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It’s a shame to lay out $250 – $2,500 on a dreamy cruise vacation only to encounter unnecessary mishaps and inconveniences. So, in an crusade to denigrate the likelihood of a bump in the road to your perfective vacation, here are galore mutual potholes that you may avoid. Mistake #1: Not Making Your Luggage Distinctive. At the end of your cruise, your luggage will be placed in a big room with THOUSANDS of pieces of luggage, in all probability in numerous indicated area based on the color of a luggage tag provided by the ship. No matter how intimate you think you are with your own luggage, it’s amazing how well your bags will blend in with the mass of cargo surrounding them. Having a quick, easy way to distinguish your luggage will be a major relief, in particular if it gets misplaced. BUT, that isn’t the main reason to make your luggage stand out. You will be entering this cavernous room with a couple thousand other people, a great deal of of whom stayed up all night partying. They are going to be raring to get their bag and get out and there is a somewhat good chance that their imagination isn’t so good. If your bag looks like their bag, it could be a goner. And, if a stranger does take your luggage it could be hours, even days, before you get it back. Do something lasting and noticeable to your luggage so that it not only is recognizable to you, but also let’s bleary-eyed fellow travelers know that your bag is not their bag. Put stickers on it, paint a day-glo streak around it, sew a teddy bear onto the outside… just make sure it stands out. Mistake #2: Not Researching Shore Excursions Beforehand. It must come as no surprise that cruise line advertising folks have the capacity to describe each and each shore excursion as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Of course, no cruise is finish without shore excursions and a heap of of them are utterly terrifi chances to do things you would never do otherwise. But, be smart here. It’s okay to get hoodwinked into thinking that palm trees do sway all day long and that sand feels like silk under your feet. But, it’s a whole ‘nother thing to be looking forward to that perfect, serene afternoon on a remote beach only to find out you have 500 friends, some with young kids, crowding around you and bumping into your beach chair while venders hawk everything from coconut shells to t-shirts. Before you commit, read numerous reviews, talk to the cruise ship shore excursion folks, ask fellow passengers, do some thinking. Most cruise ships have a “No Refund” policy on shore excursions, but don’t be frighted to ask for one if your experience is veritably unacceptable. Better still, find out what you’re getting before you go. Many (if not most) shore excursions are just great and you’ll be happy you went. But cover your stump and you’ll be glad you did. Mistake #3: Runaway Bar Tabs. Unless you quintessentially choose a package that includes it, your bar tab is NOT included in the “all inclusive” percentage of your cruise. Adding to the bite is the ubiquitous 15% gratuity that gets added to each buy you make on board a ship. I could suggest that you drink less, but that’s just plain dumb! You’re on a cruise! So, compensate attention to how much you drink. Those cute little umbrellas drinks that come in a stunning canary-yellow cup will cost you when it comes to twice what a basic cocktail costs. Cruise ship booze is already pricey enough; you don’t need to help them out by spending more for a cup that you’ll stash in a closet when you get home. Cruise ships have a policy versus bringing alcohol on board, but the policy is very loosely imposed if you don’t show off it. In other words, don’t strap a handle onto a case of Budweiser and check it as baggage or load up your carry-on bag with bottles of Wild Turkey. Discreetly packed airline bottles of booze or cans of beer will probably go unnoticed. Don’t undertake to sponsor a frat party, but you may unquestionably support yourself out a bit. You are permitted to fetch your own wine on board if you plan to drink it at dinner, though you are charged a “corking fee”. And, you may also fetch a little stash of non-alcoholic beverages (soda, water, etc) with no problem. You must unquestionably fetch galore water, particularly if you’re cruising in warm climates. Mistake #4: Ignoring the Fury of the Sun Gods. Sun Burn treatments are the fourth most ordinary reason that humans on cruises visit the ship’s infirmary. (The initial three are: 1) bumps and bruises, 2) indigestion, 3) seasickness). Once you’re burned, there isn’t much any person may do for you except try to alleviate the pain. (My favored treatment for that is something called “Traumeel”. You can’t find it in the drugstore, but most health feed places will have it.) If you’re cruising in the winter months (Nov – Feb), you don’t have as huge a problem. Even when you are in the sub-tropics, and even even though your skin probably hasn’t seen sun for various months, the sun is hitting you at an angle and that makes all the difference. You still need to be careful, but you have more leeway. In the spring and summer months, when the sun is overhead, you may get burned in as little as an hour, peculiarly in the afternoon hours. Some ridiculous people forgo the sunscreen because they want to make sure they get a tan. Not a good idea. Start your sunbathing session with at least 15 SPF (30 if you haven’t been in the sun, with extra shelter on your lips). As you get closer to your end time, use less SPF. Even with a good sun blocker, your friends and co-workers will still know that you’ve been out in the sun. Hats are a severe plus if you are in sunburn territory. Most people don’t put sunscreen on