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Entry bubble Need a Vacation? Consider a Cruise

By: Jim | April 09, 2008 | Category: Travel

I caught the cruise bug a few years ago. And no, I don’t mean the norovirus. Some friends talked me into joining them on an all-inclusive Caribbean cruise. It didn’t take much arm-twisting since the idea of seeing a nearly-new cruise ship capable of holding nearly 5,000 passengers and crew sounded interesting. So did the chance to take a vacation where the hardest decision of the day was whether to wear SPF 30 or 45.

cruise shipCruiseCritic.com has a lot of good information for beginners. Like me at first, some of your questions might be: What about my claustrophobia? Try an overnight cruise to nowhere for a test run. What if I get sick while at sea? There’s a ship’s doctor. Will I be the youngest one on board? Only if you book the wrong theme cruise. You also can visit USA.gov’s FAQ for cruise ship and other helpful information. If you’re worried about catching the norovirus, you can check out your ship’s sanitation inspection record with the CDC.

You can do just about all your research and make arrangements online, but I still like to check in with my travel agent for personal questions. One time I needed help on some travel insurance questions, something you may consider for yourself. Depending on terms of purchase, cruise deposits and airline tickets generally are nonrefundable. I had some schedule concerns, so I knew I wanted cancellation coverage if I couldn’t go due to an emergency. Travel insurance also has an option to handle medical expenses, too, which can be a little steep if the ship doctor provides them.

USA.gov’s International Travel page is a good place to learn about passports and foreign travel requirements. I just learned a hard lesson. Some countries and airlines require that your passport’s expiration date must be at least 6 months beyond the travel date. Big uh-oh! Luckily my new one arrived really fast. I paid the extra fee for expedited passport renewal processing because I didn’t want to risk having to cancel my plans. Foreign travel requirements are evolving, so it’s a good idea to check out the page periodically.

Finally, don’t forget the Dramamine! Take it from me, no matter how big and stable the ship is—you just can’t be too prepared.

| View Comments [3] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: cruise   jim   sea   ship   vacation  

Comments (3):

blue comment bubble Posted by SBR on April 09, 2008 at 01:28 PM EDT

American travelers should be sure they have the documents they need so they'll be able to board their cruise ships. The tried and true passport always works--all the information you need is at http://travel.state.gov. Soon the passport card, a less expensive alternative that can be used only for sea and land travel, will be available. You may also be able to embark with photo ID and proof of American citizenship, such as a birth certificate (see www.cbp.gov) but the wise traveler should at least call ahead, since some cruise lines insist on a passport.

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blue comment bubble Posted by Jim on April 09, 2008 at 03:06 PM EDT

Thanks, SBR. Indeed, an American traveler will be less likely to be inconvienced during border crossings and other international-travel-realted situations by having a passport.

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blue comment bubble Posted by I NEED A VACATION (YVETTE) on April 14, 2008 at 04:34 PM EDT

I NEED A VACATION PAYING BILLS AND PUTTING OUT FIRES FROM PROBLEMS WITH THE BILL PAYMENT PROCESS. IT' S TIME FOR A VACATION SO I LOOOK FOREWARD TO SMALL TRIP NOT TOO FAR I CAN AFFORD NO DRAMAMINE NEEDED JUST BY BUS OR CAR LIKE FROM MICHIGAN TO OHIO TO GO TO CEDAR POINT SO THAT A WINNER FOR ME I'LL JUST PRAY THAT SAFE DRIVERS WILL BE ON THE ROAD.....

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