The Truth About Cruise Cabins: What Every Cruiser Should Know (Podcast #423)
Essential Cruise Tips
I look at 5 things that no-one, including cruise lines don't like to talk about, when it comes to cruise ship cabins - and why and how it is affecting the way passengers like you cruise and ingenious ways that the choices cruise lines are making on cabins means people are paying more to go cruising. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube:
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These 17 Ports Are About To Ruin Your Cruise Plans (Podcast #422)
Essential Cruise Tips
It feels to me like the world is getting smaller for cruise passengers. I keep seeing reports of yet another port banning, reducing how many ships or the size of ships that can call there. And even in ports without cruise restrictions, more locals seem to be protesting about cruise passengers being there once we get off the ship. As the news of these developments tends to be sporadic and not many are aware of the total picture, I decided to pull together what's happening so you can consider these when planning your upcoming and future cruises. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get...
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Cruise Buffet Dining: What SMART Cruisers Do And DON'T Do! (Podcast #421)
Essential Cruise Tips
On my last cruise, Cunard Queen Anne, I never ate in the buffet restaurant, on a recent Holland America cruise I ate lunch in there every day and on my Royal Caribbean Symphony of Seas cruise I ate most meals there. Why? It’s because I have a set of cruise buffet rules that I've developed over time that determine when I eat in the buffet, how I use it if I do, and what I will and won’t eat in there. After talking to other regular cruisers, I found they also follow a similar approach that I want to share with you. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only...
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Too Many Cruisers Are Making These 4 Costly Mistakes Right Now (Podcast #420)
Essential Cruise Tips
I am frequently contacted by stressed cruise passengers at the end of their tether, seeking my help on how to get out of a costly blunder they've made. In recent weeks, several cruisers have been in touch about the same four issues that seem to keep catching people out these days. I thought I needed to warn cruisers about them. As well as telling you about them, I will suggest how to solve them if you have, or do, find yourself caught up by one. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube:
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Here's What It's REALLY Like On A Viking Ocean Cruise These Days (Podcast #419)
Essential Cruise Tips
When I told friends, family, and followers online that I was headed off on a Viking Ocean cruise to Alaska, I was struck by how much misunderstanding and myths they all had about what it's really like to go on a Viking Ocean cruise. Because it had been a while since I'd last been on a Viking Ocean cruise, I also had many questions on what it was like these days and how and what had changed or was different. This is what I discovered it is like going on a Viking Ocean Cruise today. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my...
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Don’t Break These 6 Rules Or You’ll Drive Other Cruisers Crazy (Podcast #418)
Essential Cruise Tips
Reports of an incident of passengers breaking cruise rules with costly consequences, got me thinking about what cruise rules I see being broken often. It struck me that some rule breaking bothered me and some did not, for while they might have nasty consequences for those involved many do not directly affect my cruising experience. I wondered if everyone felt the same. So, I did a poll of cruisers and discovered there’s 6 key rules that when broken drive cruisers crazy more than any others, and in this video I reveal what they are and why they drive other cruise passengers crazy. Become a...
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I Put Cunard's New First Class "Ship-Within-Ship" To The Test (Podcast #417)
Essential Cruise Tips
While there's been many reviews about cruising on Cunard's new Queen Anne, there's not been much about what it's like to travel in their costly first-class Grills “ship-within-a-ship” on it. I spent 14 nights testing that out and having also been in it on every ship in their fleet too, I think I’m well positioned to report back on what they’ve changed, got right and frankly not got right at all. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube:
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This Cunard Regular Puts Their Brand-New Ship To The Test (Podcast #416)
Essential Cruise Tips
I believe I can bring a unique take on Cunard's new Queen Anne as I’ve been on 23 Cunard cruises and spent 210 nights across all their fleet, including most recently 14 nights on board Queen Anne, which gave me ample time to fully test out their latest cruise ship. I was keen to discover if, as some believe, Cunard is trying to chase people like me away from Cunard with their new ship and replace me with new and younger cruisers, or whether they're just trying to offer another ship for me as a regular Cunard cruiser to experience. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive...
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9 Things You Can Take From A Cruise Without Getting Into Trouble (Podcast #415)
Essential Cruise Tips
What can you take home from your cruise without any fear you're doing the wrong thing, either morally or legally? This question hit me while I was packing at the end of a recent Cunard Queen Anne Cruise, as in the disembarkation letter a section was highlighted with a list of items that I was not allowed to take home, warning that if I did there would be penalties. I did a double take, as it included items I often take home from a cruise. It got me questioning what we can take from a cruise these days without any fear of getting into trouble. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get...
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9 Reasons More Cruisers Than Ever Are Denied Boarding (Podcast #414)
Essential Cruise Tips
As all the passengers you will hear about discovered, being denied boarding for a cruise, not only turned their dream vacation into complete disarray, but lost them a fortune as cruise lines do not refund guests who they deny boarding to, arguing it's up to us as passengers to pay close attention to any rules and requirements, whether it's the cruise lines or the countries being called upon. After seeing reports of more people being caught out these days, I want to make it easier for you to avoid the things that could get you denied boarding. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and...
info_outlineIn 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:
Seasickness
Seasickness is unpleasant and cruise lines do everything they can to reduce the probability of you suffering from it. Steps they take include scheduling and sailing itineraries that minimise the chance of encountering rough seas, using ships equipped with stabilisers to help keep the ship steady in rough seas and swells and taking advantage of modern radar systems to avoid poor weather.
If you are concerned or prone to seasickness there are a number of steps you can take such as traveling in a cabin in the middle of the ship and low down as movement is least here and take over-the-counter motion sickness pills like dimenhydrinate (marketed as Dramamine, Gravol, etc.) in North America and cinnarazine (marketed as Stugeron or Stunarone) in Europe. You must buy them before you go. They may make you drowsy for a few hours, but resolve the problem.
If you do not want to use medication here are some other tips:
- Try the pressure pads behind the ears or wrist bands. Both are available at drugstores and pharmacies.
- Eat ginger.
- Look at the horizon and get fresh air.
- Go on a river cruise as you will not suffer from motion sickness.
- If none of the above work, visit the medical centre as they will offer an injection which will make you sleep usually but will solve the problem fast. Do not let the fear of sickness put you off a cruise!
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