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Welcome to the Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine Blog where we keep you up to date with things about cruises that are part of cruise news, useful, interesting and even irrelevant but fun in the world of cruises and cruising.

Friday, March 22, 2013

Eating on a Cruise



The whole point of a vacation of any kind – even cruising – is to relax and leave the normal day to day worries at home – and this includes everything from fretting about repainting the kitchen to getting too anxious about all those extra calories every time you go out to dinner.



Being too anxious about food consumption is not the point of a cruise or any kind of vacation.



No one wants to go on a cruise and start a diet at the same time. But then no one wants to add 10 lbs of body weight around their hips during a week on the high seas either.



It is a well known fact that the average weight gain on a cruise is 2lbs a day. This is not something any of us want.



But there IS a way of avoiding this happening to you. There IS a way of hitting the happy medium – watching what you eat without becoming obsessed with the problem - and actually enjoying the process.



Here are some tips which may seem a little bizarre, but actually are very helpful. 



Slow down your eating ...



As tempting as the buffet may look , and as much as you want to rush up to get your second and third helpings of everything - slow down.  It is a vacation after all - there is no need for any rush. And by taking it slowly, you actually give your body a chance to register what you have already consumed ( which normally takes 10 to 15 minutes) and you may well find that the thought of another helping of that food after at least ten minutes is not something that actually appeals then anymore.



Eat more times a day ...
As bizarre as this may sound when talking about avoiding putting on weight, it is a well known fact that it is much healthier to eat 5 smaller meals a day than just two or three large ones. After the first day of what may seem like sheer gluttony, your body learns to make sure that the desire in terms of quantity for each of the 5 meals is very less than for that huge dinner when you’ve been starving yourself since breakfast. And it is not difficult to eat 5 times a day on a cruise.



Drink more water ...



It is a fact that the body can sometimes mistake simple thirst for hunger, and being dehydrated can exaggerate the desire for food.  A solution that often surprises people is that a simple glass of water can eliminate that hunger until the next meal.



NB:  Note that the same thing does not apply to grabbing another beer or gin and tonic and think the results will be the same.  Your hunger pangs may well be reduced, but the calories taken in with the beer or gin and tonic are sometimes even worse than yet another snack.  And the peanuts you’ll be tempted to nibble while you’re sipping your cocktail are certainly not going to help either.



Check in again soon to see our next blog for more tips on eating on cruise or take a look at the advice section of Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine.

If you have some tips of your own, please leave us a message here that we can all enjoy!

And don't forget to watch out for the next blog posting still on the same topic of eating on a cruise.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Getting a Deal on a Cruise


The vacation, for everyone, is one of the biggest costs on the budget list every year. 


No matter how much you persuade yourself that this is a deserved treat, or a necessary thing to do to get a break and escape the hassles of everyday life, the vacation costs money - a living expense that’s right up there with your mortgage payments and dental insurance, and jut as we all take care to get the best mortgage rate as possible - so the same thing applies to choosing your holiday and how much to spend. Here are a few hints on how to deal with choosing a cruise as far as your budget is concerned and how to make sure you get the best rate - just as you did when renewing your mortgage.


1. TAKE YOUR TIME - RESEARCH YOUR OPTIONS
The first and most obvious thing to do is to spend some time on your choice. Do not rush into anything. No matter how tempting the TV or magazine offer may be, and no matter how strong the whim for a particular cruise line or destination is, it is always worth checking your full range of options. Even if the first offer or discovery seems to be perfect, there is always the possibility of finding something more generous. And one of the most important things to consider while doing your research is as to what time of year or season you plan to take your vacation. These differences can be vast. Cruises during some periods, such a peak school holidays, will obviously be more expensive especially if the cruise line is catering specifically for children and families. 

2. FOR SOME  - BOOK YOUR CRUISE A LONG WAY AHEAD OF TIME
If your needs as to time of year, and the size of family traveling with you, the type of cabin you need, or if you have special needs of any kind, it may well be advantageous to book your cruise a long way ahead of time.  Fulfilling special needs are not always easy and many cruise lines very often and very quickly sell out of cabins and itineraries that meet special criteria. 

3. FOR SOME - BOOK YOUR CRUISE AT THE LAST MINUTE
If your needs are very flexible as to when, and where you finally end up cruising, it is worth considering a last minute booking. A lot of special offers show their faces as little as 3 to 6 weeks before departure.  Many people with flexible calendars boast of amazing savings and are often able to take two or three cruise every year rather than just the one. 

4. TAKE CAUTION IN PAYING FOR YOUR CRUISE
It is considered advisable to use your credit card when paying for your cruise. Generally, a credit card payment is safer, especially when made to the cruise line direct. While we all would want to support the local new travel agency started up by your great aunt’s daughter, and feel confident in handing over the money to her - it is not the safest thing to be doing.  That is not to say the travel agencies are continuously folding down - but a payment made to a large cruise company directly is inevitably more secure. 

