Creating a Cruising Plan

Things you should include in the scope of your plan.

Understanding the dream.

o Is this your dream or is this a shared dream between you and your partner?

o How long do you plan to cruise?

o Is this going to be a circumnavigation, one year cruise, two year cruise, or a complete lifestyle change?

o Where do you plan to cruise?

o Will you be a coastal cruiser, blue water cruising, or just a local cruiser?

The boat you plan to cruise on.

o What kind of boat will you need for the type of cruising that you want to do?

o How much will that boat cost, can it be easily be handled by the people involved?

The skills necessary to achieve your cruising goals.

o Do you have the necessary sailing and maintenance and skills to achieve your dream?

o What classes would you need to take to enhance your skills?

And of course finances.

o How you're going to pay for your cruise?

o Will you work part time and cruise part time? o Will you offer services to other cruisers, run a boat based business?

How Long does it take most cruisers to get from wage slave to cruiser?

In my experience and in my research it usually takes the average person or couple about five years from the time that they decide they actually want to go cruising, to create and an execute a plan to get them from a wage slave to full time cruiser. A lot of people have done this much faster, and some never actually achieve their goal.

In my opinion the best place to start when creating your cruising plan is with your finances. One of the most important things that you can do to get yourself ready to go cruising is to pay off all of your debts.

If you start out your cruising life completely debt free, you can live an incredibly fulfilling and frugal lifestyle while cruising full time.

When I first started creating my cruising plan I went to a site called bankrate dot com and they had what's called a snowball calculator. I used this snowball calculator to figure out the fastest and best way to pay off all of my credit card debt. Within 24 months I was able to pay off almost 100 percent of my debt. (except my mortgage, but our plan involved selling the house)

Here is an updated Calculator like the one I used: http://www.crown.org/FindHelp/Personal/Calculators/DebtSnowball.aspx

Now of course this took a lot of effort, a lot of scrimping and cutting back on pretty much everything, but I was absolutely determined to be able to go cruising full time.

That brings us to the next most important thing about creating your cruising plan:

making sure that the dream is not just your dream. When you're creating your cruising plan make sure that this is a shared dream between you and your partner. There are plenty of stories online about couples who started out cruising together and cruising actually destroyed their marriage. Make sure you have the buy-in of everyone involved.

So there you have it, just a quick overview to get you started thinking about what goes in to a cruising plan.

I am a Full Time Cruiser and Entrepreneur. Living and working from my boat "The Gypsy Soul"

Want to learn more About The Cruising Lifestyle?
Visit My site at: http://thecruisinglifestyle.com

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Understanding Law on Cruise Ships

While cruise ships are responsible in ensuring their passengers are safe at all times, they do follow a different law to companies on land. Cruise ship law is very complex and in the event you have an accident while sailing around the world on one of these luxury liners, it's imperative that you seek the help of a professional ship injury lawyer, who has experience in how this law works and how to help you manage your claim effectively.

Whether you are on land or at sea, you are at risk of certain accidents and incidents. You can be injured while walking past the pool, slipping on the wet decking or you can be injured by another passenger, get food poisoning from the kitchen crew and more.

Cruise ship law covers everything from being robbed to be assaulted and having an accident to being attacked by pirates. While you may think it is significantly safer on a ship than flying to a foreign country and exploring, you will find the statistics are very much the same. The difference is than on a ship you get a once in a lifetime experience where you enjoy life on board, visiting new countries and making new friends along the way.

Cruise ships are expected to provide you with safe transport. Of course there are times when this doesn't go exactly to plan, even though the cruise company has taken all the relevant steps to ensure your safety. In the event of an accident or incident on board, you have the right to file a claim. The claim should be handled by a professional and experienced injury lawyer as soon as you get home and have your feet on stable ground.

What many passengers who find themselves ill or injured while at sea don't realize is that claims are subject to cruise ship law. This means that you need to follow a strict protocol. This protocol is known and understood by injury lawyers who specialize in maritime law and can provide you with the information and assistance you need to successfully file a claim within the agreed time frame.

