tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11436144155704676352024-02-08T02:50:58.107-08:00Andy's BlogHi I'm Andy Steinhauser, and I like to travel, play, stay fit, eat right, live well, and have fun. I just write about what I like, hopefully you'll find my blogs interesting and informative. Andy Steinhauserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00945132989915993477noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1143614415570467635.post-70324623711939583992013-01-30T01:50:00.003-08:002013-01-30T01:50:30.804-08:00Anyone for a Dressing Drink?
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What’s a Dressing Drink you might ask? Well I bet you’ve
already had one or two. Quite simply it’s just a cocktail while your getting
ready for a big night out, but if you want to be a classy gentleman or lady, it's all about the right words and presentation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How many times have you poured a drink or cracked a beer
while you were getting ready to go out? Probably a lot, but slugging a PBR or taking
a pull from a box of Franzia doesn’t do a lot to tell your friends or
significant other that you’ve got it together. With just a tiny bit of effort
in selection and presentation, you’ll be the suave GQ Gentleman or Classy Cosmo
Gal you’ve always wanted to be, at least when your friends are coming over for
a drink before you go out. After that it’s up to you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So here are some suggestions for the next time your getting
ready for a big night out. Since this is only a drink or two it’s the perfect
time to shake it up and try something new. I recommend you change it up based
on the time of year so I’ve broken it down by season, and provided some links. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Winter Time:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Swing down to the liquor store and drop a few dollars on
some quality Whiskey or Scotch and pour one neat or on the rocks with a splash
of water. I like Crown Royal Special Reserve or XR also if your worried about not having a mixer they also offer some new honey blends now that are a little sweeter and
may be better for your non-whiskey loving friends. <a href="http://www.crownroyal.com/">http://www.crownroyal.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spring Time:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Try some good chilled white wine. I’m not a huge white wine
drinker but I love Conundrum, if you’ve never tried it, this one may actually
make you like White Wine. Also white wine is great for avoiding stains while partying while getting ready. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.conundrumwine.com/">http://www.conundrumwine.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Summer Time:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love Sweet Tea Vodka in the summer and the best is Firefly
Sweet Tea Vodka, the best and easiest drink to make: equal parts vodka & water and add a squeeze of lemon. It tastes just like
iced tea, perfect for a hot summer day and getting ready before you head out, or even good in the day time, no judgments. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://fireflyvodka.com/">http://fireflyvodka.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fall:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I always love a craft beer in the fall, try a local, beer
preferably and if you haven’t tried Pumpkin Ale, there is no better time. Craft
Beers can be heavy so this is a great time to try just one beer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/72">http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/72</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Great for all times:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Top Shelf Vodka on the rocks with a Lime<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Red Wine, but be careful not to spill, a great red blend is
a Meritage, good for a larger group with lot’s of preferences. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also if you’re a group of girls doing your thang, you can
try one of those cupcake or many other flavored vodkas: Gentlemen, however sorry it may be delicious but it's not acceptable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The bottom line is tailor the cocktail to the occasion and
start by inviting everyone over for a "dressing drink". <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As always, You Stay Classy San Diego,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Till next time,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Andy</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Andy Steinhauserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00945132989915993477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1143614415570467635.post-50036588850081252312012-10-03T04:12:00.001-07:002012-10-03T04:12:57.122-07:00The Future of Travel is Already Here
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Technology is everywhere and it's impacting every aspect of our lives. Some would argue for good and bad, however regardless of your opinion on all that, it's here, and it's here to stay. Why not make the most of what's available to you? Well I'm not an expert on much but I am an expert on traveling and I've managed to stay with the times in this department and guess what now it's easier than ever to plan travel, and execute your next adventure. Welcome to traveling in 2012/13. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Getting There:<o:p></o:p></div>
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Be sure find the best-priced flight. I like Kayak for
getting a good idea on flight prices. <a href="http://www.kayak.com/">http://www.kayak.com/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Then I usually book it on the company website. However Jet
Blue and Southwest are not on Kayak, and often have great domestic rates, so double-check
those first. Also when traveling internationally I also usually look on
cheapOair. It seems a little sketchy, but I have found great prices there
before. <a href="http://www.cheapoair.com/">http://www.cheapoair.com/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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My main message is to shop around and find the best rates. If
you’re flexible and willing to travel in off peak seasons you can find
unbelievable deals. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Where to stay? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All adventurous travelers should check out this website: <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/">https://www.airbnb.com/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Airbnb, which also has a great travel app, has all different
styles of accommodations everything from tree houses to mansions, guest bedrooms to couches;
there is something for every price point. Note, you need to set up a profile
first so do this before you leave home. Also don’t’ be afraid to only book your
first two nights of accommodation. Unless your going to a specific event, you can find
some of the best deals and places while actually out there on the road. Try it
you won’t regret it. Speaking of booking last minute, I highly recommend you
download the hotel tonight app. <a href="http://www.hoteltonight.com/">http://www.hoteltonight.com/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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This handy I phone and now I pad app has great last minute
deals on really cool and swanky hotels. You can find excellent deals on amazing
places, but you have to wait until Noon on the actual day, so if you like adventure
this is for you. Check it out.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How to make your life easier while on the road:<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Number one App you must have before you travel is Viber.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This little gem was introduced to me by a friend from
Australia and basically turns your phone into an international phone for free.
It’s super easy, and it’s FREE! This is a must. When you’re in the US and you’re
on your cellular carrier it works with your normal data usage, and when you’re
on Wi-Fi it’s totally free! It also automatically imports all your contacts that have Viber direct from your phone. So make sure your family has it too. Also, once your out on your adventures you
can make friends from all over the world and they can give you their
international number and you can text and call while out on the road whenever
you have Wi-Fi. This is huge and a major game changer! Check out their website: <a href="http://www.viber.com/products/iphone/">http://www.viber.com/products/iphone/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Now go download that app! Did I mention it’s FREE!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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My final and perhaps best advice is to
use your social networks for what they should be used for, helping you out.
