photo credit: Surreal 85

We have just visited Mauritius Island in the Indian Ocen for the first time and can agree uppon the following account of Mauritius:

Mauritius Island and Its Attractions

Mauritius, an island in the Indian Ocean can be considered as a unique destination in the world with complete visitors attractions.

Many of the beach hotels operate a club house with practice nets and a store room for guests’ golf equipment.

The Gymkhana Club in Vacoas – A Mauritius golf course

This is the only private club with an 18-hole golf course. A new golf course has been created on Ile Aux Cerfs and others are being planned in other parts of the island.

Casinos in Mauritius

This is another one of the island’s attractions and is catered for on a lavish scale by some resort hotels, which offer a variety of tables (roulette, blackjack, etc.) as well as “one-armed bandits” or fruits machines.

Horse Racing in Mauritius

Of outstanding interest for visitors is Horse Racing, at Champ de Mars in Port Louis. The race course is one of the oldest of its kind in the southern hemisphere. The season previously ran from May to November, but as from the year 2010 it runs from March to December. Among the main meeting held is the Mauritian derby, the Maiden Plate, run in mid-September.

photo credit: Avinash Meetoo

The greatest resource of Mauritius is its people …

Royston Ellis poet and writer reports, “Visitors to Mauritius come first as tourists and stay in beach hotel. On their second visit they rent self-catering accommodation. On their third visit they stay with a Mauritian family. They then feel at home.”

There are many who believe that the greatest wealth of this island-nation is its people, the descendants of immigrants from many continents, with an amazing blend of cultures, whose hospitality has been acclaimed as “legendary and spontaneous.”

This is one reason why the tourist, whether from Africa, India, China, Europe or anywhere in the world can always find the island a piece of his own world he can relate with. The number of tourists visiting Mauritius has been increasing year by year. Here too the Mauritian record is impressive.

Not surprisingly, many visitors who have adopted Mauritius as their holiday home claim that they feel more intensely alive here than anywhere else, that they relate with other people on a much more personal level than even back in their own home countries, that they end up discovering important things about themselves that they were not aware of.

Testimonies which only go to confirm the truth of what poets and visionaries have affirmed that Mauritius has been built according to the scale of the man, a place where the man is not dwarfed by the sheer size of the country and the immensity of his natural environment, a place where he can come into his own, where he can be a man among other man.

Author: Valirie Seneque, a retired air hostess, has been a professional hostess for Air Mauritius for several years. She has travelled throughout everywhere around the world and her experience has helped her to publish many tourism articles in the national print magazine, and her web site at http://www.mauritravel.com/articles.php?id=207

photo credit: srgb

A Guide to Cruise Vacations – How to Deal With Sea Sickness

Cruise vacations are a great way to get away from reality and to experience something that you wouldn’t experience on a regular land vacation. A common question that is asked when planning a cruise is “will I get seasick”? Many people can go a whole trip without experiencing motion or “sea sickness”. However, about 3 percent of people who take cruises do experience this and are crippled by it for the entire trip.

Most ships today have underwater stabilizers on each side of the hull which counteracts against the rolling motion that causes sea sickness. Also, the majority of cruises travel through warm and calm waters which dramatically reduce the amount of “up-and-down” motion that you typically experience in harsh conditions. Here are some ways to deal with this annoying problem when you start to develop symptoms (usually nausea and vomiting).

When you notice that the ship is starting to roll, take a walk on the ship’s deck. Your knees are a form of stabilizers and your muscle memory will start to battle and counterbalance against the ship’s motion. People refer to this as developing your “sea legs”.

A breath of fresh air is always a good treatment to counteract motion sickness. When you start to feel nauseous, go outside and let the cool breeze hit your face. If this doesn’t work, try and ingest some citrus fruits like oranges and lemons.

Take only small meals so that your stomach is not extremely full. Many people make the mistake of eating too much in hopes that a full stomach will balance their nausea. However, the opposite is true. When walking on the deck, focus on looking up and maintaining balance by keeping a focus point.

Lastly, if none of these tips help, you can always take a little dramamine. Dramamine is a sedative that helps relieve motion sickness. Some side effects are dry mouth, blurred vision and drowsiness.

Kim Chi is an avid cruiser and would like to share free information about cruise vacations. He has a beginner’s guide on everything you need to know to start planning your own Cruise Vacation .

