usually so many things to do on board a big cruise ship that you will still have plenty of entertainment.

Want another reason not to worry?

Cruise rates (as well as hotels, time shares, etc.) tend to be lower priced during that time of year. People scheduling their trips months out can't predict the weather but often don't want to take a chance. But if you're willing to be brave, you can get some good deals during hurricane season!

Astronomy Cruises, Oh, Yeah!

I'm not an astronomy expert, and I can probably count the times I've looked through a telescope on my fingers, but it's always been one of those things I've wanted to take classes in or at least spend a little more time learning about. So I was delighted when I found out there were such things as astronomy cruises.

What better way to get away from city lights and really see the stars than by getting on a cruise ship and heading out into the middle of the ocean?

There are a number of lines (usually not the big mainstream ones) that offer astronomy-themed cruises that feature lectures, classes, and of course chances to actually look into the night sky and see what's out there. Often these cruises will be in ideal locations at ideal times to witness awesome events such as eclipses and other galactic phenomena.

Here are some of the sites you can check out for more information on astronomy cruises:

http://www.astronomyvacations.com/
http://www.eyeonthesky.com/astrocruises/index.html

Do Cruise Ships Have Fitness Facilities?

If you've been looking into cruises, you've probably seen lots of articles about how you can eat, and eat, and eat! Buffets for all meals, between meal snack stands, formal dining, all-you-can eat dining, and it's all included in the price of the cruise.

Now, if you're the health conscious type--or just trying to maintain your weight--you might be a little concerned about all those temptations, but fortunately all the mainstream cruise ships come equipped with fitness facilities.

When I cruised to Hawaii, I had my choice of cardio machines (treadmills, stationary bicycles, and elliptical trainers), and there was a full range of weight machines. Also, there was a separate hardwood floor exercise room, where classes such as yoga and pilates were offered in the mornings. Or you could just go in on your own time and do some stretching.

If the gym isn't your style, you can also do some laps around the ship to stay in shape. Our cruise ship had a 1/3rd mile promenade walk on a lower deck. It was quite pleasant walking in the morning or in the evening after dinner, especially when we were cruising near the islands and we had a view of the shoreline.

So, to answer this basic question, yes there are fitness facilities on board mainstream cruise ships, and if you want to work off those extra meals, you'll have plenty of opportunity to work out!

National Geographic Cruises Offer Adventure and Education

If you want a cruise that is more about exploration and research than simply sitting on a deck working on your tan, sipping mai tais, and competing in the sexiest legs contest, then you may dig the offerings of Lindblad Expeditions.

The small-ship outfit specializes in adventure/educational cruises that also tread lightly on the environment, striving to create an eco-friendly yet enjoyable vacation experience. The cruises are exploratory in nature, and you can expect to find out about destinations first-hand since you'll be accompanied ashore by small teams of naturalists and historians to speak about what your'e seeing.

Lindblad even has a ship called the National Geographic Endeavour that is fitted with advanced research equipment and has an advisory group from the Geographic Society, which aids in creating cruises that concentrate on research, conservation, and have interesting educational initiatives.

As you can expect, the average passengers aren't the party-all-nighters types, and you can expect to be sailing with physically active and intellectually curious folks, often in the 55+ age range. On the downside, prices tend to be hefty, but they are more inclusive than mainstream cruises, with shore excursions all included (and on some dates and itineraries airfare is also included).

Examples of cruise destinations you can visit:

• Galapagos Islands
• Antarctica
  
• Scottish Highlands
• Mediterranean Sea
• Baja/Sea of Cortez

For more information, check out the Linblad Expeditions web site.

Real Estate Investing Cruises

I love the idea of cruises where you can learn something. I've seen everything from cruises with lectures on historical topics relevant to the area you're traveling in to those that will teach you digital camera skills or how to play chess (yes, my heart gets all warm and snuggly at the thought of cruise ships full of geeks).

Well, I was listening the Real Estate Guys (a radio show I catch via podcasts), and they were talking about real estate investing cruises. It sounds like they are a mix of instruction and opportunity (to network and buy). I imagine there are people there trying to sell you the latest and greatest investing strategies and deals you just have to act on right now (snort), so you'd sure have to be careful, but for someone interested in investing in real estate, a cruise sure sounds like a nice way to get an education!

Has anyone out there been on one of these cruises? If so, was it a worthwhile vacation? Were the lectures useful or was it more about people trying to sell you stuff? And if you are an investor, did you write the cruise off on your taxes as a business expense? :P

Higher Gas Prices Mean More Expensive Cruises

With gas prices high everywhere, it shouldn't come as any surprise that the cruise industry is affected as well. Many lines have been forced to increase prices or add special "fuel surcharges" in order to accommodate the greater expense of powering these big ships.

According to a recent Newsday article, "Disney Cruises to add fuel surcharge after May 27," Disney is the next at bat.

"The fee for cruises booked after that date is $8 per passenger per day for the first two passengers in a cabin and $3 a day for additional passengers in the same cabin. Disney was the last of the major cruise lines to respond to higher fuel prices with surcharges."

Fortunately, cruises still remain a pretty good deal when it comes to all-inclusive vacation packages, but if you've been waffling about whether to book now or later, it might be best to book your cruise soon (even if it's for a distant date), since gas prices aren't looking to go down any time soon (but they are expected to keep rising).

Dining Room Etiquette on Cruise Ships

If you're heading off on a fancy cruise, and you haven't been to a lot of formal dining occasions or upscale restaurants, you might be wondering if you'll make an embarrassing goof at the dining room table. Well, here's a short list of tips for proper dining room etiquette on a cruise ship:

• Make sure to arrive on time (the formal sit-down restaurants on board will have posted meal hours).
• If you order wine, offer to share it with others at the table (on many cruise lines, you'll dine with the same folks each night, and they'll probably return the favor).
• Don't start eating until everyone at your table has been served (this, of course, is a display of good manners no matter where you're dining).
• Use the correct silverware (if you start to feel like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, just remember to work your way from the outside in--use the first fork on the left for your first course).
• Dress appropriately for the evening (most cruise ships send around daily bulletins, which should let you know the evening's dress code)
• Don't smoke at the dinner table (most ships these days have non-smoking dining rooms, but if yours doesn't specify, be considerate to those around you).