Banned Items

These are the big no-nos that you should not bring with you. The following are banned from cruise ships:

• Weapons – No weapons are allowed. That means you leave your knives, gun(s), and/or explosives at home. The cruise lines will not mess around. Do not FAFO with this.
  
  There are some very specific exceptions to this ban, all of which are line dependent (check before you leave). Things like scissors and shaving razors may be allowed. Some lines may also allow dive knives (for SCUBA and snorkel) so long as they are held by security or guest services.
• Drugs – Just don’t. Cruises frequently stop at different countries and they likely have different laws about which drugs are allowed. In Michigan, my home state, marijuana is legal but in, say, Curaçao it is not. If you bring illicit drugs to Curaçao, you are going to be in a pickle, so leave that party at home.
• Fire risks – Hair dryers, candles, kettles, cigarettes, basically anything that has the job of being hot or burning. This typically includes heating pads and electric blankets.
  
  Hair dryers will typically be supplied in your room by the cruise line, if you are worried about that. Perhaps oddly, curling irons and straighteners are a grey area. Some lines ban them completely, others allow them, some provide their own to use. You’ll need to check your specific line before you leave if you use any of those.

It brightens up the room, but live plants are a banned cruise item. If you want some flowers, talk to cruise line staff.

• Fresh flowers or plants – This is a less obvious category for most people but, once you think about it, it starts to make sense. Cruises stop are all sorts of ports and by bringing live plants from one place to another you may be spreading diseases. It’s a potential threat to local ecosystems to introduce something from another place. If you really want to have some flowers on the ship, there’s usually a way for the cruise line to provide it.
• Drones and other remote-controlled devices – In the last 20 years, remote controlled flying devices went from the sole domain of dedicated hobbyists to mainstream. In that transition, their use has become problematic and more regulations have come into place. The cruise lines have banned them entirely. From their perspective, there’s just too many potential problems from them. Further, many countries have limited their use to only licensed operators. Drones are quite cool, I want to get my license to use them commercially at some point, but we gotta leave them at home.
• Speakers – Most cruises ban all portable speakers, including Bluetooth or other wireless sound devices (this does not include earbuds/headphones). The lines state that this is because these devices could interfere with guest abilities to hear public announcements. That reasoning is sound (get it?!), but I imagine that there’s also a large amount of not wanting guests to be fighting over playing music too loudly and other tension points like that. In either case, leave these things at home.

My surge protectionless power cube. I never travel without it.

• Various tech – The cruise lines will not allow you to bring your satellite dishes, routers, and other similar equipment onboard. I wrote an article about why these are banned that you might want to read. Importantly, every cruise line prohibits surge protectors because the power network on the ship will not play nice with them and could cause them to explode. If you use an outlet expander, make sure that it does not have surge protection. Not all cruise lines are uniform on what tech you can and cannot bring, so this is something you will want to check your individual cruise line for.
• Perishable food – If you buy a packaged snack in port, like a bag of chips, that’s okay to bring back, but fish, for example, is not. Meat, homemade food, and fruits or veggies are not allowed on the ship. If you have special dietary needs be sure to contact the cruise line before (or have your travel advisor do it for you).
• Various sports equipment – Most lines ban sport sticks and bats (hockey, baseball, cricket, lacrosse, ski poles). They also prohibit things like canoes and surfboards and bicycles. The bats and sticks could easily be made threatening, so banning them is obvious. As for the canoe… I mean, yeah, just try to fit a canoe in your cabin.
• Tools and power tools – I… I uhhh… Really!?! They had to ban power tools. Who brought a drill? Why are you bringing tools on vacation? What were ya gonna do with it? Stop trying to remodel the bathroom on your cruise! I know they’re kinda small but this is NOT the right way to go about fixing that!

Partially Banned or Controlled Items

There are also some things that are not completely banned by cruise lines, but they are more controlled.

• Bringing alcohol onboard – Most lines allow you to bring a bottle or two of wine or champagne, but anything other than that is right out. That being said, tons of people buy alcohol on their excursions. I’ve purchased my fair share of rum, tequila, and wine on my travels. Once you bring it back to the ship, it will be confiscated and you will be given a claim check for it to be reclaimed when you are disembarking.

Only on Cunard can you bring your pet. Otherwise, they are a banned cruise item.

• Animals – You cannot bring pets on board most cruise ships. Service animals are allowed, but they typically exclude emotional support animals. There is one notable exception to this – the Queen Mary 2. That ship has a kennel onboard and people do bring their pets on their cruises and play with them while they sail along.
• Power cords – Royal Caribbean and all its subsidiaries ban any extension cords and power outlet expanders. This is separate from the prohibition of surge protectors.
• Door decorations – Almost every cruise goer has seen magnetic or paper door decorations. Many people like to decorate their cabin door to add their own personal touch to it. Some just like adding an identifying marker to their door to make it easier for them to find in a sea of identical doors.
  
  There’s one notable exception that makes this worth mentioning – Norwegian Cruise Lines. Yup, NCL bans all door decorations due to (checks notes) “their flammable nature.”
  
