Welcome to the Sunday series a ‘Q & A with a Cruise Ship Passenger’. Earlier this year we had ‘The Officer Wife Series Travel & Cruise Tips Q & A’ and I had such great feedback I thought let’s get another cruise perspective and who better to ask than the actual passengers!
Being an officer wife on a cruise ship, I meet some lovely people from all over the world and I found some great volunteers to give you all their cruise tips.
This week we will feature the couple Dan and Yvonne from Santa Clarita, California in the USA. They have been cruising since 2001 and they have been on 19 cruises, totalling to 219 days onboard. Just a few days cruising! They give some fantastic cruise & travel advice.
Let’s see what great cruise tips Dan and Yvonne have for you.
What is your favourite port in the world?
My favourite port is Rome largely because of the historical and religious aspects. Yvonne’s favourite port is Venice. She fell in love with Venice beginning with our canal ride from the airport to St. Mark’s Square.
What is your favourite cruise?
Why do you like cruising?
We enjoy cruising because it’s an economical way to travel, considering the ship is your hotel and dining. No unpacking and re-packing and the dining is outstanding. The service is generally first class and we have the opportunity to meet so many marvellous people from around the world, like Lucy Williams!
Because you stop in so many ports, cruising also gives you an opportunity to decide where you might like to return to by land.
What cruise tips would you give to a first-time cruiser?
The advice we would give first-time cruisers is, just book it. It obvious they’ve given it thought, so why not do it.
Do you have any packing tips/travel tips?
Plan on using clothes twice, don’t over pack. Take advantage of the laundry service or a better option is using the laundry room.
If you’re travelling to a foreign country, consider purchasing foreign currency ahead of time. Often, when paying in cash you get better deals. At restaurants, use your Amex, Visa or Mastercard as you get the true exchange rate for that day. Bear in mind your bank may charge a foreign transaction fee.
What type of cabin do you prefer onboard?
We prefer balcony staterooms because of the openness and sunlight. We tried an inside cabin our first couple of cruises, but once we booked a balcony we never went back.
Do you like formal nights?
We enjoy the formal night, merely because of the fact we get to dress up.
Do you book your cruises far in advance or last minute?
We usually book our cruises about a year in advance and take advantage of special offers. The advantage of booking ahead allows you to pay over time. We do look at last minute offers but have not booked one yet.
Is there a lot of planning involved for you when you book a cruise?
We do research each port and look at the various excursions or points of interest we might want to visit. At times we will book excursions in advance through private vendors or book something off the ship. We take advantage of taxis, public transportation and hop on off buses.
What is the longest cruise you have been on and would you do it again?
The longest cruise we have done was a round trip 28 days from Los Angeles to Hawaii, Samoa and French Polynesia. We probably would not do it again unless it included a different itinerary. It was a long 8 days returning to Los Angeles.
Read more Q & A’s with a cruise ship passenger:
Q & A WITH A CRUISE SHIP PASSENGER – PART 1
Q & A WITH A CRUISE SHIP PASSENGER – PART 2
Q & A WITH A CRUISE SHIP PASSENGER – PART 3
Q & A WITH A CRUISE SHIP PASSENGER – PART 4
Q & A WITH A CRUISE SHIP PASSENGER – PART 5
I hope you enjoyed reading a Q & A with a Cruise Ship Passenger. They gave some great cruise tips and next Sunday we will start a new feature series.
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Happy Cruising!
