Is Cruising for You ??
Is Cruising for you?
Everyone has an opinion but without experiencing it for yourself you will never know. I am your MTA-Mobile Travel Agent cruise specialist
Over 1.2 million Australians took a cruise last year so there is a lot of appeal for many.
So What Is It?
IT’S GREAT VALUE FOR MONEY.
We used to holiday on the coast & when we added up all the costs we found cruises cheaper. You can often pay less than $100 per person per night often with added perks and, if you keep an eye on sales and special deals, this can drop to around $50 per person per night ! For accommodation and food alone, that would be almost impossible to match on land ,then much of the entertainment is included.
YOU ONLY UNPACK ONCE.
Every day is a new port, new view or new country.
Without a cruise ship to take you most travellers need:
- to pack their bags
- check out of accommodation
- get to train or plane
- get to your new accommodation
- unpack & get organized. PHEW!!
A cruise ship glides into port early & after a leisurely breakfast you either step off the ship or transported by tender to land. After a day ashore you arrive back to enjoy all the ships activities and entertainment has to offer as she sets sail to her next port.
ENTERTAINMENT
Cruise lines have an array of different entertainment available every night and suitable for every kind of cruiser. Although this varies by cruise line & ship, typical entertainment options include:
Live Production Shows Broadway Performances Guest Entertainers including magicians, comedians & guest performers Live Music around different bars Piano Bars Cinemas Themed Parties Movies Under the Stars Karaoke Entry into all pubs, bars & nightclubs Big Screen (sports, recent release movies and more) Game shows
ONBOARD ACTIVITIES
There is always something to do onboard . You can do as much or as little as you like. There are loads of onboard activities on offer for FREE so you won’t need to spend a cent & some charge a small fee! These vary from ship to ship but include:
Pools, Spas & Poolside activities Adults only retreats Health Spas Gyms Enrichment programs & presentations Libraries Rock Climbing Surfing Trivia and game shows A range of dance classes Karaoke Sports such as basketball, table tennis, mini golf, volleyball, chess, jogging tracks + more Cooking demonstrations
KIDS HAVE FUN
When the kids have fun everyone has fun. There are loads of kids activities onboard a cruise ship. Group activities for 3 to 17 year olds are available during the day and vary from ship to ship but all Australian based cruise lines provide Kids Club Programs and include activities such as:
Themed Parties & Discos Kids Pools & Water Activities Sports such as basketball, table tennis, mini golf, volleyball, chess, jogging tracks + more Game Arcades with Playstation and Wii consoles Arts and Crafts Scavenger Hunts Family Production Shows Dance Classes Teen Hangouts
SHORE EXCURSIONS
All ships offer a range of shore excursions in each of their ports . Ranging from short half day to Full day immersive experiences depending on the port you visit.Generally shore excursions incur a fee although Top Line Luxury & River Cruises will often include this in the fare.
Shore Excursions can offer
- Scuba/snorkeling
- Foodie tours
- Archeological tours in Europe
- Golf tours
- Dog Sledding in Alaska
- Ziplining
- Visit Vietcong Tunnels in Vietnam
Of course you are free to do your own thing to explore & discover your self
What's Included In Your Cruise Fare?
We often get asked if cruising is affordable and a good-value holiday option. Our answer? A resounding YES! Cruising really is a great 'value for money' holiday. From accommodation to dining to entertainment, as well as the use of the ship’s many complimentary facilities such as swimming pools, gym, whirlpool spas and sporting equipment, here's what is (and isn't) included in your cruise holiday:
ACCOMMODATION
Your standard cruise fare includes your chosen accommodation. Most cruise lines advertise their basic “lead in” cabins, which are the cheapest options available for your inside, outside, balcony and suite cabins. But, there are lots of different levels of cabins offered above this, each offering different amenities, layouts and so on. Here is a list of all the FREE perks available in every room:
Private ensuite Hairdryer Wardrobe Air-conditioning Telephone Television Personal safe for valuables Cabin stewards who attend daily
DINING
All of your main meals onboard are included in the price of your cruise fare, often this includes:
The Main Dining Room - offering à la carte menu items for breakfast, lunch and dinner changing daily A Buffet Restaurant Complimentary Pizza Complimentary Ice-cream Room Service (some 24hrs) Water, Juice, Coffee & Tea Complimentary dining options can include different cuisines from American, Asian, Italian, Modern Australian + much more
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED IN YOUR CRUISE FARE:
With so much on offer onboard its probably easier to point out what not included in your fare , although some of these can be included in “Perks” or upgraded packages.
Generally not included:
Specialty Dining Alcoholic Beverages & Premium Soft Drinks Spa & Salon Treatments Bingo & the Casino – Use winnings to pay onboard account! Shore Excursions Fitness classes (such as Yoga, Pilates, Zumba etc) Duty free purchases or items from the onboard shops In cabin baby-sitting