Instead of taking an instagram pic of your grilled cheese, ask your Facebook
friends and twitter followers for travel tips. You will be shocked at all the
great info that will come flooding in. Websites, restaurant recommendations and adventure tips,
possibly even invitations to stay at your friends houses or chateaus you
didn’t’ even know they have. Also each
country you plan on visiting usually has a travel app, they can be very helpful,
so look that up before you go. But remember you may run out of power so a real
traveler always has their favorite guidebook in their backpack for when your
not plugged in. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Have a great trip and don’t’ be afraid to try something
different this year.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Safe Travels,</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Andy<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Readers did I leave anything off, any advice you want to share with your fellow travelers that will help each other out?</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Andy Steinhauserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00945132989915993477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1143614415570467635.post-45163870768351927342012-08-20T03:42:00.000-07:002012-08-20T03:42:24.977-07:00How to enjoy Absinth
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Absinth can be very intimidating but It’s actually pretty good if you drink it correctly.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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The other night I was out with my buddy Graham and went to
an awesome new gastro pub, in Hollywood called the Pikey. I looked on the bar
and saw they had the cold drip faucet that places that serve real absinth have
so I immediately ordered two. Much to my surprise Graham had never tried
Absinth, that’s when I realized I should do a public service and in my next
blog teach all those that don’t know how the proper way to enjoy to Absinth and
also debunk a few myths about the “Green Fairy”. <o:p></o:p></div>
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First a little back-story: The first time I tried Absinth I
was 22 and in Prague, my very American friends and me went to some back alley
bar with the mission of seeing the green fairy. So we asked the bartender for
some shots of Absinth, because that’s how you drink it right? Wrong, let’s just
say none of us saw the green fairy and the bartender got a huge laugh when I
ran out the front door and projectile vomited in the alley. So there you go,
learn from my mistakes and avoid being the world’s worst tourist. Learn how to
drink this classic cocktail right and you’ll enjoy it for years to come. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Absinth used to be illegal in the US until very recently, so
there are still a lot of myths about it. First of all it’s not the same recipe
that you’ve read about or seen in movies and your not going to start
hallucinating after drinking it. What is
available now is just a licorice hinted interesting and in my opinion tasty
drink. Be aware it’s still a very potent liquor and you should always drink
responsibly. So here is the responsible way to drink and enjoy Absinth.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Lesson 1: Don’t shoot it!! This is not Jager, Tequila, or a
lemon drop, it’s designed to be savored, slowly, not in shooter form, remember
my first story, you may have similar reaction if you try to down it in one gulp.
The most important thing to remember is Absinth is a fun cocktail that should
be savored, and sipped.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Lesson 2: Don’t light the shot on fire; I myself have been
victim of this myth gone wrong. But there is fire involved, read on to find out
when and how to do it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Lesson 3: The basic recipe. <o:p></o:p></div>
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First pour a shot/drink of high quality Absinth in a highball
glass. Second take a sugar cube, (you should use a special holder, but a spoon
will work if your attempting this at home) and dip it in the Absinth. Third,
light dipped sugar cube on fire let it burn for a few seconds. Fourth, slowly
drip ice cold water over the lit sugar cube and let it drop into the Absinth
slowly, turning the bright green liquor into a cloudy almost grey green
cocktail. (*there is a special drip faucet you can and should use, but if
attempting at home and on the cheap, just slowly pouring ice cold water over
the lit slightly melted sugar cube will do) Fifth, drink slowly and enjoy. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So there you have it, your Absinth myths debunked. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Drink up!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Andy<o:p></o:p></div>
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Readers, this has got me dying to hear if you’ve had any
hilarious tales with Absinth done the wrong way. The first story is just one of
my many Absinth fails. Share if you dare, but do your best to keep it kinda
clean. – Thanks!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Also let me know if my recipe was helpful or if you’ve
gotten to go out and try it and what you thought. <o:p></o:p></div>
Andy Steinhauserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00945132989915993477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1143614415570467635.post-79313506775485960502012-07-10T01:39:00.001-07:002012-07-10T10:07:58.939-07:007 ways to avoid gaining 7 pounds on a Cruise<br />
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It’s the oldest joke in the cruise comedy playbook. “Did you
know that the average passenger gains 7 pounds on a week long cruise, 1 pound a
day, yeah you come on as guests you leave as Cargo” …… insert fake laugh. Side
note, if you hear a Cruise Director or Comic use that joke, please boo them as
that has been used zillions of times for over 20 years and you know what, it’s
not even funny!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Seriously though, the temptations to gorge your self on
tasty treats while cruising are endless and sadly many do gain a few pounds
when taking a cruise. This has given the industry a bit of a bad rap when it
comes to health and fitness. Cruise Lines are working hard to change that image
but regardless of your opinion on the topic, it’s not that difficult to stay fit
on a cruise and with the right motivation even actually lose weight. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Ever since I’ve moved to California I have been surrounded
by health and fitness, I’ve always been into it but I’ve been more interested
than ever lately and have even picked up some new knowledge recently. So in this blog I wanted to combine some of my
new practices with what I know about cruising. Nothing groundbreaking here,
just good clean, easy fitness advice. Eat right, drink smart and try to workout
5 times on a 7-day cruise. It’s much easier than you think.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So here they are my 7
ways to avoid gaining 7 pounds on a weeklong cruise.<o:p></o:p></div>
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1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span>Eat a healthy breakfast – It’s common knowledge
that eating breakfast every day, boosts your metabolism and is key to losing
weight, but where many falter on a cruise is at the breakfast buffet. I myself
have been guilty of reaching for the chocolate croissant, pancake, biscuit and
gravy, bacon, extra cheese; it’s all right there and you’d never eat this stuff
at home, so why not indulge? Well you should indulge, but do it the smart way
by ordering Room Service! Every ship has free room service breakfast, you
usually only have to fill out the card and put it on your door. This will
greatly help your portion control and keep you from reaching for that chocolate
croissant. I recommend that you eat room service or in the main dining room for
breakfast every day. Switch it up and do what works for you, but this is the
best way to eat smart portions and it makes it much easier to choose healthy
options. Also always order the fruit plate. If you start your day right and
your already halfway there. So Main
Dining room and Room service for breakfast, healthy options 5 of 7 days,
indulge twice, go ahead and have 1 chocolate croissant, remember 1 not 3.<o:p></o:p></div>
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2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span>Beach or Destination Workout – If you’re on a
Caribbean or beach cruise, this is an easy workout that will save you time,
money and will make you feel incredible in your swimwear. Try my easy beach
workout, and do it right when you get there so you can relax the rest of the
time. Start with a light stretch and then a 20-minute walk or preferably run or
jog, do whatever you can handle, but this is not your typical beach stroll I
want you to shake it up. Walk or run 10 minutes to one side of the beach,
whenever 10 minutes is up, stop and do, 10 pushups, 10 squats, and 10 jumping
jacks, then run/walk back the other way 10 minutes and repeat, the pushups,
squats, and jumping jacks at the other end. Then take 10 minutes and swim in
the ocean, do whatever your body can handle. I always travel with my goggles
this way a cheap and easy workout is always available, but even if you don’t’
have your goggles, swim 5 minutes out and 5 minutes back. Even just tread water
or doggie paddle if you have to, but 10 minutes in the water is sure to get the
blood flowing. There, you’ve just done a simple easy yet very effective workout
that cost you nothing, and now you have the whole day to enjoy all while on a
workout high. If your going to Alaska just ask the crew where the best hiking
trail is and there you go, a most memorable day and oh, by the way a great
workout. If you’re in Europe, just try to take an active tour that has a lot of
walking. <o:p></o:p></div>
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3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span>Skip the Calorie Bombs – What’s a Calorie Bomb?
