Cruise Deals: How to Make the Most of Your Trip
So you’re considering booking a stateroom on a cruise ship for your next vacation. Congratulations! Maybe you’ve heard family, friends, or acquaintances rave about all the fun, adventure, and relaxation they experienced while on a cruise.
Others may have rambled on about the amenities and shore excursions they took advantage of as part of their cruise package. But perhaps you may have heard some people begin a similar story with, “I would have had more fun on my cruise if I had just thought to…”
Though cruise vacations can be extremely memorable, they do require a little planning and forethought. Otherwise, you may spend precious vacationing time trying to address an issue – or may have to adjust your plans because your first option for travel or activity was not available. So here are a few tips on how to get the most of your cruise vacation.
Understand Costs and Fees
One of the big advantages of taking a cruise is the fact that many of your amenities are already included in the price you paid when you booked the trip. These usually include daily meals, snacks, stateroom service, ship activities, and onboard entertainment. Water, coffee, juice, and iced tea are mostly complementary – but carbonated and alcoholic beverages will often cost extra. In addition, upscale dining, gift shop purchases, babysitting, and casino gambling will require you to pay additional costs. The good news is that most of these charges can be billed to your stateroom and paid for at the conclusion of the voyage.
Plan “Adventures” in Advance
Some of the most unforgettable experiences from cruise vacations may not occur on the ship at all. Most cruise lines offer enticing shore excursions when the vessels reach their ports of call. These can range from hiking, biking, and para-sailing expeditions to village tours, nature walks, and cultural presentations. But don’t wait to register for these events until you board the ship, because space is often limited by the type of activity (a finite number of seats on a whale-watching boat, for example). Many of the most popular excursions may sell out well in advance of the cruise date. So be sure to contact your cruise line or your travel agent to secure a spot on your excursions of choice. This approach also applies to some of the on-board amenities of which you may wish to avail yourself, such as spa treatments, salon appointments, and special classes like scuba training. Though these types of activities are not as likely to sell out before the ship sets sail, you may be unable to get the times or appointments you want if you wait too long to sign up for them.
Pack Smart
You should pack your suitcase as if you were embarking upon a resort vacation. The major exception to this rule may occur if the ship’s itinerary calls for a formal event during the cruise. If this is the case, men should take a dark suit or tuxedo and women should bring a cocktail dress or evening gown. Check with your cruise line to see if it is hosting a formal event during your cruise. Otherwise, casual attire is usually appropriate for the restaurants, entertainment venues, and other areas of the ship. Obviously, you should check the weather and pack according to the climate (i.e., don’t pack many shorts on an Alaskan cruise!).
Remember Your Identification
Like at airports, your driver’s license or a corresponding picture ID is required to board your vessel. But what many people forget is that they will need a valid passport if their cruise line takes them to a foreign country, even if they board the ship in the U.S. If you forget your passport, you won’t be able to go ashore in places like Mexico, the British Virgin Islands, or even Canada.
Take Motion Sickness Precautions
While cruise liners are generally large enough to mask most of the boat’s movements at sea, they may have to sail in rough waters if the weather is bad. Besides, every person has a different level of tolerance regarding motion sickness. Most seasick symptoms can be prevented with the use of over-the-counter medications like Dramamine, which can be administered through a pill or skin patch. If you are more sensitive to motion sickness, you may want to check with your doctor to see if a prescription medicine may be necessary. Be sure to keep all remedies within easy reach as you board the ship and throughout the cruise. If you forget, cruise liners do sell these medications on board.
The more you anticipate what you may need on your cruise before your vacation date arrives, the more enjoyment you will get out of your cruise experience. And the more you know about how life on a cruise liner operates, the less likely you are to have an unexpected surprise or delay. Cruise lines will do their best to make sure you have a pleasurable and memorable vacation. Because they want you to be the ones telling the fun cruise stories to your family, friends, and colleagues!
Chris Martin is a freelance writer who writes about traveling and cruise deals .
