Our family, me , my wife with 2 kids will be going on Cruise to Caribbean in Sept. This is first time we will be going on Cruise, What precautions we should take?
2006-07-04 08:40:36 · 14 answers · asked by raju 2 in Travel ➔ Cruise Travel
When I took my first cruise, I wondered the exact same thing. I kept asking, "Will we really be safe?" The answer is: YES! We found that cruising is our favorite way to vacation. Just a few suggestions:
#1: Buy the travel insurance - you never know when it will come in handy. My dad had an abcess tooth while onboard and we were reimbursed by the travel insurance company after submitting it to our regular medical insurance.
#2: Take hand sanitizer. You would be surprised to see how many people never wash their hands after using the restroom. It is quite alarming!
#3: Wear lots of sunscreen. You don't feel as if you are getting burned on sea days, but trust me...you are. I was as red as a lobster from a sea day. It was awful. I spent the rest of the cruise in agony...which fortunately, was only 2 days.
#4: DO NOT FORGET to bring all of your documents with you. I saw about 10 people turned away for not having the proper documentation. There is no refund or insurance coverage for that mistake. That is one costly experience for nothing.
#5: Don't overthink things. Just have a good time. Trust me, once you cruise, that is all you will want to do from then on. My family doesn't want to vacation unless it is on a ship. We are in heaven when we cruise! It is incredible!
Have a great time and leave the worry pills at home!!!!
2006-07-04 12:05:53 · answer #1 · answered by tru2theone 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tell your family that being on a cruise is no different than being at home and use the same kind of caution you would when you go to the mall or the local park. Keep valuables in a safe place such as the cabin safe. Don't leave valuables lying around the cabin or out when your are by the swimming pools. When on the ship I generally only carry my ship board card for charging things to my room and only take the amount of cash I may need for the casino or any other activities that may require it. Before departing the ship to come home review your ship board bill and see the pursers desk if you have any concerns. Have fun but like anywhere else in this world, never let your guard down. Being on a cruise ship may seem like your isolated from the problems of the rest of the world but it too can have its own problems.
BC Travel Company
2006-07-06 23:16:13 · answer #2 · answered by BC Travel Co. 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, first of all bring lots of sunscreen... your vacation won't be much fun if you're burning the whole time. Since you're going to the Caribbean, remember that you will be closer to the equator, which equals much more damaging rays from the sun. Second, bring a couple of bottles of hand sanitizer for everyone. The only real problem with cruising is you're in an enclosed area with a lot of other people, and to prevent colds from flying around everyone needs to wash their hands regularly. Also you should set up a few meeting places for your family incase you get seperated from each other on the ship. Have a Great Time! Cruises are a lot of fun!!!
2006-07-04 16:14:09 · answer #3 · answered by Purplelicious 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
buy travel insurance, chances are your reg medical insurance does not cover things like medevacs back to the US. A cruise ship is like a small city, most people are fine but there can be a few bad guys there. Keep an eye on your kids like you would anywhere else. Don't assume just because you are in a vacation area that things cannot happen. I would have a 2nd copy of the important paperwork such as birth certificates, passports etc. Also, bring plenty of small bills and keep the large bills stashed in various places. I usually give my wife 1/2 the money, I carry some and I keep the rest hidden in the room while we are on shore. Research your shore excursions. It is fine to go on private tours, you don't need to book your shore trips with the cruise line, however you should research the tour operators first to make sure they are reliable. Go to cruisecritic.com and go to the message boards. You can get alot of info about various ships, ports, tour operators etc. I have been on 5 cruises and am going on my 6th in sep. Never had any serious issues. Keep in mind, for most people, most things go smooth, however there will alwasy be little issues here and there that can happen, just have a 'go with the flow' attitude and don't expect everything to work like clockwork and you will be fine.
2006-07-04 16:27:37 · answer #4 · answered by Sportsterjohn 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When they give you something like a drink with an umbrella or a souvenir. It's
not free they will politely ask you what room your in and at the end of the cruise your tab may be a lot more that the cruise. A first ad kit the doctor may not always be on board. Enjoy as many free excursions as possible there will be plenty of time to enjoy the ship activities.
2006-07-04 15:56:50 · answer #5 · answered by always a friend 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The main thing is just to use common sense. Don't do anything that you wouldn't do for safety reason at home or in a big city.
If you plan to have any alcohol, limit it to maybe one or two drinks. If you plan to drink more, be sure that your wife hasn't had much to drink and stick together. Don't let anyone go alone unless it is during the day and to an area that will have lots of people. Never be in empty areas late at night.
Be sure to keep an eye on your kids. Depending on their age, you may not want to let them run off on their own. Have them go to the kids clubs and spend some time in there. Set guidelines for them as well. If they are older be sure they aren't out alone late at night. If they are younger, keep a close eye on them to make sure they don't climb the railing and things like that.
On the islands, just be sure you use a marked taxi, never get in a car with a stranger unless it is one of the local taxis. Go to the shopping show if your ship offers it, they recommend stores that they have used and made sure products were genuine, prices were nominal, etc.
This is just a few things. Just be careful and think just like you would if you were in a big city or something.
2006-07-04 17:33:48 · answer #6 · answered by tech_fanatic 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would take portable hand sanitzer for your trip. I would bring lysol to spray down your beds and bathroom.
Wash your hands constantly.
Take alot of vitamins to boost up your immune system.
Bring cases of soda because they charge heftly for them on the cruise.
Take only cruise sponsored exclursions. If you are not on the ship, when it pulls off. You'll have to pay for you and your family to meet the cruise at the next port of call.
Make sure your luggage is identifable. Know the contents in your luggage . RCCL almost lost my luggage. I had to give a detail account of everything in my luggage.
Try to take less luggage. it makes it easier to travel thru customs.
Bring your own first aid kit b/c they charge for meds. What ever medicine you take have it in your carryon bag with the prescription information on the bottle.
Make sure you have your passports or driver's license or state ids (little kids) before the trips starts. You will not be able to board. Always have your passports on you!
do not flash money on the islands. Keep your money is small quantites like 5-$1 or 2-$10 .
Have fun on your cruise and tip the staff graciously.. if they did a great job because they work hard!
2006-07-04 15:56:54 · answer #7 · answered by Soleil 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would say use the same precautions you use at home. Wear a comdom or use the pill whichever you would use at home. LOL Just kidding. Cruises are just like any group of 2-3,000 people they are as safe as being in a small town of that population, no more or less.
2006-07-04 15:48:35 · answer #8 · answered by ♂ Randy W. ♂ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Prepare as you would for any other trip, with the size of cruise ships these days it is like being in a floating city. One caution remember to book excursions you are interested in prior to your cruise to prevent from having it sell out
2006-07-04 15:58:40 · answer #9 · answered by AWR 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just be careful with the kids going near the borders... even adults get carried away with the fun, they fall overboard sometimes... the last time i went cruising.. this man fell overboard.. unintentionally or intentionally that is unknown. nowadays cruise liners r massive in size.. please know your safety escape route blah blah.. dont miss the safety drill explanation. wont kill for you to just listen good for that 15mins... motion sickness pills be helpful. enjoy your cruise.
2006-07-04 15:52:33 · answer #10 · answered by U-U 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