Cruise Planning

Choosing a cabin on your cruise ship is one of the most important decisions you make when planning your cruise vacation.

Comprehensive cruise packing list that includes travel essentials and suggestions for both men and women to pack.

Where are the most spectacular ports of call in the world to sail away from or into on a cruise ship?

Cruises aren't free, but the basic fare includes room, food, and enough onboard activities to provide travelers of all ages with a memorable vacation. If cruise guests can resist the many optional onboard and ashore opportunities to spend money, a cruise is almost all-inclusive. Here's a list of 14 free things to do on a cruise.

List of the ten things that I love about cruise travel.

Selecting the 7-day Caribbean cruise itinerary that suits your interests can be a challenge. Many ships sail to the eastern Caribbean and many others to the western Caribbean. Which is best for you?

Useful information for planning a European cruise vacation--pros and cons of cruising Europe, when and where to cruise Europe.

Several cruise lines sail the Baltic and northern Europe each summer. Their ships are diverse, with something for everyone.

List of the most popular cruise lines for families with children. Cruising with kids can be great fun for the whole family and these lines offer special facilities for children and youth counselors.

Cruising is great for couples, and a cruise vacation is perfect for honeymooners or romantics of all ages. The four luxury cruise lines listed below have everything you need for a relaxed, romantic cruise vacation -- lots of space per passenger, exceptional service, luxurrious queen-sized beds, tables for two, flexible dining options, and room...

Starting in 2003, cruise passengers will need official proof of citizenship. A driver's license will no longer suffice! Here's how to get a passport, which is the best travel documentation of citizenship.

Information on the new cruise ships launched in 2011, including the Disney Dream, Oceania Cruises' Marina, Uniworld S.S. Antoinette and Douro Spirit, AIDAsol, Compagnie du Ponant's L'Austral, Carnival Magic, Avalon Panorama, AMAWaterways Amaverde and Amalotus, Viking Prestige, Seabourn Quest, Costa Favolosa, and Celebrity Silhouette

In 2010, cruise lovers will be treated to a dozen new ocean-going ships and three river ships, but all but three will be almost identical sister ships of those already in service. This isn't bad news, since travelers saw three dozen exciting new vessels across all markets added to the cruise lines' inventories in 2009

In 2009, the cruise lines will launch 18 new ships -- 11 ocean-going cruise ships and 7 riverboats. The eleven new cruise ships range in size from the significantly refurbished Clelia II with 100 passengers to the brand new Oasis of the Seas, the largest ship ever built, with 5400 passengers!

The year 2008 will be another good one for those of us who love to experience new cruise ships. Sixteen new ships -- eight large cruise ships, seven small and river ships, and one significantly refurbished expedition ship -- will be launched in 2008. Several major cruise lines, including Carnival, Celebrity, HAL, Princess, Silversea, P&O, and...

Description of the new cruise ships in 2007, including cruise line, size, launch date, and itineraries of the new cruise ships

Discussion of why pets are not allowed on cruise ships

Planning a cruise with your mom is a perfect Mother's Day gift.

Things to do to better your chances for having a safe cruise vacation. Tips on avoiding burglars and pickpockets when on a cruise vacation.

When you return home, you will be required to pass through various types of passport control (immigration), and inspection processes.

All persons entering the U.S. are inspected by the U.S. Customs Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The "duty free" allowance was increased to $800 per person in November 2002. Here's what you need to know about going through customs and how to determine what you may have to pay in duty taxes.

The regulations on what and how much you can bring into the United States from overseas are very complex. The U.S. Customs Service has Ten Tips to "Know Before You Go" with useful links to Web pages of information.

Cruise dress codes have changed with the times. More and more cruise ships are not requiring formal attire at dinner, and some have "country-club" casual for every meal. How can you determine what clothes to take on your next cruise?

Two great spring cruise ideas - repositioning cruises and a Dutch tulip river cruise in the Netherlands.

Things a cruise lover might do and places she might see if she had all the money and all the time in the world

Fall is a wonderful time to take a cruise vacation. The kids are back in school, the weather is cooler, and the prices are much less than during the summer or winter seasons.

TripIt.com is an online travel tool that allows you to organize and track all the specifics of your vacation in one place.

CruiseCal.com tracks where your favorite ship is, and often provides links to either the ship's or the port's Web cam. Very useful tool to help determine exactly how many ships are going to be in a port of call on a particular day.

Cruise reviews and lots of information that will be useful for planning your cruise.

Online free tool for the experienced cruiser who is planning a cruise and has decided on a date, ship, and itinerary. Site works like a reverse auction - you provide the specifics of the cruise, and travel agents provide their lowest price.

Useful site for experienced cruisers who are looking for a quote on a specific cruise. The cruiser provides the information on the cruise (dates, ship, itinerary), and travel agents give a quote with their lowest fare. Service is free to travelers.

Excellent source of up-to-the information on cruise ships and cruise lines. Active message boards and articles useful in cruise planning.

One of the most complete databases of staterooms and cabins aboard cruise ships on the Internet. More than 2,300 stateroom categories, more than 106,000 cabin descriptions aboard cruise ships.

The Cruise Critic site has all sorts of useful information from news to cruise reviews and everything in between. Also has an active message board that will help with your cruise planning.

A free, online magazine with lots of great cruise information.  Ports of call, interviews with industry leaders, a bulletin board, and recipes from some chefs afloat are among the articles you will find.

Traveling can be complicated and tiring. People who provide exceptional service making our trips easier deserve an extra gratuity as a reward for their help. This site provides lots of useful information for travelers on gratuities and tipping.

Travel insurance comparison site.