Pack for a theme party – Cruise tip

by Gadling Staff on

If you really want to get into the spirit of a cruise, you’ll want to participate in any theme parties or special events on board.

Before departing, contact the cruise line to find out what will be offered on your cruise. Toga parties require a gown made of bed sheets, of course, while shamrocks and green hats are appropriate for a St. Patrick’s celebration. Beads, feathers and masks are in order for a Mardi Gras parade, and pirate garb would be appropriate for any pirate-themed celebration.

You can sometimes buy the items aboard ship to make your costume, but why spend the money? Pack your own outfit and save your cash for a Hurricane cocktail.

Related: Choose a themed cruise – Cruise tip

Don’t forget to pack a snorkel – Cruise tip

by Gadling Staff on

Whenever we go on a cruise, my husband and I always plan to snorkel on at least one island. On our first cruise, we went on a shore excursion that provided the snorkel, but then we got smart.

Instead of signing up for a snorkeling excursion, we pack our own snorkels and head to the beach. You can buy cheap snorkels anywhere, and they don’t take up much luggage space. At the island, we simply walk to the beach and start swimming — no time limit or groups to slow us down.

And the money we save? It buys lunch at a local restaurant.

Norwegian Epic cruise ship – Blue man Group, 21 restaurants and Nickelodeon at sea

by Scott Carmichael on

The battle for domination in the cruise ship world just heated up a bit more – as Norwegian revealed some more details of their newest ship – the Norwegian Epic.

The amenities on this ship are quite simply mind boggling – 21 restaurants, a Blue Man group show, Nickelodeon at Sea, bowling, a sports club, an under-21 nightclub, the world’s largest at-sea spa, a water park with multiple slides and the world’s first tube slide, an ice bar, The Second City comedy club, the Cirque dreams and dinner show, a rock and roll piano bar and 15 different bars and lounges.

The lineup of restaurants is equally impressive with highlights like the first Brazilian Churrascaria at sea and whole-ship pizza delivery (yes – you can order a pizza for the pool, or in your room).

Other dining options include a noodle bar, bistro, tapas bar, adults only supper-club, Irish pub and a Latin-Asian fusion poolside eatery.

The Norwegian Epic sets sail in 90 days, on itineraries out of Miami. Her maiden voyage starts in London heading to Miami. In the summer, the Epic will also make trips from Barcelona through the western Mediterranean with stops in Italy and France.

To learn more about this amazing ship, check out the Norwegian Epic web site or the excellent resources at Cruise Critic.

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Holland America cruise line director to Alaska: stop driving us away

by Scott Carmichael on

The very excellent USA Today Cruise Log reports on some stormy waters around Alaska.

In recent years, the state has been making the lives of cruise lines quite miserable. New taxes, fees and regulatory requirements are slowly turning ships away, and some lines have already resorted to moving their Alaska ships to new routes.

Obviously, when a state starts taking too much advantage of tourism dollars, they run the risk of scaring people away, but the Alaskan cruise industry has been expanding for years, and may have simply reached the point of overcapacity.

Holland America CEO Kruse had some stern words for Alaska – “we can, and we will pull ships out of the region”. Alaska has become one of the costliest cruise regions in the world, with new fees like a $46 per person “head tax” and taxes on shipboard casino earnings.

Alaskan cruise traffic is down 17% in 2010, and for a state that relies this heavily on tourism, this is going to have a huge impact.

Sail from local ports to save on airfare – Cruise tip

by Gadling Staff on

As a resident of Richmond, Virginia, I discovered that cruise ships leave from Norfolk after being refurbished at a shipyard in Newport News. When they leave port, the rooms have been thoroughly cleaned and upgraded. The ships are like new again.

The best part is that you can hop on board and cruise down to the Caribbean. The trips usually come back to Norfolk, so you can save on airfare both ways. For each person that cruises, you can save as much as $200 on airfare.