VACATIONS ON THE HIGH SEAS

PACKING FOR YOUR CRUISE

2012-09-04T13:16:00.001-07:00

Everyone – yes, everyone packs too much the first time they cruise. I know I did; however, over the years I have learned and now pack a little smarter. Let me give you a few tips.

What do you NEED to bring?

The answer to this depends on what you're planning to do while on vacation.

If all you plan to do is lay by the pool, drink and eat at the buffet, then you don't need to bring much more than a bathing suit or two, flip-flops and a cover-up.

Personally, I don't suggest this because you'll miss out on a lot of fun stuff.

Packing for the men is pretty easy … nice slacks and a collared shirt for the evening, shorts and comfortable shirts for the day and a bathing suit (with a shirt) for by the pool.

Packing for the ladies is a little harder, but it doesn't have to be. Remember, you're on a vacation but at a resort that had limited closet and storage space. Plus, if you're flying to the port you have a weight limitation. Keeping all that in mind, let's look at what you will need.

If you're going to go ashore (whether taking a paid excursion or being an independent) you will need a good pair of walking shoes. Many of the places have a long pier you have to trek down in order to reach the actual land. It's normally made of concrete and it's darned hot. Those cute little sandals look and feel great when you start out, but by the middle of the day your feet will be begging you for mercy because they really are not made for all the kind of walking you will be doing.

If you're planning to eat dinner in one of the dining rooms, either the complimentary or the alternative (you pay extra for the privilege of dining in the alternatives), you will need something dressier. I don't suggest bringing those 3 inch (or higher) heels. You are on a ship. It isn't always the steadiest environment. It depends on how fast the ship is going and on the weather. Yes, they make your legs look so good, but when you sprain or break something because the weather and wave action made the ship lurch, you'll have to take them off anyway. I learned this the hard way. Now I bring flats or shoes with lower heels.

If you coordinate your outfits you'll only need one pair of shoes for the evening…depending on how long the cruise is. Keep in mind you can get 2 pair of flats in the same space it takes to pack one pair of those stilettos.

If you plan to walk on the outdoor promenade (before or after dinner) you might reconsider that lovely outfit that has the full skirt. It's a lovely time of day to be outside. The moon and stars are shining brightly on the water. Very romantic, except you'll be spending all your time trying to keep your skirt from blowing over your head and won't have much time to think of romance. Trust me, bring along straight skirts or dressy slacks. The wind can be quite … well, windy. (A side note – the wind can really mess up the hairdo you spent so much time on too.)

A plus side of packing those spandex pants is they don't wrinkle and they take up so little space in the suitcase – leaving some room for the trinkets you'll pick up along the way.

During the days in port you will want to wear comfortable clothing. Keep in mind when you are in a foreign country you have to follow their local rules….for instance, if you plan on visiting a church while on tour you might not be allowed inside if 1) your head isn't covered (ladies need to bring a small scarf just in case) or 2) you don't have on long pants or a skirt (both men and women). Check with your tour director before booking so you are prepared. Short shorts are a no-no almost everywhere – except at the beach.

I suggest bringing a shirt for each day on ship as well as a pair of walking shorts or pants for every 2 days on the ship. No one will notice if you wear the same pair of shorts or pants twice.

What DON'T you need to bring?

- Towels

I never thought about bringing towels, but recently when I was talking with a first time cruiser I was asked how many suitcases he could bring. I asked him why he would need more than one or two; the response was he needed at least one to carry all the towels for the week as he never used a towel more than once.

The cruise line supplies all the towels you will need.

You have a set in the bathroom when you arrive. If you choose to use them more than once, fold them and leave them on the towel racks. If you want fresh ones, put them on the floor or the counter and the cabin steward knows you want then replaced. These towels are normally white.

When you go to the pool area, don't take towels from your cabin. There are all the towels you could possible need in the pool area. These towels are usually a dark blue.

When you are going ashore to a planned water activity, your cabin steward will leave you a colored towel to take with you. This one you have to bring back yourself. Sometimes there is a member of the crew that collects them from you and carries them back to the ship.

