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12 mistakes to avoid while on a cruise

12 mistakes to avoid while on a cruise

Spending a holiday on a cruise ship is a novel experience that every traveler should try at least once. A cozy room, delicious buffets for each cuisine, and hype nightlife can be enjoyed while sailing across beautiful ocean waters. Apart from the perks offered by a liner, not indulging in certain things when you are on board is imperative. If you’re embarking on such a vacation for the first time, avoid these mistakes:

Entering restricted zones
Several quarters on a cruise vessel are marked as dangerous or off-limits. These areas might house equipment and other elements that ensure the ship’s safety. Without appropriate approval from the staff, entering such restricted sections will land you in quite a bit of trouble.

Sleeping in all day
The parties on a cruise can be a lot of fun, but the activities conducted during the day are equally good. As comfortable as your room may be, spend some time exploring the rest of the ship while the sun shines. Take a dip in the pool, get a tan, and make the most of the time spent on the vessel.

Not using sunscreen
If you sunbathe by the pool or on the beach at a docking port, don’t forget to apply sunscreen. Forgetting to bring or use one while getting a tan will cause sunburns. And nobody wants to get sunburnt, especially when they’re on vacation.

Reserving deck chairs before arriving
A few passengers have the habit of reserving deck chairs with towels or swimming equipment for friends or family members. At the same time, those who are already on deck may not find any chairs despite being there. To not inconvenience others, refrain from reserving a chair to accommodate other fellow passengers.

Not socializing
Many solo travelers feel that a cruise is exclusively for family vacations. But this notion couldn’t be farther from the truth. When these travelers board the ship, they keep to themselves and don’t converse with other people. They’ll be surprised that many people travel by themselves and look to make new friends on the cruise. You’re likely to make some friends too during the journey.

Staying on board while docked
Travelers book cruises that last for weeks or more but never disembark when it docks at another port. Not leaving the ship means they are missing the opportunity to explore an exotic location. So when you are on the cruise, leave the pool for a while and explore a new port. And don’t forget to click as many pictures of these places as you can.

Cutting in queue
Whether you are embarking on the ship or ready to eat a meal, it is rude to cut a queue. Doing so may even result in arguments and chaos that will deteriorate your overall cruise experience. So, resist the temptation of joining a line with your friend or letting them join you; it’s best to abide by the rules.

Eating too much
The culinary staff on a cruise is of the highest caliber, but overindulging at the buffet is not a good idea. Eating more than your body may disrupt your digestive system or even cause food poisoning. And although there’s a doctor to treat you on board, you may end up spending time recovering in your room, which will take up most of your cruise time.

Being condescending to staff
This mistake is common not only for cruises but also for most other forms of hospitality. Staff members, cruise security, and the Captain work long hours to ensure the ship sails safely. They also ensure that each passenger is satisfied with the quality of service. So when you talk to a staff member on the cruise, be polite and even thank them for their help. Appreciating them for their work is a great way to keep them motivated through stressful working hours.

Skipping travel insurance
A lot can go sideways when you are traveling. A person may get sick and spend a lot of money on getting better while on the ship. So before you embark on the journey, buy an insurance package for the duration of your trip. Even if you don’t fall ill, it’s always good to know that you are covered by insurance in case of an emergency.

Overpacking
The cabin space you get in a room may be limited. And overpacking might make your room congested and uncomfortable. Pack your stuff on the basis of the number of days on your cruise and the activities you want to indulge in while onboard or at a port. At the same time, you’ll need to take more than one bag when you board the ship. The first suitcase is normally used for all the shirts, tops, jeans, shoes, and other accessories, and the second can be used for carrying items that are easily accessible, like sunglasses, boarding passes, and chargers.

Only using the elevators
An elevator can get you from one floor to another quickly. But when the area is overcrowded, it may take between 5 and 10 minutes before you hop on an elevator and move to the desired floor. So instead of wasting time waiting for an elevator, we recommend taking the stairs as much as possible. Walking will also help you check out other floors with activities you might enjoy.

Look for Encore resort discount codes online to enhance your holiday experience. You can use these codes to get great discounts on holiday reservations.

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4 best budget cruises in the world

