7 things cruise passengers should never do

7 things cruise passengers should never do

Cruising is a unique and holistic experience. One can never be bored as it comes with in-house activities like facials, spa treatments, an unlimited buffet, and indoor and outdoor activities. But if you have never been on a cruise before, the experience can get overwhelming. While there are many things you can enjoy doing on a cruise, there are specific things that you should avoid altogether. This article will help you identify some of them.

Never forget to carry an ID card
It is suggested to carry a passport or an identity card on a cruise, but sometimes it’s not practical or too expensive to get one. On most cruises, you have to show your birth certificate and photo ID before you board. A driving license should also work. But no matter the destination, always carry your ID card.

Never arrive too early
Cruise lines have a boarding time (typically 12 to 4 pm) wherein you can show up anytime within the period to board the ship. Some cruises have a “staggered” check-in where you check in online with a selected time to board. If you arrive early, you might be told to come back to the terminal at your scheduled time. 

Never miss the muster drill
Muster drills are no fun, but they are mandatory for your safety. This drill shows you where you should assemble in case of an emergency. The staff makes sure everyone attends it. Trying to avoid the drill will only delay things.

Never climb, lean, or sit on the railing
For obvious reasons, never sit or climb over the railing. There are a lot of incidents of people accidentally falling off the fence. Your selfies for social media are not worth risking your own life.

Never let your kids run unattended
A family vacation on a cruise is a great idea. There are many kid areas on the cruise whose staff sometimes are happy to look after your kids while you relax. However, do not let them run wild on the deck or open areas unattended to avoid mishaps unless they are old enough to care for themselves.

Never forget to turn your phone off/ on airplane mode
Cellular charges hit the roof in the middle of the sea. You may incur a huge roaming charge if you do not switch your phone to airplane mode. However, it does not mean you cannot connect to your loved ones on board. Most cruises have free Wi-Fi across the ship. Read the amenities list before booking your ticket.

Avoid sunbathing
Many cruise ships had a private deck onboard where adults could enjoy sunbathing. But that’s not the case anymore. Going topless for sunbathing is prohibited on many cruises. There may be no specific signage, but it’s best to avoid the practice to stay away from conflict.

Although there’s usually no limit to how much luggage one can carry on a cruise, most cruise lines recommend traveling with up to two bags. The biggest hassle with carrying excess luggage is the limited storage space within the cabin. To avoid confusion, double-check luggage limits with the cruise line well in advance. 

Here are three popular cruises to choose from.

Viking Cruises
Viking Cruises offers exclusive river cruises across Europe, Asia, Egypt, and Mississippi. The travel booking platform is also famous for exotic ocean cruises and expeditions to the southern continent of Antarctica. 

Virgin Voyages
Virgin Voyages features some of the best oceanic adventures planned along the Caribbean, Europe, Trans-Atlantic, and South Pacific routes all year round.

Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises is one of the most affordable charters. Travelers can enjoy the best ocean cruises and shore excursions along with the most scenic destinations and major ports of call. 

Apart from these cruises, there are other popular options that one can consider. These include Silversea Cruises, Oceania Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), American Cruise Lines, Hurtigruten Cruise. So, next time when you’re planning a cruise vacation or trip, consider opting for these cruises.  For people seeking a chilled-out night of entertainment, concerts and other musical events offer solutions just as effective as cruises. 

Many popular cruise lines also offer exciting adventure packages to the exotic Turks & Caicos archipelago. Check out amazing diving excursions, water sports, and historical sight tours. You can also check out exclusive Galapagos Island cruise deals from major global ports of call. Plan amazing vacations to some of the remotest destinations to be in one with nature today.  Destinations like Alaska are popular among cruisers, giving them an opportunity to explore the gorgeous land and seascape of North America. Alaskan cruises may cost anywhere between $600 and $5,000 per person.

Another mistake to avoid is booking a trip without cruise travel insurance. As most regular travel insurance plans do not cover cruises, it is important to choose a comprehensive cruise travel insurance plan that offers complete protection in unforeseen circumstances. For instance, the cruise travel insurance plan should cover issues like cabin confinement, emergency airlifts to hospitals, missed ports, and unused excursion points.

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5 amazing hacks to book flights for cheap

Airfare is generally the most expensive part of a trip. If you’ve tried booking a flight before, you realize how frustrating it is to see the fare rise every time you search for the same flight. Airlines are trying their best to pull money out of our pockets, so we’ve to become smarter too. Here’s how you can find the cheapest flight possible:Go incognitoHave you noticed a fare hike after searching for the same flight a few times? This is not exactly happening because your flight is in demand. While the exact technical details about how this happens are uncertain, experts say that your browser cookies are to blame. So, it’s always recommended to search for and book a flight in your browser’s incognito mode. The incognito window resets your cookies each time you open it and can help you find a flight at a lower price. Having said that, it is still best to avoid searching for the same flight multiple times.The search engine mattersUsing the right search engine is very important to find the cheapest flight to your destination. Although there’s no single flight search engine that can help you get great deals, Skyscanner, Momondo, and Google Flights are the three favorite search engines among travelers right now. That being said, there’s never a guarantee that they are showing you the lowest prices, so you should check out a couple of other websites before booking.Pick the cheapest day to flyYou might have heard people saying that you can save money by flying on a Tuesday or Wednesday, but it’s not a consistent truth, and there is no “cheapest day of the week” to fly out. Instead, if you want to get an idea of which day(s) can be the least expensive to fly, you must get a quick visual of prices for a whole month. Flight search engines like Skyscanner, Kiwi.com, and Google Flights offer tools that can help you identify the cheapest days or months to fly to a particular destination.Choose a budget airlineFlying via budget airlines is a great way to get a really cheap flight. Budget airlines mostly offer significantly lower rates than bigger airlines, but this comes with compromises like less legroom and no free food or drinks and movies. If you’re ready to lose these luxuries to get a cheap flight, budget airlines are an ideal option for you. A word of caution: always read the fine print before booking, and check the location of the airport where the flight lands, as some budget airline flights land on airports further out of town.Subscribes to airlines’ newsletterSometimes, you can find the best deals directly on the airlines' websites. You can access these deals by subscribing to their newsletter and receive promo codes and special offers that help you book a flight for cheap. If you sign up for the newsletters of multiple airlines, you can create a separate email ID or use filters that automatically move emails to a specific folder so that you find them easily.

