Essential Cruise Tips

In another episode of 60-Second Cruise Tips, Gary Bembridge, author of "The Cruise Traveler's Handbook", "Essential Cruise Tips" and "River Cruising Essential Tips and Tricks" shares another cruise tip. This time it is:

Cruising while Pregnant

Heading off on a cruise when you are pregnant may sound like an appealing idea. A chance to relax and be pampered before your new baby changes your life, and makes lots of demands on your time and energy for years to come.

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In another episode of 60-Second Cruise Tips, Gary Bembridge, author of "The Cruise Traveler's Handbook", "Essential Cruise Tips" and "River Cruising Essential Tips and Tricks" shares another cruise tip. This time it is:

Cruise contract watch-outs

When you book and pay your fare you are agreeing to the terms of the cruise line contract. You are unlikely to be given a copy of it but can access it online, in the brochure or requesting a copy from your cruise agent.

Here are a few things to be aware of:

• Refuse to let you cruise: You are likely to have agreed that the line can refuse to take a booking or carry you for any reason. They will only refund the cost of the cruise if they do.
• Search rights: You are likely to be consenting to searches being made of your person, baggage or other property, and to the removal and confiscation or destruction of anything the line feels is a safety issue, illegal or will adversely affect other passengers and crew.
• Independent contractors: Many of the facilities on ships are contracted out to third party providers like hairdressers, manicurists, masseurs, spa operators, photographers, entertainers, instructors, lecturers and excursions. The cruise line may offer no guarantees, warranties or recourse with them for any issues you have with these.
• Photographic and video images: The line usually require you to give them the copyright to any photographic or video content they take of you, including allowing them to use them in advertising and publicity material without any payment.
• Some contracts will give them the right to restrict how you use images and videos you take on board, including asking you to remove it from online sites.
• Legal disputes: Most contracts will specify which court of law has to be used in the case of any legal dispute. These are chosen in areas that are usually more favourable to the cruising industry and may not be where the line is headquartered.

So make sure you are checking what you are agreeing to when you book and pay your final balance to avoid any surprises.

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In another episode of 60-Second Cruise Tips, Gary Bembridge, author of "The Cruise Traveler's Handbook", "Essential Cruise Tips" and "River Cruising Essential Tips and Tricks" shares another cruise tip. This time it is:

How much luggage can you take?Cruise ships usually do not place limits on how much luggage you can take. However when planning what to take you should consider the following:

• Weight Restrictions. If flying to catch your cruise you need to stay within the weight limits of the airline to avoid excess baggage charges.
• Self-disembarking. While cruise lines will usually take your bags to and from your cabin to the port terminal at the start and end of your trip, consider if you want to self-disembark at the end of your cruise. You will have to be able to comfortably carry all of your bags through the ship, down the gangway and through the terminal. It may be some distance and involve escalators or stairs.
• Dress codes. You may need to pack a wide range of clothes to meet the requirements of the line. Check the information sent with your tickets on what is expected. Many lines also have theme or party nights which you may want to come prepared for too.
• Weather conditions. It is advisable to bring clothes that you can layer to cope with the cooler evenings at sea through to hot days on excursions. Check the temperatures and expected conditions in your ports of call using online weather sites or by adding them onto apps you can download for your smartphone or tablet. Prepare to bring suitable clothes, such as raincoats, umbrellas or hats.

Pack light as you can always stock up on the ship or in port.

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In another episode of 60-Second Cruise Tips, Gary Bembridge, author of "The Cruise Traveler's Handbook", "Essential Cruise Tips" and "River Cruising Essential Tips and Tricks" shares another cruise tip. This time it is:

What is there to do at night?You are usually going to be in port and off the ship during the day and sailing at night. As the ship departs for its next destination it comes alive, offering a myriad of things to keep you busy and occupied - throughout the night if you desire. Some new to cruise guests worry that they will feel trapped and bored at sea at night, but this is unlikely with the many options available. Some of the things to do at night include:

• Dining. Food is an important part of the cruise experience and the evening meal is when the cruise line lay on the multiple-course gourmet meals that are included in the fare in their main in dining rooms. They are leisurely affairs served by attentive waiters and a chance to share your day’s experiences with your table companions.
• Production shows. Every night there will be at least one headline show or production show to attend. While many lines have their own theater companies that stage themed song and dance shows, others offer well-known Broadway and Las Vegas shows.
• Live music and karaoke. There will be bands, pianists or string quartets playing in many of the bars and lounges around the ship. There is also likely to be karaoke in one of the bars or a piano bar where you can watch or take part in showing off your singing skills.
• Theme night parties, dances and night club. If you enjoy dancing there will be many opportunities through your cruise, including theme night parties, more formal ballroom dancing in one of the lounges and a night club that will keep going until the last guest leaves.
• Watching movies. You will be able to watch movies on the television in your cabin, and if in a premium suite borrow DVDs to play on the in-room player. Most lines also run recent release films either on an open-air screen on warm itineraries or in a dedicated cinema or the theater.
• Activities and games. Depending on the ship you are cruising on there may also be facilities including bowling lanes, ice rinks, crazy golf courses and other sports facilities to use.
• Gambling. Once the ship is in international waters the casino can open and you can play the slot machines or tables.

