Cruises - Your First Day – Part III

Ready to take off on your first cruise? Here are some tips about what to expect.

Since a modern cruise ship is so large and complex - with many levels, dozens of public rooms (the gym, several restaurants, bowling alley, shopping mall, etc), you can easily get lost. Don't worry! There's nowhere to go that you can't easily find your way from. After all, if you don't jump overboard, eventually you'll run out of places to be lost from.

Take the map with you and stroll casually around the behemoth. Visit the dining area and locate a public restroom. Saunter through the shops. Find the Internet cafe, if you just have to check your email and didn't bring your own laptop. There's always an information office on board ready to help you with maps, event announcements and brochures of things to do.

Sooner or later, you'll probably wind up in some area and have no idea where your cabin or the restaurant is. Don't feel embarrassed. You're not the first to have that problem on a ship that's almost 900 feet long and has enough levels to equal a 10-story building.

Read the ship's newsletter and you'll start to feel like an experienced cruiser. You'll find fun gossip, helpful event information and lots of other useful tidbits. Take advantage of one of the many offers of a drink, but keep in mind that these are rarely free. Know what things cost before you get too big a shock.

If you have time, and hopefully you booked a cruise longer than a day, check out some of the places that will have evening events. That way you can arrive in plenty of time when the entertainment starts, since you'll already know the way.

Enjoy the mandatory lifeboat drill. The odds of having to abandon ship these days are very close to zero, but all ships are legally required to hold them. With radar, sonar, computer warning systems, GPS and decades of careful mapping of the oceans, plus all the experience gained, it's very rare for any serious problem to occur.

But it can be fun to practice anyway. You'll feel better, too, knowing you know how to operate a life vest. And, remember, you are much safer on a ship even when it's sinking than on a plane in trouble.

Now, you're ready to shove off. Stand at the rail and wave, even if there's no one you know. Pretend it's 1949 and you are about to set off on a glamorous, romantic adventure. Imagine that you might meet Cary Grant on board. Hey, it could happen!

Cruises - Your First Day – Part II

Ready to take off on your first cruise? Here are some tips about what to expect.

In decades past, cruise ships were sometimes described as floating hotels. Today, they are so gargantuan they might better be said to be floating cities. You've stepped on board and suddenly you enter an enormous maze of levels, rooms, walkways and corridors containing cabins.

You can be stressed, or you can look at your situation as an adventure. Part of the fun for novice cruisers is to find their way around a new ship. You get to explore all the public amenities - the swimming pools, the restaurants, the gym, the theater and so much more.

But if you've already had a long flight and a long, crowded wait to get on board, you may want to visit your cabin first. Right this way! You'll want to have a small carry-on with a change of clothing and some toiletries, since your baggage won't arrive in the room for a few hours.

You'll want to have a map of the ship in hand, but don't worry if you're not so good at navigation. After all, you're not a sailor but a passenger. There are plenty of people around ready to assist you. Some lines will have someone take you directly to your cabin personally. Others will offer some guidance and scoot off to take care of the hundred things they need to do every hour.

Exercise a little patience and good will. Rest assured that the employees are doing the best they can. If you get lost, laugh it off and just keep asking for directions and referring to the map. Sooner or later, usually sooner, you'll find your way. Then you can practice finding it again.

You'll probably be surprised at the size of your cabin. The photos always make them look larger. For anyone who has seen old pirate ship movies, then seen a real pirate ship that's often a surprise, too. Things have always been smaller on a ship, for obvious reasons.

Small, it may be, but they make amazingly clever use of the space available. Get familiar with the cabinets and drawers and other facilities. You'll probably pick up a few good tips about how to modify your bathroom at home!

You'll be given a dining assignment and (usually) a ship's credit card. These days, the dining arrangements are very flexible. If you don't like the table you're at, changing is very easy. If you don't like the time, there are many other options now. A polite request goes a long way, if you have to ask someone to make a change.

If provided, use the ship's credit card for any purchases on board. Sometimes it will double as the key card for your cabin. Try not to lose it, since you'll be inconveniencing the ship employees and yourself. But don't worry too much if you do. It's possible to obtain a replacement. The cruise lines have seen it all.

Most of all, try to relax and look at the whole experience as an adventure. Enjoy!

Cruises - Your First Day – Part I

Finally, the date of departure has arrived! After all your careful planning, you're ready to sail. But, if you're a first time cruiser, you may be experiencing a little bit of anxiety, uncertain about what will happen and what to do. Relax, the cruise lines have seen it all before and are ready to make your trip easy and enjoyable.

