Everyone is always looking for fun and enjoyment in order to refresh after a stressful regular days. As much as possible, we want to have our vacation in a place wherein we will enjoy every moment of our stay. There is a place where you will find the fun and enjoyment that you are looking for. This place is very popular not only to the local residences of Florida but also of the world. Orlando attractions are what make the city famous in terms of entertainment. Even by just viewing those attractions, you will surely enjoy and amaze to the spectacular displays of arts and imagination.
Orlando attractions in Florida is the center of attractions not only in the city but to the whole state of Florida. If you are to more than fun and enjoyment, you better head your way in Orlando and experience the reason why this is the place that you should be. Orlando attractions do not limit you in viewing but it will also let you feel the thrill. This is the only place where you will experience to turn your imagination into reality. There is no entertainment hub can match Orlando attractions. There are rides in Orlando that you should try and there many show that you should not miss to visit.
Highly recommended theme park that you should try is Sea World in Orlando. Aside from having an enjoyable visit, you will surely return in this theme park because of the theme park packages that you can avail. Most of the time there are special promos so that everyone will enjoy without worrying on their budget. You can easily avail Sea World tickets through online ticket stores. This is an awesome package with a total convenience. Sea World will take you to the limit for a new set of fun and excitement. This theme park has it all for you to enjoy.
After a whole day tour in Orlando attraction, you might as well drop and watch Arabian Nights theatrical play. This is an all time favorite story line sets in the dessert. If you are unfamiliar with this, well you should not miss watching the show. There is no doubt that you will enjoy every scenes of the play. All you need here is Arabian Nights tickets that are also available in any online ticket stores. Likewise, you may purchase those with discount. More fun and enjoyment is in your hands now because Orlando attractions are just waiting for you.
Make a memorable holiday trip to Disney World by acquiring discount tickets, and .
When you really think about it, taking a cruise really can be one of the most economical vacations available. Your price typically includes cabin, all meals, entertainment, kids’ programs, gym/sauna, jogging track, and other amenities. However, there are some very important pointers you must follow to prevent your cruise vacation from becoming a yawning money pit you will greatly regret.
1) Do your homework or get your travel agent to do his/her homework in comparing cruise lines and cruise packages. There is a vast array of them. Make darn sure the quote includes port fees and taxes. Many a traveler has had their bubble burst when they realized the price they were quoted was the basic cost before fees.
2) Don’t forget to figure in airfare. You’re way ahead of the game if you don’t live too far from cruising ports. But, if not, try to schedule far enough in advance to get the most discounted fare possible.
3) If you book months ahead, sometimes you can get in on good cruise discounts. However, if your schedule is flexible, then try to book during the last few weeks before a cruise. They’re trying to fill their ship then and you can get hefty discounts. Also, if you don’t mind a windowless cabin, book an inside cabin at a cheaper rate.
4) Look for cruises where kids go free. As I wrote this article, I noticed several kids-go-free offers. Majestic American, Norwegian Cruise Lines, and Costa offered a cruise free for kids under 12 and Disney offered a free cruise for kids under age 17. You can’t beat offers like this.
5) There are other possible discounts. If you’re over age 50 you may get 10% off. If you book eight cabins with friends or relatives, you may get your cabin free. Or you can ask to be included in an unknown group. Of course, on-board you won’t have to be run around everywhere with the group, but the group may have booked a 9:00 p.m. dinner table and you would be registered at that table. So make sure you know details like this.
6) A few little-known tips: If you go on an older ship the cruise may cost less. Also, if a cruise ship is being repositioned to another location, you can get large discounts on that voyage. Ask about this when you book. If you decide to purchase cruise insurance, try to purchase it from an insurance company, not the cruise line. It can be less expensive.
7) You can save money if you’re okay with exploring a port of call without paying for on-shore excursions. The excursions can put a big dent in your wallet fast. If you want better on-shore excursion rates, visit www.johnnyjet.com for various official tourism port websites. Set up your on-shore excursions directly through them. Also Google for coupon books such as the Great Alaskan Toursaver. This can save you lots of dough.
