8. Use your neocortex when you pack, not your brain-stem. (You KNOW rules, abide by them! Exorcize from brain-stem another time, another place.)

· Pack carry-ons lightly so they can be checked more easily · Check checked baggage allowance and be sure your name and contact details are on outside of each bag · Avoid packing anything that looks like a weapon (guide – anything you wouldn’t give an 18 mo. old free access to – nail file, letter opener, knitting needle, and more obvious hand grenades) · When traveling to and from North America, TSA recommends not locking checked baggage · Check here www.tsa.dot.gov for common items which become hazardous in flight due to temperature changes and pressure, and don’t pack them.

9. Be sure you have a valid passport and any required Visas and be prepared to show them at any point along way.

10. Know rules of security checkpoints and abide by them.

· Only ticketed passengers can proceed beyond it · All electronic items will be screened – laptops and cells. Remove laptop from travel case. · Keep ticket and boarding pass and ID within easy reach – like on neck chain · Wear shoes easy to remove and as little jewelry as possible

My friend Ken, who “cruised” during Vietnam says they would dip in and out of a hurricane in order to wash ship.

Your Captain knows what he’s doing and, you know how it goes, with a trillion dollar ship at stake … Of course you may end up in Belize instead of Grand Cayman, but you'll be out of harm's way. 6. I'm not sure I'll choose best cruiseline. Having cruised on several lines, I’ll tell you they were all good experiences and each had its plusses and minuses. Go online and look around. Consider price, ports, ships (size, age, accommodations), and passengers (number, interests, ages, etc.) I’ve never spoken with anyone who’d been on more than one line who had a “favorite”. 7. Those ships are too big oo small, atmosphere is too casual oo fancy, it's all boozing and gambling/all high brow culture and museums. Cruise ships come in all sizes, from under 220’ to over 1000’, carrying anywhere from 100 to over 2600 cruisers. Some are casual, some old-world luxury. Some have endless activities like at a resort, while others focus on culture. Many offer enrichment lectures (I have served as one many times) with topics from Renaissance art, to self improvement, to strategic financial planning. 8. You get treated differenty if you can't afford 'first class.' Doesn't exist any more. All passengers can use all facilities. The price of cruise is based primarily on cabin size and location, and no one knows which is yours when you’re out and about. Dining is same, and all services just as courteous no matter where your cabin is. 9. It's too complicated. Ask someone who’s actually cruised to explain to you what it’s like in reality. For instance, dress is mostly casual, shore excursions are easy to set up, there are multiple dining options (you can even avoid “formal night” if you like and still eat!, you can get laundry and dry cleaning, there are activities for your children, your bags are delivered to your cabin door … to me, cruising has all benefits of a trip without about 90% of hassle – no parking problems, no need to pack and unpack, lots of guidance and people to help you, and you can always drink because Captain is always driving. On our recent River Cruise in Russia (Uniworld), we were absolutely “pampered.” Everything was taken care of; no stress. For instance at Hermitage, with lines stretching to eternity, we were ushered in a side door. Also incredibly healthy meals. 10. All you do on a cruise is eat. The “average" weight gain on a cruise is 8 lbs., but I have lost weight on some cruises. It’s a matter of choice because there are more healthy food options available than you’d find in an onshore restaurant, exercise programs and equipment, and rigorous excursion options. Mark smart choices and you can come back more fit than when you left, both physically and mentally.

(c)Susan Dunn ( http://www.susandunn.cc ),a coach, is a regular speaker for cruiselines. She is the author of "How to Get to Present on a Cruise", http://www.webstrategies.cc/acruise.html which gives you explicit tips on how to get chosen for this great opportunity and how to succeed once you’re chosen. Mailto:sdunn@susandunn. cc for FREE self improvement eZine.