![With the selection of restaurants, bars, shops, and entertainment venues onboard, a cruise ship can seem like a mini town. How to Make the Most of Your Cruise Vacation Trip](images/Cruise-Ship-Sky-AlonsoReyes-1000.jpg)
There is a misconception that cruise holidays tend to be better suited to the older generation; however, this is simply not the case. Cruises are becoming far more popular with larger ships being built at a phenomenal rate. With cruises leaving from all over the world, there is literally almost nowhere you cannot travel to. Cruise ships generally have many restaurants, bars, and shops onboard which makes this a mini town; and there is so much to do that the ship's entertainment director will help make sure there are more than enough things to do to keep you occupied. Here are some tips to make the most of your trip.
Relax in a Spa
Most cruise ships have spas onboard that allow you to relax. When out at sea, there is nothing better than relaxing and looking out from a sunbed at the open ocean in the sun! You could even indulge in some strawberries and chocolate. Many of the options for staterooms will include access to exclusive spa areas which would normally come at an increased cost. Included within the spa are also things like massage or top-notch facial treatments. You may wish to top off your relaxing trip by having a seaweed massage or facial.
Book Excursions in Advance
It is recommended not to wait until you get on your cruise until you book excursion trips, since the best ones tend to book up very quickly. View the available excursions in advance of your cruise and decide beforehand which ones are best. Most people will have booked on one of these when on a cruise, as it helps them to make sure that they are getting to see the best features of the destination location. It can sometimes be slightly expensive to do this via the cruise company, therefore you may wish to do this in advance by browsing the internet and seeing what is available. If you're thinking of taking your kids on a cruise, family cruises offer access to all of their adventures.
Plan for Things to Go Wrong
Sometimes not everything goes to plan during any type of vacation travel. A travel delay could make you miss your cruise ship (as it will not sit around waiting for you to arrive and delay thousands of other guests). Planning is key to make sure that you anticipate for the unexpected. Make sure that you consider comprehensive insurance such as ones that are specific to cruises. Staysure is bespoke to this industry and offers special insurance that covers cruises. This will cover things such as delays back to port, baggage loss, and other important considerations. Make sure to tweak your options regarding countries outside the UK. Health coverage is not free; therefore, if help is needed in this respect, then make sure you include it in your policy. Plan effectively to make sure you leave enough time between any flights and the cruise, since you wouldn't want a slight flight delay to be the blocker between you and your fantastic holiday.
Remember That Loyalty Pays
If you are part of a hotel or airline loyalty program, check to see if they offer any cruise deals or upgrades. Loyalty is very much valued in this industry, so it is definitely worth checking out in advance. You may find that you get a discount on your cruise or even a free upgrade to a better cabin. If you are not part of the loyalty program, then you should look to book it in advance of the cruise so that if you do decide to go again on another cruise with the same company, you will have racked up some of those loyalty points.
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