  Alright then. I want to know the story behind how they became the one line to make that decision.

The post You Need To Know – Banned Cruise Items appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

What is an upgrade?

In case you don’t know what I’m talking about, I’ll explain it briefly. However, if you are acquainted with the cruise upgrade bidding process, skip to the next section.

When you take a cruise, the line will typically send you an offer, via email, to place a bid to upgrade your cabin category. Clicking on the emailed link takes you to a page with an assortment of rooms that are rated above your current booking. Each room will have a minimum bidding amount and, as you enter the amount you are willing to bid, the page will show you how “strong” or “poor” your bid for that upgrade is.

Hint: Bidding more money will always make the bid stronger.

Within a week or two of the sailing date, the cruise line will notify you if your bid is accepted. Sometimes, they will notify you as late as the day before you sail, although that is far less common. Now that you know what the process is, here’s the reasons why you might not have your bid accepted.

It wasn’t enough

This is the most obvious answer to why your upgrade bid wasn’t accepted, but also the hardest to track. You only get to know your bid or the bid of anyone you can personally verify, like your family or friends. The cruise line won’t tell you, and travel agents don’t know either (we don’t get that information). Whatever amount won the bid is a mystery to everyone but the upgrade process algorithm.

If you hear that your upgrade bid wasn’t accepted, someone likely outbid you.

I don’t have figures for how many people bid on upgrades. Most people I’ve spoken with will make an offer, but it’s not everyone. Since all it takes to win is being the highest bidder, it could be five dollars more than what you bid and still win. In a ship with hundreds or thousands of cabins, if even half of the people choose to bid, that’s a lot of competition.

It’s important to understand that just because you bid an amount and it was accepted, or heard of someone else bidding an amount that was accepted, that has no bearing on the next sailing. There isn’t a magic number that you can bid and win.

They sold the cabin

Another important factor to understand is that those upgrade bids are really the cruise line trying to move unsold inventory. These aren’t some sort of courtesy the lines offer because they like you. The bidding process is there to help the company make more money.

The company will continue to try and sell rooms until they either can’t, because, for example, the ship is sailing tomorrow, or they don’t believe that these rooms will be sold by the time the ship sails. That second reason is part of the internal alchemy of this whole process that only the company knows and they don’t share that information with us.

Unlike the first reason, though, travel agents can see what rooms are sold on a ship, so we can check on this. If you placed a bid for a suite, we can see if any of those suites are even available. When all the rooms are sold, there’s no upgrades happening, but there can be cancellations at the last minute.

VIPs

Yes, cruise lines will hold inventory for VIPs to travel. This could be company execs, celebrities, shareholders, influencers, anyone that is important to the company. This isn’t an everyday occurrence, but it does happen. For example, when Richard Branson wants to sail on a Virgin Voyages ship, they have a suite for him.

These rooms aren’t held indefinitely, even VIPs have to plan ahead a bit. If the line is aware that someone important wants to travel on that sailing, a room may be held back. This could be why you didn’t get your upgrade, even if it looked like there was inventory left and you put in a high bid.

How can I improve my chances of my bid being accepted?

Bid more.

Don’t like hearing your upgrade bid wasn’t accepted? There’s only one thing you can do to change that…

What? You thought there was a trick?

Nope. There’s nothing else you can really do.

There’s no formula to guarantee that you win an upgrade. No, “one weird trick that cruise line upgrade bid processors hate.” It’s just bid as much as you’re comfortable doing, hope you bid the most, and that there’s a cabin available.

The post Why Your Upgrade Bid Wasn’t Accepted appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

Remember, this isn’t a guarantee of staying free from illness. These are things to reduce the chances of catching something. Also, just to be clear, I’m not a doctor and this isn’t medical advice, just things I do that seem to be successful.

Wash Your Hands

Yes, it’s an oldie but a goodie – wash your hands. Using simple soap and water, along with about twenty seconds of scrubbing, is the easiest way to protect yourself from the most common illnesses.

Hand and surface sanitizers have their place but, they have minimal effect on certain common bugs, namely norovirus. It’s one of the most common diseases contracted, especially in winter, and especially on cruise ships. Washing your hands will kill norovirus which means it’s the best thing you can do to avoid the vomiting disease.

Sanitizing Wipes and Such

Like I said, using sanitizers has its place. Whenever I get on a plane, bus, train, etc., I wipe the seat down with a sanitizing wipe. I also hit any surface that I touch, like the tray table, and armrests.

These are places where using soap and water just isn’t possible. In those cases, using sanitizers is a good alternative. However, it’s worth making sure that your hand sanitizer contains alcohol. This is a good quick guide from the Mayo Clinic on hand sanitizer.

Avoidance

The phrase “discretion is the better part of valor” comes to mind. Sometimes the best thing that you can do to stay healthy is to simply avoid things that make you sick. That’s why I avoid things like buffets.

Cruise ship buffets are notorious for spreading illness. You can look at the outbreak reports yourself; they list the illness and the remedies taken. But cruise ships aren’t the only place buffets exist. They can also be found in your precious airport lounges. (Full disclosure I have a Delta Reserve card, lest you think I’m throwing shade. I too hold up in the Delta lounge when I travel.)

