ebook img

Frommer's Cruises & Ports of Call 2006: From U.S. & Canadian Home Ports to the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii & More (Frommer's Complete) PDF

738 Pages·2005·7.96 MB·English
Save to my drive
Quick download
Download
Most books are stored in the elastic cloud where traffic is expensive. For this reason, we have a limit on daily download.

Preview Frommer's Cruises & Ports of Call 2006: From U.S. & Canadian Home Ports to the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii & More (Frommer's Complete)

01_58846x_ffirs.qxd 8/23/05 11:53 PM Page i Cruises & Ports of Call From U.S. & Canadian Home Ports to the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii & More 2006 by Heidi Sarna & Matt Hannafin Here’s what the critics say about Frommer’s: “Amazingly easy to use.Very portable,very complete.” —Booklist “Detailed,accurate,and easy-to-read information for all price ranges.” —Glamour Magazine “A thorough and entertaining look at the cruise world.” —Chicago Tribune “Frommer’s Guides have a way of giving you a real feel for a place.” —Knight Ridder Newspapers 01_58846x_ffirs.qxd 8/23/05 11:53 PM Page i Cruises & Ports of Call From U.S. & Canadian Home Ports to the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii & More 2006 by Heidi Sarna & Matt Hannafin Here’s what the critics say about Frommer’s: “Amazingly easy to use.Very portable,very complete.” —Booklist “Detailed,accurate,and easy-to-read information for all price ranges.” —Glamour Magazine “A thorough and entertaining look at the cruise world.” —Chicago Tribune “Frommer’s Guides have a way of giving you a real feel for a place.” —Knight Ridder Newspapers 01_58846x_ffirs.qxd 8/23/05 11:53 PM Page ii Published by: Wiley Publishing,Inc. 111 River St. Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774 Copyright © 2005 Wiley Publishing, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authori- zation through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, 978/750-8400, fax 978/646-8600. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Legal Department, Wiley Publishing, Inc., 10475 Crosspoint Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46256, 317/572-3447, fax 317/572-4355, or online at http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions. Wiley and the Wiley Publishing logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and/or its affiliates. Frommer’s is a trademark or registered trademark of Arthur Frommer. Used under license. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Wiley Publishing, Inc. is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. ISBN-13: 978-0-7645-8846-4 ISBN-10: 0-7645-8846-X Editor: Naomi P. Kraus withJennifer Moore Production Editor: Heather Wilcox Cartographer: Elizabeth Puhl Photo Editor: Richard Fox Production by Wiley Indianapolis Composition Services For information on our other products and services or to obtain technical support, please contact our Customer Care Department within the U.S. at 800/762-2974, outside the U.S. at 317/572-3993 or fax 317/572-4002. Wiley also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats. Some content that appears in print may not be available in electronic formats. Manufactured in the United States of America 5 4 3 2 1 02_58846x_ftoc.qxd 8/23/05 11:55 PM Page iii Contents List of Maps viii Cruising 2006:10 Million Cruise Fans Can’t Be Wrong 1 The Best of Cruising 8 1 Our Favorite Mainstream Ships . . . . .8 9 Best Cruises for the Party Set . . . . .14 2 Best Luxury Cruises . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 10 Best Beaches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 3 The Most Romantic Cruises . . . . . . .9 11 Best Small-Ship Adventure 4 Best Cruises for First-Timers . . . . . .10 Cruises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 5 Best Cruises for Families 12 Best History & Learning Cruises . . . .16 with Kids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 13 Best Cruises for Sports Nuts 6 Best Cruises for Pure Relaxation . . .11 & Gym Rats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 7 Cushiest Cabin Amenities . . . . . . . .12 14 Best Ships for Spa-Goers . . . . . . . .18 8 Best Cuisine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 15 Best Shopping Cruises . . . . . . . . . .19 Part 1: Planning,Booking & Preparing for Your Cruise 1 Choosing Your Ideal Cruise 22 1 Homeland Cruise Regions 5 Cruises for Honeymooners in Brief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 & Anniversary Couples . . . . . . . . . .34 2 Itineraries:The Long 6 Cruises for Gay Men & Lesbians . . .36 & the Short of It . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 7 Active Travel & Adventure 3 Different Boats for Different Folks . . .27 Cruises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Ship Size Comparisons . . . . . . . . . .28 8 Cruises for Young People . . . . . . . .38 4 Cruises for Families . . . . . . . . . . . .31 9 Cruises for People with Disabilities Family Cruising Tips . . . . . . . . . . . .33 &Health Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 Getting Married on Board Onboard Medical Care . . . . . . . . . .40 or in Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 2 Booking Your Cruise & Getting the Best Price 41 1 Cruising 2006:Early Bird 3 The Cost:What’s Included Gets Worm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 & What’s Not . