The Great Investor Cruise is a Blast!

Days onboard are casual and you’ll be most comfortable in sport clothes and resort wear. Shoes should be low-heeled for deck activities. Bring a few swimsuits so you’ll always have a dry one. You don’t have to bring towels, as they are provided. And don’t forget your camera and binoculars, so you don’t miss a thing. 

When you’re onshore, shorts, polo shirts, light sweaters, khakis and jeans are perfectly acceptable. Of course, you’ll want to pack some comfortable walking shoes as well as a hat and sunscreen for protection from the sun. A rain slicker and compact umbrella may come in handy for the occasional downpour. You should also bring some formal wear for formal occasions. Cocktail dresses for women, suit and ties or tuxedos for men. You can arrange to rent a tuxedo onboard, if you prefer.

 

What About Kids?

They have a great kids adventure program.. The staff does a great job keeping your kids busy and having fun.

 

 

What If I Get Seasick?

Check with the Medical Staff.. you can get a patch behind the ear or some kind of pill.

FYI, with over 20 cruises under my belt, there was only one cruise where i got a little sick due to 18 ft seas…. very rough water

 

 

Can You Feel The Boat Rock?

Depends on the water and the waves. With calm seas, no. with a gentle seas, a gentle sensation. 

But get this, they leave fancy china, wine glasses sitting on the tables… this is a huge floating resort.

Keep in mind, if the cruise experience was butt ugly, people would not go. These ships have huge stabilizers, (wings that extend out from the ship under water and act like airplane wings to keep the ship stable.)

 

 

Will My Cell Phone Work?

WARNING! These newer ships now have cell phone towers on their boat. I recommend to Turn OFF Your Cell Phone. TURN IT OFF COMPLETELY.

WHY?

You will be charged a daily access fee, plus outrageous rates for calls and even TEXT Messages… 

What really sucks about this, it happens without your knowledge.

TURN OFF your automatic roaming feature on your phone.

If you want to make phone calls… use Skype for 2 cents per minute.

 

Wi-Fi or Internet Service To Check Email?

YES!  Several choices.

1.) There is an "Internet Cafe" with a dozen or so computers you can use to access email, etc.

2.) There is wi-fi available both in the cafe and in your cabin allowing  you to use your own laptop to access the internet.

You must purchase "minutes" of internet access.

Several packages are sold:

Pay as you go is the most expensive per minute.

Several packages are offered with cheaper rates when you buy more minutes.

 

How Much Does It Cost To Phone Home?

Using your cell phone could be very expensive depending on your carrier. Remember, there is usually a daily access fee plus the price per minute charge, which from memory, is about $3.00 per minute or more.

NEVER Use Your State Room Phone.. I remember seeing $18.00 per minute on the satellite phone.

Your Best Bet:

- Purchase an internet package of minutes, then use Skype to phone home for 2 cents per minute.

TIP: Set up your Skype account for FREE BEFORE You Get on the Boat…. it requires downloading their software to use Skype.. do this at home and not on the boat where the meter is running.

 

What is the Best Cabin to Get?
   (Inside, Outside Stateroom, Stateroom with Balcony, or Suite)

I have tried sleeping vertical in a closet in the "Inside Stateroom" , cheapest, but no windows or balcony. I did it one time and never again.

I have tried the rooms with a window… I did this one time.

I have tried the outside stateroom with a balcony… This is The Way to Go…. It makes your room feel twice as big and you can hang out over the rail without having to go up to the top of the ship.

The Suites are killer too. You can even have your breakfast and dinner served on your balcony with linen tablecloths and candles and flowers. Awesome and Beth said it was romantic.

 

How much does Room Service Cost?

Your Favorite Four Letter "F" Word….. FREE!

24 hours a day, 7 Days a week….ROOM SERVICE IS FREE!!

Note: Booze and soft drinks are not free.

TRAVEL TIPS

These tips are based on my experiences having done a boatload of cruises.

1.) Arrive a Day Early. With air travel today, many times flights are delayed and cancelled. You do not want to miss the boat. They will not wait for you. Stay in a decent hotel and have fun.