Another thing you may not realize is that not all cruise ships are from your country, this means that they are regulated by the law in the country they are registered. This can be exceptionally confusing as the law in one country often varies from that of another.

The good news is that when sailing international waters, they are all regulated by the international laws, which should be fully understood by your cruise ship injury lawyer. The international regulations require that all crew are trained, the crew should be competent in what they do, there should be adequate fire safety procedures and equipment in place and there should be lifesaving on board. In addition to this the ship is required to have specific navigational equipment and safety management in place.

The ship company is responsible to ensure that each and every passenger is protected from physical harm. Of course there are those few occasions where passengers will find themselves injured, whether they slip on a wet deck, fall in their cabin bathroom or fall down some stairs.

In the event of a passenger going missing, whether they fall overboard or go offshore during an excursion and get lost, it is up to the cruise company to follow set search and rescue protocols, doing what they can to find the passenger in the shortest period of time.

All injury lawyers will ask to see your ticket. On the back of your ticket you will find the process that is to be followed when it comes to filing a claim in the event of an injury. This will include the time frame the cruise company allows, which can be anything from six months to one year in which you have the right to claim.

Crew Advocacy is a personal injury and commercial litigation law specialist with over twenty year's industry experience. This law firm offers their services in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade country. They are a team of bilingual professionals ranging from lawyers to support staff who handle a high volume of maritime claims ranging from wage disputes to personal injury claims and harassment cases to wrongful death, medical malpractice and more. Crew Advocacy offers a professional service working to a fast resolution. They ensure their clients understand the process, offering a wealth of information and a high level of service. To find out more, visit http://www.crewadvocacy.com.

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What Every Cruise Ship Passenger Needs to Know

Thousands of travelers take advantage of cruise ships each year, enabling them to experience the open waters, enjoy sheet luxury and explore foreign countries and ports. Many save for years to enjoy this unique and special experience, sailing off into the sunset for their wedding anniversary, birthday or as a retirement gift to themselves.

As with any form of travel, there are certain factors you need to be aware of, ensuring you take the steps needed to protect yourself in the event of an injury or accident which can leave you unable to work, paying a fortune in medical expenses and losing your income.

The first thing you need to pay very close attention to is your ticket. When your ticket arrives it may look daunting, often pages in length. Go through your ticket with a fine tooth comb, read it front and back to ensure you are completely aware of what is entailed in the event of an accident. Remember not all cruise ships come from your country, which means that many of the ships operate under a different cruise law.

Another important factor to take into consideration is the medical assistance you can find on board. If you suffer from an illness or disease, it is imperative that you identify the quality of medical assistance you can find on board. Most cruise ships provide a medical doctor and nurse, though they are only suitable for minor injuries, mainly dealing with sea sickness. One of the most common things these medical professionals deal with is passengers forgetting their prescription medications at home.

Crime is possible on board. Don't be under the false idea that any crime stays on shore. The fact is that crime can occur anywhere whether it's robbery or assault. Even on board take care of your personal belongings, lock cash away in the cabin safe and ensure you take steps to ensure your own security at all times.

Something to bear in mind is that while cruise ships do take steps to ensure the safety and security of their passengers, in the event of an injury on board, the ship is going to try and protect themselves. This means if you injure yourself you need to take photographs, get witnesses contact information and ensure the injury is logged in the ships accident log. As soon as you have your feet back on home soil, all cruise ship passengers who have been injured need to seek the assistance of a specialist maritime attorney who can help them manage their claim against the cruise company.

Ensure you find a cruise ship attorney as soon as possible. As you will note from your ticket, each cruise ship company has a different rule on how claims are processed, this means that based on the company you can make your claim anywhere from six to twelve months.

In addition to this, it's always advisable to have good quality travel insurance when traveling by sea. In the event of illness or a serious injury, the doctor on board has the right to turn the ship to the nearest port to ensure you get the medical attention you need. If this port is off home soil, then having travel insurance can be a blessing, paying for all hospital and medical costs, ensuring you aren't out of pocket when you return home.

