I often get asked when is the best time to book a cruise by readers for cheap cruises. The answer varies by the person and their needs but unless you are traveling with a group or have a specific itinerary or date, I always suggest waiting for wave season or booking right when they release an itinerary. Wave Season is a magical time between January and March (hmmm usually when people are receiving tax returns) where cruise lines and travel agents can offer the very best in promotions and prices. Seriously, it’s the time when you can get the best deals particulary on sailings in the next year. We are talking free perks such as onboard credit and upgrades! It’s unlikely you will find a better deal on price any other time of year.

It’s also a time where many people are looking to buy cruises because of the dreary winter weather and the need to get some sun! It’s the most popular time of year to purchase a cruise vacation. I can’t think of a more fabulous way to spend my tax return. The best way to get a good deal is talk to a travel agent specialiizing in cruises or sign up for your favorite cruiseline’s email alerts. Have a cruise coming up? Tell us about it! We are going on a mediterannean cruise in October!

Well stocked buffets, spotless state rooms, flawless dinner service- these are all the things you see and expirience while aboard a cruise ship on vacation. But unbeknownst to most behind those service doors is a well oiled machine of crew members and maintanence organizing everything from laundry and room service, to keeping the ship running smoothly and of course steering it in the right direction. Celebrity Cruises was kind enough to let us take a peek behind the scenes of what most cruisers don’t get to see and share with you some things you may not know about your floating vacation.

Officers at the Bridge

This is the Bridge where the Captain spends most of his time. The bridge serves as the navigational, command and control center of the ship.

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There is nothing like a cruise. I honestly believe it is the perfect vacation. Everything is taken care of. You don’t have to worry about what you are going to eat for dinner, when you are going to clean your room, rental cars, and hotels, or anything at all really. All you have to do is sit back, relax and enjoy yourself and the people you are with.

Sunset in the Inside Passage, Alaska

Last week we had the pleasure of forgetting our everyday world and enjoying an honest to goodness vacation. Sure we travel quite often, more so than the average couple with a baby, but I wouldn’t really classify them as vacations. They are still work dealing with all the rental cars, hotels, food, and sightseeing. It’s exhausting. But this time we just enjoyed each other’s company and the beautiful world around us.

It’s true that this wasn’t our first time to Alaska. And it most definitely won’t be our last.  As much as I love Hawaii, I think Alaska may have it beat as our favorite place to visit (I guess it’s only fair I give Hawaii another shot).  Anyways, we boarded our Celebrity Cruise and we were treated…well like celebrities! The staff was the most friendly, the service excellent and have I mentioned the food yet? Pretty much amazing! All my foodie friends are going to die when we post our Eating Around series from this cruise.

Anyways, here are of the highlights from this vacation:

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1) Worked out: I seriously gained eight pounds from my cruise, and it was only a three day cruise! But in all fairness I think some of those pounds were holiday pounds so it would have been nice to have lost those before I went so I would have looked my best

2) Gone tanning: I was whiter than snow on my cruise so instead of tanning, I was focused on not burning and getting my foundation tan. It would have been nice to have the base tan out of the way and been able to come back to show off a sweet dark complexion in January in Utah

3) Bought a cute sundress to wear on the ports: I forgot to do that and so I was stuck wearing capri pants and shirts while other women looked so comfortable in their flowing dresses

4) Bought sunscreen: I bought it on the cruise ship and it cost three times as much had I bought it at a grocery store

5) Remembered my sunglasses: It hurt to squint the whole time and I never found any cute enough to buy

Cruising is for everyone. Those looking for a budget vacation will have a great time on a cruise. Those looking for an extravagant posh vacation will have a great time on a cruise. Cruising is really for every kind of budget and lifestyle.

This was my first ever cruise- and I promise you that it will in no way be my last. We loved our cruise so much we put down a deposit for our next. It’s human nature to be wary of the unknown and so that is why I wonder why a lot of people who have never been on cruises don’t go while most cruisers have been multiple times. Look for a post by early next week on tips for first time cruisers where I give a healthy mix of my own tips and tips from a seasoned professional: Norwegian Sky Hotel Director Fillipo Bertuzzi.

For now here is a picture recap of my cruise. I hope you enjoy the pictures and know that I had the best time of my life. Cruising is the best way to truly relax on a vacation because you don’t worry about meals, traveling or money. You just kick back and enjoy the experience. I loved the freestyle experience of Norwegian Cruise Line and don’t think I’ll be able to do it any other way.

The pool on our cruise ship

 

View of Miami from the ship

 

Cruise ship in Nassau

 

Bahemian bus in Nassau

 

Taken at Christ Church Cathedral in Nassau

 

Christ Church Cathedral in Nassau

 

The Atlantis Resort in Nassau

 

The Norwegian Sky (our cruise ship)

 

*as always photo credit goes to the lovely Reid Fuller