Timeline For Planning Your Cruise

Y ou've worked hard to save       Tahiti, or visit historic sites    for your dream cruise and       in Europe, Asia, or Australia?     you want to cover all your                                         bases as you get ready to go. But     * Visit cruise line Web sites or   planning can be stressful if you      contact the cruise lines directly  don't know where to start. Here       to request brochures and pricing   are some tips for pulling off a       information.                       glitch-free getaway.                                                                                           Six months or more ahead           Thinking about a cruise                                                                                        * Settle on a budget for the       * Read travel magazines and shop      cruise. Make sure to take into     for travel guidebooks.                account every possible expense:                                          plane tickets, transportation to   * If you don't already have one,      the pier, hotels, shore            find a travel agent who               excursions, spa treatments,        specializes in cruises and begin      shipboard activities, bar bills   a discussion about how to plan        even cruise wear.                  the best cruise vacation that                                            will meet your interests and          * Book your trip through your      vacation desires.                     travel agent. A good travel agent                                        will keep you on track and help    * Ask family and friends for          you sort through everything from   suggestions.                          stateroom choices to visa                                                requirements.                      * Decide on the type of cruise                                           vacation you want and settle on a     * Select your ship and stateroom.  destination. Do you want to climb     Cabin choices range from           glaciers and kayak in Alaska,         butler-staffed suites to inside    snorkel in the Caribbean or           staterooms without windows, and    they're priced accordingly.           One month ahead                                                                                             * Consider signing up for a           * Make a packing list.             travel protection plan to protect                                        your vacation if the unexpected       * Reconfirm all reservations.      should happen. Research travel                                           protection plans offered by the       * Start making arrangements for    cruise line, your credit cards,       pets and home care.                travel agent or an independent                                           agency; secure additional             * If you're on any medications,    coverage if necessary.                make sure you have plenty of your                                        prescription on hand for the       * Obtain your passports and           trip, and be sure to have a        visas, if necessary.                  second pair of glasses if you                                            wear them. Carry all medications   Two months ahead                      with you (do not put them in                                             checked luggage) in their          * Make sure you have a camera and     original prescription bottles to   luggage ready for the trip. If        avoid any difficulty at customs.   you get a new camera, learn how                                          to use it before leaving on the       Two weeks ahead                    cruise.                                                                                                        * Collect travel documents         * Start researching your ports of     (cruise tickets, airline flight    call and your opportunities for       information). Read all material    shore excursions. To avoid            carefully to make sure the         disappointment, book popular          information is correct. If it's    tours in advance on the cruise        not, your travel agent can         line's Web site.                      correct it.                                                                                                 * If you don't want to use your       traveler's check numbers, and any  credit card on your trip,             other paperwork people would need  consider obtaining traveler's         if your wallet were lost or        checks (store the check numbers       stolen. Give one copy to a family  someplace safe in case the checks     member or friend.                  are lost or stolen).                                                                                           * Set out clothes to pack; buy     * If you will need any foreign        what you need.                     currency on the trip, consider                                           exchanging some dollars now.          Three days ahead                                                                                            * Have lots of one dollar bills       * Reconfirm overseas flights.      on hand for tips to crew members,                                        tour guides and taxi drivers.         * Make sure you have reading                                             materials for your trip.           One week ahead                                                                                                 * Make arrangements for your       * Touch base with your house and      rides to and from the airport.     pet sitters to reconfirm                                                 arrangements. Also arrange to         * Leave a copy of your itinerary   have mail held at the post office     and a set of house keys with a     and stop newspaper delivery for       relative or close friend in case   the duration of your trip.Print a     of emergency.                      copy of your itinerary and                                               contact information and leave         * Check weather forecasts for      with family or friends.               your destination.                                                                                           * Make two to three sets of           * Prepare your house or apartment  photocopies of your passport,         for your departure -- eat or       credit cards, insurance,              dispose of perishable food, water  plants, set timers, pay bills,        information, hotels, cruise        etc.                                  itinerary and phone number.                                                                                 One day ahead                         * Change your voicemail and                                              e-mail messages at work.           * Reconfirm domestic flights.                                                                                  A little organization can make     * Make sure all your luggage,         your pre-trip planning easy and    including carry-on luggage, is        stress-free, leaving you to        labeled both on the outside and       embark on your cruise vacation     inside with your name, flight         with a big smile on your face.     About the Author Anita Dunham-Potter is a Pittsburgh-based travel journalist specializing in cruise travel. Anita is a weekly travel columnist for http://MSNBC.com and Tripso, and she is a contributor to Fodor's "Complete Guide to Caribbean Cruises 2007". Published At: www.Isnare.com