their heads, and so the percentage of your body that is getting the most direct rays for the longest amount of time of time remains unprotected. Visors don’t protect your skull; you need a lot of type of covering. Mistake #5: No First Aid Kit. As antecedently noted, there are assorted reasons that passengers end up wasting time (and at times money) visiting the infirmary. You may not be competent to refrain from all mishaps, but you may prepare for the lesser blunders. By the way, all of this applies double if you’re journeying with kids! Bumps and Bruises. The biggest reason people visit the ship’s doctor probably has something to do with mixing booze, slippery surfaces, metal railings and the rolling motion of the ship. For most of your injuries, the right size band-aid and a good analgesic crème will do the trick. A simple travel or camping first-aid kit will have what you need. Indigestion. One of the drawbacks of having such neverending access to all that terrifi rich feed that cruise ships are widely known and esteemed for is that people eat it. And eat it. And eat galore more. Unless you are a rigorous disciplinarian, you may suppose to consume with regards to two or three times your normal feed amount in an intermediate day. Add to that the steady consumption of alcohol that is a hallmark of cruising and voila! Indigestion. Take along a heap of Alka Seltzer, a lot of Pepto Bismol and sum type of antacid tablet, like Tums or Rolaids. All of these are available in tablet form. Some ships stores will have a great deal of of this, but not always and if you need it in the middle of the night you’re out of luck. Seasickness. The best treatment is prevention. After you get it, well… yuck! Check out the respective forms of Dramamine that are now available, including pills and patches. The directions will tell you how much lead time before you hit the waves you need to get the greatest or most complete or best possible effect. You may also get acupressure wrist bands that work in truth well with a lot of people. One of the best treatments I’ve ever seen for treating seasickness once it hits you is Coke and soda crackers – lots of both. Some persons say that 7-Up works also, but I think there is something in the caffeine in Coke that helps the whole process. If you are sentiment sick, your cabin is the worst place to be unless the weather topside is genuinely bad. Being competent to get fresh air and see the horizon helps to trigger the brain sensors that calm seasickness. Headaches. We all know that booze may make your head scream for mercy, but so may sun and a large total of new food. If you’re not employed to heavy carbs in your diet and you scarf up lots of pastries, ice creams or gourmet desserts, your body may trigger the same sensations or changes it does when detoxing from too much alcohol. And, if you experience bumps, cuts or sunburn a pain reliever is a good thing. Have a supply of dissimilar types of pain reliever. Depending on the reason for your pain, aspirin may not work as well as Tylenol or Ibuprofen in a given circumstance. (Do I need to remind you to read the label and follow the directions?) Mistake #6: What? No Camera? A Picture Really Is Worth A Thousand Words. It’s hard to imagine, but some humans will in truth take the trip of their dreams and not take a camera. Or, they’ll take a camera, but they won’t keep it with them. Don’t do that. If you have a digital camera, use it, use it, use it. If you don’t have a digital camera, spring for regarding three or four disposable ones. And be sure to take you camera to the Life Boat Drill. You’ll know why when you get there. A side bar to this camera thing is the Photo-ops that you have all over the ship. There will be dozens of them on your cruise – when you’re boarding, when you’re dining, when you’re getting off the ship, at the pool – at times it will seem like galore one is taking your picture each time you turn around. You are, of course, free to decline. But I commend that you give it a shot. Yes, these photos may be goofy, even cheesy, but they may likewise be a lot of fun. Plus, you just might end up with the best shot of the cruise. Some of the settings are straightout elegant, rivaling what you would find at a studio. It’s a outstanding way to get a nice formal picture for your living room or to send to your family, and there’s no sitting fee! Mistake #7: Buying From Street Vendors. Where ever you go on your cruise, once you step ashore you will be neared (accosted?) by local folks attempting to trade you something. I’m not talking in regards to the shops and makeshift kiosks you may find, I’m talking in regards to the guys merchandising Cuban cigars out of their trunks, or pirated CDs out of a cardboard box. Your best bet, unless you’ve been there and actually recognise the score, is to just say NO. Regardless of how likeable the offer, just say NO. Most of the merchandise are very low quality and you have no way to check it out before you buy. I recognise of people who purchased CD cases with no CDs inside, watches that didn’t work, Cuban cigars purchased in the local drugstore, “handmade” jewelry that came out of bubble gum machines, the list is endless. And this applies SIXTEEN FOLD if galore local guy tries to trade you some pot. In most ports of call frequented by American-based vessels, this street traffic is genuinely illegal. You in all probability won’t get into trouble, but why peril it? Save your cash for the honorable locals and their little shops that are going to trade you watches that do work, they just fall isolated in a few weeks. Mistake #8: Thinking You’ll Save Money “In Town”. One of the charming distinct features of cruising is the ritual of visiting the local markets and shops. This is