- Bottled Water

I bring one (1) bottle on board with me; however, you do not need to bring a case of water with you. Yes, if you purchase it onboard it could be costly, BUT the water on the ship is good water. Fill your bottle or container from the dispenser on the buffet deck OR simply fill it from the water faucet in your cabin.

- Shampoo, Conditioner and Soap

The ship provides bar soap at the sink and there is normally a dispenser for shampoo, conditioner and body soap in the shower. These work wonderfully well.

The only time I would bring my own shampoo is if I NEEDED to use something special.

- Pillows, Sheets and Blankets

If you can't sleep unless you have your own pillow, then by all means, bring the pillow. However, the pillows provided are usually pretty darn good. As to sheets and blankets ...you don't need them.

- Hair dryer

Every cabin on every ship I have been on over the past 10 years has had a good hair dryer. One time it didn't work but within minutes the cabin steward had a replacement for me.

- Alarm Clock

This one is tricky. When I travel, I always bring one. I'm anal about getting up on time and am ALWAYS afraid I'll oversleep – BUT I have found the Wake Up Call feature on the phone in the cabin works very well.

- Handbags

Ladies, a ship is not a place where you carry your suitcase sized handbag around. You don't use money on board. You don't use credit cards on board. So leave it at home.

Bring something small you can hang around your neck or if you must, across your body, to carry your ship card, tissues, lip gloss or chapstick and your sun glasses.

If you do bring your handbag on board, take your keys, wallet and cell phone out of the bag and put them in the safe in your cabin. You won't need them for the duration of the cruise.

When packing keep in mind you are going to a resort, not camping out in the wilderness.

The ship will have most of what you need. This doesn't mean you can't take something, it just means you don't HAVE to pack EVERYTHING.

I've learned to pack very simply and not to worry if I've forgotten something. Try to do the same.

Happy Cruising!

BEFORE YOU BOOK THAT CRUISE - PART 2

2011-06-26T06:27:00.000-07:00

RESEARCH IS STILL THE KEY

This session will deal with what other expenses you MIGHT incur while on your trip.

First let’s look at what IS included in the price of your cruise:

- Accommodations

- Dining

- Entertainment

- Supervised Youth Programs

Accommodations simply mean the cabin (room and bath) you are assigned for the duration of the cruise. Both will be small …. with the bathroom being very small….bigger than 20 years ago, but still small by American standards. However, both the room and the bath are serviceable. In the room you will have closet space for hanging clothes, some shelves and a safe as well as a combination dressing table/storage cabinet/television stand/dresser – also relatively small.

Dining are your meals while on board, but only in the Main dining room or at the indoor/outdoor buffet. This does not include ANY of the alternative dining areas or the coffee/dessert bars scattered around the ship. A good rule of thumb is if they ask for your ship card, it isn’t included.

Entertainment is nearly non-stop … and the majority of it is included. There are a few things considered entertainment that do have a fee … like wine tasting. All the shows in the theater are free as well as the lounges, BUT be prepared to be asked over and over if you care to have a drink. Don’t get angry; just politely say, “no, thank you.” The cocktail servers are assigned to an area and are required to ask continually.

Supervised Youth Programs are included and are usually very good; however, I would ask a lot of questions before booking. Some lines don’t accept children still in diapers and some lines only have one group – mixing all ages together. Also check on evening babysitting services. Some ships offer this service ... but it's for an extra charge. Learn the rules before you book so you’re not disappointed.

Now let’s look at what IS NOT included in the cost of the cruise:

- NOT INCLUDED - The items in the stocked refrigerator in your combination dressing table, etc. Your cabin steward/stewardess is required to check it daily. If anything is missing, your cabin number will be charged … and all items are overpriced.

- NOT INCLUDED - The bottles of water conveniently left in the dressing area … very pricy. Again, the cabin steward has to keep count and bill accordingly. If items are missing from inventory and not charged to a room, the cost is charged to the steward.

Note: I bring a bottle of water on-board and then refill it as needed from the buffet area (free). I also bring a Koozie with a harbinger so I can hook it on my belt loop. This keeps me from having to spend $3.50 for a bottle of water when leaving the ship for my day excursions in port.

