Cruise travel offers some of the best vacations you can take. During your cruise you will visit several different ports of call. Your cruise ship will dock at exotic islands or new countries almost on a daily basis. Check out the cruise reviews on line for cruise tips before you visit your destinations to find out what fantastic experience each port has to offer…

There are a wide variety of activities in each cruise destination. As part of your cruise travel experience, you will visit ports to shop, explore, hang out on the beach, sight-see or hike. Or you could just depart the ship to walk around for a change of pace. Although this is a great adventure, you should realize that you will only get a small sample of what each port of call has to offer. And be forewarned, as you step off your majestic cruise ship there will be hordes of locals trying to sell you a trinket or a tour around the city.

If you take the advice above and search the cruise reviews, you should have a pretty good idea what each destination has to offer. Choose the excursion that has the most encompassing tour of your port. In exotic ports they have full day tours, including lunch, that will take you to the highlights of the place you are visiting. This is an ideal way to sample the city or island getting ideas for what you may want to come back for at a later date.

On island tours, you may want to take an organized tour in the morning, go back to the ship for lunch, then light out on your own to explore more fully, shop or just go to the beach. If you are more adventuresome, skip the lunch on board and dine in the city. You get to experience the local cuisine and soak up the native culture. This is your vacation, so learn some new things! If you choose to do this, check with the cruise director for the best places to dine and make sure you know the exchange rate.

One good cruise travel tip is to put your meal on a charge card so you will be charged the exchange rate on the day the bill hits the credit card company. Another tip that is very useful is to use the brochure that the ship gives you for their organized tour and follow it on your own. Only do this if you are comfortable with the country you are visiting. If it is your first time overseas to a port of call, it is best to stick with the organized tour for safety and convenience. Other cruise tips can be found online about some of the wonderful things to see and do in various ports of call.

Be conscious of one thing – if you chose to explore on your own, you must know what time the ship leaves and how long it will take you to get back on board. If you are not on an organized tour (excursion) it is your responsibility to get back on time or the ship will leave without you. You then have to meet the ship at the next port of call at your own expense.

If you opt for an organized tour sponsored by the cruise ship, it could cost you anywhere from $20.00 to over $200.00 depending on what you choose to do. It could be just a simple bus ride around town for two hours or a two day trip from St. Petersburg, Russia to Moscow. The options are endless.

Most cruise ship lines will let you book excursions in advance on their websites. This is very convenient and helpful with the most popular tours that sell out quickly. The most inexpensive tours also tend to sell out because of some cruisers watching their budgets. So don’t miss out, check out the cruise line’s website to see if you can book your ticket in advance.

Something else you should be aware of is how much the guide will be with you and do they speak English clearly. Mostly the cruise ship lines have very competent tour guides, but better safe than sorry. Will you have any time on your like for shopping or stopping in a café?

It is also very important to find out how much physical activity is required before you sign on for any tour. If you have limited mobility you don’t want to go on a tour that climbs the Acropolis in Athens or Dunns River Falls in Jamaica. Find out if a snack or lunch is provided too, so if it isn’t you can bring along adequate funds to get your own.

There are private touring companies that you can contact on your own if you wish to tour in a more private fashion. Another alternative is to buddy up with some fellow cruisers and share taxi tours to cut your expense in half. Many times you will meet people on a cruise that have similar interests and you will spend a lot of time together on the cruise ship, why not touring also? It’s a way to save money and enjoy other passengers company.

Only hire licensed taxi drivers. Their credentials should be prominently displayed in the front of the cab. With a licensed driver you are ensured a safe trip and a guide who is knowledgeable about the islands or cities background, where to shop, eat or gamble. And of course they will know the best beaches available.

Negotiate the price of your tour up front. If you chose to go to a destination where you will be dropped off for a couple of hours, negotiate with the driver to come back and pick you up. Settle on a price and pay half up front and half on the way back. If the driver has been helpful and friendly, please tip him or her.

Some cruisers like to rent cars in their ports of call. It is recommended that you only do this in destinations that you are familiar with and have a good knowledge of where you are going. Be careful when renting a car. Be sure to check out the entire car for any damages that may already be there and note them on your rental contract. If you fail to do this you may be charged for damage that was already done.

