Don't Wait until the Last Minute to Board
Cruise companies have strict, tight schedules and itineraries, so they make the check in, boarding, and room finding time, as easy and quick as possible. However, showing up very early to board gives you the chance to leisurely to check out the ship without the thousands of people who are likely coming on the ship with you very shortly. And, with the too-numerous activities on board, you will need the extra time to find where things are and how to get there! Also, you will have some time to look through your daily activities paper to see what events are happening when and where onboard. (You will thank me later for suggesting you find things on the ship before departure, because it gets far too confusing when you’re racing to who-knows-where because you have to get to a certain activity by 1:15!) On your first arrival to the ship, I suggest arriving no less than 3 3/4 to 4 hours before the boarding starts! You will avoid most of the line, and likely be allowed to board the ship before it finishes the port inspections.
Don't Hide in Your Room
But don't get too comfortable. Your room can be a great place to escape the crowds and noise. And to recharge your batteries when you‘re drained from the onboard activities, or when you are just too overwhelmed by the masses. So you just lie in bed with satellite TV, or lounge on your balcony overlooking the sapphire water. I’d highly recommend taking time out and just getting away from it all for a little bit, but never at the expense of your entire cruising experience. After all, nobody talks about “their quiet time in their rooms.” They always talk about all the things they did!
Don't Worry About a Schedule
Like I stated earlier, you do not have to eat at an assigned time. Nor at an assigned place. In fact, there are many options open 24 hours! Ice cream, pizza, frozen yogurt, and room service!
Don't Neglect Your Spending Habits
Cruise ships have you use your room key/card to charge your onboard purchases to your room account. And you just pay with your already-processed credit card at the end of the cruise. But, as with and other form of credit, they sometimes make mistakes. Keep track of what you spend, and always keep track of what is charged to your room account. This will really help alleviate the typical end-of-cruise shock when you get the final bill slipped underneath your door late on your last night of the cruise.
Don't Ignore Self-Exploration
The good thing about most shore excursions are that they rarely last for over 4 hours, which leaves you with a lot more time at the port. Feel free to go on more than one excursion at the same port, if they’re offered at different times. On the other hand, you also don’t want to overdo it at any one port, so take some time there on your own. Wander around the shops or the town. Check out the local color and sample the wide arrange of exciting cuisine options on land. There might be many, many food choices onboard, but most cruises don’t offer local specialties in the areas in which they are cruising. So, the only way to get a sampling of the local food is to eat at the local restaurants! Just make sure you're safe when you're on your own, and you will be just fine!
Don't Miss Departure Time
One of the most important things you can do when you first get onboard is to make sure that your watch matches the ship’s clock. No matter where you are sailing, you must follow the ship’s clock, even if you’re 8 time zones away from your departure port’s time zone! Therefore, when the boat schedule says that departure is at 5:00, and you must be back onboard by 4:15, you had better be back at 4:15 cruise ship time! They might hold the gates open a few minutes longer than 4:15, but once 5:00 comes, they are leaving. With or without you! If you happen to miss the boat, you are then responsible for your own transportation to the next port. Of course, if you miss the boat on a transoceanic cruise, you will likely miss most of the entire cruise!
Don't Do Everything
On one extreme, you don’t want to sit all day in your cabin, or sleep by the pool, or lounge at the bars. At the other end of the spectrum, you don’t want to do every single thing that the ship offers either. After all, if you do too many things on one cruise, what will you do on your next cruise? There are so many actual active options, like swimming, trivia, stage performances, karaoke, dancing, gambling, working out, using the spa, and so on. All great stuff, for sure. But, don’t overdo it. You will wear out yourself, and there will not be much anything left to do next time!
Don't Forget to Book Another Cruise
If you seriously enjoyed your cruise, by all means, book another one as soon as you can! In fact, if you can book your next one while you’re still onboard, you can get quite a few dollars off of your next cruise right then and there! By booking another cruise, you will be able to do everything you loved on your first cruise, and finally get to do all the things you missed on there too!
