900 Baychester Ave. Bronx, NY 10475     Tel: (718) 320-0011      Fax: (520) 303-9958    Email: info@stctours.com
  | 
          
        
       
      Everyone’s idea of a “good time” is different. That’s why cruises offer such a wide variety of destinations, activities, facilities, 
food and entertainment.
To imagine what it’s like on a cruise think of staying at a huge, first rate resort hotel… one that actually floats you to your 
destination while you enjoy fine dining, shows, music, dancing, movies, cultural events, sports,   games, an exciting Vegas-
style casino, and enough time to let yourself just peacefully “drift away” nto total relaxation while you breathe in the fresh sea 
air, soak up the sunshine or feel like the “center of the universe” as you lay back and quietly gaze at the stars.But wait! You still 
haven’t arrived at your destination… beautiful Bermuda, the Caribbean islands, Mexico, unspoiled Alaska, the incredible Panama 
Canal, Greece, Italy, France, the Orient… Sound boring? We doubt it. And, even if you visit several ports on your cruise, you 
only have to pack once.t
      
      Less than 10% of the U.S. population has never cruised before. However, industry surveyors show that nearly half 
of all adult Americans are planning to try it within the next few years. So, thatmeans there are almost 100 million 
“Cruise Virgins” out there getting ready to experience the vacation of a lifetime.
      
      
        
          
            Will I Get Bored On-Board?
  | 
          
        
       
      You can if you want to. On most cruises, breakfast, lunch and dinner are served at certain times each day (depending upon 
your preference for “early” or “late” seating). However, an abundant variety of food (from special diets to low-calorie entrees 
free 24 hour room service. So you never have to worry about missing a meal. Just ask anyone whose cruise before.
      
      Although you probably wont be spending very much time in your cabin it’s nice to know that standard-size staterooms on 
most modern Cruise ships are nearly as big as many typical hotel rooms (10’ x 15’ or larger).The ships themselves are 
considerably larger than most hotels; often as tall as a four or fiveStory buildings and extending the length of more than 2 
football fields (over 600 feet). So, rather than feeling confined, being on a ship will give you a sense of spaciousness and 
freedom you’ve probably never experienced before. And in most ports, you can walk off and on the ship as you please.
      
      
      Back in the early 1900s, there were two distinct classes of people on cruise ships: wealthy socialites who vacationed in first-
class luxury and poor European immigrants who made the trans-Atlantic crossing to the “new world” in the “steerage” section 
at the bottom of the ship. Not so surprisingly, some “Cruise Virgins”” still believe it’s like that. But nothing can be further 
form the truth!
No matter what impression you may have, all kinds of people take cruises… all ages and all backgrounds…singles, couples 
and families. Like a resort, it’s a cross-section of Americans getting away from their regular routine and enjoying the good life.
And, today’s cruise ships are “one-class”. All passengers can use any of the ship’s facilities and all enjoy the same service, 
menus, activities and entertainment.
Sure, there’s so much happening on a cruise all the time. But you only do what you want to do. Let yourself be completely 
pampered or go non-stop from morning till night. It’s your vacation!
      
      
        
          
            Don’t’ Some People Get Sea-Sick?
  | 
          
        
       
      
        
          
            What about Feeling Too Confined?
  | 
          
        
       
      In a 1996 survey titled “Sex at Sea” (conducted by Cosmopolitan magazine), 95% of the polled vacationers rated cruises as 
“extremely or very romantic” compared to land-based vacationsOver 80% said they felt more amorous at sea, with most 
passengers (58%) unable to wait more than 10 hours after getting on-board before “dropping anchor in a sea of love.” But 
don’t take their word for it…
      
      
        
          
            Is Cruising Really As Romantic As People Say?
  | 
          
        
       
      
      
        
          
            Won’t I Be ‘Cut-Off’ From The Rest of the World?
  | 
          
        
       
      
        
          
            Will I Have To Eat At The Same Time Everyday?
  | 
          
        
       
      Hardly just turn on the TV in your stateroom if you want to keep up with the news, the stock market, or watch a premium 
movie channel. Staterooms are also equipped with Telephones and many newer ships have e-mail terminals. So, you can 
certainly stay in touch with the outside world (but you may not want to).
      
      Today’s modern cruise ships are huge vessels with sophisticated on-board weather stations (to help them avoid storms) and 
elaborate stabilization systems. So, under normal conditions, you may hardly realize that you’re moving. However some 
people are hyper-sensitive to any movement and may experience temporary motion discomfort on a cruise ship (or on an 
airplane or in a car).Fortunately, there are several effective over-the-counter preventative medication that you can take if you 
There are also “Sea-Bands” which you wear on your wrist. They’re sold at pharmacies and most people who try them 
“swear by them”. Of course, if you want something even more potent, modern cruise ships have medical facilities with a 
licensed physician.
      
      
       Try answering this question for yourself. Name on major cruise ship disaster within the last 25 years. Sorry the  Titanic doesn’
t count (it hit that   infamous iceberg nearly 94 years ago in 1912). And, the SS Poseidon (from the movie “Poseidon 
Adventure”) was pure Hollywood make-believe. Give up? OK, then you probably should worry more about crossing the street 
or getting into a car. Ever hear of a Carnival “fun ship” hitting an iceberg?
      
      Cruising boast the highest satisfaction level of any vacation experience. And 90% of all people who try 
cruising for the first time do it again and again
      
      FIRST TIME CRUISING
      
      
        
          
            Thinking of taking your first cruise? You’re not alone! Here are some “hot tips” for “cold feet”
  | 
          
        
       
      Do Most “Cruise Virgins” Enjoy It Their First Time?
      
      Can I afford a cruise?
If you can afford to take a hotel-based vacation, you can afford to take a cruise vacation. There are cruises available at all 
price ranges - from budget to luxury - and all represent perhaps the best value for your vacation dollar.
Your cruise price includes your cabin, all meals (including the midnight buffet!), entertainment, parties and, of course, all 
transportation between all the ports on your itinerary. On most ships, alcoholic beverages and optional shore excursions are 
not included in the basic price.
What can I do on a ship?
That depends on the ship, but generally the larger ships will have the most activities. You may wish to lounge on deck by the 
pool with a good book, sign up for exercise or cooking classes, swim, play bingo or bridge, gamble in the casino, take in a 
Broadway-style floor show or a magician's act, enter a talent show or a putting contest, take a dance class, get a massage or 
attend a lecture.
Is airfare included in my cruise price?
Cruise lines usually offer both a cruise-only price and an AIR/SEA price that includes connecting airfare, transfers between 
the airport and ship and baggage handling. In some instances, only the cruise-only fare is available. The prices shown on our 
site are for cruise and air always..
What's a shore excursion?
That's a term that refers to anything you do off the ship, in port. At every stop, you'll have the option of exploring the area on 
your own or as part of a group with a planned itinerary. You might hike a tropical rain forest in the Caribbean, fish for king 
salmon in Alaska, tour Mayan ruins in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, or take a sightseeing tour.
Are all cruise ships the same?
Absolutely not. They range from yacht-like vessels with 100 passengers to towering megaships with huge atriums and a 
maximum capacity of over 3,000 people.
Will I need a passport?
All cruises now require proof of citizenship. On some itineraries, a certified copy of your birth certificate and a driver's 
license or government-issued photo I.D. are sufficient, on others a passport is required. Visas may also be required on the 
more exotic itineraries. Your cruise counselor will advise you on documents you will need depending on your itinerary
      
      
       
      STC Tours