All Aboard - Tips for Cruising the High Seas

Janelle Poe, travel writer for TheBlackTraveler.com and children’s book writer, shares tips and suggestions on how to cruise with your friends after a girls getaway on Carnival Cruise Lines!

My girlfriends and I love to travel but as much as we love to delve into the deep, we often find ourselves stuck in the shallow end of the pool, and our purses.  Never the types to be discouraged, we have found a wonderful way around our monetary hindrances…cruising!  What better way to see a variety of cultures and landscapes, make sure you get plenty of sun, sand, breathtaking views of the ocean, and all the food and beverages (non-alcoholic/non-carbonated) you can handle at one reasonable price?  If you’re ok with sharing a room with friends (up to 4 in a cabin), are willing to be understanding of the culinary attempts to feed thousands of people practically 24 hours a day on limited refrigeration and freezing systems, don’t mind being around lots of couples and families, and want to get a little taste of a few places, then cruising is for you and yours my friend.

My first cruise was a 4-day, 3 nights cruise from Miami to the Bahamas last year in early November.  This year’s was my 2^nd cruise, a 7-day voyage from Tampa to Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Belize, and Isla Roatan in Early September.  Both have been to celebrate 30^th birthdays but the concept is well on its way to being an annual fixture in the calendar for my crew, Las Tres Reinas.  Of course, we hope to include others in our yearly seascape, lovers, friends and family in the future.  There are so many great things about cruising and one of the best parts is that there’s something for everyone to enjoy; it just depends on your willingness to discover it and how long you can make that joy last!

Here’s a quick list of Dos and Don’ts to make your next cruise more enjoyable.

DO:

• Pick a cruise that is in your budget and will stay there even with the added expenses of airfare, refreshments on board, souvenirs, excursions, and transportation to and from your point of embarkation.
• Pick a cruise that is a reasonable length of time for you to be away and on a boat. Try starting with a 3 or 4 day one if you’re not sure how strong your sea legs are.  Bring some Dramamine and Tylenol/Aleve just in case.
• Take a look at the ship’s layout before purchasing your package. What level do you want to be on?  Will there be a window, balcony?  While you don’t spend too much time in your room, you want to be as comfortable as possible and it can be a little weird having a room without a window.
• Think about the weather. Hurricane season in the Caribbean is late August thru Mid-October.  This might affect your ship’s travel plans.
• Find out what the ship’s itinerary is ahead of time. Know how long you will have in each port of call and what those ports will be.
• Research your ports of call. Find out about the local history, the main attractions, and the things that make this place special.  Can you walk around when you get there or will you need a taxi/bus tour, etc…Plan your itinerary accordingly.
• Fill out the ship’s paperwork ahead of time and make sure your passport is in order well ahead of your travel date.
• Make a copy of your passport to bring with you and carry it with you when you leave the ship.
• Check out the pre-arranged excursions for each port & pick a few possible options based on your time, interest & budget. Try to find one thing each family member would like to do.  If there’s a really special one, go ahead and book it before you leave so there’s no chance of it being sold-out once you get there.  You can also do this on-board the ship, but make sure to do so at least 1 day prior to arriving at that destination.
• Purchase insurance if you’re traveling with someone with health issues. You never know what could happen and if emergency services are required, they will be super expensive out at sea.
• Check your ship’s rules for bringing food and alcohol on board. You can save money by bringing snacks and your own alcohol, but there are limits.
• Lay out your clothes and plan for your days and nights. How will you be spending most of your time?  Walking in sunny weather, dancing the night away, or being fancy?  Most cruises have at least one Captain’s Dinner, which requests passengers to wear Formal Attire.  Your ship may also have laundry facilities but don’t count on them because they may not always be operating properly.
• Bring lots of sunscreen, bug spray, batteries, a book, a deck of cards or travel-sized game, comfortable shoes, waterproof shoes, and a water bottle.
• Pack a fold-up poncho and/or umbrella and take it with you when you leave the ship. You never know what the weather will be like when you’re off the ship.
• Bring at least an extra $100 in cash when you leave the ship and keep it somewhere safe. You never know what could happen and you might not always have access to an ATM nor does every vendor accept credit cards.
• Find out what time the ship’s Back Aboard time is and plan on getting there 30 minutes before then. You never know what could happen and it’s no fun running for your life to catch the boat.  They will leave you.
• Make sure you know how to get back to the port if you walk out of visual distance from the ship.  Pick up a local map from the ship before debarking or from one of the excursion companies or information desk at the port.
• Read the Daily Guide provided by the ship to know what’s going on and make sure to try a few activities you wouldn’t normally do otherwise.
• Eat and drink plenty of fluids (especially water) to keep yourself hydrated and full of energy during your busy schedule.