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 2 The Prices in This Guide . . . . . . . . .42 Price Comparisons: Discounted Rates vs. Brochure Rates . . . . . . . .43 02_58846x_ftoc.qxd 8/23/05 11:55 PM Page iv iv CONTENTS 4 Money-Saving Strategies . . . . . . . .48 Reading a Ship’s Deck Plan . . . . . .58 Average Cost of Onboard Extras . . .49 8 Booking Your Air Travel . . . . . . . . . .60 5 Agents & the Web:Finding 9 Prebooking Your Dinner Table the Best Deals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 & Arranging Special Diets . . . . . . . .60 Be Savvy & Beware of Scams . . . . .52 10 Booking Pre- & Post-Cruise 6 Recommended Agencies Hotel Stays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 & Websites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53 11 Cancellations & Insurance . . . . . . . .61 7 Choosing Your Cabin . . . . . . . . . . .55 12 Putting Down a Deposit Model Cabin Layouts . . . . . . . . . . .57 & Reviewing Tickets . . . . . . . . . . . .64 3 Things to Know Before You Go 65 1 Passports & Visas . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 4 Packing for the Different 2 Money Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Cruise Climates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 3 Keeping in Touch While at Sea . . . .67 5 Tipping,Customs & Other End-of-Cruise Concerns . . . . . . . . .73 4 The Cruise Experience 76 1 Checking In,Boarding & Settling 4 Keeping Fit:Gyms, intoYour Cabin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76 Spas & Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84 A History of Cruising . . . . . . . . . . .78 5 Programs for Kids & Teens . . . . . . .87 2 Exploring the Ports of Call: 6 Onboard Dining Options . . . . . . . . .87 Shore Excursions vs.Going It 7 Onboard Entertainment . . . . . . . . .92 on Your Own . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80 8 Shopping Opportunities 3 A Typical Day at Sea: on Ship & Shore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94 Onboard Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . .81 Part 2: The Cruise Lines & Their Ships 5 The Ratings & How to Read Them 96 1 Cruise Line Categories . . . . . . . . . .96 3 Evaluating & Comparing 2 Reading the Reviews & Ratings . . . .96 the Listed Cruise Prices . . . . . . . . .108 Ships at a Glance . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98 6 The Mainstream Lines 110 1 Carnival Cruise Lines . . . . . . . . . .112 4 Disney Cruise Line . . . . . . . . . . . .162 2 Celebrity Cruises . . . . . . . . . . . . .134 5 Holland America Line . . . . . . . . . .171 3 Costa Cruises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .152 PrinsendamDrops By . . . . . . . . . .178 02_58846x_ftoc.qxd 8/23/05 11:55 PM Page v CONTENTS v 6 Imperial Majesty Cruise Line . . . . .190 9 Oceania Cruises . . . . . . . . . . . . . .225 7 MSC Cruises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .195 10 Princess Cruises . . . . . . . . . . . . . .231 8 Norwegian Cruise Line . . . . . . . . .201 11 Royal Caribbean International . . . .254 7 The Ultraluxury Lines 275 1 Crystal Cruises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .277 4 Seabourn Cruise Line . . . . . . . . . .305 2 Cunard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .288 5 SeaDream Yacht Club . . . . . . . . . .313 3 Radisson Seven Seas Cruises . . . . .296 6 Silversea Cruises . . . . . . . . . . . . .319 8 Small Ships,Sailing Ships & Adventure Cruises 326 1 American Canadian 8 Glacier Bay Cruiseline . . . . . . . . . .367 Caribbean Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . .329 9 Lindblad Expeditions . . . . . . . . . .374 2 Mini-Review:American 10 Maine Windjammer Cruise Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .336 Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .378 3 American Safari Cruises . . . . . . . .337 11 Mini-Review:RiverBarge 4 Mini-Review:American West Excursions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .390 Steamboat Company . . . . . . . . . .341 12 Mini-Review:Sea Cloud 5 Clipper Cruise Line . . . . . . . . . . . .342 Cruises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .391 6 Cruise West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .349 13 Star Clippers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .392 Like a Road Trip, but by Boat . . . .351 14 Windjammer Barefoot Cruises . . . .402 7 Delta Queen Steamboat 15 Windstar Cruises . . . . . . . . . . . . .415 Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .359 Part 3: The Ports 9 The Ports of Embarkation 426 Choosing a Chain . . . . . . . . . . . .427 10 Montréal,Québec . . . . . . . . . . . .478 1 Anchorage,Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . .427 11 New Orleans,Louisiana . . . . . . . .483 2 Baltimore,Maryland . . . . . . . . . . .432 12 New York City,New York . . . . . . .490 3 Boston,Massachusetts . . . . . . . . .437 13 Norfolk,Virginia . . . . . . . . . . . . . .498 4 Cape Canaveral & Cocoa Beach, 14 Philadelphia,Pennsylvania . . . . . .502 Florida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .443 15 Québec City,Québec . . . . . . . . . .509 5 Charleston,South Carolina . . . . . .450 16 San Diego,California . . . . . . . . . .515 6 Fort Lauderdale,Florida . . . . . . . .455 17 San Francisco,California . . . . . . . .522 7 Galveston,Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . .459 18 Seattle,Washington . . . . . . . . . . .529 8 Los Angeles,California . . . . . . . . .463 19 Tampa,Florida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .533 9 Miami,Florida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .472 20 Vancouver,British Columbia . . . . .538 02_58846x_ftoc.qxd 8/23/05 11:55 PM Page vi vi CONTENTS 10 The Caribbean,The Bahamas & the Panama Canal 543 1 The Cruise Lines’ 14 Key West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .594 Private Islands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .544 Deep-Sea Fishing in Key West . . . .596 2 Antigua . