How to choose the cruise that's right for you.

There's a lot at stake when you choose a cruise. And Unique Travel Concepts can help.

Selecting the right ship sets you on course to an exquisite vacation experience.

The wrong selection leaves you wondering why you wasted your precious time and money.  And that won't happen to you when you ask Unique Travel Concepts, with a Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Accredited Cruise Counsellor, to help you plan your cruise vacation.

More than 150 commercial passenger ships ply the world's oceans and rivers, each with its own ambiance and itinerary. During their years of service, most cruise ships develop distinct and appealing profiles, but recently inaugurated vessels with greater passenger capacity and the latest in high-tech trimmings have a lot to offer, too. With more choice, there's more promise -- and more confusion.

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Consider your priorities

First, consider your priorities. Is the ship's itinerary important, or are you more concerned with shipboard activities and ambiance? Do you want Las Vegas-style glitz and nightlife, or the elegance of polished wood and brass and exquisite service? Do you like to dress up for dinner or eat in casual style? Do you enjoy being among hundreds of vacationers or one of a small number on board? Do you want to be an escapist or have an educational experience?

You can get a good idea of what specific ships offer by looking through the brochures offered by the cruise lines.  Stop by our office, or call and ask to speak with our Accredited Cruise Counsellor, Gloria, (800) 879-8635.  Brochures provide glimpses of decor and typical passengers, and if you can picture yourself being comfortable in the brochure photos, you'll probably enjoy the real thing.

Cost is another consideration. Prices range from about $400 or less, for three-day excursions in modest accommodations to about $30,000 or more for three- or four-week cruises in lavish surroundings. The prices also vary with cabin category, ranging from small inside cabins with bunks to spacious suites with private verandas. All cruise prices include port charges, a huge variety of meals and on-board entertainment, and most include airfare to your port of embarkation and from the final port of disembarkation. Additional land arrangements, shore excursions and shipboard bar tabs and tips are extra. Before signing up, ask what is covered, and budget for extra expenses.

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Pick a category

Several categories of cruises appeal to different passengers. Of course, cruise lines resist categorization, and there's a lot of overlap. But here are several categories to consider:

Party cruises usually ply the Caribbean, Bahamas or the Mexican Riviera, stopping at a succession of beaches and shopping ports. The ships offer 24-hour sun and starlight activities, with sports events, theme parties, shows, cabaret and other entertainment, all-night dancing and nonstop dining. Carnival Cruise Lines can give you the party of a lifetime!

Family cruises have Caribbean, Alaska, Panama Canal or European itineraries.  Emphasizing on-board activities designed to provide fun and diversion for the entire family, a cruise is the perfect family vacation.  Supervised children's programs, organized for various age groups, feature sports, games and learning experiences. Supervised activities free the parents or grandparents for adult activities or for lounging on deck. Costa Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises and Disney Cruise Lines are leaders in this cruise category.

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Adventure cruises explore unspoiled scenery in exotic destinations, such as Antarctica, the Amazon or the South Pacific, often with educational or environmental-awareness programs featuring lectures by experts in local geology, biology, history and culture. Passengers transfer to remote shorelines in rubber dinghies. Nightlife and dress-up events are minimal. Ships sailing these itineraries often carry fewer passengers, giving them a more intimate shipboard ambiance. Special Expeditions offers exceptional adventure cruises.

Grand tour cruises sail to the world's most sophisticated ports for sightseeing and shopping, with calls frequently timed to coincide with special cultural events. The ships offer elegant dining, quality entertainment and pampering on-board spas. Grand Tour cruises are usually longer. Round-the-world itineraries, which may be booked in segments of various lengths, might include fascinating transits through the Suez or Panama canals, or long ocean crossings. Cunard Line, Holland America Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and Princess Cruises excel in the grand tour category.

Quiet escape cruises are perfect getaways for rest and relaxation in elegant, peaceful environments. Cabins and public areas are beautifully appointed, and the service is superb. Shore excursions are offered for those who want to explore ports of call, but many passengers simply stay aboard to enjoy the utter luxury of the ship. Crystal Cruises, Seabourn Cruises, and Windstar Cruises offer terrific sea escapes.

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Mediterranean cruises give sports fans, music, mystery, history and fitness buffs an opportunity to indulge their interests for a week or so while they and hundreds of their peers cruise the Caribbean or other waters. Norwegian Cruise Lines offers a variety of appealing theme cruises.

River cruises provide their passengers a different perspective to inland destinations. Cruises are available on American rivers and European rivers. Several cruise lines offer river cruises aboard sternwheel steamboats on the Mississippi, Ohio, Cumberland, Tennessee, Columbia, Snake, and Sacramento Rivers. Viking River Cruises offers cruises on many European rivers including the Rhine, Siene, and Danube, as well as the Black and Baltic Seas.

Making your decision

Recommendations are important. Unique Travel Concepts can give you their first-hand cruise recommendations. Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) publishes a brochure with information about member cruise lines, available free of charge, by calling Unique Travel Concepts at (800) 879-8635

Have you figured out what our hidden message is? Tell us what it is, book your travel with Unique Travel Concepts, and we'll give you a free photo album.

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