Most travelers only scratch the surface of what goes on aboard a cruise ship. To make the most of your cruise vacation, it helps to know the inside scoop. Veteran travelers and cruise industry insiders are good sources to tap to learn the secrets to cruising, which range from useful to informative to fascinating.
Here are seven cruise secrets everyone should know.
1. Guarantee cabin — Booking a category of cabin, such as a cabin with a balcony, without booking a specific location can save up to $1,000 per person, The Huffington Post reported. Referred to as "guarantee cabins," these reservations promise a certain type of cabin but not a location. Keep in mind, though, that you risk ending up in a noisy part of the ship.
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2. Book a short trip — Weekend cruises, such as three- or four-day trips to the Bahamas, can be a budget-friendly get-away. These cruises are often cheaper than the cost of airfare and a hotel, The Huffington Post said.
3. Consider timing — Choosing to travel during unpopular times can add up to significant savings, according to HuffPost. These times include between Thanksgiving and Christmas, during the so-called "wave season" between January and March, or during the "shoulder season" right before or after peak travel season. Travelers can also save money by booking far in advance or as late as three days before boarding.
4. Plan ahead — Once you've booked your cruise, plan out your days and how you will spend your time on shore. This will help make for a seamless experience, cruise website Onboard noted. Take a minute early on to tour the ship and find the best ways to get around and scope out your favorite areas.
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5. Pack carefully — Always be sure to pack a jacket, sweaters, and a swimsuit, even if you don't think you'll need them, Onboard recommends. You will. Packing a sarong or other cover-up also can come in handy. And don't forget to pack an extra, empty bag to carry home your purchases.
6. Pirates — While pirate attacks are rare, cruise ship crews are trained to defend against them, Mental Floss reported. Crewmembers are trained to get passengers away from windows and to spray pirates with water cannons or deploy long-range acoustic devices.
7. Morgue — Most cruise ships include a small morgue to manage the roughly 200 passengers who die aboard cruise ships each year, Mental Floss reported. These morgues can typically store five or six bodies until the ship makes it to shore.
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