| Introduction |
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1 | (2) |
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3 | (1) |
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Conventions Used in This Book |
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4 | (1) |
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4 | (1) |
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How This Book Is Organized |
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5 | (1) |
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5 | (1) |
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Part II: Planning Your Cruise |
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5 | (1) |
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Part III: All Aboard: The Cruise Experience |
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5 | (1) |
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Part IV: Ship Shapes: The Cruise Lines and Their Ships |
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5 | (1) |
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Part V: Calling All Ports: Where to Go, and Why |
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5 | (1) |
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Part VI: The Part of Tens |
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6 | (1) |
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Appendix: Quick Concierge |
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6 | (1) |
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6 | (1) |
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6 | (1) |
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7 | (32) |
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Choosing Cruising: The Best of the Best |
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9 | (6) |
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The Best of the Mainstream Lines |
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9 | (1) |
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The Best Ships for Luxury |
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10 | (1) |
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The Best Ships for Families |
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10 | (1) |
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The Best Romantic Cruises |
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11 | (1) |
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12 | (1) |
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The Best Small-Ship Cruises |
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13 | (1) |
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The Best Ships for Uncompromising Gourmands |
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13 | (2) |
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Is a Cruise for Youse? The Whats, Wheres, and Whys |
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15 | (9) |
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Cruising: What's In It for You? |
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15 | (2) |
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16 | (1) |
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. . . A place to keep your stuff while in port |
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16 | (1) |
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. . . And an urban playground by night |
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16 | (1) |
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Keepin' It Fresh: What Keeps 'em Coming Back |
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17 | (3) |
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18 | (1) |
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18 | (1) |
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Appealing to all types of travelers |
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19 | (1) |
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Appealing to all wallet sizes |
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19 | (1) |
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Answering the Cruise Naysayers |
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20 | (4) |
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20 | (1) |
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20 | (1) |
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20 | (1) |
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Cruise ships are too crowded! |
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21 | (1) |
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Cruise ships aren't safe! |
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21 | (1) |
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They let anybody on those things. There's no security! |
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22 | (1) |
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22 | (1) |
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And what's with that Norwalk virus? |
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23 | (1) |
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Choosing Your Ideal Cruise |
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24 | (15) |
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24 | (3) |
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25 | (1) |
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25 | (1) |
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Adventure and educational cruises |
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26 | (1) |
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27 | (1) |
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27 | (5) |
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Warming up to a Caribbean cruise |
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28 | (1) |
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Acting Alaskan: Heading north to the 49th state |
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29 | (2) |
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Meandering the Mediterranean |
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31 | (1) |
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Doing the Romantic Cruise Thing |
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32 | (2) |
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Getting married aboard ship |
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32 | (1) |
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33 | (1) |
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34 | (1) |
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34 | (1) |
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Booking Gay/Lesbian Cruises |
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35 | (1) |
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Rolling Around on Deck: Cruises for Wheelchair Users |
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36 | (3) |
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Part II: Planning Your Cruise |
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39 | (36) |
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41 | (23) |
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Poking Holes in the Cruise Price Mirage |
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42 | (1) |
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42 | (4) |
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Just say ``no'' . . . then again, you only live once. Splurge! |
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43 | (1) |
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43 | (1) |
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Budgeting for shore excursions |
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43 | (1) |
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Paying taxes and port charges |
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44 | (1) |
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Ka-ching ka-ching, adding up onboard costs |
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44 | (2) |
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Paying up when the party's over |
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46 | (1) |
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Saving Bucks on Your Booking |
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46 | (4) |
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Booking early makes cents |
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46 | (1) |
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Take a chance and reel in the deals |
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47 | (1) |
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Choosing off-season cruising |
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47 | (1) |
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Going on an introductory or repositioning cruise |
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48 | (1) |
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Packing more people into your cabin |
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48 | (1) |
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48 | (1) |
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Shacking up with another single |
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49 | (1) |
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49 | (1) |
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49 | (1) |
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49 | (1) |
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49 | (1) |
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Booking your next cruise while sailing your last one |
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50 | (1) |
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Booking back-to-back cruises |
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50 | (1) |
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50 | (1) |
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Finding the Best Deals via Travel Agents and the Web |
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50 | (3) |
