Cruise Frequently Asked Questions
Is cruising affordable and a good vacation value?
Cruising is the best vacation value and there are cruise vacations to suite every budget. Your cruise fare includes all meals, your stateroom, on-board activities and entertainment, plus transportation from port to port. You'll know the total cost of your vacation before you depart for it. Typically, your only extra expenses will be drinks, optional shore excursions and personal services such as massage, hairstyling, etc.
How long are cruises?
As long or short as you want. Cruise lines offer itineraries from three days to three months.
Where can I go?
Wherever you want! Cruises visit over 1,800 ports worldwide and practically every destination accessible by water.
How do I book a cruise?
Contact AFTravelOnline.com! Our travel professionals will help you pick the cruise that fits your vacation schedule, tastes and budget. They can make all the arrangements to get you from your doorstep to your ship and back.
back to top
Are all ships fairly similar?
Far from it. Cruise lines' ships range from under 200 feet to over 1,000 feet long. You can sail with fewer than 100 fellow guests or over 2,600. Enjoy atmospheres ranging from casual to formal, contemporary to classic. You can even choose between traditional propeller-driven vessels or sail-assisted ships. Enjoy the endless activities offered on a contemporary resort-style cruise, or immerse yourself in the culture of a destination via a niche or special interest cruise.
Are there different types of cruises?
There is an incredible diversity of cruise vacations available - all designed to suit different interests and personal preferences. The variety of styles ranges from boutique, luxury cruises with globetrotting itineraries to large, contemporary ships with a fantastic array of recreational facilities; from classic vessels evoking the time-honored traditions of cruising to special-interest, niche lines specializing in unique destinations with an accent on cultural enrichment.
For the explorer, there are cruise lines which feature soft adventure expeditions to such unusual and rustic frontiers as Antarctica, the Amazon rain forest or African Serengeti. Or discover historical legacies closer to home with enlightening itineraries to New England, French Canada and the Colonial America coast.
For experienced travelers, destination-focused cruise specialize in premium, culturally-rich ports of call with itineraries dedicated to illuminating such historic, word-class treasures as the antiquities of classical Greece, the Polynesian paradise of Hawaii or the fabled splendor of Norwegian fjords.
For many, the perfect vacation includes the non-stop fun and sun of a tropical resort-style cruise to the Caribbean, where you can sample a variety of island cultures and cuisines while working on a terrific sun tan.
Plus, many cruise lines feature special-interest themes on-board, with entertainment ranging from jazz festivals and classical music concerts to golf clinics and murder mysteries at sea!
Are there any special educational programs on-board?
To complement the spirit of discovery that travel evokes, many cruise lines feature an extensive program of on-board enrichment seminars hosted by distinguished guest experts. In addition to lectures highlighting the history and sights of ports you will be visiting, there may also be special in-depth presentations ranging from Renaissance works of art and strategic financial planning to epicurean secrets of classic French cuisine.