Muse Cruise

A cruise vacation is a great way to relax and unwind.  It is the perfect holiday; everything is taken care of from your rooms, to the entertainment and especially the food.  Cruises are famous for copious amount of food served onboard.  From plentiful buffets, four course meals, some even have chocolate buffets and even 24/7 pizza.  Almost all your meals and snacks are included in your ticket price.  A cruise ship is food heaven with abundance of food all within your reached this is why it makes it so easy for a cruise traveler to gain weight on a cruise vacation.  So how does one avoid gaining weight while on a cruise?  You just keep in mind the following rules in order to keep those unwanted pounds off.

Go to the gym.  Cruise ships have exercise rooms and spas that you could enjoy, try going to the cruise ships gym occasionally like every other day just to burn off all the excess calories you have been gaining on the trip.  Check with your cruise line though there are cruise lines that require you to pay extra.  If you do not want to pay extra, you could take brisk walks on the ship.  Most cruise ships have a walking area with breathtaking views of the ocean take advantage of that.  It is not every day that you get to exercise while enjoying such spectacular view.   When you are visiting one of the ports of call in your itinerary, go for long walks on the beach, swim in the ships swimming pool.  When you are onshore, snorkel, engage in physical activities that will not only help you keep your weight off but you will enjoy as well.  Cruise ships also have great fitness programs that you could try like yoga at the beach.

Go easy on the food.  Try not to eat the calorie rich foods offered by the cruise.  The buffet selection on a cruise ship is endless, it is so easy to get the high calorie foods, but the great thing about a vast selection of food is that it is also easy to find low calorie ones.  Go easy on the pasta, red meat and sweets.  Try the fruit and vegetable dishes on the menu instead.  Most cruise lines have amazing chefs under their wing you will definitely be enjoying great food served by talented these talented chefs.  You could try the different cuisines available but remember the key is to always keep everything in moderation.

Watch your alcohol intake. When on a cruise you have to keep your liquor consumption at a minimum.  The drinks are aplenty on a cruise ship and it is easy to forget how many drinks you have had already since you are having a great time.

When you are on a cruise do not take the elevator.  Try taking the stairs while onboard, we all know that walking is a good exercise; try taking the stairs more often while on the cruise ship.  You would definitely feel lighter and less guilty about eating all that food and all the lazy time spent lounging in the sun.
Try different kinds of recreational activities onboard. There are plenty of activities one could do instead of just dozing off and lounging at the ship you could try rock climbing; ice-skating, wave rider pools and bowling.  Better yet brush up on your dancing skills and just go crazy on the dance floor.

Packing for a river cruise should be stress free.  River cruises are a laid back relaxing vacation, which offers an up-close look at your chosen destination.  It is generally smaller than ocean cruise ships providing a more intimate experience.  Many travelers would pack a month’s work of clothes and non-essentials in their suitcases for a long weekend or a weeklong vacation.  Some travelers pack too lightly and would miss a lot of essential things like their medications.  Not having the necessary items in your luggage could spell disaster to your otherwise stress free river cruise vacation.

Here are a couple of essentials on how and what one should pack when on a river cruise.

Use the right packing technique. When you have all your essentials laid out and have decided what clothes to bring. Look at your stuff and think what items you really need to take and remove those you have doubts about using. Space is important on a river cruise, so leave those unnecessary items at home.  It is preferable if you just take one bag and a carryon for the essentials.  Limiting the number of bags would mean there are fewer loads for you to carry.  When packing your clothes use the rolling technique instead of just piling up all your clothes.  Rolling your clothing also prevents less wrinkling on your clothes. And don’t forget the following essentials.

First, your papers and travel documents.   Do not forget you passport, your cruise tickets, identification cards and travel and medical insurance documents.  Double check if the name on your passport matches exactly the name on your airline and cruise tickets. Put all of this in you carry on for easy access.