You’re less likely to get sick when you travel if food is not served by the guests.

No matter the location of the buffet, they all function the same way. Common utensils, common flatware, common glassware and mugs. Anyone in the lounge can touch the serving spoons and they have to when they want to partake of the dishes.

Look, I know that buffets have their place, despite my constant dislike of them. When you use one, though, take the time to wash your hands AFTER, yes, after you touch the serving utensils and before you eat. It’s good practice and will keep you healthier.

Masks

I use a mask when I fly the moment that I hear coughing on the plane, which is usually all winter long. It’s a line of defense from breathing in the floating particles of mucus that someone else just hacked up into the air. Yeah, humans are kinda disgusting!

The mask isn’t something that I bother with in places other than small and enclosed spaces. Airplanes, buses, trains, that’s when I think about it. This is doubly true if the coughing or sneezing culprit is the person next to you.

Sleep

This is the hardest one to do, but it might actually be the best. Try to get enough sleep when you travel and your immune system will thank you. Being well rested is the probably the best defense against illness.

Close the drapes, turn off the lights, and make it cooler in the room.

I understand, it’s hard to do. Flights are early, last-minute packing keeps you up, travel anxiety is commonplace. There’s lots of reasons why sleep deprivation, before and during a trip, is a regular experience. Here’s a few ideas that might help with that:

• If you have an early flight, falling asleep early often doesn’t work for folks. Instead, try to make sure that you get enough sleep two nights before you fly. It’s not perfect, but it’ll help and it’s easier to achieve.
• Make your hotel rooms as dark as possible. Humans, typically, sleep better in dark rooms. Close the curtains (using a chip clip can help keep the drapes together), use a sleep mask, and turn off or hide bright blue LED charging lights on devices.
• Keep your room cool. If you can get your room down below 70 F (19 C), there’s evidence that improves your overall sleep. Hotel rooms are often quite easy to get to these temps but, your home bedroom might be harder.

I hope these all help, they’ve done alright by me. Nothing is foolproof, but we can still take care reasonable steps to keep ourselves healthy.

The post How To Not Get Sick When You Travel  appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

Solo travel is becoming one of the most popular types of travel, yet travelers are often plagued with much higher per person costs. Solo travelers are well aware of the dreaded single supplement. Most cruise lines and tour groups require a solo traveler to pay the same as two people sharing a room. This is the 100% single supplement. However, it is possible to find offers that reduce the price of traveling solo. These are the best solo deals available right now.

AMAWaterways. Ever dreamed of a European River cruise?  They are delightful! Book select sailings by March 31 and there is NO single supplement! Explore the Rhine, Bordeaux, the Danube, Moselle and more. You may the same rate as anyone else! Follow this link to explore AMAWaterways solo specials. Before you book, check with us as we can often add additional perks or savings.

It’s no secret we love AMAWaterways.

Beautiful Strasbourg

Looking for an Ocean Cruise? Solo Travel Deals

Regent Seven Seas, one of the world’s most luxurious and all-inclusive lines has reduced single supplements for solo travelers on select voyages. Find one you like and check with us before you book to see what we can add on to enhance your experience.

We are fans of Virgin Voyages. Solo travelers can find reduced single supplement offers from Virgin here. Be sure to check with us before booking as we have many perks and tips to offer. Virgin invites solo travelers to a group dinner early in the cruise, and has other opportunities for singles to meet new friends.

Upscale lines Regent Seven Seas, Silversea, Oceania, Seabourn and Ponant are offering select sailings with no single supplement to destinations around the world, including Alaska, Greece, New Guinea, Norway, Iceland, Pitcairn and Easter Islands, Spain, and Polynesia.

Morocco

Solo Travel Deals: Land Based Tours

Two of the best choices for solo travel deals are G Adventures and Intrepid. These tours are very popular with single women as you travel safely with a very small group and guide.

However, if you’d like your own space, you can pay for an individual room on most of our trips.

Intrepid Travel is known for treating solo travelers well. They specialize in small group travel to fascinating destinations. It is perfect for solo travelers. In fact, half or more of Intrepid’s travelers are singles.

Intrepid will pair you with another solo traveler of the same gender. If you wish to room alone, the upcharge is reasonable.

Intrepid’s motto is Go Solo, But Not Alone. The average Intrepid trip has about ten people on it – people of all ages and backgrounds from all over the world. You are guided by a local guide who knows the backstreet bars, cool tapas joint and hidden galleries. They’ll give you tips for your free time exploring, and introduce you to locals. They can help you travel safely.

Intrepid truly covers the world with travels to the polar regions, Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Europe, pretty much anywhere you want to go.

Puffins in Iceland!

G Adventures is another great choices for the solo traveler. Known for offering National Geographic and Jane Goodall journeys, they charge no dreaded single supplement. You travel safely with a small group and guide. Visit destinations off the tourist trail such as Pakistan, Tibet, and Madacascar. They too will match you with another traveler of the same gender. And, for a small amount more, you can have your own room. Now they offer “Solo-ish” trips you can choose from too. Everyone in the group will be a solo traveler!