Lastly, use common sense when touring. Don’t travel in dark tight alleys, carry your money under your clothes, don’t wear expensive jewelry and don’t let yourself be surrounded, especially by children. Always carry identification and the name of the cruise line’s agents in the port of call in case you get in trouble. You are on a cruise vacation, so  make the best of it. Get off the ship at all of your ports of call whether you are touring or are just poking around. Be sure to take lots of pictures so you will have years of beautiful cruise travel memories.

Happy Cruising!

Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved. This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.

http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/cruise-tips-for-cruise-travel-at-your-ports-of-call-61868.html

Also in Your Affordable Holiday

New To Cruise Vacations… Help?

Technorati Tags: activities, advice, brochure, cruise, cruise ship, cruise ship lines, cruise travel, destinations, excursions, guides, organized, overseas, ports, private touring companies, reviews, tips, tour, vacation

NCL Freestyle Cruising Review

“You’ll see, there’s a big difference between a holiday cruise with NCL and other cruise ship lines. It’s called Freestyle Cruising. You’ll find it in the flexible cruise travel we offer our guests. You’ll feel it in the dedication and passion of our team. You’ll see it in the commitment to the environment. The Freestyle spirit is part of everything we do.”

Recommended Reading

• Best Cruise Ships – Published by Travel+Leisure, the worlds best cruise lines list features the worlds best rated small cruise ship lines and the best large cruise ships lines. Continue reading to find out about Silverseas’ fleet of luxury ships …

Technorati Tags: cruise, cruise ship lines, cruise travel, flexible, freestyle cruising, ncl

“Can someone explain how cruise vacations work? When the cruises stop at certain destinations do you get out and roam around until it’s time to go? Are there set times you have to be back or the ship will leave without you? I’m thinking about taking a cruise but I need to learn a few things first. Any help will be greatly appreciated!”

Also in Your Affordable Holiday

Excursion Tips To Make Cruise Travel More Enjoyable

Technorati Tags: cruise, cruise ship lines, destinations, excursions, information, tips, vacation

“RSVP Vacations is the originator of the gay and lesbian cruise concept. Since 1985, we have been creating unique vacation experiences that bring together gays and lesbians from all walks of life. Our cruises feature the finest ships, our signature entertainment, customized itineraries, exciting parties, and plentiful onboard activities. From the moment you step onboard, you’ll experience the camaraderie, fun, and excitement that make an RSVP vacation so memorable.”

Technorati Tags: cruise, cruise ship lines, Gay, Lesbian, RSVP, ship, vacation

Get up, go to work, go home, and go to bed. Repeat. Your lifestyle is a recipe for disaster. All work and no play make Johnny, and Jane, perfectly miserable.

When you’ve had enough of the rat race and just need to get away, a luxury cruise vacation is just the ticket. Vacations via luxury cruise ship lines offer pure paradise for a week, a month or even six months. Nothing to do but lie back, relax and let the ocean carry you away…

Choosing to take a luxury cruise vacation is one of the easiest decisions you’ll ever make. The tricky part is deciding when to leave, and when to come back. Chances are, you’ll want to leave tomorrow and never return. Unfortunately we all have to return to reality at some point, but even a few days on a luxury cruise’s ship is better than none at all.

Work with your travel agent in planning your departure and return dates. You’ll be surprised at the difference a week can make in rates and availability. If cost is a factor, take advantage of off-season discounts and you can save a bundle. Booking well in advance can help you to save a few bucks. Adventurous types who are in a position to drop everything can sometimes catch a break with last-minute bookings.

Think about where you’d like to go for your dream getaway. There are countless options available, depending on where you’d like to travel and what you’d like to see. Check the itineraries of different cruise packages to determine which ports of call you’d like to explore.

Of course, you may decide the perfect vacation activity for you is simply basking away on the ship’s pool deck. If that’s the case, you can just book the cruise without worrying about day trips along the way. The time you have available plays a big role in deciding when and where you will travel. Traveling on luxury cruise ships can be packed with fun and excitement.

The fun part is actually booking and preparing for your vacation. Once you’ve made the arrangements, you can get up and go to work with smile on your face, as you count down the days till your luxury cruise vacation. Bon Voyage!

