Cruise Travel

Stuart S. Travel asked:


Yes – and no. As with any traveling and staying in an unknown spot, there will be some dangers. Most of them you can avoid. If you know the risks before you travel, you can be prepared for any situation.

 

If you decide camping is the accommodation style for you, you should have a good knowledge of the area you are going to camp in. Will you be staying in a public campsite or will you be camping wherever you feel the need to pitch your ten? If it is the latter, make sure it is legal to camp in the spot you have chosen. Check whether you need to provide your own drinking water. Camp grounds in remote places may require you take in water. If you are using water from streams or creeks, boil it first to get rid of bacteria.

 

Animals can provide a source of danger in campsites. If you are camping in bear country you will need to take special precautions. Take care of how you store your food and where you pitch your tent. You will need to either store all your food in a bear proof box or hang it from a tree. Check the area before you camp to make sure there are no signs of recent bear activity. If there are, move on to another site. Other dangerous animals that you need to be aware of when camping are snakes and spiders. These beasts like to get in and under things so always check before you put on any clothes and shoes.

 

Camping is a good way to meet fellow travelers, but you can not always be sure your possessions will be safe from unscrupulous people. Ensure all valuables are locked in the car or stowed safely when you are not at your campsite.

 

Hostels are a good, safe way to travel, but like any public place, you still need to take precautions. Hostels that are members of a network may provide a safer option as they are well controlled. You can take safety measures by locking up your valuables in lockers if they are provided. Or ask the manager if they have a safe you can lock your valuables in. Sleep with your money and passport at night if you are sharing a room with strangers. Most hostels have bunk rooms segregated by gender. But some don’t. If you are a female traveling alone, it might be wise to stay in a hostel that has only same sex rooms.

 

Staying in private homes with the owners living there as well, (charging you for board), is probably the least safe option when traveling. This is because you don’t know the people you are staying with and in some countries it is actually illegal for residents to hire out their rooms to travelers. If this option is one you want to pursue, try and book your room through the local tourist office or through an agency. At least if there is a problem, you will have someone to lodge your complaint with. In some countries this is a very popular form of accommodation and a cheap one. Make sure you negotiate your price before you agree to stay. Take the same precautions as you would in other styles of accommodations and be prepared to move on if it is not satisfactory or you feel unsafe.

 

This article is brought to you by: Stuart S. Travel – Your Online Travel Guru

www.stuartstravel.com



Delaney

CasBer asked:


My boyfriend and I were looking into going on a cruise in March and I saw that some cruise lines require passengers to be at least 21. We will both be 20 at the time of travel. Does anyone know of any cruise lines that will allow this?

Cody

Mary Hanna asked:


Cruise travel from ports close to home is what passengers want now. In almost all of the cruise reviews, cruise travelers have expressed concern with long airline trips to distant lands. Now they want to cruise from ports that are close to home to enjoy a less stressful cruise vacation. The cruise lines have caught on to this trend and are now positioning their ships up and down the United States East and West Coasts and along the Gulf of Mexico. Let’s explore the ports of embarkation on the West Coast starting in Southern California at the port of San Diego and go northward.

If you can take the time before or after your cruise travel, spend some extra time in San Diego. The city of San Diego is blessed with year round warm weather and seventy miles of Pacific Coastline. There are many activities to enjoy while in the city. They have a first class, world famous zoo in Balboa Park. At Old Town State Historic Park learn about the History of California. Near the downtown area there are 15 excellent museums and gorgeous gardens.

A little further up north is Long Beach just 20 miles south of Los Angeles. Here is where the Queen Mary retired to in 1967 and is permanently docked serving as a Hotel. With more 12,000 sea creatures the aquarium is a delightful spot to spend a couple of hours.

If you plan to take your cruise vacation out of Los Angeles there are plenty of sights to see. A pre or post cruise package from the cruise lines will allow you to see the many cultural centers or drive by the star studded neighborhoods of Malibu, Bel Air and Hollywood. Be sure to see Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, Chinatown and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Visit funky Venice Beach and dine in the many excellent restaurants. And don’t forget to at least window shop on Rodeo Drive.

