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Cruise Ships: Preparing For Your Voyage
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When it comes to vacationing aboard a cruise ship, many individuals consider preparation to be the luggage that they plan to bring with them. Packing for your cruise ship vacation is important; however, it is not the only preparation that should occur. Preparation shouldn’t wait until the week before your trip. Rather, it should begin as soon as you book your cruise ship reservation.
The type of cruise that you will be taking is vital to preparation. A large number of cruise ships travel on international waters. In addition to being on international waters, many dock at international ports. Before begin able to board your ship, you may have to show proper identification. With international cruises, this identification often includes a drivers licenses and a passport.
Unfortunately, when it comes to obtaining a passport, there are many individuals who wait until the last minute. Last minute passports can be obtained in the event of an emergency, but most require at least a week or more to process. You will not be automatically granted a passport; instead you are required to apply for one. Almost all individuals that apply for a passport are granted one, but planning ahead is the best option. If error is made on the information you supplied, you will have enough time to fix it before your cruise ship departs.
How To Choose A Cruise That’s Right For You
0These days there certainly does seem to be a bewildering array of cruise ships and cruise destinations that can make selecting one that’s right for you a real challenge. For the first time cruiser, how do you know which is the right cruise for you? It’s easy to fall into the trap of believing the common assumption, that a Caribbean cruise is the best one for everyone, because in truth it only suits certain types of people.
What you need to think about carefully is what sort of holiday you usually enjoy. Are you, for example, the sort of person who normally enjoys lounging about on a sunny beach with a cool drink in your hand and nothing much to do? If so, then a Caribbean holiday may very well suit you. However, for those who prefer more adventure and excitement, there are cruises which head out towards Alaska, and will provide you with opportunities to explore and have a real adventure that you normally wouldn’t come across.
Still other people prefer the more cultural holidays, enjoying the local traditions, the history of the places, and take advantage of museums, parks and palaces. In this case, a Mediterranean cruise might be ideal, since it usually includes stops at places such as France, Italy and Spain, all of which hold abundant opportunities to explore cultural places.
The important thing to remember is that cruise ships are very much alike once you are on board. The facilities and amenities, and of course the general size, will vary, but on the whole the experience will be relatively similar. The real difference as far as your holiday experience is concerned is when you get off the ship and start exploring the places it has brought you to.
Of course, to some extent you need to think about what your requirements are for the ship itself – and also what facilities you really don’t need, because you’ll be paying for them anyway. If you don’t enjoy swimming, then a cruise ship which has three huge swimming pools on deck will be charging you for their use in the overall price. Choosing a different cruise ship for the similar destination might well reduce the price dramatically.
As well as the type of ship, and its facilities, and the destinations included on the itinerary, one other important factor to consider when deciding which sort of cruise will suit you is the time of year it will be taking place. The most popular times of year are the winter, the spring holiday and the summer. These become very busy, and very booked. Also, of course, the destinations you arrive at will be busy too. The quietest time of year is the autumn, and if you are able to book your cruise for this sort of period you will still be able to enjoy wonderful weather on your trip, but you’ll also benefit from a quieter ship, more easily explored destinations, and a slightly more personal service.
Once you have had a think about your preferred style of holiday, possible destinations, needs and facilities you’re not interested in, and the time of year you’re free to travel, you would be well advised to talk to a travel agent who will be able to take all those factors into consideration, and start providing you with a list of suitable cruises for you to enjoy browsing.
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To Tip Or Not – Cruise Etiquette
0The issue of tipping can cause a lot of problems, usually as a direct result of a lack of understanding or clear communication. This is not helped by the fact that policies and expectations on tipping vary widely depending on which cruise line company you are travelling with and even, in some cases, which ship you are going on.
Often it used to be the case that passengers would tip each waiter, waitress or steward a small amount each time they did some kind of service, but then found out later that 15% had been added to the bill anyway for gratuities. In this way, the passengers ended up paying twice, and it can certainly add up to a considerable sum of money, especially since many cruises are ten to fourteen days.
Some companies make it clear that no tips are expected, but that instead there is a 15% gratuity charge on each bought service. Of course, this does mean that if your steward provides you with an excellent service you are quite free to tip him or her at the end of the cruise. As a usually guide, tipping is considered to be in the region of 1.50 pounds per person per day. There are some cruise line companies that don’t include gratuities but also don’t expect tips. Instead, they add a 5 pounds charge per person per day to the cruise, and this is then divided between the restaurant staff, the stewards and waiters. Again, you are more than free to add your own tip, but this reduces the expectation and helps clear up the matter so that people know where they are.
