It is a shame to put $ 250 - $ 2,500 on a dream vacation trip just to face unnecessary setbacks and inconveniences. Therefore, in order to minimize the chance of a collision on the way to your ideal rest, here are some common potholes that can be avoided.
Mistake number 1: Do not make your luggage great. At the end of your cruise, your baggage will be placed in a huge room with THOUSAND pieces of baggage, probably in a specific area based on the color of the baggage provided by the vessel. No matter how familiar you are with your own baggage, it’s amazing how well your bags will blend in with the mass of their surrounding cargo. A quick and easy definition of your baggage will be a great relief, especially if it becomes irrelevant.
BUT, this is not the main reason to make your luggage stand out. You will enter this cavernous room with several thousand other people, some of whom have not slept all night. They will be impatient to get their bag and go out, and there is a pretty good chance that their vision is not so good. If your bag looks like their bag, it could be a race. And, if a stranger takes your baggage, it may be hours, even days, before you return it.
Do something durable and noticeable for your luggage so that it is not only recognizable to you, but also gives dark travelers the opportunity to know that your bag is not their bag. Put stickers on it, draw a day strip around it, embroider a teddy bear outside ... just make sure it stands out.
Mistake number 2: Do not explore shore excursions in advance. Not surprisingly, people promoting a cruise line can describe each excursion to the beach as a once in a lifetime opportunity. Of course, the cruise is not complete without shore excursions, and many of them are absolutely wonderful opportunities to do something that you will never do otherwise. But be smart here. It is normal to deceive the idea that palm trees swing all the time, and this sand looks like silk under their feet. But, that's all it takes to look forward to this beautiful, relaxing day at the remote beach, to find out that you have 500 friends, some with young children, miss you and stumble upon your beach until the sellers dig up everything, from coconut shells to t-shirts.
Before you make, read a few reviews, talk with a cruise ship, go on a trip, ask passengers, think. Most cruise ships have a no-refund policy on excursions ashore, but don't be afraid to ask them if your experience is truly unacceptable. Better yet, find out what you are doing before you go. Many (if not the most) shore excursions are just great, and you will be happy you went. But cover your stump, and you'll be glad you did.
Mistake number 3: tabs Runaway Bar. If you do not specifically select the package that includes it, the tab of your bar is NOT included in the “all inclusive” part of your flight. Adding to the bite is a ubiquitous 15% tip, which is added to every purchase you make on board.
I could assume that you drink less, but this is just stupid! You're on a cruise! So pay attention to how much you drink. These cute little umbrellas, which drink in a stunning yellow-brown cup, will cost you twice as much as the main cocktail costs. Drinking a cruise ship is already quite expensive; you do not need to help them by spending more for a cup that you put in the closet when you return home.
Cruise ships have a policy against bringing alcohol on board, but the policy is very poorly enforced if you do not look at it. In other words, do not shift the handle to Budweiser’s case or check it as baggage or load a bag with Wild Turkey bottles. Imperceptibly packaged bottles of drinks from a drink or beer can probably go unnoticed. Do not try to sponsor a batch of frites, but you can definitely help yourself a little.
You can bring your own wine on board if you plan to drink it at dinner, although you are paid a “packing fee”. And you can also easily get a small influx of soft drinks (soda, water, etc.). You should definitely bring some water, especially if you are traveling in a warm climate.
Mistake number 4: Ignoring the rage of the gods of the sun. Sun Burn treatment is the fourth most popular reason people on cruises visit the ship’s infirmary. (The first three: 1) bumps and bruises, 2) indigestion, 3) motion sickness. After you burn you, few can do anything for you, except to try to ease the pain. (My favorite treatment for this is something called “Traumel.”) You can't find it at the pharmacy, but in most places it’s healthy food.)
If you are traveling in the winter months (from November to February), you do not have such a big problem. Even when you are in the subtropics, and although your skin probably hasn’t seen the sun for several months, the sun is setting at an angle and it matters. You still have to be careful, but you have more freedom.
In the spring and summer months, when the sun is over your head, you can burn in just an hour, especially during the day. Some stupid people refuse sunscreen because they want them to catch fire. Not a good idea. Start your sunbath with a minimum of 15 SPF (30 if you haven't been in the sun, with extra protection on your lips). As you get closer to your end, use less SPF. Even with a good sunscreen, your friends and colleagues will still know that you were in the sun.
