Ever wanted to take a cruise? If so, you are not alone. Each year more and more people are vacationing aboard cruise ships and the choice of ships and destinations grow and grow. If you have never been on a cruise ship before, you may be wondering what amenities can be found onboard many of today’s cruise liners. Most cruise ships have common amenities such as eating facilities and bars and also daycare centers and activities geared towards children of all ages.
When first evaluating your choice of ship, it is important to decide whether you prefer a smaller, more intimate type of cruise or whether you would prefer a larger ship with more amenities. It is important also to consider the comfort level you require. Small does not always mean luxurious as many of the large ships nowadays are very luxurious. However, the number of passengers could be a concern for you. Large cruise ships often offer more of a choice of amenities especially in the case of onboard dining facilities such as dining halls, restaurants, and cafeterias. Many of these dining facilities are classed as upmarket restaurants with specific dress codes. This is because Elegant dining among cruisers is as popular today as it was in days gone by. To make sure that you are able to enjoy a superb meal, you are encouraged to make a reservation as soon as you board the ship. In addition to a sit-down restaurant, there are usually a number of small eateries located onboard.
Bars, Ballrooms and Disco’s are also found on most cruise ships. The Range of Entertainment depends on the size of the cruise ship and often include Broadway style productions and comedy, with dancing, music and cabaret all in separate bars. Larger ships can have a TV studio and even a conference center. For the Bars and Discos, it is important to check if any age restrictions are in place. If there are younger members of the family who cannot use the bars then it is advisable to check that they can complete other activities while you enjoy the nightlife at sea.
In addition to the above mentioned bars and Entertainment Venues many cruise ships have casinos. Most Cruise Lines adopt the same age limits as with land based casinos. Some of the gaming halls and casinos are open 24 hours a day Some of the popular gambling activities include slot machines, blackjack, poker, bingo and much more. Because Gambling is popular on cruise ships, if you want to cruise just to gamble, it is advisable to check what facilities are on each ship. Check the cruise liners websites for more information.
Childcare is often available for young children. Many parents have concerns about leaving their children with the daycare staff. It is important to know that cruise ship employees are often highly educated, properly trained and are closely monitored. One way to allay your fears is to quickly familiarize yourself with the staff that will be looking after your child.
What do you do if you have older children who are too old for daycare? Well, there are Swimming pools, movie theaters gyms, libraries, video arcades and even ice rinks on some of the larger ships. However, one thing to check is whether the cruise ship has a Adult Supervision Policy, this prevents children under a certain age from roaming freely around the ship.
As each cruise ship could have a different adult supervision policy, you would be advised to check out these policies before you purchase your ticket. Also ask whether Teenagers may be able to visit these facilities without adult supervision.
For those people who do not want to give up their daily exercise routine when they are on their cruise, many cruise ships now have fitness centers and gyms which would rival those found in many large towns and cities. The larger ships have sporting activities which include tennis, basketball, jogging tracks, volleyball and some even have 9 hole Golf courses. Many ships also have spa’s, steam rooms and sauna’s, massage, health treatments and beauty salons.
For those who want to stay in contact with the outside world, cruise ships often have Internet cafe’s.
So how do you check if a particular ship has the amenities you require or not? First you can check comparison websites. Just do a Google search for cruise ships and you will see several websites listed for you to check out. We found Cruise Ship Finder very helpful. Next, visit the Cruise Ships website. You can often check the individual ships listings to see what they offer. Also make use of the toll free numbers they often supply to get answers to specific questions.
Some cruise lines to check, are, Carnival Cruise Lines, Paradise Cruises, Royal Caribbean, SAGA and Celebrity Cruises. This is just a small selection. There are many others as well.
