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THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE HAS APPEARED IN THE RECORD May 8, 2002

The art of ocean cruising
on the cheap



Some of you may remember a column I wrote back in December 1997 entitled, "Majestic ships are like floating resorts". Like any trained lawyer, after only two cruises I was convinced I knew everything on the subject. Having recently completed my 6th cruise I now realize that my credentials are not all that impressive except perhaps when it comes to cruising on the cheap.

So what draws us back, year after year to ocean cruising? There are many reasons, among them the beauty of the open sea, the style and comfort of the huge ships, the opportunity to visit different countries, the good food and service, the occasion to meet new and interesting people and finally, cruising's economic value. Although this hardly makes me an expert, I thought you might be interested in a few of our observations and tips that have made our cruising experience more enjoyable and affordable.

How I was enticed into cruising

Although I have always enjoyed water sports and particularly sailing, it was only in 1995 that I actually got hooked on ocean cruising. Madeleine enticed me by making an offer I couldn't refuse - she paid for my cruise ticket to Bermuda. Up until then, with the exception of an all- inclusive holiday in the Dominican Republic in 1993, the idea of spending $1000 plus for a one-week holiday was simply not compatible with my priorities. I was far more interested in buying a used tractor or another horse then return home after a week with nothing to show except memories and pictures.

However, our first cruising experience turned out to be so enjoyable, including the two extra days that our ship was sand barred near Nantucket, that we never turned back.

Common excuses for not cruising

Aside the question of costs and seasickness, the most common reasons for not wanting to take an ocean cruise is the concern of becoming bored, feeling confined or of floundering in the open seas. Since I happen to be afraid of flying even though there is no rational justification, I would feel rather hypocritical if I tried to demonstrate that there is little if no danger in ocean cruising. As for being bored or confined, we have long since discovered that the problem is very much the opposite. Those of us who enjoy just ambling around the ship's decks and admiring the open sea, swimming, reading a good book and shooting the breeze with fellow passengers, rarely participate in more than five per cent of the ship's daily activities.

Forget the formal dress code

The dress code is another reason many avoid cruising. While there are those passengers who can't wait for the formal night or the captain's cocktail to wear their recommended tuxedo (even to the point of renting one) or a dark business suit, full-length evening gown or cocktail dress, we are definitively not among them. While we initially abided by the dress code out of respect for our fellow passengers with whom we shared the same dinner table, the policy has somewhat changed over the years. With so many available restaurants on board passengers, such as ourselves, can now bypass all of the formal occasions and never wear anything more than casual clothing.

This brings me to the dining room arrangements, which can be lots of fun, or a real pain, depending on whose table one is assigned to. Again, with the new policy of "anywhere and anytime dining" it is now possible to eat each night with different passengers, alone in a casual restaurant, on the deck or in one's cabin.

Economical but not cheap

Although cruising is economical, considering all that is included in the base price, it still isn't cheap. However, compared to most all-inclusive island or hotel- based vacations I'm convinced that it is a much better deal. Not only does it include all of the usual amenities of a hotel vacation, a cruise vacation has the advantage of providing day and night entertainment plus the opportunity of being transported to different countries without having to worry about packing and unpacking. Price wise, a seven- night cruise starts in the range of $1500. Cdn based on two full-fare passengers sharing the same inside stateroom and once the port charges, travel and cancellation insurance and tips are factored in.

Throw in air transportation, a few shore excursions at anywhere between $30 to $150 per tour, onboard services and purchases that are always extra, and you can count on having to pay another $600. Since the price of a cruise is in direct proportion to the quality, location and size of one's stateroom, we have learned to content ourselves with the cheapest one and then hope for an upgrade. Even with the least expensive inside cabins, modern super liners provide a bathroom, television, sufficient storage room and more often than not, a small wall safe and mini refrigerator. As we use our cabin for the sole purpose of sleeping, showering, resting and changing we try to make sure that our cabin is not situated under or near any noisy location, such as a theatre or casino. Keep in mind that an exterior cabin, with or without a balcony can double or triple the costs. Our first cruise to Bermuda in 1995 in an outside cabin cost us about double of what we paid last September for an identical inside cabin.

Price fluctuations are common. Take our recent 10-day cruise to the Panama -within three weeks of making our reservations; the price had increased by $500. per ticket. Being retired provides us with one major advantage -it allows us to be flexible on our departure dates. Transportation to one's ship is another important cost factor to consider. Except during the summer months when it is always possible to board a ship in Montreal, Boston or New York, the nearest and most popular winter ports are in Fort Lauderdale and Miami. Canadians are finding it increasingly cheaper to fly out of a US airport even if it means spending an extra hour of driving. Then again, there is just no way you can beat the Greyhound bus fare, which on our last cruise was $98. US for a return ticket to Fort Lauderdale.

While retirement allows us to surf through the many cruise web sites and seek out last-minute discounts we owe all of our success to our travel agent/ daughter, Cecile, who handles all of our bookings. Finally, for retirees who really want to ocean cruise on the cheap there are always positions available as guest lecturers or dance partners.