What Singles
Should Know About Taking a Cruise
By Susan Dunn, The EQ Coach
Singles are underrepresented on cruises, but unless meeting someone
is the sole purpose of your vacation, a cruise can be your
best choice if you keep these things in mind.
The Carnival line is the only cruiseline that offers a "singles"
rate. The others offer you, but you have to take a stranger for a
roomy, or pay double. (Did I miss something? Is that a singles
rate?)
Some of the cruise lines (Radisson, Costa, Cunard) offer gentleman
dance hosts. If you're a single male, you travel for pennies and
it's your "job" to meet and dance with the single women on the
ship, 8 pm to 1 am nightly. If you're female, there are 4-5 men
aboard, proficient in waltz, rumba, jitterbug, cha cha, polka, and
congenial conversation who are "on call" every night to dance with
you.
Choose a large table for dining. It will water down the effect of
any uncongenial dining companions. Ask to change tables if you need
to. If you like the day activities, take the late seating. If
you're hot for the night-life, take the early seating.
Shore excursions booked through the ship are safe and scheduled,
but cost more. Most ports have cabbies lined up waiting to take you
to the same places for less. (We got a 3-hour tour of St. Maarten
for $10 pp instead of $50pp.) However, think twice before you hop
into a cab alone. Try and hook up with fellow passengers, even
dance hosts.
If you can avoid the gambling and liquor, a cruise can be very
affordable. Cruise lines make their money off the gambling and
liquor. That's why they can feed you fabulous food 24 hours a day
at those low last-minute rates. Sail from a port that doesn't
require airfare, and you can live in luxury for around $80 a day.
You couldn't stay in a hotel and eat steak and lobster for
that.
Cruises have been proven to be good for our health. For instance,
don't you think at least 25% of our daily stress comes from car
hassles? On a ship there's no parking problems, traffic jams, or
road rage to interfere with your relaxation.
Shopping? Wait till the end of the cruise to shop onboard; they
reduce prices. Check with friends or the ship's shopping expert on
what to buy where. Each island has its specialities. For instance,
braids are $150 in Key West, $75 in Cozumel, and $35 on Grand
Cayman.
Prescription drugs are sold cheaply OOT in Cozumel, etc. Bring CASH
so you can stock up on Keflex and avoid doctor's fees. Many of the
best bargains require CASH or TRAVELER'S CHECQUES. For other items,
get off the beaten track. Stores that pay for space in the port
generally charge that privilege back to you.
Check with friends who've actually been on these ships to see what
your fellow-passengers will be like. Each ship has its own flavor.
If you leave from Galveston, expect 90% Texans (scary). If from
Port Everglade, more of a mix - North, Northeast, Midwest, Europe.
If you travel in late summer, expect lots of kids and
teenagers.
Maybe you care less about people, and more about the quality of
food. Decide what your priorities are. Then ask someone who's been
on that line. The quality of different amenities varies, and each
cruise line has its plusses and minuses.
Most cruise ships have Internet service but it's expensive and not
always available at sea. However, most ports now have Internet
cafes which are quite affordable--$5 an hour, for instance, in
Cozumel, right on the dock. You can check your email anywhere on
www.e-mailanywhere.com. It's FREE.
One last suggestion. If you like to speak, consider being a
presenter on a cruise ship. As I say in my ebook, "How to Get to
Present on a Cruise," being an enrichment gives you extra
visibility and maneuverability for socializing, as well as new
people to tell about your services.
Bon voyage!
About
the Author
(c)Susan Dunn,
The EQ Coach, is a frequent speaker for cruise lines on stress
management and life enrichment. She offers coaching and Internet
courses and is the author of "How to Get to Present of a Cruise
(http://www.webstrategies.cc/development.htm ). Visit her on the
web at www.susandunn.cc. Mailto:sdunn@susandunn.cc for FREE
ezine.
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