Staying Safe aboard a Cruise Ship

Staying Safe aboard a Cruise Ship

Every year, millions of people cruise. There is a reason why so many people cruise – it can be a hassle free, relaxing way to vacation.  Although over the past few years there have been reports of cruise ship crime and accidents, the reality is that cruise ship crime is actually very low.

Having said that, and despite being safe aboard a cruise ship, it’s important for you to take precautions to protect your belongs and yourself.  Most precautions are simple and can be accomplished with a minimum of effort — and despite being simple this will keep you, your belongings and your finances safe while on a cruise.

Although you might believe that your safety begins once aboard ship, you should actually begin well in advance.  For instance, because you’re on a cruise, it could be that you are visiting a foreign country.  If there’s a mistake (or a disaster), you should have all your important papers and documents available.  This includes your driver’s license and passport.  Prior to leaving, you should make copies of all your documents – leaving a copy at home and carrying another copy with you. 

After you board there are a couple of things that you need to do in order to ensure your safety.  First of all, make sure that you are familiar with the layout of the cruise ship.  Most cruise ships are large and it may take a bit of time to familiarize yourself with the ship – but of course, you’re going to want to know the layout of the ship anyway, so a tour is a fun way to do it.  Additionally, if you’re not given a map upon check in, then make sure that you request one.  This map should be carried with you in case you lose your way.

Getting to know the other passengers.  You don’t have to socialize or even be outgoing in order to do this, however make sure that you keep an eye out for people who appear to are “shady”.  Make sure that you protect yourself – afterall, if you’re on land, you will avoid people who make you feel uncomfortable…you should also do this aboard ship.

Even when traveling on land, it’s generally wiser to travel with others, if possible, do the same while aboard a cruise ship.  This will reduce or even eliminate your chances of becoming a victim.  When moving around the ship alone, tell one or two people where you’re headed and when you’ll return.  If something happens, a friend or relative should know where to locate you.

Always remember that personal safety should be your main concern when traveling.  Additionally, your belongings also should be kept safe.  If you travel with expensive luggage or money, take extra precautions.  In face, consider leaving those items behind.  Also, realize that most cruise ships will not reimburse you for any lost belongings or money – so if you can’t afford to replace or lose it, don’t bring it.

With theft, cash and credit cards are the most common items to steal.  Instead of carrying your wallet or purse, invest in an inexpensive money pouch that can be worn around your neck or waist and tucked under your shirt.

If, for some reason you don’t have a money pouch, make sure that you divide up your money into multiple locations.  This way, in the event that a theft occurs, you will still have financial protection. 

Cruising is, for the most part safe, however by following the above simple precautions, you can safely enjoy your vacation aboard a cruise ship.

 

Romantic Cruise Getaways

Cruise Ships: A Romantic Getaway for Couples

 From the time you wakeup in the morning to the time you go to bed, you’re on the go.  You’ve got a heavy workload, a hectic schedule and it seems that you go for long periods of time without spend any quality time together.  And now you not only need but you deserve a break.  So how about taking a romantic getaway together?  And for the ultimate in romantic adventures, consider a cruise.

Some people don’t consider a cruise as an option for a romantic couple’s vacation however there are some who swear by cruising.  And if you’ve never been on a cruise, perhaps it’s now time to reconsider. 

Prior to booking your cruise, consider several things.  There are numerous cruise ships, cruise lines and destinations.  Make sure that you book one that suits your needs.  For instance, you might want to avoid a family cruise line, especially if it is overrun with children.

For an intimate, relaxing cruise, seek one that has an age limit for its passengers.  These ships restrict children and target their cruises for romantic couples.

While it’s possible to find a cruise ship with an age limit, it may be a little difficult.  So if you can’t locate one, inquire where families will be placed and book your room in a different part of the ship.  Many cruise lines do work to keep families and individual couples separated – and it’s easy to determine by checking the policies of each individual cruise line online or calling their toll-free number.

How large is the cruise ship?  Believe it or not, the size of the ship may determine how romantic your vacation is.  A larger ship has more passengers and may deter onboard privacy. In fact, smaller cruise ships often target couples seeking romantic vacations.

Another factor is the style and décor of the ship.  There are some cruise lines that target romantic couples and therefore they create romantic environments such as romantic cabins, room service, etc.

When you’re traveling aboard a cruise ship, it’s a excellent way for couples to spend time together.  But where should you go? Most extended cruise ships dock in one or more ports which are often located in other countries.  Consider a cruise where the ports are considered romantic.  Places like the Bahamas, Hawaii and the Caribbean all have a number of ports.  Passengers enjoy balmy tropical weather which adds romance to a couple’s vacation.