It’s a wonderful world and you can travel solo safely and affordably if you know where to look.

The post Solo Travel Deals Available Now appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

Okay… we. We don’t actually say that. Still, booking a cruise during Wave Season makes a lot of sense. The cruise lines all roll out strong offers for January through March when most travelers book for the year. It’s consistently the best time to book.

There are plenty of sales that are being offered, but we want to highlight the promotions that we think our clients will have the most interest in. The are presented in alphabetical order, of course.

Atlas Ocean Voyages

Offer: Save up to 30%, a value of up to $10,000 per stateroom. The sale also adds up to $600 onboard credit on select expeditions. Solo travelers also enjoy a Single Supplement from only 125% on many expeditions.

Eligibility: The offer is valid on select 2025 and 2026 expedition sailings. Must book by February 3^rd.

Our opinion: Atlas is a new line and we don’t have a long history to compare and see how “good” of a deal this is. However, we can say that for solo travelers this is quite a nice offer and if you’ve been thinking of trying Atlas, $600 in credit is not a bad deal.

Azamara

Offer: The luxury cruise line known for longer port visits is offering up to $1000 in onboard credit. How much credit you receive is based on which category of stateroom you book. The higher tier of room booked, i.e. suites, the more credit is offered. Lower tiers, such as interior rooms, get less, to a minimum of $200.

Eligibility: The offer is valid on select 2025 sailings and you must book by February 28^th.

Our opinion: We like this sale because it’s straightforward. Onboard credit is a known quantity and that’s always a good thing.

Cunard

Offer: Up to $800 Onboard Credit per stateroom. Plus, a Drinks Package and Hotel and Dining Service Charges are included when you book a Grills Suite.

Eligibility: The offer is valid on all of Cunard’s sailings, but you must book by March 26^th.

Our opinion: Once again, we like this sale because it’s straightforward. The suites earn more credit, but the offer is solid for all categories of stateroom. For a line that costs less than people often imagine, this is a handsome offer.

Princess

Offer: Up to 40% off and up to $200 onboard credit, plus FREE room upgrades and FREE 3rd & 4th guests.

Eligibility: The promotion ends February 28, 2025

Our opinion: The real deal here is the 3^rd and 4^th sailors are free. This means that a family of four can sail Princess for much less during this sale. It’s a great way to take a family vacation and we are impressed with Princess’ kids programs, which is often celebrated by family travelers.

Regent Seven Seas

Offer: Free 2-Category Suite Upgrade, 50% Reduced Deposits, and 20% Savings on Select Voyages

Eligibility: Available on all ships and destinations. Promotion ends February 28, 2025

Our opinion: Regent is the ultimate in all-inclusive cruising and this sale is allowing you to upgrade your suite while booking at a lower suite’s fare. Let’s be honest, if you’re booking Regent, you probably aren’t worried about a sale. Still, the offer is nice.

Seabourn:

Offer: Up to 15% savings, with up to $1,000 USD in shipboard credit per suite, along with reduced deposits on Seabourn Ocean voyages and Expeditions to all seven continents.

Eligibility: The promotion ends February 18, 2025

Our opinion: For those interested in sailing to exotic locations, like Antarctica, or trying a truly luxury cruise, this is a good time to do it. Like we’ve said repeatedly, onboard credit is a dependable offer because you know what you’re getting, and a low deposit isn’t a bad thing either.

Viking:

Offer: Viking is offering reduced fares on river, ocean, and expeditions cruises. There are also additional perks available on select sailings, including free international airfare and a deposit of $25.

Eligibility: Offer ends on January 31^st, 2025.

Our opinion: We can’t say too much about the reduced rates, because rates are always changing, but if you select a cruise with the free airfare, that’s a good deal. Airfare is pricy and that’s a way to save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.

If you would like to book Viking ocean with us as your travel advisor, use this link.

Virgin:

Offer: 80% off a 2nd Sailor and up to USD $300 in Bar Tab based on voyage length, with longer voyages awarding more credit.

Eligibility: Available on all 2025 and 2026 voyages. Offer ends on January 30^th, 2025.

Our opinion: Getting any amount of Bar Tab is always good and a very popular promotion for the company. Having sailed Virgin quite a bit myself, $300 can go a long way in drinks.

If you would like to book Virgin with us as your travel advisor, you this link.

Windstar

Offer: Windstar is offering an interesting sale. If you book with them you’ll have a choice of three options; onboard credit of up to $1,000 per suite; a night at a hotel before or after your cruise; a complimentary All-Inclusive experience (only available when booking a  Premium Suite).

Eligibility: Offer ends on March 31^st, 2025.

Our opinion: Since you always want to arrive at least one day before a cruise leaves, this seems like a can’t lose deal. When a luxury cruise line is offering to put you up in a hotel for a night before, take it.

As I said, there are dozens of Wave Season sales from different lines and the ones presented above are from the lines our clients sail the most. If you are interested in offers from lines not listed above, please reach out to us. During Wave Season, many lines run a series of flash sales rather than static offers, making it difficult to present them here.

