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hstrybuf
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Posted: Sun Feb 24th, 2008 06:37 pm | 1st Post |
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Want to know if you'll get seasick, or gain weight? Answers for newbies
By Anita Dunham-Potter
Travel columnist
I get a lot of e-mails from people asking if a cruise vacation is right for them. It's a fair question. After all, once the ship leaves the dock, you're pretty much stuck until the ship turns around and comes home. Here are answers to the most common questions I've received from cruise newbies in the past six months:
1. What should be my first cruise?
There are two ways to go here. Most first-time cruisers choose a short cruise with lots of port calls; they do this because they're afraid they'll go crazy if they're stuck aboard ship. While this is a good strategy if you just want to get your feet wet, I recommend looking for a longer itinerary with some "sea days." That way you can relax and enjoy the ship's facilities. It's really the only way to find out what "cruising" is all about. So, look for a cruise with some balance between sea days and port days. My recent cruise aboard the Crown Princess from New York City had a great balance: four sea days and five port days.
2. What about seasickness?
It may have all the amenities of a shoreside resort, but a cruise ship does travel on open water. Your body will register that motion no matter how big the ship is or how well it is stabilized. Therefore, if you experience severe motion sickness on land or on airplanes then cruising may not be for you.
Ordinary motion sickness can be relieved by remedies like Dramamine and acupressure bands. (If you forget to pack them, don't worry; they are always available in the ship's store.) If you're susceptible to motion sickness, book a cabin on a lower deck in the middle of the ship where motion is minimized. Even better is a balcony cabin in the middle of the ship; fresh air really does help with motion sickness. If the going gets rough, you can get a motion sickness shot in the ship's medical center, but understand you'll be charged a fee ($75 on up).
3. Do I have to get dressed up every night?
If you love dressing up, then by all means do so. But cruising has become less formal in recent years, so fancy dress is optional. In fact, many new ships offer several informal dining venues (e.g., sushi bars, pizzerias, buffets and snack bars) where you needn't dress up at all. Still, most ships continue to offer two formal nights in the main dining rooms: the Captain's Welcome and the Farewell Dinner. Formal-night attire ranges from tuxedos to dark suits for men; for women, formal dress ranges from long gowns to dressy pantsuits. More casual dress is appropriate in the dining rooms on other occasions, but most ships do not allow jeans, shorts or sleeveless men's tops in any dining venue.
4. Do I have to sit with strangers at dinner?
One of the best parts of cruising is getting to meet people from all walks of life. But if you are uncomfortable sitting with people you don't know, you can arrange a table change with the maitre d' - but you must do so as soon as you get on board. If you wait too long, the staff may not be able to accommodate you. Understand that tables for two are scarce aboard ship except on luxury cruise lines like Silversea.
5. What about tipping?
Except on a few luxury cruise ships that have "no tipping required" policies, passengers are expected to tip their cabin steward, dining room waiter and assistant waiter. Many lines recommend that each passenger tip about $10 per day, as follows: cabin steward, $3.50; dining room waiter and assistant waiter, $5.50 (shared); and bistro service waiter and cooks, $1. Bar bills are automatically charged a 15 percent gratuity for the bartender. Special service personnel such as the maitre d', deck stewards and bellmen should be tipped as service is rendered.
Some cruise lines offer to add the suggested gratuities to your shipboard account; the accounting office then distributes the tips at the end of the cruise. On other ships, you leave cash in an envelope on the last evening of your cruise. Understand that ships' crews work very hard to make your cruise top-notch. Unless the service has actually been poor, tip the recommended amount. For outstanding service, add a little more. To get an idea of how much to tip, visit Cruise Tip Calculator, a nifty Web site that lists tipping amounts for each crew member on most cruise lines.
Here's a tip from me to you: Get your cash tips in order before your cruise and have them organized in separate envelopes for each crew member. Believe me, there's nothing worse than waiting in a long line at the cruise desk on the last night of the cruise to get all your cash tips in order.