So, when you're ready to experience for yourself the wonder and excitement of a VERY exciting cruise ship, go to http://kingarthur.traverustravel.com/index.asp
Saturday, January 31, 2009
8 Things You Must Do in Cruising
Do Plan Long Enough Ahead of Time
Booking well enough ahead of time for your cruise can save you a good bit of money. But, you would have to be willing to do it as much as a year in advance. On the other hand, waiting until the very last minute can help you snag excellent deals on boats that aren't completely booked, but still want to sell out. Whichever time frame you opt for depends on how strict your vacation schedule is.
Do Make Your New Home Comfortable
Your room is probably not as large as your bedroom at home. (Perhaps it’s larger, if you’re one of the lucky ones.) But, it is going to be your home for the next week, so why not get comfortable there? Take your time unpacking, and setting up and arranging things as if you were home. This will make your room far more comfortable after you spend the day in the sun and the sea. Although, I don’t suggest painting the walls!
Do Combine Numerous Dining Experiences
When you book your cruise you may be given dining time options for the ship’s main dining room--early or late seating, usually 6 or 8:30--but you are not required to eat there. Of course, I wouldn’t recommend skipping the main dining room altogether. The food really is great there, and the service is very well-qualified. Just remember, though, that every cruise ship has numerous other dining options including buffets, stand-alone restaurants, specialty restaurants, and room service. Take your pick for a change. Actually, you can usually find out what the main dining room has on the menu for that night, and make your dining decision accordingly.
Do Enjoy the Ship's Amenities
One of the most exciting parts of any cruise is discovering all of the activity options onboard. And with the massive size and scope of activities, most modern cruise ships are like floating cities. With everything from ice skating to trivia, waterslides to rock climbing, miniature golf to karaoke, the possibilities are practically endless! Take some time and enjoy as much of the ship’s offerings as possible. After all, you will spend more time on the water and in the ship than you will at the ports!
Do Go on Shore Excursions
The best time to book your shore excursions are actually when you make the reservations for your cruise. Many of the most popular options get booked up even before the cruise sets sail! Check your cruise line website, or consult your travel agent to help you find out which short excursions are offered for your particular cruise. Also, there are a handful of independent shore excursion companies which should have a few options that the cruise ship website just doesn’t know about! Port visits are usually less than 10 hours, so be sure to find the best-timed shore excursion option. The best shore excursions give you tastes of the local color and friendly lifestyles of the areas you visit. Some shore excursions options include snorkeling, biking, guided tours, horseback riding, sailing, hiking, and local food experiences.
Do Remember the Port Spa Specials
To avoid the massive exodus or arrival of your fellow passengers on port days, why not book a ship spa visit for port time. Sea days make the spas rather expensive, but port visits make the spas considerably less expensive, often by 50% or more! However, appointments on these days fill up fast, so book your spa visit first thing when you board, if you can’t do it ahead of time.
Do Make Time to Do Nothing
With all of the amazing amenities, dining options, and exciting activities on board, not to mention the incredible port of call you visit during your cruise, you can easily be solidly booked up from embarkation all the way through to debarkation! But, I have a feeling, you will not be able to handle the 24/7 activities, and will require some type of relaxation. Of course, there is your room, which is actually quite comfortable. Despite the least expensive rooms having that “stigma” of sub-par bedding and décor, they are still very comfortable. (Naturally, the penthouse suites use the highest-quality bedding, which is often worth the extra expense!) Instead of your room, however, why not try relaxing along side of the pool. There are always lots of beach chairs on deck near all of the pools. Perhaps, you can find a nice, quiet corner inside. Or listen to a bit of classical music while you nibble on cucumber sandwiches and lounge in your soft leather club chair. Even a stand on the promenade deck, and overlooking the water is more to your liking. The Caribbean waters are known for their relaxing and mesmerizing abilities. So, don’t try to do everything in the daily planners. Make some time for yourself!
Do Book Another Cruise
If you seriously enjoyed your cruise, by all means, book another one as soon as you can! In fact, if you can book your next one while you’re still onboard, you can get quite a few dollars off of your next cruise right then and there! By booking another cruise, you will be able to do everything you loved on your first cruise, and finally get to do all the things you missed on there too!
