Cruises/Questions Answered by Expert Patricia Babischkin
| Subject | Date Asked |
| CRUISES HARD TO FIGURE OUT BEST ONE | 7/27/2010 |
| Q: We would like to take a cruise or a vacation but do not know what is best. We will be visiting our ... A: The closest ports to Raliegh are going to be Norfork,VA and Charleston,SC. However, Carnival sails ... | |
| MSC/Poesia | 4/29/2010 |
| Q: I have been on 20 cruises-...Princess/Carnival/RC/Celebrity/NCL/HAL.....I have never sailed MSC & ... A: Cheryl: You have hit on exactly the biggest problem travel agents have with MSC. I've got very few ... | |
| River Cruise | 4/17/2010 |
| Q: My wife and I want to take a River Cruise in Europe. First timers. We're in our 50's, but healthy & ... A: Roger: I think you might have answered your own question. If this is your dreamtrip, why wouldn't ... | |
| Age question | 5/27/2009 |
| Q: I would like to go on a cruise with my boyfriend, who is 33 and my friends who are both 24. I, on ... A: The short answer is yes. You will need to check the age policy of the line you are considering, but ... | |
| Time between flight and cruise departure | 5/24/2009 |
| Q: My husband and I are thinking of doing a Cruise with Costa Cruises from Hong Kong. Our flight from ... A: I would double check with who you booked the cruise with. Every cruise line has a guideline as to ... | |
| NY to Dover sea crossing, passenger uses wheelchair | 4/28/2009 |
| Q: Patricia. I use a power wheelchair to get from A to B and I'm finding the 8 hour flight from my ... A: Depending on your timing, this is completely feasible. On the Queen Mary 2, the crossing takes 6 ... | |
| First Time Cruiser | 4/19/2009 |
| Q: My wife, stepson, and I(3 adults for 7 days) will be going on a first time cruise end of June to ... A: First, forgive my delay -- I was away and forgot to tell All Experts of my trip. You have many ... | |
| Renaissance | 4/4/2009 |
| Q: I am planning a 10th anniverary cruise for my wife and I back to the Greek Isles. We originally did ... A: Please forgive my delay in answering -- I was away and forgot to tell All Experts of my trip. ... | |
| NIGHT OWL CABIN | 4/1/2009 |
| Q: We traveled last summer on Carnival, and up till this cruise we'd been very satisfied. This time, ... A: I'm sorry that you got stuck in an unwanted Night Owl cabin. I note that you were using cruise ... | |
| Shuttles to and from Port of Miami/ FLL | 3/3/2009 |
| Q: My friend and I are flying out to Florida for a week and we have a rental car for 5 days. We are ... A: Susan: I would check two things. 1. Can you return the car to the Miami airport? This would make ... | |
| age requirement | 1/27/2009 |
| Q: i'm planning a trip with a few of my friends, we are 18-19 years old. is there any cruise line we ... A: I believe that the US marketed cruise lines all require the drinking age to be 21, regardless of ... | |
| Cruise deals | 1/21/2009 |
| Q: Patricia, In late April me brother and I am going to Florida to see our father who lives an hr from ... A: Chris: Yes, there are great rates available, but they are not the kind where you just show up to ... | |
| Birthday Cruise | 10/2/2008 |
| Q: i would like to plan a cruise for my 30th birthday for myself and 7 to 8 friends. I would like some ... A: I'm sorry this is so delayed. The answer to your first question is easy, all cruise lines ask for a ... | |
| Bermuda Cruise | 9/5/2008 |
| Q: Next summer my wife and I want to take a cruise to Bermuda and we had some questions about ships and ... A: Andrew: July, August and September are all within Hurricane Season and thus storms are possible in ... | |
| cruise dining table size | 8/29/2008 |
| Q: We like tables for two while dining on cruise. We have been on Norwegian and Princess and they have ... A: Most cruise lines offer tables of two, on request. I know I've personally seen them on Cunard, ... | |
| Selecting Travel Agencies | 8/14/2008 |
| Q: I am trying to select a cruise company for a cruise to Alaska. The problem I am having is finding a ... A: Vic: The short answer is yes, taxes and fees can be that much. It isn't odd these days to see a ... | |
| Types of rooms | 3/13/2008 |
| Q: Babischkin, we are a family of four (2 adults and 2 children 9 & 10 yo) and are considering a ... A: Pam: Mexico can be a great cruise for a young family, so I hope you are looking forward to it. ... | |
| Atlantic crossing | 3/4/2008 |
| Q: I am a Seabourn cruiser because I love the smaller ships and all inclusive etc. We are thinking of ... A: Alex: Personally, I've crossed the Atlantic twice on the QM2, which is frankly built for the ... | |
| passport for a cruise | 12/24/2007 |
| Q: do you need a passport to say go from florida to the bahamas and back in 2008? Thank you. A: Unfortunately it depends on the timing and transportation. If you are flying, then the answer is ... | |
| Royal caribbean or Carnival? | 10/29/2007 |
| Q: I´m going to get married in July 2008 and want to take a cruise on our honey moon, however, we don't ... A: I so want to help you and give you certain answer, but alas, I cannot. I have clients who tell me ... | |
| 1st cruise with friends | 9/28/2007 |