To save, you can avoid onboard pay-to-play activities like the betting, wine-tasting, art auctions, etc. Bring a decent camera for memorable photos. The professional photos on board cost a fair amount. Buy internet use at a port if possible; on the ship, they charge per minute. If you’re on a budget, don’t get carried away with the booze. A bar tab can get out of hand real quick. Even water and soda are costly, so, if you want, bring your own water bottle or coffee mug and fill-er- up at the self-serve buffet.
9) In brief, almost everything costs more on the ship. So bring plenty of toiletries, sundries, camera film, etc. 10) What’s my final tip? What did you expect? Cruise lines want to grab customers for life so they usually offer nice reward programs if you book your next cruise with them. So keep a record of your prior cruise(s) and see what discounts or rewards you are offered.
Debra Fortosis is a professional travel agent. You can book travel on her user friendly website. She can even help you easily launch your own turnkey e-travel business. Register for a free monthly vacation giveaway! Book Travel: Contact Debra: mndgetaways@comcast.net
Going for a family cruise is one of the healthiest entertaining paths to enjoy your holiday with your folks and love the memories forever. You may find selective activities and customized services for all of you.
You simply need to have some correct planning. Start by outlining your position. When you know your finance position look for cruises that fit into your financial position. This avoids having to make a hole in your pocket when you come back.
There’s something for everybody on a cruise families, couples, singles and youngsters can all find activities to fill there time on the ship with fun. Many first time cruisers don’t appreciate that it’s not nearly the ports you visit but the numerous fun filled hours you spend at sea. There are three major classes of cruise lines and they are Luxury Cruises, Premium Cruises which would be considered your mid level cruise and Main line Cruises which that are most cheap and favored. Cruises are available for all taste and pocket books. And if you’re a food lover a cruise is for you.
If you bring youngsters along, look for family accommodation lofts with adjoining cabins that have connecting doors. Ask which cabins will be below or close to the water line, which are found well below deck and near to the engines or kitchens, check out how many steps you’ll have to climb to reach deck.
Internet connections are available permitting you to stay in touch with home and naturally, you can curl up with a well-crafted book from the library. Nightly activity includes trying your luck in the casino, taking in a Broadway or las vegas style production, dancing or simply listening to music as you like a drink with your friends. There’s something else consistently on a luxury around the world cruise for you to enjoy. Then there are the ports of call where you can decide to go ashore or stay on the ship. At each port, you have a selection of activities to play a part in and there’s always a chance to go shopping so you have special souvenirs to take back home.
nowadays, cruises are getting increasingly well-liked and reasonable all thanks to technology which has made these things cheaper than they used to be earlier. Cruise lines offer cheap tickets for cruise ships and at the same time they supply last minute kickbacks too, which are awfully beneficial for those families which wish to remain and enjoy on cruise. These last minute kickbacks are the strategic part of the business which they offer to order even those seats which are empty. In most cruises, all of the seats which are not prepared before the exit of cruise are offered with great reductions.
Making plans for a family cruise together? Why don’t you visit Alaska? Visit Alex’s site for advice on how to get great and information regarding to get the best out of your holiday vacation for you and your family.
If you’re looking to go on a cruise, then look for one that’s going to give you the most fun ever. Call it a carnival cruise!
Some cruises dedicate themselves to helping people get the most joyous trip of their lives aboard their cruise liners. Many of the modern SuperLiner cruise ships are renowned for their fun, action packed, informal cruising, giving people the chance to get active or relax, and all the time with a smile on their face.
Accommodation is important on a cruise liner so make sure you choose wisely. Very often connecting rooms are available to give you close access to family and friends.
Dining on a carnival cruise is always an event to savour. Dinners, large buffets, café food, seafood, healthy eating and poolside buffets are all part of the choice to make eating an experience to remember.
Above all the pleasures of a carnival cruise are the activities that you can get involved in. Cruise ships are like floating leisure centres, but with the sun and sea right where you want them! You will find swimming pools, whirlpools, waterslides, fitness centres, volleyball, golf, rock climbing … all within easy reach. For the evening you can be entertained at dance clubs, jazz clubs, karaoke bars, comedy bars, piano bars, discos and even a casino.
If you need activities for younger members of the family, then professionally trained staff are available to offer activities for five age groups within the overall 2 to 17 age range.
should fit the bill! They have 22 ships are cruise mainly in the Caribbean and Mexican Riviera, but also visit Alaska, Canada, New England and Hawaii for special seasonal departures.
