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Don’t Miss – Prohibited Items Banned From Cruises

Paula — Tue, 16 Apr 2019 11:57:37 +0000

Prohibited items on a cruise ship can land you in hot water if you forget to check what’s allowed and what is not. SO, don’t forget to check the specifics of your cruise line before you head to port. Some cruise ship prohibited items are completely obvious to most of us. I mean logically most people know not to bring any sort of weapon, however there are some items that might surprise you. When traveling, knowledge is power, and it’s just as important to know what not to bring on board a cruise ship as it is to know what you shouldn’t leave home without. So, today, because I share a lot of cruising content here, I figured it was time to discuss prohibited items. Some of these items are surprising, so use this for your reference guide whether you are a first time cruiser or returning after a few years absence. Don’t Let Anything Ruin Your Trip We’ve been on a few cruises over the years. Cruising is one of my favourite ways to travel with family and also one of the most affordable ways to see a lot of countries. For me the magic of waking up somewhere brand new every morning on a trip is untouchable. I can’t get enough of that. When you are on a cruise you don’t want anything spoiling your dream trip, so be prepared. Do what you can before you set sail to make the best of your time away. Prohibited Items The first part of this will feel like common sense to you. Items such as weapons and fireworks are no-brainers, but later down the list, you’ll see things like heating pads, which surprised me. So let’s take a look at the quite extensive list of no-no items on cruise ships. Illicit drugs as well as medical marijuana Firearms, functioning or replica BB or pellet pistols/rifles All projectile weapons such as paint ball guns Ammunition Explosives Fireworks and flares Sharp pointed weapons Open razors or scissors with a blade exceeding 4 inches Spears or spear guns Crossbows, crossbow bolts, and long bow arrows Boom boxes and large radios (Hallelujah…I hate hearing other people’s music at the pool) Blunt weapons such as knuckle clusters, brass knuckles, clubs, batons, etc. Incapacitating items such as gas guns, tear gas sprays, mace, acid, etc. Flammable substances and hazardous chemicals Any item made or adapted for use as an offensive weapon Stun devices Handcuffs Large batteries Any items not supplied by the ship which have any kind of heating element (heating blankets, flat irons, etc.) This is an important one. Anything that could potentially cause a fire on the ship is not allowed for safety reasons. Remotely controlled toys or drones Self-balancing hover boards, scooters, Segways, etc. Compressed gas tanks such as propane tanks or aerosol cans Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons, ham radios, satellite phones, laser pointers Clothing irons and steamers Appliances such as coffee makers, hot plates, and toasters Alcohol – Don’t even try. It’s really not worth it Large coolers Candles and incense Bicycles Surfboards, boats, and canoes Inflatable kiddie pools Any footwear like Heely’s shoes Kava Multi-plug box outlets and power boards Exempted Items While the list of prohibited items on a cruise ship is quite long and contains some surprising entries – I can’t believe someone has to be told not to bring an inflatable kiddie pool – there are exemptions should you be worried about looking your best or not having your service dog with you. Hair dryers, flat irons, curling irons, shavers, etc. after inspection Aerosol can for personal grooming (hairspray) Laptops, cameras, cell phones, etc. Medical gas cylinders for oxygen CPAP machine Small coolers Live animals (service animals only) Musical instruments Ham radios or amateur radio equipment (after inspection) Google Glass (prohibited at gangway operation) Flotation devices (water wings only) Wrapped gifts (gift may be unwrapped upon request) Exempted Items for Port Use Some of these items are in the prohibited items category while on board, but can be stored on the boat for use while on excursions. Snorkel gear Skateboards Golf clubs Fishing rods (catch and release only) Tennis rackets Kites Roller blades and skates Collapsible wagons Metal detectors Boogie boards Beach chairs Umbrellas Segways Safety First It helps to remember safety is the most important thing when cruising. So, if something you are considering packing rings a bell for you and you have a question about whether or not it is permitted then check with your cruise line. One key thing to remember is that anything that heats or could potentially create a fire is not allowed. Remember that and you will alleviate some of the worry over packing things that are not allowed. Know Your Prohibited Items on Cruises It’s important to know what you can and can’t take onto a cruise ship. Some things are outright prohibited, while some are initially disallowed but can be brought with certain exemptions. It can be confusing, to say the least. Hopefully, this extensive list of prohibited items and exemptions will help you with your packing and planning so you have a worry and hassle-free trip on your next cruise. Post may contain affiliate links.

