Essential Cruise Tips

Gary Bembridge author of "The Cruise Traveler's Handbook" provides another 60-Second Cruise Tip. For more visit http://www.60secondcruisetips.com and subscribe free to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher Radio and TuneIn Radio   Cruising the MediterraneanThe Mediterranean is the second most popular cruise region after the Caribbean. It provides warm weather, generally calm seas and you visit different cultures and countries in a short space of time. The season is April to October, although some ships remain offering winter sun trips. The key ports where cruises start and end are Barcelona, Venice, Genoa, Civitavecchia and Southampton. Although, some lines allow you to join or leave at other ports on the itinerary making Mediterranean cruises flexible and varied. Some considerations when planning include:    •    Sail from ports already within the Mediterranean rather than places like Southampton or Hamburg requiring sea days to get into the region.    •    Large ships are limited on the ports they can go to and s

Gary Bembridge author of "The Cruise Traveler's Handbook" provides another 60-Second Cruise Tip. For more visit http://www.60secondcruisetips.com and subscribe free to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher Radio and TuneIn Radio.   Cruising the CaribbeanThe most popular cruise region is the Caribbean. Many ships sail out of Florida, mostly Miami and Fort Lauderdale, although there are frequent cruises from other USA ports - and occasionally from Europe.  East Caribbean cruises go to islands like Saint Maarten, Saint Thomas, and Antigua. Western ones visit places like Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and Jamaica. Cruise lines often alternate these routes offering back-to-back trips around the region.Here are some considerations when choosing a Caribbean cruise:
    •    Ports can get busy with thousands of cruise passengers visiting at one time. This is especially common on the northerly islands close to Florida like Puerto Rico, Saint Thomas and Saint Maarten when seven or more ships can be there together. I prefer cruises t

Gary Bembridge author of "The Cruise Traveler's Handbook" provides another 60-Second Cruise Tip. For more visit 60secondcruisetips.com and subscribe free to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher Radio and TuneIn Plan a cruise to avoid tendering - especially when on big ships Tendering happens when a ship cannot dock in port and has to use tender boats to ferry passengers to and from land. Some reasons why your ship may not be able to dock include the port being full, the tides or winds are unfavourable or the dock facilities are not suitable for the size or type of the ship.When you are looking at cruise itineraries in brochures or online check each port listed to see if the ship will be docking or tendering there. Cruise lines usually know in advance and will include that information. I avoid cruises where there are lots of tender ports if I can, as it can be a frustrating experience - especially on large ships with thousands of passengers.They usually give preference to tendering off people on cruise line excursi

Gary Bembridge author of "The Cruise Traveler's Handbook" provides another 60-Second Cruise Tip. For more visit http://www.60secondcruisetips.com and subscribe free to the podcast on iTunes and Stitcher Radio Follow us on: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tipsfortravellers Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/garybembridge   What if I fall ill? Maritime law requires ships at sea with over 12 passengers to have a doctor on board. You are likely to find 24-hour medical cover on cruise ships and a facility staffed by doctors and nurses to deal with everything from minor injuries and daily problems through to serious medical issues. Your on-board account is charged if you use the service, and it costs about the same as accessing land-based private medical care. You will be given a receipt to make an insurance claim if you are covered. With serious medical cases the medical center stabilizes and make patients comfortable until they can be offloaded to hospital. If the problem is acute and the ship is far from land

Gary Bembridge author of "The Cruise Traveler's Handbook" provides another 60-Second Cruise Tip. For more visit http://www.60secondcruisetips.com and subscribe free to the podcast on iTunes and Stitcher Radio Follow us on: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tipsfortravellers Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/garybembridge   Who is Silversea Cruises best suited for? Silversea is an ultra-luxury cruise line owned by the Lefebvre family of Rome. This independent line is infused with strong Italian influences and style on board. They offer cruises to traditional destinations like the Mediterranean, Baltics, Asia and the Caribbean on their main fleet of intimate-sized ships holding between 300 and 500 passengers. Silversea have all-inclusive fares, all-suite staterooms, attentive service and partnerships with luxury brands including Bvlgari, Ferragamo, Davidoff and Relais & Châteaux. These small ships still provide choices of dining and entertainment and fares include food, drinks and gratuities but not excur