2.) Use a "Private Driver" instead of a taxi.

- same price as a taxi

  - is clean

  - does not smell

  - driver speaks American

  - driver does not drive like an idiot slinging you all over the back seat.

  - usually has water ready for you.

  - these are usually the black lincoln town cars with very dark tinted windows.

  - How do you get them?… The best way is to simply call the hotel you are staying at and ask them for the best private driver. This industry works on referrals, so use it. 

 

3.) When Booking Your Airfare on the way to your cruise, try to avoid going NORTH, especially in the wintertime. More likely to have weather delays.

4.) BOOZE: the cruise ship makes money charging you for soft drinks and booze. Coffee, tea, juices, milk, etc are included in your cruise package. We usually stop at a Walgreen’s or liquor store on the way to the boat and place the booze inside of a plastic grocery bag and then pack it in the middle of your clothing in a suitcase…, not to hide it, but to protect it from getting busted when slung and thrown by the folks who handle luggage.

Might be a wise tip to get booze in plastic bottles.

Use some common sense. Try to be discreet about your booze in your room. I am sure your cabin stewards are trained to keep an eye out for booze. It would be wise not to walk around the boat carrying a bottle of booze. A flask would be nice 

ARRIVING AT THE BOAT:

- You will meet the guys with the white safari hats. These guys check your bags, label them with your cabin number, and set your bags off on the journey behind the scenes to your cabin doorstep.

These guys will ask you for your papers, not to check you in, but to make sure you are on the right boat. (Many times there are 4 or more ships you can board during the same time period and many folks are dropped off incorrectly)

  From there you will proceed to the security and metal detector screening process.

  Next you get in the cattle line for the next available teller to check in and get your registered. Here you will need your Passport or Photo Id and Birth Certificate.

You will be issued a "Room Key" just like a hotel; however, they will give it a sexy name like Sea and Sail or Snooze and Lose,… This card is very important. Keep it with you at all times.

  Your card gets you in and out of your state room

  Get you off and back on the boat.

  Used to buy drinks, gifts, bingo, spa stuff, massages, and more.

  It’s a good idea to give some thought about purchase a soft drink package and or a booze package. For a flat fee, you can get unlimited soft drinks for the week, and same for the booze stuff.

  After You have Registered, you will be guided to your first "Photo Opportunity" for your Welcome Aboard…

  Then you will meet the security team for your mugshot photo op. They will take your photo and magically put it on your room key. It helps in the getting on and off the boat process.

  Next, you will get on the boat.

  I recommend to find your cabin first. Check it out. Make sure all is in order. Your bags will arrive later, maybe as much as early evening. Don’t worry about your luggage until maybe 8 or 9pm if it is not set outside your door.

LUNCH is next in order. Take the elevator to the top of ship to the Windjammer Cafe for a buffet of food for your belly.

SUPPER   the cruise ship feeds passengers in 2 shifts. Main Dining happens about 6pm and Late or 2nd Seating happens about 8pm or 8:30pm.

 

————————————————————————————–

 

9pm CONFERENCE CENTER

———————————————————————————————

Registration and Welcome to The Great Investor Cruise

- pick up your Great Investor Cruise material and package

- Welcome Reception

- Meet Your Trainers

- Cruise Tips for you and your family.

Rule of Thumb:

- Every Day you are at sea, (not in port), you will have training sessions in the conference center.

- Every evening you will have a 9pm late nite training session in the conference center.

- Use Your Name Tag, it is your admission ticket to the training sessions.

FORMAL NIGHTS, the cruise usually has 2 formal nights. You will guys decked out in tuxedos and girls and ladies dressed up like a prom.

Your choice to get all gussied up for dinner and you can have some glamour photographs taken at stations set up all over the place. Many different backdrops allow you to have your picture taken with a boat in the background or a sunset, or white background, and many more.

On formal night I expect to wear a nice pair of casual pants and nice dress shirt. (this is vacation too)

Add Your Comments, Questions and more Below