Obviously, there are pros and cons to all types of travel, but cruising has become a popular travel option for a number of reasons: With so much included in the price - like meals, onboard performances and much more - cruising offers fantastic value for money compared to land based holidays. A variety of onboard and onshore activities make cruising suitable for everyone from families, couples or singles to corporate events. Travelling from port to port usually overnight is all taken care of with no need to worry about asking directions or unpacking more than once. You'll wake up in an amazing new destination, refreshed and ready to explore.

If you want to visit incredible inland cities like Paris or Anchorage in Alaska, book a cruise tour with Cruise Holidays India. A cruise tour is a package that includes a cruise, an escorted land tour and hotel accommodation. The cruise tour can be taken either before or after your cruise itinerary with travel by deluxe motor coach or train.

Shore and land excursions are tours, shows and other activities you can take advantage of while visiting various ports of call. Most excursion programs are co-ordinated with reputable tour operators and cover all the "must-see" sites and "must-do" activities of your destination. Excursions are not included in the price of your cruise and can be reserved separately through a travel agent, while onboard the ship or via the cruise line website.

Absolutely! Most cruise lines will even treat you to a complimentary cake and a chorus of Happy Whatever to honour the occasion. Your birthday or anniversary can be more festive with champagne, flowers, canapés, wine or cheese. You can even arrange for a special private party. All you have to do is advise your agent in advance.

Yes! There are cruise vacations to suit every budget, from the cost-conscious to the most luxurious. Even more important, a cruise offers the best travel value for your money. Your fare includes all meals, your cabin, onboard daytime activities, night time parties and entertainment. So for once, you'll know what your vacation will end up costing you before you go. (Your only extra expenses will be drinks, gratuities, optional shore excursions, and personal services such as massage or hairstyling.) You'll be amazed at the value.

For your first cruise, you may need help in matching your lifestyle and budget with a cruise line and destination. Choosing a cruise is not the same as picking a hotel or flight, as there are many more options to consider. For example, do you want to cruise close to home from ports like Singapore and Hong Kong, or are you willing to fly to Europe or the U.S. for Mediterranean and Caribbean sailings? Would you be happier on a large ship -- such as Royal Caribbean's latest, 5000+-passenger Oasis of the Seas -- or on a smaller, more intimate ship -- like Silversea’ all suit with balconyship? Do you prefer a casual and lively vibe, as is found on Thomson Cruises, or a more formal atmosphere, Remember, you won't just be using the ship as a home base, like you do with a hotel; it will be your home, restaurant and entertainment venue for a week or more. The right ship and itinerary can make your holiday that much more enjoyable -- and Cruise Holidays India can help you determine the best selection for your tastes. In addition, Cruise Holidays India can arrange for pre – Post Cruise tours and all other land arrangements.

There are typically four basic stateroom options. Each cruise line then categorizes (which can get quite extensive) each of the options, but to keep it simple here are the basic four - ask your Cruise Holidays travel expert to further describe the categories based on the cruise line you've selected. Inside: Staterooms are nicely appointed, however space is limited. There is no outside view or porthole. Outside (or Oceanview): Features a picture window or porthole, providing added ambience and views. Balcony: Staterooms offer the elegance of a balcony with patio furniture. Suites: Depending on the cruise line, suites can be very spacious ranging anywhere from 1,000 to 9,000 square feet, ideal for families and/or a group of friends sailing together. Staterooms for those physically disabled are also available; ask your Cruise Holidays travel expert for further details.

The internet is a vast repository of information making it an ideal tool to use in the quest for further information. Browse the various cruising websites and cruise company homepages to familiarise oneself with what to expect and encounter. There is also print media such as magazines, newspapers and journals in addition to audio visual media such as television and radio. However, there is no substitute for experience and we at Cruise Holidays India are passionate and eager to provide our customers with answers to any queries they have regarding cruising. The best option would be to call us or write to us, whereupon our travel consultants will be delighted to assist you with any queries.