Ben Stott has been working in the travel industry for over 15 years. He enjoys writing about travelling, destinations and especially .
The most magical time of the year is fast approaching, so avoid the urge to spend your Christmas hibernating indoors and head towards your local waterway to see all the fun that’s on offer.
There are plenty of family activities in store along the canals and rivers this year, from Christmas cruises to craft fairs. Why not take the kids to see Santa’s grotto out on the water, or enjoy an xmas lunch thats been prepared by someone else for a change!
So don your woolly hat and scarf, warm your cockles with a glass of mulled wine, and pay a visit to some of these fantastic events…
London and South East
Christmas at Museum in Docklands, London This December head down to the London Docklands where the Museum in Docklands has organised a programme of fun and festive activities for the family.
A Victorian Festival of Christmas, Hampshire Guarantee yourself a white Christmas this year by visiting Portsmouth Historic Dockyard for its annual Victorian Festival of Christmas.
Chichester Canal Christmas boat trips, Sussex Enjoy a relaxing boat trip along the Chichester Canal and meet the much-loved Father Christmas!
Christmas light switch-on at Chichester Canal Basin, Sussex Get into the festive mood and watch the Christmas lights get switched on at Chichester Canal basin.
Christmas illuminated boat procession, Northamptonshire Watch the Grand Union Canal light up with a Christmas illuminated boat procession at Stoke Bruerne’s Waterways Museum.
Victorian Christmas at Royal Gunpowder Mills, Essex The River Lee-based Royal Gunpowder Mills will once again play host to a traditional Victorian Christmas.
South West
Santa cruises from the NWM, Gloucestershire Jump on board Santa’s floating grotto and receive a present during special Christmas cruises from the National Waterways Museum, Gloucester Docks.
Christmas wreath & decoration workshop, Devon Join the countryside rangers at the Grand Western Canal and make a selection of Christmas wreaths and decorations using natural materials.
Christmas carols at Devizes Wharf, Wiltshire Enjoy a night of festive carols under the Christmas tree at Devizes Wharf.
Christmas party cruises from Gloucester Docks, Gloucestershire Celebrate Christmas in style with a special disco party cruise along the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal, on board King Arthur.
West Midlands
Search for Santa, Worcestershire Board the Dream Catcher passenger vessel to search for Santa in Tardebigge Canal Tunnel.
Santa in the crystal mines, Worcestershire Take a magical voyage by boat to see Santa in his underground workshop.
Coventry Canal Christmas art fair, Warwickshire Make a start on your xmas shopping and see if you can find that special gift at this Coventry Canal Basin art fair.
Christmas performance at Stourbridge Bonded Warehouse, Worcestershire The highly acclaimed Midlands Fretted Orchestra will be playing a Christmas concert at Stourbridge’s canalside warehouse.
Father Christmas visits Galton Valley Heritage Centre, Staffordshire Treat the kids with a trip to Santa’s canalside grotto.
East Midlands
Christmas at Sawley Marina, Nottinghamshire Sawley Marina will play host to two special Christmas weekends this December – guaranteed to put even the most avowed Ebenezer Scrooge into the Christmas spirit!
Scotland
Santa’s coming to the Falkirk Wheel, Lowlands Santa’s inviting kids, young and old, to come and visit him at the Falkirk Wheel in the run up to the big night.
Santa at Broxburn, Lowlands Come and join Santa onboard Bluebell for a trip along the Union Canal.
Santa at Linlithgow, Lowlands Visit Santa’s grotto and enjoy a boat trip on the Union Canal.
Santa trips on the Forth & Clyde Canal, Lowlands Join Santa at Townhead Bridge for a cruise along the Forth & Clyde Canal.
Santa cruises with Re-Union, Lowlands Come and join Santa and Re-Union for a cruise on the Union Canal.
Christmas lunch cruises, Lowlands Come and join Linlithgow Union Canal Society for a three course Christmas lunch afloat.
Wales and Border Counties
Peak Forest Canal walk and festive lunch, Cheshire Enjoy a walk along the Peak Forest Canal, followed by a hearty Christmas pub lunch.
