Why should I tip people who are only doing their job? It’s a fair question. I bring it up because I’ve always wondered why so many people are lined up at the Purser’s Office the day before the ship docks. The Case for Tipping The Staff Aboard a Cruise Ship The first reason is so obvious, it goes beyond a bullet point. The restaurant and housekeeping staff sign on for several months. They are working long hours. …
Accelerated relationships are one of the great benefits of cruise travel. Instead of seeing someone a few minutes a day on the commuter train, you are in close proximity 24/7 for your entire vacation. Broadly speaking, although your fellow passengers may come from several nationalities, they are more similar than different. You’ve met someone and want to keep in touch after the ship docks. How do you do that? What are We Talking About? Romance is …
Does your car really deserve a vacation? You may think not, especially if you are embarking on a 14 day cruise and parking costs $20+ per day. That’s a $300.00 expense you’ve never thought about. The Home Port Advantage If you live in or near the city your ship calls home, this is a great benefit. Let’s look at your options for getting yourselves and your massive amount of luggage to and from the ship. A …
Are you open to new experiences? Some people stick with one cruise line or even one ship. Others spread their business among several lines, seeking out ships new to the fleet or at least, new to them. Ships come in all sizes, from yacht like to mega liners. Some ships sail on rivers, others stick to oceans. Let’s assume you are on a new big cruise ship for a week. What are some “must do” activities? …
Its true cruise ships are made of many, many profit centers. You might think once the ship pulls away from the dock, your objective should be to get as much as possible for free. After all, cruises were one of the first “all inclusive” vacations. (Although alcohol was usually separate.) Frugal or not, here are eleven things where you should part with some cash during your vacation. A drink in the best bar with the best …
NOTE that … Accoriding to the World Animal Foundation in 2024, 65.1 million U.S. households own at least one dog, which accounts for 49.5% People are very attached to them. In Europe, it’s common for people to bring their dog to pubs and restaurants. (In the UK you get the idea all dogs are on Valium, but that’s another story.) You might wonder, when I take a cruise, can my dog come along too? Cunard’s Queen Mary …
If you’ve never played pub trivia, now is a good time to take the plunge. To start, buy into the concept British homes are generally smaller than yours. The neighborhood or village pub serves as the community living room. People show up in the evening to socialize. Organized pub trivia nights are just one of the ways they keep life interesting. If your ship has lots of British people aboard, chances are there’s plenty of scheduled …
If you travel to Asia, custom tailored clothing is an ideal souvenir to bring home. It may change your life forever. Here are some of the things you need to know. The Rationale for Custom Clothing Shanghai, Hong Kong, cities in Korea and Vietnam all have a reputation for custom tailoring for men and women. This isn’t going to work for you if you have an eight hour port stop. It’s better if you arrive in …
Your vacation is over. You want to get home. Why must I wait? There must be a better way. The trend is for ships to get bigger and bigger. Symphony of the Seas, an Oasis class Royal Caribbean ship, carries 6,680 passengers and weighs in at over 228,000 tons. Big ships can provide lots of entertainment, but they still need to get everyone on and off. Our experience of big ships has been Cunard’s Queen Mary …
If your vacation is an ocean voyage on a cruise ship, it’s highly likely you will be assigned dinner seating in the main restaurant. You will likely be seeing more of these people than any other passengers, except for the person with whom you are sharing your cabin. How do you interact with your new tablemates? First or second seating? Before sailing, your travel agent will ask if you prefer first or second seating. We’ve always …
All Things Cruise is dedicated to the joy of travel. Specializing in ocean, river, ultra-luxury, small ship and expedition cruises.
