I know which common mistakes passengers should avoid.
Sunburns can make your vacation less enjoyable.
Your balcony is likely not as private as you think, so be aware of what you say on it.
I consider myself an experienced cruiser because I have been on over 100 cruises.
My wife of 63 years, Donna, has been with me on almost all of my voyages.
We have put together some thoughts to share with travelers in the future. We thought the pieces of advice we thought were the best were about what not to do while cruising.
If you are from Chicago, you will most likely head for the lido deck and the pool the minute you see the sun.
While relaxing on the deck for hours and drinking in the warmth, you may be ruining your next few days with a sunburn. It is important to protect yourself from the sun.
Unless you are on the lido deck, it is best not to go barefoot outside. There are too many dangers to avoid if you only wear sandals or flip-flops.
The public restrooms are the same.
Cruise bathroom floors are usually clean, but they don't make the floor resistant tobacteria or germs, so wear your footies.
Private balconies can be seen from the desk above or the curved halls on many ships thanks to their ingenious design.
Sound carries even if you have a secluded balcony. The noises you make will be heard by other people.
Be discreet in your behavior and watch the content of your conversations.
It can be embarrassing if security spots something on the X-ray and takes your suitcase apart to look for something that violates the ship's policies.
Other passengers may be treated to views of undergarments and other personal items.
Most ships allow passengers to bring a bottle of champagne or wine, so I would recommend choosing that.
Make sure you know when you're on the plane again. In many ports, the local time is different from the ship's time, which leads to frantic races to the gangway for some.
We have watched a number of passengers trying to get on the train at the last minute.
The navy vessel docked opposite us in St. Croix was our most entertaining departure story. Young sailors in various stages of intoxication came staggering toward the ship, some even held upright by their shipmates.
A sailor pushed a wheelbarrow loaded with his shipmate to their boat as they were leaving the pier in hopes of getting back in time. They were not even close.
We tend to test the limits of free stuff. Even though beverage packages are not paid for, temptation rules.
It's not fun to have a sore head at sea.
Cocktail hour can be the coup de grâce if it is based on the consumption capacity of the average passenger.
The event usually involves sunburned people jumping into the air and crashing into a pool.
The beverage package may have convinced you to engage in some rather unique activities, but bellyping should be a spectator sport only. People suffer during their performance.
I had a free safe deposit box when I was a bank teller. We kept passports and World Series tickets in it.
Donna ran a travel agency and was offered a trip to Rome that was granted to travel agents by airlines, tour companies or other affiliates. She asked me to get her passport from the bank.
I had a lot of time, but I was busy. I came home exhausted after a long day. Donna asked if you got my passport.
I knew I couldn't get to her passport because the vault was closed and the timer was set.
We spent a quiet weekend at home because Donna didn't get to Athens or Rome. She was a trooper and never blew up at me. We both knew it was there even though she never used it.
Donna and I would pack our stuff the night before leaving the ship and put our bags outside of the door for pick up the next morning. She wanted to see the production show and I wanted to finish the TV series, so we parted ways.
I was packing and setting the bags outside when I noticed that Donna had forgotten some clothes and put them in the luggage while she was in the bathroom.
I woke up early the next morning to hear her scream.
I put away the clothes that she forgot. She calmly explained that the outfit she left in the closet was for this morning, meaning she didn't have anything to wear. This was not my best hour.
Donna was dressed for disembarkation, so she was decent. We stayed in our cabin as long as possible, I threw my jacket over her, and we left the ship without much notice.
Crew members are away from their homes for long periods in far-off lands, with a constant stream of strangers.
They must smile and be pleasant no matter what their feelings are.
Add a few dollars to make sure and be nice. They talk about their life at home and their hopes and dreams.
I state it freely, even though it may be a controversial piece of advice.
We have sailed with 17 cruise lines, many long departed, but have found the experiences different within companies.
We have seen cruise lines pride themselves on being different since our ship travels began. What really matters is that you travel with people you love and stay alert to the new friends waiting for you on board.
You will probably never reach the top tier of loyalty benefits, but you will have access to a variety of perks not available on a single line.
You can experience a variety of ships, sizes, ports, cultures, and strengths by changing it up. This opens the door to new adventures.
The original article can be found on Insider.
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