Those god awful high fructose, high calorie drinks everyone is sucking down and
wondering why they’re not losing weight. You know what they are: Pina Colada’s,
Strawberry Daiquiri’s, Coco Loco’s, Frappuccino’s, Mocha blah, blah. All these
drinks are terrible for you and full of sugar. No one can process that much
sugar and not gain weight. These are what the pros call empty calories; but
Andy I want to drink on my cruise what can I do? Drink like they do in Los
Angeles and sub the Calorie Bombs for one of these guilt free cocktails: Try a
Vodka and Soda with a splash of Cranberry Juice, or Tequila, Lime, splash of
OJ, Splash of Soda water aka the “Skinny Margarita”, or a Bacardi Silver and
Diet Coke, even Miller 64 beer. Personally I just drink good quality Vodka on the
rocks with a lime, when it’s high quality stuff you can drink it on the rocks
and it has so few calories and gives you much less of a hangover. The “healthy
drinks” list get’s longer every day. Indulge just be smart about it. There are
ton’s of lower calorie cocktails, just ask the bartenders or the fitness
instructor’s, if none of the listed drinks appeal to you. <o:p></o:p></div>
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4.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span>Try a fitness class – Running on a Treadmill, so
1985, come on there’s millions of fun and usually free fitness classes on every
ship now. Try some Yoga, Pilates, Spin, TRX, or even Boot Camp. Even just once
on a 7 day cruise will count to your goal of 5 workouts and when your doing
something new time flies and you don’t’ even realize your working out. Who
knows you may just find something you love in the process. <o:p></o:p></div>
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5.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span>Take the Stairs – My Mom takes the stairs on
every cruise, every time, never takes the elevator. I think she’s crazy, but
she doesn’t gain weight on a cruise and really only does that and walk. But, if
you’re a normal person and the idea of schlepping up and down those stairs
every time for 7 days seems like way too much, try my easy stair/elevator
policy. 3 up and 4 down: Every time your only going up 3 decks or less and
every time your going down 4 decks or less you have to take the stairs. Otherwise
you can ride the elevator. This is so easy to do, will actually save you time
maneuvering around the ship and you’ll be slipping in mini workouts and burning
calories all day and night. Another bonus is you won’t be the jerk who is only
going up one floor on the elevator!<o:p></o:p></div>
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6.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span>Fun Fitness – Really all fitness should be fun,
but it’s easy to find a fun workout on a ship. Dance Classes abound and as long
as they are 30 minutes or longer of high power cardio that can count as 1 of
your 5 required workouts. If the idea of attending a dance class makes you want
to jump overboard try this fun workout that will also get you to know the ship
better. Take the stairs down to the bottom deck, walk all the way to the top
deck, then walk to the jogging track, wherever it is, jog or walk one mile on
the track. Then walk to the fitness center, no elevator. Jump on the Elliptical
machine for 10 minutes, go at a fun pace, but try to push yourself a little.
When that is complete walk to the Rock Climbing Wall and climb at least one
time, preferably twice. If your ship does not have a Rock Climbing Wall, when
done with the elliptical go do 15 pushups, 15 squats, and try to do 5 pull-ups.
This kind of workout will be over before you know it and you won’t even feel like
your working out. You’ll be moving all over the ship and by the time you’re
done you’ve just had an amazing workout. <o:p></o:p></div>
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7.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span>Vegetarian for a day – Many fitness experts
recommend you have one day a week that is meat free. I love meat but I have
been trying this policy lately and finding it actually really enjoyable and
surprisingly easy to do. I feel light and fit at the end of the day and have
been keeping the weight and cholesterol levels down. Cruise Ships have lots of
veggie options now and I really think you’ll find this a very easy thing to do.
One warning; just because your skipping the meat for a day doesn’t mean you
need to eat 6 bagels and a block of cheese. Dairy and carbs are fine, but you’re
really your looking to eat more whole grains and mainly pile on the vegetables.
Only one day, I promise it’s easy and you may surprise yourself and find you
like it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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There you have it, 7 easy ways to stay fit and avoid
becoming a cruise ship cliché. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Till next time,<o:p></o:p></div>
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Keep it on Cruise Control.<o:p></o:p></div>
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-Andy Steinhauser<o:p></o:p></div>
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*Readers let’s keep the conversation going, do you have any
great cruise fit tips you’d like to share?<o:p></o:p></div>Andy Steinhauserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00945132989915993477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1143614415570467635.post-13372809102106976142012-07-02T12:07:00.001-07:002012-07-02T12:24:59.107-07:00Nothing But a Good Time ...<br />
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If you saw my last webisode, “All About the Breakaway” I was
busy fawning over the most recent announcements from Norwegian Cruise Lines and
reminding everyone that the next big one comes very soon, well just last Thursday
we finally got to learn about the entertainment. If you haven’t seen the
webisode, take 2 minutes to watch it and get caught up. The big question is after
the massive success of the Entertainment onboard the Norwegian Epic, how could
Norwegian top it? By bringing not one, not two, but 3 Broadway caliber shows to
the Breakaway. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I have to say, I’m pretty impressed, and I’ve seen it all
when it comes to cruise ship entertainment. It’s usually always good, you can
rely on talented singers and dancers, enjoyable concepts, for the most part,
and all in bite size portions that are designed to get guests back out and
having fun around the ship. Well the Breakaway is going all out and practically
making the entertainment the reason to cruise, not just an enjoyable afterthought.
The Breakaway will take cruise ship entertainment to a whole new level, read on
as I break it down and weigh in:<o:p></o:p></div>
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If your totally unfamiliar with the subject matter, follow this link and get caught up on the Breakaway press releases then read on to see my thoughts on the matter:<br />
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http://breakaway.ncl.com/latest/press-releases/<br />
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Rock of Ages – This is by far the biggest get for Norwegian
since the Blue Man Group. If you haven’t seen it, Rock of Ages is awesome. I
haven’t seen the movie and it’s not getting the best reviews, but I have seen
the play and I loved it. It’s got classic 80’s songs, amazing talent, hilarious
jokes, a great story and all around it’s a huge party. This is not your typical
Broadway show; it’s more like a rock concert. The big question is will it work
on a cruise ship? I think it will. The show is a two act show and it will have
to become a “Vegas Version” which means it has to be under 90 minutes and there
will have to be some content altered to cater to the youngsters in the crowd,
the original show is a strong PG-13, but I can see it being easily adapted
without watering it down too much. I do feel it will be a big hit and become
the lines highest rated show. It’s very current and I think it will have a very
broad appeal. I’m also excited to see how they cast the show and the talent
that will get on-board. I expect it will be done right and delivered properly.