- NOT INCLUDED - The alternative dining areas – ALL of them are extra … $15 - $30 EACH - plus tip! I don’t go on a cruise to get a steakhouse meal so I totally avoid the alternatives. Are the meals in the dining room as extravagant as they used to be? No! However, they still serve a generous amount of good quality food.

- NOT INCLUDED - The coffee and dessert bars look and smell heavenly; however, they are also over-priced. Check the menu posted daily outside the dining room and the buffet. You will find a choice of 5 or 6 desserts on the dining room menu every day in addition to always being able to get ice cream. Plus the buffet always has more desserts than any one person could possible eat.

NOTE: I have a suggestion for saving some money if you are a snacker. In the morning go to the buffet – have your breakfast and then pick up some fruit, milk, boxed cereal, yoghurt or whatever you like and bring it back to your cabin. I have been known to bring back a donut or two and so they don’t go stale I put them in a zip-lock bag – stashing them out of sight so the cabin steward doesn’t throw them out while cleaning up. Yes, I carry zip-lock bags – in a couple of sizes (sandwich and quart) – just for such emergencies.

- NOT INCLUDED - Items of a personal nature …. such as deodorant, panty hose, hair spray, etc. All ships have a “sundry” shop but items are limited and (sorry for repeating myself) expensive.

- NOT INCLUDED - Beauty shop, spa sessions, manicures, pedicures, etc. are VERY EXPENSIVE and NEVER included. Ships offer top of the line services that you might want to make use of, but be prepared to have a large charge on your card.

- NOT INCLUDED – Sports, gambling, video gaming, Internet use – even with your own PC.

- NOT INCLUDED – Alcohol and Soft Drinks. I’ll offer more on this subject the next time.

Also not included .... Gratuities (tips). This is a big issue - and can be costly - so I'll cover this is a session by itself.

Remember, the rule for knowing if there is an extra charge is – “If they ask for the Ship Card, its extra!”

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Here is my featured flower for the day ..... Thank you Redgage!

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BEFORE YOU BOOK THAT CRUISE - PART 1

2011-06-14T07:47:00.000-07:00

RESEARCH IS THE KEY

So let’s look at some things you need to know before you invest any of your hard-earned cash.

Cruises are “cashless”. This means you will be issued a ship card that is nearly limitless.

This card will open your cabin door, allow you on and off the ship and CHARGE any purchase you make to your account.

These cards aren’t just handed out as you check in; you have to prove you can afford to pay your bill at the end of the cruise. In order to receive one of these cards (and to board the ship) you will have to fork over some cash or provide the cruise line with a credit card that has a high enough limit. In the past this meant a minimum of $300 per couple.

If you laid down cash, once the $300 has been used, you will be cut off and/or you will receive a nice letter from the Pursers Office asking you to bring more money to them to be added to your account so you can keep spending. If you don’t add money to your account, you will spend the rest of your cruise living without the luxuries. (You won’t suffer. You just won’t be able to indulge.)

If you gave them a credit card, well, if you’re not keeping track of your spending you might be in for a big surprise after you get home and the bill arrives. The cruise line makes it easy to keep track off your spending by making it accessible 24/7 via the television in your cabin.

Another reason for checking your account is to be sure no incorrect charges are made. I’ve sailed numerous times … and only had a couple of incorrect charges, but it does happen. It’s easier to correct an incorrect charge soon after it happens, rather than at the end of the cruise (or after you get home) when your final statement is slipped under your door. By the way, once the cruise is done NO ONE can leave the ship until ALL accounts are settled.

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Now let’s look at the first thing that is not included in the price of the cruise – PARKING. Parking can be very expensive, is not included and cannot be charged to your ship card.

Departing from a port near home saves the cost of airfare; however, you can spend a lot of money if you use the parking garage provided by the port. It is convenient but the daily parking fees are high – some extremely high. Here are a few examples:

- Port Everglades, Florida $15

- Tampa, Florida $15

- Miami, Florida $20

- Manhattan, New York $30-$40

However, with a little research (on-line, of course) you can usually cut that cost almost in half and sometimes eliminate it all together.

If you are planning to drive to the port city the day before, check the hotels in the area for a “stay, park and cruise” special. Many hotels near airports and cruise ports allow you to park your vehicle for the length of your cruise with just a one-night stay.