Santa at Fourteen Locks Canal Centre, South west Wales Children can meet Santa Clause this December when he visits Fourteen Locks Canal Centre.
Santa cruises on the Montgomery Canal, Shropshire Enjoy a Christmas-themed Santa cruise along the Montgomery Canal, aboard the GW Buck narrowboat.
Yorkshire
Clarence Dock charity jog, Yorkshire Join hundreds of Santas as they run, walk or jog around Clarence Dock in Leeds to raise money for British Heart Foundation.
Broads
Norfolk Broads Santa cruise, Norfolk Enjoy family festive fun on the Norfolk Broads, with a Christmas cruise.
Father Christmas visits Fairhaven Woodland & Water Garden, Norfolk Father Christmas and two of his reindeer will be handing out gifts to every child that visits his grotto.
Christmas bird-watching walk, Norfolk Enjoy a three mile walk around Whitlingham Country Park, and look at the birds that call the park their home during Christmas.
Boxing Day guided walk, Norfolk Walk off the excesses of Christmas with a tour of Fairhaven Woodland & Water Garden, with the head gardener.
Waterscape provide a wide range of holiday guides for the UK including canal and , boating and canal holidays.
What makes a lasting memory? Think back over past vacation experiences. What kinds of things stand out? Most likely it is the emotional highs, the relationships, the personalities encountered, the laughter and unexpected events, no?
Ok, before you start congratulating me on my tremendous grasp of the obvious…let me point out the most perplexing disconnect from my 25 years as a travel agency owner and cruise specialist. What leaves me scratching my head is this – things that are so important to the client prior to choosing a vacation package are almost entirely forgotten once the experience is complete!
Can’t get enough of what really doesn’t matter?
During the planning stage clients will spend hours, days, weeks, months tediously pouring over brochures, visiting cruise line websites, comparing prices, measuring the square footage of cabins, scouring online reviews totaling up the number of superlatives used to describe the food on this ship versus the food on that one – doing so as if the very success or failure of their cruise vacation was riding on these ultra-fine, hair splitting distinctions.
Then post vacation – in describing their experience – a whole new set of standards are called into play. As irrational as it may seem, there is value in understanding and adjusting for this bit of odd behavior. Whether a leisure travel professional or simply planning a vacation for your self – keep in mind from the very beginning that success depends on the ratio of fun memories to the monotonous or prosaic. Too often we lose sight of the fact that our most precious commodity is time. So, do you really want to invest time (and money) in any experience where opportunities for magical moments are not maximized?
A closer look: the cruise industry -
The chatter overheard in most post-cruise gatherings tends to be about the colorful characters met at dinner…the waiter who was also an accomplished close-up magician…the friendliness and caring attitude of staff who seemed to truly enjoy their work, the accessible entertainers who mingled with the hoi polloi. But, by comparison, comments about food, service or cabin size often seem to be little more than brief asides – almost mundane.
Savvy cruise marketers understand this peculiarity and have had great success leveraging this dynamic into their advertising and marketing – as well as the on board experience itself. Within the industry there is one standout in this respect.
But first, a little background –
As you would expect, the “mass market’ segment of the cruise industry is by far the largest in terms of dollars spent, capitalization, passengers carried, etc. Within this segment, traditional standards of measurement for choosing one cruise over another have always been highly subjective, but lately with the advent of the new, state-of-art mega-ships distinctions are blurred even more. For instance the Big Three players – Carnival, Norwegian & Royal Caribbean – all tend to have similar itineraries, about the same prices, the same level of service and food – plus a constantly growing list of mind boggling activities and pimped up cabins, suites, penthouses, spas, showrooms and other “I-never-knew-they-had-that-on-a-ship” offerings.
And the winner is…
Of those three, Carnival Cruise Lines is the one that has gotten it right from the very beginning. It is no coincidence that CCL is the most financially successful cruise company to date. Via aggressive acquisition Carnival now is the parent company of a growing number of brands, eleven to date – including Princess, Holland America, Cunard, Aida, P&O, Costa and Seabourn. Of these, the Carnival brand itself remains the most successful – still the Cash Cow of Cruising.
