Kalin’s Chronicles: 15 tips for smooth sailing on your next cruise
by Kalin
Filed under Kalin's Chronicles
Editors Note: In her last post, Cruising the Caribbean, Kalin talked about cruising deals and the largest cruise ship in the world. This week she shares a few things you should know before your next cruise.
In my opinion, cruising is one of the best ways to travel – especially if it’s your first time traveling internationally, because you can visit several countries on one trip. But for those of you who are new to cruising, and even repeat cruisers, here are my tips to help make your travels smooth sailing.
- Carry an updated passport — these days passport rules change so much that it’s best to just take it.
- Pack light – unless you’re in a suite, cruise cabins are relatively small.
- Carry sunscreen – even if you have dark skin, you’ll need it!
- Carry a lot of $1 & $5 bills – it’s customary to tip all of the people who helped you at the end of your cruise (cabin steward, head waiter, etc.).
- Be prepared to pay for bar drinks – they’re not included in the cruise price.
- Carry a credit card — the ship will run your credit card and give you a cruise card to charge bar drinks, cruise shop items, and excursions to your room.
- Be prepared to do an emergency test about an hour after the ship sets sail — though cruises are extremely safe, it’s required to prepare passengers for an emergency.
- If you wear contacts, carry an extra pair – things get lost on a ship.
- Zip Lock bags – they come in handy for everything from wet bathing suits to carrying your camera and other items to the pool.
- Baby Wipes – they work wonders in many situations.
- Power strip to add more electrical outlets, and a universal adapter for international outlets.
- A travel iron – most ships today have laundry rooms with irons, but if you want to iron in your room, it’s best to bring your own.
- Bring items like toiletries, camera batteries, OTC drugs, makeup, sunglasses, disposable cameras, etc. from home – they’re expensive to buy on the ship.
- Spend the $10 for motion sickness wrist bands, which you can find at any drugstore — I used them while sailing through the Drake Passage, the roughest seas in the world, and I never got seasick.
- Try to go beyond the tourist area of the ports and really tour the island – even if you just go to a restaurant where the locals hang out, you’ll get a more authentic experience.
If you’ve been cruising, send me your own tips for smooth sailing. Even with all the cruising I’ve done, I still may learn a thing or two from your travels. And remember: “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness” — Mark Twain.
Kalin Thomas is Women at Forty’s Travel & Leisure Editor. She is also Senior Writer/Photographer for SoulOfAmerica. Before starting her own multimedia company, Kalin spent 17 years at CNN where she won several awards for her work as producer/correspondent for CNN’s weekly travel program, CNN TravelNow. She is currently writing a book about her travels. For more information on Kalin, visit www.seetheworldproductions.com.