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51 | (1) |
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Doing your homework on the Web |
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51 | (1) |
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Letting travel agents lead the way |
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51 | (2) |
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Finding a good travel agent |
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53 | (1) |
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53 | (5) |
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56 | (1) |
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Getting the scoop on inside versus outside cabins |
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56 | (2) |
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Considering other cabin matters |
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58 | (1) |
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58 | (1) |
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Making Dinner Reservations and Dealing with Special Diets |
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59 | (1) |
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60 | (1) |
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Considering Cancellations and Insurance |
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60 | (3) |
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Cruise line policies versus third-party insurers |
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61 | (1) |
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61 | (1) |
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62 | (1) |
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63 | (1) |
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63 | (1) |
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Ticking Off Your Pre-Cruise Checklist |
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64 | (11) |
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64 | (2) |
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Reviewing Your Cruise Documents |
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66 | (1) |
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Paying Up: Paper or Plastic? |
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67 | (1) |
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67 | (1) |
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67 | (1) |
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Decking Yourself Out: What to Pack |
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68 | (3) |
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Understanding shipboard dress codes (such as they are) |
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68 | (1) |
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Planning for appliances and other odds and ends |
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69 | (1) |
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70 | (1) |
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71 | (1) |
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71 | (1) |
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71 | (1) |
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Internet and e-mail at sea |
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72 | (1) |
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72 | (1) |
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Remembering Other Important Stuff |
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73 | (2) |
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Part III: All Aboard: The Cruise Experience |
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75 | (48) |
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77 | (9) |
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Getting to Your Port of Embarkation |
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77 | (2) |
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77 | (2) |
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79 | (1) |
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79 | (3) |
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79 | (1) |
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80 | (1) |
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Stepping aboard and checking out your digs |
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81 | (1) |
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82 | (1) |
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Getting a jump on your fellow passengers |
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82 | (1) |
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82 | (1) |
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Attending the Safety Drill |
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82 | (1) |
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Gearing Up for the Days Ahead |
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83 | (3) |
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One if by land: Days ashore |
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83 | (1) |
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Two if by sea: Days at sea |
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84 | (2) |
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86 | (6) |
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86 | (1) |
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The Take on Traditional Dining |
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87 | (1) |
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88 | (1) |
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88 | (1) |
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A Sea of Other Dining Options |
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88 | (2) |
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Making special dietary requests |
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89 | (1) |
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Satisfying your beverage preferences |
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89 | (1) |
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Digging into Breakfast and Lunch |
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90 | (2) |
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Filling Your Days: Onboard Activities and Entertainment |
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92 | (12) |
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Digging into the Daily Bulletin |
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92 | (1) |
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Doing Absolutely Nothing at All |
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93 | (1) |
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93 | (1) |
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94 | (1) |
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94 | (1) |
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94 | (2) |
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96 | (4) |
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97 | (1) |
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97 | (1) |
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98 | (1) |
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98 | (1) |
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98 | (1) |
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Getting rubbed up at the spa |
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99 | (1) |
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Entertaining Yourself after Dark |
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100 | (3) |
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101 | (1) |
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Hitting the vaudeville circuit |
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101 | (1) |
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102 | (1) |
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Channeling your inner diva |
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102 | (1) |
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103 | (1) |
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Keeping the Kids Busy: Activities for Children and Teens |
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104 | (19) |
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Kids Are People, Too --- And They Cruise |
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104 | (2) |
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106 | (1) |
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Family Friendly? (Or Get Us off This Thing!) |
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107 | (3) |
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Checking out program availability and hours |
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107 | (1) |
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Keeping it real for teens |
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108 | (1) |
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Keeping the kids close, if not in close quarters |
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108 | (1) |
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Knowing who's watching your kids |
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109 | (1) |
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109 | (1) |
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110 | (1) |
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Take Notes: The Best Family Cruises |
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110 | (13) |
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110 | (2) |
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Royal Caribbean International |
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112 | (2) |
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114 | (2) |
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116 | (1) |
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117 | (1) |
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118 | (2) |
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120 | (1) |