The post We Love These Wave Season Sales appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

Where and When?

European Christmas markets can be found throughout northern Europe in Germany, Austria, France, Norway, Italy, Belgium, Scandinavia, the Netherlands, and the even the United Kingdom. Generally, they run from mid-November to a few days before Christmas. However, a few will run until New Year’s.  We use this helpful annual guide to make sure the ones we want to visit are open when we go.

Our favorite country for European Christmas markets is Germany. After all, Germany is the country that developed most of the traditions that Americans follow for celebrating Christmas.

Fairy Tale Dioramas In Lubeck Germany

What Will You Find at a Christmas Market?

Every market has a distinct vibe. Some are very child-oriented with carnival rides for the kids. Others are high-end shopping extravaganzas.  There are medieval themed Christmas markets, which are great fun. We saw one in Lubeck that featured adorable fairy tale dioramas.

In many traditional markets, especially in smaller towns, there will be at least one vendor selling household goods.  Of course, most will sell beautiful ornaments for your Christmas tree.  And it is a rare German Christmas market where you don’t see vendors selling giant Gingerbread necklaces with sayings in frosting like “Princess” or “I love you.”

You’ll see stands like this everywhere

Christmas Market Food and Drink

There will be food, almost always with vendors roasting sausages and wurst. Usually, there will be fried fish and vegetarian options. Try a flammkuchen, a flatbread usually topped with cheese, onions, and ham. Of course, you can get them topped with a variety of other items. By the way, you will often see a German favorite, currywurst. We are not fans.

You will find baked goods, including German pretzels, usually called bretzels.

Most markets will have stollen, gingerbread, and marzipan. Oddly, you will probably not find peppermint candy canes. But don’t fret, there are so many other treats.

Be aware the some of the treats are regional in nature, so you may not find everything we mention here at every market.

One of our favorites is a delightful sugar dough treat called Baumstriezel, also known as Chimney Cake. Picture this– spiraling wisps of yeasted dough, twirled lovingly around a cylindrical spit, and baked till it hits that golden brown sweet spot. You end up with a confection that’s caramelized just right on the outside and fluffily soft on the inside! Don’t blame us if you’re left wanting more!

The Divine Baumstreizel

And you MUST try the ubiquitous warm gluhwein, which is mulled wine. You can add a shot of rum or other liquors to make it even better. While there will be many outdoor stands, some will have a big indoor tent or temporary building where you can sit and warm up. The significant consumption of gluhwein appears to be the point of many Christmas markets. It does warm your tummy!

What’s The Best Way to Visit Christmas Markets?

We think the very best way is to take a special river cruise with a Christmas market itinerary. Imagine waking up each morning in a new town with new markets to explore! No packing and unpacking as your hotel is your transportation.

We love AMAWaterways which offers many Christmas market cruises. If you have never taken an AMAWaterways river cruise, you can read about our experiences here.

Popular Viking cruises also offers many Christmas Market itineraries.

Christmas Markets to Consider

Trier, Koblenz, and Mainz are particularly famous and are large markets. We loved the several markets in the charming Lubeck in northern Germany. Berlin has MANY markets to choose from and we have gone to most of them! In fact, if you tire of Berlin’s, Potsdam and Dresden are short train rides away so you can visit more. We also enjoyed markets in Erfurt and Weimar.

Strasbourg is a charming French town along the Rhine featured on many river cruises. It is a picture-perfect town for a Christmas market visit. And of course, there is the famous Romantic Road with lovely markets.

We hope you love these best Christmas markets in Europe as much as we do.

Ready for More Great Travel Tips?

We share our favorite travel secrets and tips every week. You can see them all here.

While you’re in Europe, visit some Great Art in Paris not the Louvre.

The post You Can Experience 2024 European Christmas Markets appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

Tip 1: Stay Healthy

How to stay healthy on a cruise?

First, take hand sanitizing seriously. Handwashing with soap and water is the best, but if you can’t wash, hand sanitizer can help. Most ships will have sanitizer available around the ship. I even carry a small bottle.

Be sure to wash or use sanitizer whenever you touch an elevator button, use a handrail, or any other high touch point. Even before Covid, norovirus was an` issue on cruises. This helps keep you healthier.

Second, take the stairs. We like to avoid cruise weight gain by walking and taking the stairs as much as possible. For this reason, we don’t mind having a cabin way at the front or back of the ship. Also, cabins at the front or back of the ship tend to be slightly less expensive.

Best of all, most ships have a promenade deck devoted to walking outside. You’ll see many walkers of all speeds. Even better, you might spot some wildlife. We’ve seen whales, dolphins, and sea turtles as well as many birds while ambling the promenade deck.

Tip 2: Tips About Tipping

Many cruises nowadays, especially those cruises of higher value like the ones in Seven Tips for Choosing Your Cruise, will include crew gratuities in the fare.

However, with lower priced cruise lines tips are often not included. Expect to be given a list of suggested gratuities that will be shared among the service crew. In general, these will run between $15-$20 per person (kids too!) per day.