Remember that when traveling with children, you consider all the dangers of being a cruise ship passenger. Ensure the ship caters for children offering entertainment and things to do to keep the children busy and help the whole family have an enjoyable vacation experience to remember for years to come.

Crew Advocacy is a personal injury and commercial litigation law specialist with over twenty year's industry experience. This law firm offers their services in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade country. They are a team of bilingual professionals ranging from lawyers to support staff who handle a high volume of maritime claims ranging from wage disputes to personal injury claims and harassment cases to wrongful death, medical malpractice and more. Crew Advocacy offers a professional service working to a fast resolution. They ensure their clients understand the process, offering a wealth of information and a high level of service. To find out more, visit http://www.crewadvocacy.com.

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Recommendations for Making Cruising More Satisfying

Many of us vessel owners are usually particular about our "ladies" and frequently worry when things do not go as we expected. We get great pleasure when everything is ship shape as well. A lot of us have created small improvements for our vessels to make our time aboard more fulfilling and stress-free.

Some of the stuff we've done on our trawler, the Patricia Ann, have made our cruising more pleasurable and less disturbing. Take a look!

Have you ever had issues with mud wasps? There are air, fuel and water vents at certain points on the boat where those little bugs like to erect mud nests. A plugged vent will create damage when you are filling boat tanks. A folded up 2x3 inch section of coarse air conditioning filter fabric stocked at your local hardware store placed into the vent gap from the outside does the trick, enabling the vent to breathe and keep the pests off our trawler.

What did you last pay for a bottle of isinglass cleaning agent; around $15.00? A far less costly choice that gets results better and consists of a teaspoon of baby shampoo and ½ gallon of distilled water. Use a wool glove to cleanse the glass and dry with a leather chamois cloth or delicate towel.

Don't shell out loads of money on vessel cleanser for cleaning your vessel, use car cleansing soap available at almost any store. It works just as good at a fraction of the sales price and is not going to harm the surfaces.

Subsequent to washing your vessel, do you have window water spots? Utilize household vinegar to clean the windows and the hard water spots disappear altogether.

Do away with clutter in the shower from bath soap, shampoo and conditioner bottles by installing a large fluid dispenser on the shower wall. You can buy one at a reasonable price at any bathroom products retail store.

Use your favorite bath wash with the accessory mentioned above instead of a bar of soap. Bar soap leaves a major soapy scum on grates and shower walls and will clog sump pumps necessitating repeated washing.

To further keep your stall shower sump unsoiled and the pump operating as intended, combine about 1 teaspoon of Dawn dish-washing soap with shower water and allow it to go down the shower drain. Dawn makes an exceptional degreaser. I use this roughly once a week to dissolve any body oils that are present.

Proper storage of sharp knives is imperative for both safety and maintaining the knife's blade. I utilize a magnetized cutlery holder placed on a bulkhead above the range to keep the cutlery surrounded by effortless reach, free up extra drawers and prevent undesired cuts.

Garbage disposal is a continual predicament on a cruising trawler, but a little preparation will eliminate a significant portion of the packing material that makes the problem. Purchase a wide variety of plastic, multi-use containers in an assortment of sizes. Subsequent to purchasing chips, pasta, cereal products, cookies and other dry goods, transfer the food items to the containers and get rid of the product packaging before leaving the dock. Make use of multi-use storage containers for frozen foods also.

Sustaining communication while underway is now easier than ever. I utilize a Verizon air card with my personal computer to achieve broadband service 24/7. It functions anyplace a cell signal is available in the United States.

Mike Dickens, the author, is a trawler owner and owner/Broker of Paradise Yachts in Florida USA.

Paradise Yachts offers used quality yachts to customers worldwide.