Hats - a serious plus, if you are on the territory of sunburn. Most people do not apply sunscreen on their heads, and therefore the part of your body that receives the most direct rays for the longest period of time remains unprotected. Visors do not protect your skull; you need some kind of coverage.
Mistake number 5: no first aid kit. As noted earlier, there are several reasons why passengers end up wasting time (and sometimes money) in visiting the hospital. You may not be able to avoid all failures, but you can prepare for smaller mistakes. By the way, all these applications are doubled if you are traveling with children!
Blows and bruises. The biggest reason people visit a ship doctor is likely to have something to do with mixing booze, slippery surfaces, metal railways, and the ship’s moving movement. For most of your injuries, the right gamma application and a good analgesic cream will do the trick. A simple first-aid kit for traveling or camping will have what you need.
Indigestion. One of the drawbacks of such constant access to all of this wonderful rich food, which cruise ships are famous for, is that people eat it. And eat it. And eat some more. If you are not a strict disciplinary, you can expect to consume two to three times the usual amount of food on average per day. Add to this the steady consumption of alcohol, which is the hallmark of a cruise and voila! Indigestion. Take along some Alka Seltzer, some Pepto Bismol, and cumulative antacid tablets, such as Tums or Rolaids. All are available in pill form. Some craft stores will have some of this, but not always, and if you need it in the middle of the night, you're out of luck.
Seasickness. The best treatment is prevention. After you get it, well ... you! Check out the various forms of dramamine that are now available, including tablets and patches. Directions will tell you how much time ahead, before you hit the waves that you need to get the maximum effect. You can also get acupressure bracelets that work great with some people.
One of the best treatments I've ever seen for treating wrinkles when it hits you is coke and soda crackers — many of them. Some people say that 7-Up works as well, but I think there is something in the caffeine in Cox that helps the whole process. If you feel sick, your cabin is the worst place to be without weather conditions, really bad. Being able to get fresh air and see the horizon helps trigger brain sensors that soothe motion sickness.
Headache. We all know that drinking can make your head scream for mercy, but so can the sun and a lot of fresh food. If you are not used to heavy carbohydrates in your diet, and you pay a lot of cakes, ice cream or gourmet desserts, your body can cause the same symptoms as detoxifying from too much alcohol. And, if you experience bumps, cuts, or sunburn, sick peeling is a good thing. Keep a stock of different types of painkillers. Depending on the cause of your pain, aspirin may not work as well as Tylenol or ibuprofen in this case. (Do I need to remind you to read the label and follow the directions?)
Mistake number 6: What? Do not shoot? A picture is really worth a thousand words. It’s hard to imagine, but some people really make the trip of their dreams, and they don’t take the camera. Or, they will take the camera, but they will not keep it with them. Do not do this. If you have a digital camera, use it, use it, use it. If you do not have a digital camera, spring about three or four disposable. And don't forget to take a camera with you on a Life Boat drill. You will find out why when you get there.
The side panel for this camera is the photo operators that you use throughout the ship. There will be dozens of them on your cruise - when you arrive, when you arrive, when you leave the ship, into the pool - at times it will look like someone taking your photo every time you turn. Of course, you can refuse. But I recommend you do it. Yes, these photos can be stupid, even raw, but they can also be very funny. In addition, you can get the best shot of the cruise. Some of the settings are completely elegant, competing with what you find in the studio. This is a great way to get a nice formal picture for your living room, to send it to your family, and there is no charge for a seat!
Mistake number 7: buying from street vendors. Wherever you go on your cruise, as soon as you come ashore, they will come to you (ask?). Local people are trying to sell you something. I'm not talking about shops and improvised kiosks, which you can find, I'm talking about guys selling Cuban cigars from their chests or pirated CDs from a cardboard box.
Best of all, if you have not been there and really know the bill, just say "NO." No matter how attractive the offer, just say "NO." Most products are of very poor quality, and you cannot check them before buying. I know people who bought CDs without CDs inside, watches that didn’t work, Cuban cigars bought at the local pharmacy, “handmade jewelry” that came out of the machines with chewing gum, the list is endless. And this applies to SIXTEEN FOLD, if a local guy is trying to sell you a bank.
In most portals frequented by US courts, this street traffic is in fact illegal. You probably won't get into trouble, but why risk it? Save your money for honest locales and their small stores that will sell you watches that work, they just fall apart in a few weeks.
