| Cruise travel is one of the best vacations you can | | | | also tend to sell out because of some cruisers |
| take. During your cruise vacation you will visit several | | | | watching their budgets. So, don't miss out, check out |
| different ports of call. Your cruise ship will dock at | | | | the cruise lines website to see if you can book your |
| exotic islands or new countries almost on a daily | | | | ticket in advance. |
| basis. Check out the cruise reviews on line for cruise | | | | It is good to know the game plan that the tour |
| tips before you visit your destinations to find out | | | | offers. Things you should be aware of is how much |
| what fantastic experience each port has to offer. | | | | the guide will be with you and do they speak English |
| During your cruise vacation you will visit ports to | | | | clearly. Mostly the cruise lines have very competent |
| shop, explore, beach, sightsee or hike. There are a | | | | tour guides, but better safe than sorry. Will have any |
| wide variety of activities in each cruise destination. Or | | | | time on your like for shopping or stopping in a |
| you could just depart the ship for a chance to walk | | | | café? It is very important to find out how |
| around for a change of pace. Although this is a great | | | | much physical activity is required before you sign on |
| cruise adventure, you should realize that you will only | | | | for any tour. If you have limited mobility you don't |
| get a small sample of what each port of call has to | | | | want to go on a tour that climbs the Acropolis in |
| offer. And be forewarned, as you step of your | | | | Athens or Dunns River Falls in Jamaica. Find out if a |
| majestic cruise ship there will be hordes of natives | | | | snack or lunch is provided, so if it isn't you can bring |
| trying to sell you a trinket or a tour around the city. | | | | along adequate funds to get your own. |
| If you take the advice above and search the cruise | | | | There are private touring companies that you can |
| reviews, you should have a pretty good idea what | | | | contact on your own if you wish to tour in a more |
| each destination has to offer. Choose the one that | | | | private fashion. Another alternative is to buddy up |
| has the most encompassing tour of your port. In | | | | with some fellow cruisers and share taxi tours to cut |
| exotic ports they have full day tours, including lunch, | | | | your expense in half. Many times you will meet |
| that will take you to the highlights of the place you | | | | people on a cruise that have similar interests and you |
| are visiting. This is an ideal way to sample the city or | | | | will spend a lot of time together on the cruise ship, |
| island getting ideas for what you may want to come | | | | why not touring also? It's a way to save money and |
| back for at a later date. On island tours you may | | | | enjoy other passengers company. |
| want to take an organized tour in the morning, go | | | | Only hire licensed taxi drivers. Their credentials should |
| back to the ship for lunch, then light out on your own | | | | be prominently displayed in the front of the cab. With |
| to explore more fully, shop or just go to the beach. | | | | a licensed driver you are ensured a safe trip and a |
| If you are more adventuresome, skip the lunch on | | | | guide who is knowledgeable about the islands or cities |
| board and dine in the city. You get to experience the | | | | background, where to shop, eat or gamble. And of |
| local cuisine and soak up the native culture. This is | | | | course they will know the best beaches available. |
| your vacation, learn new and different things. If you | | | | Negotiate the price of your tour up front. If you |
| chose to do this check with the cruise director for | | | | chose to go to a destination where you will be |
| the best places to dine and make sure you know the | | | | dropped off for a couple of hours, negotiate with |
| exchange rate. On of the cruise tips is to put your | | | | the driver to come back and pick you up. Settle on a |
| meal on a charge card so you will be charged the | | | | price and pay half up front and half on the way back. |
| exchange rate on the day the bill hits the credit card | | | | If the driver has been helpful and friendly, please tip |
| company. | | | | him or her. |
| A cruise tip that is very useful is to use the brochure | | | | Some cruisers like to rent cars in their ports of call. It |
| that the ship gives you for their organized tour and | | | | is recommended that you only do this in destinations |
| follow it on your own. Only do this if you are | | | | that you are familiar with and have a good |
| comfortable with the country you are visiting. If it is | | | | knowledge of where you are going. Be careful when |
| your first time overseas to a port of call, it is best to | | | | renting a car. Be sure to check out the entire car for |
| stick with the organized tour for safety and | | | | any damages that may already be there and note |
| convenience. Other cruise tips can be found online | | | | them on your rental contract. If you fail to do this |
| about some of the wonderful things to see and do in | | | | you may be charged for damage that was already |
| various ports of call. Be conscious of one thing, if you | | | | done. |
| chose to explore on your own, know what time the | | | | Lastly, use common sense when touring. Don't travel |
| ship leaves and how long it will take you to get back | | | | in dark tight alleys, put your money under your |
| on board. If you are not on an organized tour it is | | | | clothes, don't wear expensive jewelry and don't let |
| your responsibility to get back on time or the ship will | | | | yourself be surrounded, especially by children. Always |
| leave without you. You then have to meet the ship | | | | carry identification and the name of the cruise lines |
| at the next port of call at your own expense. | | | | agents in the port of call in case you get in trouble. |
| If you opt for an organized tour sponsored by the | | | | You are on a cruise vacation make the best of it. |
| cruise ship, it should cost you anywhere from $20.00 | | | | Get off the ship at all of your ports of call whether |
| to over $200.00 depending on what you choose to | | | | you are touring or are just poking around. Be sure to |
| do. It could be just a simple bus ride around town for | | | | take lots of pictures so you will have years of |
| two hours or a two day trip from St. Petersburg, | | | | beautiful cruise travel memories. |
| Russia to Moscow. The options are endless. | | | | Happy Cruising! |
| Most cruise lines will let you book in advance on their | | | | Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved. |
| websites. This is very convenient and helpful with | | | | This article may be distributed freely on your website |
| tours that sell out quickly. For instances, in the | | | | and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, |
| Cayman Islands the Stingray City tour is very popular | | | | copyright notice, links and the resource box are |
| and will sell out. If you book it in advance you | | | | unchanged. |
| guarantee your spot. The more inexpensive tours | | | | |