Norwegian is really good about their casting, and they pay their talent well, so
I suspect it will be impressive.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Burn the Floor – In my opinion this is a great second show.
Logistically it makes a lot of sense, since there is very little set and the
performers can also do spotlight shows in the Manhattan Room dining venue very
easily. Ballroom Dancing is only getting hotter and doesn’t seem to be slowing
down. I think this will be a big hit as well, and even the non-ballroom fans
will enjoy the show. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Cirque Dreams and Dinner – Jungle Fantasy – I have to say
I’m a little disappointed Cirque Dreams, the company who creates the shows on
Epic and Breakaway, isn’t developing an entirely original show for the
Breakaway, however the performers they get to work in these shows are so
unbelievable, it doesn’t really matter what the “concept” is, it’s still going
to blow everyone away. Cirque Dreams and Dinner on the Epic is currently the
cruise lines highest rated show, and it’s the only show you have to pay to see.
That says a lot about the talent of the performers, it will be impressive. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The Second City – I personally love the Second City, it’s
always hilarious to me. With that said, I often found that many guests didn’t’
feel the same way. I would receive a lot of mixed reviews. However, there is no
denying that The Second City has the talent and if they make all new original
content, not recycle the same show, which is what has unfortunately been done
over the years on many ships on Norwegian, they have the chance to really
deliver. The humor is sharp and can be very current, funny and enjoyable. I’ll
be watching closely and waiting to hear, but I’m putting my friends at The
Second City and Norwegian on Alert, and warning them, that they must create all
new shows this time or the guests will revolt and there will be empty seats to
fill in the Headliners club. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Howl and The Moon – Definitely a great idea to bring the Dueling
Pianos concept back from the Epic. Howl at the Moon is hilarious, tons of fun
and a big party, perfect for a night out on the town or ship; this will be a
big hit again. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Slam Allen Blues Band – A natural, I know Slam very well and
he is one of the nicest and most talented performers I know. He truly gives it
his all every night and the guests know it. He has ardent fans and they will
follow him to the Breakaway, and if you haven’t experienced it, make a point to
reserve at least one night of your cruise to visit Slam and the Band, and with
a Broadway show like Rock of Ages, in residence, you never know who will be
rocking out in the Fat Cats, this place will be jumping on the Breakaway.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Well there’s my two cents regarding the Breakaway
entertainment. Last I saw Norwegian CEO Kevin Sheehan, he promised me they were
going to do everything right on the Breakaway and so far he and his team are
living up to the promise. The Breakaway is shaping up to be a real game
changer. I can’t wait to see what get’s announced next, till then look for a
good deal and book, because this ship is going to rock, literally!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Till next time,<o:p></o:p></div>
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Keep it on Cruise Control.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Andy Steinhauser<o:p></o:p></div>
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Readers what do you think about the Breakaway announcements,
are you excited or disappointed? Let me know <o:p></o:p></div>Andy Steinhauserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00945132989915993477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1143614415570467635.post-91104637529255649842012-06-25T12:34:00.000-07:002012-06-25T16:00:03.823-07:00Your Hired!<br />
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More than any other question I’ve been getting from readers
and visitors to my website, is about working on a ship and where to find a job
on a cruise ship. Well I’ve got lots of information in that department and it’s
way too much for one blog. So what I’ve decided to do over the next few weeks
begin discussing various careers at sea and I’ll provide the direct links on
where you can apply. Wether it be for yourself, a recent grad you may know, a
friend who needs a fresh start, or your man-child who you need to get out of
the basement, working on a cruise ship is an amazing experience that can be incredibly
beneficial to many different aspects of you or your loved ones life. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Today I’ll start by talking about a job that many don’t’
even realize exists at sea, Retail. That’s right every cruise ship has gift
shops onboard that sell everything from “Toothpaste to Tanzanite”: Jewelry,
T-Shirts, Alcohol, Tobacco, Candy, souvenirs you name it, it’s there and 99% of
the time it’s all at tax and duty free prices. Gift shops at sea are big
business and an important aspect to a cruise lines overall bottom line so these
jobs aren’t going anywhere. In fact due to the staggering amount of new cruise
ships being launched and considering with each new ship cruise lines only
expand the onboard shopping experience retail crewmembers are more in demand
than ever before. Read on for what you
should know before you apply or if you’re just interested in learning more
about how cruise ships really work. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Working Retail at sea is not like on land. Even though they
are the size of some malls the stores are called usually the gift shops and
because of this there is a popular slang title for gift shop attendants, don’t’
mention this if you have an interview but from here forward I will use the
slang; we call those that work in the gift shops “Shoppies”. Shoppies
traditionally come from all over the world, Europe, India, South America, Canada,
yet there are few Americans. This is most likely due to the fact that as an
American working at sea you are taxed Federal Tax and therefore automatically
make less money so that makes it less desirable for American’s. Also working
retail at sea is much more difficult than land and you may disagree but
American’s don’t have the best global reputation for work ethic. On land typically
you show up to your retail job, fold some clothes, sell some stuff, cash out
your drawer, maybe tidy up and then just go home and forget your day even
happened. Well being a shoppie is more a way of life than a part time job.
First of all, it’s only the Shoppies who work together to make the entire
operation happen; they stock all the shelves, load and unload all the
merchandise, and entirely manage the inventory. Its much more complex and labor
intensive than showing up to the Gap and having a Sabarro on your lunch break.
Shoppies often work 10-hour days, and they don’t make an hourly wage, overtime
or get tips. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Okay, so I’ve sacred you a little, but it’s not slave labor.