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Port Essentials – What Do You Need to Take With You?

Paula — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 10:15:21 +0000

Port essentials are just what they say – essential. Without them, your time exploring any port could be a challenge. Disembarking the ship is fun and a great chance to explore a new island or city. But, if you forget these items when returning to the ship you could ruin that dream cruise. Some of these port essentials are for convenience, some are for a better overall experience, and some… Well, without a couple of these you won’t even get back on the ship! So let’s talk about the essentials that you absolutely cannot disembark without when you cruise. Port Essentials Vital for Getting on and off Ship If you’ve never planned a cruise before, you might not realize what’s involved on board. Cruising is a different sort of vacation. Even though cruises are pretty much all-inclusive, there are things you need to bring to ensure that your cruise goes well. When you are on board it is a self contained environment at sea. You’ll be living on and enjoying the entertainment of the ship, but there are still excursions. And there are always ports of call. So you have to view cruising as an entire vacation and you need to be organized too. There are a few port essentials you need every time you leave the boat. Here’s a quick list to help you make the most of every port visit. There’s a free printable at the end too should you be travelling soon. Please print it out and take with you. Cruise ID If you want to cruise at all, you’ll need your cruise ID. Your cruise ID gets you on to the ship and enjoying everything it has to offer. It is also the key to your stateroom. On board it will be linked to a credit card as well so treat it as if it is a credit card, as important as cash. Take care of it. The Cruise ID is one of the most important things you need to carry everywhere. You need it for getting on and off the ship. Without it, you’re, sunk. (couldn’t resist) Passport Much like your cruise ID gets you on to the ship, your passport gets you out on the excursions. Cruising is a mini travel adventure, and many of them take you to other countries around the world. You’ll need your passport to venture out on the excursions offered by the cruise line. You need it when you go into any port. They will check them at security when you return to the ship. EVERYONE in your family needs to have their passports with them at that time. Cell Phone Just like any other trip, bringing cell phones allows you and your family to make calls in case of emergency or to find each other if you split up. That’s incredibly important while out on excursions. Sunscreen This is one of my big cruise essentials. You’ll be out and about in the sun A LOT. You might also be swimming. Sun screen is key if you don’t want your trip to consist of you looking like a boiled lobster and feeling awful later. Money Most parts of your cruise will be rolled into your rate. I stress “most”, because not all will. There are some extras. Cash is one of the most important port essentials. You will be shopping in port. Trust me on this. They cruise right into mini souvenir shopping districts often. That’s not covered by cruise ID. Plus I like having cash often in these situations so I can barter effectively. Impossible to argue that you only have $10 if you whip out a credit card to pay. You’ll want cash to do a little shopping on your excursions. After all, we all love our souvenirs! A Bag And speaking of souvenirs, they’re hard to carry if you don’t have a bag or small travel backpack of some sort. Be sure you pack a nice, big bag for carrying all your trip swag! Your purse can go with you but honestly if you have a travel bag it will work so much better. Plus who wants a Coach bag to get all sandy or wet. Towels If you are disembarking to go hang out at a beach, or a waterpark remember to bring towels. Towels can be port essentials depending on your excursion. So plan accordingly. Cruise ship towels are fine. If you have one of your own from home, then take it instead. Nothing like a nice, absorbent towel. Medicine This should go without saying but I am saying it anyways. Port essentials include your medicines. If you are traveling with medication you need for anything on a daily basis, please always make sure you carry enough for a day or two with you. In an emergency you could be stuck waiting for medication. Not a position you want to be in. Your kids take medication or epi-pens? Keep these with you in a secure pocket of your purse, bag or backpack. Port Essentials for Smooth Sailing Cruising is one of my favourite ways to get away as a family. My family and I do this as often as possible. If you’re planning a cruise, be sure to download and print this port essentials checklist to ensure that you get on and off the ship with ease and enjoy everything it has to offer. The more prepared you are, the more fun your trip will be! Find lowest prices on day and night cruises