genuinely a fun experience and you may find all manner of distinctive and special items, but you probably won’t find any real bargains. There are bargains to be found, but you genuinely need to recognise what you’re looking for and what it’s worth in the US. Don’t be cynical regarding it. It’s all percentage of the experience. Somehow, buying a wooden giraffe in Grand Turk is better than buying the same wooden giraffe at Pier 1 Imports, even if you pay a little more. Go figure. You genuinely may save cash when you buy liquor or tobacco products, but it might not be as good a deal as it firstborn seems. Most ports have what are called “duty free” shops which means that there was no “duty” (i.e. import tariffs) paid on the productions and so they are for less to trade in that country. The same applies to diamonds and other fine jewelry. The challenge is knowing what an item is in truth worth. Just because these guys saved on the import fees doesn’t mean they’re passing the saving on to you. Also keep in mind that you are supposed to announce to US customs any purchases you make in a alien country. Duty Free in Nassau doesn’t mean it’s responsibility free when you come back to the US. There are sure exemptions for personal items, but if you shell out a good deal of huge bucks, you might lose the saving when you recompense the US import fees. So, don’t be a miser. Spend freely. Do numerous Christmas shopping. Spread your cash around the local economy and have fun doing it. Just remember, these guys are in the business of retail stuff to alien tourists. They know where the cash is coming from and they know how to keep as much of it as they can. Mistake #9: Sticking Around The Port. Yes, ships are safe in the harbor, but that’s not what ships are built for. Most ports of call, in particular when the call is for a day or less, are set up to provide the ships passengers with a peculiar experience. They accomplish this by making their ports as visitor-friendly as possible. The experience of Mexico that you get right outside the port in Cozumel is decidedly dissimilar than the experience of Mexico on the other side of the island. Around the port, all manner of business are set up to appeal to a peculiar comfort-zone and a queer economy. But, often, just a few miles from the port, you may have a altogether dissimilar experience. If you travel to Grand Turk, for example, you may spend a delightful afternoon at the resort-like environs of Margaritaville. The beach is well-maintained, even though a bit crowded. There is a huge beauteous pool with lots of palm trees and man-made waterfalls. A beer will cost you regarding $6 and a burger will be when it comes to $8. But a short taxi ride to the old downtown area will take you to a much more authentic location. At least for the time being. You may stroll crowded, dusty streets; see skinny dogs shuffling through rubbish cans and have a local beer and piece of fried chicken for when it comes to $3.75 at one of the local pubs. Sure, the pub would never pass an American feed inspection and you may have to do without air conditioning. But the experience may be wonderful. You won’t get that experience staying close to the port. Of course, you want to be safe and you want to be competent to get back to your ship before it sales, so keep all that in mind. But, there is a whole universe of color, sound, smells and humans that don’t ever get to the port and it’s worth the trouble to find it. Mistake #10: Not Preparing For the Journey Home. Sooner or later (it will seem much too soon), your cruise will come to an end and you’ll have to return to the land of making your own bed and cooking your own food. The journeying home is ofttimes an irritating requirement and something to endure as speedily as possible. But, if you rush back into the reality you left behind, it’s kind of like a diver coming to the surface too quick after a deep dive. Your mind and body will resist. If possible, do something fun on the way home. Stay an extra night in a hotel or visit a landmark or even a theme park. At the very least, stop at a nice restaurant for a leisurely lunch or dinner. A quiet picnic (even with fast food) at a rest area may be a utterly delightful way to transition home. Here’s a couple of things to do to make your return less stressful and hurried. o If you’re driving, fill up with gas before you go to the port. Make sure that, when you leave, you don’t have to stop until you want to. o When you have breakfast on your last morning, take galore pastries with you, or even make yourself an egg sandwich. If you thought to fetch a thermos with you, fill up on coffee or juice for the ride home. o Leave a good deal of bottles of water in your car. Many bus companies will grant you to leave a good deal of personal items on the bus when you get to the port, so include a heap of water and a pillow. o Find out what the weather is back home. I once stood shivering in 40 degree weather outside the airport in a pair of shorts and an aloha shirt. Hey, it was 85 degrees when I left Puerto Rico that morning! o Take the next day off. If you are returning to port on a weekend, good. If not, schedule the time off before you leave. Or call in sick. You’ll be SOOOOOOOO glad you did. A Final Suggestion. Keep up with all of the selective information documents you got on the cruise – each and everyday ships newsletter, shore excursion price list, etc. When you get home, file all this in a folder and then use if for reference material for yourself or someone else the next time a cruise is planned. And before your forget, write down all the things you wish you’d thought of and that you wish you had known. Make a finish list and stash it with the other cruise info you brought back. Happy Cruising! |
