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If you are a first-time cruiser or looking for some general information about
cruising, here are 3 Easy Steps to select the best cruise ship and cabin
for you:
1. To Start, here are some hints on:
2. Next, here are 6 Key Questions:
3. Now, Go to our Cruise Database for Ships, Sailings
and Itineraries, and our Book Me page for Reservations, Cruise Availability
and Price Quotes:
Cabins
Where your cabin is located onboard ship can be an important decision. Here are the guidelines you should consider: Inside vs. Ocean View | 
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There are two basic "kinds" of cabins, Ocean View (also called "Outside" cabins) and Inside cabins.
Ocean View cabins are located on the outside wall of the ship, as shown in pink here, and have a window so one can view the ocean. Inside cabins are located inside the corridors of the ship and have no windows. | | Be aware that windows on ships can vary from port-hole size to full length picture windows affording a spectacular view. The choice between an Inside or Ocean View cabin depends on your personal preference and budget. Here are things to consider: | | 
Inside Cabins
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Ocean View Cabins
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| Inside cabins are less expensive than Ocean View cabins as in the deck plan shown above. | |
| Having a view from your cabin of passing tropical isles or massive glaciers while lounging, dressing or romancing is a special treat. | | | | | | |
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| On newer ships Inside cabins are usually identical in size to standard Ocean View cabins. | |
| There is greater variety and selection among Ocean View cabins ranging from standard cabins to Deluxe Suites. | | | | | | |
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| Passengers in Inside cabins are afforded all the same ship's amenities as passengers in Ocean View cabins while taking advantage of price savings, | |
| There are categories of cabins on newer ships that include your own Veranda affording privacy while passing spectacular scenery. | | | | | | |
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| Without daylight, one can wake up and not know if it's morning or the middle of the night, or what the weather is outside. | |
| Would you like a Butler? Some Deluxe Suites include 24-hour butler service. | | | | | | |
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| There are two possible features of inside cabins which you should know about before hand:
 Some inside cabins may have upper & lower berths.
 Some older ships have some real closet-sized inside cabins. | |
| Not all Ocean View cabins are truly ocean view. All ships have Coast Guard-required life boats. These must hang along the sides of the ship, usually up high and can sometimes obscure the view from some Ocean View cabins. Travel-By-Net makes you aware of this when booking. However, these cabins are less expensive. | | Cabins - Location, Location, Location Next, you must consider the location on board ship. Like a hotel, a ship can be 10 or more decks (floors) tall. Unlike a hotel, however, the public rooms, restaurants, theatres, lounges, pool, library, spa, and other entertainment facilities are interspersed with the passenger cabins. 
This illustration is not meant to show you fine detail. Visit our Ship
View page for detailed deck plans of many ships or you can see
more about the Grandeur
of the Seas, specifically.
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| The pastel colored areas are passenger cabins. |
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| The clear areas are public rooms. |
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| The different colors on the deck plan (above) represent different cabin Categories. |
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| A different price is assigned to each Category. |
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| With very few exceptions, there is no difference in the services offered to passengers based on their cabin. That is, there is no First class, Second class, etc. All passengers have access to all facilities on board ship. The exceptions may include special services offered to those who occupy Deluxe Suites, such as butler service and access to a special dining room. | | | | | | What to consider
about the cabin Location | Effect on Price |
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| Notice the Bridge & Commodore Decks are below the public areas on the Compass and Sun Decks and above the public areas on the Mariner and Promenade decks. This location makes them more convenient and more desirable especially if you have any difficulty walking. | More expensive |
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| | Some cabins are closer to Stairways and Elevators. This is a convenience for those who don't want to walk too far to the public decks. For others, the added traffic in these areas might be a distraction. | | 
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on cabin cost. |
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| | Some cabins are closer to Midship. | | 
| | On older ships, midship is preferred because there is less of a sensation of "rocking" should seas become rough. On newer ships, which have highly sophisticated computer controlled stabilizers, there is rarely any rocking, so a midship location is more a matter of convenience to public rooms both forward and aft. | | No effect
on cabin cost. |
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| The cabins on the B Deck are exactly the same as the standard cabins on the A and Main decks. | Lower decks
are less expensive |
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| Inside and standard Ocean View cabins are often identical. | Inside is less expensive |
"Guaranteed"
Bookings
One way you can get more than you paid for is to accept a guaranteed booking. Simply stated, you pay for one category of cabin and could be assigned a more expensive category. You won't get a suite, but you may be placed a deck or two higher than the cabin you'd get otherwise. Here are the rules:
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| You are guaranteed a cabin on the ship in a specific category or better at the price specified at time of booking. | | 
| What you give in exchange for the better cabin is the cruise line's right to assign you to any cabin in that category. Categories are indicated on the deck plan as cabins of the same color. |
Berths
& Beds
There are some very important things you must know about the size and placement of beds in your cabin. A cabin may have: |
| Two lower beds that cannot be moved. | |
| Two lower beds that can be converted (moved together) to form a queen-sized or king-sized bed. | |
| One queen-sized bed. | |
| One double-sized bed (larger than twin, smaller than queen). | |
| One lower bed on the floor and a pullman upper berth (upper/lower berths). | |
| Third and fourth berths in a cabin may be a convertible sofa bed or upper berths. | The choice is yours. We provide you with the ability to indicate if you must have a king-sized bed or prefer separate beds, etc. You will always know the kind of beds in a cabin before you make a commitment. We want you to be happy. What's an upper berth?
