Dealing with Jet Lag


It may be exciting to consider those exotic cruises with destinations in a totally different time zone so far away from your home town – but you need to be careful.  That change in time zone can seriously effect your holiday, or at least the first few days of it.
In the old days, experienced travelers would laugh at anyone saying they were suffering from jet lag.  But that’s unfair.  Some of us may react more to a change in time zone.  Some of us may not react at all.  But it is a fact that changing time zones can have a serious impact on your energy levels and your sleep patterns.



Here are some tips on how to make sure you don’t suffer too badly from the dreaded “jet-lag” and get to enjoy every day of the cruise more fully.



Don’t anticipate the jet lag

Don’t assume that your jet lag is going to be as bad as those “doom” merchants may relish telling you how bad it can be. Very often they’re the ones who are envious of your exciting vacation and say these things to ease their jealousy – or they just like to put a dark side to everything.



Avoid herbal remedies and magic cures for jet lag

Unless you have already tested something that works for you, no matter how much those “doom” merchants may recommend them, avoid strange herbal remedies to ease jet lag. Such things may just cause you trouble.



Try to adjust your time clock before you travel

Many experienced travelers say that they are able to reduce the effects of jet lag by adjusting their patterns of sleep and meal times at home closer to what they  will be to those of the actual vacation. The idea is to do this at least 3 or 4 days before departure. While this may not be entirely possible, adjusting your time clock as close as possible to that of your destination will help!  
                                             
Adhere as quickly as possible to the new time clock

Once you arrive at your point of departure for the cruise, you should NOT succumb to the temptation to have an afternoon nap, or gotobed inthe veryearly evening. Even if you do feel tired, it is best to try and adapt to the new time zone as quickly as possible. 

A good way if doing this is make sure you’re getting a lot of fresh air - not too difficult a task as the cruise ship heads out to sea, or if you haven’t boarded yet, take a stroll out of the hotel and into the open air.

Avoid nicotine, alcohol and caffeine

It is also advisable to avoid your favorite glass of wine or cocktail during your first few evenings, and certainly it is a good idea to make sure the coffee you’re drinking is decaffeinated. The third thing to avoid is having a cigarette. These three things can only make it more difficult for your body to adjust to the new time zone.



Make your cabin or hotel room more conducive to letting you sleep.

Once in bed, later than you really wanted, and you’ve followed all the other tips, it may be advantageous to make sure your cabin or hotel suite is as dark as possible.  This can only help you get to sleep more easily. Experienced travelers also try earplugs to blog out any new sounds you are not used to.



Taking these tips in mind - you may actually find you have absolutely no jet lag at all!



For more advice on a variety of topics to do with your cruise, take a look at the Advice section of Prow’s Edge Cruise Magazine
at http://www.prowsedge.com/cruise-advice-tips.html

Crimes at Sea



Not everyone wants to focus on the dangers and some horrors of taking a cruise – but as we have often said before at Prow’s Edge, it is worth knowing the dangers, wise to be aware of the problems so that one can be cautious and actually enjoy a problem free cruise.



And this is not just about Prow’s Edge being morbid.



More and more Popular TV and radio stations, such as NBC Chanel 6 in Miami and WKMG-TV/Local 6 - CBS in Orlando are now bringing the news about crimes at sea - especially those where no action was taken to bring justice for the victim.  



And again, this is not about dwelling on some horror stories - it is about making sure cruise passengers remain safe and incident free.


Here in our FIRST blog about this topic are a few brief, common sense tips about general awareness and taking care with alcohol on a cruise.









Be aware of what is happening around you on  a cruise

Although you’re on holiday and should be enjoying it all without any worries, you still need to make sure that you are always aware of what is happening around you and to be a aware of your surroundings - just as y would be at home.  



And in fact, many travelers will maintain that you need to be even more vigilant and cautious about your surroundings than you are at home.





Taking care with drinking (alcohol) on a cruise

Excessive or heavy alcohol consumption can make you less aware of your surroundings and hence less aware of possible threats.



Alcohol in large amounts also means that you do not always make the sensible decisions at that time when your senses and judgements are a little  tampered.