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How to Save Money on Your Dream Cruise Now

Paula — Tue, 06 Feb 2018 13:03:25 +0000

Cruising is expensive, right? Well, it doesn’t have to be at all. In fact, it can be the most economical way to travel for couples and families, even for multi-generational groups. We have taken numerous cruises now and just returned home from our most recent. Each cruise vacation I learn a little bit more. You saved a lot of money for your cruise. Maybe you also had to save a fair chunk of the trip budget for air travel. That alone can be a budget killer, especially if you are Canadian as we are. Flights from Canada are expensive often. But there are many ways to save on your dream cruise. On this particular recent Carnival cruise I returned home and was super impressed with myself. Why? Because this was the cruise I spent the least money on. We travelled on a smaller, older ship which was way more affordable than the newest in the fleet. And, we have figured out several simple ways to save money on a cruise. So I thought it was time to share that information. Here are 9 Ways to Save Money on Your Dream Cruise: Just Say No To On Board Excursions: Don’t buy on ship excursions. Oh to be sure we have done this in the past and enjoyed them. But, as a travel blogger I feel pretty confident directing my own schedule, exploring and finding fun affordable ways to build a great cruise vacation. So this time I didn’t book any of the cruise ship excursions. Instead we hopped off the ship at each port. In Nassau we shared a cab to Atlantis and paid for admission for the day. Then taxied back. That saved a minimum of $100. In Key West we went into the city and hopped a tour bus. Saved money there too. SKIP The Drink Packages Say no to the cruise drink package. I like a celebratory drink and I enjoy a good bottle of wine with a well thought out meal (that I didn’t cook) but we simply do not ever drink enough to get out money’s worth out of the drink package. We have learned this one. On the first cruise we did we bought a drink package. I did the math and we didn’t get our money’s worth. Never again. NO Need for POP packages On that same note say no to the kid’s pop packages. There’s juice and milk and water available everywhere. That is healthier anyways. We paid for pop one night. The kid’s clubs often had soda pop and snacks so they got it there anyways. NO EXTRA Meals – Say no to the extra restaurants. There are more than enough options on board that are included in the price you paid to be there. No need to spring for the un-included restaurants. Literally you could eat almost all day and night somewhere without paying the extra fees for the premium restaurants. Unnecessary. Skip the Extra Tips Check your invoice every time you buy something extra at dinner, or at the bar. Tips probably already included on there so don’t double tip – unless of course the service was extraordinary. One MODEST Wireless On Board Package Go ahead and get one of the wireless on board packages for Internet. ONE. Just one. Do not buy them for everyone ever. Also you don’t need the premium. If you can get away with it don’t bother at all. But I need to check my emails on occasion. This time I got one slim package for $60 and I let the girls use it once or twice. One at a time is the rule and that saved money. Also it saved me extra worry about roaming fees. No Extra TV or Movies: Don’t indulge in the extra movies and shows on TV. Stick to the shows that are included. All the little things add up and you don’t need a massive bill at the end of your dream cruise. Plus honestly you shouldn’t be in your room that much. Skip the Pictures: You know that photographer that follows you around? It’s their job to try and gather as many pictures as possible and then sell to you throughout the cruise. Pick a couple at most. There’s no real need to buy any of them. Your phone probably takes photos that are just as good or better. Trust me I have learned from this one. On our first cruise I couldn’t bear to leave any behind. BUT, where are they now? I still don’t have them framed. However I did use some of the ones from my own phone and had those turned into framed canvases that hang on my gallery wall. That makes me happy and so does saving money for my next dream cruise. NO Signing Privileges for Kids: DO NOT attach your credit card to your kid’s room keys. Do not give them signing privileges. TRUST ME. Nobody needs to pay for $50 of THE CLAW in the games room trying to win a MINION. There might be a story there. (WINKS) Only the adults get signing privileges on my dream cruise. Cruising is one of my all time favourite family travel options. Why? It’s very affordable, when you do it properly. That means saving for your dream cruise and planning, then following some simple rules while there. Now I am not suggesting that you never take an on board excursion again. But there are dozens of ports where you will be just fine to do it on your own. Use good judgement always.

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