Most of us have a wish to go for some cruise sooner or later in our life. The cruise has become most popular form of traveling in the recent environment. There are many types of cruises available today ranging from 3 days to 30 days. The cruise can be also circular type that travels during the night and stays at some city in daytime for sightseeing or some cruise ships travel in the sea continuously for some days. It can be also a repositioning type of cruise that starts from one place and ends at another. You may select the suitable cruise based on your own choice and requirements and the financial budget available with you. While going for a cruise, there are some dos and don’ts, which I have tried to give here in a compiled way. I am sure these guidelines shall prove to be very useful to one and all while enjoying cruise vacation during coming summer.
1. Here are some dos while on cruise vacation- Do contact your travel agent prior to booking of the cruise. Discuss with him in detail the exact type of the cruise you want. Also, try to obtain the feedback from your friends and relatives on their experience of the cruise they have taken in the past. Do make it a point to travel in a group of friends or family to get discount benefit and have more fun. Make sure that you see the ship layout and the exact location of your cabin at the time of booking. Try to specify your food choice for the cruise in advance. Do ensure the reasonability of the rates by comparing it with various other cruise rates. Make sure that all sight seeing charges are included in the cruise rates and there are no such hidden charges. Do study the facilities provided on the ship in detail. Do carry all the documents like passport, visa, and the cruise ticket along with its brochure and put them all in your handbag, as your other luggage will reach the cabin in your ship separately. Preserve all your luggage tags very carefully as they are the only connecting link to get your entire luggage safely in your cabin.
Make sure to carry all your medications including some seasickness tablets. Please carry two-way radios with you for easy communication with your friends and relatives while on ship. Do vary your routine program daily to have more fun. Try to have needed sleep on the ship, as entertaining activities of the ship shall tempt you to remain awake till late hours and may cause some illness to you. Make sure to carry your swimming trunk and suitable clothes depending upon the season. Do make sure that you carry proper size luggage, as there will be comparatively less space in your cabin as compared to standard hotel room. Do make advance reservations for dining in specialty restaurants aboard and expect some additional charges while dining in such restaurants. Do dispute politely but firmly on any unrecognized billing charges. Always look for special programs for the children on the ship and make sure that your kids make full use of it. Make sure to obtain a pager while leaving your child with caretaker while attending such programs. This will help in easy communication in case your child needs you. Do make use of duty-free shops on the ship. Feel free to use room services, which are available all 24 hours on the ship. Do always obey and respect the ship officials. There are good medical facilities available on the ship. Make its use freely in case of need. Try to mix with other tourists and make some new friends during the cruise. Please preserve the credit card given to you on the ship for your onboard expenses very carefully. Do make good use of the gym on the ship so that you have not to struggle later to reduce your weight gained while on cruise. Do try to study the weather conditions you are likely to experience during the cruise in advance and prepare accordingly.
2. Here are some don’ts- Do not book your cruise much in advance as there are mostly last minute discounts offered. Do not get shocked to know the charges of your cruise initially as these charges include most of your expenses. Compare it coolly considering hotel charges, food charges, and the sightseeing charges separately with the cost of other standard vacations. Do not check in the ship much earlier than the departure time as all the facilities of the ship may not have started yet. In any case, do not miss the ship. Please contact your travel agent if you miss the ship and catch it at its next destination. Do not over pack your luggage. Do not ever miss the safety drill of about 20 minutes in the beginning of the cruise, as this can prove to be a life saving factor for you in case of emergency. Do not use your mobile phone on the ship as that may incur heavy roaming charges. The best option is to make use of public phones available at various destinations of the cruise. Do not be afraid to adjust the tip with the main billing charges. Do not expect to have casinos on all the cruises. Do not visit the casinos when the ship is at the port. Most of the cruises start their casinos only on the high sea. Do not expect to use cash while on ship as all the transactions are to be done through ship credit card. Do not unnecessarily carry items like body lotions, shampoos, soaps, hair driers etc.as these are supplied free of cost. Do not think that Disney cruises are only for the kids. In fact, they might have better activities for the adults. Do not gain weight during the cruise, as there is always plenty to eat. Make sure to consume few selected food items only. You can prefer to have light food, many times during the day, rather than couple of heavy meals. Do not expect all your liquor charges included in the cruise charges, unless specified. Never hesitate to ask for any type of help while on the ship. Do not carry expensive ornaments of gold and diamonds for security reasons.
Finally, never convert your cruise vacation into a nightmare by improper selection of the cruise. Study all the aspects of the cruise carefully against your need prior to final booking of the cruise. Pass on your feedback on the cruise to all your friends once you are back. If you are satisfied with the cruise and want to go in the cruise of the same company again, best time to book it is while you are on the cruise as there are heavy discounts offered at that time.
I am sure these tips shall definitely help you all to enjoy most memorable cruise of your life during coming summer.
