10 Dumb Mistakes You Would do in Cruise Vacation

A vacation on a cruise ship is often the dream of many experienced tourists. Even though they are a bit expensive, cruises provide the chance to enjoy the ocean and visit various places around the world. Tourists will be able to see the beauty of the ocean while having fun in a luxury cruise ship.

Because of the possible expenses on cruises, it is important to avoid certain mistakes before and during vacation. The following are mistakes that should be avoided at all cost in order to have a good vacation without any unexpected spending:

1. Booking directly with the cruise ship - Many are thinking that they can save in cruise vacations by cutting the middle man. But the difference is too small that it can be called savings. Besides, booking directly will force you to take care of other reservations and the needed documentations.
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2. Airline ticket first before cruises - Never purchase an airline ticket before you are confirmed for your vacation on a cruise ship. While changes in departure time are rare, it's a lot better to have a flight well adjusted to the boarding time to avoid extra spending. You might end up spending 12 hours in the airport because the cruise will leave the next day.
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3. Confirming to too many excursions - This can easily happen since cruises stop in various ports. There are times that it is a lot better to visit various places without excursions since they are more affordable and you get to visit the places you like. Visiting the places around the port is sometimes better without a tour guide.
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4. No hotel reservation - There are situations wherein the nearest flight to the port is one day before boarding time. Because of this case, it is a lot better to have a hotel reservation near the port for easy access. This is also a good option for those who wanted to rest well before boarding.
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5. Rushing for prices - Timing is everything to get a good price for cruises. Never rush when you see a good price. Observe how the prices change so that you'll have a good idea when to reserve the itinerary.
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6. Not checking the required documentation - Proper documentation is as important as your confirmed reservation. You will lose everything with less chance for refund if you don't bring the right documentation. Most are not allowed to board when they cannot provide the right documentation.
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7. Not checking the tour restrictions - This is just a small part of the reservation but a very important one especially if you find out something has happened that will affect your plans. Take note of the refund and cancellation policy of the itinerary before agreeing to pay for the reservation.
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8. Making phone calls on cruises - Avoid the tendency to call your friends and family simply to tell them that you're somewhere in the ocean. These phone calls are very expensive and will be a hefty price to pay before you are allowed to go home.
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9. Thinking that everything is part of the payment - There are reservations that are not all-inclusive which means food and other services have to be paid while on board. Double check what you can and cannot do on the cruise ship that will not require any extra spending.

10. Avoiding to double check the date and time - Never think that you know the exact date and time unless you receive an email confirmation about the itinerary. Mark your calendar and planner as well as call the travel agent to ensure that you got the right time and date for your travel. You do not want to be late for boarding since this can cause you thousands of dollars.