6. Will I gain weight?
Cruising is the ultimate "see food" diet — you see food, you eat it. Yes, most passengers end up with more to love after a cruise. But you don't have to become a sloth in a deck chair; there are plenty of active pursuits to enjoy aboard ship. Most ships have exercise rooms, pools, jogging tracks and fitness classes covering everything from aerobics to yoga. Newer cruise ships like Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas offer boxing, rock climbing and surfing classes, while traditional ships like the Queen Mary 2 offer walk-a-mile deck-lapping sessions and aerobics.
7. Can I do my laundry on board?
Most ships have self-service laundry rooms with ironing boards. On most mainstream and premium cruise lines, you'll have to pay to use the washers and dryers. On luxury lines like Crystal, Regent, Seabourn, Silversea and Regent, the self-serve laundry is complimentary. Don't want to waste valuable vacation time doing laundry? Then send your clothes to the ship's laundry or dry cleaner; there will be a per-item charge. During the cruise, many ships offer a "laundry bag special": For a set fee (usually $10-$20), laundry crew will wash everything you can cram into the laundry bag.
Cruising is a vacation like no other. It offers vast open seas, and the scenery changes every day. The food and service are better than in a resort hotel, all food and entertainment is included in the price, and you have to unpack only once. Believe me, once you try cruising, you will be hooked for life.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22994888/
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Liberty 10/07; Miracle 10/06; Navigator OTS 10/04; Legend 04/04; Grand Princess 09/03; Dawn Princess 01/03; Enchantment OTS 10/02; Destiny 01/02; Sensation 10/99
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cruiseman_tx
Frequent Cruiser
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Posted: Mon Feb 25th, 2008 03:14 pm | 2nd Post |
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Good article. I like that last paragraph...
"Cruising is a vacation like no other. It offers vast open seas, and the scenery changes every day. The food and service are better than in a resort hotel, all food and entertainment is included in the price, and you have to unpack only once. Believe me, once you try cruising, you will be hooked for life."
Excatly what happened to me! 
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Ron
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hstrybuf
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Posted: Tue Feb 26th, 2008 01:54 am | 3rd Post |
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| Me too Ron! Hooked!
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Liberty 10/07; Miracle 10/06; Navigator OTS 10/04; Legend 04/04; Grand Princess 09/03; Dawn Princess 01/03; Enchantment OTS 10/02; Destiny 01/02; Sensation 10/99
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BeckyThane
Super Cruiser
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Posted: Tue Feb 26th, 2008 02:04 am | 4th Post |
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| I know what hooked me. I like to be able to experience a lot of different things, but I don't travel well. There's NO WAY IN HECK I could ever do one of those "If this is Tuesday this must be Florence" bus tours. But with cruising I get to take my hotel with me; this makes travel a LOT easier on me. And not to mention I LOVE being on the water, especially the open sea. Not to get all theological on you, but it really puts it before my face how insignificant I am before the vastness of creation. It's awesome!!!
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hstrybuf
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Posted: Tue Feb 26th, 2008 02:28 am | 5th Post |
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BeckyThane wrote: I know what hooked me. I like to be able to experience a lot of different things, but I don't travel well. There's NO WAY IN HECK I could ever do one of those "If this is Tuesday this must be Florence" bus tours. But with cruising I get to take my hotel with me; this makes travel a LOT easier on me. And not to mention I LOVE being on the water, especially the open sea. Not to get all theological on you, but it really puts it before my face how insignificant I am before the vastness of creation. It's awesome!!!
It isn't just you Becky. It affects me that way too.
____________________
Deb - Research, research, research!
My pics: http://community.webshots.com/user/hstrycrsr
Liberty 10/07; Miracle 10/06; Navigator OTS 10/04; Legend 04/04; Grand Princess 09/03; Dawn Princess 01/03; Enchantment OTS 10/02; Destiny 01/02; Sensation 10/99
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OceanGirl
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Posted: Tue Feb 26th, 2008 02:35 am | 6th Post |
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BeckyThane wrote: There's NO WAY IN HECK I could ever do one of those "If this is Tuesday this must be Florence" bus tours.
Did you see that old movie, "If it's Tuesday, this must be Belgium"? I LOVED that movie!