The Chairman and CEO of Carnival Cruise Lines is Mickey Arison – son of founder Ted Arison. His particular genius is relentlessly focusing on the real differentiator in the biggest market segment – fun. The perennial ‘Fun Ships’ branding strategy has been wildly successful – planting seeds for effective post vacation word of mouth marketing for decades. The “fun” theme starts with their advertising and marketing and continues with the on board experience – one that rarely fails to deliver to its target audience. To paraphrase bank robber Willie Sutton, Carnival knows that fun “is where the money is”.
The Fun Ships –
Out of necessity Carnival Cruise Lines is highly competitive in food, service and on board activities but returning Carnival guests – more than any other brand – will inevitably regale their friends with tall tales about all the fun that was had…along with painfully unflattering photos of low brow events such as the Hairy Chest or Beer Drinking contests. Thirty seven years ago, when he founded the company, the senior Mr. Arison knew instinctively that post cruise chatter about fun was money in the bank.
‘Back to the Future’ Marketing -
Could we as vacation planners, whether selling via traditional retail outlets, a virtual online presence – or some hybrid thereof – exert more influence over these critical post trip conversations? I’m not suggesting that we all become stage hypnotists or Hollywood script writers, but William Turner was on to something when he said “You may have heard that the world is made up of atoms and molecules, but it is really made up of stories.”
Never under estimate the power of a great story -
The modern day nomenclature for this little bit of marketing strategy is called “branding” – something the senior Mr. Arison understood long ago. As a vacation planner, the question to ask yourself is – do you habitually look for ways to make customer contact more stimulating, interesting, or entertaining? Or, do you view yourself as primarily an order taker? Is the client left with a feeling of affinity – looking forward to future communication – in other words was the interaction memorable?
The power of FUN -
What can you do proactively to make client communications more interesting? Do you ask questions designed to focus on what truly counts – the memory – versus temporary obsessions? (See paragraph 3)
A little creative guidance can go a long way to motivate – to make interesting and fun what is normally be perceived to be a tedious bother. Here is a wonderful, real life illustration of my point. Pause for a moment to take a look at the videos.
Branding yourself -
No one can write the script but you – you must be authentic. Take a look at subtle but creative ways for making client interactions more fun. Maybe only a slight shift in attitude is required and the script writes itself. The game changing strategy could be as simple as reminding yourself as you pick up the phone, “Hey, the fun starts now!” Like the people in The Fun Theory videos, whether motivating to take the stairs verses the escalator, to pick up trash and throw it into the proper receptacle – or reveal what really matters most in a vacation experience – training yourself to plant seeds for fun at first contact could mean a new level of success – even launch you on your way to becoming the next billionaire cruise line owner. – LEC
Lyn Edwin Cathey – Network Travel Services, LLC A veteran of 25 years in the travel industry – holding positions within the industry such as trainer, educator, agent, consultant, agency owner/manager and product specialist. For 15 years prior to joining the travel industry Lyn worked as a full time entertainer/comedian, performing on banjo & guitar – often as a featured act on cruise ships- He created and currently maintains several websites, including -
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (October 7, 2009) – For the perfect vacation that combines a family escape with the desire to discover new places, MSC Cruises has it all.
Plus, kids ages 17 and under sail free on all MSC Cruises’ itineraries when sharing a stateroom with two full-fare-paying adults.
On each MSC Cruises sailing, our friendly staff caters to the specific needs of all ages – including the youngest guests. Each ship has cheerful, colorful, safe play areas. MSC Cruises’ ships are kid friendly, offering daily entertainment and plenty of space for running, exploring, diving, swimming and playing.
Special activity leaders organize age-appropriate fun activities, with ages 3-6 in the Mini Club, 7-12 in the Juniors Club, and 13-17 in the Teenagers Club. also offers a Teen’s Card. This personalized card, which can be used like a credit/cruise card, allows children ages 12-17 to spend nominal amounts of money on board.
Each card comes with a bonus amount. In the Caribbean, a $30 card purchase comes with a $5 bonus (a total card value of $35); a $50 card purchase comes with $10 bonus, for a total value of $60. In the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, a €30 card comes with a €5 bonus, making it a €35 card, and a €50 card comes with a €10 bonus, making it a €60 card.