The dazzling Golden Gate Bridge will be what you sail under on you cruise vacation from San Francisco. Many cruise reviews have mentioned this city as one of the favorites from which to start a cruise. You may opt to take a side trip to the vineyards of Napa and Sonoma Valleys for a day. While in San Francisco check out Fisherman’s Wharf, or take a cable car ride through the city. In this city there are numerous excellent restaurants. There is a ferry that will take you over to Alcatraz Island for a glimpse into the life of the prisoners.

Perhaps you have chosen Seattle, Washington as your embarkation port. The lovely Puget Sound area is rich with history of the maritime industries. The Olympic Mountains will leave you feeling awed when viewed from the Space Needle that is 607 feet high. For fun don’t miss the Pike Street Market for fresh seafood and produce. There are many fleets of sport fishing boats for fishing or for whale watching.

Even further up the coast you are now in Alaskan territory. Fairbanks, which was once a booming mining town, is the entrance to Alaska’s interior. If you stay here for a day or two try a really Alaskan adventure and go dog sledding. Maybe you would like to pan for gold, another part of Alaska’s history. If you want to see the Northern Lights plan your cruise vacation for late August or early September.

Choosing a cruise vacation out of Whitter, Alaska will allow you to go whale watching, and look for sea lions and bald eagles. This is a small quaint town that really lets you feel what Alaska is all about.

You will fly into Anchorage for departure from Seward, Alaska. Try to stay a few days to explore the riches Anchorage has to offer. There is the beautiful Denali National Park, where Mt. McKinney offers spectacular scenery. In Seward you can take a cruise to the Kenai Fjords as a day trip.

Any of these cruise ports will make a great start for your cruise vacation. So when planning any cruise travel pick a port that’s close to home and leave some time for exploring the town of embarkation.

Happy Cruising

Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.

This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.

Mary Hanna has traveled the world by Air and Ship while writing eBooks, Software Reviews and Practical Articles on Internet Marketing, Cruising, Gardening and Cooking. Visit her websites at: http://www.CruiseGold.com http://www.CruiseTravelDirectory.com and http://www.CruisingTips.com



Sean

proudmom asked:


We have never gone on vacation with my 3 year old son and would love to go on a cruise. What cruise offers kid friendly activities while also being reasonable priced? Disney seems so expensive. We’re looking at traveling the end of August 07 and it would be for 2 adults and 1 child for hopefully 5 nights. We live in Colorado but would fly to Florida, etc if we got a good deal on a cruise. Any help would be appreciated. thanks.

Jake

Patrick M asked:


I want to go on a cruise with some friends, but I am the oldest (19) and the youngest is 18….most, you have to be 21….So, my question, is if we can travel alone without anyone over 21

Santiago

emailthisfu asked:


My friends and I ( currently 19) want to travel a any cruise during summer , is it possible or we have to have someone 25 older to accompany us?

Marquis

Texas Chick asked:


1. Did you buy your cruise through a travel agent? Why or why not? Have you ever had a travel agent before?

2. In your opinion, who are the three most important cruise line staff members you came in contact with during your cruise? Why did you choose those three?

3. Did you ever entertain the thought of being a travel agent? Or working on a cruise ship (and in what capacity)? Why or why not?

Ashlyn

mamalamadingdong asked:


My boyfriend and I are planning a cruise to Western Carribean in May and I am not too sure about the new passport rules.

Jayden

Temp asked:


I like to be treated well, as do most people I know. When traveling, that can be a little difficult to always have as the status quo. After all, you’re dealing with security guards who have to go through the same overzealous treatment with every person they encounter, and frankly, I think that anybody who has to stand on their feet for eight hours at a time dealing with huge masses of people probably has the right to be pretty cranky by the end of their shift. It can’t be fun to have to follow all those guidelines and regulations, especially when you’re dealing with people who are late, and maybe even a little confused about what’s going on. I mean, we’re talking about people who have to ask ridiculous questions such as “has anybody tampered with your luggage without your knowledge?” I’m pretty sure that even they know that that question can’t actually be answered.

