Make Your Cruise Memorable

T aking a vacation cruise is       the crew in uniform is usually     a one-of-a-kind experience.     very open and willing to get into  Even people who take            a picture with you. Ask nicely     cruises often consider each one       when they're not busy, and get a   different, with new locales and       great shot of the captain or a     destinations, different boats,        crewmember in full regalia. Get    and different activities and          cheesy if you want to; ask a       experiences on board. It's a          fellow passenger to take a photo   great idea to preserve your           of you and your spouse waving by   memories of each trip in a            the side of the boat. My parents   special way so you can get the        took a cruise when they were       most out of your vacation by          first married, and their favorite  remembering it for years to come.     snapshot from the trip is one of   There are a few small things you      my father pretending to throw my   can do along the way to make this     mother overboard. Well, whatever   process simpler when you get back     floats your boat, as they say.     to dry land.                          Make it campy, make it silly,                                            make it romantic... just make it   Don't be shy about taking             memorable.                         pictures! Some people avoid doing                                        this because they feel it makes       Keep in mind that if you're        them look too 'touristy.' But all     planning on making a scrapbook or  of your fellow passengers are         a memory box of your trip later,   tourists, and it's the staff is       the secret is to save, save,       certainly used to tourists. So if     save! Maybe your ticket stub       the kids get involved in a dance      doesn't look like much while       contest, or the chandelier in the     you're on the boat, but years      dining room is fabulous, feel         later you will love to see it.     free to snap a picture. If you        Your room reservation holds        catch them at the right times,        valuable details that might just   remind you someday that you had a     cringe to remember you lost $50    western window or a terrible cot      in bingo, but at least you'll      that folded out of the wall. Ask      remember it!                       the waiter for copies of menus or                                        carbons of your check so you can      So enjoy your cruise. Make good    remember what you had at that         memories, and preserve them.       memorable first dinner on the         Steal the soap if you must; but    water. Save your slips from the       there are better souvenirs to be   casino if you decide to give your     had. You just have to look for     luck a try- it might make you         them!                              About the Author: Kirsten Hawkins is a cruise and travel expert specializing in discount cruises and travel. Visit http://www.luxury-cruise-deals.com/ for more information on how to cruise the world for little or no money. Source: www.isnare.com