11 Expert Cruising Tips
July 14th, 2010 | 
Author: 11 Expert Cruising Tips
Cruising is such a great thing to do. Shoot whats not to love about it? All that wonderful leisure fun getting taken care of by all those people going to cool places. Damn skippy!
One of the things I really like about cruising is telling people neat stuff to make their cruising experience better. Now I know its pretty hard to improve on something that is so intrinsically great to begin with but I do what I can. And its not a bad lifestyle giggle.
So heres another installment of my lifes work sharing the fun and delight of cruising to the Caribbean. In this instance Im sharing a few tips about how to smooth the process of cruising and get a bit more bang for your buck. Of course to be perfectly honest and we all want more of that right? I share this information in hopes that you will be curious enough and entertained enough to go to my website and buy one of my books about cruising. Gasp! Did I just let the cat out of the bag? Shucks. Ah well cant unring the bell can ya?
Yep the simple truth is that I write articles give speeches and do interviews so that people will learn about my lifes work and want more of it. And there is always more of it Im happy to say. And the good news for all of you folks reading this article is that a lot of what I create is actually free.
In fact if you go to our website at www.dothecaribbean.com you can get a free copy of our latest ebook entitled The Best Darn Cruising Tips EVER!. Youll find 60 of the most useful tips and suggestions anywhere about every aspect of cruising. The ebook is free but you can order a printed copy also for 7.95 in case you just want to have everything all bundled together in a nice compact booklet.
In the coming weeks and months Ill be completing a few more books putting the finishing touches on some videos about cruising and my real passion of the moment launching a usergenerated website that displays the most sensuous scenes of the Caribbean. Ooooh now THAT is going to be fun fun fun. Stay tuned. Youre not gonna want to miss that one.
But on with the business at hand. Here are some useful and relevant tips and ideas that you can use for your next cruise. In the interest of space and the amount of time you have to read online articles Ive only included 11 tips here. But by all means go to my site and pick up the other 50 when you download the aforementioned ebook. The criteria used for which tips to present in this article were 1 how easy the information was to explain in a few short paragraphs; 2 how useful it is to someone who doesnt know much about the art and science of cruising; and 3 tips that pay off youll know what I mean after youve used these little jewels on board a ship.
Tip 1:Take Care Of Your Cabin Steward.
One of your best friends on the cruise will be the person that picks up your dirty clothes hangs up your wet towels straightens up you messy vanity and turns down your bed every night your Cabin Steward He or she will do an excellent job of making up your cabin twice a day and sometimes more often if needed. This is the person who will also handle any special requests you have like if you need an extra pillow. I make it a point to get to know my steward and on the very first day make sure I tip him or her an extra 20. Yes I know the daily gratuity that gets added to my account does cover the cabin staff but make no mistake. These guys who do an excellent job anyway can add a nice extra dimension to your journey. For example I like to keep my ice buckets full and sometimes I even dedicate my sink or a cooler to holding our beer which a happy Cabin Steward will keep covered in ice for all day long.
My generosity is always understood and rewarded. Ive been delighted to find extra towels robes chocolate hors doeuvres and even a bottle of wine. One other point my favorite way to communicate with my steward if I dont bump into him/her in the hallway is to place a PostIt note on the mirror over the vanity. It always works.
Tip 2: Copies Are A Good Thing
Make copies of all the important travel documents that you take drivers license passport credit card etc. and keep them in a safe place on your person while you are traveling and in your cabin once you get on board. If anything happens you will have all information you need and the pursers office will be better able to help you.
While youre at it print out the cruise info you expect to use the most such as directions phone numbers etc on a colored piece of paper. That way it stands out from the various other pieces of paper youll have in your cruise documents.
Tip 3: Electricity Is A Really Good Thing.
Each cabin has only one electrical outlet which is located right next to the desk/vanity.
And it has only two plugs. If youre like us and you want to use your computer charge your camera listen to music and use a hair dryer while someone is taking a shower well you get the picture. Bring a power strip or surge protector. You may also find it useful to being an 8ft extension cord that way you have electricity anywhere you want it in the cabin.
Tip 4: Prepare Your Stomach.
For about a week before leaving eat at least one serving of yogurt every day or take acidophilus supplements. It helps to build up the good bacteria that your digestive track needs to deal with any little bugs or impurities that you pick up. Some of the best food youll find will be in small local establishments or even roadside venues. The chow is really good in these places and authentically spiced. But the sanitation requirements in the Caribbean are not the same as in the US. Also the normal diet for locals is different than what you may be used to. Your stomach may not be used to it all. The yogurt is an easy and effective way to build up your digestive balance and immunity.
Tip 5: Freshen Your Luggage
If your travel time to the ship is more than 24 hours put fabric softener sheets between your garments to keep everything in your suite case smelling fresh. This is particularly nice with garments or accessories that are not regularly laundered such as sweaters or jackets. You may want to cut one in half and place each half in your shoes. Youll be even more appreciative on your return home since your luggage will be packed with soiled clothes some of which may even be damp.