Parents and kids will be delighted with the children’s menus. In addition to Italian favorites like pasta and pizza, there are all-American favorites such as hamburgers and hot dogs and numerous tantalizing pastries and desserts.
Knowing the youngsters are with the expert staff, parents can relax and enjoy the sun or the pool, or unwind with a Turkish bath, an aromatic massage or a session at the fitness center.
Cruise-only rates begin at $349 per person, double occupancy for a 7-night Caribbean cruise and $549 per person, double occupancy for a 7-night cruise in Europe. Government fees and taxes for all guests are additional.
Become a fan on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. Watch us on You Tube. For more information about MSC Cruises, visit or your local travel professional.
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About MSC Cruises:
MSC Cruises has the most modern fleet in the world with ten ships: MSC Splendida and MSC Fantasia (the largest ships built for a European ship owner), MSC Poesia, MSC Orchestra, MSC Musica, MSC Sinfonia, MSC Armonia, MSC Opera, MSC Lirica and MSC Melody. The fleet cruises year round in the Mediterranean and seasonally in Northern Europe, the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean, North America and Canada, South America, the Indian Ocean, South and West Africa. MSC Magnifica launches in 2010. MSC Cruises recently forged a three-year, million-dollar partnership with UNICEF to fund a community project in Brazil while increasing awareness of this cause onboard its ships.
Press author for Mediterranean Cruise Line, , Bill Ospring brings news of MSC to cruise fans. Topics vary from MSC in the industry, new ships, and deals for cruises to the Caribbean, Mediterranean and Europe and theme cruise packages.
The Phuket hotels and resorts guide provides a brief summary, customer ratings and reviews for hotels or resorts. Patong is the largest beach resort on Phuket, and is mostly made up of hotels, restaurants, nightclubs and various tourist attractions. Our great rates on Phuket hotels will leave you with more money to spend on having fun during your beach holiday. View each Hotels Phuket page to find guest reviews, pictures and photos and to do searches for hotels in Phuket. For others types of rooms, please use the search box and check rates for Phuket hotels. Our guide to Hotels Phuket provides a wonderful directory for helping make decisions on choosing accommodations.
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Question by bulldogs512: What is the best cruise to do? I live in New York, I am looking for a fun cruise that flies out of anywhere in New York that has a great deal with a lot of sun. Anyone know of any deals online. I have looked multiple places and seems to be great deals just hard to find deals with some of the airfare… any suggestions?
Best answer:
Answer by petey00petey YOU MIGHT TRY THE “SHORT NOTICE” OR “LAST MINUTE” CRUISE WEBSITES…..YOU CAN SAVE A BUNDLE
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
Cruising is fun, convenient, a good value … and easy. Right? Well, cruising is meant to be relaxing, but there are certain things passengers can do to get the very most out of their cruise vacation experience. Here are seven proven tips to maximize your cruise experience (and they don’t cost a thing!)
First – Travel with a like-minded partner or friends. Most cruise ships are like Noah’s Ark: people get on in pairs or in groups. While cruise lines will gladly allow you to cruise solo, it is not the best way to enjoy a cruise. Not only will you sometimes feel awkward during dining or cruise ship activities, you also get slapped with a surcharge since all cruising is based on double (or more) occupancy rates.
Furthermore, travel with compatible people. If you like to party, don’t decide to go on a cruise with a tee-totaler or a recovering drinker. Whether you are a sun bather or a casino denizen, you are going to have your best time if you travel with people who share your interests and values.
Second – Board your ship as early as you can and take any tours of the vessel or facilities that are offered. Most ships allow you to board many hours before the ship sets sail and during that time you may be offered free tours of the ship, the spa, and so on. Although they aren’t going to be the highlight of your vacation, these tours help you get oriented and can give you a glimpse of facilities on-board that you may have not known about.
If you can’t get an official tour, try to walk through the ship systematically. This will help you get your bearings plus you may find out about lounges, snack bars, clubs, meeting rooms, or other areas that you might not have known about.
On a recent cruise, I found out on the tour that the cruise ship had a guarantee program for purchases made in port. If you bought merchandise from certain recognized stores, the cruise line would guarantee them providing you filled out certain paperwork and turned it in to the onboard shopper. It was a great tip, and I never would have known about it had I not taken the pre-sailing tour of the ship.
