Minor glitches of one sort or another actually can be half the fun of travel-the sweet serendipity that makes a trip memorable.
Cruise passengers, though, seem to expect cruises to provide some sort of protective shield that eliminates the unexpected.
Passengers frequently are surprised, even disappointed, to learn not just that Murphy’s Law prevails everywhere, but that cruising can have plenty of glitches of its own.
Snags that do crop up-however unexpectedly-can be fielded easily with a little creativity, foresight and flexibility.
Here are tips for headache-free cruising.
You’ll avoid the first headache (literally) if you don’t stand near the funnel when the ship pulls out of port. The ship’s horn can be deafening. Trust me.
When planning a cruise, keep in mind that most travel agents really only know a half-dozen cruise lines well. Because they work on commission, they tend to sell what they know best. But it may not always be what’s best for you. To be sure a travel agent is working in your best interest, consult more than one. And consult a good cruise guidebook. Those compiled by Fodor’s, Fielding’s and Frommer’s are my favorites.
When cruising to exotic ports, always double-check visa requirements. Cruise line information isn’t always current-and cruise lines are not the final word.
For some ports, individual visas may be sold aboard ship; but in countries as predictably unpredictable as Russia, for example, that promise could vanish at the last minute, and you’ll be left with no option but to take group excursions under blanket visas. It’s well worth the investment to get visas on your own ahead of time. Contact the State Department, which can give you up-to-date visa requirements. Call the department’s Travel Information Hotline at 202-647-5225. Consulates of the country you’ll be visiting also can give you visa information.
Also assume responsibility for information about inoculations. Frequently, even your local physician won’t have the latest scoop. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta has an automated fax service that provides international health warnings and immunization requirements. From a fax/phone, dial 404-332-4565 and press 220022 for regional listings, or 000005 for a general directory.
Explore inexpensive travel insurance options; it can be worth the cost of a lost cruise. They can cover anything from lost luggage to emergency evacuation. Contact the cruise line, your travel agent or an independent insurer.
If you’re on an air/sea program and your luggage doesn’t arrive along with you, at least hang on to your sense of humor. The luggage will catch up eventually-usually at the next port. In the meantime, onboard credits may be issued for incidentals: Carnival’s range from $50 to $100, and passengers are given a bar coupon and essentials to tide them over; Royal’s credit is $100 plus a tuxedo loan for formal night; Holland America’s is $50; and RCCL, which used to give a $100 credit, now encourages passengers to purchase insurance to cover this and other emergencies but does provide free laundry service for the clothes on your back.
The industry’s tipping standard is about $9 per passenger per day (covering cabin steward and waiter). If you’re pressed for more, beware. Some ships pool tips and, to avoid receiving less-than-normal gratuities, staff may confide that they have to make up for shortages out of their own pockets. While this may or may not be true, it’s not your responsibility to make up for labor problems.
If you’re wondering why port charges seem so high these days, it’s because some cruise lines bump increased costs into that category, like a slush fund. It keeps them looking competitive without having to increase the cruise price itself.
If you’re not shipshape, be cautious about starting an exercise regime aboard ship. All that exercise equipment can tempt you into a routine you’re not ready for physically.
Write in advance to the tourist boards of countries you’ll be visiting. They’ll be happy to swamp you with information for touring independently that may save you lots of money on shore excursions.
If you’re in port on your own and are concerned about getting back to your ship in a trustworthy taxi, ask a doorman at a major hotel to hail one for you. Local cabs rely a lot on hotel business and are less likely to rip you off from there.
It’s no secret that tour guides get kickbacks from merchants; when you’re dropped at a shop and see something you like, you probably can return later on your own and get it for 25 percent less.
If your tour guides stick a paper dot on your lapel, they’ll tell you it’s for identification. Peel it off quickly: It’s a way of marking you for shopping kickbacks.
