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

738 Pages·2005·7.96 MB·English

by  Heidi Sarna

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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
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Wiley and the Wiley Publishing logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of John
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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
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Manufactured in the United States of America
5 4 3 2 1
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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