I would like to add that to stay outdoor and to keep your eyes fixed on the horizon has often helped me to stay free of sea sickness. To take a nap during a shorter period of potential sea sickness can also help to get over the problem for some time.

On the other hand if your ship is going into tough weather for longer time take some medicine as prevention of sea sickness. The doctor on board the cruise ship should be the best professional to handle sea sickness for the passengers on board.

More about cruise vacation here.

photo credit: savingqueen_com

Planning a summer road trip where you’ll hit a lot of beaches along a coast? You’ll need a beach vacation packing list to make sure you don’t forget anything.

You’ve got lots of options as far as what coast and where on it you will travel, but your beach vacation packing will need to change depending on the temperature where you’re going. A coastal trip up to Maine is very different from a trip along the coast of Southern California.

Ready to hit the road and enjoy some fun in the sun?

Beach Vacation Packing List: General Stuff/Any Climate

Maps and printed out directions for your route. Get a GPS system if you can – it can be a great help if you get lost or just want to find something, like a pizza place.

Printed out hotel confirmations/reservation information for anything you’ve booked for your trip.

Both a first-aid kit and a roadside emergency kit including a flashlight with fresh batteries. Get AAA if you don’t have it- not only is it great for roadside assistance and other issues with your vehicle, most hotels offer discounts to AAA members.

Every kind of charger you need for your cell phones, digital cameras, etc. Load up anything that requires batteries with fresh ones so you don’t have to waste time on your trip stopping to buy them.

Clothes for every day of your trip, sleepwear, underwear and socks. Pack no more than three pairs of shoes (pick ones that will go with almost everything) and make sure one pair is a good pair of walking shoes.

All toiletries and other grooming materials. Put things that might leak in plastic sealable bags. Don’t forget any prescriptions you might need.

Swiss Army knife or all the tools it includes – a small knife, corkscrew, bottle opener, and scissors.

Rain ponchos for those occasional rainy days.

Two coolers, one large one for your trip (filled with snacks, meals and beverages), and one smaller one to tote to the beach.

Big blanket for when you’re cold or to use as a picnic blanket/beach blanket. Pillows if anyone in your group likes to nap.

A pair of sunglasses for everyone in the group.

For those who need glasses and contacts, pack them along with all the necessary drops and cleaning fluids.

Beach Vacation Packing List: Hot Climate

Bathing suits – at least two. Bring just one and it will always be cold and damp when you put it on. Plus, you’ll need to wash it regularly, making it even slower to dry.

Woolite/gentle soap for washing bathing suits.

Beach towels – two for each person. Why? Just like bathing suits, towels don’t always dry as fast as we’d like them to, so having an extra is essential.

Sunscreen, aloe gel, and other sunburn remedies. Bring some, but don’t stress about having all that you need – all of these items are readily available in any drugstore.

Hats are a good idea – you’d be amazed at how burned your scalp can get, even with a full head of hair.

Sandals and flip-flops for the beach.

Beach cover-ups/outfits for each day and a fresh outfit for every evening. If you want to minimize clothes, just pack a fresh t-shirt/top for the evening.

Sweatshirts, sweaters, and light jackets for cooler nights.

One or more sun umbrellas unless you know that every beach you’ll be visiting offers rentals. No matter how much sunscreen you slather on, it’s rarely enough for a whole day in the sun and playing in the waves, so sitting in the shade of your umbrella can make all the difference.

Large beach bag with lip balm with sunscreen, sunscreen of all SPF’s, napkins, and cash for concession stands. Put some hair elastics in the bag for anyone with long hair so that they can pull it back when it’s hot or windy (or both).

Lots of reading – books, magazines, and newspapers. This is a trip where you really get a chance to read (assuming you’re into reading).

MP3 players with headphones/Earbuds.

Disposable cameras. Never bring your digital camera (or laptop) to the beach because the salt air will gum all the parts up and destroy it.

Inflatable toys/mattresses and boogie boards for playing in the waves. Other beach games are also great to bring along.

photo credit: Vagabond Shutterbug

Unless you enjoy swimming in freezing cold water, you’ll only need one bathing suit. If you love a brisk swim among the icebergs, you’ll need two and you’ll also need to bring a bottle of Woolite/gentle soap for washing your suits.

