Cruises Package

Question: Want to visit U.S.A by boat to New york but not cruise package. Are there boats that just offer crossing?

Answer: Google "Freighter Cruises" to find a selection of companies that offer accommodation on commercial vessels throughout the world. A couple of years ago, I joined a container-ship in England and travelled to France, Italy, Suez Canal, Madagascar, Seychelles, Comoros, Mombasa and back as a passenger. Had a wonderful time, very different from the 'usual' destinations of cruise liners. The only warnings I would give, are that you must be (a) totally flexible about your departure and arrival dates, because the vessels are subject to loading times and restrictions, and weather (b) as freighters can only carry 12 passengers, you must be happy with your own company for long stretches of inactivity. Apart from these, "go do it"! My trip was two and a half months long, and the photos I brought back are wonderful - sunsets on the Arabian Sea have to see to be believed. I'll very definately be doing more "freighter cruises". Good Luck :-)

Question: dock fees for cruises? my dad said that their are dock fees you have to pay and that it's not included in your cruise package he said his friends claim it's a hidden fee is this true or did this use to be the case thanks for any info

Answer: Years ago cruise lines use to advertise their fares with the "port charges" for each port stop and the taxes separate. But now most cruise lines just give you a fare for the entire cruise and some include the total of port charges and taxes in what they advertise and other just give you the whole fare and do not break down the port charge part. You do still have to look carefully at an advertised cruise fare to see if it includes all taxes and charges but you will no longer find it broken down by port

Question: Can I ask my bank to change my daily spending limit? I have a rather low spending limit and want to purchase a cruise package online but won't be able to do it. My debit card only allows me to spend 1500 daily and I have well over 7000 in that account. Can I ask my bank to change my daily spending limit for just one transaction? Please only people that work for banks or have actually tried.

Answer: I went through a similar situation when I wanted to put a 5200 purchase on my debit card. I'm with Wells Fargo, and I had to go into the bank itself (not call on the phone) and talk to a rep and fill out paperwork to have it done. It is possible, but you will probably have to go a branch to do it.

Question: Care Package for a cruise...Ideas? I want to surprise my boyfriend, we haven't been dating for more than a month yet, so I do not want to go overboard or seem like a psycho girlfriend, lol. I want to do something cute so he knows how much he means to me and that I miss him. He is going on a cruise and I want to make him a little box like a care package. I don't know what to put in it...maybe candy? Magazines? Letters? I need ideas that will make him smile when he opens it. Help!!

Answer: I did this for a boyfriend of mine who was going away for the Summer. We were in our 20's, tone my suggestion down if your younger than that. While he was not looking, I placed a box in his bag. It had a red ribbon around it with a card that said "Open When you get there". Inside, I placed two pictures of myself wearing a present he bought me. (One clean picture to show his friend, one that he could look at in private ;-)Some candy that I know he loved. And finally, a pre-paid phone card that he could use to call me if he liked. I hope this helps. He loved it!!!! His friends told me he could not stop talking about it.

Question: Is there a way to put in an O.E.M. Cruise Control in to a 1996 Chevrolet Caprice Police Package Sedan Car? As a Follow-Up question...How costly would this be to put in a cruise control in 1996 Chevrolet Caprice? I'm looking to buy a 1996 police package Chevrolet Caprice that does not have cruise control and I do a lot of freeway driving and like cruise control.

Answer: It would probably be easier, quicker, and less expensive to install one of the aftermarket cruise control kits.

Question: What are few of the "must sees" in Egypt? I've only got approximatly 2 weeks in March to go there. I'll be traveling from New York....I suppose, I don't NEED to get a visa beforehand. Has anyone here taken the cruise packages vacations before?

Answer: if you are going on a cruise package you will be taken to most of the upper nile sites with the cruise. If you are spending time in cairo as well. you must see giza pyramids egyptian museum khan el khlili at night ( shopping area) more time in cairo then go to saqarra and dashur, in luxor after you done the cruise sites e.g. valle yof the kings and queens deir el bhari and karnak i would reccomend. medinet habu rameseum valley of the nobles choose 3 main tombs deir el medina dendera luxor museum

Question: Why doesn't my 2008 Scion TC with Spec package not have the new tailights or front headlights? The Spec packages says you only lose the sunroof, cruise, sub-woofer, 17" wheels and upgrade seats.