| Q: I am looking for some advice on what cruise lines to look at. This is my first booking of a cruise. ... A: Richard: Affordable is so complex these days. I recently put a client on Celebrity to the ... | |
| Living on a cruise ship | 9/12/2007 |
| Q: I read this on Yahoo. Would like to hear your opinion on this. A widow lives on cruise ships. She ... A: David: This goes around on e-mails all the time actually. There is a thing about living on a ... | |
| Group Tour Conductor Credit | 9/5/2007 |
| Q: Iam booking a family cruise on Celebrity- Infinity to Alaska 2008- I am working with a travel agent. ... A: Beryl: Yes, that is 100% correct. The cruise line isn't going to pay commission on free berths. ... | |
| Got Sick on a Cruise! | 9/3/2007 |
| Q: This was our first cruise. My wife and I went on a Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona to eventually ... A: Stephen: I am terribly sorry for your illness and hope you and your wife are feeling better. I ... | |
| Cruise Line Specials | 8/31/2007 |
| Q: My question is this- how can I track specials- Celebrity cruise line might offer. We have booked 11 ... A: Beryl: I would expect your travel agent to do this as a service for you. Frankly, there is no ... | |
| Scrapbooking cruise to Caribbean | 8/9/2007 |
| Q: I am looking to put together a group scrapbooking cruise to the Caribbean in the Fall of 2008 ... A: Allison: What a wonderful cruise idea for a group. Many of the lines are most accommodating to ... | |
| cruises from israel | 7/30/2007 |
| Q: We will be in Israel in April. We would like to then travel on to either Spain Greece or Italy. I ... A: Martin: I'm terribly sorry but I don't know of any cruises that are sold to the American market ... | |
| Cruising with oxygen | 7/29/2007 |
| Q: I am so happy that I found this site through a Google search. I have been on oxygen 24/7 for the ... A: Nancy: I looked up SeaPuffers to make sure I understood what you were looking for. If you are ... | |
| cruises | 6/9/2007 |
| Q: I would like any information on cruises leaving from Israel cruising the Mediteranean during ... A: Sandy: I'm terribly sorry, but the lines I know best and deal with most do not offer an ... | |
| my first cruise | 5/26/2007 |
| Q: I am leaving on my first crusie on Monday. It is on the Emerald Princess and leaves from Barcelona. ... A: Debbie: Wow, first let me tell you that I think you chose an exciting cruise as your very first ... | |
| Bermuda Cruise | 4/25/2007 |
| Q: My girlfriend and I want to take a cruise to Bermuda the week of July 7th to the 14th. I have my ... A: Andrew: As of now, the passport requirement is that you do not need a passport to cruise from the ... | |
| Cost of Cruise Liner? | 4/18/2007 |
| Q: there. My family and I were wondering: What is the average cost of a cruise ship/liner? Thanks for ... A: Sonja: Let's see, if you are asking how much it costs on average to build a cruise ship, then you ... | |
| cruise info | 4/16/2007 |
| Q: A small group us are wanting to put together a cruise departing from Galveston Tx. We would like to ... A: Michael: It has been my experience that you can not treat a cruise like a flight. Many people ... | |
| Jamaica | 4/8/2007 |
| Q: How are you... I went on a cruise last year to Jamaica and had fun but it was not what I thought ... A: Aylesha: I'm well and hope you are too. There are very few ports of call that cruise lines do ... | |
| booking a cruise | 3/27/2007 |
| Q: Ms. Babischkin- I am planning on booking a cruise to the Bahamas in July. I would like to know when ... A: Michael: I'm a firm believer in the book early option. The reasons are pretty simple: 1. You get ... | |
| Christian Cruises | 3/20/2007 |
| Q: I am looking to get my parents a cruise for their anniversary but we are a very religious family and ... A: Tricia, I'm terribly sorry but while there are two cruise lines that offer ships without a casino. ... | |
| westerncaribbean cruise | 3/15/2007 |
| Q: my wife and I will be celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary by taking a cruise with our 3 ... A: Carl: It is my pleasure to answer your question and before I do, allow me to offer congratulations ... | |
| Are we related | 3/13/2007 |
| Q: I am trying to find out if we are related in any way,my fathers name was frank and my mother was ... A: Allen: The short answer is, "I don't know." The prevailing theory in the family is that all ... | |
Cruises
Answers by Expert:
Patricia Babischkin
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
With years of experience as both a cruiser and a cruise agent, I can answer most questions about any of the major cruise lines. In addition, I can discuss various ports of call around the world.
Experience
I'm a travel agent with a booming business sending people around the world on cruise ships. In addition, I'm an avid cruiser, slowly making my way around the world.
Publications
Currently, I produce a weekly podcast called the Mail Buoy and write a few pieces on the Mail Buoy blog, located at www.mycruiseplanner.net.
Education/Credentials
I have been certified by many of the lines as an expert in my field. Currently I hold industry credentials from Holland America, Princess, Cunard, Crystal, Silversea, Celebrity, Carnival, and Norweigian.
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