When you work on a cruise ship in general your pay check will be much less than
on land, however you have to consider that you have basically zero living expenses
and your opportunity to save money is much greater than on land. Also as a
shoppie due to the port laws, you are off nearly every port of call. The gift
shops close upon arrival and re-open when you leave port, so you have a great opportunity
to explore the ports of call, actually better than most jobs at sea. However be
aware on inventory loading day, usually the homeport, say Miami for instance,
you will be working, arguably harder than most. This practice is commonly
called “stores”. However, no job at sea is without its give and take and every
job has it’s own “stores”. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What I also like about the shoppie position is that it’s a
great way to start, get a leg up in your career, try something new, meet new
people and there are great opportunities for career growth if you have the
right attitude and work ethic. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The kind of experience you would need to be considered for a
“shoppie” position would be retail experience obviously, and luckily for most
that’s easy experience to obtain. Also foreign languages are a huge plus, so
stay in that Spanish Class and get fluent. Additional skills and specialties
that are coveted by employers are: high end jewelry sales experience, make-up
and perfume specialist, university degrees, inventory experience, excellent
health and the ability to lift 50 pounds, liquor and tobacco product knowledge,
work ethic, positive attitude and most importantly customer service skills. Remember
your there to serve the guests with a smile, every day, no matter what is
happening with your personal life, a certain level of toughness is needed for
anyone that wants to work on a cruise ship, it’s not for the weak and lazy. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Interesting to know, most all cruise lines actually contract
out the gift shop operation to a third party, which means you would not be
hired by the cruise line directly, however upon employment and assignment you
are governed and held to all cruise line specific rules and regulations. There
are actually three companies that I know of that have various contracts with
the cruise lines. They are: Dufry worldwide, you may recognize that name from
the duty free shops in the airport, same company. They also have land-based
jobs in the Caribbean and around the world. Harding Brother’s Retail, a British
Based company that has a few ships and cruise lines. Yet by far the largest company
with the most retail jobs at sea is a company called Starboard Cruise Services,
they have the most contracts with the cruise lines and hopefully for you lot’s
of open positions. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So after carefully reading all this if you’re interested or
have someone that you think might be a great candidate, get your resume
together focus on highlighting the skills I’ve mentioned and follow the links
below to apply directly to all the major players. Remember Starboard has the
most positions, however I recommend applying to all three. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you’re not interested in being a “shoppie” stay tuned
because there are many more positions I’ll be opening the door to in the near
future. Attention: Dancer’s, Singers’, Musicians, Child Care workers,
Entertainer’s, Hairstylists, Massage Therapists, Waiters, Chef’s, Bartenders,
your information is coming soon!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Good luck with all that you dare to dream and till next
time…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Keep it on Cruise Control,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Andy Steinhauser<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Links:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Starboard Cruise Services:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.starboardcruise.com/shipboard-opportunities.php">http://www.starboardcruise.com/shipboard-opportunities.php</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Starboard Cruise Services<br />
8052 N.W. 14th Street<br />
Miami, FL 33126<br />
Attention: Human Resources<br />
Tel: (786) 845-7536 / Fax: (305) 715-9789<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Harding Brothers:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://hardingretail.co.uk/vacancies.aspx">http://hardingretail.co.uk/vacancies.aspx</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dufry Worldwide (not as many positions open)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://careers.dufry.com/Search.aspx">http://careers.dufry.com/Search.aspx</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>Andy Steinhauserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00945132989915993477noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1143614415570467635.post-30027027733572836502012-06-19T15:53:00.003-07:002012-06-19T15:53:42.471-07:00Top 10 things to do for an Adventurous/Active Cruiser:<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<o:p> </o:p><b style="background-color: white;">1. Edgy Shore Excursion </b><span style="background-color: white;">– Nearly ever cruise has at least one wild
excursion, so try zip lining, swimming with the dolphins, parasailing, wave
runner tour, get active.</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>2. Be Part of the Show</b> – There are most likely game shows, audience
participation segments of shows in the theater or at least karaoke every night
on nearly every cruise ship, go on, be part of the action.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>3. Get Sporty</b> – Climb the rock wall, participate in the sports
tournament, ride the waterslide, take that dance class go for it!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>4. Late night make out under the stars</b> – head to the outer deck to sneak
away for a magical kiss under the stars, have your moment you deserve it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>5 .Be an adventurous eater</b> – Weather in the port of call or
on-board, try something you’ve never eaten before.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>6. Learn to Play Craps</b> – You’ve always wanted to, here’s your
chance. Cruise ships have some of the only casino’s anywhere in the world where
the dealers will teach you how to play the games, check when the lessons are
offered or go when it’s not crowded and they will teach you. Craps is much
easier than it looks, and then at night you can finally join the screaming loud
table in the casino. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>7. Hit the Dance Floor</b> – Here’s a tip if you’re a bad dancer. On a
cruise most likely you’ll never see these people again, so go ahead make a fool
of yourself. I’m sure there’s a dancing opportunity every night on any ship you
go on. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>8. Learn a new skill </b>– On nearly every ship there will be an
interesting class of some sort, well go attend. Now a days flower arranging,
cooking classes, foreign language lessons, dance classes, scrapbooking and more
are regular offerings. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>9. Day Life</b> – Why should nightlife have all the fun? Cruise Ship
pool decks are usually rocking all day long, so join in the fun and have an
afternoon pool party; you’ll have no problem finding fellow revelers. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>10. Late Night Hot Tub Party</b> – Why do you think it’s featured on
every reality show, it’s fun. Try the hot tub one evening with your new friends,
have a drink and relax under the stars, it’s a great way to wrap up a fun trip.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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All right cruisers, let me know
about your recent adventures, have you completed the top 10, is there anything
I left off the list?<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Andy Steinhauserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00945132989915993477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1143614415570467635.post-57130969623457048992012-06-10T13:59:00.001-07:002012-06-10T13:59:39.434-07:00Let's Get This Party Started!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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I always get the question, “what is the best party cruise?”
To which I reply, “It depends on what you’re looking for”. I’ll do my best to
give you some advice and perhaps point you in the right direction if you’re
looking for a good time on the high seas. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Party Cruising 101<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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It’s no denying that drinking and partying are part of every
cruise. If you want that type of experience, it’s entirely up to you, and from
my years of experience on the high seas, many of you do. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I’ve worked on all types of cruises, some party-oriented,
some not so much, but rest assured, no matter what cruise ship you are on,
party people will find other party people whether they are in the nightclub,
piano bar, casino they always seem to gravitate towards each other. However, some
ships and itineraries stand out above the rest. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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First off, any short cruise (5 days or less) is always a
better party. The motto “we’re here for a good time not a long time” seems to
always hold out. If you’re looking for a guaranteed party, stick with a short
cruise. Also there are certain times of year the party is better than others, I
call it “Party Season”. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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In general “Party Season” includes:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Holiday weeks - Halloween, Thanksgiving,
Christmas & New Years (my personal favorite).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Spring Break, (late February through early
April).<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Summer Peak Season (late May through August).<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The above-mentioned cruises find a bigger cross section of
guests and more mixed generations of families, so if you’re looking to please
the whole family and you have young adults who you know want to party, choose a
“Party Season” cruise.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now let’s get more specific.