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A couple surprise contenders |
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121 | (2) |
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Part IV: Ship Shapes: The Cruise Lines and Their Ships |
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123 | (146) |
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Vetting Your Vessel: The How-to of Comparative Cruise Shopping |
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125 | (6) |
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Getting a Handle on the Big Picture |
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126 | (3) |
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126 | (1) |
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127 | (2) |
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Grasping the Ins and Outs of Itineraries |
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129 | (1) |
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Getting the Skinny on Specifications |
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129 | (1) |
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Getting a Handle on Prices |
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129 | (2) |
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131 | (63) |
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Why the Masses Flock to the Megaships |
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131 | (1) |
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Where the Mainstream Ships Go |
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132 | (1) |
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133 | (6) |
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135 | (1) |
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Activities and entertainment |
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136 | (1) |
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136 | (1) |
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137 | (2) |
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139 | (6) |
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142 | (1) |
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Activities and entertainment |
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142 | (1) |
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143 | (1) |
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144 | (1) |
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145 | (5) |
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148 | (1) |
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Activities and entertainment |
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148 | (1) |
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149 | (1) |
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149 | (1) |
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150 | (4) |
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152 | (1) |
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Activities and entertainment |
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152 | (1) |
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153 | (1) |
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154 | (1) |
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154 | (7) |
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157 | (1) |
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Activities and entertainment |
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158 | (1) |
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159 | (1) |
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159 | (2) |
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161 | (4) |
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163 | (1) |
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Activities and entertainment |
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163 | (1) |
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164 | (1) |
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164 | (1) |
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165 | (8) |
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169 | (1) |
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Activities and entertainment |
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170 | (1) |
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170 | (1) |
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171 | (2) |
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173 | (4) |
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175 | (1) |
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Activities and entertainment |
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175 | (1) |
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176 | (1) |
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176 | (1) |
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177 | (8) |
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181 | (1) |
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Activities and entertainment |
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182 | (1) |
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182 | (1) |
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183 | (2) |
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Royal Caribbean International |
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185 | (9) |
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189 | (1) |
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Activities and entertainment |
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190 | (1) |
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190 | (1) |
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191 | (3) |
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194 | (31) |
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The Low Down on the High End |
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194 | (1) |
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The Little Extras (Really Add Up) |
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195 | (1) |
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196 | (1) |
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196 | (5) |
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198 | (1) |
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Activities and entertainment |
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199 | (1) |
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199 | (1) |
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200 | (1) |
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201 | (4) |
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202 | (1) |
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Activities and entertainment |
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203 | (1) |
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204 | (1) |
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204 | (1) |
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Regent Seven Seas Cruises (formerly Radisson Seven Seas) |
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205 | (5) |
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207 | (1) |
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Activities and entertainment |
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208 | (1) |
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208 | (1) |
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209 | (1) |
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210 | (5) |
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212 | (1) |
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Activities and entertainment |
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213 | (1) |
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213 | (1) |
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214 | (1) |
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215 | (4) |
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215 | (1) |
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Activities and entertainment |
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216 | (1) |
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217 | (1) |
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218 | (1) |
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219 | (6) |
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222 | (1) |
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Activities and entertainment |
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222 | (1) |
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223 | (1) |
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223 | (2) |
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225 | (44) |
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What Makes the Small Ships Tick |
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225 | (2) |
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American Canadian Caribbean Line |
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227 | (3) |
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228 | (1) |
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Activities and entertainment |
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229 | (1) |
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229 | (1) |
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229 | (1) |
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230 | (3) |
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231 | (1) |
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Activities and entertainment |
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231 | (1) |
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232 | (1) |
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232 | (1) |
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233 | (5) |
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235 | (1) |
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Activities and entertainment |
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235 | (1) |
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236 | (1) |
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236 | (2) |