For the occasional invigorating dip in the ocean, pack one large towel for each person.

Pack a lot of layers when selecting your outfits. T-shirts, light pullover/fleeces, heavy sweaters, jackets, shorts, jeans and other long pants are all items you can bring and then layer depending on the weather. The temperature can change frequently during the day so plan accordingly.

Pack lots of socks – from thinner cotton ones to thicker warm ones.

Sunscreen – make sure to wear this even if you’re not spending all day on the beach. As you’ll probably spend more time engaged in other activities, it’s unlikely you’ll spend enough time in the sun as to end up with sunburn, so you can probably skip packing the sunburn remedies.

Sneakers and socks will probably be used more than flip flops, which most people will find too cold.

If you’re planning to hike some of the northern parks, pack hiking boots, thick socks, and a compass. Make sure to bring your cell phone in case you get lost. Grabbing a trail map (and sticking to marked trails) is the best way to avoid getting lost in the first place.

It’s a good idea to figure out one activity for every day above and beyond the beaches, which will only take a small amount of time to visit as it will be fairly cold. Whether you’re exploring local sights or participating in outdoor activities and sports, you’ll be sure to have a really fun vacation.

Now you’ve got everything you need for a wonderful summer road trip!

Copyright 2009 Tara Waechter

Tara Waechter owns http://www.planning-fun-road-trips.com – a website that covers every aspect of road trip planning including mapping tips, packing lists, road trip games and songs, trip ideas, recipes, tools, and in-depth articles. Tools offered include a road trip budget calculator and a printable checklist of to-do’s to handle before you depart on your trip.

Tara has traveled extensively in the United States as well as abroad, and has learned the knowledge she passes on in her website through the “School of Hard Knocks”. She is also an office manager and meeting and event planner. She resides in Cary, North Carolina with her husband, Ash.

Planning a holiday in Lanzarote of The Canary Islands?  Or simply want to find out more about this unique Canary Island?  Then download the new edition of Lanzarote Guidebook – the free, in-depth tourist guide to the Island of Fire.

Lanzarote Guidebook is researched and written by long term island residents.  Which means that it provides readers with the real inside track to the island.  And it is published every quarter.  Ensuring that information is always accurate and up to date.

The new Spring 2009 edition is packed with useful information for visitors.  Along with some fantastic pictures of the island from local photographer James Mitchell.  And can be downloaded fast and for free at www.lanzaroteguidebook.com

Lanzarote Guidebook contains comprehensive information about all of the island’s resorts, towns and places.  Including maps, restaurant and accommodation recommendations and sightseeing tips.  As well as detailed information about where to find the best beaches on the island. An introduction to the works of the island born artist and architect Cesar Manrique.  And a guide to all of the islands many attractions.

In addition Lanzarote Guidebook contains a handy Essentials section.  Providing useful information on details such as bank opening times, hiring a car, driving on the island, duty free allowances, shop opening hours and a list of emergency contact numbers.

This indispensable guide is published in a handy and portable A5 format and is distributed free to tourists on the island via car hire companies, hotels and private villas.

Visitors to the Lanzarote Guidebook website will also find even more in-depth and detailed information about the island online.  Where they can catch up on all of the latest island news, check live weather reports and use in-depth climate information to work out when best to visit. The site even features a Tourist Advice Line, which allows visitors to ask specific questions direct – along with interactive island maps.

Lanzarote Guidebook also features a large selection of over 300 apartments and holiday villas.  Along with links to the leading low cost flight operators to the island.  Enabling visitors to construct their own holiday online.

Nick Ball provided us with this travel news story.

Note

I visited Lanzarote with my family for a number of years ago. Lazarote is a very special island for vacation because of its attractive and special landscape, the focus on matching architecture and because of its very dry and sunny climate, close to the African continent. Find more articles about Lanzarote and the Canary Islands, CLICK HERE.

Soren

photo credit: cle2050

photo credit: ideonexus

A Taste of the Islands

The conch is a single-shelled marine mollusk, or sea snail. There are a number of varieties of this mollusk, including the hawk-wing, milk, rooster-tail, fighting, and queen, or pink, conch. The variety that is especially enjoyed as food here is the queen conch. It bears the Latin name Strombus gigas and is principally found in warm waters from Florida to Brazil.

