So with all of this talk about the free cruise that I'll be going on, thanks to my best friend Bryndi winning a free cruise package for us at a Cleveland Indians game, I figured it was only fair to offer all of you, my faithful blog readers, the chance to win a free cruise yourself!
While this offer isn't for a Royal Caribbean cruise, it IS for a Disney cruise which would be absolutely fantastic I'm sure! Afterall, it's Disney...everything they do is magical!
If you'd like to try and win a free cruise of your own, just click on the link below and give it a shot! http://wwww.mousesavers.com/disneysweepstakes.html
I know you might be thinking "I'll never win a free cruise," but it happened to Bryndi and I, so it could just as easily happen to you too!
Good luck!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
More Cost Saving Strategies!
Continuing my with my money saving tips from yesterday...
4. Internet Access. I'll be the first one to admit that I LOVE checking my email/facebook/twitter/etc. I check all of these forms of social media CONSTANTLY (I think I'm in good company, yes?) and I've already thought about if and how I'll be able to stay connected while on the cruise. I thought about bringing my laptop with me, but I quickly decided I really don't want to drag that around with me as I travel. I also realized that even if I did bring it with me, I'd probably have to pay for wireless Internet access on the ship, which is another reason why I won't be bringing it with me on this cruise. According to expertcrusiser.com, most cruise ships charge pretty high fees for wireless Internet access. Some offer unlimited packages, but even these cost around $100.00 for approximately 250 minutes. While this may make sense for a business person, I for one will not be spending money on wireless Internet access because it just isn't worth it for me. Plus, I'm going on this cruise to relax and get away for a little while, so a break from the Internet only makes sense.
5. Gambling. More and more cruise lines are putting casinos in their ships. While these can provide a fun, Vegas-style atmosphere, it's very easy to lose a lot of money once you get started gambling. If you absolutely have to gamble, just set a limit for yourself and once you go through that amount of money, LEAVE. It's not worth gambling away all of your money at sea!
6. Spas. As luxurious and relaxing as they sound, trips to the spa on cruise ships can be very costly. Massages alone can range anywhere from $80.00 to $180.00 an hour, not including the tip. Instead of visiting the spa, find a hammock on the shore when the ship docks, or just enjoy lying on the beach and listening to the waves crashing against the sand. You can always go to a spa when you're at home, but you can only lay by the beach or the pool when you're on vacation.
Remember these six tips and you'll be sure to protect yourself from extra spending while cruising. Any other money saving suggestions? Let me know!
4. Internet Access. I'll be the first one to admit that I LOVE checking my email/facebook/twitter/etc. I check all of these forms of social media CONSTANTLY (I think I'm in good company, yes?) and I've already thought about if and how I'll be able to stay connected while on the cruise. I thought about bringing my laptop with me, but I quickly decided I really don't want to drag that around with me as I travel. I also realized that even if I did bring it with me, I'd probably have to pay for wireless Internet access on the ship, which is another reason why I won't be bringing it with me on this cruise. According to expertcrusiser.com, most cruise ships charge pretty high fees for wireless Internet access. Some offer unlimited packages, but even these cost around $100.00 for approximately 250 minutes. While this may make sense for a business person, I for one will not be spending money on wireless Internet access because it just isn't worth it for me. Plus, I'm going on this cruise to relax and get away for a little while, so a break from the Internet only makes sense.
5. Gambling. More and more cruise lines are putting casinos in their ships. While these can provide a fun, Vegas-style atmosphere, it's very easy to lose a lot of money once you get started gambling. If you absolutely have to gamble, just set a limit for yourself and once you go through that amount of money, LEAVE. It's not worth gambling away all of your money at sea!
6. Spas. As luxurious and relaxing as they sound, trips to the spa on cruise ships can be very costly. Massages alone can range anywhere from $80.00 to $180.00 an hour, not including the tip. Instead of visiting the spa, find a hammock on the shore when the ship docks, or just enjoy lying on the beach and listening to the waves crashing against the sand. You can always go to a spa when you're at home, but you can only lay by the beach or the pool when you're on vacation.
Remember these six tips and you'll be sure to protect yourself from extra spending while cruising. Any other money saving suggestions? Let me know!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Cost Saving Strategies
Cruises are a great way to travel because they offer an all-inclusive vacation experience. You get food, accommodations, amenities, and exotic locations all included in one price! It doesn't get much better than that, right?
