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Cruising ABCs
Everything You Need to Know to Take a Cruise
By Crystal Patriarche
Where should we go? What cruise line should I choose? How long should we be on the boat? These are some of the first of many questions you'll be faced with when contemplating a cruise.
"We like Royal Caribbean the best," Estridge says. "We have been on Carnival and it is OK. I think it depends on the ship. My favorite island to visit is St. Thomas because there is so much to see and do. I think a seven-day cruise is the best because it gives you a lot of time, and being on a shorter cruise seems so rushed."
For Kollin Fencil of East Lansing, Mich., the best part of his honeymoon cruise was relaxing while cruising on the open seas, which he says was very nice, peaceful and quiet. He chose Royal Caribbean for his cruise. "The worst part was stopping six times in seven days," he says.
Baumann says she would suggest a cruise that is a bit longer, so you won't feel rushed. "On a short cruise, you feel you couldn't miss out on anything so you try to do so much," she says. "That kind of took away from the doing nothing approach."
Be sure to ask your travel agent about the various theme nights on the ship so you can bring necessary clothing, says Baumann. "We had Western Night, Gender Bender Night where we dressed up as the opposite sex, Fright Night, PJ night and two Captain's Formal Balls," says Baumann of her recent cruise.
Other items she suggests bringing are beachwear, warm clothes, nice clothes for dinner and going out clothes for the disco. "If that is wat you are interested in, of course!" she says.