An example of this is when we were sailing on a 10 night cruise out of Miami. Parking at the terminal would have been $200 - $220. Yikes!! Checking on-line I found a big-name hotel that not only allowed us to park our car for the 10 days we’d be gone, it also gave us transfers to the port and a good breakfast the morning we left the hotel.

The hotel cost was $140, which we probably would have spent anyway – because hotels in Miami are not cheap. The transfers to the port for the two of us were worth $24. Breakfast was probably worth another $16 for both of us.

If I hadn’t done my research the total for just the hotel, breakfast and parking would have been around $376 – and we spent $140 – saving $236. Plus we didn’t have to deal with the traffic in an unfamiliar city.

Okay, so you’re not driving down the day before – no problem, you can still save.

Go to your favorite search engine and search on “parking at the Port of (name of your port)”. Not only will you get the port parking you will get hits on “off-site” parking. Check a few of these for rates, specials, free transportation to and from the cruise terminal, security and hours of operation. I’ve found the rates are always cheaper – usually by half – and you will be dropped off and picked up. This means you won’t have to deal with the traffic at the port.

In addition to the cheaper daily “drive up” rates, I’ve discovered that many off-site parking facilities offer an even cheaper daily rate if you book in advance. Plus I’ve found they sometimes have a weekly rate. These are normally only offered on-line. If you just drive in without a reservation, it will be cheaper than at the port, but not as cheap as having a reservation.

So, are you ready to start on the next leg of your research adventure?

Terrific! Off you go – and while you’re having fun researching, I’ll work on information for the next part of this project.

Never fear – have fun researching, as it will make your final goal – a good, but less expensive vacation – more enjoyable.

http://www.redgage.com/rene

IS TAKING A CRUISE IN YOUR FUTURE?

2011-06-08T07:47:00.000-07:00

Taking a cruise in just like anything else – it takes planning. And just like any vacation you can spend everything you have (and more) OR you can cut corners a little here and there.

First of all I think everyone needs to know that the “FORMAL” nights are slipping away. So the need for carrying “gown” and “tuxedo” is no longer necessary. (Okay, if you’re sailing on one of the small, exclusive ships you will need them and probably more than one set of finery. I won’t be discussing those types of cruises here.)

My intent is to give you some hints into how to save a little money while seeing some fabulous places.

Cruising is cheapest IF you are within driving distance of a cruise port. The costs and hassle of air travel can drive vacation costs out of reach of a lot of people so why not set your sights on what’s available near your point of departure (your home).

Of course, this may limit your choice of destinations but if you’re cruising for the first time you won’t have too much invested if you really don’t care for being on a ship.

I am only listing the major cruise ports. I know there are other ports … like the Intercoastal waterway on the East coast, The Columbia River on the West Coast and the Great Lakes, just to name a few, but I don't have enough information on them to share.

Just some examples in the US and Canada, to get your mind thinking:

- The Northeast has Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Bayonne, Baltimore and Norfolk.

- The Southeast has Charleston, Jacksonville, Port Canaveral, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa and Miami.

- The Gulf area has New Orleans, Mobile, Galveston and Houston.

- The West Coast has San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle.

- Alaska has Seward (Anchorage), Whittier and Juneau.

- Hawaii has departures mainly from Honolulu.

- Canada has Montreal and Vancouver.

Now that you’re armed with this information you can pick the port closest to you and start your research.

I bet you’re wondering where to start. I can’t do your planning, but I can give you some good leads.

First, go to the internet and type in the name of the port you want to research – for example, “Cruise port San Diego”. You should get at least one hit that is the real/official website for the port. This port website is the place where you’ll find all the cruise lines that use that port for embarkation.

Next, go to each of the websites for those cruise lines (some port sites provide links). At these sites you’ll be able to find out the itinerary available from your port.

This sounds like a lot of work, but just like RedGage, a Blog or your day job, you have to put in a little work in order to have a good payday. The payday for doing all the research on a cruise is 1) learning something new, 2) having some fun doing it 3) saving some money on a vacation.

I think this is enough for you to absorb – but there is a lot more I will be sharing, so stay tuned!

Happy Sailing!

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