Last set of tips

Promised you the final set of tips from Budget Travel Magazine ... here are the last two:

11  If you even manage to get a cell signal while at sea, your roaming charges will be outrageous. To communicate with your cabinmates, leave Post-it notes on your door detailing where you'll be throughout the day.

12  If you get lost on a ship, remember that most share a common layout. The lido-deck buffet restaurant, for example, will almost always be in the back to accommodate comfortable outdoor seating in the least windy part of the ship, while the lounge/theater will be in the front because wind is not a factor (there are no windows).

My thoughts on these tips:
Leaving the post-it notes is a pretty good idea, but I saw some very clever folks on this last cruise. They had purchased small walkie-talkies and were communicating with each other that way. I saw this trick used in Disney World some time ago, but never thought to take these little radios on a cruise ship. Clever! I may try it next time we cruise

Don't worry about getting lost on a cruise ship. Every ship has deck plans posted by the elevators and, for the most part, the public rooms are all collected on a few floors. You'll need to be able to find your cabin ... make a note whether aft, bow, or mid-ship elevators get you there easiest. And staff on cruise ships are ubiquitous and VERY friendly. Just ask! You'll get your directions down pat in no time!

I have returned with about an inch of handouts and paperwork that ended up in our mailbox every day. I'll start sharing those with you in the next posts. If you've never been on a cruise they will give you an idea what to expect. If you're an old hand, then you can compare what HAL gives us to your favorite cruise line's handouts.