You will find great deals when cruising during early December, with ships sailing to the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Hawaiian Islands, Australia, South America, Panama Canal, and even to Antarctica.
Large cruise lines offer great deals when repositioning their ships from Europe to the Caribbean during the winter months. Keep in mind when booking a repositioning cruise, you will start and end your cruise at different ports, meaning, you will have to purchase separate flights to and from each port.
Tip:
Places such as Alaska, Canada, New England, and the Baltics are only operated during warmer months.
If you can cruise at off-peak times during the winter months, you won’t have a line at the buffet, no need to search for a deck chair by the pool, no problem getting a reservation at the spa to spoil yourself, or to enjoy all the amenities on board.
Weather might be an issue when cruising in the winter. Not only at your holiday destination, but also at home. Depending where you live, you might have to deal with blizzards, snow storms, heavy rainfall, or strong winds, which might affect your drive to the airport or delay your flight.
Tip:
Give yourself extra time to get to the airport or port. Check for delays or cancellations for your flight and cruise!
Cruise ships usually leave from interesting places, so why not give yourself an extra day before or after the cruise to enjoy the town as well. Stroll through the streets of Barcelona, take in the sights of Sydney, or enjoy the beaches in Honolulu.
Tip:
Check your cruise line if they offer excursions at your departure port.
When cruising in cooler locales like Europe, some of the land excursions offered during the summer months might not be available during the winter months because they aren’t suitable for chilly weather. On the other hand, you might get to visit some of the beautiful Christmas markets in Europe, if you cruise in December.
Tip:
Make a list of all your destinations and check the weather forecast.
Packing clothes for a winter cruise is a little bit different than packing for a summer cruise. Even if you cruise to a warm destination, the wind could be stronger, there might be more rain, or the AC on board is on. Bring a hoodie or a sweater to cover up and dress in layers – pack things you can mix and match.
Tip:
Don’t forget an umbrella for a river cruise in Europe, or for any destination with a rainy season during the winter months.
No matter what your destination will be, if you have never been on a cruise before, it might be a good idea to start with a cruise that lasts around 3-4 days. Cruise lines such as AIDA, Carnival, TUI, and many others offer 3 day cruises, which is a great way to ease into cruising. With a 3-4 day cruise you will get to experience how it feels to be on such a huge ship. Go to all the different restaurants and bars, head to the shops on board, or attend shows and all the other exciting events that are being offered.
Cruise lines offer complete vacation packages. You can book a flight to the departure port and your cruise package. Always compare prices when booking transportation to the cruise ship. Booking your cruise and flight together, doesn’t guarantee it will be cheaper than booking it separately. If you do not reside within driving distance to the departure port, it might be a very good idea to arrive a day prior to your cruise departure. Flights can be delayed or canceled, due to weather or technical issues and you don’t want to miss your cruise!
Most cruise ships arrive early in the morning for your debarkation, but keep in mind the ship has to clear customs and you have to go through immigration and customs as well.
Tip:
Book your departure flight accordingly and allow enough time to get to the airport.
Cruise lines have different regulations, so make sure to check how much luggage is allowed. If you are going on a 3-5 day cruise, one suitcase and one hand carry-on item should be enough per person. If your cruise is 5 days or more and you want to have your own fashion show on board, attend gala dinners, theater shows or just want to dress up, you should probably pack two bags.
Tip:
Check your cruise line’s recommendations for dinner attire beforehand.
Let’s talk about roaming charges on your ship. Cruise ships offer internet packages, some starting at $20/day and on some cruise lines you must purchase the package for the full length of your cruise. If you want a one-time 24-hour internet pass, it will be even more expensive. There are different plan options, such as video calls and social media only, or full packages to include streaming movies and music. Each cruise ship company has their own plans and packages, check ahead of time to compare options.
Great news! The eSIM from Red Bull MOBILE is available on cruise ships and ferries with the Telenor Maritime package. Please note, this package will only work on cruise ships and ferries. To purchase a land package please select the destination where you travel to.
Purchase an eSIM from Red Bull MOBILE Data and never worry about running out of data on your cruise again!
So, how does it work to get data on your cruise ship and avoid roaming charges?
It works with an eSIM from Red Bull MOBILE for land packages and Telenor Maritime for cruise ships and ferries.
Red Bull MOBILE is an app-based data plan for travelers. With the use of eSIM, it allows you to surf from anywhere around the globe. Whether you’re sightseeing, base jumping, climbing, or in fact cruising.
That means you never again have to worry about running out of data for your internet connection wherever you might travel, when you need it the most or about unexpected fees and invoices.
All you have to do is download the app, register, search for – or scroll down to your destination or the Telenor Maritime option, and purchase your package. Please note, the Telenor Maritime package will work on cruise ships and ferries only! To purchase a land package please select the destination where you travel to.
Set-up instructions for Android devices can be found here.
Set-up instructions for iOS devices can be found here.
In order to ensure proper functionality, you should purchase and install the eSIM before you start your trip or board your cruise ship. You will need a steady internet connection to set up your data plan, therefore it would be advisable to have your plan set up where you have a strong internet signal. The packages are valid for 30 days after activation. When you’ve used up 80% of your data, we’ll let you know — so you won’t get stuck without any data. You’ll get another notification once your data has finally run out.
In the Red Bull MOBILE App you will also see how much data you have already used.
Where does the Telenor Maritime package work?
The Telenor Maritime package currently works on these ships and ferries.
Tip:
You should switch off data roaming for your primary SIM card to avoid roaming charges. Since streaming movies, videos and TV shows use a lot of data, it is advisable to download these ahead of time to minimize data usage.
Get the eSIM from Red Bull MOBILE Maritime package to avoid expensive roaming charges and enjoy your cruise!
