Ocean cruises are one of my favorite types of travel. However, when you are aboard a large cruise ship with several thousand other passengers, there will always be those who do not follow cruise etiquette. But what is proper etiquette on board? Below is my list of tips for cruise etiquette that all passengers should consider in order to make the vacation more enjoyable for everyone. Top 10 Tips for Cruise Etiquette 1. Food One of the best things about a cruise is the food.

In the haste of packing for a trip, one can usually forget to pack something. We have all been there. When traveling to another American city, often it is not that big of a deal because you can just stop by the store and purchase what you left behind. However, cruises are a bit different. Onboard stores are limited and a bit pricier, and you don’t know what you may or may not find in port. So, when you are working on your packing list for your upcoming cruise vacation, do

I am a big fan of ocean cruises but do realize that they are not for everyone. What I find interesting when talking to prospective clients about cruises is that they will not even consider one due to preconceived notions or misconceptions about cruises. So, below are eight common reasons why travelers won’t consider ocean cruises that I have heard when talking to prospective clients and my responses to them. 8 Reasons Why Travelers Won’t Consider Ocean Cruises: Cruises are

Cruises are perhaps my favorite type of vacation. When clients tell me they are interested in a cruise but have never been on one, I get excited and ask them how long do they have to talk. While I have not cruised on every single cruise line, my goal is to cruise as many as I can over the next five years. I am not loyal to one particular cruise line or another…yet! So, why do I love cruises so much? Here are my top five reasons why I think the cruise life just may be the

I love taking cruises. It is perhaps one of my favorite types of travel. Over the Thanksgiving holiday, my family and I were aboard the Carnival Dream for an 8-day Western Caribbean cruise that departed from the historical New Orleans, Louisiana. We had a blast and made lots of great memories. While I’ll discuss the trip in more detail in another post, there were a few things that stood out to me that I felt were worth sharing. None of these items are meant to knock Carn

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For as long as I can remember I have loved traveling, whether it was for work or family vacations. To be frank, I enjoy the planning leading up to a trip almost as much as I enjoy the trip itself. My love of travel has rubbed off on my wife and two children, who have already shared lots of adventures with me. I have loved every place I’ve visited, and I enjoy seeking new places to visit. With the exception of relaxing in my favorite destination, the Smoky Mountains, I believ

Are you going on your first cruise soon or are you considering a cruise and just not sure where to begin? Here is some information that will help first time cruisers. Clothing Pack light! This tip is a hard one for me as I like to overpack. I’m working hard with each trip I take to minimize what I pack as much as possible. If just you and one other person will be sharing the stateroom, then space is usually not as much of an issue. However, if you have a family, storage

When traveling you want to be sure to give gratuities to those who provides a service to you. However, it can be confusing to know exactly who to tip and how much. Use these suggested gratuity guidelines: HOTEL STAFF Shuttle Driver: $2 to $3 Bellman: $1 to $2 per bag Valet: $2 to $5 (If inclement weather, tip towards the higher end.) Room Service: If a gratuity is not automatically included on the bill, then 15% to 20%. Housekeeping: $2 to $4 per night Concierge: This varie