The latest in warnings about drinking on a cruise concerns the problem of unattended drinks.  It is no longer just a part of horror stories and movies in which drinks can be doctored when you are not keeping a close check. Passengers who are drugged with out realizing it, raped and left with an inability to recall any part of the crime is sadly no longer a very unusual crime. Watch your drink being prepared, avoid leaving your drink unattended, and be careful in accepting drinks from strangers.





Our next blog in this series will offer some sensible advice about being isolated on your cruise, and in the blog after that there will be comments about keeping your stateroom and your belongings safe and secure.




For more information about the reality of crimes at sea visit International Cruise Victims at:
 www.internationalcruisevictims.org



Also see the Prow’s Edge extensive section about Safety at Sea at: www.prowsedge.com/cruise-ship-crime.html

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.

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

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!

How to Pick the Best Family Cruise



This follows our blog about Why Cruise? To Vacation with the Whole Family! and offers advice on how to chose the right cruise for you.

The are plenty of reasons why cruises are the ideal vacation for so many people, and this includes families with children.  But there is a lot to bear in mind and a lot of things to consider.



The first and most obvious thing when deciding on a cruise with your children is to spend some time on your research here on the internet and to see what the cruise lines offer, and which cruise lines specialize in catering to families traveling with children.



There are  cruise lines that do not necessarily cater to children.  Where this may sound heartless, it is in fact a natural way to offer a vacation for those who don’t particularly want to travel with children around them.



And then, of course, there are cruise lines that very often offer cruises for families but also feature “break-a-way” events and facilities on board so that Mom and Dad can get a break while the children are being well looked after.  In fact, they all get so much fun, they probably don’t even miss each other.



The whole point in planning a cruise is to do the research before you make your mind up.


In doing your research and planning an ideal cruise for you and your children, there are many things to take into consideration.



WHICH CRUISE LINES ARE PERFECT FOR CHILDREN?

The first of your research chores of course is to look at which cruise lines blatantly advertise that they offer vacations that cater to families with children.



WHICH CRUISE LINES OFFER SPECIAL RATES FOR CHILDREN?

The second thing then for many to consider is to find out if these cruise lines offer special rates for children.  Their ages may make a difference.



WHICH CRUISE LINES OFFER DIFFERENT FORMS OF ACCOMMODATION COMBINATIONS FOR FAMILIES?
It would be sensible to find out if the cruise lines now on your short list offer cabins that can accommodate one or two children a well as the two adults, or/and whether the cruise line under inspection offers adjoining cabins - the ideal solution if traveling with teenagers - so that they’re close enough to keep an eye on but they don’t have worry about Dad’s snoring.



WHICH CRUISE LINES OFFER WHAT IN THE WAY OF FOOD FOR DIFFERENT AGES?

Once of the equally important things to find out is the type and range of food available on the short list of cruises and cruise lines you now have in front of you. Many cruise lines offer special eating times for those with very young children, and for those older than that, a lot of cruise lines offer a wide range of alternatives that they might enjoy more than the older members of the family.



WHICH CRUISE LINE OFFER WHAT IN THE WAY OF ENTERTAINMENT FOR FAMILIES?

Considered the next important thing to ask in your research is what exactly the cruise lines on your short list offer in the way of special activities for the children and for those age groups of your own children.  This would include activities and entertainment on the ship itself as well as the type of shore excursions available.

You also want to check wether the cruise you finally decide on has any special theme.  You children might not really appreciate a ballroom dancing cruise, while you might not cherish the idea of cruise with a cartoon theme.



WHICH CRUISE LINES OFFER THE BEST IN THE WAY OF DESTINATIONS?

The choice of where you take your cruise depends entirely on the tastes, hobbies and interests of every member of the family.  We can’t offer any advice on this except that you need to make sure that the destination ( or the ship for that matter) does not cater to purely one or two members of the family.



The ship the part of the world she sails to should feature something to satisfy everyone.  



Mush easier said than done, of course.



If planned well, however, a cruise can well be the perfect family vacation.