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BeckyThane
Super Cruiser
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Posted: Tue Feb 26th, 2008 02:37 am | 7th Post |
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OceanGirl wrote: BeckyThane wrote: There's NO WAY IN HECK I could ever do one of those "If this is Tuesday this must be Florence" bus tours.
Did you see that old movie, "If it's Tuesday, this must be Belgium"? I LOVED that movie!
No, but I have TECHNICOLOR memories of a veeeeery loooooooong bus trip from Luxembourg to what used to be the eastern part of West Germany. I can hardly look at a bus without feeling queasy nowadays. 
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OceanGirl
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Posted: Tue Feb 26th, 2008 02:40 am | 8th Post |
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BeckyThane wrote: OceanGirl wrote: BeckyThane wrote: There's NO WAY IN HECK I could ever do one of those "If this is Tuesday this must be Florence" bus tours.
Did you see that old movie, "If it's Tuesday, this must be Belgium"? I LOVED that movie!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064471/
____________________
DOLPHIN- A FREE roaming mammal found throughout the world's oceans. There are no confines large enough to justify CAPTIVITY.
http://www.inkokomo.com/dolphin/captivity.html
http://www.bluevoice.org/Videos/expose.mov
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hstrybuf
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Posted: Tue Feb 26th, 2008 02:41 am | 9th Post |
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OceanGirl wrote: BeckyThane wrote: There's NO WAY IN HECK I could ever do one of those "If this is Tuesday this must be Florence" bus tours.
Did you see that old movie, "If it's Tuesday, this must be Belgium"? I LOVED that movie!
I remember that movie! We must be showing our age.
____________________
Deb - Research, research, research!
My pics: http://community.webshots.com/user/hstrycrsr
Liberty 10/07; Miracle 10/06; Navigator OTS 10/04; Legend 04/04; Grand Princess 09/03; Dawn Princess 01/03; Enchantment OTS 10/02; Destiny 01/02; Sensation 10/99
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OceanGirl
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Posted: Tue Feb 26th, 2008 02:42 am | 10th Post |
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Sssssshhhh!!!!!!! Don't tell!!!!! 
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DOLPHIN- A FREE roaming mammal found throughout the world's oceans. There are no confines large enough to justify CAPTIVITY.
http://www.inkokomo.com/dolphin/captivity.html
http://www.bluevoice.org/Videos/expose.mov
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kimdave68
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Posted: Tue Jul 22nd, 2008 07:20 pm | 11th Post |
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I've decided it's not for me. Whenever I'm on a ship any kind of large weather system does a 180 and moves away. If I'm in an open boat the opposite happens. I've been struck by lightning three times to prove it. 
OTOH I can cruise for free just wagering some $$$ on the weather.
So who wants to bet? 
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Catnip
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Posted: Tue Jul 22nd, 2008 08:22 pm | 12th Post |
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kimdave68 wrote: . I've been struck by lightning three times to prove it.
 
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xpcdoojk
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Posted: Tue Jul 22nd, 2008 09:32 pm | 13th Post |
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Isn't the author of the article the infamous Macop reporter.
Suddenly, I am very wary of this article!
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clgcruiser
Funnel Deck Cruiser
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Posted: Tue Jul 22nd, 2008 10:22 pm | 14th Post |
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hstrybuf wrote: BeckyThane wrote: I know what hooked me. I like to be able to experience a lot of different things, but I don't travel well. There's NO WAY IN HECK I could ever do one of those "If this is Tuesday this must be Florence" bus tours. But with cruising I get to take my hotel with me; this makes travel a LOT easier on me. And not to mention I LOVE being on the water, especially the open sea. Not to get all theological on you, but it really puts it before my face how insignificant I am before the vastness of creation. It's awesome!!!
It isn't just you Becky. It affects me that way too.
Me three! Must have something to do with being a Pices. . .
