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Frequently Asked Questions About Cruises 
Researching your cruiseI want to take a "nontraditional" cruise. What do you suggest? I want to take a "traditional" cruise. What do you suggest? Are some ships better than others for children? Can I book an adults-only cruise? I’m traveling alone. Will the cruise line help me find a roommate? Are there nonsmoking cruises? Are there singles cruises? There are so many itinerary choices. How do I pick one? What are the different cabin categories? What is included in the cruise price? What is not included in the cruise price? What are port charges? What's the general age range for cruisers? Can unaccompanied minors cruise? What's the minimum cruising age? What's the onboard drinking age? Which cruise line is right for me? Why does it cost so much to book a single-passenger cabin? Return to the main Cruise FAQs page I want to take a "nontraditional" cruise. What do you suggest? A “nontraditional” cruise may be one with open dinner seating (eat when you want, where you want, and with whom you want) and casual attire at all times. Cruise lines that offer relaxed dining options include Norwegian (with its signature “freestyle dining”), Windstar, and some Princess ships. Another nontraditional cruise line is Disney Cruise Line®, which largely caters to families. Top I want to take a "traditional" cruise. What do you suggest? A “traditional” cruise may be one with pre-assigned dining times and table mates, and with formal nights (men wear suits or tuxedos and women wear pantsuits or cocktail dresses). Cruise lines still offering a large selection of “traditional” cruises include Carnival, Celebrity, Crystal, Holland America, and Royal Caribbean. Top Are some ships better than others for children? While most cruise lines offer supervised activities for children—such as swimming, sports, movies, and games—some ships don't, and some ships have better programs than others. In addition, some programs have minimum age requirements (generally age 2 or 3). To find the best children’s programs, we suggest you read the Family section of the cruise ship’s review. Though you may initially think of Disney Cruise Line® when shopping for a family-friendly cruise (and it certainly is family friendly), many other ships offer children's programs (and adult activities) that may be just as appealing. Top Can I book an adults-only cruise? If you want to take a cruise without the kids (yours, or anybody else’s), you have a few options. Certain ships such as Crystal Harmony, don't cater to children; while others, including all three Windstar ships, actually discourage parents from bringing their children along. Though this doesn’t guarantee a child-free cruise, it does greatly reduce the number of children onboard. You may want to read the Family sections of the cruise ship reviews to see which ships do, and don’t, cater to children. Top I’m traveling alone. Will the cruise line help me find a roommate? If you’re traveling alone and would like to find a roommate, please call a Cruise Specialist at 1-888-249-3978. Many cruise lines will help solo travelers find roommates of the same gender. Top Are there nonsmoking cruises? Although there are no nonsmoking cruise ships, all ships do have designated nonsmoking areas, including most cabins, restaurants (including main dining rooms), and public areas. Top Are there singles cruises? Some smaller cruise lines do have special themed cruises, including singles cruises. However, we do not sell any singles cruises at this time. Top There are so many itinerary choices. How do I pick one? Consider your interests before deciding on a destination. Do you like warm-weather destinations? Consider the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Hawaii, or the South Pacific. Are you interested in history? Think about Europe or the Mediterranean. Also consider how many days the ship spends at sea vs. in port. If you like a lot of activity and variety, consider an itinerary with more days in port; if you like spending time on the open ocean, consider an itinerary with more “at sea” days. For help researching the different areas you can cruise, refer to our Cruise region pages. Top What are the different cabin categories? All cabins are classified as one of four categories: Inside, oceanview, oceanview with balcony, or suite: Top What is included in the cruise price? Generally, the cruise price includes drinks like coffee, tea, and water; standard meals; room service; the use of gymnasium equipment; and most shipboard entertainment. Top What is not included in the cruise price? Generally, the cruise price does not include specialty drinks like sodas, specialty coffees, and alcoholic beverages; meals in alternative restaurants; spa and salon services; exercise classes like yoga and Pilates; casino gaming; organized shore excursions; photographs; medical services; gratuities; and gift shop purchases. Top What are port charges? Port charges are small fees a cruise ship must pay to use a port of call. They include the following: Top What's the general age range for cruisers? Different cruise lines appeal to different age groups. Average passenger age ranges are as follows: Top Can unaccompanied minors cruise? Unaccompanied minors cannot cruise. In fact, on Carnival, Celebrity, Crystal, Holland America, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, and Windstar cruises, each cabin must have at least one adult age 25 or older as a guest. On Disney Cruise Line® and Princess cruises, each cabin must have at least one adult age 21 or older. Exceptions are generally made for married couples under age 25 (or 21). Top What's the minimum cruising age? Most cruise lines ask that children be at least six months old to sail. Top What's the onboard drinking age? Most cruise ships maintain a minimum drinking age of 21 while in international waters or at foreign ports. However, some ships have a minimum drinking age of 18. Top Which cruise line is right for me? Different cruise lines and ships appeal to different people. Those wanting an upscale, casual environment with few passengers often turn to Windstar, whereas those looking for a “traditional” cruise experience often enjoy Holland America sailings. We suggest you visit the Cruise line overview page to research the different cruise lines and decide which is right for you. Top Why does it cost so much to book a single-passenger cabin? Each cruise line bases its cabin rates on double occupancy. When you travel alone, you will pay an extra “single supplement” fee to make up for lost revenue. Top Return to the main Cruise FAQs page |
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