Best Vacation Alternatives To Cruising (Podcast)
Essential Cruise Tips
What are the best vacation options for cruisers while we can't cruise, or even don't want to cruise for a while. I look at the 6 very best alternatives to cruising that draw on the best parts of cruising, what makes a cruise vacation and avoids some of the things that cruise passengers prefer to avoid on their cruising vacation. These are all things that I have done and feel are a great alternative to a cruise vacation right now.
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Key Questions To Ask When Booking A Cruise From Now On (Podcast)
Essential Cruise Tips
Have you booked, or are thinking of booking, cruises for next year or beyond? You need to proceed carefully if you are. I recommend 3 big questions you need to ask yourself, your travel agent or the cruise line before you book, and if you have ask these before it is too late to make some mistakes you will regret.
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Cruise Line Excursions Only As Cruises Resume. A Price Too High ? (Podcast)
Essential Cruise Tips
As cruises hare restarted, cruise passengers are only allowed to leave the ship in port on cruise line excursions. The lines argue this is to protect passengers from being infected in port, and for people in ports also protected. This has caused a lot of debate by cruise passengers who feel cruise line excursions are too limiting, they prefer to self-explore or use independent excursion providers and they worry it will significantly increase the cost of cruising. I
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USA Cruise Update : 2020 Cruising Plans (Podcast)
Essential Cruise Tips
The shape of cruising out of the United States in the coming months of 2020 has become clearer through a series of announcements and revelations by the cruise lines, including the world’s largest cruise line (Carnival) finally going public on what cruise passengers can expect on their ships when they start sailing. I explore and pick the announcements and what it means for cruise passengers hoping to cruise out of USA ports in 2020.
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Why Are Past Cruisers Reluctant To Return To Cruising ? (Podcast)
Essential Cruise Tips
Why are many cruisers, including cruise lovers are regulars, saying they will not cruise on the channel and on various cruise sites and in cruising chat rooms? I explore the reasons that cruisers have been saying about why they do not want to cruise as cruising opens. What are the issues, barriers or things happening that are holding people who have been cruising before from wanting to return to cruising anytime soon as they open.
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6 Big Changes USA Cruisers Will Face (Podcast)
Essential Cruise Tips
The cruise lines in the USA have announced their plans and protocols on resumption of cruising out of ports in the United States. These have been submitted to the CDC in the USA, who have the final sail on when cruises can resume in USA waters. I discuss the 6 biggest changes to cruising that affect cruisers the mist, including the type of cruises that will return, their views on testing, use of masks, excursions and other key changes. I also discuss 2 big issues not yet addressed.
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Cruise Lines Going Bankrupt (Podcast)
Essential Cruise Tips
Cruise Lines Going Bust Or Out Of Business: What You Need To Know. I look at what cruise lines have already gone bust, cruise lines or groups that may go bankrupt and those that have the greatest chance of surviving the cruise shutdown. This is especially key as it increasingly looks likely that cruises will not resume on any scale (if at all) in 2020 for most cruise lines and in many cruising regions, including the USA.
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Why That Cruise You've Booked May Not Run When No-Sail Ban Ends
Essential Cruise Tips
I discuss the 5 reasons that the cruise you've got booked that is due to run after no-sail bans is lifted most likely will still be cancelled. Your cruise may well be cancelled even once cruise lines are given the all okay to sail. Many cruisers are assuming that once the cruise shutdown ends that the booked cruises after that date will operate. I explore why that cruise you've got booked may not run even after no-sail ends, as many cruisers in Europe have already discovered where cruising has resumed
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Testing Cruise Passengers Before Cruising (Podcast)
Essential Cruise Tips
Will Testing Cruise Passengers Before Cruising be the key to the resumption of cruise vacations around the world. I explore the three approaches taken so far and how most have had issues to date, what we have learnt and what the major cruise lines are saying (and doing) on the role of testing cruise passengers to help open cruising up again.
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Cruise On-Board Changes ALREADY Agreed Due To Covid-19
Essential Cruise Tips
I explore the on board cruise ship changes already put in place due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Cruise ship changes that are already in place with cruise ships sailing around the world, in Europe, French Polynesia, Iceland and parts of Asia, and also those announced as in place by the mainstream cruise lines ready for when they are allowed to start cruising again. These are changes on board cruise ships that we will have to get used to.
info_outlineGary 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 Radio
Bad Cruise Habits To Avoid: Part Two
Online you will find lists of categories of annoying cruisers, bemoaning the fact that too many people become annoying, irresponsible and selfish on board. I wanted to share another thought about another bad habit every cruiser should avoid.
Do not be a chair hog.
This topic seems to cause the most discussion, upset and complaints about fellow passengers. The three main areas it takes place is (1) around the pool or sun decks where guests place books, magazine and towels first thing in the morning on loungers and then head off to eat or do other things, (2) in the buffet restaurants where people book tables and then go off to fetch food and (3) in the theatres. Although all cruise lines have a policy on booking loungers and chairs, they are usually not very strong in enforcing it. The reason is that the crew tend to take the flack from irate passengers who are seat hogs. Some lines, like the Carnival Group ones, say they will remove items left unattended for 30 minutes and may do. However, if everyone just used loungers and chairs in the restaurant when they needed them the problem of finding a seat would be removed in most all cases.
Listen to the next episode for another bad habit to avoid