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Monday, May 27, 2013

Cruise Travel Tips

By Alistair Nole


If you are planning on going on a cruise and this is your very first time, you may not be sure what to expect. Here are some important cruise travel tips to keep in mind when you go on a cruise.

First, always have a good carry on bag. A change of clothes and any important meds or toiletries should be packed in both your checked and onboard luggage. There are two reasons why this is important. First of all, if the airline loses your luggage on the way to your cruise, you will at least have your essential items. It can take a while for your luggage to be found and then shipped to the next port of call. Second, in case your suitcases are delayed in being delivered to your cabin, you'll have a bathing suit or dinner attire on hand and can enjoy all the onboard activities right away, rather than waiting for your bags to show up.

Bring enough medication for the duration of the cruise, as well as a detailed list of your prescriptions and the generic equivalents. Remember that you might not have access to a pharmacy in foreign ports or aboard the ship. Bring a second set of spectacles, in case yours get lost or broken.

Familiarize yourself with the local laws and customs of the countries you will be visiting. You will be subject to the judicial system of the host country if you break the law during a stopover. The country with jurisdiction over territorial waters is whose laws prevail at sea. Outside national boundaries, the international law of the sea applies to those waters.

If you're going to go on shore excursions during the cruise, make reservations as soon as possible after embarking. Later, you may be busy with new friends and on-board activities that you forget to make your land arrangements in time; desirable tours can fill up quickly.

Keep all important documents with you. Never pack your necessary IDs and cruise documents in your checked luggage - and make sure you always have them. You'll want your passport or other photo ID and cruise ship boarding pass on hand, so even if your suitcase misses the boat, you can get onboard.

You need to be aware of your surroundings on a ship just as you would in a big city. Don't walk down darkened hallways; keep your distance when tempers flare; do not take drinks from people you don't know. Something is probably wrong if your gut tells you it is. Don't keep it to yourself, either; notify the Purser's Office the minute you suspect trouble.

Lastly, by doing a lot of planning before you travel, you can make your cruise travel memorable and all that you want it to be.




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