Delicious New Food Recipe from Oceania Cruises

Sticking with the food theme, Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine is happy to showcase yet another amazing recipe from the cruise lines, this time from renowned and hugely respected Chef Franck Garanger who is currently aiding Oceania Cruises to increase and maintain their well earned reputation for amazing food.



Now part of the esteemed team of culinary directors and executive chefs with Oceania Cruises including renowned Chef Jacque Pépin ( see his recipe at http://www.prowsedge.com/cruise-food-recipes-chef-jacques-pepin.html), French born Fleet Corporate Chef Franck Garanger has worked at some of the world’s most famous hotels including the Hotel de Paris in  Monaco, and the equally renowned Hotel de Cap Eden Roc on the French Riviera in Antibes.



His first position on a cruise ship was with esteemed Silversea Cruises in 1995 followed by  Oceania Cruises in 2003.



“I liked the vision they had for the line,” Garanger says. “And I really liked the passion of all the people involved. They were so into food that, in everything we were creating, they were not only behind me but also tasting the food with me."



Many aspects of Garanger’s tenure with Oceania Cruises have been both challenging and rewarding.



“Regatta was a challenge because we had to start from scratch, and we were working with a ship we didn't build, so we had to make adjustments. We built Marina ourselves, but it was also challenging because we opened eight different restaurants – each a completely different concept – and had 160 cooks onboard to manage. In both cases, there were very high expectations, and we had to deliver in a short period of time. Both debuts were a huge success, and so of course, we’re very happy.”



The cruise passengers are also very happy!

For this latest recipe at Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine see:

Seaweed-Flaked Fillet of Atlantic Turbot over Zucchini with Stuffed Clams and Champagne Foam

Watch out for another recipe from Chef Franck Garanger coming soon ....




Packing for a Cruise - Part 3 (luggage)

As for packing for a cruise, we’ve discussed the advantages of packing lightly, and how and why you should keep the number of shoes you take with you as low as possible.



In this blog article about packing for a cruise we’re tackling the issue of luggage and what sort of luggage is ideal for a cruise.



The main issue is that the luggage should be as strong and as solid as possible. Port luggage handlers are not famous for “tender” luggage care - you only have to watch them unloading the ship while you waiting for your turn to disembark to see that their concern is with speed, and not with loving and nurturing your luggage and your packed souvenirs.



Though very solid luggage bags are more secure, they can be very heavy.  If this is still your choice, make sure that handles, hinges, and even the wheels are as sturdy as the luggage itself. There is not much point in a solid suitcase with cheap hinges that wear out and spill all your belongings on the airport runway, or plastic locks that are sure to snap open at the most inconvenient time.


Soft sided suitcases can be a good deal lighter and easier to manage, but be sure that the fabric used is tightly woven and very strong. The best fabric for suitcases is considered to be “ballistic nylon”, not that most of us would now what that means or looks like, but a question in that direction when purchasing your luggage might well impress the shop keeper and even earn you a good discount.



Also, when purchasing soft-sided luggage, make sure the main structure of the piece is solid enough so as to avoid the case turning into strange shapes and becoming difficult to handle.



Another consideration, apart from worrying about the material used to construct the luggage, is to make sure your luggage has wheels and that these wheels are set far apart and do not stick out unnecessarily. Luggage with wheels set too close to each other actually make the case hard to move about, especially when full, and wheels that sick out are more than likely going to break apart - usually at the most inconvenient moment.


If your take these important points into consideration and if you avoid purchasing the cheapest deal you can find, your luggage should get there and back in one piece.


Take a look at our next blog for more about packing for a cruise.


If you can think of any other hints about packing for a cruise - let us know here at Prow’s Edge and email us at social@prowsedge.com



For more tips and advice on sorts of points of cruising take a look at the advice section of Prow’s Edge Cruise Magazine at www.prowsedge.com/cruise-advice-tips.html

Still More about Family Cruising

UPDATE:

If the last blog about cruising with the family have not given you enough information to fire the imagination and take a cruise with the family take a look the page about family cruising in the advice section of Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine at www.prowsedge.com/cruise-advice-tips-family-cruises.html and in the section of cruises at www.prowsedge.com/types-of-cruises-family-cruises.html.

