The countdown is on for my family’s cruise vacation. The choice of itinerary decided by 6 adults who were of one mind was surprisingly easy. It was the land excursions that took a whole month to discuss and agree on. But once decided, the excitement among the cruisers is palpable. Watch out for my blogs on our ports of call.
Of course, embarking on a 7-day cruise creates a lot of anxiety, especially for those who are putting a lot of expectation for the trip. Some people cannot help but stress themselves out of a great vacation, but rest easy! Here are some easy-to-follow tips to consider –
First, “hire” a travel agent to take the load of planning and going through the details of the trip off your hands! Of course, you choose where you want to go, how long your vacation will be and any other basic items. The mere fact that you had given the responsibility of “checking off” your To-do List (like getting the perfect flight to coincide with your embarkation check-in…or getting your transfer from airport to hotel, etc.) to someone else should be half the burden unloaded!
Secondly, give in to the D-I-Y urge to do your own research! Oh yes! Take some time to sit down and surf the web – because in this day and age of TMI (too much information), you want to embrace the barrage of digital data waiting for someone to pluck it off the internet e.g. the Pre-Cruise Booklet that most cruise lines include with your booking summary. But, do get the answers from your travel agent too – sort of confirming what you’ve discovered from other sources.
Lastly, pat yourself on the back. You have picked the best itinerary for your purpose, your stateroom is chosen, your flight’s confirmed and the hotel room reserved. Time to sit back and absorb the fact that “all is well”!
It is a state of mind – sitting back and allowing yourself to enjoy the anticipation of a vacation that has been planned.