DON’T

• Schedule a flight that will not give you enough time to get on or off the ship. Allow at least 3 hours in between your time of departure.
• Do anything stupid. On ship, it could get you thrown off.  At a port, it could get you in trouble with foreign authorities.  Or you could get physically hurt.  It’s just not worth it.
• Drink the water in ports of call, unless you’re absolutely sure it’s purified. This includes ice and slushy drinks.  Bring a water bottle and fill it up on the ship.
• Rent mopeds unless you already have plenty of practice driving one or don’t care about spending extra money in case of an accident. I highly suggest buying the liability insurance, but that won’t cover you if you fall over and damage the bike.
• Wear uncomfortable shoes when leaving the ship. Chances are, you’ll be doing a lot of walking and you won’t be returning to the ship.
• Run around on board. The boat is tilting, there could be water or spilt drinks, and the decks are never completely dry.  Avoid embarrassment and pain by taking it easy and watching where you’re going.
• Offend the nation. Remember that you are a guest in someone else’s home.  You can always leave a place looking better than it did when you got there.  Recycle and be kind, even if others are rude to you.  Tourism has many unseen and unintentional impacts on a community.
• Waste your time on the ship when you’re docked at a port. Even if you’ve been there before, there’s something new for you to discover.  Eat a good breakfast and get out there!
• Leave the ship without making sure you have a time piece and your time matches the ship’s time. The ship time might be several hours different from whatever local time it is on that port.
• Wait until the last minute to head back to the ship. Give yourself plenty of time.
• Forget any liquor you purchase on board or off-shore will be held until the last night of your cruise.
• Forget to tip your table waiter on the last night and your cabin steward in the morning before you debark. They work very hard to take care of you and make little money, so return the favor.
• Forget you have to go through customs before your trip is over. The earlier you get up, the quicker you’ll be finished.  Keep in mind they will not accept plants, food (unless packaged), or animals and it can be a lengthy process.
• Forget it’s a vacation! You’re there to have fun so try not to let anything stress you out and have a great time with your lucky companion(s)!

Remember that you get what you pay for so be discriminatory about deals, unless you really don’t mind.  Cruises are hotels on the water, and there are differences in the quality between a stay at the Sheraton, Marriot, and W hotels in their accomodations, service, food quality and general atmosphere.  Pick somewhere you’d be comfortable and find out about their options, especially in terms of dining options.  I can only speak for my experience with Carnival, I think they’re pretty good overall and I would compare them to a Marriot, not too fancy, but not too shabby either.  From what I hear, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises are a step above.

Each day, and night on a cruise is a brand new one.  So the music on deck might get a little old, go check out a show or a live band; or better yet, plug in some of your own music and check out the ocean views.  Maybe it’s freezing in the dining room; go upstairs to the buffet and take your food outside.  Perhaps the casino has taken too much of your money; go lay down and read a book, or watch a movie in your room.  There are so many opportunities for fun, excitement and adventure on a cruise, but the rest is up to you.  Enjoy!

Janelle Poe is is NYC born, but not bred, although she acknowledges the city has always been her home. Raised on the East and West coasts, and having spent a few years living abroad in Europe, traveling has always been a big part of her life, from the time she was a young child and hopefully until the very end. While her income doesn’t always match her desires, she tries to travel as much as she can, and outside of the United States at least once a year. She is a writer currently working on children’s books and hopes to be published in 2009. Till then, she will continue to discover and enjoy new places, food, music, and of course the unique people this incredible world has to offer. Then she’ll go home and write about it, hopefully inspiring others to do the same.

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Top 5 Tips for First Time American Travelers to Rio de Janeiro

1. Get a map from the hotel on the first day you arrive.
   

This will help you get your bearings in Rio and know what is immediately near your hotel. If you are in Copacabana or Ipanema you will probably do a great deal of walking. It is easy to get turned around but if you have the hotel map you will know the streets and landmarks around your hotel and hopefully be able to get back without looking incredibly lost.

1. Find a convenience store to buy bottled water but buy your caipirinhas  and juice drinks from the beach bars
   

Rio is hot, even in the winter and you will probably find yourself drinking tons of water. Save a little money by finding a convenience store where you can buy bottles of water instead of buying from the hotel or beach bars. You can easily go broke buying bottled water otherwise! I found bottled water for 2 Real (approximately one dollar) in a convenience store directly behind the Luxor Regente Hotel. The beach bars were charging 4 Real for a much smaller bottle. But don’t miss out on the Brazillian traditional Caipirinha or a fresh squeezed juice offered by the many beach bars. There is nothing better than getting a passion fruit or mango “suco” fresh squeezed before your eyes when you are relaxing in the heat.  Many of the cheapest and best Caipirinhas will be found along the beach at any of the beach bars. During a recent trip my best Caipirinha was at the beach bar across from the Sofitel on Copacabana.

