Every summer, millions of individuals take a cruise. The majority of those individuals have a memorable experience. Over the past few years, there have been numerous reports of missing persons and cruise ship crime. While it may seem like the cruise ship industry has a problem, the reality is that they do not. Cruise ship accidents are few and far in between. Despite the fact that you are safe aboard a cruise ship, you should still take precautions to protect yourself, your family, and your belongings. There are a number of steps that you can take. Most of these precautions are simple and can be done with little or no effort. Despite being simple, these precautions could keep you safe and your finances in check when you are on a cruise. Many individuals believe that cruise ship safety should begin once they board the ship; however, it should begin well in advance. When traveling on a cruise ship, it is likely that you will visit foreign countries. In the event of a mistake or disaster, you are encouraged to have all of your important documents on hand. These documents should include your passport and drivers license. Before boarding your cruise ship, you are encouraged to make copies of all of these documents. In addition to the originals, you should carry a copy with you and leave the other at home. When you finally board your cruise ship, there are a number of steps that you should take to ensure your safety. These steps include familiarizing yourself with the cruise ship. Todays most popular cruise ships are large in size. It may take some time to examine the ship, but you are still encouraged to do so. In addition to physically seeing the ship, it is advised that you request a map. This map should be carried with you at all times; it may come in handy if you lose your way. Familiarizing yourself with your cruise ship is important, but so is familiarizing yourself with other passengers. You do not have to be outgoing or social to accomplish this. Simply keeping an eye out for individuals that appear to be shady or mysterious is a great way to protect yourself. If you were on land, it is likely that you would avoid individuals that make you feel uncomfortable. The same should apply aboard a cruise ship. When walking around a cruise ship, you are advised not to travel alone. As with land, traveling with others is likely to reduce or eliminate your chances of becoming a crime victim. If you must move around the ship alone, you need to inform a number of individuals where you will be headed and when you expect to return. In the event that something does happen, a relative or friend should know exactly where to find you. When on a cruise ship, your personal safety should be your first concern. In addition to personal safety, the safety of your belongings should also be important. If you are traveling with expensive luggage or large sums of money, you may want to take extra precautions. Before you leave home, you way want to consider leaving your expensive belongings behind. Most cruise ships will not reimburse their passengers for lost money or belongings; therefore, if you cant afford to replace it, you might not want to bring it. When it comes to theft, cash and credit cards are often the most sought after items. Instead of carrying a purse or a wallet, you are encouraged to carry a money pouch. To offer the utmost protection, you may want to obtain a money pouch that can be worn around your neck and tucked into your shirt. These pouches often make it impossible for thieves to strike. In the event that you are unable to use a money pouch or you left yours at home, you are urged to divide up your money. Keeping your money in multiple locations may provide you with financial protection if a theft does occur. If you must use a purse, you are encouraged to keep it with you at all times. Women and men, with wallets, are urged to keep their wallets in their front pockets. Cruise ships are exciting and, for the most part, safe. With a few simple precautions, you can safely enjoy your vacation aboard a cruise ship without fretting over the safety of yourself and your belongings. PPPPP Word Count 738

Selecting a Cruise Line: What to Consider and Where to Look In the United States and all around the world, cruises are a popular vacation choice. Instead of visiting a beach, an amusement park, or going camping, more individuals are making the decision to book a cruise. If you are interested in vacationing aboard a cruise ship, there are a number of decisions that you will have to make. One of those decisions includes finding a cruise line to vacation on. Selecting a cruise line to vacation on may seem like a fairly easy decision, but for many it is not. There are a large number of cruise lines currently operating vacation cruises. These cruise lines often operate all around the world. To find the perfect cruise line to vacation with, you are encouraged to research and fully examine all of your choices. This includes examining well-known and lesser known cruise lines. If you have internet access and a television it is likely that you have heard of Carnival Cruise Lines before. Carnival Cruise Lines are one of the most well-known cruise lines in the world. Carnival Cruise Lines operate cruises in the Untied States, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Europe. They are most well-known for their family fun ships. With over twenty cruise ships available, you are sure to find the cruise ship of your dreams. In addition to Carnival Cruise Lines, it is likely that you have heard of Royal Caribbean International before. Royal Caribbean International services the Untied States, the Caribbean, Europe, Mexico, and the Bahamas. Royal Caribbean is most known for their onboard cruise ship activities. Many of the activities offered onboard some of their cruise ships, such as simulated surfing, are not available on any other cruise lines. As previously mentioned, you are encouraged to examine cruise lines that may not be as well known as the two mentioned above. If you are interested in booking a romantic