Cruising 101 - My guide on how to get the most out of your cruise

          After recently booking my 5th cruise in 4 years, I feel it necessary to look back on my previous experience with planning a cruise and share what knowledge I have gained to remind myself and help others to get the most out of their cruise experience. Sometimes cruises aren't for everyone, but sometimes people just aren't doing it right. If you do not have a relaxing, fun and INEXPENSIVE vacation, chances are you are doing something wrong.

• Why Take a Cruise?

Why take a cruise when you could just go to Florida or whatever beach is closest to you? Why not fly to a resort and stay 4 or 5 nights? These are all good questions and are most likely the alternative for those who choose not to cruise.

Advantages to taking a Cruise instead of renting a condo or staying at a resort

• COST - I love all vacations and I consider them all fun in their own ways, but the cost difference savings associated with cruises are too much to ignore. If you are booking your cruise correctly and follow my tips for saving money then you should spend HALF OR LESS on a 5 day cruise vacation than you would during a comparable time at a condo or resort. To me that is a big deal. That means you can do more things with the cost savings or you could even go on another vacation. When me and my wife went on a cruise it cost us $600 for 5 nights including all of our meals paid for. After excursions and other recreational spending we probably didn't spend over $1,200.  I spent that much in Daytona, Florida and my condo was FREE.

• DO MORE/ SEE MORE -  While cruises are a bit touristy and have a general pre-determined itinerary they still give you more options of things to do and see than most resorts or beaches. There is no other way to visit a few countries and see more than on a cruise. Even though it's only a 8-10 hour crash course of a particular destination, id still rather spend 8-10 hours in several locations than being in one place where the scenery doesn't change. Most resorts are so isolated that you are not even within walking distance of anything that's not owned by the resort. Some people enjoy this relaxing isolation, but I have never had a problem relaxing on the liddo deck in the  middle of the ocean.

• GETTING THERE IS HALF THE FUN -  As soon as you step on the cruise your vacation has begun. Live music and entertainment, hot tubs, water slides, casinos and incredible sunsets will most likely not accompany you on your road trip or flight to your condo or resort.

• HURRICANE? - If a hurricane or tropical storm hits one of your destinations on a cruise often times the captain will take you to another port. If the same happens at your resort, you are stuck with a rained out vacation. A very possible scenario on any beach.

• DO YOUR OWN THING - I have been to the beach with groups of people and it never fails whether its family or friends there is always the dilemma of where are we going to eat and who wants to do what. In my experience most of the time a large group will spend more time trying to decide on what they want to do than they will on actually doing something. The beach is pretty much mutual agreement to everyone , but other than that everyone has their own agenda and in most cases it will take the full group agreeing to do something for an excursion to take place. On a cruise everyone can pretty much do their own thing and their options are laid out in front of them on a convenient guide delivered to their room every morning. If you want to relax or go play in the casino you can do it without reaching a consensus from whatever group you are with.

Don't get me wrong beach vacations are great and I still take them from time to time when the opportunity is right, but there is not enough that you can do on a beach that you cant experience on a cruise that justifies paying double the price and doing less. I see great pictures from resort vacations of beautiful scenery and people laying around on the beach, that's just not exciting enough to me to justify paying double.

• CRUISING FAQ

• WHEN SHOULD I BOOK A CRUISE?

The best time to cruise is outside of the peak vacation months and during hurricane season . Prices are much cheaper during this time. You can find them for less than $300 a person! If you Book it for a typical summer month it could cost double. Be sure and book several months in advance, 6 months if possible. The tropical locations are close enough to the equator that they will be close to the same temperature as they are during the summer months. Ask yourself would you rather leave
hot, sweaty, humid conditions to go lay on the beach somewhere or would you rather leave cold, wet and windy to go somewhere warm? You may have to bring a light jacket for that first night on the cruise, but waking up the next morning to realize summer has came over night is pretty awesome.

• HOW SHOULD I BOOK A CRUISE?

Not through a travel agent. A travel agent is for people who do not know how to use the internet. You will not find a better price by adding a middle man, Book through the cruise line. I prefer carnival because I have had good experiences with them and they are generally less expensive and have younger people aboard.

• SHOULD I BOOK A CRUISE OUT OF GALVESTON OR NEW ORLEANS?

Would you rather spend your day before or morning of your cruise at a city that is a cultural hub with the greatest food known to man or a city known for the worst beaches on planet earth. This is a no brainer. The Cajun crowd is also a lot more fun, they know how to party. When I went on a cruise out of Galveston I had to teach people in the casino how to play black jack because they had never been to a casino. FYI - New Orleans cruise tickets are also usually at least $100 cheaper.

