12 Tips for Your Cruise
Cruising is such an easy vacation. All you have to do is pick your days, your destination and then bam, you have your vacation itinerary set! But, if you’ve never been the idea can be daunting. From what room should I book to do I need to bring cash on board with me – these are probably only a few of the questions you might have! But don’t worry, I’ve got you covered with my 12 tips for your first cruise!
Arrive Early
The LAST thing you want to happen is to not make it on time for your vacation! You never know when you might run into traffic or an accident, so I always recommend choosing one of the early time slots for your arrival at the port to check in.
Pack a Carry On
And don’t forget to include your bathing suit in your carry on! Since your luggage won’t be delivered to your cabin until later in the evening on embarkation day, plan to pack everything you think you will need for your first day. If you’re one of the first ones on board, you’ll have the pick of the best lounge pair by the pool!
Skip the Drink Package
A somewhat controversial topic is the Drink Package(s) that cruise lines offer for their guests on board. I have always found that I don’t need to purchase a drink package. Especially when most of the big cruise lines (Carnival, Royal Caribbean or Norwegian) allow you to bring some alcohol and other drinks on board with you. Always check the policy though before showing up at the port.
Bring Dramamine
Not sure if the rocking of the boat will affect you? Bring Dramamine on the ship with you! While there’s usually a doctor on board, I always recommend bringing all my own medications with me when I travel.
Skip the Buffet
Skipping the buffets aboard was probably the best things I did. Did you know you can order breakfast the night before and have it brought to your room the following morning? It not only makes getting up and going a little easier since you don’t have to stand in the lines, but then you can control what you eat! Also, I love to eat in the main dining room for dinner. I’ve met so many great people and the food is quite good.
Pro tip: did you know you can order as many dishes in the main dining room as you want? No judgement if you want to try two different types of desserts!
No Cash? No Problem!
Don’t worry about bringing cash on board with you, everything is paid using your ships card. At the end of your trip, you’ll receive your final statement and then the credit card that’s on file will get charged. I recommend checking your statement regularly to ensure everything is correct. The lines are much shorter during the cruise then at the end of the cruise if you need to speak to someone about your bill.
Research Your Destination Ports Ahead of Time
You wouldn’t go to Europe without researching which countries and cities you want to visit – why do the same on a cruise? Take the time to learn about each of the ports you will be visiting and making a list of possible activities that you want to do. If something catches your eye, be sure to book it as soon as possible so you don’t miss out on having the chance to do and see what you want at each port.
Download the Cruise App
I use my cruise app ALL the time when I’m cruising. It’s easy to navigate and I love that it displays all the activities so you can plan what you want to do each day. Also, if you don’t have to, keep your phone in airplane mode the whole time. Wi-Fi is not the cheapest on board, but there are certain social media channels that you can message on depending on the cruise line you’re sailing with.
Don’t Book a Cabin Near the Elevators
Trust me on this one! The walls are thin between cabins, and you can hear everything. Don’t add the noise of the elevators and people at all hours of the day and night to that as well!
Tipping
Especially in the spa or the bars and restaurants, don’t tip twice. Typically, most of those big cruise lines I mentioned earlier automatically include gratuity on the bills. All you need to do is sign your name.
Be Social
I have met some of the coolest people while cruising! And I didn’t do that by staying my room the whole time. I went to dinner in the main dining room, took excursions, played mini golf, and went to the shows on board. The best part is that I learned A LOT from my fellow passengers and so can you!
Pace Yourself
It’s your first cruise! I know said just above to be social and I know you’re going to want to do everything and see everything. However, it’s important to pace yourself so you don’t over-do it. Don’t get burnout from your vacation when you’re on vacation.
Need more convincing why you should take a cruise? Read more about my 6 Reasons Why A Cruise Should be Your Next Vacation!