When you arrive at the terminal, for most voyages there will be a crowd. So, just as you would for a busy flight, a popular movie or any other social activity, allow lots of time. Knowing you have plenty of time to get done what's needed always decreases the stress level dramatically.

You'll be eager to get your carefully packed luggage on board. Don't worry. The porters are almost always very experienced and do a great job of making sure that everything is taken care of. They'll put your suitcases in a bin that will be loaded onto the ship.

Airlines only occasionally lose luggage, and most of that happens because of confusion from connecting flights. No chance of that here, so relax. They'll deliver your bags to your cabin as soon as possible, but be realistic. They typically have thousands of bags to sort and deliver and that takes a little time. A moderate tip can't hurt, though. Some recommend $1 per bag, but a minimum of $5 is reasonable these days.

When you get inside the terminal building, you'll (of course) have to wait in line (except on vary rare occasions). You'll walk through the security facilities - X-ray, metal detector and whatever else they come up with next. If you've had any experience with airport security, you'll usually find this much less stressful.

Just exercise common sense and don't make any foolish jokes, and don't try to take any liquor on board. That's not so much a security risk as it is the cruise lines wanting to encourage you to buy what they offer. Some find it annoying, but others just see it as part of cruising. Save yourself some money and hassle and read the fine print before you leave, then follow its suggestions.

You'll be provided with a number or letter and invited to wait in the Embarkation Lounge until you're called to board the ship. That's a good opportunity to take a deep breath and maybe even strike up a few interesting conversations with more experienced passengers. Most people about to leave for a cruise are in a good mood and are happy to answer questions.

If you were running late, you may just be asked to get right on board. Don't worry, though. Enjoy being treated like a movie star when the ship's photographers snap your picture. Just smile and act like you do it every day.

Now you have a chance to walk around the ship, find your cabin or explore some of the amenities offered. If you get lost, again don't worry. Just ask one of the dozens of friendly cruise line employees. Most are very practiced at helping out and, despite always being tremendously busy, are happy to direct you when they can.

Most of all, enjoy!

Carnival Cruise Lines

The name Carnival is famous in cruising circles for good reason. The company has transformed cruising from the realm of a luxury reserved for the well-to-do to a vacation available to just about anyone.

Carnival pioneered the idea that shorter cruises could be profitable. At the same time, they have designed many shorter cruises that allow not only a reduced price, but the ability of busy people to take a short vacation on ship. Stressed corporate workers can now hop off to Mexico on a ship the way they might have hopped onto a plane to Vegas 20 years ago.

Along with that convenience factor has come many more entertainment options on board. Many ships in Carnivals ever-growing fleet now resemble Las Vegas hotels. Some resemble Las Vegas itself, they've grown so large. That has brought dozens of new forms of enjoyment for cruisers.

Gambling and musical entertainment has long been part of some cruises. But Carnival has raised it to the same heights seen in Las Vegas by offering shows that look as if they might have just stepped right off the Strip and onto the deck.

And the company continues to expand its shipping fleet and the number and type of voyages. The latest, the Carnival Liberty is their first to be based in Europe. From there it can sail to the South of France or the Greek Isles and many places in between. Even larger ships are about to debut. The Carnival Splendor will house up to 3,000 passengers, a population larger than many small towns in America.

They recently began a series of four and five day voyages from San Diego to Cabo and Ensenada in Mexico. These trips aboard the Elation are selling reservations like MP3 downloads – hot, hot, hot. Travelers can take a week's vacation in the sun, or just escape for a long weekend.

They also have 15-day voyages all the way to the Panama Canal. You can see one of the most important construction projects in the world and have plenty of time to unwind, enjoy the sea air and sun. You can also take advantage of the amazing variety of things to do on board. The ship has three elegant restaurants, three swimming pools, a gym, a large theater, and dozen other attractions.

Carnival is also associated with the Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Windstar Cruises and others. They purchased the famed Cunard Line (owner of the Queen Mary) several years ago. As a result, no matter what kind of voyage you're interested in, they'll have something to interest you. Prices vary widely and trips can be tailored to just about any budget.

Take a look at what they have and be prepared to see one of their trademark clever animal-shaped towels in your cabin as you reach for that chocolate on the pillow.

Cruises - One Day Adventures

Can't find the time to take a whole week off? Don't want to consume those vacation days with a three day cruise? One day cruises might be just what you are looking for.

