Trip Advisor Pro

Dear Mr. Zizou,

I receive several hundred cruise-related questions every week from my readers so today, I'd like to share a few recent inquiries and answers.

But first, I wanted to let you know about an exclusive special we've negotiated with Holland America. Vacations To Go customers will receive shipboard credits of $50 to $175 per stateroom on select cruises and cruise tours in Alaska this summer. Book by June 5, click here for dates and prices.

Also, Azamara Club Cruises is offering our customers exclusive shipboard credits of $300 to $625 per stateroom when you book an oceanview, balcony or suite on select sailings. Book by June 3, click here for dates and prices.

Now, on to the Q&A:

Q: I would like to take advantage of more cruises given the great deals. However, I get seasick. I tried Dramamine, but it makes me sleepy, so I am constantly tired on a cruise.

I wanted to try one of those magnetic bracelets, but don't know how well they work. Have you ever heard of successful stories of people using these to avoid seasickness? Any other tips or strategies? Also, are you less likely to get seasick on bigger ships?

A: I love the motion of the sea, it relaxes me and tells me I have left the routine behind. With the stabilizer technology on cruise ships today, I frequently wish there was MORE motion out on the open water, but I still listen for announcements from the bridge before leaving each port on the itinerary, just in case there are rough seas ahead. I do have my tipping point.

All else being equal, a large cruise ship will have less motion than a small one but people who get seasick can still get sick on a ship of any size, so it's good to have a medication/treatment of choice and start it before you are experiencing motion sickness.

A wide range of products claim to relieve or prevent seasickness, from acupressure wrist bands to behind-the-ear patches (Transderm Scop is the brand name) and from drugs like Dramamine (Dimenhydrinate) to herbal concoctions or ginger. I know people who swear by each of them and in fact, different things do seem to work for different people. I can only tell you what works for me.

Like you, I started with Dramamine and found it highly effective but it made me groggy, particularly after a glass of wine. I switched to Dramamine Less Drowsy a few years ago, which is an entirely different drug (Meclozine) rather than a lighter dose of the same thing, and that's worked well for me -- no seasickness or side effects.

Two years ago, I crossed the Drake Passage (arguably the roughest stretch of water on the planet) en route to Antarctica in a force 10 gale for two days and nights, using Dramamine Less Drowsy and a pair of acupressure wrist bands thrown in for good measure (and the placebo effect). I had no problems, except finding someone to eat with in the dining room.

---

Q: I need to know what type of broadband is available onboard cruise ships, whether in public areas or in staterooms, and on what types of cruises. If it is available, I need to know the percentage of up time, speed and other particulars, especially how you can prove that it really is available, not just a claim for people who want to check e-mail once in a while and don't care if it's down or slow for a few days.

A: Virtually all ocean-going cruise ships offer Internet access in public areas and a high percentage offer access in staterooms, but no one tracks and provides the other information that you seek. Ships use a satellite connection to the Internet, of course, and that is slower than broadband connections on land. However, the technology and geographic coverage has improved dramatically since it was introduced and the majority of users find the speed is adequate for e-mails and browsing the Internet.

Viewing a You Tube video or downloading a large file will likely incur delays and may not always be possible, and no cruise line can guarantee Internet access at any particular moment in time. You probably should not be on a ship if you are planning to participate in a webinar or for any other reason cannot afford even a temporary loss of your Internet connection.

---

Q: What ever happened with the new Houston cruise ship terminal? There was a lot of hype when they were building it as being state-of-the-art, but apparently nobody wants to use it. Are any lines seriously considering using it or has it just been converted to a working port?

A: The state-of-the-art Bayport Cruise Terminal near Houston was completed in 2008 at a cost of $81 million, without the commitment of a single major cruise line to call there. The port was used by two Carnival ships for six weeks in the fall of 2008 after Hurricane Ike caused the temporary closure of the Port of Galveston, and officials hoped the exposure would give Bayport an opportunity to convince cruise lines to consider using the terminal in the future. That has not worked out at this stage, and with even more ships scheduled to depart from the Port of Galveston next year, I'm not aware that any cruise line is considering basing a ship at the Bayport Cruise Terminal.

---

Q: I was wondering which cruise ships are best for older teenagers? I would like to take my 18-year-old daughter and her friend on a cruise ship that offers dancing and other activities like movies and video arcades.

