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Cruise Tip #103: Four First-Time Cruise Tips

Essential Cruise Tips

Release Date: 08/10/2016

My Solution To The Biggest Issue With Cruises These Days! (Podcast #379) show art My Solution To The Biggest Issue With Cruises These Days! (Podcast #379)

Essential Cruise Tips

With cruise lines now pretty much able to sell their ships out completely at a hundred percent or higher capacity, I want to tell you how you can hunt down and find cruises and cruise ships that are not going to be completely packed to the rafters and will have the best cruise experience. This is the techniques that I use. 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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Crafty Ways To Steer Clear Of The Crowds On Busy Cruises (podcast #378) show art Crafty Ways To Steer Clear Of The Crowds On Busy Cruises (podcast #378)

Essential Cruise Tips

Cruise lines are packing their ships full these days. They're admitting that they're selling at 100% or higher capacity. So, ships are really, really full, and I've seen this firsthand on a recent cruise, like MSC Cruises, Norwegian, or Caribbean, even Princess in Alaska. So, I want to share with you proven techniques to deal with managing crowds and avoiding crowds.   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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Hot Issues Dividing Cruisers RIGHT NOW! (Podcast #377) show art Hot Issues Dividing Cruisers RIGHT NOW! (Podcast #377)

Essential Cruise Tips

On my last cruise, a Windstar Fjords cruise, I posted clips on Instagram of the best attended event of my entire cruise. It immediately ignited a fiery, lively, and divided debate about if the event was a good idea or not. It got me thinking about other things that I talk about on social media or in my videos, that spark heated debates and where cruisers fall into “for” or “against” camps, with few on the fence. So, let's find out where you stand on these right now as I suspect that, like me, your stand is shifting as we face a new world of cruising. Become a Tips For Travellers...

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I Cruise The World's I Cruise The World's "Most Popular" Small Ship Line: Windstar (Podcast #376)

Essential Cruise Tips

After loving recent cruises on 600 and 700 passenger ships, like Oceania Insignia, Azamara Quest and Seabourn Encore, I wanted to see if going ever smaller was even better, so I booked myself on an 11-night Windstar Star Pride “Lands of the Midnight Suns”. Now this ship only holds 312 passengers, and they claim to be the market leading small ship line and have both these yacht style engine-driven ships that I went on, but they also have sailing vessels as well.   Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For...

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Epic Highs & Unwanted Lows I Had Cruising In Paradise! (Podcast 375) show art Epic Highs & Unwanted Lows I Had Cruising In Paradise! (Podcast 375)

Essential Cruise Tips

It took me 26 hours, three flights, and a time change of 12 hours to get to my French Polynesian cruise in one of the remotest parts of the world. It was brutal, and so how did it go once there – and do I recommend putting yourself though all that? I explore all of this in this video 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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My 11 River Cruises Taught Me These Eye-Opening Lessons (Podcast #374) show art My 11 River Cruises Taught Me These Eye-Opening Lessons (Podcast #374)

Essential Cruise Tips

I am often asked about river cruising and find many people do not fully understand what it is and is not, and this are the 6 things that I have come to appreciate about river cruising around the world that people need to know before they consider 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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I Try Out Cruising In A Controversial Ship-Within-A-Ship show art I Try Out Cruising In A Controversial Ship-Within-A-Ship

Essential Cruise Tips

I test out cruising in Yacht Club, a limited access “ship-within-a-ship” on MSC Cruises, to see if it really is better than cruising as a “regular” passenger and if it is worth paying the premium for the experience and the perks.   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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I Discover The Best & Worst Sides Of MSC CRUISES (Podcast #373) show art I Discover The Best & Worst Sides Of MSC CRUISES (Podcast #373)

Essential Cruise Tips

There are so many rumours, beliefs, stories, and misconceptions about MSC Cruises with many drawn by their great fares but worried about the reports about the ships, food, service and entertainment. I cruised with them to uncover the latest 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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People Keep Falling For These 7 Crafty Cruise Port Tricks! (Podcast #372) show art People Keep Falling For These 7 Crafty Cruise Port Tricks! (Podcast #372)

Essential Cruise Tips

I expose and looks at common scams that I have seen cruisers, including my friends and even myself, fall for when in a port on their cruise so you can avoid falling for these...   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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Questions I Wish I'd Asked BEFORE Cruising the Nile! (Podcast #371) show art Questions I Wish I'd Asked BEFORE Cruising the Nile! (Podcast #371)

Essential Cruise Tips

Seven out of ten travellers told me they really want to do a Nile River cruise. But almost all said they were unlikely to do it, because they had too many questions and concerns. Having done one, I have discovered the answers to those questions, and a few they should be asking but aren’t. 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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More Episodes

 

In this episode Gary Bembridge, cruise expert and author, shares another Essential Cruise Tip.

Four First-Time Cruise Tips

I was asked by "Cruise International Magazine" to provide a few tips for first-time cruisers for an article they were doing with suggestions from different cruise writers and bloggers.

These are the four that I provided:


(1) Chose your cruise line very carefully. Think about, and ideally write down, what is important to you on a vacation and use that as a checklist when deciding which line to travel with. Most key itineraries are covered by multiple cruise lines but they offer very different on-board experiences. If you want a party atmosphere you don’t want to find yourself on a line focused on traditional and quiet enrichment programs. If you want to avoid children you don’t want to be on a line that caters mostly for families.

(2) Use a cruise agent. Booking a cruise is complex. You need to select the right line, the most suitable cabin and understand what is included and excluded in your fare. There are many permutations and so work with a cruise travel agent. They will also know the latest and most appropriate promotions and offers for your needs.

(3) Check the deck plans when selecting a cabin. Review the layout of the ship you have selected using the brochure or online deck plans. Look what will be above and below you to make sure you have a quiet and calm vacation. Avoid those with public rooms, lido restaurants and decks above or below - and stay away from likely noisy areas like laundry rooms.

(4) When budgeting work on the total cost from leaving home to returning. There can be many extra and hidden costs on a cruise vacation. Understand in detail what the fare covers. The key additional costs are usually excursions (which can cost up to £50 to £100 per person), gratuities (which may be added automatically), Wi-Fi, drinks, and specialty dining. Make sure you have taken into account transfers to and from the ship and good travel insurance that includes cruise cover.

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