MSC Cruises Announces an Accessible Tours Program

MSC Cruises announced that they will roll out an accessible shore excursions program with tours available in 20 destinations across the Caribbean and Mediterranean.

These MSC  tours and excursions have been created with careful consideration for safety and accessibility, allowing all guests to explore each destination in total comfort, guaranteeing that:

• Tour routes are completely step-free

• Accessible to wheelchairs wherever possible

• Only short distances are covered

• Timings are run at a slower pace

• Accessible restrooms with wide doors are planned along the route

What’s Cookin’ in Carnival’s Kitchen?

Carnival Cruise Line has announced plans to debut a new hands-on culinary experience called Carnival Kitchen on the new Carnival Panorama when she launches in December. I have to be honest, I was a bit surprised! Cooking classes are an activity I equate with other cruise lines …like Holland America… not Carnival. But after thinking about it a bit longer I'm now thinking, wow I love that idea!  Why not?

The Carnival Kitchen program will offer more than 15 classes, mostly during sea days. Each class can hold up to 18 guests, and the price will range between $30 and $59. Sample Carnival Kitchen offerings will include:

Reasons to Arrive to Your Cruise a Day Early

Maybe I’m just a Nervous Nellie, but the thought of flying to my cruise embarkation port on the day of the cruise causes me to break into a cold sweat! I think all the agents here at Direct Line Cruises will always advise their clients to do the same thing. Here’s why…

Flight Delays

Possible flight delays are probably the number one reason to always try to arrive to your cruise port city early, preferable the day before.  I know it’s not my imagination in thinking that these days that flight delays are more prevalent than ever before. My husband flies domestically every week and I have become accustomed to text alerts from the airlines notifying me that his flight has been delayed…or worse, canceled. Best solution is to book your flight for a day earlier than your cruise. Then you are essentially building a buffer against the chaos flight postponements or cancellations can cause.

Family Reunions at Sea

You can’t flip your calendar over to November without thinking about the family gatherings ahead. Grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, cousins and dear friends! There’s no better time to suggest a family reunion and no better place to hold a family reunion than on a cruise ship. There are so many reasons why multigenerational cruising has never been more popular!

Economically speaking, cruising is a good fit for all budgets because there are so many variables that allow you to tailor the pricing to your group, allowing more people to attend. Since your choice of cruise line, departure port and cruise length will all affect pricing you can adjust these variables to find the perfect itinerary that everyone can afford. Plus, the inclusive nature of a cruise helps keep everyone on budget. There are no worries about who is going to pay for this dinner or that activity, given that almost all meals, entertainment and activities are included in the basic fare.