It’s been a minute since some of us have taken an Ocean Cruise. The last time cruises were big news it was about quarantines and testing. Well, we’ve taken two ocean cruises this winter and we’ve learned a lot of things have changed to make cruising vacations easier.

So What’s NEW?

Bad News Could Mean Better Prices

With all the negative attention during the pandemic, and with most of the people who shifted dates from canceled cruises having completed those cruises in 2022, occupancy is available again, and I’m personally seeing price specials for cruises coming into my inbox.

Expedition cruises that are usually taken by retired folks seem to be offering specials, so although it may not be the sort of ocean cruise you imagined with water slides and buffets, but this might be a good time to book an expedition cruise Galapagos, Costa Rica, Iceland or Alaska on a smaller ship.

Ocean cruises that typically catered to older adults, some of whom are still reluctant to travel, are also showing special prices and availability for 2023 and 2024. Check for good prices on longer cruises that are usually popular with retired people, including repositioning cruises.

If you want shorter ocean cruises on the newest family style ships at popular holiday and vacation times, You’ll find a bit more competition and possibly higher prices for those! younger folks and families are anxious to travel together again.

Most of the Covid Testing/Vaccination requirements have been eased

I’m sharing what I’ve learned, generally, talking to travelers on many different brands of ocean cruises, and from my own experiences. When it comes to health and safety, always refer to the Cruise Contract you sign for the cruise line you are sailing!

Nearly all of the major cruise lines have relaxed pre sailing testing requirements, and many have also eliminated vaccination requirements. This makes it easier to book a last minute cruise or invite a group to cruise. A few ports, including Columbia are still requiring testing, so be sure to check your itinerary and the requirements for each port. Also, many cruises repositioning their ships across the Atlantic and Pacific still requiring testing to avoid outbreaks on board during long stretches at sea.

There’s An App For That!

Most of the major cruise lines have introduced an app where you’ll set up an account and enter your pre-cruise information and can book your activities and pay for excursions or extras like specialty dining and drink packages.

Once on board, many of them will allow you to message others in your party through ships wifi without having to buy an internet package on board.

The app will also list all the venues for dining available and list activities and shows happening on board.

Safety Drills Are Safer and Easier

Most cruises adopted relaxed rules about the traditional “Muster Drill” during the pandemic. Now cruises are allowed to let passengers access safety information, such as what to do with the kids, what the emergency horn sounds like and how to put on the PFD right on their app and then passengers just have to take a trip to their muster station at their leisure to be “checked out” by a safety officer. Instead of gathering all the passengers in one place at one time, this flow of passengers at their own convenience prevents crowding, and is far more convenient for passengers.

But beware- those who don’t show up to check in with the safety officer will be compelled to attend a compulsory safety meeting during the first day of the cruise, which will not be at the passengers convenience!

More Classes and Categories to Choose From

Feels like there are now dozens of choices in cruise ship cabins now. Categories in the past were based n whether the cabin was “inside” with no window or view, has a window/port hole or “ocean view” or “ocean view balcony” which means it had a private balcony. Today, ships are being built with all kinds of cabin categories, which include interior view balconies overlooking courtyards, virtual balconies with a huge monitor that streams the outside view, smaller single cabins for solo travelers and family suites with extra bunk rooms attached. All of these are designed to meet the needs of the diverse group cruising today, but it also makes pricing a cruise a little more challenging. The first price advertised will always be the interior cabin, and once you start looking at all these other categories prices will rise.

During the cruise ship building boom, a robust middle class was finding cruising for the first time, and ships were designed as one big egalitarian experience. Today, cruise lines have discovered they can create classes and special experiences that they can be more profitable. So you’ll see experiences, that were previously only available to people who purchased large suites, such as priority boarding, spa access, special dining, butler services or theater seating being added to what were previously “regular” cabins in order to charge more for the experience. If you read what is “added” on, often it’s of no extra cost to the cruise line- reserving some seats in a theater, or setting aside a dining room, but you’ll be paying more for those amenities. That devalues the suites on board who are now “sharing” those amenities with people who didn’t buy a suite, and it also makes the experience less comfortable for people who don’t choose to upgrade by crowding dining rooms, extending boarding times, and less choices of seats at the theater. So decide for yourself if those amenities are worth it for you. I also suggest working with a cruise specialist who has experience with many ships and can tell you if it’s worth upgrading for the amenities you’ll get.

See our list of preferred travel advisors here

You don’t have to sail with crowds to have a great cruise

You can have an amazing cruise on a large ship, they are specially designed to spread crowds around the ship by offering varied activities to a divers group of cruisers. Smaller ships offer a more intimate experience and the ability to get into out of the way and remote places. Choosing the right ship for the destination and experience you want is the most important part of planning your cruise!