Cruising into the Holidays 10.26.11

Cruise lines and booking sites are doing everything they can to entice cruisers to go right now. With all the deals flying around, it’s hard to not find one that fits your budget. Now you can be the one that comes back home with a tan in the middle of January and make all your friends jealous of your globetrotting. While cruising seems like a luxurious and expensive endeavor, it can be really affordable if you know when to go, how to cruise and what to book where. Of course, cruise shopping is not always easy. With so many hidden fees, rates can look fabulous and then when you try to book, you end up looking at a not so reasonable total. If you’re like a lot of people, you give up and either don’t go at all or spend way too much because you aren’t informed. Let’s look at what’s included and what’s not.

Inclusives: 

Entertainment. Almost all entertainment is free once on board. Unless you want to do something where you will win money, like bingo. All shows, trivia, lectures and movies are generally included in your price.

Gym. The exercise facilities are free of charge for everyone, as are the locker/shower rooms. Many exercise classes are also free, but some are not. If you have to sign up for a class, make sure you look to see if it requires payment.

Pools and hot tubs. Many cruisers spend the majority of their time out by the pool with a drink in their hand. While this can certainly be a fun way to spend your time, make sure you don’t imbibe too much (see non-inclusives) and get away from the pool to make more of your time.

Most food. Almost all your food is included in your cruise rate. All buffet and main dining room food is included in this. If you dine at one of the other restaurants that you have to make reservations for, you will use your "sign and sale card" and the cost of that meal will be added to your account to be paid at the end of the cruise. The same counts for the coffee shops where you can purchase pastries.

Some beverages. Unless otherwise specified, alcoholic beverages, sodas and some other specialty beverages are not included, while water, coffee and tea are. You can buy a soda card, which will give you unlimited soda, but it is extra from your cruise rate and you must buy it at the beginning of your cruise. You will usually also be charged at any of the coffee shops.

Non-Inclusives:

Port fees and taxes: This is a big one. The more ports you cruise into, the more fees you pay and each country has its own tax rates, so you can’t really estimate the totals. I like to assume a high rate and consider if I would go on the cruise if I were spending twice as much as the published price. This can happen with many cruises after taxes and fees are assessed. You can always Google port fees, too.

Alcoholic beverages and soda. This is how the cruise ship gets you. By charging you up to $4 for a soda and $10 or more on booze, your account can quickly add up to hundreds of dollars on just drinks alone. Not only do they charge you an arm and a leg on drinks, but they even add an average 18% "gratuity fee" to each drink you buy. 

Some entertainment. Things like bingo, rock wall climbing and miniature golf can be extra charges to your account.

Spa use. The spa sounds awesome and relaxing, but prices can be much more than those on land, unless you reserve a time on port day, where they discount services.

Some exercise classes. Some exercise classes are free, while others incur a fee. These are generally what they consider the most popular classes, like pilates or spinning.

Shopping. Anything you purchase on the boat will be charged to your account.

Eric using the ship's internet cafe

Internet. Internet fees can be horrendously high, but if you want to be connected, buy a package deal, as it'll be much cheaper than paying a la cart.

Land Excursions. The crew on your ship will do everything they can to get you to buy an excursion package once on board. Book through an independent company before you leave home and save up to 65% (and in some cases, even more).

So, what can you do to minimize costs on your cruise? 

Sexy towel bunny

• Cruise in the off-season. Different cruise destinations have different peak seasons. Choose a destination that has an off-season that coincides with your vacation time.
• You are allowed a case of soda or bottled water (on most cruises) per passenger. Bring your own and store them in your cabin fridge. 
• As I said above, book your shore excursions before you leave home, through a reputable independent company and save a mint on them. More money for souvenirs and other sightseeing at your port city.

Cruise shops

• Avoid buying art and/or jewelry onboard, unless it's deeply discounted on one of the last days. Chances are, you can find the same thing on land for much cheaper. I'm talking about real jewelry, like gold and diamonds.
• Find an internet cafe on land and pay a fraction of the cost as you will on the ship.
• Get an inside cabin. If you're active, like we are, you will be so busy NOT being in your stateroom that you'll barely have time to enjoy the room anyway. Don't spend up to twice as much on a room with a view if you won't be in it longer than to change clothes and sleep.