Well, I’ve discovered that group travel is a really great way to go about circumventing all that. The same security standards still apply, only know you’re part of a special group, and so you get treated differently. Most customs entries have separate areas to handle big groups and that’s all they do. There is no waiting in line, they process you quickly and all at once, and then you’re on your way. Of course, this special treatment doesn’t stop with customs and the like. In many places, there are special tours that are only available to groups, including some behind-the-scenes tours that you’d never have even dreamed existed.

Discount cruises are a really popular way to travel these days. It seems that cruising has come into style like never before. I hear of more people going on a cruise for vacation than I ever have in the past, and many of them are going to some pretty exotic locations. I think that the availability of discount vacation packages is one reason why this is the case right now. People are realizing that these types of vacations are completely accessible to them. No longer viewed as the pastime of the rich, middle class families are opting for an Alaskan cruise or a trip the Caribbean islands for vacation much more frequently.

Not only do vacation packages lower the stress of planning for travel- think about it, you don’t have to book flights, find hotels, or deal with travel arrangements, but they also provide a ready-made travel group. On many tours, especially those centered around a particular interest range, you will find that the group around you makes for a pretty good pack of traveling companions, ready to share the experience with you, whether you’re whale watching or scuba diving. If you’ve been holding back from taking a cruise or booking a discounted vacation because you thought it would some how be lesser than the full-price experience, stop your waiting. The discount has nothing to do with the quality of vacation, and everything to do with how the tickets are sold- such as in bulk rates or at the last minute.



Ariana

Money For Traveling asked:


Ever had the desire to quit your lame 9 to 5 job, tell your boss to shove it, pack up and start traveling the world?

All of us have had that desire at one point! The thing that stopped you was probably the same thing that stops most people: money.

“How will I pay for my flights, food, lodging, transportation, yada, yada, yada,” you asked yourself.

Don’t let these concerns bother you too much, because there is an underground, growing group of travelers who are utilizing some simple but hidden techniques to make significant incomes while traveling.

Here’s an overview of how we make money traveling and by landing travel jobs:

Underground Travel Income Method #1 – Traditional Travel Job - Hold a job that either a) pays for us to travel or b) is located in the place we wish to travel to. This is the lowest paying and most complicated method of all, but is the most commonplace.

Common jobs that pay for travels are for professional speakers, salespeople, package couriers, flight attendants, travel nurses/doctors, conservationists, cruise ship workers, etc.

Travel jobs located in the places we wish to go to can be any of the above, but also are specific to the location we travel to. There are some FUN jobs overseas that are looking for foreign workers!



Underground Travel Income Method #2 – Travel Writing – Travel writing jobs for magazines are more common than you may imagine. However, there are LOADS of other ways to write as you travel and make money, including blogging, picking up projects from sites like Elance and Guru, and writing travel guides, both online and offline.



Underground Travel Income Method #3 – Selling Affiliate Products – Using a simple website, you can drive online traffic to a product that will be of interest to your online followers. Don’t be intimidated by this! It can be as easy as using your very own Facebook or Myspace profile. Affiliate products typically pay 50% to 75%, so you can make a very healthy income for selling just a few objects.

Underground Travel Income Method #4 – Filming Your Adventures – If you’ve got the camera out and you’re taking pictures, why not switch it to ‘film’ mode and make money from it? You simply make a video of your destinations using iMovie or Windows Movie Maker, then use your videos to create a customer base!

Underground Travel Income Method #5 – Podcasting – If filming scares you off or intimidates you, you can make an iTunes podcast. It is easier than ever to get listed in iTunes and there’s a HUGE audience of podcast listeners. Simply talk about the places you visit two or three times a week and watch how your following grows… and how your bank account grows!

Underground Travel Income Method # 6 – Ebay – The common misconception about Ebay is that you have to sell a physical product to make money. Here’s the trick: You can set up a fulfillment house to ship your product (or hire your little sister or the neighborhood kid). All you have to do is create your Ebay post from an internet café and collect the money!

Take any one of these six ‘travel job’ methods, and there are hundreds of travelers all over the world making more money than they would at a regular ‘job…’ and they’re living it up at exotic, world-class destinations. Take your pick, and take action on the ideas here!

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Kaydence