Mistake number 8: Thinking that you will save money in the city. One of the fascinating aspects of a cruise is the ritual of visiting local markets and shops. This is a really fun experience, and you can find all sorts of unique and special items, but you probably won't find any real deals. There are deals that you can find, but you really need to know what you are looking for and what it costs in the USA. Not cynical about it. This is all part of the experience. Anyway, buying a wooden giraffe in the Grand Tour is better than buying the same wooden giraffe at Pier 1 Import, even if you pay a little more. Go figure.
You can really save money when you buy liquor or tobacco, but this may not be as good as it seems at first glance. Most ports have so-called “duty-free” shops, which means that they were not “duty” (that is, import tariffs), and therefore they are cheaper to sell in this country. The same goes for diamonds and other jewelry. The challenge is to know what the item is really worth. Just because these guys saved on import duties do not mean they give you a discount. Also keep in mind that you invited announce to US customs any purchases you make in another country. Duty Free in Nassau does not mean that it is duty free when you return to the United States. There are certain exceptions for personal items, but if you put out some big money, you can lose savings when you pay duties on imports to the United States.
So don't be unhappy. Spend free. Do some Christmas shopping. Spread your money around the local economy and enjoy it. Just remember, these guys are selling things to foreign tourists. They know where the money comes from, and they know how to save as much as possible.
Mistake number 9: Sticky Around The Port. Yes, ships are safe in the harbor, but this is not what ships were built for. Most of the ports of call, especially when the call for a day or less, are configured to ensure the passage of ships certain experience. They achieve this by making their ports as convenient as possible for visitors. The Mexican experience that you get right outside the port in Cozumel is clearly different from the experience of Mexico on the other side of the island. All kinds of business areas have been created around the port in order to turn into a special comfort zone and a special economy.
But, often, just a few miles from the port, you can have a completely different experience. For example, if you are traveling to Grand Turk, you can spend a wonderful day in the resort setting of Margarita. The beach is well maintained, although a bit crowded. There is a huge beautiful pool with many palm trees and artificial waterfalls. Beer will cost you about $ 6, and a burger will cost about $ 8.
But a short taxi ride to the old city center will lead you to a much more authentic place. At least for now. You can walk the dusty streets; see skinny dogs shuffling trash cans and having local beer and a piece of fried chicken for about $ 3.75 in one of the local pubs. Of course, the American food inspection will never take place in the pub, and you may have to do without air conditioning. But the experience can be wonderful. You will not get this experience, located next to the port.
Of course, you want to be safe and you want to be able to return to your ship before selling it, so keep this in mind. But there is a whole universe of color, sound, smell, and people who never get to the port, and it’s worth finding.
Mistake number 10: Do not prepare for the journey home. Sooner or later (it will seem too soon), your cruise will end, and you will have to return to the land, where you create your own bed and cook your own food. Traveling home is often an annoying necessity and ends as quickly as possible. But, if you return to the reality you left behind, it’s like a diver who appears on the surface too quickly after a deep dive. Your mind and body will resist.
If possible, do something interesting on the way home. Stay overnight at the hotel or visit a landmark or even a theme park. At the very least, stay in a good restaurant for a leisurely lunch or dinner. A quiet picnic (even with junk food) in the recreation area can be a completely delightful way to go home.
Here are a few things to make your return less stressful and hasty.
o If you are driving, refuel the gas before heading for the port. Make sure that when you leave, you do not need to stop until you want to.
o When you have your breakfast last morning, take some pastries with you or even make yourself an egg sandwich. If you decide to take a thermos with you, take care of coffee or juice for a ride home.
Leave a few bottles of water in your car. Many bus companies will allow you to leave some personal belongings on the bus when you get to the port, so turn on some water and a pillow.
o Find out how the weather has returned home. I once trembled in 40-degree weather outside the airport in shorts and aloch shirt. Hey, it was 85 degrees when I left Puerto Rico this morning!
o Возьмите следующий выходной. Если вы возвращаетесь в порт в выходные, хорошо. Если нет, планируйте время до выезда. Или позвоните больным. Вы будете рады, что вы это сделали.
Заключительное предложение.
Следите за всеми информационными документами, которые вы получили в круизе - ежедневный информационный бюллетень кораблей, прейскурант экскурсий на берег и т. Д. Когда вы возвращаетесь домой, храните все это в папке, а затем используйте, если для справочного материала для себя или кого-то другого следующий время круиза планируется. Перед тем, как забыть, запишите все, что вы хотите, о чем вы думаете, и о том, что вы хотели, чтобы вы знали. Составьте полный список и запишите его с другой информацией о круизах, которую вы купили.
Счастливые круизы!
