I’ve just booked another cruise — a seven-day trip up and down the Arabian Gulf from Dubai in February — and it’s given me the opportunity to revisit the booking process and offer some, hopefully useful, tips.
As I’ve written before, it’s often more expensive for solo travellers to take cruises because a single supplement — let’s not call it a “no-friends tax” — often applies.
While some companies do offer no or low supplements on some sailings, sometimes you just have to pay full freight and, because my options were limited, that’s what I’ve had to do this time.
So my week away on Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas will cost me almost double what each individual would pay in a twin-share cabin.
Of course, the upside is that I get the cabin (and a large bed) to myself.
I’m also keen to check out the features of the Vision, which was built in 1998 and refurbished in 2013 to incorporate some of the features of much larger ships — including more dining options.
I like the Royal Caribbean vibe, and I will look forward to the entertainment program.
Also, they’ve changed the pricing plans for their internet offering, which is supposed to be among the fastest at sea. Rather than the very-limited-hours packages offered by some cruise companies, Royal Caribbean now offers unlimited internet access from US$11.99 a day for one device; $21.99 for two devices and so on up to $41.97 per day for five devices.
I will, of course, be blogging, tweeting, facebooking and instagramming the experience.
DOES THIS CRUISE YOU SPEAK OF TAKE PLACE ON A BOAT? ON THE SEA? WHAT AN IDEA!