Article by Laura Lanier
If you are cruising for the very first time – congratulations! You’re in for an unique, worthwhile experience. As a newbie, however, you almost certainly have questions about a few of the do’s and don’ts of traveling aboard a cruise ship. Thankfully, there are many die-hard cruisers who are pleased to share some tips to make your very first time more rewarding.
Prior to Leave Home:
Have a friend or neighbour take in your mail daily. Accumulating mail is a huge sign to robbers along with other troublemakers that no one is home. You might also have your mail held at the post office till you return.
Set your lights on timers to ensure that it appears someone is home to deter troublemakers. Tell your neighborhood community patrol to make a few extra passes by your home while you’re away.
Preprint labels and stamps if you plan to mail postcards out while you are on your cruise. This saves some time and you won’t have to lug around an awkward address book.
Money Matters:
Stock up on traveler’s checks because they are replaceable if lost or stolen. To expedite the replacements if your traveler’s checks be lost or stolen, write down the serial numbers and put them in a safe and separate place. Like that, it makes the bank’s job a little easier and speeds up the process for your replacements.
Keep a handy supply of small denominational bills, generally one’s and five’s. Tipping is appreciated for porters and stewards at both the airport and docking pier of the ship. This is particularly essential in foreign countries. Horror stories are plentiful about stolen or “lost” bags that never make it to the ship. Occasionally, you’ve got to grease their palms with cash.
It’s a little price to pay for having your clothing and toiletries aboard for your cruise.
To avoid long lines at the end of your cruise, check out your ending invoice on your account. Check for any mistakes and resolve them the moment feasible. There’s no sense adding the stress of standing in line to pay your final tab after you just had a relaxing vacation.
Take a couple of rubber bands with you to wrap around your wallet. The rubber will “grab” onto your clothes. This makes it quite challenging for a pickpocket to part with your wallet without you feeling it.
Kid Stuff:
If you are traveling with babies or toddlers, paper throwaway bibs are perfect for protecting your child from stains and messes at meal times, therefore extending the wear of their clothing.
Take a collapsible stroller for your young child. The cruise ship is a happening place and before long, you’ll hear the strains of “I’m tired! Carry me!” This is stressful to parents. With a stroller, you can just put your child inside and roll on.
Load up a few portable, self contained snacks for your child such as peanut butter or cheese crackers. These will be convenient and are a lot cheaper than buying some once you’re cruising or at port.
Odds and Ends:
Throw inside your suitcase a few of those annoying plastic shopping bags that you usually get from the grocery store. These are handy for keeping soiled clothing.
If you have an inside cabin, take a nightlight with you. Darkness is not fun when you are in a strange room. No sense running into walls or stubbing your toe if you can steer clear of it. Small maglight keychain flash lights are handy too.
Take a little first aid kits for those minor emergencies. Wet wipes are handy as well for those instance where a sink is not handy.
There are literally hundreds of cruise tips that can save the sanity of newbie travelers. Consider those little shortcuts or ideas that you make use of at home. Determine if they’re adaptable to the cruise ship. The less you need to worry about, the more laid back you will be after your cruise.
About the Author
Looking to travel to Egypt on a private Egypt Tours, vacation or Nile cruise?Nothing is out of your reach when you plan your vacation to Egypt with Tour Of Egypt.