The crew works for very low pay and they spend months away from home and family. They work very long hours as U.S. or European labor laws don’t apply when the cruises are run under foreign flags. While tipping is not mandatory, we strongly encourage you to do so.

One of our best cruise tips for 2024 is to prepay the recommended gratuities if it’s not in your package. Then, at the end of the cruise, seek out crew members who gave exceptional service and slip them some extra cash. In fact, you can ask for envelopes for this purpose at the ship’s front desk.

Tip 3: Don’t Fret About Formal Nights

First, if you are doing a short cruise, they might not have any. In addition, it is rare on river cruises to have formal nights. The ocean cruises that have formal nights tend to have them on days at sea with no port stops. For cruising 2024, here are some of our best tips for formal nights.

You don’t have to participate in formal night. Most ships will let you visit the buffet, pool, and other areas without formal wear. You can have room service in your cabin. The ship’s daily briefing will have the details for your cruise, but there will be places for you.

Remember formal is not as formal as it once was. Although you may see a few tuxedoes, most cruises now only expect men to wear a sports jacket. By the way, one of those tuxedoed men will be my husband looking spiffy in the same tux he has owned for 30 years.

If you would like to buy a tux at a reasonable price, call around to the formal wear rental stores in your area. They often sell used formal wear at great prices. Look for a classic style that will still be useable on your next five cruises.

Your cruise line will have written guidelines for the dress code available to you in advance. Your travel advisor can get them for you.

Honestly, nowadays, there is often lax enforcement of the dress code. We do encourage you not to press the issue, though. Other passengers make the effort, so we encourage you to do so as well.

One of our best cruise tips 2024 is the secret hidden benefit of formal night. If you do gussy up there will be ship’s photographers set up around the ship to take pictures of you looking your best, with beautiful backdrops. The sittings are voluntary and FREE. You are under no obligation to buy the photos. But if you like the pictures, they will be your favorite mementos when you get home. And you didn’t have to set up an appointment with a local photographer and pay a sitting fee. It is especially perfect for families cruising together.

One more cruising 2024 perk of formal night is that many cruises will have a Captain’s cocktail party. Often this means free cocktails, canapes and some lucky passengers can have their picture taken pouring a champagne fountain.

Tip 4: More Food

If you want two entrees or three appetizers, just ask! The crew will accommodate you. Only on the least expensive cruise lines will there be rules or extra fees for this.

I remember once my sister and I happened to sit at lunch with 4 men who we did not know. Every one of them ordered two entrees and finished them all. The wait staff didn’t even blink, but I did.

When traveling with children, one of our favorite cruise tips is to get them to try new things. You can assure them if they don’t like what they order, it will be replaced by something else. There is always a kid’s menu with all the classics: macaroni, grilled cheese, burgers, and pizza.

The only downside of encouraging your children to try new things is they may like it. Nichole developed a life-long love of duck during a cruise as a child.

The cruise staff want you to be happy so don’t be shy. If you don’t like what you were served, just nicely ask the waitstaff to replace it. They want you to enjoy your cruise.

Tip 5: Cruise Tip for 2024: Know the Medical Protocols

Make sure you read and understand your cruise line’s COVID and other health policies. Some lines, like Virgin Voyages, have generous cancellation policies should you test positive or be exposed before your trip.

While most have removed testing requirements, but cruises are subject to the regulations of any ports you visit. Since the pandemic, more people are buying travel insurance and we think that’s a good thing.

Tip 6: Embarkation Day

Board as early as the cruise line will let you. Download their app in advance as it can be very useful. If you can, upload all the needed documents in advance of boarding. Of course, pack a carry-on bag with essentials like swimsuits or sunscreen or medications while you wait for your luggage to be delivered to your cabin, so you are good to go.

Take a little time to explore the ship. Do your muster drill check-in-the ship can’t leave until everyone does that.

Most people hit the buffet as soon as they board and that’s fine. We prefer to check out the ship’s guide and visit the main dining room or other venues that are open. It’s quieter and usually better food.

There is almost always a Sail-Away party by the pool when the ship departs. There are drink specials, live music, and it is fun! There’s nothing quite like sailing off into the sunset knowing a great voyage is beginning.

Tip 7: Wine

If you like wine with dinner but can’t finish the bottle, just ask the wait staff to tag it and keep it for you for the next evening.

Tip 8: When in Doubt, Ask Your Cabin Steward

Your cabin steward is amazing. Need tape? They can get it. Are there twin beds when you wanted a double? They can fix it. Need more towels? More hangers? Ask your steward. And certainly, if there are maintenance issues like a leaky faucet, notify your steward immediately.

To make your travels easier, we have suggestions for cruise essentials and luggage.

Want More Great Travel Tips?

We share our favorite travel tips and information every week. You can see them all here.

