Judy Schwartz and her husband. Judy Schwartz
The cruise ship you travel on and the room you stay in can determine how much time you have.
You should have a plan for emergencies on a cruise – travel insurance can help you with this.
Make sure your credit card doesn’t charge fees for foreign transactions. They can really add up.
This is a machine translation of an article from our US colleagues at Business Insider. It was automatically translated and checked by a real editor.
“I’ve been lucky enough to snorkel in beautiful Hawaii, watch whales in Alaska, explore castles in Scotland, hike the breathtaking Giant’s Causeway in Ireland, marvel at Stonehenge and so much more,” says Judy Schwartz. The retired teacher has already taken 47 cruises. She learned how to save money. She shared her top eight tips for Business Insider.
First: research your ship
When you go on a cruise, the ship is your hotel, your transportation, your restaurant, and often it also provides entertainment. All of this costs money and therefore becomes an important decision.
Each cruise line has its own culture and reputation. Taking a cruise that doesn’t suit your personality can be a big financial mistake.
“Cruise lines like Carnival cater to people who have fun and like to party. Norwegian is known for its family-friendly cruises with additional dining options. “Princess has a more upscale reputation,” says Schwartz.
While teaching, Schwartz enjoyed taking cruises with her family during the holidays. She made friends with other families on the ship through trivia tournaments, lounging by the pool or playing table tennis.
Your cruise ship is not only a means of getting from A to B, but also your neighborhood. There may be between 3,000 and 4,000 people on your ship. You’ll see people at the buffet, in the specialty restaurants, in the casino, and more.
Second: choose your cabin carefully
Schwartz says, “You may want more space if you plan to spend a lot of time in your room. Or you can take a cheaper, smaller cabin and have more money available for excursions.
“When I sailed to the Bahamas from the Northeast in the winter, I enjoyed a room with a balcony to sit outside in the sun and have some privacy,” she says.
Check in advance where your cabin is. If you can, avoid a loud booth directly under the pool or on a deck directly above or below the theater.”
Third, calculate drink packages before you set sail
Schwartz says drink packages aren’t worth it for most guests. This is because they are subject to certain conditions.
- Most cruise beverage packages don’t begin until you leave port. This means: you will only receive drinks during the journey.
- If you order a drinks package, all other adults in your room must also receive one.
- Tips are not included.
The best candidates for a drinks package are solo travelers or couples who plan to drink a lot of expensive drinks (i.e. not beer) during the trip.
Fourth: Find out about your insurance in advance
Schwartz says, “If you get sick and need to go to the ship’s doctor, your insurance may not cover it. You also have to pay the bill in advance and then try to get it reimbursed by your insurance company.
So check whether you can take out insurance with the cruise company or with another insurance provider. The best cruise travel insurance policies will cover you in the event of a medical emergency – but make sure you know what your plan covers before purchasing.
“I learned this lesson the hard way when my husband had a serious infection and had to be treated on the ship.
Schwartz recalled, “When we were in Labadee, Haiti (a private beach port), it was exceptionally hot. As we walked back to the ship we saw a helicopter come to evacuate a guest to the hospital. This can cost $25,000 or more. Then we saw another helicopter coming for another guest!”
Fifth, pack more rather than less
Be sure to pack items that would be very expensive to purchase on the ship. This includes:
- Sealed water and wine (if allowed on your cruise).
- medication,
- Pavement,
- remedies for seasickness,
- hygiene products,
- Sunscreen
- and other drugstore items.
Sixth: Read the fine print in the contract
On cruises there are certain rules about where you can take your children. For example, babies younger than 12 months are generally not allowed to be at sea for more than two days. Norwegian does not allow babies under six months old or passengers who are 24 weeks pregnant.
Also find out about the ship’s code of conduct. If you violate this, you can be expelled from the ship or even banned from the shipping company. Be respectful of the staff and your fellow travelers.
Seventh: Always come back early
Schwartz warns: “Always get back to the ship early when it docks in a port. You will be left behind and the cost of returning to the ship may be very high.”
Schwartz has enjoyed trips to places like picturesque Honfleur in France and the medieval old town of Tallinn in Estonia.
Eighth: Take the right card with you
If you need a passport, you also need a credit card that doesn’t charge foreign fees. Otherwise, you’ll have to pay about 3 percent more with each charge when you leave the ship to explore.
The Original article you can find it here.