So, when you're ready to follow these examples, and make more of your own, on a VERY exciting cruise ship, go to http://kingarthur.traverustravel.com/index.asp
Booking well enough ahead of time for your cruise can save you a good bit of money. But, you would have to be willing to do it as much as a year in advance. On the other hand, waiting until the very last minute can help you snag excellent deals on boats that aren't completely booked, but still want to sell out. Whichever time frame you opt for depends on how strict your vacation schedule is.
Do Make Your New Home Comfortable
Your room is probably not as large as your bedroom at home. (Perhaps it’s larger, if you’re one of the lucky ones.) But, it is going to be your home for the next week, so why not get comfortable there? Take your time unpacking, and setting up and arranging things as if you were home. This will make your room far more comfortable after you spend the day in the sun and the sea. Although, I don’t suggest painting the walls!
Do Combine Numerous Dining Experiences
When you book your cruise you may be given dining time options for the ship’s main dining room--early or late seating, usually 6 or 8:30--but you are not required to eat there. Of course, I wouldn’t recommend skipping the main dining room altogether. The food really is great there, and the service is very well-qualified. Just remember, though, that every cruise ship has numerous other dining options including buffets, stand-alone restaurants, specialty restaurants, and room service. Take your pick for a change. Actually, you can usually find out what the main dining room has on the menu for that night, and make your dining decision accordingly.
Do Enjoy the Ship's Amenities
One of the most exciting parts of any cruise is discovering all of the activity options onboard. And with the massive size and scope of activities, most modern cruise ships are like floating cities. With everything from ice skating to trivia, waterslides to rock climbing, miniature golf to karaoke, the possibilities are practically endless! Take some time and enjoy as much of the ship’s offerings as possible. After all, you will spend more time on the water and in the ship than you will at the ports!
Do Go on Shore Excursions
The best time to book your shore excursions are actually when you make the reservations for your cruise. Many of the most popular options get booked up even before the cruise sets sail! Check your cruise line website, or consult your travel agent to help you find out which short excursions are offered for your particular cruise. Also, there are a handful of independent shore excursion companies which should have a few options that the cruise ship website just doesn’t know about! Port visits are usually less than 10 hours, so be sure to find the best-timed shore excursion option. The best shore excursions give you tastes of the local color and friendly lifestyles of the areas you visit. Some shore excursions options include snorkeling, biking, guided tours, horseback riding, sailing, hiking, and local food experiences.
Do Remember the Port Spa Specials
To avoid the massive exodus or arrival of your fellow passengers on port days, why not book a ship spa visit for port time. Sea days make the spas rather expensive, but port visits make the spas considerably less expensive, often by 50% or more! However, appointments on these days fill up fast, so book your spa visit first thing when you board, if you can’t do it ahead of time.
Do Make Time to Do Nothing
With all of the amazing amenities, dining options, and exciting activities on board, not to mention the incredible port of call you visit during your cruise, you can easily be solidly booked up from embarkation all the way through to debarkation! But, I have a feeling, you will not be able to handle the 24/7 activities, and will require some type of relaxation. Of course, there is your room, which is actually quite comfortable. Despite the least expensive rooms having that “stigma” of sub-par bedding and décor, they are still very comfortable. (Naturally, the penthouse suites use the highest-quality bedding, which is often worth the extra expense!) Instead of your room, however, why not try relaxing along side of the pool. There are always lots of beach chairs on deck near all of the pools. Perhaps, you can find a nice, quiet corner inside. Or listen to a bit of classical music while you nibble on cucumber sandwiches and lounge in your soft leather club chair. Even a stand on the promenade deck, and overlooking the water is more to your liking. The Caribbean waters are known for their relaxing and mesmerizing abilities. So, don’t try to do everything in the daily planners. Make some time for yourself!
Do Book Another Cruise
If you seriously enjoyed your cruise, by all means, book another one as soon as you can! In fact, if you can book your next one while you’re still onboard, you can get quite a few dollars off of your next cruise right then and there! By booking another cruise, you will be able to do everything you loved on your first cruise, and finally get to do all the things you missed on there too!
So, when you're ready to follow these examples, and make more of your own, on a VERY exciting cruise ship, go to http://kingarthur.traverustravel.com/index.asp
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)