Archive

Posts Tagged ‘cruise’

Cruise Travel Tips – Dont Leave Home Without Them

December 21st, 2009 No comments

Author: Darlene Berkelbr
Source: articledashboard.combr
br
Youve seen the commercials, vast blue oceans, beautiful white ship, and people laughing. What a wonderful vacation, sailing the deep blue sea and visiting exciting ports of call. This is certainly a dream vacation, especially as you sit in your office cubical in the dead of winter and shiver while you answer complaint calls from clients.

Cruise ships are a means of travel with some substantial benefits. The key advantage of a cruise ship is that it does the getting around for you. They make it easy to visit several places in a single trip without the need to pack your belongings and sit in a car/train/bus/plane to travel to each one; your hotel room comes along with you, and even provides the transportation. Additionally, most meals are usually included in the price of the cruise.

Timing is Everything

The most important cruise line tip is to ensure that you get to the dock on time. Although cruise ships sail from an increasing number of cities, most people still have to fly to get to and from their port of departure. If you are flying from another city into the location of your cruise line, make absolutely sure that your flight lands with enough time for you to disembark, travel to baggage claim, find your luggage and then locate a shuttle or taxi to the dock of departure. The cruise line will not wait for passengers. They are on a strict schedule of departure and arrival; the boat waits for no one. If you miss the boat, you miss your vacation.

Another important and valuable cruise line travel tip is to read all documents provided by the cruise line and your travel agent. Unless your ships itinerary is confined to a single country, you need to prepare for a cruise like you would any other international trip, including passports. Prior to booking flights or making any other travel plans, thoroughly read all documentation provided in regards to your cruise.

There are important contracts, guidelines, requirements and procedures that must be followed prior to boarding, and during the cruise. Again, the cruise line does not care if you didnt read your documents and forgot your passport or Visa. They only care that your travel documents are in order, youve taken the time to comply with their travel requirements and that you enjoy your stay once on board.

Safeguard your Luggage

Nothing could be worse than going on a cruise and losing your luggage, before or after the cruise. What a nightmare! It is essential to do everything possible to ensure that your luggage does not get lost. At the cruise terminal, baggage is given to the porters for loading to the ship Make sure that your suitcase is uniquely marked so that someone does not take your luggage by mistake. Identification tags are a must, so even if your luggage ends up in the wrong hands, it can easily find its way back to you.

Similar preparations are essential when leaving the cruise ship. On large ships you put a colored tag on your luggage and place it outside the cabin the night before you reach your final port, and pick it up ashore in the terminal. Some cruise lines are now offering an option where passengers can be first off the ship if they carry all their luggage off with them.

What about motion Sickness?

Some people experience queasiness on cruise ships. Many people find relief from special wristbands that stimulate pressure points that are believed to counteract the nausea of motion sickness. You can also get pills that will alleviate any discomforts caused by motion sickness. Make sure to get your supply in advance and dont forget to pack them in your hand baggage. You may never need them, but it is best to have them available just in case.

Dont Overlook the Details

It is especially important to review the cruise summary and travel itinerary to ensure that no errors exist. This cruise line travel tip is the one that will insure you get to spend your actual vacation time doing what you planned rather than sorting out a mistake and wasting valuable time. Most of the excursion arrangements are made through your travel or booking agent prior to your arrival at the boarding gate. As you prepare to board the ship, you will be given an outline of your activities to review as you wait in line. An essential cruise line travel tip is to take the time to scrutinize these items now, as they are the outline for your entire vacation. It is easier to correct any mistakes that might have been made now, while standing in line rather than once you are one board the boat. If you wait, you will lose precious hours of you vacation.

Cruise vacations are fabulous, but this type of vacation takes a considerable amount of preparation. If you heed the advice of these cruise line tips, you will not only get onboard, but you will also have the vacation of a lifetime!/pbr
br
br
br

