A Mom in the City reader asked me to get some cruise information during my trip to the New York Times Travel Show. She is taking a cruise to the Bahamas soon and was wondering the following:
Question #1: Should I book additional excursions online through the cruise company or should I wait to book them upon arrival?
Answer: The particular cruise line that she is planning to cruise with said that she should book them online with them in order to make sure that she gets the ones that she wants. There are limited spaces on excursions and they sometimes sell out. According to the cruise line, they are the same price whether they are booked online or purchased on location. If the excursions are canceled, the cruise line will refund the price.
Alternative answer: Cruise Planners claim that they offer discounted cruises that are less expensive then buying directly from the various cruise lines. ShoreTrips also claims to offer discounted shore excursions.
My final answer: Since both Cruise Planners and ShoreTrips are reputable companies, I would compare prices online and go with the best deal.
Question #2: Since it will be my first time visiting the Bahamas, I want to know what I need to do safety-wise.
Answer: According to the cruise line person, if you stick to the tourist places included in the excursions, safety should not be an issue. The challenge comes when you go out exploring on your own. The various cruise lines also provide their passengers regarding necessary precautions and such for all ports of call.
There are three vacations on my wish list – a trip to Paris, a family cruise and (after the travel show on Saturday) a trip to Morocco. Today, my question is about family cruises. Has your family ever been on a cruise? If so, do you have any tips for first-time family cruisers?