Cruising - Top Ten Tips

discounts from the big players like Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Princess.

Repositioning cruises can be good value for money, same onboard facilities and food, but with less ports of call and more days at sea.

Some cruise lines give discounts to a first time cruiser. Even if you have cruised before, there are still discounts to be had for your first cruise with a Cruise Line that’s new to you. They would all like you to become a returning customer with them in the future, for which there are discounts to be gained for loyalty.

Off-peak cruises can offer some bargains – these tend to be between September and mid-December, the first few weeks after New Year and after spring to mid-June.

DINING ARRANGEMENTS
If you’re travelling with children book the first seating at dinner. The later sitting at 8pm or 9pm will be too late and lead to overstressed parents and offspring. The early option then gives you the opportunity to take advantage of the babysitter service, while you take in a show or unwind in the bar/casino.

Choose the second seating if you plan to go on excursions, this will give you more time to enjoy the ports of call and still leave you with a chance of a shower and change before dinner.

EXCURSIONS
Although they can be more expensive, buying excursions through the cruise line can give you more confidence in a foreign country. If there are any delays while ashore they will be in contact with the cruise ship and you won’t be left behind!

Reserve shore excursions early in your cruise – the popular ones sell out on the first.

Get ahead of the game and gather information about the ports of call you will be visiting, to decide what you want to see. A useful site is the ‘Tourism Offices Worldwide Directory’ or www.towd.com to source information.

HANDY LUGGAGE
Remember to keep all the items you’ll need close to hand in your ‘carry-on’ hand luggage as it may be a few hours before your main luggage is delivered to your cabin. These include your travel documents, travellers cheques, passport, cash, any prescription medicines and reading glasses. Even a light change of clothes or swimsuit, so you can make the most of your first day aboard by taking a dip or exploring the ship in a pair of comfortable shoes!

STAFF GRATUITIES
Although some cruise fares state that tipping is inclusive or automatically added to your account. Staff who look after you on a regular basis will respond to and dare we say expect to receive a token of your appreciation.

ANY PROBLEMS
If you find yourself on a table with a couple who just aren’t on the same wavelength, then a small gesture of goodwill should encourage the maitre d’ to find you an alternative. The maitre d’ is the person to contact for any problems that you may have in the dining room.

For problems with your cabin, see your cabin steward, try and develop a good working relationship with them, they can contribute greatly to the overall smooth running and enjoyment of your cruise experience.

Any problems with other areas of the ship, see the ship’s purser.

Always remain calm and pleasant, a reasonable approach yields better results than a demanding ‘who’s the paying guest here?’ attitude.

DON’T LOSE CONTACT
Many of the cruise lines have now added terrestrial cell phone antennae to satellite translators onboard their ships. So mobile phones that used to lose their signal as soon as ships lost sight of land, will now continue to work. Calls will be expensive ranging from £2.25 per minute, but should still be cheaper than your cabin phone.

Wireless Maritime Services are working with cruise lines, utilizing high-bandwidth technology, the service is compatible with most cell phones and allows passengers to make and receive calls from anywhere in the world. No extra software or special dialing procedures are required
International roaming fees apply to all shipboard cell phone calls.

Internet access at sea is more affordable if you buy a bundle from the cruise line, rather than paying as you go. Internet connections while at sea can be very slow; page loading and message sending will take longer than normal.

If you use the ship’s telephone system to make a call, find out about the cost first. Some can charge as much as £7 per minute.

YOUR HEALTH & SAFETY
It really is important to remember to drink only bottled water when in port, also avoid salads and other fresh vegetables.

Keep money, jewellery, cameras etc hidden, especially in crowded marketplaces. Use your cabin safe to lock away valuables, including your travel documents. Carry your cruise line identification card with you at all times.

Do take note of the life jacket/ lifeboat drills, they are important.

The onboard doctor and hospital services are chargeable – but should be covered by your medical insurance – check the small print before you set sail.

AND FINALLY
The secret of a great cruise is selecting the one that ticks all your boxes!

One with the right mix of interesting ports of call, first class service, facilities, size and layout. Write a list of what you want out of a cruise, the destinations, the cabin with a balcony or verandah, dining preferances, your maximum budget, the passenger age group you would be comfortable with. Build up a picture of your ideal cruise and then use these pages to make it happen.