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4 common errors to avoid when traveling

Traveling to a new location allows you to explore the unknown. It is a great way to enjoy and experience new cultures, traditions, and cuisines while you unwind. It is also normal to make a few mistakes and dabble in a few travel glitches during the journey. But, at times, these errors can often put a stop to your fun and frolic. Thankfully, some of these mistakes are avoidable. Let's look at them.  Overpacking When you're traveling, the last thing you want to do is lug around heavy and huge suitcases. Not only will this completely ruin the vacation spirit, but it also could leave you with a sore arm. Overpacking is one of the most common mistakes people make when traveling. In most cases, overpacking starts with choosing an oversized suitcase or travel bag. Instead, start with a carry-on bag and then move to another if you need to. Also, pick out all the items that you want to take on the trip. Then, slowly eliminate some of them and try to find workarounds. This helps you limit your items to only essentials. Another tip, carry neutral clothing options; this way, you can mix and match your outfits.  Carrying expensive items Carrying expensive items like jewelry poses a risk when traveling. First, it could make you an attraction for pickpockets. Second, losing track of your items is very easy when traveling. But, this does not mean you should completely avoid carrying any valuable items. Instead, you can opt for a jacket with zip pockets or a constant waist pouch with all your important belongings. Make sure it is always with you, no matter the location. It is also recommended to leave your work cards and other extra items at home. Creating an over-ambitious itinerary Check out all the happening spots while visiting a new domestic or foreign place is normal. But, planning to visit all the local sights within a short period could leave you exhausted and unable to enjoy your trip. While difficult, it is best to refrain from creating an overpacked itinerary. Instead, opt for the must-visit places and add some free time. This allows you to slow down and enjoy the place while you get time to relax and replenish your energy.  Instead of filling up your itinerary, you can also plan a deluxe staycation. For example, if you are looking for a luxurious city getaway, you must consider the hotel suites and rooms at Encore’s Boston Harbor property. This 5-star hotel has been designed as a stylish retreat and offers many amenities to ensure a comfortable and relaxing stay for visitors.  Booking layover flights back to back Another common mistake people make when booking a flight through a tours and travels company is opting for connecting flights with little or no room to rest. Sure, booking one flight after the other sounds tempting as it may save time and money, but it could also backfire. Bear in mind that flights can get delayed, and you could also face issues with baggage claims which could take longer than usual to get through security. To avoid such unforeseen situations, remember to keep a minimum of two hours between connecting flights. Tip: Skip-the-line tickets – How to avoid the queue You can skip the line at the most popular tourist hotspots with excusive tickets purchased online or with guided tours arranged by locals. Check out skip-the-line Vatican tours of the Sistine Chapel and Colosseum and make bookings in advance on the official website of Vatican Museums. You may also book skip-the-line tickets for the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum online.  Viator is one of the top travel companies that offers exclusive guided tours, skip-the-line tours, and even bike tours across famous tourist hotspots and holiday destinations in Orlando and various other cities. If you're the adventurous kind and love animals, a safari tour can be a good idea. Safari packages can be combined and booked in advance with the same tour operator to save time and avoid the hassle of multiple overlapping activities. Wild Voyager is one of the more popular booking portals that offers a variety of luxury safari packages to Tanzania. Another thing to remember when traveling is to use travel cards that offer air miles. Airline travel cards such as the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card allow you to earn miles and unlock other rewards. You can use them to book your flight anywhere across the globe including popular European vacation spots such as Paris, France, Rome, Italy, Florence, Milan, Vatican City, or Venice. When traveling with pets, it is important to consider their specific needs, such as feeding, bathing, and grooming. Pet-friendly hotels offer the necessary amenities for the convenience of pets and their owners, allowing travelers to take their furry friends with them for vacations. In addition, one can check out the booking discounts available at pet-friendly hotels and make the reservations accordingly. Many may find it difficult to travel with their pets for reasons like hotel restrictions. Here, you can look up people offering pet-sitting and house-sitting services. For instance, TrustedHousesitters is a great online platform and community for pet lovers where you can find experts to take care of your pet and home while you are away. If you are looking for affordable short or long-term stays, Extended Stay America provides luxurious accommodation, with apartment-like suites featuring free Wi-Fi and fully equipped kitchens. You may stay here for as long as you desire—from a week to over a month.

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