Music-themed and specialty cruises are the biggest parties, as they have
very few, to zero kids or people acting like “mature” adults. Check out <a href="http://www.sixthman.net/">http://www.sixthman.net/</a> to find which
theme suits you best. I’ll cover the topic of music and themed cruises in a
later blog, but know that they are the best for an oceanic party, mostly
because they gather so many people with common interests and those interests
are usually music, partying and travelling, yeah they are pretty cool. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In my opinion the Norwegian Epic consistently offers the
best overall party at sea, it’s always a good time. However, the ship is in Europe
for the summer, so that may be out of budget or interest for some. <o:p></o:p></div>
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If you’re on a tight budget, a weekend cruise is your best
option for a good time and a quick getaway, my favorite short cruises are:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Norwegian Sky – Year-round Freestyle cruising out
of Miami, it has six restaurants and a bustling nightclub and pool scene. It’s
hopping every weekend. Your best bet for
a great party any weekend. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Majesty of the Seas – Royal Caribbean’s resident
party ship, year round also out of Miami. This ship is getting a little “long
in the tooth” but it’s still a good time and you’re sure to a have a great
party pretty much every weekend.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Explorer of the Seas (Seasonal) – out of Bayonne
NJ operates 5 night cruises to Bermuda and that may be a great option for Northeasterners.
The ship is beautiful, huge and I absolutely love Bermuda! You have an
overnight stop and there are tons of things to do both onboard and ashore. The
ships get together and offer a dockside festival and there are bars on the
pier, but if you can afford it a ferry or cab ride to the main city of Hamilton
is well worth it. Hamilton has tons of great bars and clubs that kick till
pretty late in the evening they are pricey but so much fun.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Some of you may be wondering, “Where are the Carnival
Ships?” Carnival is in a category of its
own when it comes to partying so here’s my take on the worlds largest cruise
line: Carnival actively recruits the party crowd. Their whole premise is very
simple … FUN! It’s the most successful cruise ship marketing campaign ever and
still holds up after all these years. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The majority of the Carnival ships are geared for partying
full time, so you can count on the fun ships to deliver on their promise.
However be advised some of their hardware is a little dated, and just like any
great retailer who keeps costs low, understand that lower prices sometimes come
with some give and take. You shouldn’t have the same expectations for a cruise
that is much less expensive. You wouldn’t go on a Carnival ship expecting an
atmosphere similar to Holland America and vice a versa. If you want to choose a
Carnival cruise for a good time at a great price you won’t be disappointed. If
you want to revel in the latest advancements the industry has to offer, choose
the Oasis or Allure of the Seas, the Epic, or even one of Carnival’s newest and
priciest and avoid the 20 year old ships. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Please understand I’m not trying to undermine Carnival in
any way as I mentioned they offer a great price point and many great inclusive
features on all their ships, and again overall it’s a really good value. I’m
just giving you honest feedback. I have many friends who work on Carnival and
they love it and it’s party hardy demographic and spirit, and I’m sure as in
all cruise ships if you want to avoid it, you certainly can, however you
probably wouldn’t have made it this far in the article if your looking to avoid
the onboard party scene. <o:p></o:p></div>
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All right, so that’s my two cents on Carnival, but I’ve got
one more secret and my best advice for cruise loving party animals, or for
those looking to finally give this whole cruising this a shot. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Norwegian Cruise Lines one and two-night cruise getaways. A
few times a year Norwegian offers these from New York City (NYC) or Miami, FL
when a ship is repositioning to or from another destination or to get a ship
back on a Saturday or Sunday departure date. Without a doubt, these are some of
the wildest parties I have ever seen at sea. The whole experience is amplified!
Upon disembarkation of the ship the next day I would find many guests who
probably spent about an hour in their stateroom. The nightclub and casino are
usually open till 5:00 am and the tax and duty free shopping for liquor and
cigarettes is out of control. So if you want to taste a freestyle cruise and
just rock out for a night or two with your friends, take a Norwegian one or
two-night getaway, you will not regret it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Remember travel agents are still an important part of the
cruise industry; they are educated and have a lot of experience personally
testing the ships out. A travel agent can be incredibly helpful in picking the
right cruise for you, saving you time, money and delivering the right product
for you. There are so many choices in cruising now a days, so check with a
trusted travel agent and let them help guide you to the one that’s right for
you. When you want to invest your money
you go to a financial advisor think of using a travel in the same way. Choose to spend your vacation dollars wisely
and have a travel agent do the some of the legwork for you.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Well, that’s my take on partying hard on the high seas. I
hope you have a blast and find whatever you’re looking for in a cruise!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Till next time, <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Keep it on Cruise Control<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Andy Steinhauser<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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*Readers did I leave anything off the list? Let me know
write me at Ask Andy <a href="http://andyscruisecontrol.com/#_">http://andyscruisecontrol.com/#_</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Andy Steinhauserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00945132989915993477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1143614415570467635.post-81173075753965161802012-06-06T13:48:00.000-07:002012-06-06T13:48:52.312-07:00When you’re on a cruise be sure to Get Off …<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">…The beaten path every now
and again. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">This is the first of a few blogs I will do over the next few weeks
and months highlighting some of my and my fellow crew members favorite off the
beaten path restaurants, cafes, bakeries, beaches and all sorts of hidden
secrets that could take you months to find. This week I’m going to focus on
Alaska. Now I know in my webisode I mentioned that Alaska is going to most
likely be cheaper next summer due to the increased tonnage, but it’s a very
popular destination and one of my all time favorites. Anyone that is sitting at
home sweating out a boiling summer should consider a trip to Alaska. That’s you
Georgia, Florida, Texas, Arizona; it’s cool and comfortable, filled with interesting
characters and a very colorful history. There’s something for everyone to do,
from adventure hikes on Glaciers to smooth and easy train rides through the
mountains even world class shopping right at your cruise door steps. Alaska has
it all and with Norwegian Cruise Lines bringing Nickelodeon characters like Sponge Bob Squarepants and Disney Cruise Lines even entering Alaska, it’s younger spirited more
family friendly than ever. No more tumbleweed's around the nightclub at
midnight. Unless you choose a cruise that is more geared to adults and less to
families, read Holland America and Celebrity, which also offer their own unique
advantages to visiting the 49<sup>th</sup> state in the union.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">My personal connection with
Alaska began late in the summer of 2003 when I started my cruise career onboard
the Vision of the Seas in Vancouver, I only got to have 2 weeks in Alaska and
didn’t get to see very much, however I had the opportunity to return for two
full seasons many years later. I always had a wonderful time in Alaska, did so
many adventurous things and managed to meet all sorts of interesting people and
find all the little secret spots. I’m a huge supporter of independent and
family owned businesses and Alaska abounds with that spirit. All over the state
you’ll find great family owned cafes, shops, and more. Some are amazing, some
