I recently returned home from a 28 day cruise on the Carnival Freedom. Over the years, the wife and I have made several trips with them. On this particular vacation, I had a small incident in the shower that reminded me of the cruise line’s catch phrase: “Have Fun – Be Safe”. It got me to thinking that I should write this short article on things I’ve learned to stay safe.
- Be careful when the elevator stops. There always seem to be a lot of rude people that seem to think they should be the first one to get on. When that door opens, passengers exiting the elevator are in real danger of getting knocked over. You need to be extra careful on embarkation day and debarkation eve when several of the elevators are shut down for luggage handling.
- If you imbibe in an occasional alcoholic beverage, be careful you don’t get hit by a stray punch. I don’t think I’ve ever been on a cruise without at least one old fashioned knock down and drag out brawl.
- If you pick up a souvenir brick while in port, be prepared to get grilled by Ship’s Security. You can get in on board if you promise that it won’t show up in the bar.
- Don’t pass gas in the shower. The stalls are not very big and it doesn’t take long for the smell to get from the middle of your body to the region of your nose.
- If you like to shop, be extra careful when the ship has a t-shirt sale. Even though they are still expensive, people crowd the sales table like it is a Black Friday at Walmart. You will get bumped and pushed.
- The buffet line can be extremely hazardous. Always remember that there are hundreds of people crowding around the food (especially the dessert bar). Always remember that many of them are carrying trays full of food, hot beverages, utensils and more.
Finally, make sure you spend a lot of money in the casino, shops and bars. This won’t make you any safer, but it will help to make my cruise cheaper.