Web Cruising - using Internet to access cruise travel services and information - Brief Article - Column

Surfing The Internet Is A Great Way To Gather Cruise Info Without Getting Your Feet Wet

If "getting there is half the fun," as the old saying goes, then half the fun of cruising the high seas might be cruising the Internet first. It seems like everything a prospective cruiser needs to know--and everything one didn't even know one needed to know--can be found on a cruise line's web site.

Curious about what the weather is in port? Looking for information on shore excursions? Want to request a copy of a brochure? Need to rent a tuxedo onboard the ship? Hungry for listings of the room service menu? Searching out last-minute specials? Curious about what the casino looks like?

All these questions and more can be answered at the various web sites, although not all of them are addressed at each one. As Internet usage grows (from a humble beginning in 1994 of about 3 million users to more than 100 million Americans on-line today), cruise lines are adding automation and services to their home pages to keep site surfers informed, entertained, and interested.

Although many futurists have predicted that businesses would become totally computerized, this hasn't happened to the cruise industry yet. While many cruise lines received a check in the box marked "Booking Assistance" in the following chart, only a few, such as Disney Cruise Line, actually allow a passenger to type in credit card information and book a cruise themselves. More likely, a prospective cruiser can reserve a booking or put in a request that a cruise line representative establish contact. Some sites post listings of travel agents by area, others request a person's zip code, and still others refer the inquirer to a searchable travel-agent database.

Ordering gifts and services on-line is another area that hasn't been fully developed yet. Most sites will post listings of bon voyage gifts or videos, but then refer the cruiser to a toll-free phone number to actually order. But American Hawaii Cruises, for example, allows the curious to order videos on-line. And while some cruise lines offer some information about shore excursions and others list details and pricing, Princess Cruises actually allows a passenger with a booking number to pre-reserve specific activities.

Almost all the cruise lines, however, do offer a special form that allows interested parties to request a brochure, and some have downloadable or printable information available at the click of a mouse. Most of the others indicate a phone number to call to request a brochure. Similarly, passengers can register on the web site to receive e-mail notification of upcoming specials. Some cruise lines even post last-minute deals available only on the Internet, although many try to include at least some sort of general pricing information.

This chart, then, can help serve as a compass to guide you through the often choppy seas of what a web site has to offer. While the beauty of the Internet is that information can be changed and updated in minutes, it also means that things that were on a site yesterday may be gone today, and things that were missing may be added tomorrow. The easiest way to find something is to check to see if the home page has a "site map" or "site index." Going to the site map will provide an outline of all the topics covered, avoiding the need to click through link after link in search of elusive information. Another quick way to find what you're looking for is by discovering the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) section, which attempts to answer the most common questions cruisers have. Even these tips might not be enough to lead you to what you're looking for--some information is buried so deep, and not included in the site map or on home page listing, that it might not even be indicated on the accompanying chart.

One last hint: Make sure to look for "fun stuff," "cool stuff," or "extras." It's there that you'll be able to download screensavers, wallpaper, pictures, and logos, as well as view on-line movies and virtual tours. These extras allow you to follow a map to find out where the Commodore Cruise Line ship is right now; see a 360-degree view of public rooms aboard Regal Cruises; browse through items you might order when onboard Star Clippers' sailing ships; download pictures of Carnival or Costa cruise liners.

Keep in mind, though, that these extras come with requirements, so you must either have certain plug-ins, such as Real Player or Shockwave, or download them before you can see some of these extras. Downloadable brochures usually require installation of Adobe Acrobat, available on-line. While newer computers may already have these features, many computers with older operating systems may not be able to handle them.

So before you set sail on an ocean voyage, go ahead and enjoy half the fun of getting there by cruising the World Wide Web. You'll be amazed what you can learn. You might even discover that the origin of the quote "Getting there is half the fun" is attributed to Cunard Line.

Regular contributor Sally J. Maisel is the editor of Cruiseflash.com, an on-line web site focusing on cruise news and information.

COPYRIGHT 2001 World Publishing, Co. (Illinois)
COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group