Mack Prioleau’s Tips for a Smooth Cruise
If you’re going on a cruise for the first time, there are some things you need to remember for a hassle-free holiday out at sea. My parents are seasoned cruisers and I’ve picked up a few tips from them. This is Mack Prioleau once more, friends. Let me share with you some of the tips my parents shared with me.
1. Bring a carry-on. When you get on board, you don’t really lug your suitcase with you. Most often than not, your luggage will be delivered to your cabin after you go on board, which could take a couple of hours. You may be raring to jump in the pool or change into something more comfortable but your luggage hasn’t been delivered yet! Bring a carry-on and pack a few essentials: toothbrush and toiletries, a change of clothes, medicines, swimsuit, and other essentials that you can fit into your bag. Don’t forget to include your travel documents!
2. Bring cash. All-inclusive cruises aren’t really all that inclusive. Covered expenses are usually just your board and lodging which means you may have to pay for massages or spa treatments, special dinners, land excursions, alcoholic beverages, and entry fees to land attractions. Double-check paid inclusions and then bring cash to cover all other expenses. It would also be good to have cash on hand to tip the cruise staff.
3. Check the itinerary for docked and tendered ports. When you go on a cruise, you will be stopping at several ports at which point, you may want to explore the town you stopped at on your own. When it comes to port itineraries, there are usually tendered ports and docked ports.
With tendered ports, you will have to be ferried from the cruise ship to the port; while with docked ports, you simply step out of the cruise ship and walk down the port. If you’re not in the mood to be ferried off the ship, you can choose your tendered port days to stay onboard to get that spa treatment you’ve been meaning to get, or to simply lounge by the pool when it’s much less crowded.
4. Leave a day or two early for your cruise. The weather can be pretty unpredictable so it’s best to be within the vicinity of the port from which you will be starting your cruise to avoid the hassles of running late for whatever reason. The last thing you want is to be stressed out on your first day of the cruise.
5. Plan for emergencies. You never know what’s going to happen when you’re out at sea or docked at a certain port. As mentioned, the weather can be pretty unpredictable, so it’s best to have important numbers with you (write them down in a notebook); numbers of your travel agent, local hotels, local tourist services, and such.
When you’re out on vacation, whether or not on a cruise, you want everything to run as smoothly as possible. It’s always best to be prepared.
Please check back again soon for more travel tips and posts Mack Prioleau.