The queen conch has a large spiral-shaped shell with a wide flaring lip, the adult varying in length from eight to ten inches [20 to 25 cm]. Visitors usually pronounce it “konch” and are quite surprised to hear the locals say “konk.” However, either way is acceptable.

Capture and Uses of the choch

As a youngster, Basil recalls going out on a boat with his father in search of conch. “My dad used a large cone-shaped bucket with glass at the wide end along with a long pole with two hooks at the end. He would dip the glass-bottomed bucket in the ocean so he could look down and locate the conch. As he held the bucket with one hand, he used the other to hook the conch with the pole and pull it into the boat.”

The popular method today is for a diver simply to go down and bring the conch up by hand. When diving in deeper waters, he may use a snorkel or if he has a government permit, an air compressor.

To extract the conch, a hole is made at the base of the shell. A knife is then inserted through the hole to nudge the conch to the entrance of the shell so that it can be pulled out. The conch has four main parts: the head, the internal organs, the mantle, and the muscular foot. Attached to the foot is a single brown horny plate, or operculum. A tough skin covers the foot, which is the part that is eaten. The skin and all inedible parts are cut away, leaving the sweet, white meat.

Conch is an excellent source of protein. It continues to be highly regarded for its therapeutic value. Many people recount experiences of remarkable improvement in their health after a diet rich in conch.

Today there is a thriving industry in conch-shell jewelry. The shell, with its pink flaring lip, is beautiful and very popular among shell collectors. However, the biggest use for conch is in pleasing the palate. Over the years, innovative cooks have come up with a variety of tasty ways to prepare this delicacy.

Mouth-Watering Treat with conch

In the days before refrigeration was common here, conch was preserved by drying. First, it was tenderized by being beaten with a mallet. The meat was then hung in the sun for a few days or so to dry, or cure. Before it was cooked, the meat was soaked in water for a few hours to soften it. Many still enjoy the flavor of conch preserved in this way.

A favorite with locals and visitors alike is conch salad, which might be called conch sushi. Yes, the conch is eaten raw. The meat is cut out of the shell, and bite-size pieces are combined with celery, green bell peppers, hot peppers, onions, and tomatoes. Salt, fresh lemon, and orange juice are added.

If you shudder at the thought of eating raw seafood, there are many recipes in which conch is cooked. A word of caution, though. When cooking conch, first tenderize it with a mallet. If you don’t, the conch will be tough and rubbery.

Conch can be steamed, stewed, jerked, grilled, cracked, made into burgers, cooked in rice or soup–the list goes on and on. Conch fritters and chowder are often served as appetizers. Basic recipes for preparing these dishes have been passed down from one generation to the next. So when you visit the beautiful isles of the Bahamas, do not return home without sampling conch. It will give you a real taste of the islands.

Sandra, a local wife and mother, describes how she prepares delicious cracked conch: “First, tenderize the conch thoroughly. Then coat it with flour that is seasoned with salt and pepper, and dip it in egg batter. Fry the conch in hot oil until golden brown. Drain it on paper towels, and add lemon juice.”

Conch prepared this way is usually served with French fries and lots of catsup or with peas and rice. Cracked conch may also be eaten with tartar sauce. Frozen conch is often exported, so you may be able to find conch in your area. Why not try it? You just may like it.

Author: Flor Ayag

Get your free Favorite Food Recipes at favorite-recipez.blogspot.com

photo credit: Donnay

photo credit: geraintandkim

Island Destinations – Cook Islands

The Cook Islands are in the South Pacific Ocean, Northeast of New Zealand. The Cook Islands consist of fifteen small islands in this South Pacific Ocean and they are a self governing democracy with the New Zealand. It is located in the South Pacific Ocean. Aitutaki, Rarotanga, Taranaki, Pukapuka and Palmerston are the main population centre in this region. Tourism is the country’s number one industry, apart from pearls, marine and fruits.

