What To Wear On A Cruise Basics

Not sure what it is about booking a cruise that compels folks to pack as if they were going on a six month expedition to the North Pole. But many booking their first cruise, pack twice what they need, surely do not want for things to wear. Which demonstrates they really don’t understand what to wear on a cruise.

Naturally it helps if you know what to expect. And if you’ve been on a cruise before you’re more aware of that than someone leaving the dock for the first time. In that case you know what to wear on a cruise. Or at least should know what goes and what doesn’t.

Of course for some the most exciting part of any cruise get away is the build up to your departure date. For them, looking forward to that and planning what to take and so forth is more than half the fun. And if that’s you I’m not out to extinguish your enthusiasm. It’s just that the statement “They who pack best pack light” has some truth to it.

Then too, there are those who argue since you only have to unpack once, what’s a bit too much stuff? Aside from the space it takes up in your most likely less-than-spacious cabin, and an extra suitcase or two, probably not much. But why bother when it is not necessary?

Okay so cutting to the chase, when it comes to packing for a cruise “Less Is More”.

Then too you really don't need to bring something - just in case. Should you not be certain whether or not you need something simply do not bring it. You can always pick up anything important in port. So another good rule is "When in doubt leave it out" - of the suitcase.

Yet what you’ll be wearing also depends on the anticipated cruise dress code. On most cruises what you’ll be expected to wear to dinner is spelled out for you. It may be all formal. Or a mix of causal and formal wear.

And casual could at times mean shorts - or not.

Denim jeans are typically out. You may find them to be taboo. Especially for dinner. Besides you are better off with clothing you can mix and match. For the gals blouses and skirts. While guys can do the same with shirts and say a couple pair of Dockers.

Where you’ll be cruising also determines what to wear on a cruise. As someone in Alaska wouldn’t dress the same the same as someone on the Mediterranean. For the former a coat with a removable liner would be good to have. But that wouldn’t be much help in Greece. There a light nylon jacket might be best.

Anyway I hope you have a better idea of what to wear on a cruise.

By: Susan Bishop

Tips On How To Sail Alone On A Cruise

Getting away from it all sometimes means traveling alone in order to enjoy peace and quiet. If you have a busy lifestyle and you want to not have to speak to anyone for a few days or a week, taking a cruise by yourself is one way to do this. While you may meet people once aboard, you have the option to sit in your cabin, on the deck, dine alone or with the group, or you can find fun activities to participate in at nighttime. Thos e who travel alone on a cruise usually find ways to balance their social interaction and their need for some quiet, private time.

When travelling alone, it is important to keep an open mind about meeting new people. If you can afford to pay for a private cabin, you will be able to find peace during the day. There are many activities to do aboard a cruise ship. Many cruises stop in port cities where you will be able to leave the ship and visit shops, restaurants, and other tourist attractions. While you will be around people, you do not necessarily have to travel with them, which can give you more freedom to choose where you want to go and how long you want to spend there.


If you don’t want to travel alone, but you want to have quiet time during the cruise, ask a friend or family member who may want the same to join you. Cabins are less expensive when they are shared, so you will be able to save money and still enjoy private time. Not everyone wants their privacy, however, so be sure to choose a person who is capable of meeting people on their own and interacting with others when on the cruise. If you want to share your cabin with a stranger, you have the option to do so.

When travelling alone, you will be able to make all the decisions concerning the trip yourself. You get to choose the type of cruise you want to go on, how long you want to travel, and which activities you want to participate in. There are cooking classes, dances, formal dinners, day spas, sporting activities, gyms, pools, and much more that will keep you busy. Even if you want to just sit on a deck chair and read a book, you will be able to do so without being bothered by the daily stresses of your life.

If you have never travelled alone before or you think it will not be as much fun, try it and see. You will be able to meet new friends aboard the ship if you get lonely, and the time will pass by very quickly once you are aboard. Many people travel alone when on a cruise because they want to meet new people. Take the opportunity to sail the ocean by yourself and enjoy the many sights and people you will see and meet along the way.