Second, your clothing and accessories.  You have to remember you are traveling on water and most river cruise lines have a sun deck, so it’s best to bring swimwear, shorts and comfortable clothing like light t shirts, sundresses and blouses.  You will be on the deck for most of the time while on a cruise to enjoy the scenery or when you stop on different ports of call so do not forget to pack sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat.  It can be quite cold in the evenings you might want to bring a jacket, sweater or a wrap.  Keep the clothing to a minimum you have to remember that on a river cruise space is a premium you just want to take the essential items with you.  Remember also to pack lightweight that is easy to layer so you could easily transition your wardrobe from day to night.

Also, pack comfortable shoes, preferably one that is not new.  You want to be able to enjoy your vacation to the fullest without worrying about blisters or tired feet due to wrong shoes.

Third, do not ever forget essentials like your prescription medication.  You should take extra medication in case of emergencies.  Remember you are going to be on the boat most of the time you will not have access to a pharmacy so make sure you do not forget them.

Fourth, Money. Do not be mislead by the term all inclusive tours and cruises there are many activities not covered by your ticket.  Make sure you have your credit card, atm and cash with you always.  If your itinerary includes ports of call to different countries make, sure you notify your credit card company or bank that that you are traveling outside the country and going to different cities so that your accounts are not flagged or frozen when foreign charges appear.

You have booked your cruise vacation and your tickets have arrived!

It is now time to pack.  Packing for a cruise vacation or any trip can be quite daunting.  It is important to remember that you have to bring everything you need like your medication, because you will not be going back home for the next few days. The following are essential items that you should take on a cruise, so make your list, and make sure you double-check it days before departure.

Personal documents - you have to make sure you have your important documents with you like your passport, airline tickets, valid identification cards, cruise documents like tickets and insurance.  Double-check your requirements before leaving home.

Medications - If you are taking any medications, it is important to stock up and remember to bring any prescription medication that you need.  You do not have access to a pharmacy on board you have to remember that when packing.  Failing to bring your medications could lead to a medical emergency.   It may be difficult to procure your medication when you are on a ship or when you are touring land destinations. We advice that you speak with your doctor in advance and be sure to inform them of where all you will be visiting.

Toiletry items - Do not forget your own personal toiletry items, like shampoo, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, comb, brush, makeup, deodorant, shaving cream and other items you might need.  You can buy them at the ship but buying them on board is expensive and you might not get the brand you want. Prepare all your toiletries and put them in one bag make sure to put the ones with liquid on a Ziploc to avoid spillage and make sure you bring extras baggies.

Camera - Remember you’re on vacation, you do not want to miss out on those exciting memories that you want to remember forever.  Do not forget to pack your camera charger and extra batteries as you will definitely want to capture those fun moments especially when you are traveling with kids.

Sunscreen -When you are on a cruise, you typically spend most of your time outdoors.  You are going to be spending a lot of time in the sun, whether on deck hanging by the pool or at the beach while at port.  Also, bring more than what you think you will need some people make a mistake of putting on sunscreen just once and that could spell major sunburn disaster.  In addition to that, bring sunglasses, hats and cover-ups the sun can be particularly harsh especially if you are heading out into the tropics.

Formal Wear - Formal wear is an essential wardrobe item you do not want to forget, most cruise ships have at least one formal dinner night.  For men you may need to bring a tuxedo or suit, for women a formal gown or a cocktail dress.

Swimsuits and other accessories - Most cruise liner has a swimming pool or two on board,  and they usually have shops with one piece swimsuits for women and trunks for men, but it’s always best to pack your own as typically they are quite expensive and not all that fashionable. If your ports of call have great beaches do pack swim gear for snorkeling and your flip flops!

Wardrobes for all occasions - Check with your travel agent or the cruise liner regarding the ships itinerary.  You want to look your best and be comfortable.  Shorts and comfortable tops for hanging around the deck or going on shore, formal wear for those formal nights and do not forget to bring a jacket or a sweater because while it may be warm during the day, many times it will be a bit chilly in the evenings.