Gary Bembridge author of "The Cruise Traveler's Handbook" provides another 60-Second Cruise Tip. For more visit http://www.60secondcruisetips.com and subscribe free to the podcast on iTunes and Stitcher Radio Follow on: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tipsfortravellers Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/garybembridge   Royal Caribbean is the world's second largest cruise line offering resort-like destinations which are often first to introduce features not seen on cruise ships. Their ships have rock climbing, surfing, bumper cars, ice skating, zip lining, water spectaculars and big production shows. They operate many of the largest cruise ships in the world and need to attract all age ranges to fill them, although they especially appeal to families. Royal Caribbean has a busy on-board atmosphere with lots of bustle and activities all day. This includes many passenger-participation events like trivia, hairy chest and even belly flop competitions. There are a number of speciality dining options in addition to

Gary Bembridge author of "The Cruise Traveler's Handbook" provides another 60-Second Cruise Tip. For more visit http://www.60secondcruisetips.com and subscribe free to the podcast on iTunes and Stitcher Radio Also follow on: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tipsfortravellers Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/garybembridge MSC Cruises is the youngest of the major passenger cruise lines. Their rapid growth over the last decade especially in the Mediterranean, South America and South Africa, has made them one of the four largest cruise companies. The line was created by the Italian family that runs the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) which is one of the world’s largest sea freighter operators. MSC Cruises is Mediterranean based and promises a "Mediterranean Way of Life" experience. This means they have a strong focus on families, relaxed but efficient service and food popular in the region - especially Italian. The ships have partnerships with famous Italian brands such as Nutella, Segafredo coffee, Disar

Gary Bembridge author of "The Cruise Traveler's Handbook" provides another 60-Second Cruise Tip. For more visit http://www.60secondcruisetips.com and http://www.tipsfortravellers.com/cruise-travelers-handbook Subscribe free to the podcast on iTunes and Stitcher Radio Passengers going on ocean cruises are increasingly booking as late as they can. There is plenty of capacity, many ships do similar itineraries and so there are loads of deals and incentives. Especially after the 90-day cut-off point when those who have pre-booked have to pay their final balance. Ocean cruisers know they can usually get the cruise they want on a ship they like at a great price by waiting to book. The cruise lines are eager to change this as the economy improves and by attracting new travellers to cruising to fill the excess cabins at higher prices. In river cruising, although late bookings are possible, it is more advisable to book in advance to ensure you get the cruise, dates and cabin you want. While lots of new ships are be

Gary Bembridge author of "The Cruise Traveler's Handbook" provides another 60-Second Cruise Tip. For more visit http://www.60secondcruisetips.com and http://www.tipsfortravellers.com/cruise-travelers-handbook Subscribe free to the podcast on iTunes and Stitcher Radio Disembarkation off a cruise ship at the end of your cruise can be a long and frustrating experience, especially if you are travelling on a large ship carrying several thousand other passengers. Unless you are cruising in a premium suite or have high status in the cruise line frequent traveller program, you could find yourself sitting about in public rooms for many hours after 8am, when you have to vacate your cabin, waiting for your turn to disembark. Many cruise lines offer a self-disembarkation option where you carry all your luggage off the ship yourself and can get off the ship first. You can be off the ship within half an hour to an hour after docking and being cleared by the local authorities using this option. I like this as it means le

  Gary Bembridge author of "The Cruise Traveler's Handbook" provides another 60-Second Cruise Tip. For more visit http://www.60secondcruisetips.com and http://www.tipsfortravellers.com/cruise-travelers-handbook Subscribe free to the podcast on iTunes or Stitcher Radio. Passengers with mobility issues wanting to do a river cruise should discuss their needs and limitations with the line before booking to see if it is suitable for them. It is not as obvious a choice as it may seem. Some key factors to consider include: Wheelchair access can be problematic on river ships. They are restricted in length, height and width to pass under bridges and through locks and  so the cabins and bathrooms are compact. Ships usually do not have specific wheelchair accessible rooms and bathrooms. In port passengers need to navigate ramps on and off the ships, which can be steep and narrow. Ships will also often dock side by side and require crossing through or over other ships to reach land adding to the difficulty of getting a