• SHOULD I BOOK A 5 DAY OR A 7 DAY?

I personally prefer a 5 day. To me 7 days is a little bit too much, and those extra 2 days end up costing, but the 5 day cruise itineraries are very limited and once you have done them all you really have no choice but to do the 7 days if you want to see more locations.

• EXCURSIONS OR NOT?

The answer to this question is yes and no. It really just depends on what port you are at. Some people like to go to every tourist trap and some people like to do their own thing. I fall somewhere in between. If I am somewhere like Cozumel I really want to do something water related because of the great snorkeling and clear water. Your not really going to get a good dose of Mexican culture in Cozumel because it is so Americanized, you might as well do an excursion. The opposite is true for Progresso. unless you are going to Chichen Itza, there is really no need to do an excursion, its still very Mexican and you can have a cultural experience riding around on a moped or walking the streets.

• SHOULD I CHOOSE EARLY DINING, LATE DINING, OR OPEN SEATING?

NEVER choose early dining. On days where the ship stops you will only have an hour or 45 minutes between the time you get back on the boat to when you have to get ready for dinner. You might also miss the sunset. As soon as your dining is over on the late dining, things are just starting to pick up...the casino, clubs, and karaoke bars will be rocking. Open seating is not a bad choic
e, but I like sitting with the same people every night. You will build a relationship with those people over the week.

• HOW DO I KEEP FROM GETTING SEA SICK AND RUINING MY TRIP?

Motion sickness is probably the most common cause for people not having fun on their cruise. There is however a method to preventing this unfortunate event from happening. To not get sick, you must get your "sea legs." The best way to do that is to take some Dramamine about 30 minutes before the ship takes off and then go to the top of the ship and just hang out and walk around outside on the liddo deck for the first couple of hours. Do not focus your eyes on anything close to you and keep your focus on the horizon. There is some pretty cool scenery cruising down the Mississippi River. People that spend the first couple of hours in their rooms or exploring the inside of the ship are usually the ones at high risk to get sick. If there is a night where the waves are bad, just have a couple of alcoholic beverages (even if you aren't a drinker) and it will help loosen you up and your body will flow better with the waves.

• TIPS & ADVICE

• Bring (sneak) your own alcoholic beverages - a clear beverage of choice is best hidden in  a scope bottle with green food coloring. Darker whiskey and liquor can be hidden in Listerine bottles. Alcohol cost on the ship is outrageous, Save where you can. Also take advantage of the cruise line allowing a bottler of wine per person.

• Go to the dinners - Going to dinner every night is optional, some people choose to just do the buffet. They are not that formal except for the captains dinner. The buffet's will be there in the morning and lunch.

• Don't eat dinner with the people you came with - Let the cruise line randomly assign you to a table. It's always interesting to see who they will group you with, and you still have good odds of being with the same people you signed up with if you are similar in age and marital status. Meeting new people is part of the experience.

• Avoid long lines at the excursion desk - If you book your excursion on the ship the best time to avoid lines is immediately after the safety drill on the first day.

• Don't miss the sunsets - The best photo opps of the cruise are not the cheesy back drops in the ship foyer, its the sunsets. They are amazing and look totally different everyday.

• Don't get to the cruise terminal too early - On embarkation day there is no advantage to getting to the cruise terminal early. You will just have to wait in line.

• Carry off your luggage when the cruise is over - If you are physically able, carry your luggage off yourself, it could save you hours when it comes to getting off the ship and back on the road towards home.

• Participate in on board activities - Try not to be too anti-social, some of the activities may be cheesy, but you will be glad you participated in the end.

• Bring lots of friends - The more the merrier. The more friends you have on your cruise the more fun you are likely to have; and its not like you are staying in the same room together. You will have plenty of time apart.

• Pay your gratuity up front -  When you book a cruise you will get the option to pay gratuity up front. There is no need in worrying about getting good service on a cruise. The service is top notch so you might as well pay it up front and get that expense out of the way.

• Pre-pay your ship card with cash - All purchases on a cruise are made with a ship card. this card can either be backed up by cash or a credit/debit card. If you really want to keep a handle on your spending give yourself a budget and use cash. If you run out you can always use your card to put more funds on.

• Keep your spending in check - An inexpensive vacation can get expensive really quick if you spend without paying attention. The front desk of the cruise will give you your balance of your ship card anytime you ask. Always be aware, overspending on a cruise is very easy and the cruise lines designed it that way for a reason.