For the comfort and convenience the day to day onboard dress code is casual or smart casual onboard most cruise lines. However, in the evenings, the dress code will vary daily with the largest proportion of evenings are casual. On ships with both smart casual (informal) and formal nights, you could expect to find approximately one formal night in three. The number of smart casual and formal nights is at the cruise line discretion. Please check with your travel agent the policy of the cruise line and suggested guidelines are: Casual: Sport shirts and slacks for men, sundresses or pants for women Smart Casual: Jackets and ties for men, dresses or pantsuits for women Formal: Suits and ties or tuxedos for men, cocktail or evening dresses for women Attire ashore is recommended to be casual and comfortable and we place a particular emphasis on appropriate footwear, including good walking shoes and in some destinations, reef-walkers and beach sandals.

Pack like you would for a resort vacation: casual by day, dressier by night—and keep in mind the time of year and geographic arena (in other words, you’ll be packing differently for an Antarctic exploration than for a West Indies sail). For certain events—a Captain’s Gala or "formal night," for example—you’ll probably want to dress up a bit. Attire ashore is dictated by location and activity. Men who have a tuxedo may want to bring it along, but it’s not really needed: even on a luxury ship dark suits work fine for formal occasions.

Depending on your cruise ship, you can go dancing; take in live entertainment in the nightclubs, discos, and lounges; watch a feature film in the theater; party with new friends; try your luck in the casino. There’s usually something special going on, too—the Captain’s Cocktail Party, Passenger’s Talent Night, the Masquerade Parade, the Midnight Buffet.

The sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages will be limited to guests aged 21 years or older. Most cruise lines refuse and prohibit the sale or service of alcoholic beverages to guests under the age of 21 years. Guests are kindly reminded to consume alcohol in moderation. Most cruise lines reserve the right to prohibit and retain all alcohol bought ashore for consumption onboard the vessel. For more details please check with Cruise.

Please check with your travel agent as each cruise line has their own policy regarding smoking onboard the ship. Generally smoking is only permitted in a limited number of public areas.

Quite easily. Most ships have a daily newsletter with news, headlines, selected stock quotes and sports scores. Staterooms on all of today's modern cruise ships are equipped with satellite televisions and in some cases in-cabin internet connections. While most ships now have telephones in passenger cabins, you can also call someone on shore through the ship's radio operator while at sea. And, you can make phone calls from most ports. In addition, many ships have fax capabilities and newer ships offer Internet access and e-mail capabilities to passengers.

Hardly. Being at sea gives you a feeling of freedom few places can offer. There's plenty of room. And it'll probably take you two or three days just to discover what's onboard. Plus, you get the added adventure of exploring new and exciting ports of call. Cruise ships are like floating resorts with all the choices fine resorts have to offer. You can be by yourself and lie back in a lounge chair, breathe in the sea air, soak up the sun, read good books, or watch the ever-changing view. Or, you can join in exercise classes, dance classes, sports contests and other organized deck activities. Perhaps you can practice your tennis stroke or golf swing, or shoot some baskets. You can go for a swim, stretch out in the sauna or work out in the gym. You can see a feature movie, attend a lecture by renowned experts, play backgammon or bridge. And that's just when you're onboard!

Most cruise lines make a special point of providing supervised activities for youngsters, especially during school holidays. If your children enjoy swimming, sports, games, movies and the adventure of new places, they'll love a family cruise. You'll find the kids adapt to shipboard life with ease, and you won't have to wonder what they are up to every minute. The cruise staff will help keep them busy and entertained.

Cruise ships are "one-class." Everyone onboard can use all of the ship's facilities. The price of a cabin is based primarily on its size and location. Regardless of the category you book, you'll enjoy the same courteous service, menus, activities, and entertainment as everyone else onboard. Some luxury cruise liners may offer more amenities in certain cabin types such as private dining rooms and priority boarding.

No. All cruise lines offer entertainment as part of your cruise ticket. There's no cover. No minimum. No charge for an admission ticket. The shows are live. The movies are first-rate. The variety is limitless.

Most ships are happy to accommodate vegetarian, salt-free, Kosher, or other diet preferences. However, this request must be made in advance—preferably when booking the cruise.

You'll find a varied selection of entrees (appetizers, salads, soups, vegetables, and desserts, too) every time you sit down. And there's virtually no limit on what or how much you can order. Just because your cruise ship offers plenty of delicious food doesn't mean you'll come home out of shape. You can choose low-cal, spa, or fitness menu selections that are just as tempting as the regular menu. You can also jog, do aerobics, work out in the gym, swim, golf, play tennis, and much more. Burning calories was never so much fun! Best of all, the one thing you'll never see on a cruise ship menu is a price!.

