Yacht Charters: offer the ultimate in luxury featuring pampering by the staff, gourmet dining, elegant surroundings and easy access to intimate ports.

Expedition Cruises: Usually emphasize adventure, education and exploring more than luxury. Destinations may be exotic, rugged, off-the-beaten-path destinations such as the Galapagos Islands for a study of plant and animal life or ports of the Bible lands to visit Bible places. Other themes may be archaeology, astronomy, or marine wildlife. Nature and the environment are common themes, and the cruise line may provide a naturalist or other expert to present lectures and slide shows and to conduct shore expeditions. Smaller vessels are usually used for expedition cruises in order to navigate in narrow passages.

Theme Cruises: Offered on vessels of all sizes, these may feature noted speakers presenting lectures on theme topics, i.e., health, finance, big band music with well-known musicians aboard, bridge tournaments, etc.

Sailing Vessels: These cruises vary considerably in itinerary with accommodations ranging from luxurious to casual. Sometimes the passengers can serve with the crew thus offering another dimension to a unique experience.

Freighter Cruises: a relatively inexpensive way to cruise and provide a unique adventure for someone who has a lot of time (up to 60 days). The ship’s emphasis will be on delivering cargo not on entertaining passengers, however, cabins are generally large and comfortable, food is good, and the number of passengers very limited. Ports of call are also few, but may be more exotic than normal cruise lines offer.

Trans-Atlantic Cruises: offer traditional cruising luxury. The crossing takes five days and return would usually involve air flight, perhaps on the luxurious Concorde.

Port Charges/Embarkation Fees: They are passed on to each passenger by the cruise line. These are usually added to the advertised price of the cruise package and included in the prepaid amount.

Land & Cruise/Fly & Cruise packages: It include the cost of hotel or resort accommodations, airfare to and from port of departure, and other included land activities in the advertised price. The customer should determine exactly what is and what is not in the package price.

Port of Call: The port into which a cruise ship will make a scheduled stop. Usually there is provision for the passengers to go ashore and enjoy an optionally priced tour or entertainment on land.