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .549 15 Martinique . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .597 3 Aruba . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .552 Martinique Golf Excursions . . . . . .601 4 Bahamas:Nassau & Freeport . . . .556 16 Nevis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .601 Bahamas Golf Excursions . . . . . . .561 17 The Panama Canal . . . . . . . . . . . .603 5 Barbados . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .562 18 Puerto Rico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .606 6 Belize . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .564 San Juan as a Port 7 British Virgin Islands: of Embarkation . . . . . . . . . . . . . .607 Tortola & Virgin Gorda . . . . . . . . .567 Walking Tour: Old San Juan . . . . .607 A Slice of Paradise: Puerto Rico Golf Excursions . . . . .612 Jost Van Dyke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .569 19 St.Barts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .613 8 Cozumel & the Yucatán 20 St.Kitts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .614 Peninsula . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .570 21 St.Lucia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .617 9 Curaçao . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .579 22 St.Martin/Sint Maarten . . . . . . . .620 10 Dominica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .582 St. Martin Golf Excursions . . . . . . .623 11 Grand Cayman . . . . . . . . . . . . . .585 23 U.S.Virgin Islands:St.Thomas 12 Grenada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .587 & St.John . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .623 13 Jamaica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .589 Montego Bay Golf Excursions . . . .593 11 Alaska & British Columbia 630 1 Cruising Alaska’s Natural 3 Juneau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .640 Wonders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .631 4 Ketchikan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .643 Glaciers: An Intro to the Ice . . . . .634 5 Sitka . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .646 Cruisetours—’Cause All Alaska 6 Skagway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .650 Ain’t on Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .637 7 Victoria,British Columbia . . . . . . .653 2 Haines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .638 12 The Mexican Riviera & Baja 656 1 Acapulco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .656 3 Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo . . . . . . . . . . . .662 2 Cabo San Lucas . . . . . . . . . . . . . .659 4 Mazatlán . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .664 Small-Ship Cruises in Baja’s Mazatlán Golf Excursions . . . . . . .667 Sea of Cortez . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .661 5 Puerto Vallarta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .667 02_58846x_ftoc.qxd 8/23/05 11:55 PM Page vii CONTENTS vii 13 Bermuda 671 1 Hamilton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672 3 Royal Naval Dockyard . . . . . . . . . .676 2 St.George’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .675 14 Hawaii 677 1 Oahu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .678 2 Kauai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682 If You’re Embarking 3 Maui . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .685 in Honolulu... . . . . . . . . . . . . . .680 4 The Big Island . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .688 15 New England & Eastern Canada 693 1 Bar Harbor,Maine . . . . . . . . . . . .694 3 Newport,Rhode Island . . . . . . . . .701 2 Halifax,Nova Scotia . . . . . . . . . . .697 4 Saint John,New Brunswick . . . . . .704 New England &Eastern Canada’s Smaller Ports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .698 16 U.S.River Cruise Routes 707 1 The California Wine Country . . . . .707 3 The Hudson River,Erie Canal 2 The Columbia & Snake Rivers, & Great Lakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .711 PacificNorthwest . . . . . . . . . . . . .709 4 The Mississippi River System . . . . .714 Index 718 02_58846x_ftoc.qxd 8/23/05 11:55 PM Page viii List of Maps Downtown Anchorage 429 Tampa 535 Baltimore 433 Vancouver 539 Boston 439 The Gulf of Mexico Cape Canaveral & Cocoa Beach 445 & the Caribbean 546 Charleston 451 Aruba 553 Fort Lauderdale 457 Nassau 557 Galveston 461 The Yucatán’s Upper Caribbean Coast 571 Los Angeles 465 Key West 595 Miami 473 Old San Juan Walking Tour 609 Montréal 479 The U.S. & British Virgin Islands 625 New Orleans’ French Quarter 485 Alaska 632 New York City 492 Sitka 647 Norfolk 499 Victoria 654 Philadelphia 504 Mexican Riviera & Baja 657 Québec City 511 Bermuda 673 San Diego 517 The Hawaiian Islands 679 San Francisco 523 New England & Eastern Canada 695 Seattle 531

Description:
A cruise is a complete vacation, so it's important that you choose the one that's right for you. Frommer's Cruises & Ports of Call is the most user-friendly, opinionated, and comprehensive guide you can buy before you set sail. We provide in-depth coverage on cruises departing from U.S. ports to the
See more

The list of books you might like

Most books are stored in the elastic cloud where traffic is expensive. For this reason, we have a limit on daily download.