Third – Do everything. This may sound counterintuitive to most cruise fanatics, who seek unstructured time and the opportunity to just lounge around and do nothing. Actually, most cruise directors will tell you the best cruises are those in which you really attempt to try and do everything offered.
This means you should extend yourself a bit. Sample the dancing, casinos, the pools, on-board games, art auctions, spa services, bingo, shows, and fine dining. Even if you don’t normally do those things, the more you try to take advantage of all that is offered, the more fun you’ll have.
Fourth – Don’t overeat. While some people do take cruises to gorge themselves, this is usually a rookie mistake. It may sound counter-intuitive to avoid overindulging on a cruise ship, since most cruises really emphasize the wonderful food they offer. But here’s how to handle it.
Do enjoy yourself. Order what you love. Chances are that cruise ships will offer it, whether it’s steak or lobster, ice cream or pizza, eggs benedict at sunrise, or chocolate decadence at midnight. Do, by all means, eat the foods you love.
But don’t stuff yourself. You’ll wind up feeling miserable during the cruise and fat after you get off the boat.
When in doubt, pass on food. Why? Because on a cruise ship, you’re never more than a few minutes away from the next opportunity to eat. Do try to sample what strikes your fancy, but don’t overeat and don’t be afraid to say no to many of the things that are offered to you to eat or drink. You really won’t be able to eat and drink everything on board, so don’t even try.
You’ll wind up feeling fitter and stronger and you’ll really enjoy what you do eat.
Fifth – Drink water. That’s good advice anywhere, but most of us forget about it on vacation, particularly on a cruise. Furthermore, if you drink alcohol or spend a lot of time in a hot climate, your need for water increases so you need even more water to avoid dehydration.
Even mild dehydration can cause headaches, aches and pains, and digestive disturbances. Why ruin your vacation? Drink lots and lots of water. It’s available just about anywhere beverages are offered on a cruise ship and bottled water is typically brought every morning to your cabin.
Sixth – Protect your skin. Even if you cruise to Antarctica, you will still need sunscreen. The sun’s intensity is amplified by the water’s reflection, so ramp up your sunscreen protection for a cruise. Put on sunscreen when you go to the pool or beach or even if you’re just sitting on deck in the shade.
If you do get burned, use some of the after-burn products on the market. They should be available on board ship if you don’t bring your own. Whatever you do, protect any burned skin from further sun exposure. If you get a burn on top of an existing sunburn, you can do serious damage to your skin and may even require medical intervention.
Seventh – Don’t be cruise-stupid. That’s a term I made up for a behavior I frequently observe on cruise ships. For some reason, being on a cruise makes some people act foolishly or recklessly and do things they would never normally do. Maybe it’s the unreal experience of being on a cruise ship.
On a cruise ship, people wait on you. Everything is nice and clean. You don’t have to do any work at all. Everybody seems happy. You never have to worry about pulling out your wallet, cooking a meal, or even picking up after yourself. It doesn’t take long before the cruise experience literally becomes “another world.”
Some folks take that as a cue to start behaving irresponsibly and sometimes they get hurt. While I do not want to trivialize bad experiences or say that all bad events are deserved, we should also recognize the fact. People who start acting recklessly sometimes get hurt.
If you decide to pretend you’re a gymnast and balance on the guard rail, you just might fall off. If you leave your purse or wallet unattended in a public area, you can get robbed. If you decide to get roaring drunk in some foreign port of call and act like an idiot, you can wind up in a mess of trouble.
Observe the same good, common sense tactics you use on land or in your everyday life.
For more information on cruising, pick up a copy of Ten Things to Consider Before You Book Your Cruise, available only at . It’s free with our compliments. This article was written by Mandy Karlik, a frequent contributor to TheCruise-Shopper.
To save, you can avoid onboard pay-to-play activities like the betting, wine-tasting, art auctions, etc. Bring a decent camera for memorable photos. The professional photos on board cost a fair amount. Buy internet use at a port if possible; on the ship, they charge per minute. If you’re on a budget, don’t get carried away with the booze. A bar tab can get out of hand real quick. Even water and soda are costly, so, if you want, bring your own water bottle or coffee mug and fill-er- up at the self-serve buffet.