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Making the Most of Your Cruise
by Amos Croisiri
http://www.farecruiser.com
If you believe that a cruise is the ultimate vacation
experience, you aren't alone. Every year, many thousands
of people board cruise ships worldwide so that they
can immerse themselves in an environment of total
pampering for a few days to escape from the cares of
the world.
Whatever your reason for cruising, whatever the size
of your cruise party, whatever the destination of your
cruise, and whatever the duration of your time at sea,
how you plan is dictated by what you want to get out of
your cruise.
1. Luggage: Storage space in most cabins on cruise ships
is minimal. Keep that in mind when packing. Look at your
itinerary and bring as little as you can. Don't leave
essential items for your plans at home in the name of
reducing the amount of luggage that you bring, but don't
be so "thorough" that you plan for every contingency! If
you absolutely need something that you need to bring,
chances are that it can be purchased onboard ship or at
one of your ports-of-call.
2. The stewards that clean your rooms and servers that
bring your meals work for tips. Most come from areas
of the world that aren't well-developed and their tips
help to support families at home. Your choice not to tip
in order to save money could mean that a family on the
other side of the world does without some meals. Whether
or not it's right for the cruise line to require these
workers to work for tips is not the point; being generous
with those who attend to your needs during your vacation
because it's the right thing to do is.
3. Plan your expenses: There are activities for almost
every conceivable budget and interest on every cruise.
It's unnecessary to exceed your financial limitations
during a cruise. If there's something you want to do
on this cruise that's out-of-reach financially, start
planning for your next cruise when you get home and
include that particular item as a central part of that
plan!
4. Plan your days: How you spend your time during your
cruise is entirely up to you. If you want to cram in as
much activity as possible, that's fine, but be careful!
Doing too much puts you at risk for unnecessary
exhaustion. My suggestion is that you plan a daily
schedule that allows for a full day without compromising
your endurance. Note at the end of each day what you
didn't get to do, and either do it on a different day or
plan on doing it on your next cruise!
5. Staying healthy: With 24 hour food service and just
about that much activity time combined with the motion
of the ocean and the rays of the sun, it's quite easy
to become ill. Illness is the fastest way to ruin a
vacation that I can think of. Don't let your Bacchanalian
aspirations take over your common sense. Mix some fruits
and veggies in with those rich desserts. Use naps to
compensate for reduced nighttime sleep if your activity
schedule starts early and ends late. Sunscreen is a must
when on the water or in a tropical climate. Drink plenty
of pure water to avoid dehydration, heat exhaustion, and
sunstroke.
Most veteran cruisers believe that taking a cruise is
like a piece of heaven on earth. You'll likely share that
belief if you exercise a little forethought and good
judgment ahead of time so that you can make the most
of your cruise.
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