By: Johnathan Bakers

Taking A Cruise

Now that you have decided that you want to take a cruise, the next step is to decide where to go. There are hundreds of destinations for you to choose from, which can make your decision a difficult one. When considering which cruise to take, keep in mind how much you have to spend, which part of the world you want to travel to, and how long you want your cruise to be. These factors are usually enough to make your decision a little easier.

Cruises range in price, so you should find one that suits your budget. Keep in mind that you may have to pay for air travel or rental car if you do not live close to a port city. Overnight hotel stays should also be figured into your budget. Money for clothing, supplies, and food while on the cruise should account for a certain percentage of your budget. If you don't have a passport and you need one, you will have to pay for this also. As you can see, there are many small costs in addition to booking a cabin on the ship. Once you have figured out these costs, you will be better able to create a working budget.


Choosing where you would like to visit will definitely help you narrow your choices. Many people choose a cruise to places they have not been to before. If you are interested in visiting certain cities, choose a cruise that stops in or around the region you want to visit. Some cruises stop in multiple areas for one or more days. This will give you plenty of time for exploring and experiencing new cultures.

The longer your cruise, the more it will cost. Keep this in mind when creating a budget and choosing your destination. Shorter cruises may not stop in any port cities or they may only stop in one. Also, the crowds will be different on shorter cruises. If you want to go on a cruise that has a younger population on it, then a shorter cruise is perfect. Longer cruises include more stops and usually have an older crowd. Depending on the amount of time you have to take a cruise, you should plan accordingly and take air travel or car travel to the boat into consideration.

As you can see, there are many factors that go into choosing a cruise. Any time you travel, you should research the areas you will be travelling in to decide if these are the places you are truly interested in visiting. Spending a lot of money for a cruise you are not interested in going on is not the best vacation. Most cruise lines offer detailed descriptions about what to expect and how to plan for a cruise. Sign up to receive brochures and emails about special deals and other information that can make your next cruise more pleasant.

By: Jerry K. Blackburn

Cruise Ship Cabin Benifits

If you are planning your first cruise ship experience, there are a lot of things to consider. This trip, and the accommodations available will not be like the travels you have experienced in the past.

The biggest thing you need to keep in mind is the location where you will be enjoying your holiday, will also be the same place you will be sleeping. It’s much like having your hotel follow you from one destination to the next, always just a little walk away. Even though there are no rooms that are too far away from one another, small changes in location can make a major difference in your ability to enjoy your trip. For example, if you have an outer cabin that is near a high-traffic deck, you may be forced to hear people stumbling by your door, or talking loudly outside your room all night. Likewise, if you have a cabin that is just below a stairwell, you will hear the clomping of people walking up and down the stairs. This is a decision you should not take lightly.


Let’s look at other locations on the ship. At the rear of the ship is usually where the higher-priced rooms are. Many come with a balcony so you can relax outside your own room and watch as you pass through the water. Keep in mind though, these rooms are also a bit above the surface level of the ship and when the seas are choppy, you are going to get quite a bouncy ride. These rooms are not for those with a weak stomach.

At the front of the ship, or the bow, there are other higher-end cabins. These often also have balconies where you can watch a sunrise or sunset and see what lies ahead. But these have the downside of the rear cabins, and then some. Since these are usually even higher above the surface, they are an even rockier ride when there are big waves on the water.

Another area to consider when deciding which cabin you want may have to do with how social you are. If you would love to be near where things are happening, the higher deck cabins are very close to all the activity venues. Usually you are just steps from the lounges, pool, restaurants, and other attraction areas. But you once again have to consider that every time you move to a room that is above the surface level of the ship, it may be a shiftier ride if the seas get rough.

If you have a weak stomach and are concerned about the possibility of getting seasick, the best place for you is in the middle of the ship. These will be more economic cabins as well, as they are the standard staterooms. If you really are prone to seasickness, you may want to pay a little more to ask for a mid-ship cabin. The closer you are to the center, the less you will feel the rocking of the boat.

By: Peter Wilson

Cruise Ships - Then And Now

When you think of taking a trip to another country, there is no doubt you immediately consider airline ticket prices. But, that was not always the most popular mode of travel. Before there were 747 jetliners to ferry people across oceans, the way to travel was by cruise ship. But when it came to the masses, they were not necessarily the luxury vessels we are used to seeing today.

