Traveling With Safety in Mind
So, you and your family are going to realize the dream of a lifetime, and taking a cruise down the California and Baja coast to Acapulco, Mexico. A cruise or any dream trip should be fun. Experts have come up with some common sense tips on travel safety whether or not your chosen mode of travel is by air, train, sea and even by automobile. In this particular article cruise safety will be featured.
First of all take care of your valuables by not keeping them in your purse. The best place for them is in a neck pouch or a waist wallet. These valuables should include your passport, traveler’s checks, credit cards and cash—anything that might prove useful to a thief or shop lifter. The closer you have these items to your body and how well hidden they are will save a lot of grief for the happy traveler. Purses and handbags are still useful for things like lipstick and toiletries. It is suggested that the globetrotter carry only a small amount of cash. ATM’s are available in most large cities and urban centers in the world. Major credit cards are accepted almost everywhere except in some place like the middle of the Belgian Congo. When I was in Brisbane, Australia all I had to do to get more cash was walk down to a local convenience store and use my Debit Card at an ATM. Modern nations have pretty much the same amenities as the United States, Canada and Europe. This is an area that needs to be checked out prior to any trip overseas. I carry a little cash in one of my skirt pockets along with coins that can be used to purchase tokens for subways or tips.
Another very important thing every traveler should do is leave any medical and contact information in the security area where other valuables are stored. That list should include a list medication allergies and it should be written in more that one language depending on where you are going.
In the event of choosing cruise travel the best resource to check before leaving home is the Vessel Sanitation Program of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They inspect ships and make sure that they meet strict standards for cleanliness, food preparation and storage. They also demand that a ship be in good repair, and they check the water quality. This is one website that has a ton of good information that will help the traveler remain healthy while enjoying the world. Each ship and cruise line does receive a grade for compliance which should be duly noted.
If you have an on going medical condition, check out the facilities available before leaving port. Injuries and previous medical problems are the most common reasons for visits to the office of ship doctor. There are a lot of situations that occur on cruise ships that do not happen elsewhere. Climate changes are a factor, and changes in diet can present challenges for some passengers. There may be a higher stress level, especially if someone has never been at sea before. It is best to consult with a physician prior to departure, and investigate some of situations a new cruise buff might encounter. Also, check with your agent or the cruise line and see what special medical equipment is on board. Do they have proper treatment for someone who needs dialysis?
Here are a few other tips that might assist the individual planning a cruise
1. Be aware of what is happening around you. Avoid dark hallways, and don’t accept gifts or drinks from complete strangers. Keep the awareness antenna up and fully operational. Remember, that common sense is the best teacher when in a new foreign environment. If something doesn’t look right notify the Purser’s Office.
2. Utilize the ship safe. It is provided so that passengers can store very valuable items in it. Remember, a cruise ship is a floating hotel. Would you leave your diamond necklace in a hotel room? Probably not. The same precautions apply on a cruise ship.
3. Be careful what you eat. This is a good rule of thumb whether you are on a cruise or not. While water on board may be alright the water on shore leave may not be. Carry a bottle with you on jaunts away from the comfort of the cruise liner. If you have the luxury of traveling with someone who is more familiar with the country you are visiting use their knowledge. I have found that the natives know the best home remedies for things they have to deal with all the time. If the situation intensifies see the doctor.
4. If there is gambling on board it is a good policy to periodically cash in your winnings, and don’t get too jubilant if the winnings are large. It draws attention to yourself and makes you a target for cruise predators looking for easy prey.
5. All of the experts suggest that it is best not to just blindly trust the crew. Most of these folks work hard like everyone else, but as in any occupation there are those who will take advantage of someone who is unfamiliar with their new surroundings. TV cruise dramas paint a rosy picture. Fantasy is not always reality.
6. Cruise lines normally have their own tours, but if you choose to look around a port city or island alone bone up on negotiating skills, or find a more experienced shopper to do it for you—preferably someone you know has traveled in the area before.
7. Do report anything that looks suspicious. The crew normally will take it seriously and look into it.
All of this may seem ominous, but most of it is pretty practical. Bon Voyage!
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