The best free gadgets to take on a cruise, when you have your next holiday

Going on a journey across the ocean can be a great adventure if you have never been before and there are a few gadgets you can take along that may contribute to your enjoyment or perhaps help things to go more smoothly. Of course the ships that are operated by companies like Royal Caribbean cruises will themselves have plenty of facilities for you to take advantage of, but we all have our own preferences and there are some things that we do not want to be without, whether we are sitting in our own home or on a boat in the middle of the Atlantic watching the sun go down over the horizon. If you cannot be without your music for even a day then something like an iPod is a great gadget that you might be able to get for free with various offers on the internet. Cunard cruises can take you across the Atlantic if that vision of watching a sunset at sea appeals to you, as can a number of other companies that have vessels departing from the United Kingdom. You can of course see such a sight in many places and if you have a quick look online you may be surprised at the range of destinations that you can visit on this type of holiday. If you need to keep in touch with your office while you are away then a laptop is another great gadget that you might be able to get for free.

"The cabin itself (Balcony on deck 6) was spacious and airy. Nothing was too much trouble for our stateroom attendant who was friendly and efficient. Eating was a pleasure in both the MDR where the service was, again, friendly and efficient and in the Windjammer/Island Grill where the waiters were more laid back." - Jones, Wistaston, Crewe on 28th Sep 2009 (Royal Caribbean Cruises)

Onboard electronics

Today's modern ships, run by MSC cruises and the other major operators, are well equipped to help you connect with the outside world and so if you take a mobile computer away with you then you do not have to worry about whether you will be able to access the internet or not. Apart from wireless services they will also have a mobile phone network signal if you want to use that to get online. An iPhone is another great gadget that you can try to get for free with online offers and competitions, to take advantage of these onboard facilities with. If you go on cruises from Southampton then it means you do not have to worry about flying to join a boat and possibly having delicate electronics that you pack in your suitcase, being damaged by airline baggage handlers. If you do decide to fly somewhere however, you can find some amazingly cheap flights on the internet these days. If you are not lucky enough to get a free computer online then you can still send emails and keep in touch with friends and family by using the internet stations that can be found onboard ships run by Celebrity cruises and other reputable companies. There are also some lines that have laptops for rent which can be more convenient if you did not bring your own along. If you are lucky you may get to have a look at the sophisticated electronics used for navigation on some ships.

"The food in the restaurant could not be equalled - it was a gastronomic experience every single night - we were never short of choice in fact there was too much choice and the food was better tha anything i have ever tasted in a restaurant. All of the staff were so friendly always with a smile on their face and so very efficient." - Ely, Newcastle upon Tyne on 28th sep 2009 (P&O Cruises)

What else is there to do?

Apart from the sights to visit at the various ports of call, there is much to keep you entertained on a large ocean liner. If you enjoy playing video games then you will find many ships have large screen console-style machines that can be enormous fun to play. If you are a bit of a games addict then you might like to try and bag yourself a free Playstation, which is also a possibility on some websites. Fred Olsen cruises have many things to keep the children entertained, as do many of the other companies. Water slide parks, basketball courts and children's activity groups are just a few of the facilities geared towards younger passengers. There are many sites that have special offers giving you the chance to get some great toys for kids as well as useful gadgets for adults. You can either spend some time with a search engine, seeing what you can find, or register with a free site that has already done some of the groundwork for you. For older members of the family Princess cruises and most of the other operators have plenty of nightclubs, casinos and cabaret shows to keep you entertained. Apart from all the free gadgets you can get online to take along with you, there are many that are not free, but cost a lot less than they would in the shops. You can obtain some of these by producing referrals for various online companies - there are many of these about.

"Food was very good, a varied menu and so many places to eat no one should complain they didnt find anything they liked.

Make a pig of yourself

One thing that you definitely will not need to bring along with you is your own food. Luxury liners are renowned for having some of the best cuisine around, with many having restaurants featuring menus designed by top celebrity chefs. Whether you travel with P&O cruises or any of the other big names in oceangoing holidays, you are sure to find a great selection of mouth-watering food. Some gadgets that would be handy for snacks when you get back home are things like the popular toasted sandwich makers, and of course microwave ovens. If you are lucky enough you may be able to find a site that is offering these in return for sending traffic their way. All of the operators arrange many interesting shore excursions that you can join, or if you prefer you can strike out on your own when in port. Caribbean cruises offer you the chance to wander around tropical gardens and colourful local towns. A handheld SatNav system is another gadget you can get for free online that would be useful if you are exploring foreign lands alone. It could save you a lot of time if you lose your way and help to ensure you get back to the harbour on time to board the ship again before it sets off for the next port of call. Of course it is highly unlikely that you would get left behind as the main companies like NCL cruises are very careful about that sort of thing.

Entertainment was much the same as the food, varied and to a very high standard. We even got a sun bed every day, something we never did get on Ventura." - Baxter, Ellistow on 28th Sep 2009 (Royal Caribbean Cruises)