The Bucket List

The Bucket List

Recently me and Tonya experienced the greatest adventure and vacation of our lives; a three day 100 mile rafting trip down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. The idea for this journey had been boiling in my brain for a few years even amidst other great vacations that came to fruition in the meantime. I had the brochure and promo DVD mailed to me almost 3 years ago. It really takes a lot of planning to bring these "Bucket List" ideas from fantasy to reality. In this blog I will take the first step in bringing these ideas to life by identifying the places that we desire to travel to the most.

      When I think about "Bucket List" vacations and adventures it takes me back to a lecture I heard earlier this year at the Arkansas Governor's Conference on Tourism by celebrity turned travel writer Andrew Mccarthy. He said that he searches for the "Ah-Hah" moment in his travel. Its that feeling of amazement when we experience something for the first time. A child can have these moments on a daily basis. The first time they experience the beach, feeding a duck at a local park, seeing a snake or catching their first fish. As we grow older these "Ah-Hah" moments come fewer and farther between. The best way to recapture that feeling of amazement is to leave our comfort zones and routines and explore the beautiful world that God has made for us.

Macchu Picchu - Peru

I think there are certain elements that differentiate a "bucket list" adventure and a typical vacation. I wouldn't consider a cruise, a week on the beach, a all inclusive resort or somewhere you live a few hours away from as a "Bucket list" vacation. A "Bucket List" vacation is so grand that you are likely only to be able to experience it once. A bucket list trip is also usually more expensive than a typical vacation, but is also far more rewarding and memorable. 

Everyone has different agendas when it comes to their personal bucket list. Some people desire to experience different cultures, while others like to visit great historic landmarks. For me, those trips are on the bottom of my list. My list is more focused on a combination of adventure, wild life, and natural beauty. While seeing the pyramids of Egypt, the Great Wall of China, and the Eifel Tower would be really cool, they are a very low priority for me. I don't want to just see something, I want to experience it. This is why we didn't go to the rim of the Grand Canyon and look at it with millions of other people, we became a part of the canyon by living in it for three days.

#10. Cataract Canyon - Canyon Lands, Utah

Estimated cost for 2 people - $3,500

We experienced the biggest white water of our lives on our Grand Canyon trip, but now I want bigger and wilder. A few hundred miles up the Colorado from where we rafted is some of the largest rapids in the US during the spring. This is an adventure that starts in Moab, Utah where we will also be able to visit Arches National Park and Canyon Lands National Park. I would have never heard of this trip had it not been for our Grand Canyon expedition which is a great example of the knowledge you learn by going on one of these great trips.

#9. Costa Rica

Estimated cost for 2 people $5,000

Every time I ask Tonya what she wants to add to our bucket list she says Costa Rica. I'm not really sure why, but it has Volcanoes, water falls, and wild life, so count me in. I haven't done much research of Costa Rica but the pictures remind me of a Central American Hawaii. From my limited research Costa Rica is home to an active volcano and lots of sloth creatures.

 #8. Bora Bora - French Polynesia

estimated Cost for 2 people $5-7,000

Bora Bora is the only relaxing vacation to make it on the bucket list. This trip might not quench my thirst for adventure, but when it comes to scenic paradise this location seems to stand out when compared to the thousands of other clear water beach getaways. Staying in one of the huts over the water would be a must. I think if we stayed here for a week we would probably never have a desire to stay at any of the other typical honey moon resorts. I've been to Atlantis in the Bahamas and I think this would be much better. Not to say that we couldn't find adventure here. I think renting boats to explore the lagoons and biking on the island would be fun.

#7 Zion National Park - Springdale, Utah

Estimated Trip cost for 2 people $2-$3,000

"The Narrows" 14 mile hike

"Angel's Landing"

Conveniently located 2 hours from Las Vegas it is safe to say that Zion National Park may be one of the least talked about national parks in the United States. Most people that I have mentioned it to have never even heard of it. I found out about it from a guy that sat beside me on a plane ride back from Vegas to Shreveport. He told me that he had just hiked "Angel's Landing" I had no idea what he was talking about, but it peaked my interest. I kind of wish he would not have mentioned it because now I am destined to climb the dangerous 1,488 foot rock formation. This is a bucket list item that needs to happen relatively soon. You never know what kind of physical condition you will be in 10 years down the road. If we are not brave enough to climb up Angel's Landing, there are miles of other amazing trails in Zion that blow my mind just from looking at the pictures, including "The Narrows" which is ranked #5 in America's top 100 adventures by National Geographic. I have read a few publications that even rank Zion ahead of Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon! I really hope to spend a few days in Zion sometime in the near future. Zion is also a couple of hours away from exceptional road trips like "Bryce Canyon National Park" "Red Rock" and "Valley of Fire State Park"

