Booking a cruise is a wonderful option if you’re looking for an all-inclusive vacation choice. The majority of food and entertainment is included in the purchase price. When you step foot on a cruise ship, it’s like you’re stepping into your own floating city.
Before you sail, it’s important to brush up on the best ways to stay safe on the ship. Unfortunately, there’s no way to completely prevent crime at sea. However, by taking the following information into consideration, chances are you won’t fall victim to unscrupulous behavior.
Purchase Travel Protection
Travel protection is not included in the price of a cruise. It’s an added expense, which many people just don’t want to spend the extra money on. However, travel protection is needed if and when cruisers have to cancel the trip for unexpected reasons… including injury, illness or death in the family.
The closer it gets to the cruise date, the more money is lost when there’s no insurance in force. The only funds that cruise lines are required to refund, whether passengers have travel insurance or not, are the government taxes added to each person’s reservation.
It should be noted that most insurance companies don’t cover injuries sustained outside of the United States. For that reason alone, you should definitely consider spending the extra money it costs for insurance. Should you need to use it, you’ll probably end up saving thousands of dollars in the long run.
Keep Medication Handy
It’s important that you store your medications in a carry-on bag that you keep with you while boarding the ship. All cruise lines require medications to be properly labeled and in their original containers. For travelers who need insulin, a small in-room refrigerator is generally available upon request.
Practice Casino Safety
These days, there aren’t too many ships that don’t have a casino. Gambling at sea is a very popular pastime. If you’re having a string of good luck at the tables, it’s recommended that you ask to have your chips taken to the safe on a periodic basis. If you do win big, wait to celebrate until you get back to your cabin. Flashing money around is asking for trouble.
Report Suspicious Activity
Depending on the ship, the crew-to-guest ratio is probably not as high as you think. Crew members who work behind the scenes are typically not allowed to assist passengers. Pair that with the fact that many crew members speak other languages, and it means that the crew members who actually have the ability to monitor suspicious activities may have their hands full.
Approach Shore Excursions with Care
There are many different types of shore excursions… everything from bus tours that don’t require strenuous activity to hiking in the mountains, to everything in between. When booking reservations for excursions, it’s important to realize your physical limitations. Since refunds are typically not available, you don’t want to throw money away on activities you can’t participate in.
Cruising is expensive for a great many people. In fact, it takes many first-time cruisers months (or even years) of saving money before they are able to make reservations. There’s nothing worse than finally taking a dream vacation, only to have it ruined because of safety issues. Remember, asking the right questions and taking precautions before the ship leaves port, helps to ensure the best cruise experience ever.
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