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PCD_Barb
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Posted: Wed Jul 23rd, 2008 04:07 am | 15th Post |
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clgcruiser wrote: hstrybuf wrote: BeckyThane wrote: I know what hooked me. I like to be able to experience a lot of different things, but I don't travel well. There's NO WAY IN HECK I could ever do one of those "If this is Tuesday this must be Florence" bus tours. But with cruising I get to take my hotel with me; this makes travel a LOT easier on me. And not to mention I LOVE being on the water, especially the open sea. Not to get all theological on you, but it really puts it before my face how insignificant I am before the vastness of creation. It's awesome!!!
It isn't just you Becky. It affects me that way too.
Me three! Must have something to do with being a Pices. . .
Me four!
There's no way I would have seen the places I have in the last few years had I stuck to land travel. Being delivered right to the front door of my destinations and being spoiled rotten in the process is just wonderful. Plus I just love, love, love sea days and do our best to make sure there's plenty of them too.
Sea breeze blowing through my hair, while smelling the sea air = Heaven!
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scrappy
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Posted: Wed Jul 23rd, 2008 03:46 pm | 16th Post |
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kimdave68 wrote: If I'm in an open boat the opposite happens. I've been struck by lightning three times to prove it.
No way I'm ever getting in a boat with you!
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cruisingfromMN
Casual Cruiser
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Posted: Wed Jul 23rd, 2008 06:34 pm | 17th Post |
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clgcruiser wrote: hstrybuf wrote: BeckyThane wrote: I know what hooked me. I like to be able to experience a lot of different things, but I don't travel well. There's NO WAY IN HECK I could ever do one of those "If this is Tuesday this must be Florence" bus tours. But with cruising I get to take my hotel with me; this makes travel a LOT easier on me. And not to mention I LOVE being on the water, especially the open sea. Not to get all theological on you, but it really puts it before my face how insignificant I am before the vastness of creation. It's awesome!!!
It isn't just you Becky. It affects me that way too.
Me three! Must have something to do with being a Pices. . .
And, me too!!!!!
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hstrybuf
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Posted: Thu Jul 24th, 2008 01:39 am | 18th Post |
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xpcdoojk wrote: Isn't the author of the article the infamous Macop reporter.
Suddenly, I am very wary of this article!
That's her. Since she did her little story on Macop, I no longer quote anything she says. 
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Deb - Research, research, research!
My pics: http://community.webshots.com/user/hstrycrsr
Liberty 10/07; Miracle 10/06; Navigator OTS 10/04; Legend 04/04; Grand Princess 09/03; Dawn Princess 01/03; Enchantment OTS 10/02; Destiny 01/02; Sensation 10/99
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hstrybuf
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Posted: Thu Jul 24th, 2008 01:45 am | 19th Post |
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PCD_Barb wrote: clgcruiser wrote: hstrybuf wrote: BeckyThane wrote: I know what hooked me. I like to be able to experience a lot of different things, but I don't travel well. There's NO WAY IN HECK I could ever do one of those "If this is Tuesday this must be Florence" bus tours. But with cruising I get to take my hotel with me; this makes travel a LOT easier on me. And not to mention I LOVE being on the water, especially the open sea. Not to get all theological on you, but it really puts it before my face how insignificant I am before the vastness of creation. It's awesome!!!
It isn't just you Becky. It affects me that way too.
Me three! Must have something to do with being a Pices. . .
Me four!
There's no way I would have seen the places I have in the last few years had I stuck to land travel. Being delivered right to the front door of my destinations and being spoiled rotten in the process is just wonderful. Plus I just love, love, love sea days and do our best to make sure there's plenty of them too.
Sea breeze blowing through my hair, while smelling the sea air = Heaven!
I'm with you Barb!
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Deb - Research, research, research!
My pics: http://community.webshots.com/user/hstrycrsr
Liberty 10/07; Miracle 10/06; Navigator OTS 10/04; Legend 04/04; Grand Princess 09/03; Dawn Princess 01/03; Enchantment OTS 10/02; Destiny 01/02; Sensation 10/99
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scrappy
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Posted: Thu Jul 24th, 2008 02:59 pm | 20th Post |
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| I agree Barb. I just flat out dismiss any reporter too lazy to check their facts or too naive to accept whatever they are told.
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