Like the top bed of a bunk bed, the upper berth is accessible by a ladder. It is a bed with the same mattress as the lower bed. There is a restraining bar to keep you from rolling out as well as to remind you that you should look before you leap, should you awaken in the middle of the night. Upper berths will fold up against the wall during the day to get them out of the way.
Dining
Room Seating
Two Dining Times For Each Meal
Most ships have two sessions, called Seatings, for each of the dining room meals, Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. This does not affect buffets and meals served poolside or in the ship's cafes. These dining room seatings are called Main (or First or Early) and Second (or Late). The meals are identical in every regard except the time at which they are served.
Table for 2, 4, 6, 8 or 10
Dining room seating on most ships is assigned seating. You are assigned a table and you have your breakfast, lunch and dinner at that same table enjoying the services of the same waiter and bus boy throughout your cruise. You can request a table for 2, 4, 6, 8 and sometimes 10. If you are a couple, a table for two means you will dine alone. However, if you choose a table for 4, 6, 8 or 10 then you will be seated with other people. Most find dining with shipmates, whom they did not know prior to the cruise, leads to interesting conversation and many long-time friendships and travel-mates have resulted.
Meals
Here we present you with a general discussion of when meals are served aboard ship. We can't be specific because of the large variation among cruise lines and individual ships. It's safe to say that you can get some food at any time you'd like. Here are a list of the meal and snack times offered by most cruises (times and durations are approximate): |
| Sunrise Continental Breakfast | 6:30AM - 7:30AM | |
| Buffet Breakfast | 7:30AM - 10:00AM | |
| Dining Room Breakfast Seatings | 7:30AM & 8:45AM | |
| Mid Morning Bouillon | 10:30AM - 11:00AM | |
| Luncheon Buffet | 12:00PM - 2:30PM | |
| Dining Room Luncheon Seatings | 12:00PM & 1:30PM | |
| Afternoon Tea | 4:00PM - 5:00PM | |
| Dining Room Dinner Seatings | 6:00PM & 8:30PM | |
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Midnight Buffet or Snacks
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| Room Service | Often 24 hours a day |
Special
Meals
For the most part, special dietary requirements can be met onboard ship. If you have any special requirements, we will check the specific cruise for you. Here are some guidelines: |
| A large assortment of gourmet "Health-Wise" dishes are now available as part of the normal fare onboard most ships. | |
| Vegetarian, low-salt and low-cholesterol meals must be ordered in advance. |
Buffets, poolside grill and café meals may not include all these choices, but there is always a great selection of fresh fruits and vegetables available for the healthy lite-bite. There are a few meals that must be prepared off-ship and packaged prior to sailing. These include: |
| Kosher meals | |
| Gluten-free meals | |
| Other special medical diet meals | Be advised that many cruise lines require as much as a 30-day notice in order to ensure the availability of these meals for you.
Special meals should be ordered at time of booking. A selection is available
on our Book Me page.
Smoking
Most cruise ships have non-smoking policies or designated non-smoking areas in dining rooms, theatres and public rooms. Smoking lounges, and with the growing popularity of cigar smoking, cigar-bars are also available on some ships. There is even one cruise line that has built a totally smoke-free ship. Non-smoking ships will prohibit smoking even on the outside, open deck areas.
Flight
Arrangements
Depending on where you live, and from which port you would like to cruise, you may have to fly to and from the ship. You have some choices: |
| You can use the cruise line’s Air/Sea option. Some cruise lines and sailings afford you reduced airfare for your flights to the ship. Travel-By-Net can check at the time you book and let you know if you’re better off making your own arrangements or using the cruise line’s. | |
| Your flights can be arranged independently from the cruise line. Travel-By-Net can also book those flights for you because we are a full service travel company. | |
| The cruise line will provide meeting service and transportation (transfers) between the airport and the ship. These are included in the air/sea package. In many cases they can be purchased separately if you choose to make independent flight arrangements. | Whether you choose to use the cruise line's flights or travel on your own, stay-overs at your departure and return posts can be arranged for you by Travel-By-Net. Pre- and Post-Cruise Stay-Overs
If you are flying to your cruise, the port from which you depart, or to which
your cruise returns, can be an interesting and fun addition to your cruise.
You can choose to arrive a few days earlier than your cruise or stay-over a
few days later. Travel-By-Net can arrange for hotel, car rental
or local tours & excursions as an exciting add-on to your cruise experience.
In fact, more of the cruise lines are offering many interesting pre- or post-
excursions that can be booked with your cruise.
Check the "Tell Me About Pre- and Post-" on our booking form.
Date
Flexibility
By providing Travel-By-Net with some date flexibility, we
can find a departure near your preferred sailing date that can save you money
and provide you with your preferred options. Of course, if your preferred date
is the best, we’ll let you know that too.
Go to our Cruise Book
Me page
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About Us
Breakfast:
7:30AM
Lunch:
12:00 Noon
Dinner:
6:00PM 
Breakfast:
8:45AM
Lunch:
1:30PM