However, there are always those hidden charges that you don't necessarily know about, or extra expenses that you might find yourself splurging on that could easily rack up your bill and get you in trouble. Today's blog, with the help of an article I found on expertcruiser.com, will discuss some of these extra costs associated with cruises and will provide tips on how to avoid these charges and make sure that your cruise remains within your budget.
1. Photography. While it's great to have professional pictures of you and your friends or family taken while cruising, especially on the formal nights when everyone in your party is all dressed up and lookin' fierce, these can often cost anywhere from $15.00 to $30.00 per picture. I can understand splurging on one or two photos to commemorate your voyage, but anything beyond that seems like overkill. To alleviate this problem, bring a digital camera (and lots of rechargeable batteries) and have fellow passengers take pictures of you and your group throughout the cruise. I know you may feel like a nuisance, but it's better to keep going up to random cruisers and ask "would you take a picture for us?" rather than to pay an overdraft fee when you return to the States. I know Bryndi and I will have no problem asking people to take pictures for us. Whether we're at Cedar Point, Walt Disney World, or even just out to dinner at a local restaurant, we have no problem going up to people and asking them to take a picture for us, so I know our cruise will be no excpetion.
2. Soft drinks, bottled water, and alcohol. Because luxury cruises are typically the only ones that do not charge extra for these specialty beverages, beware of these costs going into the cruise and consider how important drinking that pop or wine really is to you. I understand splurging once in a while, especially at the fancier dinners and the formal nights on the cruise, but be careful not to order pop, bottled water, and alcohol constantly, so you don't find yourself with a huge beverage tab at the end of the cruise. Also, if you're a huge pop drinker, like Bryndi is, consider buying the unlimited soda package offered on your cruise. These usually cost around $20.00 to $35.00 and could definitely be worth it.
However, there are always those hidden charges that you don't necessarily know about, or extra expenses that you might find yourself splurging on that could easily rack up your bill and get you in trouble. Today's blog, with the help of an article I found on expertcruiser.com, will discuss some of these extra costs associated with cruises and will provide tips on how to avoid these charges and make sure that your cruise remains within your budget.
1. Photography. While it's great to have professional pictures of you and your friends or family taken while cruising, especially on the formal nights when everyone in your party is all dressed up and lookin' fierce, these can often cost anywhere from $15.00 to $30.00 per picture. I can understand splurging on one or two photos to commemorate your voyage, but anything beyond that seems like overkill. To alleviate this problem, bring a digital camera (and lots of rechargeable batteries) and have fellow passengers take pictures of you and your group throughout the cruise. I know you may feel like a nuisance, but it's better to keep going up to random cruisers and ask "would you take a picture for us?" rather than to pay an overdraft fee when you return to the States. I know Bryndi and I will have no problem asking people to take pictures for us. Whether we're at Cedar Point, Walt Disney World, or even just out to dinner at a local restaurant, we have no problem going up to people and asking them to take a picture for us, so I know our cruise will be no excpetion.
2. Soft drinks, bottled water, and alcohol. Because luxury cruises are typically the only ones that do not charge extra for these specialty beverages, beware of these costs going into the cruise and consider how important drinking that pop or wine really is to you. I understand splurging once in a while, especially at the fancier dinners and the formal nights on the cruise, but be careful not to order pop, bottled water, and alcohol constantly, so you don't find yourself with a huge beverage tab at the end of the cruise. Also, if you're a huge pop drinker, like Bryndi is, consider buying the unlimited soda package offered on your cruise. These usually cost around $20.00 to $35.00 and could definitely be worth it.
3. Specialty Restaurants. Recently, many ships have added chain restaurants to their ships with menu items ranging anywhere from $10.00 to $40.00. While these are nice because they are dining establishments that you're familiar with and comfortable with, is it really worth spending a bunch of extra money, when you already have a the ship's dining services available for free? Furthermore, you can eat at chain restaurants any time but you can only enjoy the ship's cuisine when you're cruising. Personally I think eating in the ship's dining room makes much more sense. It's available at no additional charge, and it's part of the whole cruising experience that you may only get once in your life if you only cruise once. It seems like a no-brainer to me.
I have some more money saving tips to add to this list tomorrow, so be sure to check back and read Tuesday's post!
Friday, March 26, 2010
Shore Excursions...Are They Worth It?