5. INVEST IN  ADEQUATE TRAVEL INSURANCE
Cruise vacations are more vulnerable than other types of holidays to cancellations because of weather conditions, a flu bug rushing through all the passengers on the voyage before yours, delayed flights and missed connections.  It is wisest to invest in the best insurance available, even though it may seem a little expensive. These are just a few of the cautions we would advize when taking a cruise, especially for first timers. If you have cruised before, you may be a particular fan of a particular cruise line, or a particular destination and/or time of year for the holiday, then things are undoubtedly a little easier for you, if may be the savings may be a little more limited. For many people , however. the self insurance that the cruise line they are booking with is exactly what they like and has been good in the past and this may well be the best part of the vacation coming up ahead.


For more advice on a number of topics take a look at the advice section of Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Cruises for Jewish People

A topic hardly ever discussed  in relation to cruises in the past was that about kosher foods.  In fact, when Prow’s Edge Cruise Magazine began over 14 years ago, little was known about cruises or cruise lines that cater to those passengers requiring kosher foods. In those days, it was a topic not usually explored by most cruise lines or cruise oriented web sites.



In reality, very few cruise lines and even fewer passengers knew what was meant by the word “kosher”!



Things have changed.

Most people now understand what “kosher” means, and that is it simply a series of rules about what Jews can and can not eat.



Kosher foods are those that come from animals and animal by products deemed kosher in the bible and food prepared as outlined by rabbis in the Talmud.



Nowadays,  cruises for Jewish people and those requiring kosher foods is a growing market and details about such cruises and kosher foods is a much more commonly broached topic of discussion.



Simply put, Kosher Cruises are cruises for Jewish people to travel around the world while upholding the traditional glatt kosher lifestyle and Glatt Kosher, and Chalov Yisroel Pas Yisroel cuisine. Further more, Kosher cruises now highlight and concentrate more than ever before on Glatt Kosher gourmet meals and snacks, Minyanim and Shiurim, Jewish concerts and kumzitses, and on-board events.



In this day and age,cruisers seeking kosher travel are not limited to the luxury liners (like Holland America, Celebrity, MSC, Costa and Crystal) but can look further afield at specialized cruises on medium-sized ships, river and canal boats and even small ships.



Nor are cruise lovers restricted in their choices of possible destinations. 

Nor are passengers limited to just a few web sites dealing with this subject or highlighting those cruises available for anyone wanting a kosher cruise.

Leaders of such web sites include Kosher Cruises at www.koshercruises.com who are now recognized as one of the industry leaders as far as kosher cruises are concerned,  Kosherica Kosher Cruises at www.kosherica.com who is known as The Glatt Kosher Cuisine Leader, www.koshertravelers.com, www.slkosher.com and many more.



There is a string of travel groups and agents who offer kosher cruises, among them Totally Jewish Travel and Kosher Cruise Enterprises. Google is full of them.



As you would say in Hebrew – “nesi'a tova”.  Bon Voyage.

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Cruise Ship Sanitation Inspection Results

For many, it is reassuring to know that someone is looking out for them in terms of the hygiene and sanitation of the ships they are sailing on.



The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the mastermind of the Vessel Sanitation Program, regularly and without warning inspects cruise ships carrying more than 13 passengers and with itineraries including the USA.



The latest of these results, often updated, can be found at www.prowsedge.com/cruise-lines-vessel-sanitation-program.html



Generally results of 96% and more are very much acceptable, those below 90% begin to ensure that you look out for the next inspection and hope for an improvement. Anything at 85% or less is not considered to be acceptable.



Some cruise lines often feature a number of their cruise ships coming up with 100% scores.



Of the cruise lines with a huge number of large vessels each, five of the Royal Caribbean Cruise ships,  four of the Carnival Cruises ships, four of the Princess Cruises ships, four of the Norwegian Cruise Line vessels, and two of the Holland America Line ships, have each earned the 100% score.



Of the smaller cruise lines, with smaller ships, top scorers include vessels of P&O Cruises, Oceania Cruises, Silverseas, and Cunard Line.



For full details take a look at the latest scores updated on 6th March 2012 at www.prowsedge.com/cruise-lines-vessel-sanitation-program.html

Friday, March 8, 2013

Prow’s Edge Best Cruises Awards

Most cruise lines and cruise information sites will announce their awards for the best in all sorts of categories of cruises and cruise companies. 



Prow’s Edge is pleased to be one of the first this year to announce their findings as to “the best” in various categories of cruise lines and the kinds of cruises they offer.



It has proven practically impossible, however, to find single winning cruise lines for each award, just as it is impossible sometimes to chose the best film at the Oscars because they are all so different and so good for very different reasons.



Each Prow’s Edge award this year is allocated to three equal winners in each category.



Some cruise lines have earned more than just one award, some as much as three.