Plan Now For 2026

A Total Solar Eclipse Cruise in August 2026

The post More Best Cruise Tips for 2024 appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

Family Fun

Destination 1: Orlando,

Of course, one of the popular spring break travel ideas is Orlando, chock-full of family fun. There’s Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, and the very cool Discovery Cove. But planning a trip to any of the parks can be daunting. There are many choices and much to know to plan a great trip. So your family does not miss out on the best ways to visit, and getting you the best value, please contact our Orlando specialist, Karen Dziadosz-Evans. Karen has achieved the highest training levels with the Orlando theme parks, keeps track of the continuing park changes, and travels to Orlando herself, all so she can help you plan the perfect trip.

Also, don’t forget California’s Disneyland. We love it for it’s more manageable size. And there are many attractions in Southern California especially in San Diego.

Cruises provide a great experience at a great vlaue

Destination 2: Cruise

Whether you are looking for a family cruise or adults only, we can help you find the right cruise for you. You can sail from Florida, California, New Orleans, Galveston, New York, and more. We work with all the cruise lines but especially love the adults-only Virgin Voyages, Disney Cruise Line, Princess, and Celebrity.

A cruise is the perfect way for a multi-generational family to travel together. The kids will have a great time in the children and teen programs while the parents and grand-parents can relax by the pool, go to games and events or just chill on the balcony. No driving, no packing and unpacking, no figuring out where to eat or where to sleep. It’s all there for you.

Whale in Hawaii

Destination 3: Hawaii

After the devastating Maui fire, many visitors understandably canceled plans to visit the gorgeous Hawaiian islands. Now the islands are asking visitors to return. Because of the decline in visits, prices for flights and accomodations are the lowest we have seen in years. If you have always wanted to visit Hawaii, but felt you could not afford it, you should consider visiting soon.

In fact, West Maui has reopened, except Lahaina, of course. We have seen many special offers for all of the islands and would be happy to share them with you.

Destination 4: All-Inclusive Resorts

Sandals Resorts are considered some of the best all-inclusive resorts. Sandals’ luxury beach resorts, set along the most gorgeous tropical settings and exquisite beaches in Saint Lucia, Jamaica, Antigua, The Bahamas, Grenada, Barbados and Curaçao, feature unlimited gourmet dining, stunning and unique luxurious suites, exceptional bars serving premium liquors and wines, and every land and water sport, including complimentary green fees at their golf resorts and PADI®-certified scuba diving at most resorts.

Not ready for Sandals? We represent virtually every all-inclusive resort and can help you sort out the best for you.

Destination 5: Mexico

Mexico is always considered one of the best places to travel for spring break. It is renowned for it’s beautiful resorts and beaches on both the Pacific and Caribbean shores. Mexican all-inclusive resorts are very high value for the discerning traveler who wants to rest and refresh on the beach. We can help you decide which is best for you.

Destination 6: Something Different

How about some different spring break travel ideas?

This can be a great time to visit Washington D.C. and its amazing array of museums. Or how about some of our country’s world-famous National Parks?

Spring is a delightful time to take a European river cruise. Experience the charm while the crowds and prices are down.

Or how about that fantastic Galapagos cruise you’ve been dreaming about? It’s a good idea to go soon as they are discussing limiting access.

Ready for More Great Travel Tips?

We share our favorite travel secrets and tips every week. You can see them all here.

The post Spring Break Travel Ideas appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

We’re Growing! Ready to Plan Your Next Trip?

Thanks to you, our loyal clients, Far Far Away Travels is growing. Our big travel news in November is that we are happy to announce that Karen Dziadosz-Evans is joining Far Far Away Travels.  Karen will be focused on theme parks in Orlando: Disney, Universal Studios, Sea World, and Discovery Cove. She visits Orlando often and keeps abreast of the continually changing theme park environment.  And of course, she knows Disneyland and Universal California too.

Remember Fast Passes? Gone. It can take hours and hours of online research to figure out even a simple Disney or Universal trip. Karen does the work, so you don’t need to.  You can reach her at Karen@farfarawaytravels.com.  She will be sharing many tips for saving time and money. 

Karen has the highest level of training with Universal, SeaWorld, and the Disney College of Knowledge. 

As always, please reach out to Nichole, Gretchen, and Karen with any travel questions. 

Karen Dziadosz-Evans on her last Virgin Voyage

Travel Abroad, the Travel News You Need This November

We understand that the Israel-Hamas War, along with the war in Ukraine, causes concerns about traveling abroad for some. Personally, since these wars have broken out, we have traveled to Germany, Iceland, and Norway without incident or concern.

However, we recognize that everyone has a different tolerance level.

We always suggest checking the Department of State site for alerts about specific countries.

Finally, it is interesting to remind ourselves that some countries warn their citizens that travel to the United States can be dangerous.

Whether you travel at home or abroad, you should always take normal precautions and buy travel insurance.

Global Entry Just Got Better!

We have long said that Global Entry is a great deal. There is great travel news this November about this exceptional program.

When returning to the US, Global Entry lets you breeze through Passport Control in minutes, letting you bypass the very long lines of those without it. We estimate it easily saves us 30 minutes or more of wait time whenever we use it. It includes TSA Precheck for domestic travel and costs only $15 more than Precheck alone.

Now Global Entry is even better. You can download a free app on your phone, fill out the needed information, and upon arrival take a picture of yourself, submit it into the system and you get a digital receipt to show the agent. Amazing!