There are fifteen major islands, divided into two distinct groups: the Southern Cook Islands, which consists of Aitutaki, Atiu, Mangaia, Mauke, Rarotonga, Palmerston, Manuae, Mitiaro and Takutea and the Northern Cook Islands which consists of Manihiki, Nassau, Penrhyn Island, Pukapuka, Rakahanga, and Suwarrow. Aitutaki is the second most visited island of the Cook Islands The shape of the Island takes the shape of an equilateral triangle. Aitutaki is famous for its lagoon, almost uninhabited islands and its beautiful beaches. Another advantageous point is that it has been spared by mass tourism.

There is also an old church and some gigantic Banyan Trees on this Island.

One Foot Island, a small islet in the Southeast, is often said to be the most important attraction. It provides the best views of the Aitutaki lagoon and depending on the tide one can walk on a sandbank a decent distance away from One Foot Island.

There are two other noteworthy islets namely Rapota and Moturakau.

Mangaia is the southern most of the Cook Islands and the second largest, after Rarotonga.

It is also told to be the oldest island in the Pacific according to the Geologists. This Island is renowned for its coconuts. Rarotonga is the most populous island of the Cook Islands and the important establishments like the Airport and the Parliament buildings are located on this Island.

Palm studded white sandy beaches occupy most of the island and there is a popular cross island walk that connects Avatiu valley with the south side of the island. This walk passes through

Te Manga, the prominent Needle shaped rock visible from the air and some coastal areas. It should be noted that Rarotonga has only two bus routes: Clockwise and Anti-Clockwise and the driver’s pickup and drop anyone anywhere along the route. Manihiki is known as the Island of Pearls and is said to be one of the group’s loveliest islands.

Penrhyn Island is the most remote Island of all the 15 of the Cook Islands This Island is also called as the Tongareva, which is its original name.

Rakahanga is one of the most unspoiled places on earth.

The Cook Islands are known for Diving, the beautiful nature, and dining.

The universal language in these islands is English though the native language is Cook Islands Maori.

photo credit: goldberg

photo credit: jon hanson

Diving at Flores Island in Indonesia

Flores Island is Right Place For Adventurous Travelers and Real Paradise For All Divers

The word Flores is firstly given by Portuguese who reached the island about 15 th century ago. The word itself means Flowers. Actually it is to describe for beautiful coral formations that shimmer in crystal sea. The Flores archipelago itself is endless in diversity.

Starting in the west lies Komodo Island where the biggest Lizard in the world can be seen. It is also known as Komodo Dragon.

photo credit: Eric Kilby

The sea around also offers excellent coral reefs to explore, where home for reef sharks and tropical fish. The highlight island’s attraction are the three colored lakes (blue, green and black) of Kelimutu volcano at east of Komodo island, marine life and Komodo Dragons.

Labuan Bajo is perfect location to explore untouched coral in Komodo National Park. Maumere offers the opportunity to explore great marine life and have around forty different diving sites in the Marine Garden of the Bay of Maumere.

Maumere Bay has black sand and inhabit at least at least 1200 species of fishes. After the earthquake in 1992 reefs were impacted. Nowadays the reefs have regenerated nicely and still world class dive sites. Outstanding walls covered in sea fans, soft corals and invertebrate covered overhangs along with some pristine hard coral gardens.

The corals of Flores sea are amongst the oldest in the world and are still in pristine condition. The coral Flowers preserved in stone. In Wai Terang, just off the coast of Flores Mainland. Here you will find Japanese world war 2 freighter wrecks, which now is covered with soft and hard corals and harbouring small fish life.

Author: Anto Kasan – EzineArticles Expert Author

Find more information before your travel to Indonesia here

photo credit: jon hanson

photo credit: Georg Wittberger

Untouched Paradise – Thousand Islands

Nestled in the Bay of Jakarta, The Thousand Islands or Pulau Seribu are an archipelago of nearly 130 islands dazzling and bewitching the Java Sea. Beautiful as well as bountiful, the islands are tropical with sandy beaches and at times possess scenic coral atolls strewn in a display of size and shapes.

The Thousand Islands are a true gift to earth by Mother Nature. Encompassed of beautiful reefs, this archipelago is home to an amazing marine wonderland. With colourful fishes and underwater adventures, the islands are the ideal location for diving, snorkeling, fishing and underwater discoveries.

The shimmering turquoise waters tempt divers to indulge in exploring the land beneath. With fascinating marine creatures and their aquatic wonderland, there is much to see and do at the Pulau Seribu. Some of the islands in Pulau Seribu are still undeveloped for habitation, but a couple have been developed for tourism purpose.