I've heard mixed reviews about going on the excursions offered while cruising. While a lot of them sound exciting and amazing, I'm worried about two things. One-the extra cost associated with going on these excursions. Two-the lack of relaxation and less time spent just being a beach bum. I'd like to make a pros/cons list to help me make my decision whether or not to go on an excursion while on this upcoming cruise. To help me make this pros/cons list, I consulted the Cruise Critic's website http://www.thecruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=79.
Pros of taking the excursions:
1. Adventure
2. Not having to arrange onshore activities ourselves
3. Knowing the tour provider is reliable and reputable
4. Seeing/doing things I wouldn't be able to do on the ship
5. Feeling like we made the most of our time cruising
6. Experiencing things I may never have the chance to experience again
Cons of taking the excursions:
1. The extra cost associated with shore excursions
2. Feeling rushed and exhausted as opposed to just relaxing on the beach
3. Time consuming bus rides/extra travel time
4. Lack of indepedence on the days when the ship is docked
5. Having to take a tour bus or a taxi to get around instead of just going to places within walking distance from where the ship is docked
6. Having to wait on a whole tour group instead of just freely roaming about on our own
Though the number of pros and cons I came up with tied each other, I've decided that the shore excursions just don't seem worth it, based on the new college graduate budget that I'll be working with, and the fact that both Bryndi and I really just want to relax on the beach the whole time we're in the Bahamas. Furthermore, our cruise is only four days long, so I don't think we'll get bored with laying on the beach for just two or three days. I personally don't think I'd ever get bored with lying on the beach, but based on the time that we're going to be on our cruise, I don't think we'll feel the need to fill our time with excursions. Maybe on the next cruise!
Pros of taking the excursions:
1. Adventure
2. Not having to arrange onshore activities ourselves
3. Knowing the tour provider is reliable and reputable
4. Seeing/doing things I wouldn't be able to do on the ship
5. Feeling like we made the most of our time cruising
6. Experiencing things I may never have the chance to experience again
Cons of taking the excursions:
1. The extra cost associated with shore excursions
2. Feeling rushed and exhausted as opposed to just relaxing on the beach
3. Time consuming bus rides/extra travel time
4. Lack of indepedence on the days when the ship is docked
5. Having to take a tour bus or a taxi to get around instead of just going to places within walking distance from where the ship is docked
6. Having to wait on a whole tour group instead of just freely roaming about on our own
Though the number of pros and cons I came up with tied each other, I've decided that the shore excursions just don't seem worth it, based on the new college graduate budget that I'll be working with, and the fact that both Bryndi and I really just want to relax on the beach the whole time we're in the Bahamas. Furthermore, our cruise is only four days long, so I don't think we'll get bored with laying on the beach for just two or three days. I personally don't think I'd ever get bored with lying on the beach, but based on the time that we're going to be on our cruise, I don't think we'll feel the need to fill our time with excursions. Maybe on the next cruise!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
What to Bring
I've been thinking a lot about what I'd like to take with me on this cruise, and what I should leave at home, and I found these tips on thecruiseoutlet.com to be very helpful!
I know I'll need to bring my driver's license and passport, so I'll have proper forms of identification with me, and I also plan to bring some cash with me as I'm assuming it'll be much easier to use cash than a credit card. Plus, if I just use cash, I won't have to worry about credit card service charges or anything like that, which will be nice. Any suggestions on how much cash I should bring?
I'm definitely planning to bring a camera, and plenty of rechargeable batteries as I'm someone who LOVES taking pictures! Bryndi's even more into taking pictures than I am, so I KNOW she'll take plenty while we're on our trip, but I would like to take a lot of pictures on my own camera as well. I'm definitely going to bring my i-pod, as I'll want to listen to music on the plane and on the beach (ahhhh), but I'm worried about how I'm going to keep it charged. I usually just charge it in my car or on my laptop, but since I won't have either of those things with me, how should I charge my i-pod?
Sunglasses are also a must, so I'll be sure to bring those, and I'll most likely bring Chelsea Handler's newest book, Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang, with me as well. I think she's absolutely hilarious and her books are the perfect beach read. When I went to Siesta Key over spring break last year I read her book, Are You There, Vodka? It's me, Chelsea, and laughed out loud countless times right there on the beach! Her newest book will for sure go in my carry on.