Gary Bembridge author of "The Cruise Traveler's Handbook" provides another 60-Second Cruise Tip. For more visit http://www.60secondcruisetips.com and http://www.tipsfortravellers.com/cruise-travelers-handbook A common thing to do when cruising is to go through the excursion list and book one for each port stop. However, staying on board while in some ports is a much underused option by most cruisers. The ship is usually empty and quiet when in port as most passengers will get off for some or all of the day on an excursion or to self explore. A lot of the crew will also get off to go shopping, find free Wi-Fi and to have a break from their confined living space on-board. It means the pools, spas and other activities are less crowded and busy. The cruise line will run special offers and promotions for services on port days for this reason, making it cheaper and easier to get a reservation than on sea days when there is more demand. You are unlikely to want to stay on board every port as you miss seeing new pl

Gary Bembridge author of "The Cruise Traveler's Handbook" provides another 60-Second Cruise Tip. For more visit http://www.60secondcruisetips.com and http://www.tipsfortravellers.com/cruise-travelers-handbook One of the risks with the daily port-to-port schedule on most cruises, especially in the Caribbean, is that the stops can start to blur into each other. So while you get an overall Caribbean experience of glorious weather and beaches, you do not get to appreciate each island beyond getting a taste for what could be on offer. So approach every cruise with this in mind. I recommend using your cruise as a “sampler platter” where you go to destinations with a view to finding those you want to return to for longer land-based trips. In each port choose an excursion that you think will give you the best feel for the experience that you would enjoy on a longer trip. So if you like beaches then do them, if you like hiking then do one, if you like activity sports then do some, if you like history do those excursi

Gary Bembridge author of "The Cruise Traveler's Handbook" provides another 60-Second Cruise Tip. For more visit http://www.60secondcruisetips.com and http://www.tipsfortravellers.com/cruise-travelers-handbook Mass-market cruise lines now usually only provide non-branded shower gel and shampoo in large refillable pump dispensers in your stateroom bathroom. This is instead of smaller individual bottles of branded products you may be more familiar with if you have been cruising before or stayed in land-based hotels. Many lines will not even provide individual bars of soap. Therefore, you should consider bringing your own preferred brands of personal cleansing products when heading off on a cruise. While luxury cruise lines still provide premium branded toiletries, and often give you a choice between two different brands, the trend towards bulk product dispensers of everyday toiletry products is growing across the cruise industry. This appears to be an example of how cruise lines are finding ways to reduce costs

Gary Bembridge author of "The Cruise Traveler's Handbook" provides another 60-Second Cruise Tips. For more visit http://www.60secondcruisetips.com and http://www.tipsfortravellers.com/cruise-travelers-handbook Seabourn is a small ship cruise line that is part of the Carnival Cruise Organization. It promises passengers an intimate and luxurious alternative to the large ships used by their other brands like Carnival, Princess and Costa. Seabourn calls itself the “World’s Best Small Ship Cruise Line” regularly winning industry accolades, including prestigious Conde Nast Magazine Awards. Travellers who enjoy staying in boutique and Five-Star Hotels should enjoy it, as they offer similar experiences and service. The small ship size means they visit destinations that large cruise ships cannot. Like, cruising up the Thames into Central London and docking at small towns on the Greek Islands. Passengers tend to be couples over 45, although honeymooners looking for that special vacation will be found on board. They

Gary Bembridge author of "The Cruise Traveler's Handbook" provides another 60-Second Cruise Tips. For more visit http://www.60secondcruisetips.com and http://www.tipsfortravellers.com/cruise-travelers-handbook Swan Hellenic is a UK based cruise line who promises “small ship cruising, with country house style” for “people with a mind to travel”. What does that mean? Their flagship is the “Minerva” that holds a maximum of 350 passengers. Its itineraries and on-board program is focused on arts, cultural, history, architecture and current affairs. It visits unusual destinations, has more unique ports than mainstream cruise lines operating larger ships and its daily program is heavily slanted towards educational programs and cultural activities. Swan Hellenic has been offering cruises for over 60 years. It was launched in 1954 in a period of post war austerity. It was revolutionary at the time as it was offering an all-inclusive cruise, on-board speakers and cultural itineraries. These principles remain today, a