Everyone has seen the blockbuster movie, Titanic. It tells a story about a couple that fell in love on the fateful ship before her sinking. While it may just be a story of fiction, it also gave you a little glimpse into what it was really like to be aboard this method of transportation years ago. As you saw in the movie, not everyone was treated equally aboard the cruise ship. There were the very elite customers who were served everything on a silver platter, but on the lower decks were those who were just hoping to get from one place to another and were forced to scrape by in an area where they were packed as tightly as a can of sardines. If you wanted to enjoy your trip, you had to be filthy rich.


Back in those days, there were not quite as many cruise liners as there are today. Those that were in existence were names that everyone knew. Some of the names you may recognize are the Lusitania and the Queen Mary.

For a while, the popularity of luxury cruise travel waned, but it had resurgence in the 1970’s. It was all thanks to a television show, The Love Boat. The staff on the television sitcom showed how great of a time passengers were having. They showed passengers relaxing, playing a number of fun games, meeting new friends over great meals, and getting to see new places. People started booking holiday cruises again hoping to cash in on some of the excitement. And for the most part the cruise lines delivered. They offered people a chance to stand on the deck and watch as they headed to new worlds, unexplored to them. In one trip they would allow those on board to see a lot of places they had never been before, and give them a great setting to talk about it at the end of the day. Some cruises didn’t even have an end destination, they merely were ‘cruises to nowhere’, a chance to experience cruise ship life for a few days. The trend never really died and has been popular ever since.

What is involved in a cruise has changed from the early years. While you can still take a transatlantic cruise, that is not the most popular choice. There are now a number of 3, 4, 7, and 10 days cruises to a variety of destinations. The accommodations are no longer just lush or poor, but instead a number of different cabin choices at a wide array of prices. Because of the variety, anyone today can enjoy a cruise, no matter what his or her budget.

By: Clinton Maxwell

European Cruises Continue To Feature Venice And With Good Reason

With European cruises increasing in popularity, more and more Americans passengers are likely to make port in some of the great cities of the Mediterranean. One of the oldest of these harbor towns is still a top port of call for modern cruise lines: Venice.

Venice is not like anywhere else on earth. It's not the only city that is laced with canals (Amsterdam has canals, too, so does Stockholm), and it's not the only city with an ancient past (Rome probably beats Venice in the historical department and Florence definitely edges her out in art). But there is something incredibly different and delightful about Venice.

You can't drive in Venice. Entrance in and out of the city is by boat (you take a water taxi from the airport), so arriving by cruise ship is close to the way the city was meant to be approached.

When you actually reach Venice, you'll have to get around by walking or boat. By far, the quickest, easiest, and least expensive way to go from point A to point B is to jump on the boat-bus, called a vaporetto. You buy tickets for it just like the bus. If you're a cruise passenger in town for the day, it may pay for you to buy a pass good for the whole day. Not only could it save you some lire, you don't have to hassle with buying tickets when you want to get a ride.

Water taxis are another option, but they're a bit more expensive. Even more expensive, but delightfully romantic and unique, are gondolas. Expect to fork out a lot of money for the experience, but, trust me, it will be an experience.

Most Venetians get around by foot, and you probably will, too. The city has all the twists and turns you'd expect from an ancient town. Because of the network of canals, you will sometimes find yourself in the intriguing position of being able to see where you want to go but not be able to figure out how to get there. Relax, Venice has something interesting practically around every corner, so even if you get lost, you'll probably still do a lot of great sightseeing.

The biggest tourist spot in town is the Piazza San Marco where St. Mark's Cathedral is located. You can tour the cathedral and even climb the towers (not hard) to get a panoramic view of the square. Legend holds that the cathedral contains the grave of St. Mark, author of the Gospel according to St. Mark.

The square is full of pigeons (all of the time) and tourists (mostly in warmer months). Depending on when you travel, you may also see scaffolding or wooden walkways around the plaza. These aren't risers for a concert or show. They are walkways designed so that people could get across the square even when it floods, which it does often enough for the city to have built elevated walkways.