Plenty to keep you busy and occupied at night. Of course you also need to find time to sleep!

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In another episode of 60-Second Cruise Tips, Gary Bembridge, author of "The Cruise Traveler's Handbook", "Essential Cruise Tips" and "River Cruising Essential Tips and Tricks" shares another cruise tip. This time it is:

Avoiding NorovirusThis is a form of gastrointestinal illness which usually causes nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. People with it can also have headaches, fever and stomach cramps. It is also common on land with up to one in thirty people suffering it every year. As it is contagious, and spreads easily through touch, it tends to get a lot of publicity and coverage when it breaks out on a ship. It spreads fast when passengers are not disciplined about hand washing and sterilising, and so lines suggest strict cleansing habits. Cruise lines take many steps to prevent an outbreak which include having passengers sign a declaration that they have not suffered from vomiting or diarrhea for 48 hours before boarding, asking them to wash their hands frequently with soap and water, and to use the alcohol gel available around the ship and by regular sanitizing of handrails, elevator buttons, and other equipment handled frequently by passengers. These steps ensure it is unusual to come across the problem while cruising. I, for example, have only encountered two outbreaks on a ship in the last decade and was not affected by following the advice to avoid it.Take care, follow the advice and wash your hands with soap and water properly (one tip is to sing “happy Birthday”to yourself while doing it as that take the right amount of time required).

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In another episode of 60-Second Cruise Tips, Gary Bembridge, author of "The Cruise Traveler's Handbook", "Essential Cruise Tips" and "River Cruising Essential Tips and Tricks" shares another cruise tip. This time it is:

How to avoid missing the ship in PortWatching your ship head off into the distance standing on the quay in a foreign port is a vacation experience you should avoid. Though it does happen.Here is how to ensure you do not get into that situation, and what to do if you do:

• Make 100% sure you know the all aboard time. This is the latest time you have to be back on the ship. Double check as it is often different by port.
• Go on cruise line excursions, as the ship will always wait for these to return - even if delayed.
• If you self-tour then before you do so check with the excursion team the best travel arrangements to get back to the ship, and build in extra time for traffic delays or incidents.
• If you go on a tour with an independent provider, make sure they include a guarantee to get you back to the ship on time and will make all the arrangements and cover the cost to meet up with the ship at the next port off they do not.
• Take the daily program with you, or take a photo of the contact details of the local agent details on your SmartPhone. This is who you contact if you are running late or have any issues.
• Take identification and a credit card with you when off the ship. This enables you to make and pay for arrangements if you need to.

The safest way to avoid missing the ship is to stick with cruise line excursions, but do not let the fear of missing the ship get in the way of seeing a destination how you would like to.

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In another episode of 60-Second Cruise Tips, Gary Bembridge, author of "The Cruise Traveler's Handbook", "Essential Cruise Tips" and "River Cruising Essential Tips and Tricks" shares another cruise tip. This time it is:

Children Sharing CabinsMany cruise lines have limits on the age a child can be before they can travel. Based on my experience, it is common for babies to be at least six months old on date of embarkation before they can cruise. It can differ based on where you are going too. So check on both issues with your preferred cruise company.Most also have rules that do not allow children under the age of 18 or 16 to travel together in a cabin without an adult being present too. So if you are planning to book one cabin for your children under this age to share, you may be disappointed. The rules may differ for interconnecting cabins and vary by line and so double check, especially if booking via an agent. If booking direct either online or by phone the cruise line systems will usually reject bookings when all travellers in the cabin are under the required age.Although many cruise lines are trying to attract families with children to travel with them, there are various rules and requirements about ages and who can share cabins. So check carefully that your family and travel preferences fit with the line you travel with.

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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 RadioCruise Contract Watch-outs: Non‐Liability For Medical TreatmentAlthough there will be a medical centre on board on ocean cruise ships, it is usually provided by a third party or specific organisation within the overall cruise corporation. The medical team are unlikely to be direct employees of the cruise line itself. In the contract you agree to when buying your ticket it is likely to state that if you access the service on board the line itself will not be liable for any aspect of medical treatment provided - including the advice, diagnosis, medication or treatment.If the cruise line has to refer you or transfer you to a medical facility in a port they will not provide any warranty, guarantees or be held liable for any treatment you receive.You need to understand that while there is medical facilities on board that are ready to deal with most incidents and accidents, you are accessing them at your own risk. If you are unhappy with the treatment you receive you will find you are unlikely to have direct recourse to the cruise line itself. You can, of course, make complaints and there is likely to be a process but your rights may be limited based on the terms of the contract.