Categories: Uncategorized Tags: , , , ,

Cheap Cruises Essentials – 3 Pre-Trip Tips

December 17th, 2009 No comments

Author: James Allenbr
Source: articleage.combr
br
If you are going to take the time and effort to book a cheap cruise in order to save money, you should also be certain that you are being cost effective in you pre-trip preparations. Here are several tips for keeping your costs down as you prepare for your cruise.
Go with what youve got.
Your summer clothes from last season are fine for your cheap cruise. Youre going to relax, not to participate in an on-deck fashion show. Dont go blow all your money before the trip on new swimwear and shorts. Your old Hawaii shirts and last summers swim trunks will serve you just fine.
The same goes for your luggage. Nobody is going to be impressed if you come on board with brand new leather travel bags. Youre going to be on a ship so stuffing everything into an old gym bag is perfect. In fact, it will make you look like a real old-salt to others on board.
Hide your plastic and bring cash.
While you should probably bring your credit card with you on your cruise, consider it for emergency use only. For spending money, set a budget ahead of time for things like souvenirs and put this amount aside in cash or travellers checks for your cruise. This will keep you from over-spending and help you avoid the charge it syndrome once you are on board.
Stock up on film before you leave.
Of course, no cruise would be complete without taking tons of pictures of your trip to share with friends and relatives upon your return. Film prices on the cruise ship are notoriously expensive though. Stocking up on cheap rolls of film from your local discount store will save you a bunch of money.
Youve taken the time to book a cheap cruise – now use the tips above to continue saving money before you leave. Being frugal during your travel preparations will leave you with more money to spend during your vacation. Enjoy your cruise!
James Allen is the 1st mate behind YourCheapCruises.com Before you set sail, come learn about planning your next cheap cruises at his websites home port.br
br
br
br

Categories: Uncategorized Tags: , , , ,

3 Ways To Travel To Turkey And Enjoy The Summer Travel Season In Europe

November 16th, 2009 No comments

Author: Dakota Bressler
Source: articlemarketer.com

Many people choose to enjoy Europe in the summertime. All of the attractions and activities are open and the weather is ideal for wandering around the countryside. You’ll also notice that this is when many of the hotel and cruise deals are at their best. You can travel to Turkey and the surrounding areas, see exactly what you want to see, and still stay within your budget.

Travel To Turkey’s Best Regions

Cruise deals allow you to travel to Turkey and see all of the country’s best sights, explore its rich culture, and learn its beautiful history in a single trip. There are several different options that will take you to the country’s most famous areas including Cappadocia, Bursa, Istanbul, Ankara, and many others. It’s almost impossible to get bored.

Some of the must see sites you’ll want to include in your travels include the ancient city of Troy and the stunning Celsus Library remains. There are also many ‘modern’ attractions ranging from the stunning Blue Mosque, which was built in the early 1600s during the Ottoman Empire, to the Bosphorus Bridge, which was constructed during the 1970s.

This country has an endless amount of things to see, and even some within walking distance from your hotel, but they’re all worth the effort.

See The Best Of Greece And Turkey In One Trip

If you’d like to travel to Turkey and Greece, but you can’t decide which one to visit first, try multi-country cruise deals and see both countries. As an added bonus, you’ll get to stay a little longer. Plus, they’ll look after your hotel arrangements, food, flight, and all of your transportation so that you can see the best sights the two regions have to offer including the cities of Istanbul, Troy, Athens, and Mykonos.

This type of tour starts in one country and takes you to all of the best spots before moving to the next so you don’t miss any of the must see sights. Some of the spots you’ll typically enjoy during your trip include guided tours through the Tokapi Palace and the Parthenon. You can also enjoy planned events such as folk and belly dancing, and free evenings to experience the local nightlife and the shopping opportunities that have made the area famous for centuries.

Region Specific Tours

Sometimes, a certain area just seems to speak to you, making you want to stay longer. If that’s the case, consider hotel, tour, and cruise deals that allow you to enjoy only one specific region. There’s numerous options that will allow you to travel to Turkey’s most important regions and still give you the freedom to keep your holiday as planned or spontaneous as you’d like. You’ll find the hardest choice will be deciding which area you’d like to see.

Some of your options include the Mediterranean Coast, which is known for its amazing mountains, rich forests, and blue waters. You can also visit the unique formations of Cappadocia as well as its famous artistry and culture; there’s nothing else like it in the world. If you prefer more urban settings, Istanbul features its world-renowned markets and exciting nightlife.

Many travel guides recommend the best time to travel to Turkey, or anywhere in Europe, is the summer when everything is open to the public, the weather is at its best, and so are the hotel and cruise deals. You can sightsee, go shopping, or just enjoy the beautiful scenery. Regardless of how you choose to see the area, however, you’re sure to have an unforgettable vacation.

Dakota Bressler is the author for Key Tours (http://www.keytours.com/), a wholesale tour company for the Mediterranean. They offer great hotel and cruise deals as well as other amenities you’ll need for a great vacation in the area including travel to Turkey (http://www.keytours.com/).