#6 Yellowstone National Park - Wyoming

 

Estimated cost for 2 people - 3-$4,000

No scenic/wild life trip list would be complete without Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone was the first ever National Park created by the US government. I am scared to death of bears, but that strange fear spikes my curiosity. Yellowstone is jam packed with a plethora of geysers, waterfalls and miles of hiking trips that lead to astounding landscapes with abundant wild life. Getting to Yellowstone wont be cheap or convenient, but its a place I must go. This trip seems more geared towards naturists than adventurers so there is no hurry to get there. Its probably the type of vacation that can be enjoyed at any phase of life and that is another thing that makes it such a special place.

#5 Grand Canyon 7 Day Rafting

Estimated cost for 2 people - $7,500     (Havasu Canyon)

Red Wall Cavern

Three days and 100 miles down the Grand Canyon was just an appetizer for the big seven day journey that is offered by Western River Expeditions. The 7 day trip ends where our trip began so we can go on this adventure and see 7 days and 187 miles of the canyon that we have yet to experience including "Vasey’s Paradise", "Redwall Cavern", and "Havasu Canyon". The white water of the upper 200 miles is also more fierce. The three day trip was a great trial run, but the seven day seems to beat it in every single way (except that it is not accessible from Vegas)  Before our three day trip was even over Tonya and I vowed to return. This will be tough to make happen, but hopefully we will be fortunate enough to do it. With double the amazement comes double the price and no more convenience of being picked up in Las Vegas. we will have to make it to Arizona on our own. Either way, we have unfinished business with the Grand Canyon and we plan to conquer it.

4. Glacier National Park - Montana

Estimated cost for 2 people 3-$4,000

  
Glacier National Park is about half the size of Yellowstone, but many believe it is even more awesome. The park is still over 1 million square acres and sightings of grizzly bears are not only common but are expected. The park is a hikers paradise that leads many travelers to lakes filled with chunks of ice. Some people believe that the ice will be gone by the year 2020 due to rising temperatures. This park is often compared to Yellowstone and is located only about 5 hours away.

# 3 New Zealand

estimated cost for 2 people 8-$10,000

Who wouldn't want to go to middle earth? If you could pick up Glacier National Park and move it to a beach, then you would have New Zealand. The scenery would be astounding. This would probably be our most likely bucket list vacation to miss out on considering the cost of literally flying all the way across the world. Still never hurts to put it on the list even if it is more of a fantasy than a goal.

#2 Alaska

Estimated cost for 2 people 6-$8,000

Alaska has to be the Mecca of outdoor adventure. The entire state could be a national park. Just about every conversation I have had with hardcore travelers always ends with "but Alaska, you have got to go to Alaska" There is not many other places that you can go where you can hike a glacier, see a whale from a kayak and watch grizzly bears fish. With Alaska being so massive, I think the most economical way to actually experience it would be through a cruise line. To get the full experience you would need to book the high dollar excursions when you stop. An Alaskan cruise will not be like your typical Caribbean cruise and the steep price of activities will reflect that. Some excursions cost $500 a person or more!  Also take into consideration that you have to fly to Seattle, Washington just to get on the cruise, which is not a cheap flight. Alaska is sure to be packed with several "ah-ha" moment, but they will cost a lot of money to acquire.

#1 The Galapagos

There is no other place in the world that is comparable to the

Galapagos. If Yellowstone & Glacier National Parks are the most scenic trips, Galapagos is the greatest for wildlife. Galapagos is the only place in the world where the largest land animals are 500 pound turtles and the lizards cliff dive 50 feet into the water to catch their food. It is an astonishing place of natural phenomenon and I have never had a conversation with anyone that has actually been; which adds to the appeal. I don't imagine there will be crowds of tourists. This trip will also be pricey because it requires two different plane tickets. A flight to Ecuador and a flight to the island. Whatever the cost this is #1 our bucket list of travel and we must accomplish it someday.

People always look at me strange when I use the word "Bucket List." Some people think that exotic travel is for older retired people who have already raised all of their kids; but nobody is guaranteed to to get to enjoy their golden years. We aren't even guaranteed tomorrow. Vacation is supposed to be about breaking your routine; don't make your vacations a routine too. Make a list, write down the things you want to do even if its way out of your budget and do some minimal research.You never know, in 20 years you may have only accomplished half of your list it or less, but its better than going to the same beach or cruise 15 years in a row and by then you may be too old, tired or sick to do anything else. The time is now, life is fleeting.