Travel Adventures

A posting on an online forum this week asked for advice on how to “Lose before I cruise.”  Some suggested an Atkins Diet.  Others touted willpower.   I’ve tried the “Lose before I cruise” goal, but it never worked for me. Neither have the related “lose by summer”, “lose by (or after) Christmas. Deadlines tend to be self defeating. Any setback makes me feel guilty. Any victory seems to deserve a reward. The reward is often food.  Here are a few things that did help me over the last year……Last August I went on a cruise with the family. Challenges included…sitting at dinner for 2 hours while others ordered multiple entrée and waiter brought desserts we hadn’t ordered to allow us to sample everything and browsing the buffet late at night with the excuse of having a cup of tea.  A few things we did right included taking the stairs instead of the elevator, walking a few miles every day around the Promenade deck, getting in the pool and swimming or staying active playing Marco Polo with the kids, or choosing excursions that required exercise (hikes, bikes, kayaks). The good and the bad seemed to even out. I gained a bit, not much more than in my weekly up and down had I stayed at home.The problem was not so much the pounds on the one cruise but the overall impact of several cruises to come. I enjoy cruises and had a few more scheduled for the year. Add these cruises to the Holidays and to couple of other celebrations throughout the year; I would face the propect of a new (and bigger) wardrobe and a lecture from the doctor.The problem was more of perspective than of will power. It was not the preparation for the cruise. The problem was my lifestyle on cruise. The goal of weight loss to enjoy the reward of a cruise equated to a self defeating goal of “lose to gain.” I was trying to lose weight before the cruise so I could feel less guilty about gaining weight on the cruise.Here is what I did on the next cruise:I sat a shorter time at dinner. We would still order a salad, entrée and consider desserts, but we would avoid multiple appetizers (or entrees) and only have desserts that were really really good.   I would pass on dessert if nothing stood out from the menu.   We still browsed the buffet, not as an excuse for tea, but with intention for a light meal, with a small plate. We continued being active taking the stairs instead of the elevator, walking a few miles every day around the Promenade deck, and choosing excursions that required exercise. With a little change the good gained ground. I maintained.Now the problem was losing on land.

Cruising is a great vacation value. Many meals and services that would cost extra on an land based vacation are often included in the price of a cruise. Cruises tend to be more “all inclusive” than most land based vacations. In fact, higher end cruises may include gratuity, beverages and even shore excursions. Everyone has their own style. Some are high rollers and big spenders, rewarding themselves with extravagance because they deserve it. Other cannot enjoy themselves if they feel that their hard earned money is wasted. Whatever your approach is, if you want the best value from your vacation, it doesn’t hurt to do some advanced planning. Have a Plan.

Start your planning with a full quote of the cruise fare and taxes. Don’t try to develop a budget from an advertised lead-in price. Get a full quote from an agent that can explain the detail. This is the starting point.

When I budget my vacations, here are some of the expenses I take into consideration:

Gratuity. Some cruise lines will say that gratuity is included in your fare. In general, though, allow for a minimum of about $10 to $11 per day gratuity. Whether the cruise line automatically adds the amount to your onboard account, you prepay the gratuity or you hand cash over in little envelopes to the service staff at the end of the cruise, service staff rely on (and deserve) gratuities. Gratuity of about 15% is generally added to each beverage order.

 Flight, transfers, baggage handling: Airline flights are often offered by cruise lines as part of a package. If you purchase a flight from the cruise line they will generally provide transfers to and from the port as well. However, there are exceptions. Be sure to check. Transfers can sometimes be purchased separately if you are providing your own air. (more…)

Is short cruise is a good way to “test the waters.” If someone has never cruised before, they may try to take a short cruise to see how they like it. Is a short cruise a fair test of the cruising experience?

Perhaps, but I don’t find it a fair measure of the cruising experience. Short cruises seem a bit rushed. The day of departure is all about getting aboard, going through muster stations and learning the layout of the ship.  The first “real day” at sea, I’m just getting settled in.  The day before disembarkation, I’m busy packing and wondering where the time went.  The day of disembarkation is all about customs, immigrations, waiting in line again. On a seven day cruise there is time to relax and forget for a while that you have disembark someday.

Some people look for a short cruise because they can only get away from work for a limited time.  Others seek low prices.  Discuss with you travel agent exactly what it is you expect out of your vacation. There may be other ways of achieving their goals without compromising the vacation experience. What about a local departure? 

If the goal is price, departure from a local port saves on air fare.  If the goal is getting more work in before and after the trip, there is a savings in travel time. In fact, we bring a Sprint-card-empowered computer for access to e-mail and work files while docked at domestic ports.I was able to give a convincing argument that a 10 Day voyage from the local San Francisco port over a holiday weekend actually gave more time for productivity for a telecommuter friend than would a 7 day departure involving a half day of flight each way.And yet….I would still rather go on a short cruise than not cruise.

How do you budget your vacation?  If you drink more than two sodas a day, perhaps a beverage card save you money?  Don’t shy away from a luxury brand just because the initial cuise fare is higher. As you move toward the luxury brands, wine, liquor and even shore excursions may be included.Consider the per diem cost of the cruise, after factoring in flight, hotel, and on board expenses. Four day cruises are often cheaper than a three day weekend cruise. Seven day cruises may have a lower per diem cost than shorter cruises.

Of course, a short cruise may be exactly what you need, but don’t shy away from looking at longer cruises or luxury brands.