So you have booked a great cruise and want to know more
about where you are going and the ship that is getting you there. These are all
fair things to want to know more about. Numerous sources of information exist
that will help you learn more about the ship and specifically who is on your
sailing. Some sources are great and filled with highly accurate information
while others are filled with rhetoric and a push to sell ancillary services.
Some sites have lots of information but with the good is just as much bad and
misleading information.
The best way to see information specific to your ship is the
cruise line web site. Each cruise line has a website with maps of the ship
outlining various venues as well as diagrams of most cabin types. That is not
to say your cabin layout will be an exact match to the diagram, because many
are a flip (mirror image) of the diagram. They are though generally the same
size, just with beds, counters, and doors on the opposite side. The balcony
generally is in the same place though.
Some websites have been created by individuals with more
information about cabins on various ships, be it a class of ship, each ship in
a fleet or some similar grouping of ships. These usually have photographs and
comments from passengers who have sailed in those cabins or suites
previously. Personally when we booked
two Royal Family Suites on Enchantment Of The Seas a few years back, we were
able to find a set of photos someone posted of the cabin we were going to use.
It helped build excitement for the trip as I was able to circulate the link to
the pictures among family members ahead of the family reunion at sea. These kinds of finds though are somewhat rare
and are the exception not the rule.
To get answers to specific questions about your cruise,
amenities offered to you on the ship, etc…generally again going to the cruise
line website is probably your best option. Most cruise lines have a FAQ section on their
website full of useful information.
Often it’s found in the plan your cruise or pre-cruise section(s) of
their web site. The information there is provided by the cruise line thus
generally more accurate than what you will get from general information cruise
related chat sites.
As I mentioned before, there are various sites where folks
chat about cruising. They also offer advice and answers to each other about
cruising and specific cruises. These sites offer mixed levels of accurate
information, depending on who is answering and their actual level of
expertise. More likely than not if you
post a question eventually you will get an accurate answer, but you may not
know what answer is correct. Of course then you have to decide what answer was
correct. Also, you will see many answers where there are mostly opinions or
what happened on one ship which is contrary to policy so may not happen on
other ships. Because the information can be spotty and some questions generate
a firestorm op different opinions, these sites while helpful to an extent are
not the best place to hang your hat on every answer that comes up.
Your best information again, is found on the cruise line
websites and they should be your second source of information after your
trusted travel agent who booked the cruise for you or will be making that
booking. I do not suggest calling agents
for information only and not using them for the booking, as that is stealing
their time where they could be helping folks who want to book.
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