Larry's FAQ's

Q # 2. Are there Risks?
Answer: YES! .....you're on a boat...surrounded by lots of water.....very, very, VERY DEEP WATER!
The good news is ...the captain wants to make it home too so he's REALLY careful with his boat and tries hard not to sink it.   He swerves to miss things in the ocean like other big boats, icebergs, trees, etc.   But, rest assured, all cruise ships have two (2) guys assigned to do nothing all day, (and night), but to watch for objects like icebergs. They are pretty good too! They haven't spotted one in the Caribbean for years!

Q # 3. Could we be hit by another ship?

Answer: YES! Actually, mid-ocean collisions between ships are quite commonplace! The ships are separated by only a couple dozen nautical miles. One little-known rule of the sea is that ship captains are required to "blow their horn" at on-coming ships
as a warning. If the on-coming ship's captain is asleep at the wheel, the horn blast will wake him up in time to react by swerving
out of the way! Most of the time this technique works. Sometimes it doesn't.    When it doesn't.....BAM!....a collision at sea!
But, don't let this worry you either. Cruise ships have a lot of little additional boats on board called "lifeboats" in case a situation
like this should occur. And...there's enough room for everyone on board the ship! (A lesson learned by ship captains in Big Boat school by watching the movie "Titanic" over and over again).

Q #4. There are sharks in the ocean. Will I get eaten by one of them? Another great and timely question!

Answer: YES! If the ship is in a area where sharks like to hang out and you hang a couple of fresh steaks around your neck
and jump overboard! My suggestion is...Don't Do That! Stay on-board and go get something to eat, like.....shark!

Q #5. I have never been at sea or on a cruise. Will I get seasick?

Answer: YES! Why miss out on any of the fun! You want to have a story to tell
your friends and family about when you get home. There's just no way of describing
the thrill of eating a large meal at the midnight buffet and getting hit by a rouge wave!
It's something you'll never forget and will want to share with others when you get back home.

Q #6. I don't like being confined to small spaces. Won't being on a cruise ship be confining?

Answer: YES! It is! But there is good news too! Ships have gotten a lot larger since the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria
set sail. New cruise ships tend to be about the size of....Detroit! Another great thing about a cruise is that if you get
lost and can't find you way back to your cabin, there are plenty of people to help you find it.   These people work there
and dress differently than the guest. They tend to wear white uniforms that stand out in a crowd. Look for them. They
won't be the guys wearing a floral print shirt, plaid shorts, black socks with wing-tip shoes!

Q #7. I have heard that cruises are all-inclusive regarding price. Is this true?

Answer: YES!....If you don't want beer, cigars, liquor, souvenirs, and don't do any shopping on-board the ship or at
any of the ports-of-call! You will leave the ship with a lot of free stuff like, memories of the rogue wave, sharks,
icebergs, and almost colliding with another vessel in mid-ocean!

Q #8. Will I have fun on a cruise?

Answer: Only you can decide as to whether you have fun or not. The possibilities for enjoyment
are endless, but you have to make that decision for yourself. My best advise for first-time cruisers
is this.....Go, Try, Enjoy yourselves, and have a Great Time!
See you on-board!   Let's "Get on the Boat"!

Larry L. Conner, Magellan Travel and Tours,    The Woodlands, TX