Actual details about the awards listed here according to the cruise lines, are actually explained at www.prowsedge.com/cruise-lines-best.html




Crystal Cruises has been recognized as one of the top three:

Best Cruise Lines - 2012/2013 and 

Best Cruise Lines for Seniors - 2012/2013 and

Best Food Cruise Lines - 2012/2013



Holland America Line has been recognized as one of the top three:

Best Food Cruise Lines - 2012/2013 and 

Best Cruise Lines for Single Cruisers - 2012/2013 and 

Best Cruise Line for Senior Travelers - 2012/2013



Norwegian Cruise Lines  has been recognized as one of the top three:

Best Contemporary Cruise Lines - 2012/2013 and

Best Cruise Lines for Single Cruisers - 2012/2013 and

Best Cruise Lines for Romance – 2012/2013


Fred Olsen Cruise Line has been declared as one of the top three:

Best Cruise Lines - 2012/2013 and

Best Cruise Lines for Single Cruisers - 2012/2013

Oceania Cruises has been recognized as one of the top three:

Best Luxury Cruise Lines - 2012/2013 and

Best Food Cruise Lines - 2012/2013



Costa Cruises has been recognized as one of the top three :

Best Contemporary Cruise Lines - 2012/2013 and

Best Food Cruise Lines - 2012/2013



Regent Seven Seas Cruises has been recognized as one of the top three:

Best Cruise Lines 2012/2013 and

Best Cruise Lines for Senior Travelers – 2012/2013



Princess Cruises has been recognized as one of the top three:

Best Cruise Lines for Romance 2012/2013 and

Best Cruise Lines for Entertainment – 2012/2013



Royal Caribbean International has been recognized as one of the top three:

Best Cruise Lines for Families 2012/2013 and 

Best Cruise Lines for Entertainment – 2012/2013



Carnival Cruise Lines has been recognized as one of the top three:

Best Cruise Lines for Families 2012/2013 and

Best Cruise Lines for Entertainment – 2012/2013



Celebrity Cruises has been recognized as one of the top three:

Best Food Cruise Lines 2012/2013 and

Best Cruise Lines for Romance – 2012/2013



The Yachts of Seabourn have been recognized as one of the top three:

Best Luxury Cruise Lines - 2012/2013



Paul Gauguin Cruises has been recognized as one of the top three:

Best Luxury Cruise Lines - 2012/2013



SeaDream Yacht Club has been recognized as one of the top three:

Best Exclusive Boutique Luxury Cruise Lines - 2012/2013



Silversea Cruises has been recognized as one of the top three:

Best Exclusive Boutique Luxury Cruise Lines - 2012/2013



Hebridean Island Cruises  has been recognized as one of the top three:

Best Exclusive Boutique Luxury Cruise Lines - 2012/2013



MSC Cruises  has been recognized as one of the top three: 

Best Contemporary Cruise Lines - 2012/2013



Windstar Cruises has been recognized as one of the top three:

Best Food Cruise Lines 2012/2013



AmaWaterways has been recognized as one of the top three:

Best River Cruise Lines 2012/2013



Disney Cruise Line has been recognized as one of the top three:

Best Cruise Lines for Families 2012/2013



Orion Expedition Cruises has been recognized as one of the top three:

Best Adventure Cruise Lines - 2012/2013



Lindblad Expeditions has been recognized as one of the top three:

Best Adventure Cruise Lines - 2012/2013



Viking River Cruises has been recognized as one of the top three:

Best River Cruise Lines 2012/2013



Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection has been recognized as one of the top three:

Best River Cruise Lines 2012/2013





Again, the actual details about the awards can be found at:
www.prowsedge.com/cruise-lines-best.html



Sunday, March 3, 2013

Alcohol on a Cruise - Take it Easy

Following our last blog taking a humorous look at the outcome of red wine and beer consumption on a cruise ( http://prows-edge-cruise-magazine.blogspot.ca/2013/02/food-and-alcohol-related-heart-attacks.html) here is a more serious look at the over indulgence in alcohol on a cruise.



This is not to say that too many cruisers are all alcoholics - it’s just that many just think that part of the fun of a cruise is to drink more alcohol than they normally would at home – and to enjoy it.

Very few people gurgle several cocktails before dinner every night. Nor do they follow this unusual indulgence with a bottle of wine with their meal, and then carry on afterwards in the bar, the disco, even the theatre show and then add to it all with a closing night cap before they head off to bed.

And yet on a cruise this is considered to normal and quite acceptable.



Our fist tip is that you should remember before your cruise that this NOT “normal and quite acceptable”.  Fun maybe - but not a good thing.



Before you sip your third beer at the poolside, just remember that too many of those over a long time will mean you will have to avoid stripping off down to your swimming costume. Drinks have calories, and too many of them will result in too many extra inches around your waist line. And this can happen very quickly.



Who hasn’t come back from a cruise and been horrified to see the increase in weight.  It’s not all just because of the extra food.



One beer at the poolside, or a cocktail with exotic ingredients before dinner is fun. But leave it at one.



And it’s not just your waist line that suffers because of the over indulgence in beer and gin and tonics. As nice as they might be, they’re not doing your liver much good - and that’s not something we think of every time we take another gulp of perfectly chilled lager.  It might even not be evident until the next visit to the doctor.



Also, over consumption of alcohol on a cruise is not doing your wallet much good either.

Sound too obvious?



You will be surprised to learn how often turns out to be a bit of a shock at the end of the cruise when passengers have to settle the onboard account to see just how much all those treats are now actually costing.

 No need to avoid alcohol - just take it easy!