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Travel Tips & Tricks

NCL Secrets – Our Top 22 Norwegian Cruise Line Tips and Tricks

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NCL Secrets

Who doesn’t love unlimited food, around the clock entertainment and almost daily visits to new countries?

These are just a few of the reasons why cruising has become one of the most popular ways to vacation with 22.1 million passengers cruising worldwide in 2014.

With all the sailing opportunities, it’s important to make the most of your time and money. That’s why we put together these 22 Norwegian Cruise Line Tips and Tricks. Don’t miss a chance to experience all that NCL has to offer!

NCL Secrets – Norwegian Cruise Line Tips and Tricks

Cruise savings –

I’ve written a more detailed article on ways to save on booking a cruise that is worth a read. Many of these tips are the same for all cruise lines, so it’s a great article to start off with before you book.

However, there are a couple of tricks specific to NCL.   First, sign up for the NCL newsletter and you will be notifiedof special offers.  Each email will include any available discount, bonus or special available.   It is common for NCL to run “Free at Sea” offers. Depending on the promotion and the room category you book, you can get 1 to 4 free offers per cruise.   These typically include a free Ultimate Beverage Package, free Specialty Dining Package, free Wifi Package or a cruise excursion credit. Pairing these offers with a cruise sale can add up to huge savings.

NCL also offers Military and AARP discounts for those that qualify.

Download my FREE Printable Cruise Planner to keep all your trip details organized!

Cork that bottle –

Alcohol can be expensive on board cruise ships.  Purchase a bottle while on board and have the NCL staff cork it if you can’t finish the entire bottle.  At dinner, they will label the bottle with your name and cabin number, so you can enjoy it the next night.

You can also bring your own bottle of wine. You’ll pay a $15 corking fee for a 750ml bottle upon boarding. No other alcohol can be brought on board.

Wine Policy – Yes, guests may bring sealed bottles of wine on board for personal consumption. They will be checked prior to embarkation and a corkage fee applied at that time of $15.00 USD for a 750 ml Bottle or $30.00 USD for a 1,500 ml Magnum bottle. Box wines are not allowed on board. If guests do not wish to pay the corkage fee, the wine will be held onboard and returned to the guests at the end of the cruise.

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5 Ways to Respectfully Interact with Local Cultures

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5 Ways to Respectfully Interact with Local Cultures
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You’ve heard the “ugly American” stereotype right? The loud, rude, obnoxious American tourist that visits a country leaving a very indelible mark. Learning how to interact respectfully with the local well traveling can mean the difference between having an amazing experience, and one that just downright stinks. Small things make a big difference and even just employing one of these tips can net you friendlier service, local friends, and also helps preserve the local culture.

Learn the Taboos

Various different cultures have various different taboos or “no-no’s.” For example, in many Buddhist cultures, it’s considered rude to touch a child on the head. In many Middle Eastern cultures showing the bottom of your shoe or foot is seen as offensive. While these may not be a big deal in your culture you may have just seriously offended someone else. Most people understand that you may not know but taking a little time to learn cultural taboos before visiting another country can help keep you out of hot water.

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Guide to Managing Money in Europe: Tips for Using Foreign Currency & Saving Money

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So you’re planning a trip to Europe, but don’t want to waste money with hidden fees or getting ripped off at the money exchange booth.   We’ve been living in France and traveling throughout Europe for 2 years, so I can safely say we’ve learned a few things over the years – and made some costly mistakes.  We put all our tips into one place to, hopefully, help you avoid our blunders.

Guide to Managing Money in Europe

Knowing the local currency is a must.  Luckily, half the countries in Europe use the Euro – many of which are typical American tourist destinations.  I’ve heard stories from my parents traveling Europe years ago and needing a different currency in every different country. What a pain!

Now, while most countries you will likely visit use the Euro, not all do.  Here is a list of the countries that do not use the Euro and the currency they use instead:

  • Albania (Albanian lek)*
  • Azerbaijan (Azerbaijani manat)
  • Belarus (Belarusian ruble)
  • Bulgaria (Bulgarian lev)
  • Croatia (Croatian kuna)
  • Czech Republic (Czech koruna)
  • Denmark (Danish krone)**
  • Georgia (Georgian lari)
  • Hungary (Hungarian forint)
  • Iceland (Icelandic krona)
  • Liechtenstein (Swiss franc)
  • Macedonia (Second Macedonian denar)
  • Moldova (Moldovan leu)
  • Norway (Norwegian krone)**
  • Poland (Polish złoty)
  • Romania (Fourth Romanian leu)
  • Russia (Russian ruble)
  • Serbia (Serbian dinar)
  • Sweden (Swedish krona)
  • Switzerland (Swiss franc)
  • Turkey (Turkish lira)***
  • Ukraine (Ukrainian hryvnia)
  • United Kingdom (Pound sterling)

*Some touristic places in Albania also accept Euros, Pounds and American Dollars.
** Some tourist places in Denmark and Norway also accept Euros.
*** We used euros in Ephesus, Turkey but I don’t think the exchange rate was the greatest.