If you don’t have the time or the cost is not affordable, consider a local romantic evening cruise near your home.  These cruises can be dinner and dancing and are often available in lakes and large rivers. 

So whatever the amount of time or money you have available, if you and your partner are interested in a romantic getaway, start checking the internet or with your local travel agent and consider a cruise vacation.

Preparing For Your Cruise

Cruise Ships:  Preparing For Your Voyage

You’ve decided to take a cruise for your vacation and now you’re starting to plan what to take.  While packing your clothes is important, you need to also be aware that there are other, equally important preparations you must make and if you fail to do these, you might now even be able to take your cruise – these are preparations that you should make as soon as you book your cruise.

What kind of cruise are you taking?  A large percentage of cruises travel internationally.  Not only are they in international waters but they also dock in international ports.  This means that before boarding, you will have to show your proper ID. This would include your driver’s license or similar government issued card as well as your passport.

One of the most important things is that when you are planning on traveling internationally, don’t wait until the last moment to get your passport.  Passports take quite a long time to process and if you need to rush, there is a huge extra cost involved.  You’re not granted a passport automatically – you must apply for one and it’s important that you allow time in case extra documentation is required.  Remember that unless you have the proper documentation, you will not be allowed to board the cruise ship.

So you’ve got your passport and driver’s license, but what other documentation will you need?  You should bring your health insurance card in case you get sick or have an accident.  In this case your insurance card will allow you to easily obtain needed medical attention.

Are you taking any special medications?  Don’t forget them. You should consider bringing along extra medications and even for important ones, ask your doctor to write an extra prescription just in case.  If your medications become lost or misplaced, you can easily have them replaced.

Most likely you will be participating in onboard activities as well as sightseeing or shopping in the various ports you stop at.  This means that you should bring along extra money, a credit or debit card or traveler’s checks.  Generally you’re not encouraged to bring large sums of money with you so make sure that you divide it up and put it in safe locations.  Don’t worry about taking a lot of cash.  Most cruise ships and ports accept alternate forms of money, including credit cars, traveler’s checks, etc. These forms of payments are excellent alternatives to carrying cash.

Prior to leaving for your cruise vacation, give a copy of the ship’s itinerary to friends and family.  This way you can be contacted in an emergency.  You also will be required to give the contact information in the case that something happens to you.  Do not give the contact information of someone traveling with you, instead make sure it’s someone whom you trust and supply them with the information to contacting everyone during an emergency.

So now that you’ve followed these simple preparation steps, you can now start packing and enjoying your well deserved cruise.

Popular Cruise Ship Travel Options

When you consider a cruise ship vacation, many individuals focus their planning solely on their cruise. For many individuals, this can be a costly mistake. While the cruise itself is important, so is how you plan your vacation.

Unfortunately, some people are unaware that they must make travel arrangements to their cruise’s departure location. They realize it, too late for changes.  Don’t be one of those individuals. When booking a cruise, it’s important to keep a cruise ship’s departure location in mind.  Doing so may prevent unnecessary travel expenses.

Selecting a cruise ship, with a close departure location, is advisable.  Unfortunately though, for many this is impossible as a there are limited number of cruise ship departure ports. If you can’t find a cruise ship departure location within a short distance of your home, consider the cost of travel while booking your reservations.

If you must make travel plans to reach your cruise ship departure location, consider all options.  These options may include driving your own vehicle, renting a car, flying, riding the bus, or taking the train.

If you choose to drive, make sure you factor in the cost of fuel, wear and tear on your car, overnight stops as well as food.  Another thing to consider is the cost of parking while you are on your cruise.  Many lots near the cruise lines can cost $10-20/day.  On the other hand, the greatest advantage of if driving is that your travel will be easy. Just hop into your vehicle and hit the road. Also, if you choose to drive to your destination, it’s often much easier.

The other possibility is to rent a vehicle.  Car rentals are a popular way to reach your designation without an excessive amount of planning. Many rental agencies will pick up and deliver their vehicles – so if you rented a car, drove to the cruise line, contacted the rental agency, they can pick up the vehicle from you, and you could save on the cost of parking and have a hassle free mode of transportation.

Flying is a popular travel method; however, again it can be costly.  If you fly, also factor in the cost of airport parking as well as transportation to and from the airport to the cruise line.  If your cruise ship departure port is only a few hours a way, air travel may not be the best option.

