Your Day Cruise Vacation

When you think about preparing for your day cruise vacation the most important things are not necessarily the perfect swimsuit and sandals. There are a few key steps you can take before your day cruise vacation that will ensure you have a stress-free trip. First ensure you have a valid passport. Next pre-book your shore excursions and ship appointments online. Finally assess your available credit and get plenty of cash to make sure you aren't caught short at sea. These small steps add up to peace of mind so you can really relax during your day cruise vacation.

If your day cruise vacation takes you outside the borders of the US you should renew or get a passport as soon as possible. The new rules require a valid passport to reenter the country from Mexico Canada and the Caribbean. If you've traveled a lot you want to make sure you have blank pages in your passport and check the expiration date. A perfect day cruise vacation can be ruined if you find your passport expired during your trip.

If you don't have one get one as soon as possible and pay the extra money to expedite the process. Once you receive your new passport make several copies of it. If it is lost or stolen you will be very glad you took this step. Give copies to your emergency contact back in the states and put one in your suitcase.

A month or so before your day cruise vacation you'll receive your documents. These contain vital information about the amenities on your ship shore excursions and all the activities available. You can probably make your reservations online. Those who wait until they board their cruise ship to do this will find a long line and inconvenient times available. If you book ahead you can step on board knowing that your spa appointment was not booked during dinner.

A day cruise vacation is a great way to celebrate a milestone such as a honeymoon birthday or anniversary. Check with your cruise line to see what kinds of special packages are available. You should check as soon as possible so that they have plenty of time to make arrangements. Those who wait until they are at sea to request twelve dozen orange roses will likely be disappointed.

Several months before your day cruise vacation assess the amount of credit available on your credit cards. This gives you time to move money around open another card or pay down your balance. Expect that your cruise line will place a hold on your credit card for incidentals upon check in. This hold could range from $50-200 per day.

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It is a great idea to call ahead and find out your cruise line's policy. This is especially important if you plan to stay in a hotel or rent a car since there will be multiple holds on your credit card. Even though your charges are adjusted to reflect the money you actually spent it can take several days for it all to catch up. You don't want to find out that your card is declined during your trip because of holds.

You'll want to make sure you bring some cash on your day cruise vacation as well. Your credit card will get a good workout but there are times when you'll need cash. Traveler's checks are not taken as often as they used to because of the high rate of fraud. Most ships have ATMs but you can count on a high fee and they have been known to run empty. You'll be very glad you have some hard cash to make purchases from street vendors and smaller merchants on shore. Also cash tips are a great way to recognize all the great service from your cruise ship staff. Packing some cash is an easy way to avoid inconvenience on your dream vacation.

You don't need to have a Type A personality to get organized for your day cruise vacation. A little preparation will ensure that you are prepared to fully enjoy every minute of your vacation. Check your passport make your reservations and assess your credit and cash situation. These small but important steps will pay off in day cruise vacation enjoyment. Of course pack your swimsuit and sandals and enjoy your trip!