Charles Jackson

http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/luxury-cruise-vacations-86179.html

Also in Your Affordable Holiday

Cruise Travel – Saving Up For Your Cruise

Cruise Travel – How To Plan A Cruise Vacation

Recommended Reading

• Top 5 Cruise Lines of The World | Blogoncherry – … Cruise, Cruise Information, Cruise Ships, Cruise Vacations, Cruises, deals-at-expedia, expedia-com, has-nine, minute-cruise, onboard-accommodations-, Princess Cruises, Regent Cruise Lines Around The World, top 5 cruises lines, World …

Technorati Tags: agent, cruise, cruise ship lines, cruises ships, day trips, discounts, getaway, Luxury, off season, packages, travel, vacation

Choose Holland America For Your Alaska Cruise

“Experience the beauty of the Inside Passage and the wonders of Southeast and Southcentral Alaska aboard one of our spectacular 7-day Alaska cruise vacations. We offer a greater selection of Alaska cruise itineraries than any other cruise ship lines and are the only cruise line to offer Glacier Bay National Park on all three major cruise itineraries.

Our sailings also include Hubbard Glacier in Wrangell-St Elias National Park or the twin Sawyer Glaciers of Tracy Arm guaranteeing you the ultimate Alaska glacier experience.”

Also in Your Affordable Holiday

The Top 10 Reasons To Cruise Alaska

Disney Cruise Travel To Alaska

Cruise Travel Through The Inside Passage

Alaska Cruise Travel With Seniors And Teens?

Technorati Tags: Alaska, alaska cruises, cruise line, cruise ship lines, cruise vacations, glacier, glacier bay, holland america line, Hubbard Glacier, inside passage, itineraries, Tracy Arm

“Why should I choose a cruise vacation?”

Recommended Reading

• 6 Reasons Why A Cruise Is Such A Fine Budget Vacation – Cruise ship lines have been known to offer some fantastic discounts at the last minute in order to move unsold cabins or avoid leaving with a less than full passenger load. There are many last minute travel newsletters that provide …

Technorati Tags: activities, amenities, cruise, cruise lines, cruise ship lines, entertainment, resort, ships, vacation

“Trafalgar Uniworld presents an unrivaled river cruise program with unique itineraries across Europe including: Rhone River Cruises, Rhine River Cruises, Danube River Cruises, Seine River Cruises and Nile River Cruises.

Take a river cruise through France, Portugal, Spain, Russia, Egypt, Germany, Austria, Hungary & more in 5-star luxury, comfort and convenience onboard your floating hotel while exploring the culture, sights and heritage from a unique perspective.”

Also in Your Affordable Holiday

Cruise Travel – Gate 1 Travel’s River Cruises

Holidays In France – Canal Barge Holidays

Cruise Travel On Germany’s Rhine River Cruises

Cruise Travel – Hydrofoils On Hungary’s Danube River

Recommended Reading

• Port of Stockholm | GreatPorts.com – Cruise Ports, Cruise Port … – Built on 14 islands around one of Europe’s largest and best-preserved mediaeval city centers, the Swedish capital is superbly positioned, with stunning…

Technorati Tags: cruise, cruise ship lines, Cruises, Danube, Egypt, France, Germany, Holiday, Luxury, Nile, Rhine, Rhone, River, Seine, ship, Tours, Trafalgar Uniworld, vacation

“I’m going on a cruise for February break with my friend, and it’s my first time so I’m a little scared! Can anything bad really happen to the ship?”

Recommended Reading

• Cruise Ship Accidents and Food Poisoning « Whocanisue’s Blog … – Tags: Accidents, cruise ship, lines-entice, passengers-may, poisoning, potential-cruise, safe-food, unmatched-gourmet…

Technorati Tags: cruise, cruise ship lines, cruising, drills, emergency, excursion, industry, life boats, problems, ship, vacation

“Ruby Princess, Emerald Princess, Crown Princess, Caribbean Princess – the largest and newest additions to the Princess cruise ship line, these luxury cruise ships boast nearly 900 balcony staterooms offering cruise passengers outstanding vistas from the Caribbean to Europe. Escape completely with Princess Cruises.”

Also in Your Affordable Holiday

Cruise Travel – Experience Princess Cruises

Panama Canal Cruise Travel With Princess Cruises

Cruise Travel In The South Pacific With Princess Cruises

Recommended Reading

• Choosing a Cruise – Some cruise ship lines do not offer cruises to the Mediterranean in the winter months, but transfer their ships to the warmer waters of the Caribbean. Alaskan cruises only run in certain months also due to weather conditions.

Technorati Tags: Caribbean, Crown, cruise, cruise ship lines, Cruises, Emerald, fleet, Luxury, passengers, princess, Ruby, ship, staterooms