Any other suggestions? Am I forgetting anything major that I should definitely take with me on this voyage? Any tips for this first-time cruiser would be greatly appreciated :)
I know I'll need to bring my driver's license and passport, so I'll have proper forms of identification with me, and I also plan to bring some cash with me as I'm assuming it'll be much easier to use cash than a credit card. Plus, if I just use cash, I won't have to worry about credit card service charges or anything like that, which will be nice. Any suggestions on how much cash I should bring?
I'm definitely planning to bring a camera, and plenty of rechargeable batteries as I'm someone who LOVES taking pictures! Bryndi's even more into taking pictures than I am, so I KNOW she'll take plenty while we're on our trip, but I would like to take a lot of pictures on my own camera as well. I'm definitely going to bring my i-pod, as I'll want to listen to music on the plane and on the beach (ahhhh), but I'm worried about how I'm going to keep it charged. I usually just charge it in my car or on my laptop, but since I won't have either of those things with me, how should I charge my i-pod?
Sunglasses are also a must, so I'll be sure to bring those, and I'll most likely bring Chelsea Handler's newest book, Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang, with me as well. I think she's absolutely hilarious and her books are the perfect beach read. When I went to Siesta Key over spring break last year I read her book, Are You There, Vodka? It's me, Chelsea, and laughed out loud countless times right there on the beach! Her newest book will for sure go in my carry on.
Any other suggestions? Am I forgetting anything major that I should definitely take with me on this voyage? Any tips for this first-time cruiser would be greatly appreciated :)
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Packing Tips!
A good friend of mine stumbled upon a wonderful site about cruise tips today and sent it my way! The site is called "The Cruise Outlet," and it lists a lot of great tips about all different aspects of cruising. I will be referring to this site for the next few days, highlighting various tips in various categories. Today's category: "What to Wear."
Coming from someone who ALWAYS overpacks (seriously, I'll pack six different outfits for a one night stay at a friend's house...no joke), I find this specific topic particularly interesting and important to address! According to thecruiseoutlet.com, it's important to bring several different types of outfits, as passengers typically change their clothes several times throughout each day while cruising. I've decided to pack one or two casual outfits, including nice jeans and button-down shirts, as well as one or two business casual outfits which include dress pants and nice shirts. Finally, I plan to bring one suit for the "Dinner with the Captain," evening, which I've heard about from several friends and colleagues who are veteran cruisers. I'm also planning to pack comfortable clothes such as sweats and t-shirts, two pairs of swimming trunks, and a hoodie or two, in case the air conditioning makes the ship a little cold at night, which was another tip I picked up from browsing thecruiseoutlet.com
Do any of you have any other suggestions or tips about how much/little to pack, and what types of outfits to bring? Let me know! :)
Coming from someone who ALWAYS overpacks (seriously, I'll pack six different outfits for a one night stay at a friend's house...no joke), I find this specific topic particularly interesting and important to address! According to thecruiseoutlet.com, it's important to bring several different types of outfits, as passengers typically change their clothes several times throughout each day while cruising. I've decided to pack one or two casual outfits, including nice jeans and button-down shirts, as well as one or two business casual outfits which include dress pants and nice shirts. Finally, I plan to bring one suit for the "Dinner with the Captain," evening, which I've heard about from several friends and colleagues who are veteran cruisers. I'm also planning to pack comfortable clothes such as sweats and t-shirts, two pairs of swimming trunks, and a hoodie or two, in case the air conditioning makes the ship a little cold at night, which was another tip I picked up from browsing thecruiseoutlet.com
Do any of you have any other suggestions or tips about how much/little to pack, and what types of outfits to bring? Let me know! :)
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
"The Majesty of the Seas"
One of my good friends asked me to describe the ship that Bryndi and I are going to be cruising on, and to show pictures of the interior, so for today's blog I plan to do just that! Upon visiting Royal Caribbean's website, I have discovered that "The Majesty of the Seas" took her maiden voyage on April 26th, 1992, and holds a maximum capacity of 2,744 passengers. The ship itself is 880' in length, while the beam is 106' and the draft is 25'. The "beam" and "draft" measurements really mean nothing to me at this point, but are still exciting nonetheless! The cruising speed of this ship is 19 knots and the gross tonnage is 73,941 which, again, secretly means nothing to me, but is still nice to know!