Not really. The most popular cruise areas boast some of the calmest waters in the world. In addition, stabilizers on modern ships, advance availability of accurate weather information, and development of effective preventative medications have, for the most part, eliminated the incidence of motion discomfort.

Yes, all cruise ships have a fully-equipped medical facility and staff to handle almost any emergency. The infirmary charges for service, just like a doctor or emergency room.

Anytime is the best time to take a cruise, but it also depends on where you'd like to go. The Caribbean is fantastic year round; however, some of the more exotic destinations are seasonal. For example, you can only cruise to Alaska between May and September; to Europe between April and November; to Bermuda, between April and October; the Panama Canal, between September and April. So you see, no matter what time of year it is, it's a perfect time to cruise.

Shore excursions are optional, guided tours in a cruise ship's port of call. They are offered in almost all cruise ports and cities and are a great way to enhance your cruise experience by allowing you seeing more of the places you visit. Shore excursions highlight the best local attractions and sight-seeing opportunities; the best places to shop; and, give the cruise passenger a chance to experience the local culture.

Your passport must be valid for a minimum of six months after the final date of travel. It is the sole responsibility of the guest to obtain and have available when necessary, the appropriate valid travel and health documents such as passports, visas, vaccination certificates etc that are necessary for air travel, disembarkation at the various ports of call and re-entry into the appropriate country of origin. Cruise Holidays India can assist and guide you as needed. Visas - For Indian nationals, almost all countries still require an entry visa. If you need help, Cruise Holidays India will help you with filing the application of all the necessary visas before commencing your cruise.

Every cruise line sells shore excursions. As a convenience to their passengers, they provide a complete list of tours with descriptions and prices in advance of your cruise both on their websites and with your cruise documents. You can them pre-book them prior to leaving home or wait until you board your ship.

Take off on your own, exploring where and as you like. Or take one of the guided tours offered for each port (you almost always need to sign up for these in advance). Depending on where in the world you find yourselves, you might: investigate ancient ruins, go jet-skiing or zip-lining, bike down a mountain, ride horseback on a beach, listen to a steel drum band, wander through a museum, go duty-free shopping, go scuba diving, play blackjack in a casino… There is just no limit to what you can do.

Typically, the fare includes all meals, your cabin (sometimes called a stateroom), daytime activities, parties, entertainment, and the voyage itself. It usually does not include wine and alcoholic drinks, tips, or the cost of excursions while in port. Other fees usually not included in your fare: laundry, dry-cleaning, Internet access/email, and telephoning the mainland. Be smart! Know what's included in your fare and what you’ll be charged for before you embark. That way you won’t end up with any unpleasant surprises at the end of your voyage.

Cruise Holidays India helps you identify the right cruise line, ship and destination depending on your interests, time you have and season. Once we identify the right cruise itinerary and dates, Cruise Holidays India helps you get the best price and make bookings as necessary. Cruise Holidays India can book domestic, International flights, hotels and other land arrangements outside India. Cruise Holidays also provide services of Tailor made Cruise Tours.

Cruise Holidays India, provides all the assistance in filing the applications for required visas as per the travel itinerary. With the help of our associates, we can arrange for Overseas insurance and other services at most competitive prices.

The price of your cruise holiday includes: Ship accommodation Ocean transportation Most meals onboard Some beverages onboard Most entertainment onboard Please check with cruise holidays India for more details at the time of booking..

Cruise Holidays India will present to you the options for payment. A deposit is almost always due within seven days of placing your reservation. If the deposit is not received by that time, the cruise line will release the room or suite for resale.

Most cruise lines operate on a "cashless" system, meaning your boarding card will be used as a charge card to make all onboard purchases. Normally to activate your account, most guests provide a credit card (American Express, Optima, MasterCard, Visa, Discover and Diner's Club) to have purchases such as spa treatments, alcoholic beverages etc charged to. Additionally, the onboard card may be often activated with traveller's checks, debit cards or cash. Please check the details with your travel agent. At the end of your cruise, you will receive an itemized statement of your onboard purchase.

Cancellation charges are determined by the Cruise Operator with whom you are booked as your contract is with this principal. You will normally find a scale of cancellation charges in the cruise operator’s invoice. Please note the accurate cancellation charge can only be calculated upon receipt of a written cancellation letter and any information given in any other way will be approximate.