A: The bigger, newer ships will have more teens, more entertainment facilities and more planned activities for children of all ages as long as you travel during the summer, spring break or during Christmas/New Year's holidays. Organized programming for teens typically goes through age 17, but it's been my experience that older teens need structure less than young children, and they'll find a way to meet each other and have fun, even without special programs.

I'd recommend you choose your cruise based on the quality of the ship, the itinerary and the price, and don't worry too much about programs and facilities specifically for teenagers.

---

Here are all the best cruise deals worldwide in the next 90 days, organized by region:

Alaska
Alaska Cruise & Alaska Tour
Alaska Cruise & Canada Tour
Asia
Australia/New Zealand
Bahamas
Baltic
Bermuda
Black Sea
British Isles
Canada/New England
Canary Islands
Caribbean
Europe Cruise Tours
Galapagos
Greek Islands
Hawaii
Mediterranean
Mexico/Central America
Middle East
Northern Europe
Norway
Panama Canal
Repositioning
River Cruises
South America
Tahiti/French Polynesia
TransAtlantic

Here are all the best cruise deals worldwide in the next 90 days, organized by cruise line:

Azamara Club Cruises
Carnival
Celebrity
Costa
Crystal
Cunard
Disney
Fred. Olsen Cruise Line
Holland America
Hurtigruten
MSC Cruises
Norwegian
Oceania Cruises
Orion Expedition Cruises
P&O Cruises
Paul Gauguin Cruises
Princess
Pullmantur
Regent
Royal Caribbean
Seabourn
SeaDream
Silversea
Star Clippers
Swan Hellenic Cruises
Uniworld
Viking River Cruises
Voyages of Discovery
Windstar

Here are today's Top 10 Cruises, brand new specials from the world's best cruise lines. Click the FastDeal # for details.

1) Caribbean, 7 nights on Carnival, departs San Juan Aug 21, starting at $519, save 69%, FastDeal # 11145

2) Alaska, 7 nights on Celebrity, departs Vancouver Jun 17, starting at $549, FastDeal # 25563 (Celebrity does not provide brochure rates for this cruise, so we are unable to show a savings percentage.)

3) Caribbean, 7 nights on Norwegian, departs New Orleans Aug 7, starting at $669, save 48%, FastDeal # 18780

4) Alaska, 12 nights on Oceania Cruises, departs Vancouver Jun 17, starting at $2549, save 66%, FastDeal # 10695

5) Caribbean, 7 nights on Royal Caribbean, departs San Juan Jun 12, oceanview starting at $999, FastDeal # 12139 (Royal Caribbean does not provide brochure rates for this cruise, so we are unable to show a savings percentage.)

6) Black Sea, 9 nights on Azamara Club Cruises, departs Istanbul Jun 2, oceanview starting at $3649, save 51%, FastDeal # 14784

7) Mexico, 7 nights on Carnival, departs Long Beach Jun 12, starting at $649, save 61%, FastDeal # 14687

8) Canada/New England, 7 nights on Holland America, departs Montreal Jun 4, starting at $699, save 67%, FastDeal # 13227

9) Bahamas, 7 nights on Norwegian, departs New York May 28, starting at $699, save 50%, FastDeal # 10152

10) Mediterranean, 12 nights on Crystal, departs London Aug 2, oceanview starting at $5665, save 60%, FastDeal # 18052

For the best last-minute cruise specials in the next 90 days, click here.
To search for discounts on cruises departing more than 90 days from now, click here.
For escorted tours worldwide, or air/hotel packages to London or Paris, click here.
For hotels in the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii, Bermuda or the Bahamas, click here.
Para visitar a nuestro sitio web de cruceros en español, haga clic aquí.

Once you've found a FASTDEAL, call us toll free at 800-338-4962 (US and Canada) and a cruise counselor will attend to your needs. International customers, please e-mail or call us at +1-713-974-2121.

Please e-mail me your comments, suggestions and questions at alanfox@vacationstogo.com and I will respond the same day.

To send one sample copy of this newsletter to a friend, click here.

Sincerely,

Alan Fox
Chairman & CEO
Vacations To Go
5851 San Felipe Street, Suite 500
Houston, TX 77057

You are subscribed as davezizou@gmail.com. To update your e-mail address or to temporarily suspend, reduce the frequency of, or permanently cancel, these emails, click here. To ensure delivery of our newsletter, please add vtgmail@list.vacationstogo.com to your approved senders list. Here's how!