Mini Cruises

Statendam & Amsterdam at Canada Place Pier

In the Vancouver area we’re lucky to be able to take advantage of repositioning and mini cruises at the start and end of the Alaska cruise season. These take place usually beginning of May and mid September. This is a great opportunity to “test cruise”
If you’ve never cruised before, want to try out a new cruise line, or test out how you and a new traveling partner get along, this is the perfect opportunity!

The majority of the cruises are one-way, for instance starting in Vancouver and ending in San Francisco, Los Angeles or San Diego, and are between 2 to 5 days long.
It’s easy to combine the cruise with a land package in Disneyland, Las Vegas or somewhere in California.

There are a few cruises as well that start and end in either Vancouver or Seattle, so you can avoid flying altogether

Prices are very reasonable in comparison with staying at a resort hotel. The price may look higher to start, but your accommodations, transportation, food and entertainment are all included. It’s usually very little difference in cost to upgrade to balcony cabin, so why not treat yourself? And your holiday starts as soon as you get onboard, in this case getting there really is more than half the fun!

There are a few things to remember when planning your trip;

·         The days at sea will have more activities available than days in port.  

·         You can get rough seas between Vancouver and California even in Spring and Fall.

·         Cruise guests tend to be younger and more eager to party, especially if the cruise is over a weekend.

·         Because you won’t have as long to build a relationship with waiters or cabin stewards, service is usually not quite as good as on a longer cruise.

·         If it’s possible, choose set dinning times, as getting dinner reservations can be hectic on a short cruise.

·         If it’s your first time cruising, avoid inside cabins, or travelling 4 adults in 1 cabin.

·         Book early! These cruises are popular ,and tend to sell out.

I just returned from a 3 night cruise on Holland America’s Statendam. For me it’s a great opportunity to check out the ships and what is new with the cruise lines without taking a lot of time out of the office.
The Statendam was built in 1993, but has been updated recently as part of Holland America’s “Signature of excellence” This was a sold-out cruise (passenger capacity 1260) but the ship never felt full except when we were waiting for dinner!
The Statendam is a very traditional feel of ship, lots of wood and artwork. The ship feels a bit dated when you’re walking down some of the passageways, but not in the cabins or the public rooms. I was in an outside cabin, in comparison with recent cruises the cabin felt large, with a good layout, lots of closet and drawer space, and a good sized bathroom with bathtub and shower.  

Both full days of the cruise we had part of the day at sea, and part in port which made for a good mix of activities. There were all ages on board, from babies to seniors, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.
Food and entertainment were excellent; my only complaint was the long waits for dinner.
Holland America now has a policy in the Lido Restaurant that they don’t allow self-service for the first 48 hours of a cruise to avoid the spread of illness. This caused some confusion at first, but seemed to work out once people realized what was happening.
All in all, a very enjoyable relaxing 3 days. And Holland America is still one of my favorite cruise lines!

One of my favorite Holland America cocktails- a Glacier Drop

10 mistakes people make when booking cruises

As a cruise specialist, I'm constantly being asked "which is the best cruise line". First of all, you should be asking, "which is the best cruiseline for me?"
If you have a limited budget, you're probably not going to cruise with Silversea. If you don't like kids, you don't want to cruise with Disney!
Here is my list of the top 10 mistakes people make when booking cruises;
1- Not booking a cruise because of the the fear of being "trapped on a ship with nothing to do" 
There are endless options, from the gym to cooking classes to the casino. And most cruise ships are large, lots of room to walk around, shop, swim, even rock climb or play mini golf. Usually the problem is finding time to do everything!

2- Think all cruises are created equal.
There is a type of cruise for almost everyone. Large contemporary ships with a huge choice of recreational facilities, yacht cruises that pamper your every need, Expedition cruises that explore off the beaten track. Sailing Cruises, River Cruises

etc! Some include shore excursions, alcohol, airfare and gratuities, others only cover accommodation and some entertainment and selected restaurants.
3- Book by price alone  
The price might be low, but is it the best choice for you? Is there another ship or cruiseline that would suit you better? Does this line have a lot of hidden costs? Is it going to be difficult or expensive to get to your departure point?
4- Booking an inside cabin
There are a few exceptions to this, but almost every client who has booked an inside cabin comes back and says never again! Let’s face it, we wouldn’t book a hotel room without a window. There is usually not much price difference for an outside cabin, or even a cabin with a balcony. Nothing beats having your morning coffee or before dinner wine on your private balcony!

5- Booked because your friend or neighbour liked the line.
Getting a recommendation is good, but make sure their tastes are similar to yours. It’s a good idea to ask why they enjoyed the cruise. If they say because it was so quiet and relaxing, and you’re looking for action and activities, you’ll know to try something else!
6- Book the cruise with the most ports of call.

Ports of call are important, but days at sea are nice too! They give you a chance to enjoy all the amenities of the ship.

7- Booking a cruise before looking at the whole vacation.
You might book a terrific cruise, and then find out it costs a small fortune to fly to your departure point. Or that the flight schedules are terrible. Or realize that you really need to spend a day or two pre or post cruise to make the most of your holiday. Or perhaps you have extended insurance that won’t cover the amount of time you’ve booked. 
8- Booking the cruise line you always book.
A lot of people find a cruise line that they’re really happy with, and always book on that cruise line. There are good reasons to do that, most cruise companies have loyalty programs that give benefits to past passengers. However, sometimes you should try something new. It may be that another cruise line specializes in the area you want to go to,  has a better itinerary, or a nicer ship . Or that someone else is offering a perk like free air, or prepaid gratuities!

9- Not booking early enough.
This is a biggie! So often people will say to me, “I think I’ll wait for a last minute special” This usually means you’re not going anywhere! Cruises tend to book up well in advance, and for many the price gets higher as the departure date gets closer! And if there is space closer to departure, chances are you’re not going to get the cabin or the dining arrangements you want.
Also, if you book early and the price goes down, you can usually get the lower price.
10- Not using a Travel Agent
Maybe I’m prejudiced, but why wouldn’t you use a Travel Agent? We can coordinate your whole vacation, book your cruise, air, hotels, insurance and shore excursions, and find out about any special promotions. (Many of which are only available if you book through a Travel Agent)  We can give you unbiased advice on all the cruise lines. After all, we work for you, not for the cruise lines!

General Cruise Pictures