maybe not so much, the following list is by no means the definitive say on
independent Alaska, but just a few of my personal favorites. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">One of my favorite stops in
Alaska is Skagway, most ships stay the longest in this tiny port, which is
actually the birthplace of little girl many of you may have heard of, Sarah
Palin. Regardless of your politics there is no denying the deliciousness and
quirky independence of one of my favorite places. When I was a cruise director
I would go on stage and tell thousands of people to stop by my number 1 dont' miss spot of Skagway and I never
once got negative feedback. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">So here it is don’t miss spot number 1:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Sugar Mammas Cupcakes – This
tiny independently owned and operated cupcake shack took the city by storm back
in 2008 and has been dolling out the most delicious and creative cupcakes in
the state every since. The most popular and always delicious is the red velvet,
however the menu changes daily and the owner operator Deb is always cooking up
interesting flavors and bizarre treats. If it’s there, try this one: maple
bacon cupcake, not for vegans but OMGoodness is it delicious. The store is also
a bit of a novelty shop, featuring everything from slightly raunchy post cards,
vintage toys, sunglasses and even occasionally roller skates. Stop by and see
Deb and the gang and be sure to try a cupcake made with their signature secret recipe
“love”. Like your mamma used to do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Skagway is not for dieters,
there are pizza parlors, breweries and fudge shops on every corner and most all are good,
however there is one restaurant and one dish in particular that stands out
above the rest for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Stowaway Café French Fries –
Stop by the Stowaway Café located right off the big pier, not the town pier, for
a number of great dishes always served with a smile, but in my opinion their
French Fries, served with a secret dipping sauce, there horse radish and hot
sauce in there for sure (I know but trust me it’s amazing), for some of the
best French Fries you’ll ever have in your life. I don’t know what it is, but
they are AWESOME, crispy, full, golden dark brown, just amazing. God I want
some French Fries right now. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Juneau – Juneau is full of
awesome dive bars and jewelry stores also adventure abounds in the surrounding
parks and rivers, so after your shopping or outdoor adventure pick a dive bar
and try an Alaskan Amber or any Alaskan beer on tap, you have to get it on tap
to truly experience it. Look for a bunch of crew members loitering outside a bar that
usually means it’s a dive bar that is welcoming to tourist and it probably has Wi-Fi,
so you can check your e-mail if you’re feeling withdrawal. Other than a
mandatory beer stop, if you have an early call you can try one of my favorite
treats ever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The Paradise Café & Bakery,
located next to the Harley Davidson Store is full of delicious treats, coffee,
lunch and amazing breakfast, their quiche and scones are unbelievable, but they
also have a cookie that is out of this world. The Pumpkin Cookie, soft with the
most delicious icing, screw your diet, try a cookie you won’t regret it.
Warning these sell out quick, go early and if you have a late call and you
can’t make it till after 4, don’t count on getting a cookie, but they do have
other great treats and you may get lucky. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Icy Strait Point: This teeny
tiny port of call is a relative new port for Alaska but you may have a ship
that stops there. My suggestion is to take a tour don't worry you’ll still have some
time to shop around, this is pretty rugged Alaska. They have a dive bar right
in the entry to "town" called The Office. The Office has the best steamed crabs you’ve
ever eaten, it’s usually full of people sitting at plastic tables, eating crab
legs from paper plates, and they are amazing. The Juke Box also has some deep
cuts for those music heads out there so spare a few dollars for some great
tunes and soak in a true Alaskan experience, nothing fancy just good a** seafood. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Ketchikan: Ketchikan if you
happen to get one of the very rare sunny days is one of the most beautiful
places you’ll ever see. However, even if it’s raining wildlife and fun abounds.
The tour options and shopping opportunities are out of this world. If I had to
give you one off the beaten path stop, try “Burger Queen” no not Burger King,
Burger Queen, it’s right across the street from the pier and is usually
littered with crew members a sure fire sign that it’s good. They have awesome
old fashioned burgers, fries and out of this world Onion Rings, but if you want
something unique, my friend Yvette Sechrist, no relation to Ryan, but also a
true port expert says the must try is the Halibut Burger, fresh fish, light
bread, special sauce a quote from Yvette “It’s the best fish sandwich I’ve ever eaten
EVER” That means you better try it. You’ll thank us later. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Many of you will also stop in
Victoria, a stunning pacific northwest Canadian city that usually falls at the
end of your cruise and sometimes is a night stop, the crew love a night stop
because it’s one of the only times you get to see a city at night. But it is
such a beautiful city it doesn’t matter when you go. The best thing to do there
is the Butchart Gardens. It’s just unbelievable what they have done with the
place. I’m not a huge garden fan and I love it, I've been three times and would go again also if your there at the right
time of the season, usually around July onwards they have a fireworks show that
is not to be missed. This is a heavily promoted attraction and for good reason,
it really is that great. Sorry I don’t have a more unique off the beaten path
stop for victoria but didn’t want to leave you high and dry. If you can’t go to
the Gardens, a stroll around the city is worth it, and something unique and
free you might like to see is the floating houses, this great little
neighborhood of teeny tiny houses that are all around a series of docks and the
houses are literally floating, it’s really cool and makes me wonder why other
lake communities haven’t copied the idea, when they do, remember who told you
they should. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">So again this is by no means
the definitive list and be all end all Alaskan cruise to do list, these are
just a few of my expert recommendations and some off the beaten path options
for the independent minded cruiser. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Keep it on Cruise Control.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Till next time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">-Andy <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Andy Steinhauserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00945132989915993477noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1143614415570467635.post-19787095842753249462012-05-29T17:47:00.001-07:002012-05-29T17:47:06.973-07:00Damn Those Extra Charges!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Damn Those Extra Charges!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Cruise Ships are all inclusive right? <o:p></o:p></div>
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Wrong, while cruise ships include a lot more than average
hotels and vacations, it’s a common misconception that once you’ve paid your
fare your all settled. Well this is just not the case, so allow me to educate
everyone on how much you really need to budget for your dream cruise vacation. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Pretty much every cruise ship includes with the fare: most
meals, free entertainment in the main theater and lounges and use of most all
facilities, including, the fitness center, kids drop off programs and more
depending on the cruise line. However most people never factor in port taxes,
which usually don’t’ show up on your initial charge, gratuities for all the
people that serve you, and any extras you might want such as dining in specialty
restaurants, shopping, shore excursions, spa treatments, gambling and
alcohol. I’m going to break down the
most popular extra expenses that could arise, and how much you should budget
for them if you’re interested in them. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Now before you go further know that you could simply pay your
fare, budget your gratuities and taxes, and that’s it, however your really
missing out on a lot of great products and services that are truly at good
prices, so the choices are up to you, but don’t’ say your weren’t warned in
advance. <o:p></o:p></div>