Eric doing dress-up karaoke

• Spend time going to free activities, instead of hanging out by the pool all day. Honestly, you are paying to have the crew entertain you, so go to karaoke, towel-folding classes, trivia and all those other fun sounding activities. Each day you'll get a schedule for the next day. Plan out what you want to do and maximize your time on the ship.
•  Shop at "non-approved" stores in port. For the most part, these shops get a commission for each cruise passenger that buys from them. If you go just a few blocks away and shop "off the map", you can get much better deals. Of course, if you plan to shop for jewelry or other pricey items, make sure you get a certificate of authenticity and that your jewelry is stamped. 

Our room before our beds were made into one

Don't know how to pick a cabin or a ship or want to know more about the activities or read reviews? Check out Cruise Critic. I found that they have more information and are easier to navigate than the cruise websites. And if you STILL need more tips on cruising, like how to get FREE alcohol, then make sure you pick up a copy of my book when it’s available in the next week. Want to know as soon as it’s available? Sign up for my newsletter and/or my Facebook page.

I've become a new frequent contributor on FareCompare, which is a fantastic site that brings you amazing travel sales, tips for finding the best airfare anytime of year. If you've missed my last few posts, you can read them here:

5 Strategies for Avoiding Airline Fees

Making Overbooked Flights Work in Your Favor

Explore London While Staying Within a Budget

Travel Green with Tervis!

Thanks to Tervis for sponsoring my writing. Visit their website http://www.tervis.com to learn more about the world’s first smart cup.

While I love to travel, I often think about how my actions on vacation effect the environment. I do my best to recycle everything I can, bring my own shopping bags – or reusing the ones I get on my trips – and generally leave as little waste as possible. I know it can be hard with all the brochures and ticket stubs you gather along the way, but if you truly don’t want them, make sure you recycle them. I keep all mine for scrapping when I get home. The one thing people probably don’t even think about is how many cups can be used and thrown in the garbage when they are constantly on the go. From the morning stop for coffee to stops at that yummy looking food cart. You get thirsty, and water isn’t always fun.

I have been taking along reusable water bottles on my trips, but they aren’t good for everything. I mean, I’m obviously not going to sip a hot latte out of one. A – how would I get it in there? and B – how many times would I burn my hands before I left it in the room? Here’s a new plan: Bring along a travel cup that works for everything from coffee and tea to soda and water. It makes sense and I’m not sure why I haven’t thought of it before. I take a travel mug with me on road trips and my work commutes, why not take it further? It is a ‘travel’ mug after all. This is where Tervis comes in. With affordable pricing, attractive (and customizable) patterns, the double-walled construction keeps hot stuff hot and cold stuff cold, without freezing or burning your hands.

You can choose from a huge selection of patterns for your tumbler, to show of your personality. From animal prints to your favorite sports team, there is really a style for everyone. You can also choose the type of lid you want for each cup you purchase, as they are sold separately, for a reasonable price. Your tumbler has an unconditional lifetime guarantee, so if it cracks or breaks, as long as you still have the bottom of the cup with the company logo, that’s all you need to send with the return form to get it replaced with the same or similar design. How many other companies offer that? I can name quite a few who don’t!

Get one for each person in your traveling party and fill them up and use them wherever you go. Already, it’s saving you at least 1 cup each morning for not using a paper or Styrofoam cup at the coffee shop or in your hotel room. Some places, like Starbucks, will even discount your drink purchase for bringing in your own cup. While you’re hanging out in your hotel room, you can drink from something that wasn’t covered in plastic wrap or meant for juice or teeth brushing. In short, a cup big enough to not need refilling after every two sips. You don’t even have to pack it in your bag and take up valuable room you need. Fill it up at the coffee shop or soda fountain when you get through airport security and take it onboard with you. You won’t have to wait for the drink cart to make its way down the aisle to quench your thirst! And if you take a lot of road trips, there’s never been a better reason to get one (or more) for your car’s cupholder!

With so many designs to choose from, you and your traveling companions can all be unique and help save the environment by creating less waste for landfills. When empty, toss them in your day pack to refill later.

Some other important facts:

·         Tervis products are made in the USA.

·         All tumblers come with an unconditional lifetime guarantee, even if you received it from someone else, and can be replaced free of charge.

·         Most designs are available in 10oz, 12oz, 16oz and 24oz sizes, some also available in 10oz wavy tumblers & 15oz mugs.

·         Tervis has a “Green Team” that participates in green initiatives for the surrounding communities.