Gary Bembridge author of "The Cruise Traveler's Handbook" provides another 60-Second Cruise Tips. For more visit http://www.60secondcruisetips.com and http://www.tipsfortravellers.com/cruise-travelers-handbook With the growth in cruising destinations are likely to have multiple ships in port at the same time as yours. As the towns, attractions and sights can get crowded when multiple cruise lines are visiting, planning your time on land in advance is important. The website I use to help plan my port activities is called CruiseTimetables.com. The site has details of which ships will be in port each day. You input the port and date and it shows the ships and maximum passenger numbers that will be there. For example, using the site I knew that around 15,000 people would be in St Thomas on one stop and so I booked a quiet day exploring the coastline on a catamaran instead of fighting traffic and crowds on land tours. Knowing the volume of people in port may also be a good reason to book a private tour or to se

Gary Bembridge author of "The Cruise Traveler's Handbook" provides another 60-Second Cruise Tips. For more visit http://www.60secondcruisetips.com and http://www.tipsfortravellers.com/cruise-travelers-handbook If you a traveller that likes to tailor and personalise your travel experience, or want to be able to be spontaneous day-by-day as the mood takes you, then Norwegian Cruise Line is likely to appeal to you. You do not have to follow a fixed pattern of main dining room and times nor follow a dress code. Norwegian is suited for people that want to be able to chop and change as the mood takes them and need lots of options to be able to do that.While many cruise lines focus on set formats and regimes on board, Norwegian believes everyone has different needs and interests and aims to provide as much choice and options as possible to let people create their ideal vacation. They build choice into every aspect of the on-board offering. For example the bigger ships have over 20 dining options, more than 20 bars t

Gary Bembridge author of "The Cruise Traveler's Handbook" provides another 60-Second Cruise Tips. For more visit http://www.60secondcruisetips.com and http://www.tipsfortravellers.com/cruise-travelers-handbook Excursions will add significant amounts to your cruise budget. A family of four can easily spend over $200 a day on cruse line excursions. With even basic three-hour coach-based tours around a port of call costing about $50 per person, cruisers always ask me for ways to save money without missing out on seeing the best that a port has to offer.I use and recommend taking the local hop-on hop-off bus tour. Virtually every port I have been to has one of these. Most seem to be run by global operators like “City Sightseeing” and “Big Bus Tours” with reliable standards, quality and good prices.Hop-on Hop-off buses usually stop at, or close to, the port and sell tickets as you disembark the ship. The tours provide a helpful map of the city, take you to the key sights, provide multi-lingual recorded commentary

Gary Bembridge author of "The Cruise Traveler's Handbook" provides another 60-Second Cruise Tips. For more visit http://www.60secondcruisetips.com and http://www.tipsfortravellers.com/cruise-travelers-handbook River cruising has a reputation of being for older passengers, but it’s less about age and more around what kind of travel people like doing.  River cruising suits people who want everything organized for them on a vacation.  Those who don’t want to have to worry about finding the right hotel, organizing tours, the right place to eat and managing different currencies and exchange rates.  It is ideal for travellers who want the hassle and vacation planning taken away. Every detail from departure to arrival is sorted out for them.  River cruising is a very supportive way to travel as you are met at the airport, taken to the ship, unpack and everything is taken care of. The fares are usually all-inclusive and include meals, drinks, tours and often gratuities. This is why it has traditionally attracted trav

Gary Bembridge author of "The Cruise Traveler's Handbook" provides another 60-Second Cruise Tips. For mroe visit http://www.60secondcruisetips.com and http://www.tipsfortravellers.com/cruise-travelers-handbook Holland America is ideal for people who enjoy a sophisticated and refined environment. For people new to cruising it is worth thinking of Holland America as an alternative to staying in a smart five star hotel. Holland America has a heritage of 140 years of transporting passengers and tries to retain the traditions of cruising on board. It has a focus on food with fine dining and cooking demonstrations, decor that is subdued with art and maritime artifacts.  The entertainment is classically biased, and most passengers prefer to sit in the piano bar singing popular tunes than disco dancing the night away. There are talks about the history and culture of destinations visited. You will not find water slides, high energy deck games and round-the-clock partying. The dress code is smart.Despite the line’s Dut