Your sense of adventure will expand once you go cruising. You always remember your first. For a first-timer, all the decisions that come with taking a cruise can be overwhelming. You are going to prepare yourself for an unforgettable experience taking in foreign sunsets as you set sail from one horizon to the next.
Here are our tips from finding the right accommodations to motion sickness:
1. Sign up for the newsletter.
Once you subscribe to your favorite cruise line's newsletter, you'll receive a notification whenever there is a special sale happening. You'll get to save money on that cruise you've been daydreaming about. There are also offer discounts and instant savings for previous guests, state residents, military personnel and special affiliations. Onboard credits are perfect for pampering yourself at the spa.
2. Choose the right cruise.
According to David Swanson, president of the Society of American Travel Writers, who has taken more than 40 cruises in the past six years, you should find a travel agent who specializes in cruises and takes many of them. A good agent can find a cruise for your preferred destination, whether a popular or remote one.
There are cruises tailored for each age group (singles, couples, families with children, and older adults) and personality (party animals and adventurers). Large ships keep you entertained all hours of the day and well into the night while small ships (fewer than 500 passengers) can reach ports the large ones can't access.
Determine the type of itinerary you want. "The most important factor for travelers who don't consider themselves typical cruisers is to pay very close attention to the itineraries that intrigue you," according to Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor in chief of Cruise Critic.
3. No customs control
You don't need to go through customs when you enter a new country as there is no passport control. Just walk into every new country by checking out of the ship using your cruise card. Always bring your passport to identify yourself.
4. Don't tip double on alcohol.
Most big-ship lines automatically tack a 15 percent service charge on to bar bills.
A percent of gratuity will already be automatically be added to your bar bill. "Now I don't mind tipping ... but I was handing out an extra dollar for drinks without even knowing it!" a Sarasota-based couple commented.
5. Cheap cabins don't have portholes.
Some of the cheapest cabins don't have portholes. Instead, the pokiest of interior cabins may well boast an outdoor view.
6. Family-friendly
The amenities on a cruise ship can fit any family. You'll get neighboring rooms conjoined by a central door to extra sleeping options.
7. How to prevent motion sickness
Buy Sea Bands, the little elastics that you wear on your wrists. They press against your pressure points. You can also take the non-drowsy Bonine or Dramamine to avoid motion sickness and sleeping through your vacation.
Choose a cabin in a higher deck midship for smoother sailing that doesn't make you seasick.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
