Hey readers, as many of you know I received a trip for Christmas this year. Josh and I are headed on a cruise for 7 days this summer to Costa Maya, Roatan, and Cozumel and we can't wait!

 I've been busy planning all the things we need but one thing I'm not sure about is tanning before we go. I'd like to have a base tan so I don't turn into a red lobster the second my pasty pale Indiana skin is exposed to the sun but I'm not sold on the idea of laying in a tanning bed...

I did that enough and high school and college and I pray all the time I don't end up with skin cancer because of it.

So my question to all of you is, do you recommend tanning before you go on a cruise or is there a safer alternative that I could look into? Please post a comment and let me know your ideas. Thanks!!