Visit the Paradise Yachts website to view our Used Trawler Selection Guide
National and international sales. We ship Used Yachts and Used Boats worldwide. Located in Florida, USA. 904/556-9431

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The Best Questions To Ask Chauffeurs Who Give Airport And Cruise Transfers

If you are hiring a chauffeur or needing an airport transfer for the first time, you may have questions and do not have an idea of what to expect. Those who are using hired chauffeurs for the first time may not know these professional drivers are certified and have taken defensive driving courses. Unlike a cab driver, a chauffeur provides excellent customer service and can get customers to their destinations quickly. Each vehicle used for cruise transfers or an airport transfer is equipped with GPS and in many cases; guests can use free WI-Fi.

You may not know what to ask your chauffeur before you ever step into the professional black car or seven-passenger minivan. Here are five questions that you should ask before your chauffeur takes the car or van out of the park and often should be asked before you make a reservation.

• If using a hired chauffeur, is GAP insurance or any insurance included in the price of the vehicle hire? Many companies that offer car hires include some sort of insurance in the price, so guests are not liable for damages in the event of an accident with their chauffeur behind the wheel.

• Do you have client references? The younger generations of employees, Generations X and Y, read the online reviews before deciding to use a particular car hire company or company, which will give an airport transfer. It is important a company with exceptional service has references to back up the reviews online.

• Do you have an extensive screening process that you use to hire chauffeurs? Most companies that give the professional drivers for local cruise transfers need drivers complete a rigorous training course. They may be required to have close protection training, as well as defensive driving training. Companies only choose the best drivers for their fleets.

• How are chauffeured cars for regional cruise transfers and any airport transfers maintained? How often is maintenance completed on each vehicle? This is an important question to ask before you get in a chauffeured car for an airport transfer. Professional companies that have great reputations will offer a regular maintenance schedule for vehicles.

• How can I reserve a car? Some companies that offer a chauffeur or any local cruise transfers may not make it easy to book a car or minibus. However, there are other companies where booking is relatively simple and may be done online. It is good to ask this question before you need a car, so you can quickly secure the transportation you need and not have to worry it will not be available.

For more information about airport transfers and cruise transfers visit us at: Luton Airport transfer.

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Ten Reasons You Should Take a Daycation

A daycation is simply a day vacation. It's a close cousin of the "staycation," with the advantage that at just one day it requires very little planning. Is it sounding appealing yet?

But before you get too carried away, it's worth pointing out the ironic twist in taking a daycation: in our fast-paced, whirlwind lives the thought of taking a day off can sometimes make us feel anxious.

But wait! That's not what vacation is supposed to do!

Maybe we feel like there are too many people counting on us or that we may compromise our responsibilities. Maybe we feel guilty about taking a day off when everyone else has to show up for work.

If we can get past that, the appeal of a daycation is self-evident:

• Small commitment
• Minimal planning
• Affordable or free

So let's be honest: The only thing stopping us from taking a daycation is... you got it: US.

When you think about what might be stopping you from taking a day off, really think about what you feel you would jeopardize. Start by taking a little time to think about any feelings of guilt, fear or anxiety. You can even write them down to look at them objectively. Then ask yourself: "Realistically, will things really fall apart if I take a day off?"

And just in case you're still not convinced, here are ten good reasons why you should consider taking a daycation before too long:

1. Disruption fosters creativity. Shake up the routine!
2. Taking a daycation means you are taking a stand for yourself.
3. Creating space can invite clarity into a life situation.
4. Determining how you will spend a full day puts you back in the driver's seat of your life.
5. If you are feeling over-extended, reclaiming a day for yourself is a generous act of self-kindness.
6. Especially with hectic schedules, having a full day to spend as you see fit is like taking a big deep breath for 24 hours.
7. You are almost sure to see/hear/experience you wouldn't have in a "normal" day.
8. Inviting someone you love to share a daycation with you can create a very special memory.
9. You can absolutely "play hookie" from your life for a day and remain a responsible adult.
10. There will never, ever be a day exactly like this again.

Do some reasons resonate more than others? In today's culture of always wanting to do more, you shouldn't be surprised if more than one of these reasons rings true for you.

