Are There "Photo Ops" on Cruise Vacations?

PSA Journal, July, 1999 by Jean Timmermeister

With cruise vacations highly touted as the ideal way to spend a week or more and with enormous luxury ships being built at a rate that would indicate that all the media "hype" has been effective, PSA members may wonder if they could consider a cruise for photo opportunities.

Consider the prospects: advertisements indicate that for as little as less than $100 per day you can travel to exotic locations. With such an incentive to a relaxing week or more, it is worth considering the possibility of photos for camera club, for slide shows, or even for international exhibition. For true luxury at varying prices above that small amount, you can really travel in style. Consider as bonuses the relaxation, the eight meals offered daily, gambling, night clubbing, swimming, etc., if you are after pictures; if the "photo ops" are not the best, however, your cruise vacation will still be a marvelous experience.

As with any photography jaunt, first things first: obtain a general guide book of the area in which you wish to travel. Cruise ship company brochures will obviously not be of much use for considering which ports to choose for photographs, but will entice you to decide on a general area to which you might want to travel.

A cruise-only travel agent will be your best ally as he or she will have a greater familiarity with cruises and with countries than will an all-service agent. The cruise-only agent will likely have available the better prices as well, as costs vary "all over the house" with the current best prices usually going to those who book early. Or check out the Web site of the cruise line itself. Alternatively, watch carefully that your agent is not simply someone operating with a toll-free number out of their kitchen. In any case, pay with a credit card for your protection.

Select a cruise whose ports include as many as possible of those which appeal to you. Several cruise lines may stop at the same ports so it is important to use the cruise agent who can help you decide which will be best for your style. Look at the brochures. If the cruise company emphasizes people in formal attire and you dislike dressing up, obviously that cruise line is not for you and, likewise, if you see very young people in casual dress throughout the brochure and you are in your senior years, you are not likely to be comfortable aboard such a cruise ship. If the cruise line is known for "party ships" and you do not party, another company will be a better choice. A good cruise agent can tell you what to expect.

Let's consider the Southern and Eastern Caribbean as a likely destination. Locate an illustrated general guide book to the Caribbean which includes information on history, language and customs. A week-long or ten-day cruise will stop at five or more ports plus include days at sea just for relaxing. Virtually all ships will stop in the U.S. Virgin Islands at St. Thomas either as a first or last stop. Perhaps an island which is French, an English one, and a Dutch island will be added to our own U.S. island and give some variety to your trip. In fact, there may be two or three French ports on an itinerary, but the islands will vary considerably.

Be aware that hurricane season (June through October) will not be too much different as to temperature from that of the remaining months, but winter will usually be more popular as it offers a chance to get away from a snow-bound home state. Those summer months are not the best times to book a Caribbean cruise, as a hurricane can leave the traveler short a day or two of the cruise, or cut out one or more port visits. It could even be worse if you and your photo gear are actually caught in the weather itself. At the very least a hurricane will inconvenience you, as telephone communication with the cruise line may be down for 24 hours or more.

Use the cruise agent for general information about the shore excursions well before selecting an actual cruise. Each line has shore excursions planned with a variety of half day or all day arrangements at each scheduled port, at various prices. Most cruise lines have underwater activities, general overviews of the main city of the island, small party boats, trips to the beach for sunning, swimming and occasional nature hikes. The descriptions of each port's shore excursions are available in advance to the agent and while not always definite will help the photographer make a decision as to which shore excursion will give the best opportunities for pictures. Ask the cruise only agent to order a copy of the excursions from the selected cruise line in order that you may plan ahead, together with your guidebook. When you receive the official list of shore excursions after you have boarded ship, your study of the advance copy will hold you in good stead: you will know exactly which excursions to select.

Most islands have English-speaking residents and accept U.S. dollars. The people of Martinique, however, speak less English than those of other islands. A shore excursion in French can be difficult to English-only tourists.