This should give you enough information to follow your ideas on this as an ideal vacation.

Don't forget either the last blog Cruises for the Family – The Ideal Vacation

Safety at Sea - Avoiding Crime

As much as cruises have become an ostensibly  safe and pleasant vacation option, it is important to understand that just as at any other holiday destination, care must be taken for one's own personal safety.

Though newspapers do not dwell on crime on cruise ships too much, it is important to be aware that it does exist, just as it does anywherre else in the world, and that one needs to be aware of one's own safety.

Important news and tips about cruise ship crime, cruise victims, and safety on a cruise ship can be found in the CRUISE SHIP SAFETY section of Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine.

Offering news, advice and tips about crime and safety on cruise ships, Prow’s Edge Cruise magazine tells the truth about cruise crime and the growing number of cruise victims.

The information in these “safety” pages aboard Prow’s Edge may just tell you some things you didn’t know before and may just help to keep you safe on your dream cruise. Knowledge is your biggest weapon against crime on a cruise ship.

Just some of the topics covered include:

• Top tips to avoid being a victim of a crime on a cruise ship

• What to do if you become a victim of a crime on a cruise ship

• High Seas Crimes (article)

• The truth about drug-facilitated sexual assault (article)

• International Cruise Victims Association

• Safety at Sea - did you know?

• Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act 2009

Fighting the Norovirus on Board Ship

Still talking about the wealth of information available in the Advice section of Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine, there is a wealth of articles dealing with the subject of good health on a cruise. This is not to say that we want to dwell on all the things that could go wrong - but with a lot in the press about the Norwalk Virus on cruise ships recently, it is wise to be informed and prepared. There are many articles in the advice section of Prow's Edge than cover this and other not so savory topics.

The idea is not to depress you but to make sure you are prepared. Then you can forget all about it, knowing that should anything happen, you will be ready to deal with it.

Tips and Advice About the Norwalk – Norovirus on a Cruise Ship

This article covers all aspects of the Norovirus and how best to protect yourself from it, from the obvious like remembering to wash you hands frequently, to avoiding close physical contact with too many people, especially if they're sneezing and not looking too great – no mater what your sympathy may be!

The second part of the article is by medical expert and travel enthusiast Joe Springfield aboard Prow's Edge who offers some good advice.

See www.prowsedge.com/cruise-advice-tips-norwalk-norovirus.html

Keeping Fit on a Cruise

Continuing to let you in on all sorts of advice available at Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine, in case you've missed these pages while studying all the other pages, there are many more topics that might just help you on your next cruise.

The most popular of these remains the article about avoiding putting on weight on a cruise contributed by London-based travel journalist Nicole Rebeiro in which she advises:

"...get out on deck. Enjoy a morning jog around the track, or get harnessed up and try to reach the top of the climbing wall. Relax with a calming yoga session overlooking the blue seas or work those arm muscles while practicing your putting skills. There’s always the outdoor swimming pool, too ..."

More can be found at: Banish the Vacation Belly - by Nicole Rebeiro

Another useful article deals with a closely related topic - that of eating healthfully on a cruise at:  Cruise Tips about Healthy Eating on Cruises

For more helpful hints and advice take a look at the many other topics at the advice, tips section of Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine at www.prowsedge.com/cruise-advice-tips.html

Cruise Advice Topics

It is sometimes difficult to find good advice on your next cruise that is not given by the cruise lines themselves with the hidden agenda of selling their own products.

Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine offers an extensive selection of pages on advice, from everything for seasoned travelers to first time cruisers, without the hidden agenda pf trying to sell a cruise for any particular cruise line.

Here are just some of the topics - from A - C:

• Advice for an Alaska cruise
• Avoiding putting on weight
• Bringing Alcohol Onboard
• Cabin Fever
• Child Free Cruises
• Choosing a Cabin
• Cold Climate Cruising
• Cruise Dress Codes
• Cruise Etiquette
• Cruise First Aid
• Cruise High Fashion
• Cruise Ship Entertainment
• Cruise Ship Laundry
• Cruise Ship Libraries
• Cruise Ship Officers
• Cruise Vocabulary


For more visit the extensive advice section at www.prowsedge.com/cruise-advice-tips.html

All About Ports and Shore Excursions

Holland America Line has dramatically increased its video library on www.hollandamerica.com with the recent addition of 325 short videos showcasing the line’s shore excursions in Alaska and select ports around the world. 

