8 Secrets The Cruise Lines Are Hiding In Plain Sight (podcast)
Essential Cruise Tips
I look at 8 things we cruise passengers see all the time on cruise ships but don’t realise they are there, what they mean nor the significance of them.
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The Problem With Cruise Gratuities Today (podcast)
Essential Cruise Tips
I look at the issue of cruise gratuities and how tipping cruise ship crew has become more complicated and what the lines are really using them for, and my 4 principles for cruise gratuities these days
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Are The Recent Critics Right About Cunard Queen Mary 2? (podcast)
Essential Cruise Tips
I cruised on Cunard Queen Mary 2 to see if the ship is as rundown and poorly maintained as many recent critics have claimed, and explore what the ship is like today. Here's what I found: the good and bad
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I Face Everyone's Fears On A Cunard Transatlantic Crossing (podcast)
Essential Cruise Tips
I explore the 3 biggest concerns and fears people tell me they have about doing a Transatlantic Crossing on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 between Southampton and New York during my latest Crossing.
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Not Getting CRUISE CABIN UPGRADES? You’ve Not Tried This Then (podcast)
Essential Cruise Tips
There are 9 ways to get upgraded on a cruise. I talk about how I don’t use the ways most cruise passengers try to get upgraded on a cruise, and the techniques I have found are more successful at being upgraded on a cruise as fewer are trying them
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I Try A Cruise Line People Say Is Going DOWNHILL Fast (podcast)
Essential Cruise Tips
I booked a cruise on this line that everyone told me is going downhill quickly since they have been sold to new owners. Here is what I discovered
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I Sent My Friend To The Worst Mediterranean Cruise Ports. Why? (podcast)
Essential Cruise Tips
I was helping my friend Winnie plan her first Mediterranean cruise. She said she wanted a cruise that went to the best ports and avoided the worst. It was an impossible task so I sent her to these
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People Still Fall For These 5 Mediterranean Cruise Traps! (podcast)
Essential Cruise Tips
I explore the 6 Mediterranean cruise traps and blunders that cruise passengers fall into when thinking of cruising in the Mediterranean. Inspired by when a friend of mine wanted to cruise the Mediterranean for the first time and I saw all the mistakes she was about to make.
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12 Things You Must NEVER Do In Your Cruise Cabin (Podcast)
Essential Cruise Tips
There are 12 things we are not allowed to do, or get up to, in our cruise cabin. Here is what they are and why
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7 Worst Cruise Advice Cruisers Are Given All The Time (podcast)
Essential Cruise Tips
l look at the 7 worst pieces of cruise advice that I hear, or see, being given to cruise passengers all the time – and what I you should do instead, and why.
info_outlineGary Bembridge author of "The Cruise Traveler's Handbook" provides another 60-Second Cruise Tip. For more visit http://www.60secondcruisetips.com and subscribe free to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher Radio and TuneIn Radio
Important documents
Before you head off on a cruise, especially when you are travelling outside of your home country, scan in copies of all key travel documents. Take paper copies along with you - packed in a different bag to the one carrying the originals.
eMail a set to you and a trusted friend or family member or load them onto one of the online cloud storage services like Dropbox or Google Drive. After you have created the folder, simply send the link to your nominated emergency helper.
The documents should include copies of your passport, visas, prescriptions and bookings. If your original documents are lost, stolen or damaged you will have access to the copies to help facilitating and getting yourself out of the situation. By having a friend at home who can access the documents they can step in to assist if you are incapacitated or unable to get Internet access.
The advantage of using Dropbox or Google Drive is you can use that to keep key documents for as long as they are valid and do not have to remember do it for each trip. It is a bit of hassle to set up but may prove invaluable.