As far as amenities go, "The Majesty of the Seas" boasts quite an impressive list and sounds absolutely amazing. The ship features two outdoor pools, two whirlpools, a day spa and fitness center, a rock climbing wall, and much, much more. This luxury ocean-liner was recently renovated and is now "more majestic than ever," according to Royal Caribbean, with the expansion of the day spa and fitness center, newly remodeled pool deck, and elegantly refurbished staterooms complete with flat screen TVs and top of the line bedding. All that, plus the amazing dinners each night and all types of food available 24/7?! I'm so there. Plus it's all FREE! I still can't get over that! :)
I'm SO excited to climb on board and start this cruising adventure! To quote one of my favorite movies, Titanic, it sounds like this ship is truly going to be "a ship of dreams."
As far as amenities go, "The Majesty of the Seas" boasts quite an impressive list and sounds absolutely amazing. The ship features two outdoor pools, two whirlpools, a day spa and fitness center, a rock climbing wall, and much, much more. This luxury ocean-liner was recently renovated and is now "more majestic than ever," according to Royal Caribbean, with the expansion of the day spa and fitness center, newly remodeled pool deck, and elegantly refurbished staterooms complete with flat screen TVs and top of the line bedding. All that, plus the amazing dinners each night and all types of food available 24/7?! I'm so there. Plus it's all FREE! I still can't get over that! :)
I'm SO excited to climb on board and start this cruising adventure! To quote one of my favorite movies, Titanic, it sounds like this ship is truly going to be "a ship of dreams."
Monday, March 22, 2010
Welcome Aboard!
Hello everyone! My name is Ryan and I'm excited to be joining the blog community! I'm from Northeast Ohio and I'm going to graduate from college with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations this May. The weekend after graduation, I'm going on a FREE, four day, three night Royal Caribbean Cruise, which will be the focus of this blog!
My best friend, Bryndi, won this cruise package for two at a Cleveland Indians game this past summer and graciously asked me to join her! We set sail May 14th from Miami, and will be heading to Nassau and The Bahamas. I cannot believe this is actually happening! I've always wanted to go on a cruise before, but never in my wildest dreams thought that I'd be able to go at age 22, and for FREE! When I say this cruise is free, I mean it. Even the flight is included in this package deal! We get free round-trip airfare through Delta Airlines in addition to the free cruise itself. The only thing we have to pay for is a one night stay in a hotel in Miami on Thursday night, as our flight lands on Thursday, May 13th and the cruise doesn't begin until May 14th, but we both agreed that that's a small price to pay and we're definitely willing to pay it. Bryndi also told me she paid a fee to upgrade our cruise package to a better, more luxurious room, but she wouldn't tell me how much she spent because she said it's her graduation present for me. She's so good to me! :)
I've never been on a cruise before so I'm VERY excited! I also have a lot of questions. This blog will serve as an outlet for me to share my excitement and pose questions, and will also allow for all of you veteran cruisers to share favorite cruise stories and experiences, and to provide helpful tips and advice before I climb on board for the first time!
The ship we're going to be sailing on is called "The Majesty of the Seas." It's pictured below:
My best friend, Bryndi, won this cruise package for two at a Cleveland Indians game this past summer and graciously asked me to join her! We set sail May 14th from Miami, and will be heading to Nassau and The Bahamas. I cannot believe this is actually happening! I've always wanted to go on a cruise before, but never in my wildest dreams thought that I'd be able to go at age 22, and for FREE! When I say this cruise is free, I mean it. Even the flight is included in this package deal! We get free round-trip airfare through Delta Airlines in addition to the free cruise itself. The only thing we have to pay for is a one night stay in a hotel in Miami on Thursday night, as our flight lands on Thursday, May 13th and the cruise doesn't begin until May 14th, but we both agreed that that's a small price to pay and we're definitely willing to pay it. Bryndi also told me she paid a fee to upgrade our cruise package to a better, more luxurious room, but she wouldn't tell me how much she spent because she said it's her graduation present for me. She's so good to me! :)
I've never been on a cruise before so I'm VERY excited! I also have a lot of questions. This blog will serve as an outlet for me to share my excitement and pose questions, and will also allow for all of you veteran cruisers to share favorite cruise stories and experiences, and to provide helpful tips and advice before I climb on board for the first time!
The ship we're going to be sailing on is called "The Majesty of the Seas." It's pictured below:
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