One of the most attractive features of a cruise vacation is the good value for the money. On a cruise vacation, your meals, accommodations, entertainment, and most activities are included in the fare for you and your companion. It's easy to stick to your budget.

Typically, the only extras are shore excursions and onboard purchases (liquor, spa treatments, photos, etc.).

On most sailings, Sea Courses has secured group inventory and offers the best available prices at the time of booking. Call us today for detailed pricing and promotions.

Travel with spouses and companions is important for our attendees. With our "Companion Cruises Free" program, basic cruise fare accommodations are incurred by the conference attendee, and their companion cruises free. Please note that additional cruise-related expenses (gratuities, port charges, taxes. and fees) and travel-related expenses (flights, hotels, transfers and insurance) will be charged to each person.

As a top producer with many cruise lines, Sea Courses is able to offer our guests competitive prices and excellent value for their cruise conference experience. For each of our conferences, Sea Courses negotiates preferred group rates with the cruise lines and as part of our contract we are requested not to publish these rates on a public site. To receive a quote for particular cruise conference simply contact us by email (cruises@seacourses.com), or via the website (complete the Information Request form for that particular cruise), or call us toll-free 1-888-647-7327.

Yes – in fact, it is highly recommended that family and friends also book with Sea Courses so that they will be able to join you at dinner, be invited to join our Destination Discovery tours, and attend the complimentary Partner's Program.

Your referrals of family, friends, and colleagues are greatly appreciated and you will earn valuable Sea Bucks. Call Sea Courses for details at 1-888-647-7327.

Sea Courses recognizes that spouses, family, and friends play an integral part in the life of the health care provider. We offer exclusive activities that will typically include:

•  a welcome aboard reception

•  themed event such as champagne breakfast or high tea

•  enrichment seminars such as

•  Health & Wellness

•  Balance in Life and Work

•  Financial and Practice Management

In addition, all guests booked with Sea Courses will be invited to participate in our exclusive Destination Discovery tours.

Enjoy the company of our trained travel concierge onboard the ship to assure your cruise experience is not only worry-free but also extraordinary. Join your host at our Partner's Program events, and at the conference sessions.

These are customized tours created exclusively for Sea Courses guests. Delve into the local culture on these exclusive shore excursions planned with our knowledgeable local experts. Many of our guests tell us this is the highlight of their entire cruise.

Our Port Report provides an insider's look into your destinations. We will give you tips for exploring on your own, best shopping, favorite restaurants, and internet locations. Your ship will typically arrive in port early in the morning at which time you are free to go ashore. In most cases, you will be back on board the ship by late afternoon / early evening. This gives you more than enough time to enjoy one of the cruise lines' shore excursions, or, go off on your own to do some shopping, sightseeing, swimming, scuba diving, etc.

Hardly! Being at sea gives you a feeling of total freedom that no land-based resort can offer. There's plenty of room. And it will probably take you two or three days just to discover everything that's on board. Plus, you get the added adventure of exploring many exciting ports of call. Cruise ships are floating resorts with all the choices fine resorts have to offer. You can lie back in a lounge chair, breathe in the sea air, soak up the sun, read good books, or watch the ever-changing seascape. If you're more active, join in exercise or dance classes, and sports contests. Practice your tennis stroke or golf swing, or take some fresh air on the jogging deck. Or you can swim, stretch out in the sauna or work out in the gym. You can also see a feature film, attend an enrichment lecture by experts, play backgammon or bridge. And that's just when you're on board!

Every guest can enjoy the use of any of the ship's facilities. The price and the category of staterooms are based primarily on size, location on the ship, and added amenities. Whatever category you book, you'll enjoy the same courteous cruising service, onboard activities, and entertainment as everyone else.

Location may be important when choosing your stateroom. Factors to consider are:

•  your level of mobility (you may want to be closer to an elevator)

•  noise may be an issue for rooms close to public areas

•  if you are motion sensitive a mid-ship room is recommended

It is unlikely that you will notice any motion on a large cruise ship, even if you are sensitive to motion in automobiles or airplanes. All ships today have stabilizers to smooth the ride, but if you are motion sensitive a mid-ship room is recommended. And, if seas do get rough, there are many preventative medications available on board.

Cruising is ideal for people traveling alone, because it's so easy to meet other people. In fact, most ships have parties for singles, so you can get to know people right away. As a Sea Courses guest, you will be seated for dinner with other passengers in our group. Our cruise consultants will even assist with trying to find you a roommate so you can obtain the per person/double occupancy rate, saving you even more on a great vacation.

Virtually all ships have a smoke-free environment including staterooms, private balconies, on deck, and most public rooms.

Most major cruise lines have staterooms with two twin beds that will convert to a double or queen size bed. Let your cruise consultant know which configuration you prefer. When you arrive to your room, if the bed is not as you would like, simply ask your stateroom attendant to change the configuration for you.

Well-trained staff, extensive facilities, and coordinated activities, mean cruising with kids can be smooth sailing for the whole family. Cruise lines provide age-specific, organized programs run by trained professionals. Although there are slight variations by cruise line, age categories for organized programs are generally geared to 3-6, 7-9, 10-12, and 13-17 year olds. This gives youngsters a chance to experience the cruise with kids their own age while mom and dad enjoy some adults-only time together. Naturally, many of the traditional pleasures of a cruise, such as shore excursions, onboard ship activities, and dinners, can be shared by the whole family together. And, children often travel at a substantially-reduced rate.

Yes, there are. Cruises are a great way for families to travel together and see a variety of countries and ports. But it usually takes one of the larger cruise ships to provide the necessary "something-for-everyone" facilities inside! Small, "boutique" ships and cruise lines simply can't - and don't even try to - appeal to multi-generation cruisers.

Most cruise lines offer babysitting from early morning until the late evening. Depending on the cruise line, babysitting may be in a group setting or individually in your stateroom.

Yes. Most modern ship offer two options for staying connected while onboard: Wireless Internet Access (Wi-Fi) and workstations that provide access to e-mail and the Internet. In many cases both options will be available from your stateroom. Don't worry if you don't have an e-mail account - you can easily establish one onboard.

All ships provide Ship to Shore telephone service from your stateroom. One thing that has changed is that many cruise ships have installed cell phone antennae to satellite translators on their ships. This mean that your cell phone that used to fail once the ship lost sight of land will now work. Cell phone users will get the bill for international roaming or other fees when they get home (remember it may not be cheap). Check rates before using any tech devices.

For most Sea Courses educational groups, gratuities are pre-paid and included on your final invoice. The amount paid is at the recommended level set by the cruise line (typically $11 US per person per day). However, if you feel someone onboard provided exceptional service, you are welcome to give an additional cash gratuity to this person.

Generally speaking, cruise travel is very casual during the day and casual to formal in the evenings. This can vary depending on the itinerary. Caribbean and Alaskan cruises are more informal while Mediterranean and European cruises tend to be a little more formal. This can also vary from cruise line to cruise line and ship to ship. Sea Courses will provide you with a recommended list of items to pack.

There is no one correct answer as to which dining time is best. You have to decide which factors are right for you. For example a Mediterranean cruise which is very port intensive and active, probably lends itself best to late seating. An itinerary with many sea days might lend itself best to early dining. Today, many of the cruise lines are offering alternate dining options as well as ‘open seating' for those that want a more casual dinner experience, or were too late returning from a port of call.

Virtually every major cruise ship will have a staffed medical facility to handle emergencies. If you suffer from a medical condition, check before booking to make sure the ship on which you are cruising can handle your needs.