For now, the Global Entry app is only available for use by travelers arriving at seven airports. Hopefully, the list will grow.

• Seattle–Tacoma International Airport
• Los Angeles International Airport
• Miami International Airport
• Orlando International Airport
• Washington Dulles International Airport
• Pittsburgh International Airport
• Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport

And Global Entry without the app can be used at a long list of airports.

Remember, many major credit cards will fully reimburse you the cost of Global Entry so be sure to check your card’s benefits.

The only drawback is the background check and initial interview where you are fingerprinted. This year though, we were able to renew with a video interview.

Too busy to schedule an interview? They will let you interview upon your next return to the U.S.

News from Delta

Are you a Delta Medallion member? We can book you through Delta Vacations and you earn toward Medallion® Status on your flights, hotels, cars and activities.

Travel News November: Visiting Europe

This is a great time to visit Europe. The currency exchange rate is exceptionally good as the Euro and the dollar are generally at par. In past years, Americans would pay a 30-50% premium. We recently wrote about the joys of the Christmas market.

If you have followed matters, you know that Americans were slated to have to file for an electronic visa before visiting Europe beginning in 2024. However, that has now been postponed until 2025.

Eventually, international travelers will need to seek pre-approval prior to their journey into the group of 30 EU countries.

Ready for More Great Travel Tips?

We share our favorite travel secrets and tips every week. You can see them all here.

The post Important Travel News November 2023 appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

Where and When?

European Christmas markets can be found throughout northern Europe in Germany, Austria, France, Norway, Italy, Belgium, Scandinavia, the Netherlands, and the even the United Kingdom. Generally, they run from mid-November to a few days before Christmas. However, some will run until New Year’s.  We use this helpful annual guide to make sure the ones we want to visit are open when we go.

Our favorite country for European Christmas markets is Germany. After all, Germany is the country that developed most of the traditions that Americans follow for celebrating Christmas.

Fairy Tale Dioramas In Lubeck Germany

What Will You Find at a Christmas Market?

Every market has a distinct vibe. Some are very child-oriented with carnival rides for the kids. Others are high-end shopping extravaganzas.  There are medieval themed Christmas markets, which are great fun. We saw one in Luebeck that featured adorable fairy tale dioramas.

In many traditional markets, especially in smaller towns, there will be at least one vendor selling household goods.  Of course, most will sell beautiful ornaments for your Christmas tree.  And it is a rare German Christmas market where you don’t see vendors selling giant Gingerbread necklaces with sayings in frosting like “Princess” or “I love you.”

You’ll see stands like this everywhere

Christmas Market Food and Drink

There will be food, almost always with vendors roasting sausages and wurst. Usually, there will be fried fish and vegetarian options. Try a flammkuchen, a flatbread usually topped with cheese, onions, and ham. Of course, you can get them topped with a variety of other items. By the way, you will often see a German favorite, currywurst. We are not fans.

You will find baked goods, including German pretzels, usually called bretzels.

Most markets will have stollen, gingerbread, and marzipan. Oddly, you will probably not find peppermint candy canes. But don’t fret, there are so many other treats.

One of our favorites is a delightful sugar dough treat called Baumstriezel, also known as Chimney Cake. Picture this– spiraling wisps of yeasted dough, twirled lovingly around a cylindrical spit, and baked till it hits that golden brown sweet spot. You end up with a confection that’s caramelized just right on the outside and fluffily soft on the inside! Don’t blame us if you’re left wanting more!

The Divine Baumstreizel

And you MUST try the ubiquitous warm gluhwein, which is mulled wine. You can add a shot of rum or other liquors to make it even better. While there will be many outdoor stands, some will have a big indoor tent or temporary building where you can sit and warm up. Most of the point of Christmas markets is the significant consumption of gluhwein. It does warm your tummy!

What’s The Best Way to Visit Christmas Markets?

We think the very best way is to take a special river cruise with a Christmas market itinerary. Imagine waking up each morning in a new town with new markets to explore! No packing and unpacking as your hotel is your transportation.

We love AMAWaterways which offers Christmas market cruises on the Danube, Iconic Christmas Markets, and on the Rhine. If you have never taken an AMAWaterways river cruise, you can read about our experiences here.

Popular Viking cruises offers many Christmas Market itineraries. 

Christmas Markets to Consider

Trier, Koblenz, and Mainz are particularly famous and are large markets. We loved the several markets in the gorgeous Lubeck in northern Germany. Berlin has MANY markets to choose from and we went to most of them! In fact, if you tire of Berlin’s, Potsdam and Dresden are short train rides away so you can visit more. We also enjoyed markets in Erfurt and Weimar.

Strasbourg is a charming French town along the Rhine featured on many river cruises. It is a picture-perfect town for a Christmas market visit. And of course, there is the famous Romantic Road with lovely markets.

We hope you love these best Christmas markets in Europe as much as we do.

Ready for More Great Travel Tips?

We share our favorite travel secrets and tips every week. You can see them all here.

While you’re in Europe, visit some Great Art in Paris not the Louvre.

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