Your Guide to an Ideal Cruise Experience

Exploring Alaska's maritime majesty, far from the big ships. Lazily cruising the bucolic rivers of Europe. Sailing along a string of balmy tropical islands. We at Hideaways understand completely the allure of cruising, and we want to help you have your best—or maybe first—cruise experience in 2013.

For our part, that means introducing you to the cruise line, ship, and itinerary that are the best match for your travel style, personality, and budget . . . and then booking your cruise for you (with exclusive member-only perks and privileges) so that all you have to do is show up and have the time of your life.

This special cruising issue is meant to get your "cruise juices" flowing, with cruising tidbits and trends you should know. When you're ready to take the travel plunge, contact your Hideaways Travel Services Cruise Specialist, toll-free, at 800-843-4433. When you book a cruise with us on one of Hideaways' preferred lines—Alaskan Dream Cruises, AmaWaterways, Ponant Yacht Cruises and Expeditions, Oceania Cruises, Paul Gauguin Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Sea Cloud Cruises, and Silversea Cruises—you'll receive an in-cabin gift and a one-year membership/extension in the Hideaways Aficionado Club (a $195 value!).

Know When to Go
Start by identifying your ideal time to cruise. Here are the best times and peak cruising seasons for the most popular cruising destinations.

Remember, peak season means the weather will most likely be wonderful, but crowds and prices will be at their highest. Consider cruising during a shoulder season to avoid both overcrowding and peak-season pricing.

Know Which Line Is Right for You
There's a veritable ocean of cruise lines out there, and even the savviest travelers can find themselves drowning in details. Consider Hideaways your life preserver! We know what's out there and which line is likely to fit your cruising style. Here are some of our favorite lines; to get matched with your perfect cruise, contact a Hideaways Cruise Specialist, toll-free, at 800-843-4433.

Know How to Enjoy Exclusive Perks & Pampering
It's easy! Members of the Hideaways Aficionado® Club enjoy these exclusive perks when booking a cruise with Hideaways Travel Services.

Know Your Options
You've got choices: Big ships. Small ships. Ocean-going vessels. River cruisers. The list goes on and on. And while choices are great, they also can be confusing. Here's a quick review of your different options.

Not Your Mother's Cruise Vacation
Decades ago, the cruise industry may have been viewed as stodgy and staid, visiting the same ports on the same predictable itineraries. The on-board experience was about as exciting, with limited activities, carved-in-stone dinner seatings, and potentially stuffy formal nights that many passengers suffered through.

We're not saying that all elegance and grace is gone from the cruise experience—far from it! But these days there are options, and plenty of them. If your style is adventure and non-stop action, there's a cruise for you. If you dream of exotic destinations still on your "to-do" list, there's probably a cruise that will take you there. And if you just want to roll along on a lazy river and watch quaint villages pass by, we can help you with that, too. To sweeten the deal, we've arranged for a member discount with most of our preferred specialty cruise lines, so you can dabble in something different and save a little money at the same time.

And don't forget—your Hideaways Cruise Specialist can create a customized itinerary that combines your water-based cruise with a land-based tour of your favorite destination, whether that's an in-depth exploration of Rome's museums and ruins or an overland motor trip to Alaska's most beautiful national parks.

Luxury at Sea
Oceania Cruises: With this line, you'll relish the freedom to be yourself, completely relaxed and comfortable as you cruise in casually elegant surroundings aboard any of its sleek sister ships. There's no requirement for evening gowns or tuxedos here, just what's appropriate attire for a top-notch country-club setting that demands (and accepts nothing less than) absolute excellence in service, on-board amenities, and cuisine. Hideaways Aficionado member-only perk: A $100-$200 shipboard credit on select sailings and a gift membership in the Hideaways Aficionado Club.


Regent Seven Seas Cruises: This line has all the facilities and activities of larger cruise ships in a refined, luxurious, small-ship atmosphere—and with one of the most extensive all-inclusive programs in the industry! Everything is designed to wrap you in cruising comfort from the moment you step on board. Each ship is steeped in luxurious touches: furniture of rich pearwood and mahogany, gleaming marble baths with hand-milled soaps, private balconies, original art, Le Cordon Bleu® cuisine. And, with one of the highest crew-to-guest ratios in the industry, service is always accommodating and friendly. Hideaways Aficionado member-only perk: A $100 shipboard credit per person and a gift membership in the Hideaways Aficionado Club.

Silversea Cruises: Leave it to the Italian registry of Silversea Cruises to lend it a certain inherent flair for the finer things in life . . . superb dining paired with perfect wines, a spa retreat voted the best at sea, service that goes the extra mile with a smile, and four exquisite all-suite ships, most with sunny teak verandas, plus two expedition ships that sail for adventure with added luxury. Add to the equation an all-inclusive cruising policy covering everything from an assortment of wines, champagne, and spirits to a selection of complimentary shore excursions, and you have smooth five-star cruising at a value that should prompt you to pack your bags today for Silversea's exotic ports. Hideaways Aficionado member-only perk: A $200 shipboard credit per suite, a complimentary bottle of champagne, and a gift membership in the Hideaways Aficionado Club.

Unique Cruise Concepts
Sea Cloud Cruises: Feel as though you were born during the wrong era? Then embrace your romantic side, and come aboard one of these gloriously authentic sailing ships. This is sailing as it was meant to be, drawing from an era when ships were sleek and elegant, and captains were skilled navigators plotting their courses to take full advantage of prevailing winds and favorable seas. You'll also love the sleek River Cloud II, built to explore the waterways of Europe. Hideaways Aficionado member-only perk: At least €100 shipboard credit when booking Category A & B (Sea Cloud I and Sea Cloud II) or Category A (River Cloud II) and a gift membership in the Hideaways Aficionado Club.

SeaDream Yacht Club: SeaDream takes the "Yacht" part of its name seriously; if you want a very personalized cruise experience with a captain and crew who go out of their way to accommodate special requests, this is the way to go. To please his guests, the captain might even arrange to linger awhile in a special spot so guests can photograph a pod of whales or gape at an erupting volcano.




Star Clippers: If you dream of fair winds and following seas, climb aboard one of Star Clippers' three reproduction clipper ships, with white canvas sails billowing overhead. These ships are small, so you can easily interact with the captain and even lend a hand in the nightly ritual of raising the sails. Also, both crew and fellow passengers will be a very international bunch.





Windstar Cruises: Windstar's three motor-sail yachts are small, so there's a sense of mutual joie de vivre on board, as well as an open-bridge policy that allows you to hob-nob with the captain and his officers. The aft water-sports platform, with loads of complimentary equipment, attracts an active crowd that enjoys waterskiing, kayaking, windsurfing, and sailing.




Classic River Cruising
AmaWaterways is tops for river cruising, with 15 custom-designed river vessels that take you deep into the authentic experience of Europe, Russia, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Africa. You'll also enjoy a level of luxury usually reserved for ocean-going ships, like floor-to-ceiling French balconies, complimentary high-speed Internet access in every stateroom, and onboard dining featuring delicious local dishes and free-flowing wine. Hideaways Aficionado member-only perk: A $100 shipboard credit per stateroom and a gift membership in the Hideaways Aficionado Club.


Another great choice for classic river cruising is Viking River Cruises; its ships, menus, and itineraries are designed specifically for Americans, and local English-speaking guides lead all shore excursions. Plus, the vessels make port calls almost every day, so they're perfect for those who like to be on the go.



Cruise Lines That Cover the Globe