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No more last day bill shock!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Let’s start with the essentials. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Port Taxes – The cruise lines have to pay a fee for every
person they bring to every port of call, even if they don’t’ get off the ship. These
vary depending on your disembarkation port and which ports you visit on your
cruise and run anywhere between $30 – $150 per person, if your very budget
conscious, check before you book your cruise, usually on the cruise line
website it will factor in the port taxes before you make your final booking and
give you an honest idea of what the additional taxes will be. At the least just
be aware that when you see that banner ad that says 3 night cruise $199, what
they are really saying is $199 plus tax that could be anywhere between $30 -
$150 per person. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Average Total - $75 per person<o:p></o:p></div>
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Gratuities - why am I paying these in the first place? Well
there’s no real answer other than that’s’ just the way it is. Cruise lines
traditionally pay their service staff a very low salary and the rest is earned
on gratuities. Gratuities are traditionally recommended between $12 and $15 per
person, per day, depending on the cruise line, most will tell you to allocate x
amount for your waiter, x amount for your room attendant, etc. However all
cruise lines offer pre-paid gratuities once your on-board. Pre-Paid gratuities are
basically the recommended tipping amount automatically applied to your on-board
account. Norwegian Cruise Line has freestyle cruising and since you eat with
different waiters each night it automatically applies the gratuities in the
form of a service charge to each person and then divvies the charges up to each
position that is included in service charge as part of their compensation. Now
with all cruise lines even Norwegian you have the option to not tip at all or
remove the service charge, however, remember that the employees that you feel
may not deserve your gratuities, work 70 hours a week, for usually 8 months at
a time and are away from their families and usually are supporting them with
this profession. My advice is to take the automatic gratuity and or service
charge, factor it in the cost before the cruise then forget about it, your
service personnel will be happy with the recommended amount and if you feel
anyone has shone brightly above the rest, tip them extra, at your own accord. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Average Total – For a 7-day cruise $84 per person<o:p></o:p></div>
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So no matter what, plan on budgeting an extra $150 - $200
per person minimum for the cruise. You can stop here, but I recommend you
continue reading, as I give you an honest break down of the “extras”. <o:p></o:p></div>
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At your discretion:<o:p></o:p></div>
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Alcohol - while a few lines offer packages, it’s generally
not included, except for elite high-end luxury liners, and believe me you’ve
already paid for it in advance, so drink up. Alcohol is obviously totally up to
you; however there is no denying that it is part of the cruise experience for
many cruisers. Hey, people want to get away and have a drink, I’m all for it.
Depending on where you are from your perception on the cost of alcohol on a
cruise ship will differ. If you’re from a big city, you’ll think its dirt
cheap, if you’re from a small town, you’ll think its sky high. On average Beer is
usually $4 - $6, and liquor drinks are $5 - $9 depending on what you’re
drinking. Want to save, drink domestic beers, well liquor drinks and avoid the souvenir
cup! If you’re a modest drinker, you plan on drinking 5 nights of your seven
night cruise, and you’ll have 2-3 drinks per night, you should budget anywhere
between $75 - $100 per adult. Now if you’re a party animal, just prepare a much
larger budget, but I bet you already have. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Average Total – for a 7 day cruse $85<o:p></o:p></div>
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Specialty Restaurants – Nearly every cruise ship you go on
now a days has at least one specialty restaurant. You could easily avoid it,
and eat in the main dining room every night; however, these restaurants are
usually a cut above and in my opinion well worth the cover charge. Most of the restaurants
provide excellent service and cuisine and offer you a high end dining
experience that would cost you usually 3 to 5 times that amount on land. For
the planners you can usually research what your choices are and the cost on the
company website in advance. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Average Total - $20 - $75 per person, depending on how many
times you go and your potential choices. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Gambling – Nearly every cruise ship has a casino, of course
minus Disney Cruise Lines, and Pride of America, the only American Flagged
ship, where it’s not allowed. Gambling is totally at your discretion; however
remember there are other ways to gamble, such as the ever and still present
Bingo, and cruise lines are creating new ways, such as Norwegian Cruise Lines
new partnership with Deal or No Deal. So even the non-gamer might want to
budget a little discretionary money for gambling. I recommend anywhere between
$50 - $150 per person for the cruise, it can be pretty fun, again this is
totally up to you.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Shopping – Weather onboard or ashore, nearly 99% of the
time, it’s tax and duty free, which means great savings. Shopping is totally up
to you, but be prepared that the deals are great and the prices are low, so
this may just get you by surprise. I recommend for the causal shopper, to
budget anywhere between $50 - $100 on some souvenirs and fun deals that may
present themselves. Now if you are going to the Caribbean or Alaska, be aware
the amazing prices on jewelry, watches and more in the ports of call. With
those tax and duty free prices you may want to take advantage, the deals really
are that good. So take a moment to think this over for yourself and or discuss
with your partner in advance if it might be time to make a big purchase and
then budget that in as well. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Going Ashore – For most the destinations are half of the
reason to take the cruise, so you don’t’ want to just walk off the ship, go to
the souvenir store and walk back. Get out there and enjoy these destinations,
my recommendation is to take advantage of your ability to book in advance.
Every cruise line sells their excursions on-line in advance of the cruise, so
this is an easy thing to budget in before the cruise. Yes, the cruise
excursions are more expensive than going it alone, however remember you’re
getting cruise line service and guarantees with that price. If you go it alone,
you risk it alone too, if something goes wrong they’re will be no one to talk
to about it when you come back on-board. So that’s entirely up to you, but I recommend
you budget at least $50 - $100 per person per stop, for whatever adventure you
might want to take part in. Of course if your going to Europe, Alaska, Hawaii
or any other major destination cruise you may want to budget even more,
possibly $200 - $400 per person per stop, if you really want to see and do it
all. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Spa Treatments – This is obviously a totally luxury and add
on, but all cruise ships have spas and once your there, you may be enticed to
indulge; hey, it is a great way to relax and feel pampered and you do deserve
it, right. Just know that if you choose to go your not getting out of there for
less than $50 - $200 depending on what treatment you choose. If you think
you’ll be tempted more than once, better earmark your budget accordingly. For
the Spa fanatics a few newer cruise ships on Norwegian and Celebrity have Spa
Suites that come with great perks and exclusive spa access. This might be worth
it if you’re planning on making a partial spa week out of your cruise. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Now your probably doing the math in your head right now and
freaking out, however remember cruises are still great values for what you get,
and as you know, most of these are add on's to enhance your vacation. So the
choice is totally up to you, but just be prepared that these choices and
charges will come up. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So what are you waiting on, get an honest budget together
and find the cruise that right for you.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Till next time,<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Andy Steinhauser<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Andy Steinhauserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00945132989915993477noreply@blogger.com2