Traveling by bus or train to your cruise ship’s departure location is another acceptable travel option.  Although there is a longer time factor involved, they are both inexpensive ways to travel.  Many people can easily afford a bus or a train ticket.  Aside from excessive stops, it is possible that you may not have access to either.  Bus stations and train stations are only available in limited locations.  You may find it difficult or impossible to find a station that offers service to the location of your choice.

Each of the aforementioned travel methods have their advantages and disadvantages.  To find the perfect method of travel to reach your cruise ship’s departure location, weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each.  Once you have decided which method best fits your needs, you can rest assured knowing that you will make it on time for your cruise ship’s departure.

Traveling light on a cruise

So you’re going on a cruise.  You’ve booked your reservations, asked your friend to take care of the dog and water the plants and now it’s time to pack.  But what will you wear?

You know that the way a person dresses has an effect on how others look at you.  You want to be well-dressed and confident instead of dowdy.  So how can you be fashionable without looking like a diva and dragging a ton of luggage aboard? Well really, it’s easier than you think.

The first rule to traveling light is to only bring what is important and what you need.  Remember, a cruise is generally for a short time and you don’t need to empty out your closet and medicine cabinet. You’re cruising to relax and over packing creates a hassle and stress that you’re trying to get away from.

So how do you pack for a cruise?  Well, first of all, break your packing into three areas:  Casual, formal and informal.  Casual clothes would be those things that you’ll be wearing during the day. They are shorts, t-shirts, pants, sneakers, bathing suits, etc.  Also, falling into that category are such things as sunscreen/sun tan lotion, flip flops, sun glasses, and even a hat.

Your nighttime clothes can be a little more formal – perhaps a long dress for ladies and trousers and a blazer for men.  You don’t have to be fancy in order to dress up, and the most important thing is to make sure your clothes are as wrinkle free as possible.  It’s important that you don’t look messy.

When packing try to put together mix and match outfits…pants or skirts that can be worn with more than one top and tops that can go from casual to fancy with just the addition of a nice jacket, scarf or additional accessory.

When traveling on a cruise, make sure you try to look for outfits that are lightweight.  You’d be surprised how much difference this can make when you have your suitcase all packed.  There are several online stores that specialize in light weight travel clothes and their websites are a great place to start.

Remember, you want your vacation to be hassle- free, stress-free and packing light is a great start for achieving that.

Cruising With a Celebrity: Are Celebrity Cruises Worth the Money?

You are a fan of a singer, writer or soap opera actor.  Or maybe you admire a radio talk show host, television chef or broadway star.  And then you hear an advertisement that your favorite celebrity is going to be taking a cruise and you are invited to join them.  This is an advertisement for a celebrity cruise which have gained in popularity in the US and worldwide.  They certainly are popular but the real question is…are they worth it?

Now don’t confuse celebrity cruises with Celebrity Cruise Lines.  Celebrity cruises are offered by multiple cruise companies which book well known movie stars, musicians, radio talk show hoses, writers, etc to attract travelers…and it works.

In order to figure out if a celebrity cruise is worth it, you need to evaluate the purpose of the cruise.  Realize that most celebrities are paid for their appearance on cruises.  Additionally, often the celebrity will be promoting their show, movie, book, etc. and you are not guaranteed that you will actually the celebrity.

Another reason that celebrities participate in cruises is to promote their charity or other causes.  If you like their charity you can attend the cruise as well as know that you are bringing awareness to someone or something that needs assistance.

A consideration on determining on whether or not to take a celebrity cruise is the amount of time the celebrity will be onboard.  Sometimes, because of their schedules, they might not be able to attend the entire time. Prior to making your reservation you need to find out if they will be there for the whole cruise.  If not, you might decide that the cruise is not worth your time.

During the cruise, the celebrity will be attending scheduled events that are planned ahead of time.  Make sure that you check the ship’s itinerary so you don’t miss any of the schedule.  That way you’ll be able to meet, or dine with the person you’re on the cruise with.

It’s also important to determine how many passengers will also be participating in the celebrity cruise.  This might impact how much time you get to spend with the celebrity.  If there are a large number and it’s a short cruise, you might be unable to meet them.

The last consideration on determining if you should book a celebrity cruise is cost. The cost of the celebrity cruises is sometimes higher than other traditional cruises because you’re paying to meet the person.

While these cruises are a great way to meet your favorite celebrity, just realize that you can still enjoy a cruise…with or without a celebrity.