Marc's Travel Tips

Taking a cruise can be one of the most exciting vacations you go on but it can be confusing and intimidating to plan one. Your best bet is to use a Travel Agent to book your cruise once you research where and when you want to go. There are hundreds of ships and itineraries to choose from. Let me know what time of year you want to go and I can make recommendations on the best places to visit or I can tell you the best time of year to go to the destinations you want to visit. I can also recommend which cruise line fits the vacation you're looking for. Will it be a romantic trip for two, a family vacation or a bunch of friends getting together to party? Let me know and I will help you plan.

Check out this informative website for some help in picking the right cruise for you.

http://www.cruisecritic.com/

Here's help with excursions.

http://www.cruiseclues.com/excursions.htm

More Cruise Tips

 Enjoy your coffee anywhere on the cruise ship. Bring a travel mug for early-morning coffee fill-ups at the buffet. Your coffee stays warm, and travels well around the ship--the mug is specifically designed to stop spillage--and you don't have to linger in the restaurant after you've finished eating breakfast. You can return to your room or to your favorite deck chair with a fresh cup.

Pack a powerstrip and extension cord for your next cruise. Many cruise-ship cabins have only one outlet, but you'll definitely need more if you want to power up your laptop, iPod, cell phone, electric razor, hairdryer or any other gadgets you bring on board.

Pack a bungee cord the next time you go on a cruise. If you've reserved an outside cabin, you can use it to tie back the balcony door, leaving the cabin open to ocean breezes.

Don't waste time waiting for your luggage on the first day of a cruise. Instead of packing your swimsuit away with the rest of your clothes, put it a small bag and carry it with you. This way, once you board the ship, you'll be able to enjoy the pool long before your suitcases are delivered to your cabin.

You can attach the cruise line--supplied luggage tags (they have your cabin number on them) to the items you carry around the ship--binoculars, knitting bag, etc. This way, if you forget something by the pool or in the dining room, it can easily be returned by a crew member.

The couple of hangers provided on cruise ships aren't enough for weeklong trips. So save wire hangers from the dry cleaner and slip a few into your suitcases while packing.

Want to enjoy the great buffet spreads on your cruise without gaining weight? Stop riding the elevator--always use the stairs instead. Take an early morning and an evening stroll on the top deck. Cruisers are their own worst enemies.

A shoe organizer hung over the bathroom door is a solution for hotel-room clutter. The compartments are perfect for stashing everything from room keys and travel documents to toiletries and, of course, shoes. The extra storage space comes in especially handy

Some cruise lines offer discounts on a future sailing if you book it while on a current cruise. Back home, you can transfer the booking to your travel agent and work with them to try to lower the price even further. You can always cancel your booking at no cost if you follow the cruise line's cancellation schedule. This is a great way to get some of your onboard expenses paid for in advance!

Public libraries in the ports of Alaska are a tremendous money-saver. Who wants to pay $5 a minute for Internet use from a cruise ship when you can use the computers for free at the local library while in port.

Do you have any tips of your own? Email Me!

Helpful Tips

Not sure if you would like a cruise? You can also take a short 3 or 4 day cruise out of Florida to find out. There are many to choose from.

Want help picking your cabin? Do you want the quietest cabin? The one closest to the pool or gym? Or the cabin with the biggest balcony? Let me know.

Most cruise lines include all of your meals and non-alcholic beverages in the price but make sure you check this before you book so there are no suprises. Most lines don't include soft drinks or specialty coffee's but on Carnival for example you can pre-pay for a soda card and drink all the soda you want all week. This may be a good choice if you brought the teenagers with you.

Dont forget about tips for your waiters and cabin stewards, most lines don't include this in your fare either. Check your cruise line's website for recommendations on how much to tip each person.

When booking flights you have to decide if you want to book through the cruise line or book it on your own. I can give you the pros and cons of both and make recommendations.

One of the best parts of cruising is the excursions. There are so many to choose from. Many times you can find the same excursions through private companies that the cruise line offers but for a lot better price and with more personalized service. Check out the link on the left for help with this or ask me!

I always recommend purchasing the trip insurance when booking your cruise. You never know what can happen. Check out what the insurance covers and make your decision from there.