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If you are cruising for the first time - congratulations! You
are in for a unique, worthwhile experience. As a newbie, though,
you probably have questions about some of the do's and don'ts of
traveling aboard a cruise ship. Luckily, there are many die-hard
cruisers who are happy to share some tips to make your first
time more rewarding.
Before You Leave Home:
Have a friend or neighbour take in your mail daily. Accumulating
mail is a big sign to thieves and other troublemakers that no
one is home. You could also have your mail held at the post
office until you return.
Set your lights on timers so that it appears someone is home to
deter troublemakers. Tell your neighborhood community patrol to
make a few extra passes by your home while you are away.
Preprint labels and stamps if you plan to mail postcards out
while you are on your cruise. This saves some time and you won't
have to lug around an awkward address book.
Money Matters:
Stock up on traveler's checks since they are replaceable if lost
or stolen. To expedite the replacements should your traveler's
checks be lost or stolen, write down the serial numbers and put
them in a safe and separate place. That way, it makes the bank's
job a little easier and speed up the process for your
replacements.
Keep a handy supply of small denominational bills, usually one's
and five's. Tipping is appreciated for porters and stewards at
both the airport and docking pier of the ship. This is
especially important in foreign countries. Horror stories abound
about stolen or "lost" bags that never make it to the ship.
Sometimes, you have got to grease their palms with cash. It's a
small price to pay for having your clothing and toiletries
aboard for your cruise.
To avoid long lines at the end of your cruise, check out your
ending invoice on your account. Check for any errors and resolve
them as soon as possible. There is no sense adding the stress of
standing in line to pay your final tab after you just had a
relaxing vacation.
Take a few rubber bands with you to wrap around your wallet. The
rubber will "grab" onto your clothing. This makes it very
difficult for a pickpocket to part with your wallet without you
feeling it.
Kid Stuff:
If you are traveling with babies or toddlers, paper throwaway
bibs are perfect for protecting your child from stains and
messes at meal times, thus prolonging the wear of their
clothing.
Bring a collapsible stroller for your young child. The cruise
ship is a happening place and before long you will hear the
strains of "I'm tired! Carry me!" This is exhausting to parents.
With a stroller, you can just pop your kid inside and roll on.
Pack a few portable, self contained snacks for your child like
peanut butter or cheese crackers. These will come in handy and
are much cheaper than buying some once you are cruising or at
port.
Odds and Ends:
Throw inside your suitcase a few of those annoying plastic
shopping bags that you usually get from the grocery store. These
are handy for storing dirty clothing.
If you have an inside cabin, take a nightlight with you.
Darkness is not fun when you are in a strange room. No sense
running into walls or stubbing your toe if you can avoid it.
Little maglight keychain flash lights are handy too.
Bring a little first aid kits for those minor emergencies. Wet
wipes are handy too for those instance were a sink isn't handy.
There are literally hundreds of cruise tips that can save the
sanity of newbie travelers. Think of those little shortcuts or
ideas that you use at home. Decide if they are adaptable to the
cruise ship. The less you have to worry about, the more relaxed
you will be after your cruise.
About the author:
Kirsten Hawkins is a cruise and travel expert specializing in
discount cruises and travel. Visit
http://www.luxury-cruise-deals.com/ for more information on how
to cruise the world for little or no money.
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