Local Travel Expert: 12 Travel Tips to Help You Master the Art of Cruising

by Precious White

More and more people find cruising to be their favorite and easiest way to see the world. Can you blame them? The value these floating resorts provide is hard to beat with any other type of international vacation option. With all the growth strategies the cruise industry has put forth involving larger capacity ships, more local ports, more destinations and new on-board and on-shore activities, word-of-mouth promotion remains the best marketing tool for cruise lines.

The more people cruise, the more who will tell others, which results in more who will want to take an ocean cruise too. In fact, the following tips have also been delivered word-of-mouth from cruisers who have definitely mastered the art of cruising.

Cruise Tip #1: Many cabins have only one outlet. Take a power strip if you plan to charge or use more than one item at a time.

Cruise Tip #2: Bring a tabletop mirror If you'd rather sit to apply makeup and style your hair. You'll find this a good use of suitcase space.

Cruise Tip #3: Hook a plastic light stick over the bathroom doorknob to provide a gentle glow for a night-light. Convenient outlets are rare.

Cruise Tip #4: Use sticky notes. Leave notes on the cabin mirror asking the steward for more ice, tissues, towels—everything. It works!

Cruise Tip #5: To prevent clutter in a tiny cabin, hang shoe organizers on the bathroom door for toiletries, keys, documents and, of course, shoes.

Cruise Tip #6: Pack a tension rod. Staterooms are well-known for being short on closet space and this provides the room needed for hanging extra clothes.

Cruise Tip #7: Order breakfast in bed the night before a morning excursion. Don't get stuck in a long buffet line and risk missing your departure.

Cruise Tip #8: Skip the spa on sea days. One thing cruise lines all have in common is that they offer spa discounts when the ship is in port.

Cruise Tip #9: Avoid a lock-out. Have the gift shop make a hole in your plastic room-key card and wear it on a lanyard around your neck.

Cruise Tip #10: BYO wine! Carnival allows you to bring one bottle of wine per person aged 21 and over, 
so choose well.

Cruise tip #11: Bypass departure jitters and other unforeseen troubles. Get to the cruise port area the night before. Stay in a hotel and extend the fun!

Cruise Tip #12: Avoid long cruise check-out lines. Ask for a printout of your bill the day before disembarking. Resolve any issues early and relax on your last day.

Editor's note: Precious White is a local Paulding resident and former educator in the Paulding County School System. She recently opened a travel agency and will be sharing tips and ideas with Patch on a weekly basis.

Sources: 
www.budgettravel.com
www.cruisemarketwatch.com/growth