Those islands include Pulau Bidadari, Pulau Ayer, Sepa, Coconut, Pelangi, Bira, Pantara, Kul-kul and Pulau Putri. Within these islands, tourists and visitors alike can bask in rest and relaxation on the sandy beaches of a paradise on earth. Some of the golden palm fringed exotic locations were once home to the likes of formers kings of Indonesia as well as dignitaries such as the first President of Indonesia.

The islands can be reached within 1-2 hours by ferry or chartered boat from the Marina Ancol. Look forward to rest and relaxation mingled with tranquility and serenity at these islands when in Jakarta. With serviced apartments in the main land, such as the Somerset Grand Citra, indulge in this wondrous attraction and return to the comforts and warmth of this serviced residence in Jakarta.

Naveen Marasinghe is an e-marketing executive at eMarketingEye(Private) Ltd. eMarketingeEye is an search engine marketing company offering integrated Internet marketing solutions, specializing in serving the online travel and hospitality industry.

More information about Island vacation in Indonesia.

photo credit: mohd fahmi

photo credit: robertpaulyoung

Pacific Islands

The Pacific Ocean consists of more than 25,000 islands. Those lying south of the tropic of Cancer but excluding Australia are traditionally grouped into three divisions: Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Inhabitants of these islands are referred to as Pacific Islanders.

Micronesia means small islands. These include the Islands of Marianas, Guam, Palau, the Marshall, Kiribati, Nauru, and the Federated States of Micronesia. Most of these lie north of the equator.

Polynesia means many islands. These include the islands of New Zealand, the Hawaii, the Midway, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, the Cook, French Polynesia, and Easter. It is the largest of the three zones.

Some of the famous islands in this region are:

1. Cook Islands
2. Tahitian
3. Samoa
4. Tonga
5. Ile des pins
6. Fiji
7. Vanuatu
8. Solomon
9. Papua New Guinea

There are also many other islands located within the boundaries of the Pacific Ocean, but these are not considered part of Oceania. These include the Galápagos of Ecuador; the Aleutian in Alaska; the Russian islands of Sakhalin and Kuril Islands; Taiwan; the Philippines; those in the South China Sea; most of them in Indonesia; The inhabitants of these places are not considered to be Pacific Islanders and are usually identified with their nearest continent.

There are so many to mention but this page is not enough to explain them all.

So, get ready for one good, once in a life time experience in these islands. Remember you have more than 20000 islands to discover and spend your valuable time with the nature and with your loved one.

Hope you have a nice time!

Author Praveen Nata

More inspiration for travelling to Pacific Islands

photo credit: robertpaulyoung

photo credit: lemoncat1

Before Cruise Travel Checklist

A cruise?  What an exciting idea! But in the excitement of getting ready to embark on this wonderful adventure, you may forget a thing or two. Here’s a quick “before-you-cruise” checklist to help make sure you have done everything necessary to ensure smooth sailing.

1.

Pack a credit card; maybe even two. Cruise ships operate under their own “credit card” system; an identity card backed up by your personal credit card. You will be expected to register a credit card with the purser’s (reception) desk once onboard the ship. All your onboard purchases like your liquor drinks and store purchases will be filed onto your shipboard account. You may opt to pay for these purchases at the end of your cruise with cash, but the ship wants your credit card as a guarantee.

2.

Seasickness medication. A must-have item. Wristbands or anti-seasickness drugs can be purchased over the counter at your local drugstore. I haven’t seen a cruise yet where rough seas didn’t lead some passengers to terrible bouts of seasickness.

3.

Remember your own personal medications. Keep all medications in their ORIGINAL bottles with your name on the labels. Put these bottles into small Ziploc bags and you will be able to clear airport security just fine. But the labels MUST match the name on your passport.

4.

Ah yes, your passport, your lifeline back to your home country. It is nearly impossible to move on or off a cruise ship without a passport. Even with a ship’s identity card, each passenger must carry his or her passport. You will not even be allowed to check in on the first day, without your passport.

5.

Photocopy your passport, your cruise ship itinerary and any other valuable documents like your credit cards, before you leave home. Leave these copies with a trusted friend or family member. Should you ever get into trouble and lose your documents while cruising, having these copies back home could be a god-send.

