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| All of these suggestions are just that – suggestions. None are essential to your cruise, but any one of them can make the difference between having a great cruise and having to deal with a frustrating breakdown. |
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| Prepare Your Stomach |
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| For about a week before leaving, eat at least one serving of yogurt every day, or take acidophilus supplements. It helps to build up the good bacteria that your digestive track needs to deal with any little bugs or impurities that you pick up. Some of the best food you’ll find will be in small local establishments, or even roadside venues. The chow is really good in these places, and very authentic. But, the sanitation requirements in Bahamas or Mexico are not the same as in the US. Also, the normal diet for locals is different than what you may be used to. Your stomach may not be used to it all. The yogurt is an easy and effective way to build up your digestive balance and immunity. |
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| Yes, You Should Be Careful With The Water |
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| Here again, it’s not so much that the water isn’t clean, it’s more a case of what’s in the clean water. In the US, public water systems use chlorine and a few other chemicals to rid the water of bacteria and other living impurities. But even with that, there are certain microbes that routinely inhabit our water. Your body has gotten used to that quality of water. In other countries around the Caribbean, the public water is also purified, but the systems they use can be vastly different. Consequently, the types of bacteria that are in the clean water may be different than what your body is used to. It won’t kill you, and if you stay there long enough, your body will adapt just fine. But for short excursions into the country, it can cause gastric discomfort. |
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| You may do just fine with the local water. And you don’t have to worry about the ice that gets used in your drinks. We recommend that you take a couple of bottles of water per person whenever you go ashore, or buy bottled water on the island (it will cost a couple of dollars per bottle). The yogurt will help with this also. |
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| Notify Your Bank That You Will Be In A Foreign Country. |
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| This will accomplish two things. 1) It will keep your bank from blocking charges that you make. Sometimes, banks will not allow charges to your account if they are “suspicious”. If you’ve never been to Nassau, and all of a sudden a charge shows up from there, they may flag it. Letting them know in advance will save you the frustration of not being able to pay for something you want. 2) Also, when you tell them the dates of your trip, they will be on the lookout for any charges that occur AFTER you leave. It has been known to happen that credit card numbers are lifted from receipts and used illegally. Be sure to ALWAYS take the carbon copy if the vendor is using the old style credit card imprinter. If the credit card slip you are asked to sign is a printed one, check to see if your credit card number is displayed in full. If it is, black out everything but the last four digits before you sign it. (Most modern day credit card slips will have your card number displayed like this : “ **** **** **** 1234”. This gives the vendor the last four digits, which is all the account info they need, without revealing the whole card number). |
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| Check With Your Insurance Company (auto and medical) |
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| If you are required to get any kind of medical treatment while you are cruising, there is a really good chance that you will have to pay for the treatment and get reimbursed later. So, find out before you go if your insurance will pay for such treatments, and what kind of documentation you need to file a claim. This is one of those times where you may want to inquire into travel insurance, especially if you are traveling with a condition that elevates the risk (such as older travelers, pregnancy, or some other pre-existing condition). Get very clear information about the documentation you need, because once you leave the ship, or the port where the treatment is delivered, there is virtually no chance you will ever get medical records sent to you without hiring an attorney. |
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In the same vein, check your coverage with your auto insurance company. You may find that you don’t need any additional coverage, which can save you a lot if you decide to rent a car or scooter. Keep in mind, however, many rental companies require you to make good on any damages when you return the vehicle, so if you are using your personal insurance you will have to pay for the damages and get reimbursed. That little fact is one of the major incentives the rental companies use to sell you the insurance. Unfortunately, even though they are blood-suckers for trying to manipulate you, it is often less hassle to go ahead and buy the local insurance. But, get a professional opinion from your agent. |
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Check with your Cell Phone Company |
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Most cell phone companies now have a special rate that they apply to calls made from aboard cruise ships. It’s expensive, costing about $2.50 per minute, but it’s about half the price (or less) of using the shipboard phone service, which costs between $6.95 and $9.95 per minute. |
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Cell phone companies also have international rates that can be more reasonable than using your cell phone on the ship. For example, you would pay a $5.95 per month surcharge to activate the international calling feature for a specific country (such as France or Mexico), and then pay $.99 per minute for calls to or from that country. This must be set up in advance, and your particular cell phone provider determines which countries they provide this service for. While it might seem a bit expensive or indulgent, it can actually be a great way to stay in contact with family if you need to. Remember to cancel the surcharge when you return from your trip. |
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Read Your Travel Documents |
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They are a great resource for providing all kinds of information about your cruise. Unfortunately, most people don’t give it a serious look until after the cruise (go figure). It includes information about your specific cruise, the ship, and a brief description of the shore excursions available. Your cruise documents will include your luggage tags along with information on how to display them; a checklist of necessary travel documents accepted by the cruise line; policies regarding alcohol use; and information about how to contact the cruise line in the event of problem with your travel plans. |
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| Prescription Sun Glasses |
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Articles we've written about
Cruising In The Caribbean |
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Ten Mistakes When Taking A Cruise - It’s a shame to lay out
$250 - $2,500 on a dreamy
cruise vacation only to encounter unnecessary mishaps and
inconveniences. So, in an effort
to minimize the likelihood of a
bump in the road to your perfect
vacation, here are some common
potholes that can tarnish your
experience.
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Eleven Expert Cruising Tips - Some useful,relevant tips and
ideas, and other neat stuff you
can use to make their cruising
experience better.
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Hooked On Cruising (And I Like It!) - It's official! I have a
condition, a disorder by some
people's assessment. It's called
"Caribbean Obsession Disorder",
and there really is such a thing.
Imagine that!
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