Cruise holidays are wonderful. It is great to be able to visit several iconic destinations in one holiday without spending hours in traffic jams and airports. Cruising provides you with the chance to travel the world in luxury.
But, you need to bear in mind that things can go wrong. Not very often, but frequently enough to create the need for you to be prepared for those eventualities.
Know where to get help
Fortunately, help is available. If you have an accident while on-board, it is not hard to find an offshore injury attorney to help you to make a claim, should you need to do so. He or she will explain how to gather evidence of what happened. They will also guide you through what and what not to say. You do not want to be dishonest. But, on the other hand, you should not be sharing information that could harm your claim, especially when you are not required to do so by law.
Buy a good travel insurance policy
Your travel insurance company and holiday rep will also both be able to help. But, you need to bear in mind that for them there may be a bit of a conflict of interest. They will want to help, but will also be out to minimize their exposure, should an incident occur. That is why it is wise to speak to a personal attorney that has offshore accident experience, as well as contact your travel insurance company. If you are in any doubt that this is necessary, this government report that has been produced by the American Association for Justice may change your mind.
Make sure that the policy you buy provides an appropriate level of coverage. This is particularly important if you are planning to take part in activities like water skiing, which some insurance firms categorize as high risk and will not automatically cover.
Keep important numbers and other details in more than one place
It is best to have the contact details of a lawyer, your travel insurance company and holiday rep to hand. It is worth adding these to your phone before you travel.
In addition, a lot of travelers list them out on a printable contact sheet that also contains details like lost card and hotel contact numbers, etc. This can be folded and securely stowed in the little pocket on your jeans. That way if your phone or other belongings get stolen you still have the phone numbers and other details you need to sort things out. This downloadable template makes it super easy for you to create that type of list.
Familiarize yourself with the safety equipment
Familiarize yourself with the exits and muster stations closest to your cabin and the public area you are in. Know where the life jackets are too. If you do that, in the very unlikely event that you are asked to abandon ship you will know where to go. Do the same with fire extinguishers and read the safety notice, which is usually on the cabin door.
Hopefully, you will not have any problems and will be able to enjoy your entire cruise without incident. But, should that not be the case, following the tips above will help you to be better prepared to deal with things effectively.