Answer: The Spec package tC is a bare bones car designed for tuners to work on from the ground up. If its racing or a custome show car where you would replace the majority of parts offered is what this package was designed for. To many people ran out and bought these cars simply to save a couple thousand over a regular tC. The reason you didnt get the same headlight and tails that the '08 tC got is because they are not available in the spec package. Part of the reason the '08 tC went up in price is because it has a sub and amp standard, the new head and tail lights standard, and several other minor features. You can buy those heads and tails if thats what your looking for through your local scion dealer. Just my opinion but I don't think they really explained the spec package the way they should have. Hope that helps

Question: Cruises question for a first-timer? I'm looking to book a cruise and just want to know what are the things that I should look for in a package that is good and what to shy away from. Are there any cruises out there that you don't have to pay anything extra once you go aboard, expect when you leave the ship when you come to different ports of course. Also is the winter months good to go and are they cheaper?

Answer: Call Carnival. There is a PVP there that we deal with all the time. He has all the answers, and is only concerned about us getting what we want. In fact last year, we changed our booking 5 times, and he was there to help every time. If you would like his number, e-mail me, and I'll send it to you.

Question: Does London,England have package (liquor), or ABC stores where I can get a Liter bagged to go.? Will be in London in a few weeks and just want to buy a bottle of Cognac to take with me on a cruise.

Answer: You'll have no problem. There are many places that sell alcohol. Not only dedicated wine shops, but every supermarket does, so do most convenience stores etc. If you are in London, you'll never be more than half a mile from somewhere that sells alcohol. Look for stores named Threshers - they are on most streets and claim that 50% of the UK population is within 10 minutes walk of one of their shops -- see http://www.threshers.co.uk/ for a storefinder. But supermarkets may be cheaper. BUT -- we pay a lot of tax on spirits. If you want a bottle of Cognac and you are coming to the UK, why not buy it duty free, either on the plane you travel on, or you can buy tax free when you arrive. As you leave the customs hall you should pass through a small tax free shop where you can get your Cognac cheaper than in London. There is no 'state store' system here, thank goodness.

Question: What do I need to know about cruises? (Alaska)? Never been on a cruise. Kinda scares me. Are the rooms small? What do we pay for - options/ upgrades/packages that are worth it? What do you do on cruises? How much should it cost? How much should I bring with me and my husband?