So... what are you doing tomorrow?

Written by Lisa at Happy Holidays Guides.

If you found this article useful, we have a treasure trove of money-saving travel tips, provocative travel perspectives and in-depth personal destinations reviews and photos. Visit our website to discover travel wisdom and vacation eye-candy: http://www.happyholidaysguides.com

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Top Tips for Getting Away From It All, Without Actually Getting Away

I have just booked a holiday, the kind of holiday I have never booked before... an all inclusive week long spa break. I have almost always gone away in search of something; adventure, creativity, exploration (of self and the world), romance, culture, learning... but now I know all this is available on my own doorstep I feel less of a need for a holiday and strangely, I feel like I need to need this kind of holiday!

This got me thinking and in a recent survey I did in my own head, it seems that many people reach a certain point, let's call it a breaking point, and decide they need a holiday. The ten main reasons for going on holiday, according to the aforementioned survey, were as follows;

1) Need to get away from work/life stress

2) To relax

3) To get quality time with loved ones

4) Habit - "we always get away at this time of year."

5) A break from the norm

6) A new experience/different culture

7) To have some fun - nightlife, a sporting event, or just an adventure.

8) To get some sun/a tan (so that you can feel happy/look healthy)

9) It's on my bucket list - "I've always wanted to go there."

10) Facebook is showing that everyone else is doing it and I need some new pics to get everyone jealous.

The funny thing about holidays is that sometimes booking them seems to add stress. For example, people often book their two week break, and then spend months telling others (before and after) that they can't afford anything else because they have just paid for/been on their holidays (which of course must include a whole new wardrobe and toiletry stock up). There are also those that worry about their work, either before they go, desperately trying to tie up ALL lose ends (they can't possibly delegate), or whilst away, or when they come back to hundreds of emails. This kind of thinking is what makes some believe they can't take a break at all.

So how can you get the same results that a holiday gives you, without actually going on holiday?

Here are my top tips for getting away from it all, without actually getting away:

1) Make the most of your free time - don't just come home on a Friday night and eat dinner in front of the TV. Plan a date night; a quick drink after work or a dinner date does not cut into your chill out time, it's part of it!

2) Schedule in a couple of hours at the weekend or an evening in the week to do something for you. Get creative, read a book quietly in a cafe, or simply sit in a warm bath. Make sure other people are aware this is happening and it's for you... not to get away from them, but to reconnect with yourself. Equally, schedule in quality time with loved ones - a lift to football practice or food shopping with your partner does not count!

3) Think good thoughts and you really don't notice the rain... and share that with others, smile at strangers.

4) Have a themed night in. Mexico, Italy, France, Asia..get everyone to bring a dish using unusual fruit and veg, get dressed up, find some tunes, decorate the dining room, rent a relevant movie... bring the culture to you.

5) Once a month turn a weekend into an adventure - jump on a random bus, stick your finger on a map, make a list of places you want to go and can get to, put the ideas in a hat and pick one, or simply take a walk and get off the beaten track. The key here is to be excited about what you might discover.

6) Have a night out with the girls - slap on some fake tan and bust out the summer time tunes as you get glammed up.

7) Focus on what you have got - I've said it before and I'll say it again, grateful people are so much happier than those always chasing something else. Write a gratitude dairy every couple of days and reflect when needed.

8) Relax - meditate, swim, do a yoga/mindfulness class, have a lay in... whatever works for you, do it... and do it often.

9) Really look at things around you in wonder - see things differently and you will find many wonders already in your world.

10) Be silly - letting your hair down isn't just for children or when alcohol is involved. Go dance in the kitchen and sing in the street!

BONUS TIP - Love what you do. (And if you don't love what you do, get a coach. OK, so I'm biased, but some of the most successful people I know have had help to unpack their suitcase full of overwhelm and feel free without having to take flight.)

Sam Holman is a 'Guru of Brave' and works with women in transition to unpack their baggage and achieve success with confidence. Find out more http://www.holsamlifecoaching.com

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