Beau Prichard (from USA Today.com) published a list of safety tips for beginners that are preparing for an upcoming cruise. In the wake of the overturned Costa Concordia, and the crap-covered Carnival Triumph it’s important to pay closer attention to emergency measures AND general safety precautions when getting ready for your “vacation aboard”. Remember these tips for smoother sailing on your next vacation!
Here are Beau’s 7 safety steps for cruising:
- “Pay close attention to your safety briefing” – We’ve reached a point when you can’t take anything for granted anymore. You are responsible for you (and your family)… Pay close attention!
- “Take care of your health” – Beau warns against using public restrooms, but if you wash your hands and practice good hygiene protocols this shouldn’t be a problem. We recommend that you try to get some exercise in during your cruise. At least an hour per day should keep you feeling more alert, help with your sleep, and allow you guilt-free indulging.
- “Wear appropriate shoes” – This one is obvious, but worth noting. Ladies don’t need to haul around 4 pairs of high-heals. Get comfortable, and find yourself a quality pair of sandals, and be sure to bring some tennis shoes (or some quality walking/running shoes).
- “Leave valuables at home” – Love this one… and frankly, it’s a good rule-of-thumb for any travel (abroad or otherwise). Unless you feel the need to show off (and it’s OK if you do) leave the jewels at home in the safe. Thieves and schemers love to prey on the naive and on the wealthy. When they spot both (in one person) they know they’ve hit the mother-load! IF you can afford to lose it, no big deal… but if you can’t, better safe than sorry. Just leave it at home.
- “Keep your money out of sight” – See above (same applies).
- “Do not travel alone” – There is safety in numbers. Enough said.
- “Drink in moderation” – This is a tough one, because some folks want to cut loose when on a cruise. Once you’ve reached the point where you can’t drink responsibly you’re at your limit, and it’s best to back off.
There are so many more to mention that we’ll be doing more of these lists in the future. (Here’s a preview… “Make sure you use that sunscreen!”) If you have tips you’d like to share, please do so in the comments below.
Happy cruising-
Tim
One of our co-founders travels a great deal for work. In any given week he can be on the East Coast, West Coast, north or south… Some weeks his schedule is plain hard to keep track of! One thing we get a kick-out-of are his stories of fellow passengers, and the things that frequent travelers deal with on a regular basis. We asked Chris to give us his top 10 list of things NOT to do while traveling by air. *Note- Some of these suggestions are from fellow passengers that Chris interacts with while he hops across the country… We hope you enjoy!
Kathe (Kate) Gehrke was my husband’s great grandmother. In 1923 she left Northern Germany and came to America by boat with her husband Franz and 3 year old daughter (Magdalene). Kate was only 23 at the time. Like so many before her (and so many after) they arrived at Ellis Island in search of a better life. At the time, inflation was rocking Germany following WWI. After boarding the Mount Carroll she would wave goodbye to her parents and a sister… Never to see them again. By the time Kate was able to return to Germany 50 years later, all had died.
A Computer School For Seniors
Vision, hearing and reaction times begin to slightly lag over the years and coming to grips with this may lead to fear that one day you won’t be able to drive anymore. So, rather than living in denial and waiting for this to inevitably happen, be proactive and take a senior-driver improvement course. Not only will this hone your skills as a older driver, it will also save you a lot of money on insurance rates, as it will prove that you have stayed on top of being a responsible driver.