Answer: Ok, here's the scoop. I go on cruises every year and am up to about 15 now. You will find the most affordable cruises are done by cruise lines like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Princess, Celebrity, and Disney. . Most of the ships for these lines are now 1500 to 2500 passenger ships. The ships are big but things are so well managed that you really don't feel crowded on them. Prices on these ship can be as low as $800 for a 7 day inside cabin and about $1200 for a balcony cabin. Most of these lines go to the same places, they are just in port on different days. The first rule in getting less expensive cruises is book early. The second rule is go with the same cruise line multiple times because they do offer repeat customer discounts of $50 to $100 per person in a cabin. The third rule is shop around for specials. Some lines will offer specials on a date that does not usually sell out. If you have not cruised before and don't know the ropes it may be beneficial for you to use an agent; the agent does not charge a fee but is paid by the cruise line. But, also, do some home work on cruise line, itineraries, and ships. Use the cruise line web sites to look at what's being offered. I will list some below. Try to have in mind some of what you want to do when you talk to an agent. If you feel comfortable doing it, you can do your own booking online, the price is the same and you can do everything you need right on the web sites. The sites usually have cruises listed for this year and next. I booked my last two cruises completely online, including making payments and booking port tours. The format and service on all of these is about the same. I have found that the food on Celebrity, Princess and RC is a cut above what I have been told is served on Disney and Carnival. Disney has good ships but is primarily for kids, and families with kids.Carnival is the fun ship, but their accommodations are not the best. Carnival is the party cruise line that most young folks and first time cruisers take (ages 20 to 35) who want to party, party, party. If that’s what you are looking for then Carnival is the one for you. On the other hand, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Holland America, Celebrity, and Norwegian tend to have people who have cruised many times and are in the 40 and over age group; a more reserved crowd. Most cruises going to the Caribbean tend to have more young folks than those going to Alaska, Panama, the Mediterranean, the Baltic, or South America. People who go to the Caribbean are looking for fun things like beaches, jet skiing, snorkeling and scuba diving, parasailing, and a lot of other activities related to water and beaches. On the other hand, people who go to Alaska, Panama, the Mediterranean, etc., are looking for cultural and historic activities. These cruisers tend to be the older people (40+). Ship Categories are simply a listing of the different types of cabins on the ship by size, location and amenities. Categories are the price structure. What you need to know and understand is that the category designations DO NOT mean the same thing on all cruise lines. the terms "cabin" and "stateroom" mean the same thing; the cruise industry prefers stateroom. The standard cabin that most people get (inside/outside/balcony) are generally between 175 and 200 Square feet, about the size of a 9 by 12 ft home bedroom (balconies are about 45 to 55 sq ft). Each cabin has a two beds which can be made into a queen, a bathroom with a shower stall, a closet and some drawer space, a TV and telephone, a safe for valuables, and a life jacket for each passenger. Some cabins that are built to accommodate 3 or 4 people will have a pull down bed and/or a sofa bed. Once you are on ship the staff caters to you, its whatever you want. There is something to do all day every day. When you arrive at the port to check in you (each passenger) will receive a key card which will serve as your room key, charge card for anything you buy on ship (i.e.,drinks, souvenir) and its also your pass to get on and off ship in each port. When you first board the ship the security personnel will have you insert your key card into a scanner and then will take a photo of you that is included in the magnetic strip on the card. Each time you get off ship you will need this key card and many times also a photo ID (passport or driver's license). This card allows them to keep an accurate track of all passengers entering and/or leaving the ship. Each day of your cruise you will receive in your cabin a "newsletter" listing the time, place and particulars of everything happening for you on ship. There are generally activities like demonstrations of ice carvings, napkin folding and towel folding, and cooking demonstrations. Some ships may offer a galley (kitchen) tour or a tour of the bridge. There may be organized games and other activities around the pools. In the evenings there are generally shows, one show for those with an early dinner seating and another (same show) for those who eat late. There is always food available. Usually there is a place in ship where you can go get something. Or, you can always just pick up the phone in your cabin and order from the room service menu (food is free). If you want, you can order breakfast room service. All ships have a casino with slots and table games. Ships have movie theaters, generally small but nice, and you can also see movies in your room. They have ATM’s and a purser’s desk where you can cash a check or exchange currency if you need to. There is a tour and activities desk so you can schedule land tours and activities. Ships have free morning exercise programs, stretching and walking, etc, and on some you can pay for other things like Spinning. All cruise ships have gyms so you can go workout, usually any time from 6:00 AM to late at night. There is usually a walking/running track on one of the decks also. Some ships leave the gym open all night. They call the gyms Spa because they do promote getting pampered with things like wraps and massages with aroma therapy. They will also generally have a beauty salon to do hair and nails. There are always pools. Some ships have more than one and the newer ships generally have an indoor pool as well as outdoor ones and all of these have hot tubs. There is generally a basketball court on the top deck, a place for scuffle board, and a mini-golf course. The newer Royal Caribbean ships have a rock climbing wall and the newest one has a pool for water surfing. There are places on ships to play cards and board games, and the cards and games are provided. If you want to just sit and read, there’s a library where you can bring your books or select one from the shelf. Ships have internet cafes and some offer WIFI if you bring your prefer to use your computer in your cabin (some ships offer notebooks for rent). There are cocktail lounges that feature a variety of music. Some have a piano bar with jazz. There is usually a disco that starts after 10:00 PM each night and last until everyone leave. On certain days ships will have special activities like a chocolate lovers buffet, or a midnight deck party . I do recommend getting a balcony cabin. I think the above should answer most of your questions.