We often set out on a journey to reach a charming destination. What we miss out on realizing is that being on a journey itself should be a beautiful and enriching experience. A cruise vacation is a great example of that. You spend a couple of days or weeks on a ship, bask in the luxurious services provided on the cruise, and unwind yourself. You do not necessarily have to save up on a lot of money to go on a cruise vacation. Let’s take a look at the top four budget cruises you can choose from.Costa CruisesCosta is one of the most affordable and budget-friendly cruises of the Mediterranean. One of the more exciting parts about being on its cruises is befriending different kinds of people. It will give you ample opportunity to do that as it attracts guests from different countries across the globe. A large number of people come from the United States and different countries in Europe. You can choose a cruise for two days or a complete and elaborate round trip of 112 days. Whether a short trip or a long vacation, being on the Costa Cruises will be a memory you will cherish for life.MSC CruisesDuring certain parts of the year, you get to spend a night on the MSC Cruises by paying just around $100. If you happen to be on its cruises during the peak season, the charges will not be very high either. If you are planning a cruise vacation with family, MSC Cruise would be a very good bet for you. It offers several perks to families like letting kids under the age of 11 sail for free and allowing those aged between 12 and 17 to sail without paying during specific seasons. It has some wonderful attractions for grown-ups, too. It offers an adults-only pool and a bunch of theatres where 4D movies are screened.Princess CruisesIf your kids are too young and good with staying back home while you go on a vacation with your partner, then Princess Cruises is a good option for you. The Princess Cruises, owned by Carnival, are exclusively for individuals who are above the age of 18. With 17 ships under their fold, the cruise covers Mexico, Caribbean Islands, Alaska, and Europe. You can either spend a leisurely day on the cruise or be a part of the complete itinerary, which goes up to 72 days. The poolside movie screenings are one of the cruise’s major highlights. Norwegian Cruise LineMost of the cruises come with their set of dos and don’ts – rules and protocols which you need to follow while you are on-board. The Norwegian Cruise Line lets the travelers be themselves. There is no dress code, guidelines, or any map you need to follow while you are sailing. The cruise consists of 17 vessels in its fold and can accommodate as many as 4,266 passengers at any given time. There is one crew member to cater to two or three passengers. Thus, you will have nothing to complain about when it comes to the service provided on the cruise.

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12 things to avoid doing in hotels

When planning a trip, picking a hotel is one of the things that require careful consideration. People usually check reviews and ratings to ensure that the hotel offers adequate comfort and cleanliness, good food, and excellent service. On your part, following the rules and being polite can help you avoid unpleasant experiences or conflict with the staff and other guests. So, here are a few things to avoid to have a comfortable hotel stay: Being loud or rude Do not play loud music on speakers in your room as it can be an inconvenience for other guests. When you are at the hotel bar or the restaurant, be polite and courteous in your conversations with other guests and the staff. Don’t be rude to the employees if you are unhappy with the service. Instead, talk to the manager or try to get the problem resolved patiently.  Placing the suitcase on the bed Hotel rooms will generally have dedicated storage space for luggage. Do not place your bags and suitcases on your bed when you enter the room. Your suitcase is most likely dirty and dusty from your travels, which can ruin the clean sheets that you would sleep on.  Cheating the minibar When you take something from the minibar, it gets added to your bill. Hotels may place sensors that can detect movement on minibars, i.e., every time you pick something up, you can get charged for that item. Do not try and replace the items you have used with cheaper items or different bottles. Further, be careful and don’t move the bottles around or use the minibar for storage as this can also increase the charges. Covering up room damage If you accidentally break the door handle or even glass, do not cover it up or lie about it. Inform the staff about any damage to the room so that the employees and future guests are not exposed to hazards. For instance, things like broken switches can lead to electric shocks, and uncleaned glass shards can injure you and other guests. Stealing When you take items that are not complimentary, you are stealing from the hotel. While many people take miniature soap bars and shampoos, stealing expensive items like bathrobes, towels, pillows, linen, and hair dryers can cost you. Some hotels maintain a meticulous inventory of such items, and if they notice it missing, they can add the cost to your bill or ask you to return it. Take only the complimentary toiletries and leave the other items. Pocketing food from breakfast If you are having breakfast from the complimentary buffet, eat what you can and do not pack from the buffet to eat later. This can mean there is not enough food left for other guests who make it to the buffet in the assigned hours. Leaving valuables unguarded Avoid leaving valuables like jewelry, watches, wallets, and expensive gadgets on the table or on your bed. Although the management runs a thorough background check for their staff, there is still a risk that you could lose precious items. Always place such items in the safe or security box available in most rooms or keep them safely hidden elsewhere, out of the reach of visitors in your room. Cooking without a kitchen area Some hotels allow you to cook in your room or provide a kitchen or kitchenette, depending on the size of the room. However, if cooking in your room is not permitted, do not use an instant pot or portable electric stove in the room just to save money. This can trigger the fire alarm, and the hotel can also impose a fine. Either opting for food delivery or finding cheaper options nearby can be a safer alternative.  Bringing in extra guests If you let a guest stay the night or have more people in your room than you paid for, it is important to inform the reception. For instance, hotels may not allow more than two people to stay the night if you have only paid for a double room. Visitors may be allowed to come over for a while, but hotels discourage additional guests and can charge you for the same. Leaving the door open when showering Ensure that you lock the main door and the bathroom door while showering. This is important to maintain your privacy, and second, if you leave your bathroom door ajar, the steam could set off the fire alarm. Not checking for cleanliness The housekeeping staff is supposed to thoroughly clean up their unoccupied rooms. However, you must check the beds and pillows to see if everything is clean to avoid contracting germs or an infection. If you find pillows or mattresses with stains or clear signs of dirt, you can ask them to be changed or ask for a different room. Ignoring public pool etiquette Always look before you dive into the hotel swimming pool so that you do not bother other guests. Swim in your own lane, and do not change it or splash other people. If you have wounds or bruises, avoid swimming to prevent infection. If you are bringing kids to the pool, ensure that you keep an eye on them and schedule bathroom visits at regular intervals. Further, trim your toenails before getting into the pool to avoid accidentally scratching other swimmers.

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