Bryce Sanders' Blog Archives – Page 2 of 3

How to Convert Shipboard Friendships into Longer Ones

September 17, 2019September 16, 2019 by Bryce Sanders

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 …

Practical Advice for Getting to Your Ship and Parking

September 7, 2019September 2, 2019 by Bryce Sanders

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 …

10 Things You Must Do When Sailing on a New Ship

August 17, 2019August 12, 2019 by Bryce Sanders

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? …

11 Things You Want to Spend Money on While at Sea

July 31, 2019July 29, 2019 by Bryce Sanders

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 …

Man’s Best Friend – Yes, They Can Sail with You

July 23, 2019July 22, 2019 by Bryce Sanders

About 60.2 million American households own dogs. (1) 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 2 is the only ship I’m aware of that has provisions for pets. There’s an …

10 Reasons You Want to Play Pub Trivia Aboard Ship

July 15, 2019 by Bryce Sanders

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 …

What You Need to Know About Custom Tailoring in Asia

July 8, 2019 by Bryce Sanders

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 …

How to get off the Ship Quickly at Journey’s End

July 1, 2019 by Bryce Sanders

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 …

How to Interact with Your Tablemates at Sea

June 21, 2019June 17, 2019 by Bryce Sanders

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 …

How to Explore a Port Destination on Your Own

June 13, 2019June 10, 2019 by Bryce Sanders

“If it’s Tuesday, this must be Belgium.” The title of this 1969 movie might have a familiar ring if you are on a cruise stopping at multiple ports or islands. Many travelers walk off the ship, stroll along the main street, stop in a few jewelry stores, have lunch at an overpriced restaurant with indifferent service and head back to the ship. Over dinner, they remark: “All these islands are the same.” How can you make …