​Have you decided to go out of your usual vacation plans and now willing to try cruising for the first time? Great! All you need to do is make a reservation and put a deposit down. Now, while it’s logical to go ahead and browse thru the cruise line website and call the hotline or start booking online, how can you be so sure that you’re getting the best value for your money?

What if there’s another option to get the best cruise deals?
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Here’s a tip – book thru a Travel Agent. And here are some reasons why:

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Wow this is certainly a very different Martini Bar.  

Rather than being tucked away in a corner, the Edge Martini Bar is big (spanning three decks), bold (with its multi-story LED lights which are synchronized with music twice a night), sophisticated (with its elegance and style), and vibrant (it could easily be a bar in South Beach or LA).

As we use more and more gadgets, our need for additional sources of power grows. The limited number of power outlets on cruise ships has been a problem for years. The Celebrity Edge helps to address these needs with additional outlets throughout the stateroom. The decorative power box shown above gives you access to two 110 outlets and two USB power plugs for smartphones. Additional outlets and USB plugs were bedside in our Celebrity Suite.

With the launch of the Edge as it's newest class of ships, Celebrity seeks to throw out the mold and revolutionize the design of cruise ships. You'll notice these changes before you even board the Edge. The Edge is striking, bold, muscular, and yet elegant. Her stacks glisten in the sun like the tailpipes on a 60s muscle car.  Her bow is uncharacteristically straight to increase efficiency and cut through heavy seas, versus the sleek curve found on most ocean vessels. The brightly colored 90-ton Magic Carpet hovers in the air, offering a unique cocktail and dining experience as you float above the water's surface. The Edge's smooth flat windows of the "infinity balconies" create a smooth elegant exterior versus the bulky steel superstructure on most ocean vessels. The ship's asymmetrical design is evident throughout the ship as seen in the windows of the three story Eden restaurant and lounge, as well as in the jogging track which rises and falls between decks 15 and 16.

​As Baby Boomers and Gen Xers move more and more upscale in their cruise preferences, they are looking for a more relaxed cruise experience than previous generations. And it is really no surprise if you think about it. Baby Boomers railed authority in their protest during the 60s & 70s. They have sought more freedom and less rigidity.

So it is no surprise that the cruise industry is responding to this changing demographic and their preferences. Celebrity Cruises has responded by dropping "Formal Nights" for "Evening Chic," and sophisticated cruisers will appreciate this change.

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As the global oceans continue to warm, new polar cruise routes are opening and several cruise lines are offering new and exciting expedition voyages.  Now passengers can cruise from Seattle through the Northwest Passage from Seward, Alaska, to New York City. Crystal Cruises began these sailing about two years ago. Since then Ponant, Silversea, Lindblad, and Hurtigruten have begun sailing the passage. Cruises typically run 12 – 21 days.

​Up for a new adventure? Why not try river cruising? River cruising is now the fastest-growing sector in the cruise industry for very good reasons. And here we give you these thoughts so you can decide if you should be shipping out on a river the next time you plan a cruise trip.