Featuring 275 videos on Alaska tours and 53 port overviews with shore excursion details, guests can get a glimpse of select tours before departing on a cruise and deciding which ones to book. Whether it’s a flightseeing tour in Anchorage, Alaska, or exploring the streets of Quebec City — the premium line’s top-rated port call — the videos show the beauty and diversity of each port while highlighting a particular tour.

“Videos are the best way to show our guests what’s in store when they book a tour and to let them know what they can expect,” said Richard Meadows, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs for Holland America Line. “We have more than 4,000 shore excursions, so these videos help our guests select the right tour that fits their desires.”

When in port, guests on a Holland America Line cruise can choose from several diverse shore excursions including Overland Adventures, off-the-beaten-track explorations, Signature Collection private-car touring and exclusive Medallion Collection excursions.

For stories about cruises experienced with Holland America Line  visit:

http://www.prowsedge.com/cruise-articles-reviews-alaska-holland-america-line.html 

http://www.prowsedge.com/cruise-articles-reviews-alaska-holland-america-line-2.html

http://www.prowsedge.com/cruise-articles-reviews-panama-canal-holland-america.html

and more at Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine at http://www.prowsedge.com

Win a Free Cruise with Carnival

Carnival Cruise Lines today kicked off the “Carnival Breeze-A-Thon,” a fun on-line sweepstakes awarding a free cruise for two as well as a variety of prizes inspired by Carnival Breeze’s innovative dining, bar and entertainment options in the week leading up to the ship’s official naming ceremony.

Carnival Breeze recently arrived in Miami to kick off a year-round program of six- and eight-day cruises to the Caribbean, becoming the largest Carnival Cruise Lines ship ever based in South Florida.

Hurry now to take part before the sweepstakes entry period at Carnival’s Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/carnival comes to a close on the 6th December this week.

On the 8th December, the day of Carnival Breeze’s official naming ceremony, prizes will be awarded each hour between 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., interspersed with a series of videos showcasing many of the ship’s fun and fantastic features.  The final video of the day will feature highlights from the naming ceremony.

Entering the sweepstakes is easy: “like” Carnival on Facebook, visit the “Carnival Breeze-A-Thon” tab and enter to be eligible to win a wide range of fun and memorable prizes.

For more information about Carnival Cruise Lines visit www.prowsedge.com/cruise-lines-carnival-cruise-lines.html at Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine where you can find information on over 80 different cruise lines.

Pandaw Mekong Short Cruises

Pandaw Cruises are now offering a new Mekong short cruise for 3 or 4 nights only between Saigon and Phnom Penh as well as between Siam Reap and Phnom Penh from December 12th to March 13th.

For those wanting to enjoy 10% to 20% discounts visit Pandaw Cruises now at www.pandaw.com

Pandaw Cruises is known for its extensive adventures in which travelers are cushioned with incredible comfort, fine dining, great cocktails and choice wines, as well as extraordinary levels of service.

A feature of all river cruises is the once or twice daily shore excursions led by expert local guides to explore Buddhist temples, historical sites, markets and handicraft workshops.

With ten luxury ships exploring four countries, Pandaw is the largest luxury river cruise company in Asia.

For accounts of experiences with Pandaw Caruise visit:

Cruise article and cruise review about cruising the Rajang River, written for Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine by Robert Tilley to include news on the Rajang River ... at www.prowsedge.com/cruise-articles-reviews-asia-rajang-river-pandaw-river- cruises.html


Cruise article and cruise review about cruising the Mekong, written for Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine by Robert Tilley to include news on Mekong River cruises , ... at www.prowsedge.com/cruise-articles-reviews-asia-mekong-pandaw-river- cruises.html


Cruise article and cruise review about cruising in Myanmar (Borneo) with Pandaw River Cruises, written for Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine by Stu Lloyd to ... www.prowsedge.com/cruise-articles-reviews-asia-myanmar-pandaw-river- cruises.html

Traveling to Canada with a DUI

Problems with entering Canada from the USA after having been convicted of a driving under the influence (DUI) offence, or driving while intoxicated (DWI) offence can be a problem for many taking a cruise that begins in the USA and which has several stops at Canadian ports of call, or indeed a cruise that begins or ends at a Canadian port of call.