Nearby is the Doge's Palace. Doge (dough-jay) is the name the Venetians gave to their ruler back in the day when Venice was an independent nation. It's a sumptuous kind of place, fit for a monarch, but most tourists enjoy the lesser accommodations better. The Doge had so many enemies he annexed a prison to the palace which is reached by crossing the Bridge of Sighs. There is a self-guided tour of the prison but it is very important to stick to the pathways marked. You are perfectly free to wander around as you see fit, but the place is like a honeycomb and you can get lost.

Getting lost is a typical Venetian experience. The city is full of unmarked streets, twisted lanes, and narrow passageways.

One of Venice's favorite native sons was reputed to have been lost. Marco Polo lived in Venice and set out for China, where he spent 20 years. When he returned, he was vilified by Venetians who called him "The Liar" for making up stories. You can visit his home. It is located on a short cul-de-sac named "The Liar"The Liar."

Venice was always better known for commerce than art, but there are some artistic treasures. If you like eating what the locals do, you're going to try seafood and a dry sparkling wine called Prosecco. Of course, most tourists end up enjoying more generic Italian favorites here, too, such as cappuccino or espresso and rich gelato.

If you have time, take a vaporetto out to Lido island. It's an island that's just a short boat-bus ride from the main drag (the Grand Canal) and there is more relaxed (and less expensive) shopping and some beaches.

Another great thing to check out is Murano, an island famous for colorful hand-blown glass. You can buy Murano glassware all over Venice, including a special design known as mille-fiori (thousand-flowers). In Murano, you can watch artisans at work and get a much broader sampling of their products. You'll find Murano glass products in lots of stores.

Glass purchases from large stores can be shipped to you at home; most shopkeepers will be able to make such arrangements, at least for larger purchases.

Venice is a well-known city for tourists. It always has been, and cruise ships and package tours to Europe continue to feature it prominently. But Venice is also a very personal kind of city. Two tourists visiting the city on any given day can walk away with distinctly different impressions and experiences.

By: Mandy Karlik

Caribbean Cruises: Planning Tips For Your Caribbean Adventure!

Now that you’ve made up your mind to take a Caribbean cruise, it’s time to start planning the trip. With the variety of cruise lines to choose from, and islands to visit, this can look like a daunting task. However, help is at hand.

Carnival Cruises has an excellent, well organized, web site that can help you to decide where to go, what to do when you get there, and how long to visit. By dividing their Caribbean cruises into three geographical categories (Eastern, Western, and Southern), they’ve taken an important step to ease your decision. Carnival’s Eastern Caribbean cruises include the Lesser Antilles, the Western Caribbean cruises take in the Greater Antilles and Mexico’s southeastern-most coast, and the Southern Caribbean cruises tour the Dutch Antilles and the adjacent coast of South America. Each area has different attractions, and splitting them apart makes planning the logistics of a Caribbean cruise much easier.

Carnival Cruises can also help you to plan your shore excursions. As you cruise the Caribbean, you’ll make port-of-call stops at numerous islands and harbors, all of which have a lot to offer the curious tourist. With a well-planned shore excursion, you can make the most of your time at each stop. You’ll be able to choose from different attractions, such as snorkeling, scuba diving, or parasailing for the more athletic, or shopping and sight seeing for the more sedate. If you stop at the US Virgin Islands, make sure that you take advantage of any custom’s duty deals; this writer particularly recommends the Cruzan Distillery’s dark rum.

There are some basic preparations that you should always remember when you take a Caribbean cruise. First, make sure that your passport is updated, and do not forget it. Many of the islands are independent countries in their own right, and while the cruise line will usually handle passport control for you, it’s never wise to cross borders without a valid passport. Second, look up the currency exchanges for each port of call in advance. Again, the cruise line can assist you with this. It’s always wise to use local currency on a shore excursion, even though many merchants will happily accept US dollars, Euros, or British pounds. Banks and currency exchanges will always give you a better rate when changing currency.

So plan well, and have a great time in the Islands!

By: Brian James