General Cruise Vacations Tips

You must be prepared for anything when planning and going on your cruise vacations. Here are a few tips to ensure that you know what's going on and to get the most out of your cruise planning.

Cruises generally last 2 to 14 days (or longer) and can be taken on many types of vessels. There are large, mid-size, small and boutique size cruise ships and each one has different characteristics. Many times, cruise lines will offer a better rate when a cruise ship is booked for a longer duration of time. Before making any purchase or putting down your deposit, make sure that you're getting the best deal and that the travel specialist is doing everything in their ability to get the best deal on your cruise.

Find out ahead of time whether or not your ship stops in ports on international holidays and weekends. Many smaller ports and surrounding cities close their shops or have a limited amount of entertainment on holiday days and weekends. In this case, it is recommended to buy a shore excursion so you won't die of boredom on days where cities and ports are closed down. Before the ship for any shore excursions, make sure to take the ship's local phone number just in case anything bad happens to you.

Enhance your vacation by doing research on each port before going on your vacation. That way you can maximize your time at the port instead of scratching your head and asking people what you should be doing. Buy a guidebook, talk to friends and browse online for interesting sites and attractions at each port. When you are at port, remember that United State customs only allows $400 worth of duty-free goods to be brought back into the country. All other items that are purchased over this amount will be assessed a tax fee. The fee will also be assessed on packages and goods sent via post office. When going out, try to avoid spending the international currency and bring your credit card. Credit cards come in very handy and some cards can also avoid international currency conversion fees. Traveler's checks are rarely used anymore and are not recommend, as they are more of a burden than a convenience. If you're planning on using your credit card, make sure to call your company and tell them that you plan on doing international travel. That way they won't freeze your account due to strange activity.

Some foods in foreign countries are not as clean as in the United States. Be prepared and bring stomach medicine with you, just in case. Also, a great way to get food poisoning is to eat the local street fare. These areas are not regulated by the health industry and are frequently very dirty. Besides the food, make sure to drink bottled water and ensure that all water that is served too you is clean. Never trust the water in other ports and only drink bottled water. Do not order fresh salads that are rinsed in water and do not order drinks that have ice in them. This is the safest way to avoid hours in the restroom.
These are just a few simple tips to ensure that your cruise vacations shore excursions are enjoyed to the maximum potential.