This can be very awkward for many travelers even when their conviction was not based on an event that resulted in horrific results.

The good news is that (depending of course on the severity of the offence) there may be a way to deal with this situation and finally make the dream of a trip to Canada come true.

The two main chances of achieving this are by "Criminal Rehabilitation", a process in which  in which a person who is deemed inadmissible to Canada requests from the Canadian Government that their inadmissibility be abolished on a permanent basis, and/or by the procurement of a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) which allows a person to enter Canada.

For full details about this, visit:
www.prowsedge.com/cruise-news-traveling-to-canada-with-a-DUI.html

For more information about FWCanada visit:
www.canadianimmigration.net

Award for AIDA Cruises

AIDA Cruises has been awarded the "Innovation Prize 2012" by the Federal Association of the German Tourism Industry (BTW).

The Association has honored that the company revolutionized the German cruise market and has made a niche product into a product for everyone, but also that the company has an eye on future issues and actively approaches difficult subjects with new ideas.

Statement from Michael Ungerer, President AIDA Cruises, on the occasion of the awards ceremony:

"We are delighted with this award," said Michael Ungerer, President AIDA Cruises. "For us, it means the recognition of the work of our AIDA family, constituting 6,000 people from 25 nations. To break new ground is an important part of the corporate culture of AIDA. We take today's prize as an incentive to surprise in the future with new concepts and to leave the beaten path. Our guests will benefit from our innovative power. In the coming years we will continue our successful growth with products that further inspire the fascination of cruising and will be trendsetting for our industry."

Further information about AIDA cruises take a look at the Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine at www.prowsedge.com/cruise-lines-aida-cruises.html

More Good Advice on Cruises

Here is the final batch of the current topics of advice and information that make the advice section of Prow's edge Cruise Magazine such a popular and useful web source.

Many of these pages cover topics that may not be of immediate use, but certainly may come in very handy and which may make your cruise a more delightful and successful experience.

This particular blog page refers to the last of the main topics of good advice from Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine covering all sorts of themes from phoning on a cruise, to figuring out your table assignments.


• Phoning from a Cruise
• Rewards Programs
• Safety at Sea
• Saving Money on a Cruise
• Seasickness
• Shore Excursions
• Smoking on Cruise Ships
• Sun and the Topics
• Swine Flu
• Table Assignments
• Taking Alaska photos
• The real cost of cruises
• Tipping on Cruises

More Good Advice on Cruises - More Topics

Following our current blogs drawing your attention to the many pages of FREE advice that Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine offers you on all sorts of topics, here is a list of the next 20 topics of interest- many of which you may never need to have to make use of, but many of which may make your cruise a more delightful and successful experience.

Many of these topics refer to medical issues and physical health on your cruise.

The whole section of advice at Prows Edge Cruise Magazine features over 50 pages of useful information – this blog features the next twenty (20) of the main topics of good advice from Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine covering all sorts of themes from how to deal with seasickness and the unlikely event of food poisoning and all sorts of general hints about healthy cruising from maintaining mental health to general medical preparedness and details about the infamous Norovrius and Norwalk viruses.

• Cruise High Fashion

• Cruise Ship Entertainment

• Cruise Ship Laundry

• Cruise Ship Libraries

• Cruise Ship Officers

• Cruise Vocabulary

• Dealing with Disabilities

• Disembarking

• Early/Late Seating for Dinner

• Family Cruises

• Food Poisoning

• Healthy Cruising

• Internet on a Cruise Ship

• Jet Lag

• Lifeboats on Cruise Ships

• Maintaining mental health

• Medical Preparedness

• Norovirus/Norwalk

• Packing for a Cruise

• Packing for a Cruise (more)