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238 | (3) |
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239 | (1) |
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Activities and entertainment |
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239 | (1) |
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239 | (1) |
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240 | (1) |
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INTRAV/Clipper Cruise Line |
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241 | (3) |
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242 | (1) |
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Activities and entertainment |
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243 | (1) |
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243 | (1) |
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243 | (1) |
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244 | (4) |
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246 | (1) |
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Activities and entertainment |
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246 | (1) |
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247 | (1) |
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247 | (1) |
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Maine Windjammer Association |
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248 | (3) |
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249 | (1) |
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Activities and entertainment |
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249 | (1) |
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250 | (1) |
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250 | (1) |
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251 | (5) |
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254 | (1) |
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Activities and entertainment |
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254 | (1) |
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255 | (1) |
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255 | (1) |
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256 | (4) |
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258 | (1) |
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Activities and entertainment |
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258 | (1) |
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259 | (1) |
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260 | (1) |
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Windjammer Barefoot Cruises |
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260 | (4) |
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261 | (1) |
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Activities and entertainment |
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262 | (1) |
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263 | (1) |
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263 | (1) |
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264 | (5) |
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265 | (1) |
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Activities and entertainment |
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266 | (1) |
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267 | (1) |
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267 | (2) |
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Part V: Calling All Ports: Where to Go and Why |
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269 | (182) |
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Preparing for Ports of Call |
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271 | (7) |
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Signing Up for Excursions --- or Not |
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271 | (4) |
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Gimme the real story about excursions |
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271 | (3) |
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Can I just sightsee on my own? |
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274 | (1) |
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Getting from Ship to Shore: All about Debarking |
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275 | (1) |
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275 | (1) |
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276 | (1) |
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Getting from Shore to Ship: Don't Miss the Boat! |
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276 | (2) |
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278 | (94) |
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278 | (1) |
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Boarding Ship for the Caribbean |
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279 | (20) |
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279 | (7) |
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286 | (3) |
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Cape Canaveral/Cocoa Beach |
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289 | (2) |
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291 | (3) |
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294 | (2) |
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296 | (3) |
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299 | (70) |
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299 | (3) |
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302 | (4) |
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306 | (5) |
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311 | (3) |
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The British Virgin Islands |
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314 | (4) |
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Cozumel and Playa del Carmen, Mexico |
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318 | (4) |
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Curacao, Netherlands Antilles |
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322 | (4) |
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326 | (3) |
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Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands |
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329 | (2) |
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331 | (4) |
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335 | (2) |
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337 | (5) |
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342 | (3) |
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345 | (4) |
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349 | (3) |
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St. Barthelemy (St. Barts) |
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352 | (3) |
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355 | (2) |
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357 | (3) |
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Sint Maarten & St. Martin |
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360 | (3) |
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St. Thomas and St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands |
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363 | (6) |
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Enjoying the Cruise Lines' Private Islands |
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369 | (3) |
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372 | (31) |
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372 | (1) |
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373 | (3) |
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376 | (1) |
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377 | (1) |
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378 | (8) |
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|
378 | (3) |
|
Vancouver, British Columbia |
|
|
381 | (3) |
|
|
|
384 | (2) |
|
|
|
386 | (17) |
|
|
|
386 | (3) |
|
|
|
389 | (3) |
|
|
|
392 | (3) |
|
|
|
395 | (3) |
|
|
|
398 | (2) |
|
Victoria, British Columbia |
|
|
400 | (3) |
|
Meandering in the Mediterranean |
|
|
403 | (39) |
|
|
|
404 | (1) |
|
|
|
404 | (1) |
|
|
|
405 | (1) |
|
The French Riviera & Monaco |
|
|
405 | (7) |
|
|
|
408 | (1) |
|
Scoring the best excursions |
|
|
408 | (1) |
|
|
|
408 | (4) |
|
|
|
412 | (10) |
|
|
|
412 | (4) |
|
|
|
416 | (1) |
|
|
|
417 | (4) |
|
|
|
421 | (1) |
|
|
|
422 | (8) |
|
|
|
423 | (3) |
|
|
|
426 | (4) |
|
|
|
430 | (3) |
|
|
|
432 | (1) |
|
Scoring the best excursions |
|
|
432 | (1) |
|
|
|
432 | (1) |
|
|
|
433 | (4) |
|
|
|
433 | (1) |
|
Scoring the best excursions |
|
|
433 | (3) |
|
|
|
436 | (1) |
|
|
|
437 | (5) |
|
|
|
437 | (2) |
|
|
|
439 | (3) |
|
Exploring Other Destinations |
|
|
442 | (9) |
|
The American South and Midwest |
|
|
442 | (1) |
|
The Columbia and Snake Rivers |
|
|
443 | (1) |
|
|
|
444 | (1) |
|
|
|
444 | (1) |
|
|
|
445 | (1) |
|
|
|
445 | (1) |
|
|
|
446 | (1) |
|
Baja and the Sea of Cortez |
|
|
446 | (1) |
|
|
|
446 | (1) |
|
Tahiti and the South Pacific |
|
|
447 | (1) |
|
Australia and New Zealand |
|
|
448 | (1) |
|
The British Isles and Northern Capitals |
|
|
448 | (1) |
|
The Baltic and Scandinavia |
|
|
449 | (1) |
|
European River and Canal Cruises |
|
|
449 | (1) |
|
|
|
449 | (1) |
|
|
|
450 | (1) |
|
Part VI: The Part of Tens |
|
|
451 | (8) |
|
Ten Things to Do When Your Cruise Ends |
|
|
453 | (6) |
|
|
|
453 | (1) |
|
|
|
453 | (1) |
|
|
|
454 | (1) |
|
Debarking, Whether You Want to or Not |
|
|
455 | (1) |
|
Understanding Immigration (We Wish) |
|
|
455 | (1) |
|
|
|
455 | (2) |
|
Knowing What's Prohibited or Restricted |
|
|
457 | (1) |
|
Taking Back Value-Added Tax and Goods-and-Services Tax |
|
|
457 | (1) |
|
Dealing with Departure Tax |
|
|
458 | (1) |
|
Appendix: Quick Concierge |
|
|
459 | (6) |
|
|
|
459 | (2) |
|
|
|
461 | (1) |
|
Travel agency consortiums |
|
|
462 | (1) |
|
|
|
462 | (3) |
| Index |
|
465 | |
Other versions by this Author