River, Ocean, or Both??

One of the questions we get a lot is whether it is better to do an ocean cruise or a river cruise. Our answer is "yes"!  Or, as I learned in school, "it depends."

Vacationing is an investment in memories and every person values those experiences differently. As travel agents our job is to assist the client in maximizing the value of their vacation dollar. Depending on the specific likes and needs, either cruise could be ideal.

Here are some considerations we discuss with our clients.  For the sake of simplicity, we are comparing a typical European river cruise with an ocean cruise on one of the major cruise lines.

-  Are you willing to fly?  Approximately 50% of Americans live within a 6 hour drive of an ocean cruise port meaning you can start your vacation without having to add flights to your schedule or budget. Taking a river cruise will most likely require you to fly to Europe.

-  Do you have a passport?  While you will NEED a passport for a European river cruise, it is only highly recommended to have one for an ocean cruise. Even if your cruise starts and ends from a US port, it is still recommended to have a passport for international destinations, such as the Bahamas. However, it IS possible to take an ocean cruise without a passport.

-  Do you have any mobility issues?  River cruises typically cannot accommodate wheelchairs. Ocean cruise ships are very large and can tire a person out just walking the length of the ship. They typically have accessible staterooms and are mostly wheelchair accessible.

-  Do you enjoy drinking?   River cruises often include drinks with meals, so your stateroom rate includes meals with drinks. On an ocean cruise, you may be able to purchase a drink package ahead of time so you don't have to pay each time, but you will need to make sure to budget for your beverages above the cost of your cruise.

- Are you traveling with children?  River cruises typically (with the exception of a few Disney river cruises) do not have organized activities for children, but older children are allowed. Ocean cruises are usually well known for having very robust youth programs starting at a very young age through teenagers.

- Are you a foodie?  River cruises often specialize in the local cuisine with fewer choices in a more refined dining environment. Ocean cruises have a much wider variety of dining options, and also offer specialty dining, but you will pay extra for the specialty options.

- Do you want to interact with your fellow passengers?  River cruises are more intimate and the demographics leans towards an older crowd than ocean cruises. There are ocean cruises that foster a similar demographic as river cruises, but most are regarded as much more upbeat, family focused, and activity based.

Either type of cruising provides opportunities for a great experience. River cruises tend to be more focused on the destinations (the ports you will visit) while ocean cruise ships are destinations in and of themselves while still stopping at a few ports along the way.

December is a great time to plan a vacation for the family or surprise your loved ones with a special trip. Cruising packages and itineraries have been released through 2017, so there are plenty of options to choose from and time to prepare.  In addition, deposits are typically refundable until 90 days prior to sailing, so you can book your trip now and spread out your payments.

Contact Trippin' with Jamie before year's end to discuss your next cruise vacation and find the best pricing and availability!

Cruise Planning 101

First-time cruisers typically start a conversation with us in one of two ways:

Client #1 - They want to cruise to a specific destination and just want the cheapest option

OR

Client #2 - They want to try cruising but with so many options, they don't know where to begin.

I was Client #1 on my second cruise.  I was leaving out of Baltimore for spring break with my teenagers.  We were looking for two cabins and I just wanted to do this cheaply.  It turns out we could upgrade from an inside cabin to a balcony for $50 for the week.  The weather cooperated and the balcony was greatly appreciated.

I was Client #2 when I decided to take the family to Alaska.  There are more than 120 Alaska cruises departing during the one week period where everyone's schedules aligned!  The specific itinerary, departure port, stateroom selections, activity and food options, along with duration and cost all factor into determining the best cruise for the experience.  This was when I was glad to be in the travel industry!

In both situations, Trippin' with Jamie can help.  But also in both situations, we need to take a step back and start with a conversation on what is the real desire behind the vacation.

The reality of cruise pricing is that the base fare will be the same no matter who does the booking. While travel agents may have amenities and other perks that make the deal better than what a client can get booking directly with the cruise line, the real value of a travel agent is to match the desire of the client's heart to what is available.    

Key Goal:  ** Make the experience as close to what the client is dreaming, given their budget **

Our services do not stop once the cruise is decided.  Excursions are key to experiencing the destination -- especially in Alaska.  Again there are many choices and Trippin' with Jamie can help to sift through the tours to select the best value for every experience.

October is Cruise Month.  This is the BEST time to book -- most cruises can be reserved with a small, refundable deposit.  In some cases 2016 cruises have limited availability and 2017 cruises are available now.  Contact Trippin' with Jamie (TrippinwithJamie@gmail.com or 703-973-1334) for more information!