6.

Travel insurance. It is essential that all travelers purchase travel insurance. A broken eardrum during a scuba diving adventure will set a traveler back several hundred dollars, in doctor’s visits and medications.

7.

Your cruise tickets. Don’t forget your tickets. Keep them in an easy-to-reach pocket of your carry-on bag.

8.

Bring your laptop computer. You are very welcome to bring a laptop onboard. In the ship’s Internet caf, you will be able to log onto the Web and keep in touch with loved ones, or (perish the thought) your boss. This is a costly luxury, however; be prepared.

9.

Are you planning to take digital photos? One of the most forgotten items is an extra memory card. Because I travel with my laptop and CDs, I have been begged by fellow passengers to download their camera’s full media cards to a CD. If you forget extra memory cards, your vacation pictures will be limited to the capacity of a single digital card. And won’t that be disappointing?

10.

Batteries for electronics? Make sure to pack the extra power you’ll need for those iPods, MP3 players and digital cameras. And, if you are traveling to a European destination, bring along a voltage power converter and plug adaptor. My husband found out the hard way (when he blew out his palm pilot charger) that not all the outlets in a cruise ship cabin are American voltages.

11.

What of your house? Cruise durations can be at least a week and many much longer. Have you made arrangements for your pets? Your houseplants? Have you turned down the water heater temperature? Have you alerted your neighbors nearby that you will be away for awhile? Have you left a key with a trusted neighbor? Have you canceled your newspaper? Remembering to settle things at your house before you leave, will make for a much more relaxing vacation.

12.

You will burn on the open sea under the bright sunshine. Even in cooler weather. So, whether you are bound for Alaska or the Caribbean, be sure to pack your favorite sun block product.

13.

Formal clothing is a must onboard cruise ships. That is, if you plan to attend a formal dinner in the ship’s dining room. If not, don’t worry about it. But do pack more than just casual clothes; even in the less formal dining areas, cruisers are expected to dress neatly.

14.

A second swimsuit is a good idea if you don’t relish the thought of struggling into a wet clammy one every day.

15.

If you love to shop, then bring along an extra suitcase. I always pack a collapsible bag into both my husband’s and my suitcases. They’re great for bringing back souvenirs, like that Jamaican beach painting and that African giraffe statue, you just had to have.

A cruise ship vacation is a wonderful way to relax; ensure that relaxation by taking care of the details before you cruise.

A cruise can be one of the most stress-free vacations; when the ship leaves the port you can leave your worries behind and enjoy being pampered and entertained. Getting ready for a cruise can be complicated. Prepare a checklist before cruising to ensure smooth sailing.

Step 1

Check and, if necessary, renew your passport six months in advance. Is the expiration date on your passport less than six months away? Some countries require a six-month expiration period for all passports.

Step 2

Book your flights three months in advance. Start early to get the best possible rates. Try to arrive at your port city the day before the cruise leaves, since a cancelled flight can cause you to miss your cruise departure.

Step 3

Make your final payment on the cruise on or before the due date. When the tickets arrive, double-check your assigned cabin, dinner seating, luggage tags and other materials. If the travel agent has booked your flights or pre- or post-cruise hotels, check them carefully too.

Step 4

Choose your excursions or research your own day trips at your ports of call. You can book excursions that are run by the cruise line on their websites. These excursions can fill up early, so book them two or three months before you cruise.

Step 5

Go shopping. Make sure you have swimsuits, shorts, T-shirts, sandals, formal wear and anything else you might need. You can get specific details about what you will need for your cruise from your travel agent or on the cruise line website.

Step 6

Make arrangements for home care. Do you have pets that need to be taken care of? What about houseplants? If your children are staying home, make childcare arrangements early. Arrange for your mail and newspaper to be collected or for delivery to be stopped while you are gone.

Step 7

Fill out the pre-boarding forms that the cruise line requires. You can do this online or fill out hard copies.

If you are bringing credits cards with you, write down the numbers, expiration dates and credit card contact information and leave it at home in case the cards are lost or stolen.

Ask your travel agent or cruise line about any vaccinations you might need.

Author www.KomailNoori.com
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Soren add: See also

Island Vacation Tips: Your First Travel Abroad Packing Checklist

photo credit: The Cryoborg