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Best time to cruise the Caribbean

30
Jan 2012

I’m planning another cruise to the Caribbean. I’m pretty open to anytime of the year and I’m letting cruise prices steer me to a specific date but how do I know if it’s a good time to cruise in the Caribbean?

The most important thing to keep in mind is Caribbean hurricane season, which officially runs from June 1st to November 30th. October has the most frequent occurrence of hurricanes and June is second. Of course, this doesn’t mean that a hurricane won’t hit outside of these dates but it’s much more likely to occur within these dates. It also doesn’t mean you shouldn’t travel to the Caribbean during this time period but if you do, make sure you have good travel insurance. Learn more about hurricane season in the Caribbean.

Chris hates hot weather so he wants us to avoid the hottest months. This is a great web site that shows the Average Weather in Caribbean by Month for the Caribbean’s most popular cities so you can look up the cruise ports you’ll be visiting and what the weather will be like. It turns out the hottest months are summer, which overlaps with hurricane season.

Finally, even if you don’t have kids like us, knowing the school holidays is important. Caribbean cruises tend to cost more when kids are out of school: holidays, summer vacation, and March because of spring break. Cruises during these times will also have more families onboard so I’ve officially made a mental note to avoid Caribbean cruises during the summer.

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Packing Tips: How to Bring Wine Back Home

10
Jul 2011

Wine bottles break. You may think that you’ve packed that Bordeaux safely inside your suitcase, stuffing the vintage between your clothes or putting a sock over the delicate neck. But it’s still a bottle — and it still can break. I learned this lesson the hard way on my first trip to Napa Valley. Eager to get as many bottles home as I could, I wrapped my wine in pashminas, sure that the cushion would adequately thwart overeager baggage handlers. But I was wrong. My suitcase came off the belt … dripping. I lost not only my pashminas that day, but several premier bottles, including a delicious chocolate port that I mourned for much longer than I did the cover-ups.

Now I’m more savvy about how — and when — to pack or ship wine and liquor. I’ve managed to get Spanish cavas, Mendoza Malbecs, and Tequila tequila home without destroying any more clothing (remember that the TSA — and security in many countries — forbid you to carry liquids greater than 3 oz. on the plane, unless you buy from a duty-free store). If touring wineries is on your travel agenda, here are a few tips on how to get your vintage back intact:

Buy a wineskin. These protective holders, available in wine stores, wineries, and many online retailers, are the cheapest way to protect your purchase. The skin sheaths your bottle in plastic with an interior bubble wrap, so you can pack it in your suitcase without fear. Make sure your skin that has a double seal to prevent spillage, in case the worst does happen.

Note: Although some skins claim they are reusable, the seal usually doesn’t close as firmly the second time around. You’re better off buying another. Wineskins typically cost under $15.

Read more…

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Want to Be an Elite Flier for Life? Fly a Million Miles

10
Jul 2011

Frequent travelers know the benefits that accrue with their loyalty on one airline. Free upgrades. Priority check-in and TSA lines. Dedicated phone lines. Free checked bags. And when you hit the magic one million milestone, as George Clooney’s character, Ryan Bingham, did in 2009′s Up in the Air, the captain might even come out of the cockpit to congratulate you. Most importantly, however, you instantly become an elite level frequent flier for life, no matter how much or how little you fly in subsequent years.

With all those recent mergers, airlines will usually combine the mileage of both airlines to help frequent fliers grow their balance. Still, there is no guarantee, and airline mergers can put frequent travelers’ status in jeopardy.

History has been on our side in the past decade. American Airlines (www.aa.com) took the status and mileage balances of TWA fliers into account when it acquired the carrier. Delta Air Lines (www.delta.com) did the same with Northwest combining the miles earned with Northwest and Delta for Million Miler status. Continental (www.continental.com) and United (www.united.com) will follow suit. Any smart airline would do that lest they foment a revolt among their most loyal customers.

Airlines recognize that there is value in maintaining the loyalty of passengers and as baby boomers pursue their love of travel, the ranks of million miler fliers continue to swell.

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4 Tips for Choosing an All-Inclusive Resort

10
Jul 2011

Once known for tacky wristbands and long buffet lines, all-inclusive resorts have steadily undergone an image change, targeting affluent customers with luxe facilities, better food, and upscale add-ons ranging from personal plunge pools to butler service on the beach.

And even though the recession is technically over, the trend toward all-inclusive options has not abated. The luxury line Crystal Cruises announced last month that they will be going all-inclusive in 2012, putting an end to “sign it to your room” bar tabs and shipboard credits.

“It’s the way the market is going,” said Kate Stingley of Alice Marsall Public Relations, which represents Crystal Cruises. Competitors in the luxury cruise market, such as Silversea, Seabourn, and Regent Seven Seas already include all drinks and tips in their pricing.

The resort chain Sandals, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, is upping the all-inclusive ante with the Caribbean’s first over-the-water bungalows, opening at properties in St. Lucia and Jamaica next year.

“We have never had a customer ask for less luxury and services,” said Adam Stewart, Sandals’ CEO. “You have to do more than anyone else. If the resort down the road has two restaurants, you have to open three.”

If you are considering an all-inclusive resort or cruise for your vacation, here are a few things to think about before you book:

1. Run the numbers. Think about what services the resort or cruise line provides — and then ask yourself if you’ll actually use them. Unlimited alcohol isn’t a bargain if you don’t drink, for example, and a full slate of Broadway-style shows doesn’t mean much if you’d rather curl up with a book.

Read more…

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Become a Cruise Packing Genius

10
Jul 2011

What type of packer are you? Do you cruise for a week with a mere duffel bag, or do you need a few Sherpas to carry all your bags, trunks, hat boxes and assorted other luggage? You may be known in your family for always leaving one important thing behind or the person who brings wool sweaters to the Caribbean and formalwear on an expedition cruise…just in case.

Perhaps you’re like me and start filling your suitcase a week (or more) before your cruise, armed with a packing list and smart space-saving techniques, like rolling up socks and stuffing them in your shoes. Or maybe you’re like my husband, who throws a bunch of clothes into a carry-on at midnight before a morning flight and always packs the right things.

There’s no right or wrong way to pack (ok, that’s debatable), but after racking up many weeks at sea, Cruise Critic’s editors and members can offer some great advice about what to bring onboard and how best to squeeze it into a suitcase without incurring excess baggage fees — not to mention the wrath of the person who has to help lug it.

If you’d like to become a packing perfectionist, or at least feel more confident in your skills, check out our package of packing stories, recently tweaked and perfected to offer even more great advice:

Cruise Packing 101, which gives you all the basics, including wardrobe choices.
Top 10 Cruise Packing Tips, a collection of must-remembers that’ll save you valuable time (and space in your luggage) the next time you head to the port.
Ten Must-Pack Items for New Cruisers, which, surprise, is a slideshow detailing 10 things you really shouldn’t leave home without, as chosen by our readers.

Source: Cruise Critic

Category: Cruising 101, Travel Tips  Leave a Comment
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