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Beat the Boredom – 12 Tips for Surviving Airport Layovers with Kids

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Airport layovers, as an adult, can be boring and frustrating, but airport layovers with kids can be downright distressing.  That’s why I strive to turn our inevitable layovers into an extension of our vacation.  Being prepared, getting some rest and turning wait time into game time can help reduce the stress.

Because the reality is that you will, at some point, experience layovers. Flights with layovers tend to be much cheaper than direct flights.  Sometimes it’s just not possible to get a direct flight between destinations.  Other times circumstances beyond our control, such as weather or aircraft delays, result in more time than expected hanging around the terminal.

Luckily, this does get a bit easier as kids get older.  At least they no longer need constant attention.  But being hungry, tired and bored can amplify emotion in an already moody teen.

Don’t land stressed and frustrated!  Gone are the days of sitting around at the gate twiddling your thumbs trying to keep the kids calm.  Here’s our 12 suggestions for surviving airport layovers with kids:

Know Your Gate Location: 

We like to find our gate right away, so we know where the aircraft will be located.   I don’t want any surprises when it’s time to board.  I can’t count the number of airports we’ve been in where it takes 30+ minutes to get from one side or terminal to another.  Recently, I swear we walked for 15 minutes down a never ending corridor before we even saw the first gate number.

Find a Deserted Gate

However, instead of waiting at our gate, I like to hunt down an empty gate.  You might find these closer to the end of the terminal.  Here, kids can be a little louder and more active without disturbing other flyers.  If kids are little, they can run around the chairs to get some of their energy out, spin in circles or have a mini dance party.

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6 Unusual Jobs to Travel for FREE

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6-Unusual-Jobs-to-Travel-for-FREE

I know you want to find out how to travel for FREE.  There are a ton of great ideas out there, but we’re going to look at usual jobs to travel for free.   While it isn’t often you can travel completely for free, there are some wonderful ways to make it happen.

Keep in mind some of these are true life changes that enable travel to be commonplace and included in part of your life.  Others are simply methods you can work toward providing your family with a great fun filled free vacation.

You’ve probably heard that working on a cruise ship is a great way to combine work and travel.  It is and many people choose this path.  It didn’t seem that unusual to me, so it’s not on the list.

I also didn’t include teaching English abroad.  There are a ton of great programs around the globe that will allow you to travel to a foreign country while making a living.

Now that we’ve got those 2 jobs out of the way, lets move on to the more unusual.

Unusual Jobs to Travel for Free:

Become a trucker.  This one may seem unlikely to work, but you would be surprised at how many individuals enjoy seeing the country simply by getting behind the wheel of a truck making deliveries.  This is something that is a huge life change, but can work for many individuals, couples and even families.   Packing the kids up and homeschooling on the road is also an option that allows families to see new places while making a living.

Obviously, this career choice can have many drawbacks.  Long separations between the driver and family can be difficult for everyone including a marriage.  If you have a young kids, this likely isn’t the job for you.  You also have to be okay with the solitude that comes from being on the road for extended periods of time.

Become an RV park caretaker.  There are tons of RV parks nationwide that are looking for individuals to live and work in the park.  You bring your RV and get free hookups in exchange for running the front desk or doing a few maintenance jobs here and there around the park.  You can stay in one place for a few months, then move on to another location that is in need.

Become a hotel reviewer.  Just like many restaurants look for critics, so do hotels.  Start searching online for hotel review programs, or join a media group that gives you discount or free stays in exchange for photographs and reviews.  These vary from hotel to hotel, but they are a great usual job to travel for free.  Look for the PR or media contact at the hotel chains you want to consider and let them know you are looking to do reviews of their facilities.

Sometimes they want to know if you have a social media following, website or other publication that could reach more potential customers.  Other times they simply need and want reviewers for one and two night stays in various locations.

Work vacations around business travel.  This is one hidden trick to traveling for free that takes a bit of planning but can easily be managed.  If you often travel for business purposes, you can easily combine things like a 2-3 day business trip with exploring a new city.  Choose travel locations you haven’t been to and enjoy the non business or work related hours to explore, take in local culture and learn something new.  Many times you can negotiate staying an extra day if you have a cheaper flight option, or if you pay for that extra night in the hotel yourself.

Do road tests on vehicles.  If you have mechanics experience or an engineering background, many car manufacturers will pay you to take their vehicles on road trips to test out their performance under various conditions.  They often have some required skills, and sometimes this is only open to full time employees for the car company, but it is a great industry to look into for single individuals who don’t mind driving long distances under various conditions for testing purposes.  Not a great idea for couples or families to do.

Transport RV’s across country.  Almost every RV manufacturer has a program that allows you to pickup an RV and drive it to a different location for delivery.  If you live near cities where RV’s are manufactured, this could mean a free trip for you.

You will have to consider the costs of food, gas and your return trip, but a discounted sight seeing RV trip can be a great choice for many families.  Just ensure that the company allows you to bring along your spouse or family.

These usual jobs to travel for free are great for many individuals and families to look into.  Traveling is a thing that many are passionate about and is easy to incorporate into daily life when you think outside the box.

What other jobs ideas can you share?

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