cruise ship vacation, you may want to examine Windstar Cruises. Windstar Cruises is a cruise line that offers cruises aboard three ships. While the cruise line may not be well-known, the services and onboard activities they offer will forever remain in your heart. Additional cruise lines that are often considered well-kept secrets include, Costa Cruises, the Seaborn Cruise Line, and Silversea cruises. When examining each cruise ship line, you are encouraged to view the companys online websites. These online websites are a source of valuable information. In addition to learning about onboard cruise ship activities, you can often take a virtual tour of each ship. A virtual tour will give you an idea as to what you should expect from a particular cruise ship. If you do not have internet access, similar information can be obtained by speaking to a cruise line representative. Selecting a cruise line to vacation with is almost important as the cruise ship itself. You are encouraged to review feedback from previous customers. This feedback can easily be obtained online. You should also examine the cost of vacationing with a particular cruise line. You will see that a number of cruise lines charger higher prices for their cruises. Your ability to afford a these fees should be close examined. Taking the time to research each cruise line is the best way to make an informed decision. You are encouraged to take what you learned and apply it to want you want and need out of a vacation. Doing so will ensure that you book a cruise with the cruise line that can provide you with want you want. PPPPP Word Count 583

Each year, a large number of individuals make the decision to book a cruise ship getaway. When it comes to vacationing aboard a cruise ship, you are presented with an unlimited number of options. There are a large number of cruise lines that operate numerous cruise ships. In fact, there are so many cruise ships available that many individuals, maybe even yourself included, do not know where to start. The first step in planning a cruise ship vacation is making the decision to take one. Traveling aboard a cruise ship can be a fun and exciting experience, but it is not for everyone. Cruises ships often require residing in close corridors for an extend period of time. If you have a difficult time dealing with crowds or you are looking for an overnight vacation, you may want to reexamine your decision to schedule a cruise ship vacation. If you have already decided that a cruise ship vacation is what you want, you will need to find a cruise ship that interests you. This is where many individuals develop a problem. As previously mentioned, there are a number of different cruise lines. Each of these cruises lines operates a number of different cruise ships. Each cruise ship is likely to travel to different destinations and offer different activities, services, and facilities. When searching for the perfect cruise ship, you have numerous options. Many travelers automatically start searching for the cruise ship of their dreams. Searching for a cruise ship is, in a way, different than searching for a cruise line. If you do not have a preference as to which cruise ship line youd like to travel with, it may be easier to search for cruises based on themes, destinations, or onboard activities. A standard internet search is a great way to educate yourself on the cruise ships available. If you prefer to travel with a specific cruise line, you will want to research that particular cruise line. You can visit the cruise lines online website to further educate yourself or else you can perform a standard internet search. If you are unaware of the cruise line selection you have, you can easily familiarize yourself. There are a number of travel websites that offer information and links to the websites of popular cruise lines. Performing an internet search with the keywords cruise lines, is likely to produce a large number of results. In your search, it is likely that you will come up with popular cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruse Lines, Disney Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, and much more. Once you are able to view the online website of each cruise line, you can begin to search for cruise ships with reservations still available. When browsing through each cruise ship, you will likely be presented with standard information. This information may outline the activities available onboard, destinations, travel stops, and the cost of reserving a cabin. The Disney Cruise Line is one of the most well-known and sought after cruise lines for individuals vacationing with a family. If you are interested in scheduling a Disney cruise, you will see that the two cruise ships used are named Disney Wonder and Disney Magic. Each ship has onboard Disney characters and beautiful dcor. The main differences between the two ships are the character statues found onboard. Carnival Cruise Lines is well-known among frequent travelers. They offer a wide range of cruises; however, their main focus seems to be on fun cruises. When researching Carnival Cruise Lines, you will see that they have over 20 fun ships. These ships target cruise goers who are interested in socializing, partying, and having an adventure over the water. Popular cruise ships include, but are not limited to Fantasy, Ecstasy, Celebration Fascination, and Sensation. Royal Caribbean is another one of the many well-known cruise lines in the world. They are famous for their international cruises. Just a few of their many cruise ships include Adventure of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, and Navigator of the Seas. With twenty-one cruise ships, you are sure to find what you are looking for with Royal Caribbean Researching each cruise line and cruise ships, individually, may take time. If you are pressed for time you can seek the assistance of a travel agent. Whichever method of research you select, research is important. It is the best way to find the perfect cruise ship for you and your family. PPPPP Word Count 743