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by: vacation231
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Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 Time: 4:53 PM
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In no way am I an expert on cruises. I have taken my fare share of them, and I do enjoy the variety that this type of travel allows you. The calming of the water is another feature that I enjoy; and with the exception of one night on one cruise ship, I have never found myself experiencing any ‘reversal of fortune’; but, when you have thousands of people trying to enjoy their vacation at the same time, it does get a little bit too cluster phobic. Here are some ways to enjoy your cruise vacation:

Expect things are not going to be perfect. This means that you wait in line when you exit and re-board the ship. I have to admit that I’m one of those people that really laugh when people complain that every little thing of theirs is getting scanned and checked. Sorry, folks, I’m not putting anything out there for chance. If they are checking what bag I’m bringing on the ship, all the power to them – because they are doing it to everyone else.

Understand that there are some things you can not control. I’m not talking about if you did not get the room that you booked; I’m talking about things that you – or anyone else for that matter – have no control over. On my last cruise, people were actually complaining about the weather. Are you serious? If this is something that you must complain about, do it quietly so that no one will think you’re a freak of nature.

Do some exercise! The food on these cruises these days are a bountiful of deliciousness and the sheer mention of the word crème bruele makes me gain 10 pounds. Get some exercise by either taking a few laps on the promenade deck, or taking the stairs. During dinner and show hours, the elevators will be backed up, so if you can manage it, do take the stairs. Your waist size will thank you for it.

Book your land excursions early! I learned this the hard way – and although it didn’t ruin my cruise, it did leave something out of it…especially during dinner when everyone was talking about what they did. As soon as you check out your cabin, get yourself down to the place where you can book your expeditions. If you already know which one’s you want to take, you can pre-book them with your travel reservations.

Request to sit with other people on the cruise at dinner. You can’t escape other people on a cruise, and trust me, they are there to have a good time just like you are. I make a point to request a 6 or 8 person dinner table. Some of the most interesting people that I have met have been at dinner time on cruises that I wouldn’t otherwise have come in contact with. You can always request a different table if the people that you sit with are not what you are looking for. Also, try and reserve the late dinner, that way you can hang out a little longer and not worry about having to get up for the next flock of people.

Make sure you tip generously! I have met some people that work on these cruises and for the most part they do a great job. They get paid close to nothing and rely mostly on gratuities of the passengers. If you come in and see that your cabin is always nice and clean and you have more towels then you know what to do with, then reward their efforts. Contrary if you feel that there is something that you need, don’t let it fester till the end of your travels and then ‘make your point’ by not tipping.

Try and unpack together. Contrary to other hotel rooms that you may be accustomed too, these cabins are small. They have minimal cabinet space, and still things can get lost. How many times have you heard someone say, “hey, did you see my…”. By unpacking together you have a better chance in locating that tie tack.

Moderation is the key! It’s your vacation, and as such you should be able to party on – but tactfulness is what should be the goal, although not always obtained. I don’t have a problem with people having a good time; I even have some funny video of my dinner mates having the whole pool area in stitches, but no one likes a sloppy drunk. Discretion is the better part of valor, don’t be a hero and just keep it to an amount where you can still understand what you’re doing.

This is not your home! In a way, it is your home for the time you are on the ship, but that doesn’t give you the right to walk around the ship with only your curlers and a robe on. People come in different shapes in sizes, and if you wouldn’t be caught dead in a Wal-Mart wearing certain attire, then you probably should leave it at home.

People are going to be loud and obnoxious. Sadly, there is no tip to combat this. Without fail, every trip that I have been on, not just cruises, I have encountered my share of these people. If you find yourself anywhere around these types of people, and you’ll know who they are, make a mental note to just walk away from them. These are the people that will complain about anything just to have something to say; and they usually stir the pot and get everyone else on edge. Negative vibes = a real bad vacation!

With all of the planning, the most important thing to remember is that it’s your vacation – so plan to have fun!

Rich Gonzalez is a travel writer for Dunhill Vacation; a free travel newsletter delivered to your inbox containing deals on cruises, air fare, hotels, vacation packages and more. There is always a great cruise waiting for you. Check out some great cruise destinations here. If you are on twitter - come follow us!