1. Shop the night markets on Copacabana for your souvenirs.
   

Every evening vendors set up a market in the middle of Av. Atlantica in Copacabana. If you need gifts to take home but want to spread your funds wait until dusk and then get the coconut shelled earrings or Brazil mug for your best friend or co-workers. The prices are better than we found in most stores for souvenirs.

1. Use the hotel front desk for your currency exchange and find an HSBC ATM.
   

So you need to change Dollars to Reals! Don’t head to your nearest bank or currency exchange. Most hotel front desks will exchange bank notes (sorry no coins) to the local currency without a fee. You will save money and get an even exchange based on the daily rate. If you need more money try to find an HSBC ATM if you can not read or understand Portuguese. The HSBC ATM’s have an English option and accept most Plus and Cirrus bank cards.

1. Find a “Kilo” or “Quilo” restaurant for lunch and splurge at dinner.
   

Most likely your breakfasts will be included so find a “kilo” or restaurant that you pay by the weight of your food for your lunches. You will be able to sample a variety of Brazilian dishes and other cuisines very inexpensively. You can have as little or as much as you like and can typically be full for less than 20 Real. You will also find things you know from home so it is a great place for people that are not feeling adventurous or for those unable to speak or read the language. Unlike in many other dining establishments you don’t have to read a Portuguese menu to order but can choose from the variety of food before your eyes. A great choice when traveling with groups with a mix of dietary needs and requirements! Since you have now spent so little at lunch you can try the many churrascarias or barbeque houses or splurge at other restaurants throughout Rio for dinner!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Insiders guide to the DC Metro

So you have been told that you should stand near the end or the front of the train to make exiting the metro station easier at your final destination. But as you stand on the platform you are not sure which way the train will come from, making it difficult to know where is the front of the train.

Here is the secret… If you are standing on a platform where the trains run in the middle then the train will come from the left. That makes the front of the train to your right. If you are in a station where you stand in the middle and the trains come from either side then the train will come from the right. That means the front of the train will be to your left.

Not sure what I mean by the trains run in the middle? If you have to go over or under the platform to get to the other side of the platform for a train in the opposite direction, then the trains are running in the middle. If you can just walk across the platform to catch a train in the other direction then the trains are running on the sides.

Hope this makes your travels just a little easier.

Is the low fare worth the high cost of stress?

I found a great fare on Spirit Airlines to the Caribbean for a last minute getaway with a friend. We were traveling over the Fourth of July holiday which meant that we were extremely lucky to find a reasonable fare at all. We arrived and checked in with no hiccups or concerns for our late afternoon flight out of DCA in Washington DC. A few things that should have made us realize a bargain is not always a bargain when we booked with Spirit include… 

1. You have to prepay $5 per bag for your checked luggage. 
2. You have to pay for everything but water on your flight including soda, juice, and snacks. 
3. There were only two flights in and out each day. If that flight is delayed or cancelled you are stuck! 

Ft. Lauderdale Hollywood Airport is the hub for Spirit Airlines. The terminal at that airport where most Spirit flights arrive and depart has very few services. Try to bring food with you before arriving in Ft. Lauderdale unless you are a Nathan’s Hot Dogs fan! On our return flight we had a 5 hour layover and ended up going to another terminal to find food. 

 

1. You can really save to some fun international destinations. They often publish fares as low as $2 dollars each way. 
2. The seats are pretty big with enough legroom throughout the coach cabin. 
3. If you are carrying-on and live in the Ft. Lauderdale/Miami area the entire Caribbean and many other destinations will be very inexpensive for you to visit. 
4. Your luggage tends to make it with you. I am the Queen of lost/delayed luggage but have never heard or experienced problems with Spirit losing luggage. The same is not always true for the big airlines. 

But let’s not get too excited and buy our tickets just yet. 

On our return flight from the Caribbean we had a five hour layover. This caused us to have to go to baggage claim in Ft. Lauderdale, get our bags and re-check in at the ticket counter. After getting on a 6 am flight, the last thing you want to do is get back in the ticket line and go through security for the second time in one day. Note to self: remember to check more closely the arrival and departure times for ALL flights.  

At the ticket counter the kiosks were in the same place as the line for people who needed to talk/see an agent. The person providing direction to passengers was rude and not very good at providing clear instructions. People dragged their luggage through the very tiny space around the ticket counters and tried to get checked in with very little space between customers. Once checked-in, you still have to drag your luggage back to the screening machine! By the time we were checked into our flight and our luggage was being screened we had both vowed to never fly Spirit again. The stress was not worth it! 

 

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