Having said all that, it is still the case that you are likely to expect a slightly higher level of service, and a slightly more prompt one, if you are known as someone who tips. Word will spread, and it is important for you to bear in mind whether the additional cost is worth it for a very slightly sharpened service.
An alternative way of managing this which a few companies have started doing is to have a single pot of tips that are automatically included in the overall cost, but that passengers have the chance to vote for their favourite steward or waiter. In this way, you can still reward those staff you feel have provided an exceptional service, but not directly from your pocket. Those staff who receive the most votes win a proportion, or greater proportion of the overall funds available for tipping.
As you can see, the schemes and rules are very varied, and it is not easy to tell in advance what the advice will be. If in doubt, it is always best to contact the cruise line and ask. Often, you’ll find that you will be given literature which will offer you specific advice regarding this, usually to be found in a section of ‘frequently asked questions’ Make sure you look at this in advance and query anything you’re not sure of. If this is your first cruise you are likely to be somewhat flummoxed by the varied expectations, and if this is not your first cruise, you may be unsure as to the expectations since it will have varied so much in the past. Don’t assume, ask, if in any doubt at all.
The Ten Best Cruise Destinations
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Usually, when one takes into account the popularity of cruises, we find that is determined by a number of things, which may include how comfortable it is to get the cruise of your home if you have a young family, your age, if your first time or if you are single or married.
It is therefore appropriate to ask what you would expect from a cruise ship before making a decision. Looking glamorous black tie, casual luxury, travel with people your age, many animations, beautiful surroundings and nature, a good deal or a business and you are traveling on a budget?
Therefore the main cruise destinations in ten are based on experience and include cruises on a variety of temperate zones. Indeed, there is something for everyone:
Hawaii
The Hawaiian Islands are a tropical paradise every day of the year with her green dress volcanic cliffs and tropical wildlife inspiring. Visit the magical Dolphin Cove, the fascinating marine life of the Park and of course the Polynesian Cultural Center. (more…)
What To Expect On Your First Cruise
0If you have booked your very first cruise – congratulations! You can look forward to an incredible experience, and one that will be quite unlike anything you have done before. However, it isn’t like any other holiday you’ve had, and for that reason there can be a little anxiety in advance about what you can expect. Here’s a quick rundown on what your initial experience is likely to be.
First of all, once you arrive at the port, your luggage will be taken from you by a porter. The porter will then take your luggage on board, and it will be brought directly to your cabin some time later. The key here is in the phrase ‘some time later’ – don’t be fooled into thinking that your luggage will be happily waiting for you as soon as you reach your cabin. It is not likely to be with you until much later on in the day, and in some cases, not until the following day. Be prepared for this, and make sure you have all your essentials with you in your carry-on luggage.
Once you have gone through the x-ray machine and are cleared for security, you’ll need to hand in your tickets and proof of identification, along with your passport. You will then be given your key card, which will be the method you will use to pay for goods while on board. Rarely is money used on board a ship, and credit cards are never used. Instead, your personal on-board plastic card will be used for all extra purchases of drinks, or items in the shop, and then at the end of the voyage you’ll be presented with your final bill. In some cases this card also acts as the key to your cabin door, and it is therefore extremely important that you keep this very safe.
Once this process has been completed, you’ll probably be asked to wait in a lounge area until you’re called to board. As you arrive on the ship you’ll be greeted, and usually given a map and a few clues about where your cabin has been hidden. In a few cases you may be lucky enough to actually be escorted to your cabin, but this largely depends on how much you have paid for the experience!
Once you arrive at your cabin the first thing that will strike you is likely to be the sheer size of the space you have paid thousands of pounds for. The room will be far smaller than any hotel room you’re used to, but the space is usually very well planned, with plenty of storage room, and the cabins are usually very comfortable. Remember, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll be spending very much time in your cabin – there will be far more interesting things to do.
Once you have settled in, it is a good idea to familiarise yourself with the ship. So use the map to find the restaurant, and the main areas where you’ll find facilities that interest you. Once everyone is on board you will then be called to follow the emergency drill routine, which is obviously important, after which, you can wave a cheery farewell to land, and enjoy the delights of life on the open water.