Tip 6: Bring Bungee Cords
Bungee cords are one of the most useful items you can take and for reasons other than you might first think. They are easy to pack take up virtually no room at all and can even be useful in keeping your bags lashed together as you maneuver onto the ship.
But heres the really cool part. One thing youll find when you get to your cabin is that there are never enough places to hang things like a shirt or hat or camera case. Most cabins have two or three hooks and thats about it. While a hook is only big enough to hold one hat or other similar item it is big enough to hold two or three bungee cords. Whats more there are lots of places through out the cabin that can accommodate one end of a bungee cord but would never work as a hanging place such as a lamp or the edge of your mirror. Just hang the bungee cord from any suitable place and voila! you have a hook that is sturdy enough to hold anything youve got.
They also make a great clothesline. Some bathrooms have a retractable clothes line in the shower but not all. Your bungee cord can be strung across the opening of your shower or between a couple of towel bars. Be creative youll find several places that work.
And finally one of the main irritations of being up on the deck when the ship is underway as is the case with Sea Days is the 20 knot winds that you have to deal with. When you get up from your seat to hit the bar or take a break Its not unusual at all to see a pool towel or shirt or hat go sailing over the edge of the ship. If you have a bungee cord with you you can easily strap everything to your chair.
Tip 7: Bring Extra Clothes Hangers
There are often not enough clothes hangers in your cabin and those that are there can be a pain in the butt to use. Theyre usually the kind that has a little peg which slips into a metal ring which is permanently attached to the clothes bar in the closet. So be sure to pack enough extras to handle all of your important hangup clothes so you have enough and you dont have to mess around with the ones in the closet.
And speaking of clothes hangers you can buy INFLATABLE clothes hangers thats right inflatable coat hangers. Whoda thunk it? from Amazon.com click the Apparel tag on the website. They take up no space at all are totally easy to inflate and are sturdy enough to hold shirts and coats. They are also great for eliminating those pesky bulges that you get on the shoulders of your shirts. You might need to get a couple of sets so you can keep one set for traveling and use the other in your home closet.
Tip 8: Check With Your Insurance Company auto and medical
If something happens and you are required to get any kind of medical treatment while you are cruising there is a really good chance that you will have to pay for the treatment and get reimbursed later. So find out before you go if your health insurance will pay for such treatments and what kind of documentation youll need to file a claim with your company. This is one of those times where you may want to inquire into travel insurance especially if you are traveling with a condition that elevates the risk such as older travelers pregnancy or some other preexisting condition. Get very clear information from your company about the documentation you need from the ship or port because once you leave where the treatment is delivered there is virtually no chance you will ever get medical records sent to you without hiring an attorney. If you have a preexisting condition youll get better treatment if you provide the medical staff with your medical history.
In the same vein check your coverage with your auto insurance company. You may find that you dont need any additional coverage which can save you a lot if you decide to rent a car or scooter. Keep in mind however many rental companies require you to make good on any damages when you return the vehicle so if you are using your personal insurance you will have to pay for the damages and get reimbursed. That little fact is one of the major incentives the rental companies use to sell you the insurance. Unfortunately even though they are bloodsuckers for trying to manipulate you it is often less hassle to go ahead and buy the local insurance. But get a professional opinion from your agent.
Tip 9: A Can Of Air Freshener
Especially if you are traveling on one of the older ships its a really good idea to pack a can of your favorite air freshener. I prefer the types that kill odors as opposed to those that just scent the air i.e. Lysol because it not only deodorizes the room if needed but also sanitizes surfaces. In the small confines of a standard cabin any unpleasant odor can be stifling and the room ventilation system can take a while work.
Tip 10: Stay Out Of The Steam Baths.
Yes we know there isnt anything quite like the soothing and cleansing feeling of a steam bath to relax you or rid you of the after effects of a late night partying. Even so we NEVER use public steam baths. This isnt a knock on any particular cruise line its a knock on public steam baths. A steam room is the absolute perfect environment for all kinds of airborne germs and bacteria hot moist subdued lighting. Oh yeah perfect for that little cold bug or other mischievous virus that gets sneezed out of people. STAY AWAY FROM STEAM BATHS!
Tip 11: Use Porters When You Leave The Terminal.
There are two really good reasons to use porters.
Alrighty gang. Thats all you get here. If you want to find out why you should pack ziploc bags a first aid kit walkietalkies trash bags and suction cups youll have to go get your own free ebook. Youll also get some great info about choosing travel agents buying trip insurance preventing seasickness and the perfect way to get a wakeup call.
See ya in the Caribbean. Aaaaaarghh!!
About the writer: Fred Tutwiler is a bestselling author consultant and speaker whose current passion is to explore the vast beautiful domains of the Caribbean aboard huge cruise liners. He has written 7 books on cruising and is working on a video documentary. Download Fred’s FREE ebook “The Best Darn Cruising Tips EVER!” .
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