You can pick any day, though weekends are the busiest of course. Several lines now have day cruises in different places. It used to be that a one-day cruise meant boarding at Long Beach and taking a small ship to Catalina Island. Or, getting on in New York and sailing to Martha's Vineyard.

But now the options are wide open.

Carnival, for example, has several options for traveling down the west coast of the U.S. and Mexico. The east coast has cruises from New England to Florida.

Or, if you're lucky enough to live in Hawaii, you can board a ship and travel around the islands. Australia has many cruises for touring Sydney Harbor. China offers boat cruises along the several of the country's major waterways. There are Mediterranean tours that leave from the south of France. And there are short cruises around the Greek Isles.

In short, no matter where you are there are excursions that can satisfy your need to get away for a day without using up those precious vacation days. You can save those for the four or five day or even week-long cruises.

Most lines offer not only one day or weekend day getaways, but specials for each holiday around the year. The Fourth of July cruise is especially popular. Even Thanksgiving Week departures can be a great time in areas where the weather is suitable.

Some of the one day cruises, despite the name, are actually longer. You may sail for one day, stay overnight on land and return the next day or a day later. 'One day' often actually means 'one night'. In the meantime, you may enjoy a land excursion as part of the package.

Alaska one-day cruises are a favorite of many. You can take a tour of Prince William Sound. Just hop aboard a train in Anchorage to Valdez, then take the cruise to watch the whales or the otters. The view of the glaciers is something to see. You never get the full sense in documentaries of how massive those formations are.

Seward is another popular port. Large cruise ships regularly 'tie-up' there. There's easy train or tour bus access from Anchorage, and you'll get a chance to see Fox Island. The area brims with sea otters and sea lions, puffins and humpback whales.

For a smaller version of the same thing, hop on board one of the many small cruise ships at Monterey, CA near the aquarium. You'll see more otters and seals than you can store photos of in your digital camera. At certain times of the year, you have a good chance of spotting a whale spouting.

San Diego has similar tours of the bay. Even when there isn't sea life present, the pleasant winds and the beautiful scenery make the cruise a great choice for a one day sail.

Cruises - Common Misconceptions About Cruises

There are a number of views commonly held by those who haven't actually been on a cruise. Those views may be keeping them from even exploring the possibility of taking one. So, exposing some of those misconceptions may help.

Lots of people, not unreasonably, believe that cruises are dominated by the elderly or late-middle aged. While it's certainly true that many cruise goers have a bit of gray in their hair, today all different ages go on cruises. Family trips are increasingly popular and kid-specific facilities and activities are offered by all the lines now.

Teens and 20-somethings form a larger percentage of cruise goers than in the past. With a booming economy, more have the funds from generous parents and their own savings and they're taking advantage of discounts and shorter cruises. Retired individuals often have more free time and spare income from years of saving. But they are no longer the majority of passengers.

Cruises in the past sometimes had very set schedules, for eating and recreation or entertainment. All that has changed. Though major meals do occur between certain hours, there are lots of alternatives today. There are in-between meal buffets, alternative restaurants and others.

Entertainment of certain kinds, like musical or theatrical performances, of course, have to start at a given time. But today there are so many alternatives for entertainment that you can amuse yourself a dozen different ways at any time of the night or day. Bowling, deck tennis, computer games, card games... the list is endless.

A similar objection to cruises is sometimes raised: that there is too narrow a choice of activities. That, too, is no longer the case. The entertainments mentioned are only a few examples. In times past a walk around the deck, a little table tennis, or a good book may have been about the range.

Today, there are more things to do on board than any one person could enjoy in 10 cruises. Whether your interests are dancing, exercise or physical enjoyment there are choices galore. If you prefer something a little more sedate, there are a dozen choices there as well. Of course, if you prefer to simply lie around and soak up sun or read a book, there are lots of ways to do that, too.

Some people think they'll be bored on board, with nowhere to go. Even apart from all the fun and interesting activities, the ship itself has fascinating things to see. Touring most of these behemoths that sail the seas today would take a good two days or more all by itself. By that time, with the exception of some U.S. to Europe cruises, you are rarely confined on board for more than a few days.

You'll find that by the time you long to go ashore to explore new lands, you'll have that chance. By the time you've become worn out with tourist hopping around new cities, you're ready for some relaxing time on board ship.

Cruise ships have long been floating hotels, but today they are more like floating cities. As such, they have all the exciting things to do that any great city will have all within easy reach. Plus, you have the chance to see foreign cities as well.

It doesn't get any better than that!