·         Tervis participates in the Relay for Life with a team and campaign funding.

·         While most physical Tervis stores are located in the Southeast, you can purchase from the convenience of your own home through Tervis.com and several other online retailers (as well as local offline retailers).

I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. To learn more about Tervis, visit their website http://www.tervis.com.

A Library in Your Carry-On 10.22.11

Nobody likes to be bored when they travel. No matter where I go, I bring along some form of entertainment, whether it’s reading material, a game or a puzzle book. Sitting on the airplane, train or in the car, you can’t always pass the time sleeping or shooting the breeze with your fellow companions. Also, sometimes you just want some time to yourself. In anticipation of the Shereen Travels Cheap book coming out in the next week, I’ve been thinking more and more about ebook readers and what great travel companions they make. While I LOVE a good book, I also love saving space in my luggage. Before Kindle came along, I always took up too much room in my packing with physical books. With one book that I was in the middle of and another as backup for when I finished in the middle of my vacation.

Are you a lover or books and reading? If so, this may still be your problem. While you can leave books in many hotel lobbies for other avid trip readers, books still take up room in your bags. Whether they are travel books, reference books, novels, journals or text books. Now, I carry 80% of the books I own with me, as well as blogs and newspapers I read often. I take notes on my device, too. The space I save by owning a Kindle is invaluable, because I have a wealth of information at my disposal, infinite reading material as well as Internet access, should I need it.

You rarely see me go anywhere without my Kindle and anytime anyone asks me about it, I am singing its praises. I love, love, love my Kindle, though I know it’s not the right ebook reader for everyone. There are new and improved models, but you can also choose from Nook, the Sony ereader and numerous others. There is certainly one for everyone now. While they may get smaller, the font size is always adjustable. Great for your little sister or your grandma!

Ebook readers can be super useful, as many have Wi-Fi now and can be used as tablets on-the-go. Plus, if you own an iPad, you already have a book reader. With free reading apps, they do double duty. Take pictures, write notes, check email, pay bills, Skype with friends and family, update your blog and read all the books you want. In the same space of a regular size novel, you can take every book you own (or at least the ones you downloaded). Kindle books run cheaper than actual books and you save paper and space at home and on the road. You can find most books for around $9.99, though some are more if they are new releases and many are cheaper to entice you more. In fact, there are many free and $.99 books for download and this is true on other services that are not on Amazon. Order with the credit card you have on file and get it wirelessly in under a minute. Lend books to friends, upload your own books and even listen to audio books or MP3s.

Here I am enjoying my own Kindle.

I prefer my Kindle with the 3G, because I don’t have to find a Wi-Fi connection to download a new book. As long as there is cell service, I can read something new. If you spend a lot of time in coffee shops and other places that are Wi-Fi hotspots, then you may wish to save money on your ereader and get one that has Wi-Fi only. As long as you aren’t continually using the wireless function, your battery will last much longer than you would have thought. When I’m not on vacation, I read on my lunch break at work. I have been able to read for 8+ hours on one battery charge, which is more than I can say for the battery life of any other electronic device I own. So, whether you’re on a 2 hour plane ride or a 15 hour train trip, your ereader can make the journey with you without needing recharging for a long time, making it one of the best travel companions you could own.

If you have an ebook reader or other web-enabled device, you can subscribe to this blog on it through Amazon. You’ll also be able to download the Shereen Travels Cheap book when it becomes available in the next week or so (it may be a bit behind the physical book). Why wouldn’t you want to take all the best travel tips, websites and packing techniques everywhere you go? Know when to plan, what to pack and where to book even when you’re not at home. If you love this blog, you’ll love the book even more!

We have several good things to talk about this time! Shereen Travels Cheap has been going through some good changes. The STC book will be available for purchase near the end of the month (final edits have run through the proof and the final final is on its way. Woot woot!

Don't forget that we have a great newsletter that goes out once a week (maybe twice if something too good to miss presents itself) with updates, tips and blog reminders...you'll get a fancy one as soon as the book is available for you to buy copies for everyone on your holiday list!

I've become a new frequent contributor on FareCompare, which is a fantastic site that brings you amazing travel sales, tips for finding the best airfare anytime of year. If you've missed my last few posts, you can read them here:

5 Strategies for Avoiding Airline Fees

Making Overbooked Flights Work in Your Favor

Explore London While Staying Within a Budget